464 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



more convenient in operation, and less liable to give out with use. 

 In point of simplicity and efficiency further improvement appears 

 impossible, since every recognized defect in construction has been 

 done away with. Critics still exist, doubting Thomases who can 

 never be satisfied, but popular opinion is overwhelmingly favorable 

 to the new gun, and the sportsman who seeks the most perfect 

 weapon ever turned out, will find it in the hammerless gun of any 

 one of a dozen different builders. 



It is true there are different hammerless actions, the inventions 

 of different builders of repute. It is also true there are different 

 bolting actions, and these all have their supporters and opponents. 

 We do not propose to criticise or express any preference, as we 

 believe the guns of the best English and American builders are 

 any of them good enough for any sportsman's use, however they 

 may vary in details. All are sound, well-proportioned, serviceable 

 guns, guns which will last near a lifetime of ordinary shooting, 

 and this being the case, it is, in our opinion, mere hypercriticism to 

 make a choice. 



BORING FOR SHOOTING QUALITIES. 



No matter how perfect in construction a gun may be, if it does 

 not possess the qualities of close, hard shooting, it is valueless for 

 use. Various systems have been tried, from the perfect cylinder 

 to the choke, but the results of careful, scientific, and extensive 

 trials have proved the superiority of the choke-bore over all 

 others. Choke-boring simply consists in reducing the diameter 

 of the barrel as it approaches the muzzle. By such reduction 

 the charge is concentrated, and delivered at the muzzle in more 

 compact form than it leaves the shell in the breech. This re- 

 duction in diameter varies with different builders. Some bore 

 their guns with a long taper extending back from the muzzle one- 

 third or more of the length of the barrels, others bore a cylinder 

 till within an inch of the muzzle, and then contract suddenly, 

 and still others taper, relieve, and taper again. Guns of all these 

 styles of boring shoot admirably, but the muzzle-choke is less 



