WEIGHT. 295 



The bore of the largest of his punt-guns is l^in., weight 

 1201bs., to carry 2 to 2^1bs. of shot. The smallest which he 

 makes weighs GOlbs., and carries from fib. to lib. of shot. 

 If these guns stand proof and shoot as well as they are said 

 to do, they certainly constitute a great improvement in punt 

 gunnery. Mr. Clayton, of Southampton, also makes a breech- 

 loading punt-gun. 



CHAPTER Y. 



ON THE CHOICE OF GUNS AND THE MODES OF 

 TRYING THEM. 



DESIDERATA IN THE SHOT-GUN WEIGHT LENGTH PATTERN PENETRA- 

 TION ABSENCE OF RECOIL SAFETY QUICKNESS OF LOADING 



RESULT OF " FIELD" GUN TRIAL OF 1859 BREECH-LOADERS versus 



MUZZLE-LOADERS. 



Tlie desiderata in the shot-gun have been described at p. 175; 

 and it now remains to compare the old muzzle-loader with 

 more modern inventions, and to discuss the principles upon 

 which the various patterns of guns can be severally selected 

 for the special purposes to which they are applied. 



WEIGHT. 



As the weight of a double-barrelled shot-gun should never 

 exceed 7 ^Ibs., no invention, however clever, can be recom- 

 mended which, with barrels of moderate gauge, is incapable 

 of being made of that weight. Indeed, this limit may be 

 assigned in all cases, and if, on putting a gun in the scales, 

 it is found to weigh down 7^1bs., it should be rejected. The 

 sportsman may be able to shoot with a heavier gun when 

 not tired by carrying it; but let him walk for two or three 

 hours with 8 or 91bs. on his arm, and he will find that his 

 shooting is greatly injured thereby, and that a gun of inferior 

 performance at the target will do more execution in the field, 

 and should therefore be preferred without doubt. So 

 also there is a limit in point of diminution of weight on the 

 score of safety, which I have specified at p. 243, as far as 



