794 



The Shot- Gun. 



Handling of Guns in the Field. — Always carry your gun 

 pointing upward, and never, under any circumstances, hold your gun 

 in any other position, except at the moment of bringing it into posi- 

 tion to fire. Some sportsmen carry the gun pointing downward, and 

 bring it into position at the shoulder by elevating the muzzle. This 

 is not the proper way to bring a gun into position to get a rapid and 

 sure aim ; and also, it is evidently dangerous to sweep the muzzle 

 of a gun from the ground upward just as you are about to take aim 

 and to pull the trigger. Many accidents have occurred to fellow- 

 sportsmen and to dogs by the finger inadvertently touching the 

 trigger as the barrel is lifted into position. If the barrel is carried 

 pointing upward and then dropped to the line of aim, the stock at 

 the same time describes an arc upward, and falls naturally and easily 

 into position inside of the shoulder. Keep your trigger finger under 

 the guard till your gun is in position to fire. 



Before jumping ditches or climbing over fences, put your hammers 

 at half-cock. If carrying a hammerless gun, throw the safety-catch 

 into action, then grasp your gun firmly in the right hand and hold it 

 in a vertical position. In going through thick covert of briers, vines, 

 or brush, put your hand over the hammers. 



Withdraw the cartridges as soon as you have decided to shoot 

 no more that day. If you carry a hammerless gun, let no one touch 

 it till you have drawn the cartridges. 



Boys and persons learning to shoot should not be allowed to 

 carry in the field a loaded gun in the company of sportsmen till they 

 have satisfied the sportsmen that they will carry their arms in a 

 manner that will insure, as far as possible, freedom from accident 

 to themselves and to their companions. 



Care of Guns. — Always clean your gun after the day's shooting. 

 Tow, crash, or flannel are good materials to wipe out the barrels 

 with. If the air is dry and the powder is caked, a little moisture 

 should be used on the wiper. Then dry the barrels thoroughly with 

 dry wipes ; then oil a soft iron brush, or ooo sand-paper backed with 

 flannel, and get the lead out of the barrels ; then wipe them dry and 

 oil them and the outside of breech-action, locks, and stock. Before you 

 put the barrels in the gun-case, close up the breech and muzzle with 

 plugs made of flannel or cork saturated with purified sperm oil. If 



