GUNNING-PUNT ACCESSORIES 



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fowl that may be likely to escape after a shot with the punt gun. 

 Some punters frequently employ shoulder guns when out 

 fowling to shoot at odd birds. This is a great mistake, if one 

 desires ever to get a shot with the big gun. These sounds 

 will travel miles over open flats, especially on calm days which 

 are most suitable for punting. Where fowl are much harassed 

 or scarce, it is customary with many shooters to carry a large 

 shoulder gun aboard the punt, such as a 4-bore, in the hope 

 of meeting with a couple or so of fowl. At such places a shot 

 with a swivel gun is usually an exception to the ordinary run of 

 things ; thus the punter may go out purposely to use shoulder 

 arms, with his big gun ready if a shot presents itself. Of 

 course, popping off with small guns will not benefit his chances 

 in this direction, but I suppose at these places heavy shoulder 

 guns are the order of the day, though with true punting it is 

 a dead letter. It is not so much with regard to heavy shoulder 

 guns that I here intend to refer, but more particularly to those 

 guns used in the gunning-punt merely as "cripple-stoppers." 



In the first place, we divide punt-shooting into two kinds, 

 double-handed and single, merely for present reference. 

 Widely different are the two kinds of swivel-gun shooting — 

 not, of course, much in the main object, yet very much so in 

 the working. This, I think, will be verified by all those who 

 have experienced both single and double punting. 



In a double punt two "cripple-stoppers" are required, 

 one for the gunner and the other for the puntsman. These 

 are best if single guns, for then they are lighter and handier in 

 every way, and do not seem nearly so cumbersome in the punt. 

 This can only be appreciated after experience. Lots of in- 

 experienced amateurs doubt this, and advance that double 

 guns are quicker loaded and better in many respects. I leave 

 time and practice to teach these people the contrary. Whatever 

 advantages a double gun over a single may have, I do not 

 hesitate to say that in the case of a double punt these are more 



