LONG versus SHORT GUNS. 57 



22 to 26 ; and these trials were made, both by firing 

 the pieces from the shoulder, and from a firm block at 

 an equal distance, and with equal weight of the same 

 powder, and of the same shot. 



"To avoid all possibility of error, the quires of paper 

 at which we fired were fixed against planks, instead of 

 being placed against a wall. From these trials, fre- 

 quently repeated, we found that the shot pierced an 

 equal number of sheets, whether it was fired from a 

 barrel 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, or 40 inches in length. 

 Nay, more ; we have compared two barrels of the same 

 calibre, but one of them 33 and the other 66 inches 

 long, by repeatedly firing them in the same manner as 

 the others, at different distances, from 45 to 100 paces, 

 and the results have always been the same, i. e. the 

 barrel of 33 inches drove its shot through as many 

 sheets of paper as that of 66 did. The conclusion 

 from all this is, that the difference of ' ten inches ' in 

 the length of the barrel, which seems to be more than 

 is ever insisted upon among sportsmen, produces no 

 sensible difference in the range of the piece ; and 

 therefore that every one may please himself in the 

 length of his barrel, without either detriment or advan- 

 tage to the range. 



" To obtain from a piece of the ordinary length the 

 same effects as from a duck-gun, nothing more, per- 

 haps, is necessary, than to have the barrel sufficiently 

 strong to admit of the charge being doubled or trebled, 

 as required, and the whole piece heavy enough to ren- 

 der the recoil supportable. A double charge of pow- 

 der will not throw the shot or ball twice the distance, 

 3* 



