THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 199 



In shallow grooves, the patch is not cut 

 through before it leaves the gun, as is 

 the case when they are too deep ; nor is 

 the gun so apt to become foul. 



The barrel should be heavy, to enable 

 you to poise it steadily without a rest ; 

 and it should be of an equal size from the 

 breech to the muzzle. Weight and length 

 are indispensably necessary to the rifle. 



Take a light or short gun, present 

 either at arm's length, you cannot keep it 

 to bear on a fine object longer than .a 

 few seconds. Take one with a barrel of 

 the weight (the lightest admissible) and 

 length I have named, and you can keep 

 it poised off hand without any perceptible 

 vibration. 



Besides, a heavy barrel, by reason of its 

 additional thickness, counteracts the effect 

 of the explosion of the charge of powder 

 on the barrel, and prevents the vibration 

 caused thereby communicating any effect 



