514 The Hunting Grounds 



After the trigger is pressed keeping the rifle to 

 the shoulder a perfect immobility of body should be 

 retained, and the eye kept steadfastly upon the object 

 aimed at, and the deflection noted. 



In aligning a rifle at a mark, the position of the 

 head with reference to the butt will vary according 

 to the range and the elevation required. At short 

 distances, the shoulder is a little raised and the head 

 bent forward not (sideways), the cheek resting against 

 the small part of the butt, so that the object aimed at 

 is seen through the notch in the back-sight. At 

 longer ranges, the head must be raised and the 

 shoulder lowered ; and at the furthest distances, if the 

 stock of the rifle is too much bent, the heel of the 

 butt may rest against the breast or side instead of the 

 shoulder. As heavy firing in this position is incon- 

 venient, it is perhaps better in this case to allow for 

 the necessary elevation by firing high, or aiming 

 above the object intended to be hit, as the recoil is 

 often felt severely when the heel of the butt only 

 rests against the shoulder. 



Careless loading is conducive to irregular firing. 

 The exact charge of powder that the rifle will burn 

 should be correctly ascertained and strictly adhered 

 to, for a little more or a little less will cause a 

 great vertical deviation in the flight of the bullet. 

 Care should be taken to keep the barrel upright 



