EANUE. 



SHOOTING, 



[gtjn-bareels. 



grousing gun should be thirty-two inches long, 

 and sixteen gauge ; a single barrel for grouse- 

 shooting should be thirty-six inches long, and 

 fourteen or fifteen gauge. If selected for 

 partridge-shooting only, the barrels should be 

 thirty inches long, and sixteen gauge; or a 

 single barrel thirty-four inches, and fourteen 

 or fifteen gauge. If selected for cover-shooting 

 only, the barrels should be only twenty-eight 

 inches, by sixteen gauge; or single barrels 

 thirty-two inches, and fifteen gauge." 



EXTENT OF RANGE. 

 On this subject there is much variety of 

 opinion ; and that, too, amongst sportsmen of 

 great experience, and thoroughly practical in 

 the knowledge they possess. It is, therefore, 

 impossible for us to decide a problem so much 

 involved in difficulty. Two points should be 

 obtained by all guns — ^to keep the shot from 

 being scattered, and to give them the greatest 

 amount of force or 'pTO]iuhion. These are the 

 ends desired; but the means best calculated 

 to obtain these, have given rise to numerous 

 and conflicting theories and expedients. Some 

 think that the muzzle of the gun should be a 

 little widened ; some advise the mixing of oil 

 and water with the shot ; and some place all 

 their faith in well-regulated charges of powder. 

 There are advantages attending all these 

 anethods, but not to the extent which their 

 respective advocates maintain. The distance 

 of range that most fowling-pieces will carry, 

 on ordinary occasions, is forty yards. This 

 is considered a fair average shot. Some, 

 of course, will kill considerably further, and 

 some not so far. Mr. Daniel, in his Rural 

 Sports, observes, that " there are few things in 

 which persons have more faith than in the ex- 

 cellence of their own gun; the distance at 

 which it kills, and the closeness with which 

 it throws the shot, are inconceivable. Striking 

 a card, with ten or twenty grains of sliot, at 

 sixty yards, is nothing uncommon ; and the 

 merits of the shooter and his gun bid defiance 

 to rivalship. It is no easy matter to change 

 the opinions of such persons respecting their 

 guns ; but when a gun is said to be sure at 

 threescore or fourscore yards, the measure may 

 be safely asserted to be of the proprietor's own 

 making. The circumstance of knocking down 

 a partridge at eighty yards may happen ; but 

 49G 



very few barrels of those that are generally 

 used for the shooting of birds on wino', will 

 throw shot compact enough to be certain of 

 killing at fifty yards; one or two grains of 

 shot are not sufiicient so to strike a bird as to 

 bring it to the ground ; for when stript of its 

 feathers, a partridge is a much smaller object 

 than it appears to be, and possesses many parts 

 not vital. Those who expect light barrels, of 

 three feet or three feet six inches, to throw 

 shot close enough to insure a small object at 

 fifty or sixty yards, will be exceedingly mis- 

 taken." 



From general observation, it will be found 

 that from twenty-five to thirty yards is about 

 the average distance at which nine out of ten 

 of all birds are killed. Many are wounded 

 nay, even killed dead, at forty, fifty, and even 

 sixty ; but it is clear that these are but soli- 

 tary cases, and are chiefly the efiects of mere 

 chance, or random shots. 



THE RECOIL OF A GUN. 



All guns have a greater or less recoil, pro- 

 ceeding from the mechanical principle, that all 

 force begets force. Inequalities of their bore, 

 contractions at their breeches, the too great 

 quantities of powder or shot used, dampness 

 and confined air, &c., &c., are the commonly 

 prevailing causes of guns recoiling unplea- 

 santly. Even the material and peculiar con™ 

 struction of the weapon lend their aid to pro- 

 duce the same efiect. 



BURSTING OF GUN-BARRELS. 

 "We sometimes hear of the bursting of bar- 

 rels which have been made by the first manu- 

 facturers in the kingdom. These accidents 

 often depend upon causes hidden from obser- 

 vation, and, consequentlj'", little known. They 

 are, however, sometimes lamentable in their 

 consequences, and demand the constant atten- 

 tion of the sportsman to be upon his guard 

 ajrainst the occurrence. The selfsame causes 

 which produce great recoils in a gun, may 

 make it burst. The recoil and the bursting 

 differ only in degree and intensity, Ovex-load- 

 ing a piece ; immersing its muzzle uuder water, 

 and firing it off"; leaving a ramrod in the barrel, 

 and firing it oft' with it, and many other acts 

 may produce this effect. There is no recipe to 

 be given that will supersede attention and care 



