40 SPORTSMAN'S HAND BOOK. 



BORE OF SHOTGUNS. 



There are practically three kinds of boring for shot- 

 guns full choke, modified choke, and cylinder bore. A 

 choke bore is of two kinds; in one the barrel is a true cylin- 

 der to within three-quarters of an inch of the muzzle, when 

 the bore gradually contracts to the end. The other kind is 

 called jug choke; that is, when the choke is accomplished 

 by enlarging the bore from three-quarters of an inch of the 

 muzzle down three or four inches. Full choke does not have 

 reference to the amount of contraction at the muzzle by the 

 per cent, of shot it will put in a given circle at a given dis- 

 tance. Guns that will put from three to four hundred pel- 

 lets, No. 8 shot, in a 30 inch circle at 40 yards, are full 

 choke. A good cylinder bore will put from 150 to 180 

 No. 8 shot in a 30 inch circle at 40 yards. 



For wing shooting for any small game a cylinder bore 

 is much the best. Choke bores are best for ducks and larger 

 game. Cylinder bored guns shoot buckshot better than 

 choke bores. It is not advisable to shoot buckshot in a 

 choke bore, even if they chamber loosely at the muzzle of 

 the gun. 



The best all-purpose gun is a 12-gauge 30 inch cylinder 

 bored seven pound gun. Would prefer a smaller bore 

 rather than a larger. All late experiments are favorable to 

 small bore and very light guns. 



Always be cautious, calm, and deliberate, under all 

 circumstances. Take a day's tramp through the fields or 

 woods whenever you can. There is a proverb among the 

 Arabs that the "days spent in the chase are not counted in 

 the length of life." True field sports not only prolong a 

 man's life, but makes his life more vigorous, in both mind 

 and body, thereby giving a clearer and better understand- 



