SS8 SHOOTING. 



the shooter, when he takes up a gun that has been 

 used since being cleaned, to discover whether the 

 lock is sufficiently free from rust and dirt as to be 

 fit for the day's service ; for most assuredly, if the 

 lock be clogged, when thus worked backwards and 

 forwards, it will not snap, or in sporting phrase 

 talk ; and in that case it would be unsafe to use it. 

 A detonating lock that will bear this trial, and will 

 invariably fire the cap, may be pronounced quite 

 good enough for any sporting purpose. 



The triggers should be what are technically 

 termed box-triggers, and should be taken from the 

 stock and cleaned at least once during the season, 

 and oftener if very much exposed to dust, rain, or 

 a damp atmosphere. They should be adjusted 

 with scrupulous nicety, so as to require only a 

 slight touch to draw them : they should not, in- 

 deed, fire as easily as the hair-triggers of duelling 

 pistols, but should be fixed so firmly as that the 

 sportsman should not be liable to discharge his 

 piece, while bringing it up to his shoulder cocked, 

 with his finger upon one of the triggers. The 

 triggers may sometimes be regulated by filing, 

 hardening, or softening the scear spring, or filing 

 the wedge-like part of the scear which falls into the 

 notches of the tumbler : and sometimes it is neces- 

 sary to file that part of the trigger which comes in 

 contact with the scear, but this operation requires 

 to be carefully performed. A valuable lock should 

 not be placed in the hands of an unskilful work- 

 man for the apparently trifling purpose of regulat- 

 ing the triggers, nor yet for any other purpose. 



