156 POSITION OF THE HEAD. 



In aligning a rifle at a mark, the position of the 

 head with reference to the butt will vary according 

 to the range and the elevation required. At short 

 distances, the shoulder is a little raised and the 

 head bent forward (not sideways), the cheek 

 resting against the small part of the butt, so that 

 the object aimed at is seen through the notch in 

 the back-sight. At longer ranges, the head must 

 be raised, and the shoulder lowered; and at the 

 furthest distances, if the stock of the rifle is too 

 much bent, the heel of the butt may rest against 

 the breast or side instead of the shoulder. As 

 heavy firing in this position is inconvenient, it is 

 perhaps better in this case to allow for the neces- 

 sary elevation \>y firing high, or aiming above the 

 object intended to be hit, as the recoil is often felt 

 severely when the heel of the butt only rests 

 against the shoulder. 



Careless loading is conducive to ir- 



Carelesa 



regular firing. The exact charge of 

 powder that the rifle will burn should be cor- 

 rectly ascertained and strictly adhered to, for a 



