172 CHOICE OF A GUNMAKER 



most careful training, coupled with long practice, 

 before they can learn to shoot fairly ; then, again, 

 there are some men who, failing to be crack shots, 

 require to be tested in every conceivable way before 

 the reason of their failure is discovered, or who, having 

 acquired some bad habit, require a long system of 

 correction before it can be eradicated. I have suc- 

 ceeded in curing men who have shot badly for years, 

 and who were not even average shots, and have been 

 able to improve their shooting a hundred per cent. ; 

 though I am forced to admit that 1 have not always 

 been successful, and have to record many a failure, 

 though where such has been the case it has generally 

 been due to peculiarity of nervous temperament or 

 conceit. 



The first step which I would recommend a novice to 

 take who aspires to become a crack shot, is to consult 

 some friend who, understanding the subject, can recom- 

 mend him to a gunmaker who is capable of fitting him 

 with a gun which suits him, or who can detect the 

 causes of his failing to shoot as well as he should. 

 Over -anxiety, nervousness, too much smoking, or 

 debility, are common causes of failure in shooting. 

 Excess of any kind is bad, but excess in smoking 

 and drinking are the commonest enemies to steady 

 average shooting. 



As regards gunmakers, I have myself for some 

 forty years shot with guns made by the following 

 well-known firms, viz., Joseph Lang, John Rigby, 

 and later with rifles made by Holland and C. Lan- 

 caster; but for fit and balance, Joseph (now James) 

 Lang's guns cannot be beaten. This much-esteemed 

 gunmaker has continued his father's business, after 



