220 RIFLES, GUNS, AND OTHER SPORTING REQUISITES. 



As an extra rifle, in case of anything happening to the 12-bore, a single barrelled '450 

 Express will be found most useful : a very efficient and cheap one may be obtained by 

 using express charges with the regulation Martini-Henry rifle ; the only alteration neces- 

 sary being a raised bead foresight to fit on to the ordinary foresight, so as to reduce the 

 elevation given by the lowest sighting. 



For an extended trip a pea-rifle will be found a most desirable accessory, as it will 

 enable the sportsman to shoot hares, pheasants, &c, for the larder, in places where firing 

 a gun would be certain to disturb game. 



GUNS. 



I need say nothing about guns, as whatever suits one in England, will be found equally 

 serviceable in India ; though I would not take a valuable gun to the Himalayas, where 

 it is exposed to rough usage, and a cheap gun would answer just as well. 



I may, however, mention that I am opposed to the use of bullets in guns, a practice 

 usually adopted by those who will not take the trouble to learn to shoot with the rifle. 



GUNMAKERS. 



Most experienced sportsmen have their favorite gunmaker, and I believe that there is 

 little to choose between eight or ten of the best known, whose names are a guarantee for the 

 excellence of the weapons which leave their hands. Most of them, however, have their 

 speciality, one being famous for match rifles, another for Express, a third for large bores, a 

 fourth for pigeon guns, and so on. 



It is always best to go to a good maker and to buy a first quality rifle. Cheap double 

 rifles by obscure makers are to be avoided. If possible, a rifle should be made to order, 

 and tried by the purchaser before it is finished. However perfect in other respects, there 

 are very few rifles that shoot exactly alike with both barrels. In my experience I have not 

 found one in fifty that would. 



GUN-CASES, IMPLEMENTS, &c. 



Elaborate cases and the numerous implements usually supplied with a first class gun 

 or rifle add much to its cost, and are in my opinion quite unnecessary. 



Wooden gun cases are rather incumbrances in India, and I think that solid leather gun 

 covers, lined with waterproof, the shape of the rifle or gun, and furnished with slings, 

 answer every purpose. They can always be carried on the march or on the hill-side, and 

 afford quite sufficient protection. They should be loose enough to admit of an inner cover 

 of flannel or serge being placed on the rifle. 



A cleaning rod with 'jag ' and wire brush, a bullet-mould, a turn screw, a lock cramp, 

 a pair of spare strikers, and a spare foresight, are all the implements required with a rifle. 

 I should never dream of reloading Rifle cartridges, as the number fired in the course of a 

 year is seldom sufficient to make the economy worth considering, while the chance of miss, 

 fires is undoubtedly increased by using cartridges more than once. 



