CHAPTER III 



The Shotgun 



THE shotgun now-a-days is purely a sporting 

 arm. Being a short-range weapon it is of 

 little use in big-game shooting in open coun- 

 try. By this I do not mean that the shotgun does 

 not shoot hard; at short ranges it is a powerful 

 weapon, and loaded with ball or buck-shot, at mod- 

 erate distances, it is as deadly as the rifle. It is 

 the extreme long range of the modern rifle that has 

 relegated the shotgun to the position of a small- 

 game arm. 



The gauges commonly used in shotguns vary 

 from the light 1 6-gauge, up to the heavy 1 0-gauge 

 duck guns. The 1 6-gauge is a very light gun, and 

 it is usually used for quail and snipe shooting ; but 

 some good duck shots use it. It is a satisfactory 

 gauge for upland shooting. The 1 2-gauge is the 

 most popular gun used, as it is strong enough for 

 any game, and is still light enough for quick shoot- 

 ing. 



The 1 0-gauge is purely a duck or goose gun, 

 as it is too heavy to use in snap shooting in thick 

 cover. 



33 



