GUN-REST. 429 



legs or underside must match the round of the fore- 

 deck exactly, and a three-quarter inch hole one inch 

 deep may be bored in either foot and filled with lead 

 to make them sit steady. The long handle I prefer to 

 be on the right-hand side of the barrel, and curved 

 slightly downwards at its end, so as to be in shape 

 with, and convenient to, the stock and hand, when it 

 will be ready for instant use. You can lay the left 

 hand easiest on the gun when lying prone, to take a 

 flying shot if necessary.* Then the rest can be 

 regulated with the right hand (that is, run it in or out), 

 and the toggle of the trigger-string held between 

 the fingers at the same time. This position of the 

 rest-handle is, however, a matter of choice. In the 

 illustrations it is placed on the left, in the plans 

 on the right, of the big gun. To move the rest 

 noiselessly, the barrel may sometimes have to be 



HEAD OF GUN-REST. 



Lower edge to be curved to rest evenly on round of fore-deck, and 

 hollows as shown to take breeching ; substance im. oak, handle i'm. 

 ash. 



lifted off it, in which case the left hand will be ready 

 to depress the stock. The top of a rest should be 

 covered with canvas, drawn over and laced under- 

 neath : nails come out and spoil the barrel. The 



* With left hand you can of course much easier direct the aim of 

 the gun, as in a double punt the shooter naturally lies a little to the 

 left of the centre of the floor, as a set-off to the man, who usually lies 

 to the right. The right hand and face then come most conveniently 

 for tiring, and aiming along the barrel. 



