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About the Shot Gun 



For the best all round shot gun I advise the se- 

 lection of the i2-gauge, weighing about 7 to 8^ 

 Ibs. Such a gun as this will be capable of render- 

 ing excellent service for almost any purpose for 

 which a shot gun can be used. If possible choose 

 a "Hammerless Ejector," barrels 30 inch either 

 full choke bored, or if you prefer, right barrel mod- 

 ified choke, left full choke. If for duck shooting 

 choose that of the 10 bore variety, about 9 Ibs., 

 both barrels full choke. 



Choke boring consists of restricting the interior 

 of barrels near the muzzle in order to bunch or 

 crowd the shot, securing thereby greater force and 

 penetration for long distance shooting. When this 

 is done away with the bore is termed "cylinder," 

 which for close shooting is excellent; but as the 

 choke bore can be easily made to scatter shot, at 

 the same time carrying it closer and further, great- 

 er killing qualities is secured, making it by far the 

 better gun. The popular plan is as stated before, 

 right barrel modified (about half choke more or 

 less) so as to be used for close range; left full choke 

 for long range, thus securing a combination that 

 is considered most effective. With such a gun the 

 shooter by using ammunition of varied charges, 

 can secure almost any results he could possibly de- 

 sire. Many good shooters select a 32 inch barrel, 

 but like everything else these things are a matter 

 of personal selection, left to the user. 



In selecting a shot gun, personally I advise those 

 of American make (of which there are many good 

 ones) or such as L. C. Smith, Parker, Lefever, 

 Ithaca or equal; all excellent weapons, any <>f 

 which will do the trick of filling your bag, if you 

 are capable; personally I see no great necessity of 

 patronizing the costly imp >rted grades. I will ad- 

 mit their qualities are good, for the merits of such 

 guns as Greener, W. & C. Scott & Sons, etc., are 

 not to be disputed, yet I believe honestly that the 

 money can be put to better advantage in provid- 

 ing shot and shells for practice, so as to renderone 

 proficient. No man's abilities are to be judged 

 by the name and grade of the weapon he carries, 

 and American guns can hold their own with any 





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