THE STOCKING OF GUNS. 15 







them good shots ; at the same time I think there are many 

 bad shots who might be much improved. 



I believe that too much importance can not be attached 

 to the stocking of guns. Occasionally one will meet with 

 men who appear to do equal execution with either a crook- 

 ed, straight, long, or short stock ; but such are rare, and 

 when found you may feel certain that they have possessed 

 unusual opportunities for practice. The length of man's 

 arm, neck, and conformation of shoulder are so various, 

 that seldom will a gun come up alike to different individ- 

 uals : the straight, tall figure wants a crooked stock ; the 

 short, stout person, the reverse ; and intermediate figures, 

 the bend between both extremes. I once possessed an excel- 

 lent gun, with which I invariably acquitted myself credit- 

 ably. The stock had always been an eye-sore, for it was 

 composed of objectionable wood, and the previous owner 

 had chipped and scratched it so badly that, after length- 

 ened hesitation, I determined to have it re-stocked. How- 

 ever, when it reverted from the gun-maker to my hands, I 

 was surprised how indifferently I shot with it ; but, on ex- 

 amination, I found that the new stock was much straighter 

 than the old. Again : being in the neighborhood where 

 game was abundant, when I did not have one of my own 

 guns with me, I borrowed from a friend, and my execution 

 was so bad that before the day was over I gave up in dis- 

 gust. This gun's stock was so straight that I doubt if any 

 but its owner could use it. In having a gun made, there 

 is nothing that should receive from the gun-maker more 

 careful observance than the figure of the purchaser ; for I 

 feel confident that a very great deal of bad shooting is 

 made through want of attention to this point. Again: a 

 gun should never possess a superfluous ounce of metal that 

 is not necessary to its safety. When we start in the morn- 

 ing, f rash and vigorous, after a good night's rest, the weight 



