354 MY SPORTING HOLIDAYS 



Having dilated at some length on the weapon itself, 

 I will now, with some diffidence, proceed to say some- 

 thing of the methods and manner of its use. The art 

 of rifle-shooting, whether on the range or in the field, 

 is something that can only be effectually learnt by 

 practical experience. An ounce of practice is worth 

 a pound I would even say a ton of theory. And 

 yet, as has already been observed, the precepts of 

 those who have had some experience may still be 

 worth a trifle to other and younger men. 



A preliminary observation is that a rifle should be 

 fitted to the user thereof in length and bend of stock 

 as carefully as a frock-coat is fitted to the manly 

 figure by a first-class London tailor. The sporting 

 rifle should come to the shoulder by instinctive, 

 automatic movement and without taking thought. 

 Careful fitting plus constant practice are the only 

 conditions that achieve this result. I have always 

 preferred a rifle-stock with pistol-grip and slightly on 

 the long side. A rifle requires to be held a trifle 

 firmer than a gun, and well into the shoulder ; other- 

 wise no good quick shooting can be done with any 

 degree of certainty. The pistol-grip and longish stock 

 help the firmer grip. 



Then as to the sighting. The eye must be trained 

 by practice to align the sights with instantaneous 

 accuracy. One of the practical difficulties is to know 

 how much foresight to take in varying lights, accord- 

 ing to the time of day and the nature of the ground 

 and its cover, and also according to the kind of shot, 

 whether uphill, downhill, or on the flat. Nothing 

 but practice and a thorough familiarity with the 

 weapon used can give this knowledge, which is mainly 

 instinctive. What the best kinds of sights are for a 



