GUNS. 429 



shoot, with comfort, four drams of Curtis & Harvey's 

 fine-grained powder and one and a quarter ounces of 

 shot in a twelve-bore under eight pounds in weight, 

 while in a nine-pound gun this load goes off smoothly 

 and pleasantly; then, if the object is to equalize the 

 weak, light man with the strong, heavy one, it is apparent 

 that the limit of charge must be cut down, as no slight, 

 delicate man can ever hope to stand behind a kicking 

 gun, which jars him from head to foot, as well as his 

 heavier and stronger opponent, whose weight and grip 

 hold the gun much more in check. 



There can be no objection to a limit of charge as well 

 as one of gauge, but in the matter of weight there should 

 certainly be no restriction; for if the man uses a heavy 

 gun because he prefers to, the one shooting a lighter one 

 has the advantage of more rapid manipulation, and so it 

 would be a matter of choice, and not one of compulsion, 

 as it now stands. 



I have made this digression, and will now resume; 

 nor could I write on this subject without ventilating my 

 views on what has always appeared to me to be a gross 

 injustice, and a most one-sided rule, made to fit one man 

 exactly, and just so surely break another. 



The matter of fashion plays a more important part on 

 the kind of piece used for trap-shooting than many 

 would imagine, and so long as London leads in this, we 

 may expect to dance to the tune of the British fiddle. 

 Twelve-bores being in vogue in Europe, ga va sans dire 

 that we must also go in for them, not because they are 

 better than our old tens, that have done us such good 

 service, but because most of us have ten-bores, and now, 

 since they won't wear out, we must keep the gun-makers 

 at their trade, and delve in our pocket-books for the 

 wherewith to buy the gun a la mode. 



Many, whose observation has been drawn to one side 



