GUNS 23 



long-. And these two things even a moderate shot ought to 

 be able to discover with the utmost ease. I have bought guns 

 from a good maker's stock, and I have had guns built for me, 

 and I have found that, except in one or two cases, one has 

 made as good shooting as the other. 



It is my opinion that when a sportsman's build — length of 

 arm and so on — combined with his eyesight, are fairly normal, 

 elaborate experiments in bend and exhaustive trials at shooting 

 grounds, where the "expert" could no more bring down a 

 snipe or high curlew than they could hit the moon, are not in 

 the least necessary. 



Without any trials at a shooting ground, without even the 

 use of the "try-gun," Messrs. Greener were able to build me 

 a double lo-bore last season which answered admirably from 

 the very first shot, and is one of the most accurate and hard- 

 hitting weapons in my possession. 



We will now consider the different types of wildfowling 

 guns, a somewhat vexed question, as sportsmen know well, 

 and a question upon which no two writers on fowling matters 

 are quite in agreement. 



In beginning with guns of the largest calibre which can 

 possibly be fired from the shoulder, we may dismiss the 2-bore 

 at once. It is quoted in no first-class gunmaker's list, it is 

 of no more real utility than guns of lesser gauge, it is enor- 

 mously expensive, and can only be used satisfactorily under 

 the most exceptional circumstances. 



In short, it is practically obsolete in these days of perfection 

 in weapons and nitro-powders. Messrs. Eley Brothers do, 

 I believe, make a 2-bore paper case, but it is almost identical 

 with that of the thin brass case for 4-bores. These 2-bore 

 cases do not hold a bigger charge. 



In fact, the first really practical shoulder gun into the 

 merits of which we need enter is the 4-bore. 



The 4-bore is by no means a necessity for the wildfowler. 



