322 MODERN TRAINING. 



compared to the bulk of the shooting. The average limit is 

 from fifteen to twenty-five or thirty yards. If a full choked 

 gun is shot at a target at twenty yards, the absurdity of 

 shooting such a close mass of shot at a quail will be evi- 

 dent. A large percentage of birds are so mutilated by the 

 use of choked guns that they are worthless, and occasional 

 ones wholly destroyed. The author had the full choke 

 mania some years ago, and for no other reason except that 

 others used them, he purchased one. The whole character 

 of his shooting changed. Shots that previously were easy 

 became extremely difficult. Birds were blown to atoms, or 

 partially blown away or minced, or cleanly missed at good 

 ranges, yet the gun with all its atrocities of full choke and 

 heavy powder charges was cherished, simply because it was 

 the fashion. It was not a question of the shooting adapted 

 to game, but a question of close pattern. By constant use, 

 many faults were to a certain degree corrected, but there 

 were always lurking the same fundamental principles of un- 

 fitness. The elements of the shooting were forced to fit the 

 special features of the gun instead of having the gun 

 adapted to the special features of the shooting. After per- 

 sisting in the delusion about five years, the gun was bored 

 out to a modified choke. This was a great gain, and im- 

 proved the shooting qualities wonderfully. 



A twelve gauge gun which will nicely distribute its load 

 of one and one-quarter ounces of No. 8 shot, and place 

 two hundred and fifty pellets in a thirty inch circle at forty 

 yards, is amply sufficient for upland shooting. 



The sixteen gauge should be about six pounds in weight, 

 twenty-eight inch barrels. From two and one-quarter to 

 two and three-quarter drams of powder, and three-quarter 

 to seven-eighths ounce of shot is a load. It is very difficult 

 to get a reputable manufacturer to make a cylinder bore. 

 The popular estimate of a gun's merits is the closeness of its 



