228 OF SHOOTING, 



more commonly counteracted by the idea of 

 the particular convenience of the shooter ; 

 however it is certain, that for a tall long- 

 armed man, the stock of a gun should be 

 longer than for one of a less stature and 

 shorter arm ; that a straight stock is proper 

 for him who has high shoulders and a short 

 neck, for if it bent much it would be very 

 difficult for him, especially in the quick mo- 

 tion required in shooting at a flying or run- 

 ning object, to place the but-end of the gun- 

 stock firmly to the shoulder, the upper part 

 alone would in general be fixed, which would 

 not only raise the muzzle and consequently 

 shoot high, but make the recoil be much 

 more sensibly felt than if the whole end of 

 the stock was firmly placed on the shoulder : 

 besides, supposing the shooter to bring the 

 but home to his shoulder, he would scarcely 

 be able to level his piece at the object ; on 

 the contrary, a man with low shoulders and 

 a long neck, requires a stock more bent, for 

 if it is straight he will, in the act of lower- 

 ing his head to that place of the stock at 



