112 SHOT BELT. 



horse, wastes a considerable time as well aj a great 

 quantity of your shot. 



Frivolous as it may appear to mention so trifling a 

 subject, I shall endeavour to describe the manner by 

 which a shot belt may be managed so neatly, that it 

 may be used for a whole month without your losing 

 half a charge. 



While pressing the spring with the forefinger and 

 thumb, draw the top just out ; then take a fresh hold 

 over handed, so as for the first finger and thumb to 

 steady the hand by pressing the muzzle of the belt, 

 and the second finger to be just within the ridge of 

 the top, and by closing the second finger a little, the 

 top will be sufficiently drawn out. The instant you 

 have taken this fresh hold, lean the body, with a 

 little jerk, to .the right, and the shot will fill the top, 

 of which your second finger will have such a com- 

 mand, that none will be spilt. 



Before you put the first measure into the barrel, 

 lean a little to the left, or the shot will pour out of 

 the belt ; and in loading your second barrel, you 

 must observe the same motion of the body to the 

 right and left. In doing all this, the left hand should 

 never be taken from the gun. Be sure always to 

 keep the spring inwards, and have your shot-top 

 made rather longest in the part which comes under 

 while filling it. 



When we have acquired the knack of this, nothing 

 can be more quickly done, long and tedious as it may 

 appear in explanation. 



