492 THE HUNTIXG GEOUNDS 



the shoulder — a perfect immobility of body should 

 be retained, and the eye kept steadfastly upon the 

 object aimed at, and the deflection noted. 



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 farthest 

 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 necessary elevation by 

 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 irregular firing. 

 The exact charge of powder that the rifle will burn 

 should be correctly ascertained and strictly adhered 

 to, for a little more or a little less will cause a 

 great vertical deviation in the flight of the bullet. 

 Care should be taken to keep the barrel upright 

 when pouring in the charge, so that the grains of 

 powder may not adhere to the sides of the barrel, 

 which would foul and impede the passage of the 

 bullet. 



