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CHAPTER Y. 



CHOICE OF A RIFLE FOR SPORTING PURPOSES. 



REQUISITES FOR A SPORTING RIFLE COMPARISON OF THREE PRINCIPAL 



KINDS FINAL CHOICE. 



THERE are three requisites for a sporting rifle first, cor- 

 rectness of shooting at moderate ranges; secondly, a definite 

 weight, which should not exceed nine or ten pounds; and 

 thirdly, facility in loading. To these may be added strength 

 of shooting and weight of ball. These several qualities 

 are not equally shared by the muzzle and breech-loaders, and 

 it will therefore be well to compare them together in. re- 

 ference to each other. 



MUZZLE-LOADER. BREECH-LOADER. REVOLVER. 



CORRECTNESS OF SHOOTING. 



Nothing leafs the Most breech-loaders Inferior to both the 



muzzle-louder in this are beaten by a good muzzle-loader and 



respect, but it is a muzzle-loader easily at breech-loader in actual 



doubtful question who- shot range, and at long practice, 



ther, at moderate range all are. 

 ranges, a good breech- 

 loader is not equal. 



MODERATE WEIGHT. 



There is little advantage to either in this respect. 



FACILITY IN LOADING. 



Beaten by the breech- Load far more easily Six shots can be 

 loader. There is, how- as well as quickly than fired more quickly 

 ever, a great difference the muzzle-loader, and than with a breech- 

 in mu/zle-loadors,somo also than the revolver loader, but the latter 

 being very difficult to in a large number of will have the advan- 

 load, while others are rounds. tage if more than that 

 just as easily ma- number are to be fired. 



