HINTS ON SHOOTING. 191 



having a gun made, there is nothing that should re- 

 ceive from the gunmaker more careful attention than 

 the figure of the purchaser; for I feel confident that 

 a \evy great deal of bad shooting is made through 

 want of attention to this point. Again : a gun should 

 never possess a superfluous ounce of metal that is not 

 necessary to its safety. AVhen we start in the morn- 

 ing, fresh and vigorous, after a good night's rest, the 

 weight may appear a trifle ; but in the evening, if the 

 day's work has been severe — more especially on 

 grouse moor or snipe bog — you will be surprised how 

 little tells, and will induce you to undershoot your 

 game. 



Still another equally important point is the strength 

 that is required to pull your trigger. After long prac - 

 tice you may get accustomed to either very fine or very 

 heavy, but wliatever you are used to, that retain. With 

 the tyro it is difierent. Through frequent experiment 

 he sliould find out what weight of pressure he cangive 

 Avithout disconcerting his aim at the precise moment 

 that he has obtained the firing line of sight. By im- 

 parting this knowledge to his gunsmith he will com- 

 mence shooting under great advantage. A great 

 deal, we all know, depends upon a good start. It 

 is almost equally applicable to life, horse-racing, and 



