HOW TO LEARN TO SHOOT. 147 



more of mankind, to become even fair rifle shots, with any 

 possible amount of practice, but to all men, who have good 

 eyes, iron nerves, sufficient physical strength and phleg- 

 matic tempers, it is a certainty, beyond calculation, that 

 they can become first-rate rifle shots with sufficient prac- 

 tice. 



It is far easier to become a tolerable shot even on the 

 wing with a shot gun, than a passable marksman with the 

 rifle. But of those who shoot at all with the rifle, there 

 are a hundred splendid marksmen, where of those who affect 

 to use the shot gun there is one really crack shot. 



In learning to shoot with the rifle, therefore, the first 

 requisite is to see the end sight through the orifice of the 

 back sight exactly on the mark — the second, to keep it 

 there steadily for a length of time, a second or two at 

 least — the third, to pull the trigger exactly when the 

 sights are most centrically and steadily on the mark, and 

 never to pull it otherwise — the fourth, to pull the trigger 

 and endure the little shock of the discharge, without 

 the smallest jerk, start, or trepidation. 



To teach how this is to be done is impracticable, 

 beyond saying that it is to be done. Practice and cool- 

 ness can alone effect the ability to do it, even with those 

 constituted by temper, physical and moral, to obtain the 

 power. One thing may be premised, that it is well, if not 

 actually necessary, to hold the breath from the moment the 

 sight is taken until the ball is fairly discharged. 



One eye must, of course, be closed in rifle shooting ; 

 but, as I have said before concerning the shot gun, the 

 other eye should be riveted on the mark before the rifle is 



