THE GUN, AND HOW TO CHOOSE IT. 47 



an incorrigible variance of its build to the formation of the 

 shooter the gun may be thrown aside ; and farther trials 

 resorted to, until a piece be found possessing the necessary 

 length and curvature of the stock. 



In addition to this, the pull on the trigger necessary 

 to the release of the tumbler, should be tested, and ascer- 

 tained to be agreeable to the finger and nerve of the in- 

 tended purchaser. 



The way of ascertaining the exact force requisite to 

 discharge the gun, is to hold it muzzle upward at full cock, 

 when the weight attached to the trigger, which will cause 

 the hammer to fall, is the measure of power needful. 



This power is very variable. In bad, ill-finished, ill- 

 filed and insufficiently burnished locks, it is ex necessitate 

 great. In coarse military weapons, intended for the use 

 of men with hard, heavy hands, insensitive, nervous systems, 

 and dull natures, as ordinary fighting men, the pull is in- 

 tentionally made heavy ; in order to counteract the occur- 

 rence of accidental discharges. The power required for 

 the drawing the trigger of an old-fashioned soldier's mus- 

 ket varies from fourteen to sixteen pounds. That for the 

 firing of the most highly finished and best London made 

 fowling-piece is from four to four and a half pounds ; that 

 of a hair-trigger about one to one and a half pounds. 



Common Birmingham, or German guns, are exceed- 

 ingly various in this respect, ranging from two to ten or 

 twelve pounds power. 



Now, it must be remembered, that, while too heavy a 

 pull annoys the firer, frustrates his aim, and, in nine cases 

 out of ten, causes him to overshoot his mark ; too light a 



