280 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



stant arrives and then just touching it. This is the 

 only \vay a very light set can be fired. But a better 

 way is to have the set so that it can be just touched 

 without releasing it and then 



2d. Allow the finger to merely touch it until the ex- 

 act instant comes and then increase the weight of the 

 touch. 



Both the set and the hard trigger have their advan- 

 tages and disadvantages for a hunting-rifle. Finer 

 off-hand shooting can undoubtedly be done with a set 

 trigger. But it is too easy for good running shoot- 

 ing, especially when there is little time to spare. And 

 it is too unsafe with a trigger set to carry the rifle 

 cocked even when expecting game to jump. 



The real truth is that hard triggers are generally 

 made absurdly hard. For such a promiscuous con- 

 glomeration of numbskulls as generally constitutes 

 an army a six-pound pull is well enough. With an 

 easy pull soldiers would decimate their own ranks more 

 than those of the enemy. But for hunting, a pull of 

 two pounds or even a pound and a half at the outside is 

 safe enough. And in hunting, whatever is unnecessary 

 is a nuisance. 



For target-shooting, where the trigger is not set 

 until the rifle is raised, a trigger that will not bear 

 touching is well enough. Even there I think it unneces- 

 sary; but it can do no harm. But for hunting it should 

 bear a touch of at least three ounces in weight. 



The best of all is a combination of both ; the hard trig- 

 ger being not over one and a half or two pounds' pull, 

 and the set bearing a touch of three ounces before going 

 off. Then use the hard trigger for all close shots, quick 

 shots, and running shots, and the set for all fine shots 

 and long shots. 



