2o6 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



can be varied a little more or less in the quantity of the load, 

 according to circumstances ; but this must be done respec- 

 tively with powder and shot. Care must be taken not to over- 

 do this varying of the charge. No benefit is derived from so 

 doing ; but in actual fowling to lose a little in one way may be 

 to gain in another, and so on. Thus the matter brings things, 

 in the long run, to about a level. 



We now come to the question of proportions of powder 

 and shot. Equal quantities were, and are yet, with some 

 people, a sworn-by standard. These proportions we have 

 found give fair patterns, but the penetration is rather on the 

 weak side. Measure out bulk for bulk of powder and shot, 

 reduce the shot charge about a twenty-fifth of the bulk, and 

 increase the powder about a similar amount, and the improve- 

 ment of the shooting will be astoundingly apparent. Of 

 course, every size of bore should have a standard load, but 

 when heavy shot is being used, a little more lead and less 

 powder is a general rule, and the reverse in the case of smaller 

 shot. Breech-loading guns should have their bore-size or 

 calibre measured inside the barrel just clear of the chamber. 

 The chamber diameter is not the size of bore. We say this 

 because we have known persons who have taken the outside 

 measurement of cases and referred to that measurement as 

 being the size of bore of the gun. In spite of our table of 

 bores and charges suitable for them here appended, it is 

 always advisable to stick to the loads given and recommended 

 by makers for use in their own particular make of guns. Our 

 table refers mainly to M.L. guns, and note must be taken of 

 the weight of each weapon. A good and full proportion to 

 work from when calculating charges for punt-guns is 3 oz. 

 powder to i lb. of shot. The shot can be increased an ounce 

 if large pellets, and correspondingly reduced if small pellets 

 are used. The size of shot for the pound is No, i or 2. 

 Following is a table of bores and charges suitable for same : — 



