GUNNING-PUNT ACCESSORIES 



i6g 



"Cripple-stoppers" should have their allotted places in the 

 gunning-punt. In the double punt the guns may be placed one 

 to the right of the gunner, the other to the left of the punts- 

 man, and suspended in hangers hooked on to the cockpit coam- 

 ing of the punt. A waterproof cover tacked to the coaming so 

 as to fall over the guns will protect them from spray, water, etc. 

 In a single-handed punt the fowler usually carries his "crippler" 

 hung on to the coaming at the right side of his boat. 



" Cripple-stoppers" well cleaned and kept greased last three 

 times as long as they would if neglected. A stiff plug of 

 oakum, a tight fit in the barrel and knocked through with a 

 strong rod, cleans a tube wonderfully well. Soft, easy clean- 

 ing is no use for removing dirt and rust. 



Now as to ammunition. This should be of the best, for it 

 is very undesirable to have a stuck case when crippled fowl are 

 helter-skeltering in all directions from you. Kynoch's "Perfect" 

 cases are remarkably good for wildfowl shooting, yet, despite 

 careful resizing, etc., it is a mistake to use them too often, for 

 when they get old they are liable to jam in the chamber of the 

 gun when fired. The chief drawback to " Perfect " cases lies 

 in the fact that a lot of work is needed to be done to them 



I before they can be recharged. Water will not affect these 



cases as it does paper. Some of the waterproof brands of 



paper cases and the grouse case are good for wildfowl guns, 



especially ejectors. These, however, must be kept as dry as 



I possible. Unlike the ordinary paper cases, waterproof brands 



' are unaltered by a little moisture, though it must be remembered 



, they will not stand a dipping like brass cases. A good load 

 for a i2-bore "cripple" gun is 3I dr. of black powder, or its 

 equivalent in some good make of smokeless, and i j^^ oz. 

 of shot. No. 5 is the best shot to stop wounded duck ; for 



\ geese use No. 4. Some of the light i oz. shot loads, recom- 

 mended for use in 12-bores with certain kinds of nitro powders, 

 will kill ducks cleanly if well within range. 



