50 FIELD SHOOTING. 



defect in the action of the plunger, so that it does 

 not strike square on the cap, there will be mis- 

 fires in any weather. This is a point which needs 

 particular attention in the choice of a gun. As I 

 said before, I shoot with a gun of ten pounds weight 

 now, and prefer it much to those of seven and a 

 half pounds, with which I used to shoot formerly. 

 But some think a gun of ten pounds too heavy to 

 carry through a long day and use in all sorts of 

 ground. For many a lighter gun would be better 

 for woodcock-shooting, and for grouse and quail 

 in tall corn. But I would not recommend any 

 one to get a gun of less weight than seven and a 

 half pounds for general shooting and good service. 

 If in choosing a gun you are in doubt concerning 

 the weight which will suit you, give the gun 

 the benefit of it, and take one a pound 

 heavier than you have had before, if it weighed 

 seven and a half pounds or less. A man soon 

 gets used to the extra pound in the weight of his 

 gun, and carries and uses it as easily as he did the 

 •lighter one, while the shooting of it will be much 

 nicer and more pleasant, and the bag of game 

 will be larger. The question is one of conve- 

 nience, hardly of strength ; for any man fit to 

 go into the field at all can carry and use a gun 



