AMMUNITION 39 



In this connection there are, and can be, no hard and fast 

 rules. The experience of the sportsman himself must decide. 

 One may, perhaps, give some general indication however. 



For all ordinary work, 5 or 5|- — I prefer the latter — is a 

 safe all-round size with a long-chambered 12-bore gun. No. 4 

 is useful also for flighting work on duck, curlew, plover, etc. 

 when the wind is rising. 



Large shot should not be fired often from 12-bores. 



For geese I have found No. 3 shot an excellent size in 

 calm weather. It is not very generally used, I believe, but a 

 trial will convince the gunner that I am correct. Small 

 chilled-shot pellets of No. 3 find their way in among the 

 thick feather-cushions of geese in a surprising fashion. 



In a gale, however, when the shooting is best, or, on the 

 other hand, for long stalking shots, much larger sizes must be 

 used. No. I and B.B. are the most popular sizes in Norfolk 

 and Essex, and are very deadly. No. 3 is essentially a size 

 for use in moderate conditions. 



While dealing with shot, one should not omit to mention 

 the method of confining the pellets in tallow invented by 

 Colonel Hawker in 1837. 



This plan is not, perhaps, very general, and it involves 

 some trouble and experiment. Nevertheless, it answers 

 excellently in certain cases. During the winter of 1908, in 

 conjunction with my fowler, John Snell — as good and ex- 

 perienced a sportsman as can be found upon the eastern coast 

 — I made careful trial of this loading. Brass cases were used, 

 and charges of No. i and also of B.B. were confined not in 

 tallow, but in the best hog's lard. Some very long shots were 

 the result, and the penetration was enormous. It may be said 

 at once, however, that a beginner or only a moderate shot 

 will not do much with the grease cartridge. Absolutely 

 straight shooting is essential. 



And let me recommend any sportsmen who have not tried 



