GUNS AND LOADS 463 



it ranged from 8 to 12 pounds, and, as a rule, 

 was chambered for heavy loads; that is, from 4 to 

 5 drams, sometimes more, of black powder and 1/4 

 ounces of shot. The advantages of the lobore 

 were in its capability to handle heavy loads, and 

 it is an excellent gun for duck shooting and for 

 prairie chicken shooting late in the season. A light 

 ic-bore, shooting light loads, is opposed to the prin- 

 cipal reason that is, the capacity for shooting heavy 

 loads which justifies its use. It was demonstrated, 

 after a number of years, that the lo-bore had very 

 little advantage in ballistic properties over the 12- 

 bore, but had the very serious disadvantage of extra 

 weight and more expensive ammunition. 



At present, bores smaller than 12, as 16, 20 and even 

 28, have their warm advocates, who present many 

 cogent reasons for their faith. However, for all round 

 shooting purposes, the 12-bore is still the popular gun. 

 In weight it runs from 6 to 8 pounds, or more, with 

 barrels of 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 inches, 30 inches being 

 the favorite length. It is chambered for from a 2^2 

 to a 3/4 -inch shell, the commonest measurements, how- 

 ever, being 2.% and 2 6 / 8 inches. 



The lightweight gun uses a lighter load, there being 

 always a proper relation of load to weight of gun. If 

 the gun is excessively light, then its advantages in the 

 matter of handling a heavier load are lost, and it is 

 better to get a gun of smaller bore. The load for the 

 12-bore ranges from 2 to 4 drams of bulk pow- 

 der, according to the weight of the gun and the 



