286 VARIETIES OF SHOT-GUNS, ETC. 



CHOICE OF BREECH-LOADERS. 



Among the various kinds of breech-loading shot-guns which 

 have been described, that of Lefaucheaux is, in my opinion, 

 on the whole, the best. Mr. Needham's gun has no doubt 

 many advantages, but I see none sufficient to counterbalance 

 the objection that it cannot be so readily cocked and un- 

 cocked as the French gun. It is quite true that when a 

 person has become accustomed to its use, the bolt may readily 

 be used, and for any one beginning to shoot, it will be just 

 as easy to acquire its use as that of the ordinary hammer. 

 But when a habit is acquired, it is not so easily broken 

 through, and a sportsman who has long shot with the old 

 percussion gun will much more readily take to that of 

 Lefaucheaux than to Mr. Needham's. This, however, is 

 quite a matter for individual fancy, and in other respects I 

 believe the two principles to be pretty equally balanced. Mr. 

 Needham has the advantage in weight, his gun of No. 13 

 bore being only 61bs. lOoz., while its rival is never less than 

 71b. As now made, the joint or bolt of the French gun 

 very rarely gives way with any ordinary amount'of wear, and 

 it is probable that it will last as long as the bolt of Mr. 

 Needham's plug-lock. In the gun of the latter there is no 

 cartridge to extract, and one barrel may be discharged when 

 the other is opened without danger, which at times is a con- 

 siderable advantage. If, therefore, the lock is kept oiled and 

 thereby preserved from the effects of the gas escaping by the 

 side of the needle, we see no reason why Mr. Needham's gun 

 should be passed by. At the same time we repeat that it 

 requires care in its use, and especially in the management of 

 the lock. The needle also may be broken by gross careless- 

 ness, but without this it is safe enough. Bastin's patent, I 

 am afraid, will be liable to get out of order from the slide 

 becoming rusty. Otherwise it is a most ingenious invention. 

 Mr. Lancaster's gun is exceedingly clever, and will no doubt 

 be patronized by those who can afford to give long prices. 

 The means for delivering the cartridge is one of the most 

 beautiful contrivances I have ever seen, but to obtain this, 

 there is a complicated slide connected with the bolt which is 

 very apt to be deranged by a careless sportsman. In the 



