430 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



other little indescribable etceteras which are always overlooked by 

 a common workman, but which are sources of much information to 

 a shrewd mechanic. 



All sportsmen know the advantage of using a gun that " comes 

 up to the shoulder right;" they also know the inconvenience as 

 well as difficulty of shooting with a weapon the stock of which is 

 formed differently from that which they have been accustomed 

 to use. 



It is natural to conclude that a tall, long-limbed man will 

 require a longer stock than a shorter person ; also that a straight 

 stock will answer better for a short-necked, high-shouldered man 

 than for a long-necked, low-shouldered person. 



A stock rather long is decidedly better than one too short, and 

 we would prefer a stock rather crooked to one too straight. 



A straight stock is much more suitable than a bent one for a 

 short-necked, high-shouldered person, for the simple reason that, in 

 fast shooting, the point of sight at the end of the gun would come 

 up to the range of the eye before the butt could be placed full 

 against the shoulder, and the consequence would be that the piece, 

 not being held firmly against the body, would recoil unpleasantly 

 at every discharge. 



Moreover, the gun not being held on a perfect level, but the 

 point of the muzzle actually higher than the stock, the consequence 

 will be that the load will be likely to be carried over the object. 

 All this can be fully ascertained by a few trials ; and, moreover, 

 that with an over-straight stock it will be difficult to bring the 

 head down to its proper level, even in deliberate shooting. 



The fashion of having the stocks made straight and rather short 

 is very much in opposition to the most determined efforts at good 

 shooting on the part of sportsmen generally, and we beg to warn 

 our friends against this error ; they may rely upon our experience 

 in this particular, as we have given the subject much attention, 

 and are thoroughly convinced that reasonably high-mounted guns 

 are far preferable to the "low-mounted." 



By the term high-mounted we mean those guns which have long 



