ON THE CHOICE OF SHOT GUNS 27 



and for shooting over dogs. There is a mistaken idea that only 

 a heavy gun will shoot a heavy charge well, but this is not so. 

 Some years ago there were a good many 4f Ib. 12 gauge 

 guns built to shoot full 12 bore charges. Some of them shot 

 as well as 7 Ib. guns, but there are good and bad of all weights 

 and gauges. 



It is by no means urged that a 12 bore for walking up 

 partridges and shooting grouse over dogs should be as light as 

 those " feather-weights " were, because recoil was unpleasant 

 from them, even if only a few shots were fired. The contention 

 is merely that a light 12 bore will kill as well as a heavy 

 one, provided it carries the same charge and load, and its barrels 

 are as long as the heavy gun's tubes. The only possible 

 difference will be caused by the greater jump of the light 

 gun, and this jump may in some light weapons uncentre the 

 pattern. That is not a subject to speculate about, but is one 

 for trial. 



But it is not only light guns that sometimes do not shoot 

 true. No double rifles can by measurement ever be put 

 together so that both barrels shoot to the same place. This is 

 accomplished by trial and regulating. It is done by wedging 

 the muzzles farther apart or bringing them nearer together as 

 the case may require. In the making of shot guns measure- 

 ment is supposed to be enough ; but a large percentage of guns do 

 not centre their loads on the spot aimed at, and the two barrels 

 frequently shoot to a different centre. Possibly choke bores are 

 most liable to this fault ; at any rate, they are much more easily 

 detected, because their patterns are smaller than those of 

 cylinders, and a variation from centre is more easily noticed. 



When this inaccuracy occurs, people may say that the 

 shooter is in fault and not the gun. Gunners are satisfied with 

 such statements, although they would reject a rifle that shot 

 with a quarter of the inaccuracy. 



A gun-maker's business is to show true shooting, and to 

 keep a gun tester to do this work, and to show that all guns 

 sold shoot true and well, and that all rifles can make small 

 groups. Naturally the young shooter will believe himself to 



