TAKING AIM. 3 



towards the ground. Secondly, with the stock in the hand, 

 the striker resting against the shoulder, and the muzzle point- 

 ing towards the sky. And, thirdly, with the hands laying 

 hold of the gun as in the position for firing, but with the 

 stock against the right hip, and the muzzle pointing towards 

 the sky. This last is the proper position at the moment 

 when a shot is anxiously anticipated, as in walking up to dogs 

 pointing, or when expecting rabbits to cross a narrow ride. 



3. The directions for loading must vary according to the 

 kind of gun used, the precautions proper to the muzzle-loader 

 being quite useless if applied to the breech-loader. The 

 young shooter is therefore referred to the directions for load- 

 ing each in their proper places. 



4. Every kind of gun with which I am acquainted may 

 be left at half-cock, or bolted in a corresponding manner; 

 and this is the safest position for it to be in when not imme.- 

 diately wanted. It is of the greatest importance that the 

 tyro should practise the cocking and uncocking of his gun, 

 so as to be certain that he can accomplish it without any 

 chance of the cock slipping from his fingers, and at the same 

 time to avoid a partial cocking only, by which the striker, 

 or cock, is only slightly held in its place, and is liable to slip 

 down and cause a discharge on the slightest jar. The cause 

 of this will be fully explained hereafter; but in practice all 

 that is necessary is to take great care that the striker is 

 raised to the half-cock, when there will be a peculiar click 

 heard and felt. In letting down the lock from " full -cock" 

 to "half-cock," the striker must be suffered to pass this 

 notch, the finger being on the trigger, and when well below 

 it must be brought up again till it is securely fixed. 



5. Take care that the charge does not become loose in the 

 barrel, from the wads being too small for its calibre. Avoid 

 also any chance of snow or dirt getting into the muzzle. A 

 neglect of any of these precautions may lead to the bursting 

 of the gun. 



TAKING AIM. 



When the gun is thus mastered in the hand, the next 

 thing to be done is to make the hand and eye combine 

 together to take an aim, which may be either at a fixed 



