40 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



before walking up to count the patterns. Another gain 

 resulting from the use of two targets so placed is the 

 facility thus accorded for making comparison of the 

 shooting of each barrel of a double gun, or of different 

 loads from one barrel. In the trial of shot-guns at the 

 target it is well to bear in mind that a steady rifle-like 

 aim must be taken if strict justice is to be done to the 

 gun. The result of defective aiming will be most felt in 

 shooting at a fixed circle, that is to say, a circle marked 

 on the whitewashed plate prior to shooting, for in this 

 case a steady reliable shot will place on an average 

 20 or 30 more pellets within that circle than will the 

 indifferent or careless shot. 



It must be remembered, too, that the firing at a target 

 in cold blood and the shooting at game in all the heat 

 and stress of sport are totally different matters ; a gun- 

 recoil that would not be noticed in the latter may 

 appear to be a painfully prominent feature in the former 

 class of entertainment. Some men therefore become 

 what may be termed recoil-conscious when firing at a 

 target ; that is to say, they are so keenly alive to, and 

 dread so much, the coming. recoil that they acquire the 

 fatal habit of flinching on pulling the trigger. As a 

 corrective to unreliable marksmanship of this sort, a 

 gun-rest may well be recommended. In a general way 

 I find it best to take aim at a small mark placed in the 

 centre of the target a dab from the paper end of an 

 exploded shell will make this and afterwards describe 

 the 3O-inch circle so that it covers the best of the 

 pattern ; then carefully note each time how far the 

 centre of this selected circle is from the spot aimed at 

 the " bull's-eye," in fact. If throughout a course of a 

 dozen rounds the centre of the selected pattern per- 



