There has always been a controversy on the 

 relative merits of the 1 0, I 2 and 1 6-gauge guns. 

 While the 1 0-gauge throws more shot than the 1 2 

 or 1 6, the matter seems to be entirely one of indi- 

 vidual tastes. Some men can kill more with the 

 1 2 or 1 6-gauge, due to their lightness, and the 

 ease with which they can be handled. 



Personally, I have never seen a 1 0-gauge out- 

 shoot a 1 2-gauge in the field, even at ducks and 

 geese: and I have been on many hunting trips 

 where both these gauges were well represented. 

 Despite the modern use of the shotgun, it is a splen- 

 did wilderness arm. Its only drawback is the 

 weight of the ammunition. 



As the hunter can use either shot or ball, he 

 can live off the country with ease when the game 

 is little hunted. In shooting for the pot a man can 

 usually kill enough ducks or ptarmigan with a shot- 

 gun to supply a number of men with food. 



The shotgun is accurate up to 80 yards, 

 when loaded with ball, and will prove satisfactory 

 in hunting big game. 



As our modern shotguns are usually choked, 

 it is dangerous to ball without first measuring the 

 size of the barrel. A good way of making your 

 own bullets is as follows: 



Drive a wad through the barrel, until it is 

 within an inch of the muzzle; then pour in enough 

 lead to make a distinct mould. Send this piece 

 to a bullet-mould maker, and have him make a 



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