48 THE SHIKARI 



not stuck so near the breech that a second cartridge 

 could not be inserted, there is no doubt a bad burst and 

 possible injury would have occurred, as, except for a 

 rather harder kick and no accounting for not hitting, no 

 thought was given to anything really wrong until the 

 cartridge refused to go " right home." 



Shot-guns. — For overseas work, where a certain 

 amount of rough usage is entailed, a shot-gun should 

 be made on the strong side — strong in the barrels and 

 breeching and solid enough in the wood, especially at 

 the grip, to stand falls and knocks. 



Select a hammer before a hammerless, as not only 

 may the latter more easily get out of order, particularly 

 in sandy countries, but with the hammer the hammers 

 can be seen and less risk of accidents can be assured. 



The weapon chosen need not be a highly finished 

 and highly priced article, as it won't shoot any the 

 better, but the use and service to which it will be put 

 should be kept in mind when purchasing. 



Though bores are much a matter of individual taste, 

 and there are many who prefer a i6 or 20 to any 

 others, and stick up for their hard hitting and 

 straight shooting of these guns, there is no gainsaying 

 that for all-round general use (for perhaps the game 

 that springs up under the foot may be a quail or a 

 small antelope) the double 12-bore cannot easily be 

 superseded. 



Extra length of barrel is of use, and one or both 

 barrels may be choked. A good strong hammer gun 



