58 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



of the large shot used in the foregoing trial. At the 

 60 yards range the BB. shot went completely through 

 thirty-one sheets in the rack. How much this implies 

 may be gathered from the fact that a 12-bore with No. 

 6 shot at 40 yards may get through, on the average, 

 about fourteen sheets in this rack, but in doing so there 

 are several pellets that will not pierce the tenth sheet. 



This particular 8-bore is the lightest that I have seen 

 capable of throwing a charge so heavy as 2| oz. with 

 absolute comfort to the firer. In fact, I should not 

 hesitate to use 3 oz. of the larger sizes of shot A, 

 AA, or SSG, in this gun when shooting wild-geese. 

 One frequently sees 8-bores weighing 15 Ib. or over 

 that are only chambered for a sufficient length of case 

 to take 2\ oz. of shot. About 16 Ib. would seem to be 

 the weight hitherto found necessary in a gun designed 

 to carry 2f oz. of shot ; and as such guns usually 

 have barrels 36 inches long, we see in the gun under 

 description two substantial gains : first, a reduction in 

 length of barrel of 2 in. ; and second, a lessening of 

 the weight by 2\ Ib. Carrying so heavy a charge of 

 large shot, a gun so powerful should in capable hands 

 prove most destructive among geese, ducks, and other 

 heavy fowl. For shooting from a punt or small sailing- 

 boat, or for use on land where birds are numerous or fly 

 at a great height, a gun of this type will prove helpful 

 in securing heavy bags of fowl. 



In the gun under consideration due pains have been 

 bestowed upon the stocking. Weighty of course the 

 gun is, but withal so well balanced and proportioned as 

 to be perfectly manageable, and whilst possessed of 

 ample strength of parts, is so nicely stocked as to handle 

 and feel like a game gun. 



