10 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 







may appear a trifle ; but in the evening, if the day's work 

 has been severe more especially on grouse moor or snipe 

 bog you will be surprised how a little extra weight tells, 

 and will induce you to undershoot your game. 



Still another equally important point is the strength that 

 is required to pull the trigger. After long practice you 

 may get accustomed to either very fine or very heavy ; but 

 whatever you are used to, that retain. With the tyro it is 

 different. Through frequent experiment he should find out 

 what weight of pressure he can give without disconcerting 

 his aim at the precise moment that he has obtained the line 

 of sight. By imparting this knowledge to his gunsmith he 

 will commence shooting under great advantage. A deal, 

 we all know, depends upon a good start. It is as applica- 

 ble to shooting as to life. If you begin under advantageous 

 circumstances success becomes probable. Success begets 

 confidence, and with confidence we are certain to shoot 

 well. An habitually bad shot has no confidence. Con- 

 stant failure makes him doubt his ability, his gun, in fact, 

 every portion of his shooting paraphernalia. Nearly all 

 persons who do not shoot regularly fire their right barrel 

 first. When such is the case, your left barrel should shoot 

 the strongest, as the second shot is generally at longer 

 range. A good workman, however, will use either indif- 

 ferently, a practice to be commended, so that one barrel 

 may not become more worn than the other. A fault which 

 a great number are addicted to, is using too much shot. 

 An ounce of No. 5, or any of the smaller sizes, is amply 

 sufficient for a twelve or even ten bore gun. However, 

 if you have reason to use a larger grain, a quarter of an 

 ounce more may be added to the charge. The reason for 

 this is that the small packs closer, and thus makes a more 

 formidable resistance to the explosive power. For strong 

 shooting, and therefore long shots, it is the driving force 



