2;8 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



Unfortunately some keen wild-fowlers are so consti- 

 tuted that the heavy shock and recoil consequent on the 

 firing of a full charge of black powder in an 8-bore or a 

 4-bore is attended with so much discomfort, and even 

 pain, that they are entirely debarred from the use of such 

 guns with full loads. To all such and, probably, they 

 are not in a minority a change to certain of the newer 

 forms of explosive will prove distinctly helpful, not alone 



GROUP OF WILD GEESE. 



in the matter of reduction of positive and pronounced 

 discomforts, but also by adding to the enjoyment of their 

 sport in another way. For instance, the smoke emitted 

 on the explosion of a large charge of black powder 

 frequently envelops the gunner in an impenetrable veil. 

 Thus situated he must perforce wait some seconds while 

 this clears away, and so is robbed of half the pleasure of 

 his sport ; for in the meantime the fowl are up and away, 

 only killed and wounded being left. With powders com- 



