344 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



THE HUNTING-RIFLE, AND FLIGHT OF BALLS. 



So much space has already been and still must be 

 devoted to more important matters matters, too, 

 upon which you will find little or no information else- 

 where that the subject of the best hunting-rifle must, 

 like the care and management of the rifle, in next 

 chapter, be passed by with the briefest mention of a 

 few important points. To properly discuss such sub- 

 jects requires almost a volume of itself; and as they 

 are already somewhat discussed in works now extant, 

 we must subordinate them to the principles of field- 

 hunting and field-shooting. 



In the first place, then, the action of your rifle, as is 

 also the question of repeater, single-loader, or double 

 barrel, is largely a matter of taste. All actions are 

 strong enough and durable enough. The quickness 

 and ease of the action you can yourself decide as well 

 as any one. All hunters have their preferences, and 

 all have a peculiar weakness for their favorites that 

 makes their opinions as to the best rifle nearly worth- 

 less. Different rifles are " all the rage" in different 

 sections of country, and scarcely anything else is 

 worth having. And this according to the opinion of 

 the ablest shots and hunters. 



All American " sporting" rifles now shoot accurately 

 enough, and all about equally well. That is, if prop- 

 erly loaded and handled they will shoot as well as any 



