1 74 G UN PR A CTICE 



and then place himself facing the window, with his 

 back towards them, holding his gun in the following 

 manner, viz., the barrel resting on the left forearm, 

 and the right hand grasping the small of the stock 

 tightly, the first finger of the right hand being looser 

 than the others, so as to be ready to pull the trigger. 

 For this practice it is advisable to use a gun with 

 hammers, and the nipples should be protected by 

 having wads fixed on and around them. The ham- 

 mers are useful for showing when the gun is level at 

 the shoulder, and by their assistance a correct estimate 

 can be formed as to whether the gun fits the user 

 properly or the reverse ; as if it does not fall imme- 

 diately level and true, it will be evident that it is 

 unsuitable. 



When thus in position the practice can commence, 

 by saying, for instance, ' No. i wad,' and then count 

 I, 2, 3, 4 quickly, turning sharply to the right-about 

 at the word ' four,' and snapping at No. 1 wad. The 

 light from the window, falling on the barrel, will serve 

 to show at once if the aim has been correctly taken on 

 the wad or not. If the latter, the practice must be 

 continued at No, i wad until the aim on it is perfectly 

 true. In like manner, when perfection at this one 

 spot has been arrived at, the other wads may be taken 

 in turn, but always calling out the number of the wad, 

 and counting previous to turning round, and endea- 

 vouring to perform the motion as rapidly as possible. 

 When proficiency at all the fixed wads has been 

 acquired, the practice may be still further varied by 

 the position of the wads being rapidly changed by a 

 second person, while the user of the gun has his back 

 turned. In this way a novice may become a complete 



