480 THE HUNTING GEOTJNDS 



Perhaps the following hints on rifle-shooting may 

 prove useful to those who have not had the benefit 

 of an efficient instructor. 



Eiflemen are not made in a day, but it is an 

 established fact that any one gifted with perfect 

 vision can, with instruction and jyractice, become 

 an efficient marksman ; therefore, none should be 

 discouraged or despair, as perseverance must lead 

 to ultimate success. 



First commencing with the theory of rifle prac- 

 tice, which must be fully understood before the 

 rifleman can hope to be an expert shot at all ranges, 

 I shall afterwards enter upon the 2>'^o,ctical part of 

 his initiation. 



The first point for consideration is the barrel of 

 the rifle, which, (ia the Enfield pattern,) it may be 

 observed, has three spiral grooves cut in the interior, 

 or bore, at an equal distance from each other, of 

 even depth, and making half a turn in the length 

 of the barrel, which is three feet three inches. 

 These grooves, otherwise termed the rifling, give 

 the bullet (an elongated cylindro-conical projectile) 

 a spiral motion, sometimes called the spiii or tivist, 

 as it flies through the air, point foremost, rotatory 

 on its own axis. This very much increases the 

 accuracy of the flight of the bullet, as it serves to 

 keep it in its true course, and prevents any inclina- 

 tion it may have to deviate from it, owing to irregu- 

 larity in shape or weight. 



The diameter of the bore of an Enfield rifle ip 



