16 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 
may appear a trifle; but in the evening, if the day’s work 
has been severe—more especially on grouse moor or snipe 
bog—you will be surprised how a little extra weight tells, 
and will induce you to undershoot your game. 
Still another equally important point is the strength that 
is required to pull the trigger. After long practice you 
may get accustomed to either very fine or very heavy; but 
whatever you are used to, that retain. With the tyro it is 
different. Through frequent experiment he should find out 
what weight of pressure he can give without disconcerting 
his aim at the precise moment that he has obtained the line 
of sight. By imparting this knowledge to his gunsmith he 
will commence shooting under great advantage. A deal, 
we all know, depends upon a good start. It is as applica- 
ble to shooting as to life. If you begin under advantageous 
circumstances success becomes probable. Success begets 
confidence, and with confidence we are certain to shoot 
well. An habitually bad shot has no confidence. Con- 
stant failure makes him doubt his abflity, his gun, in fact, 
every portion of his shooting paraphernalia. Nearly all 
persons who do not shoot regularly fire their right barrel 
first. "When such is the case, your left barrel should shoot 
the strongest, as the second shot is generally at longer 
range. A good workman, however, will use either indif- 
ferently, a practice to be commended, so that one barrel 
may not become more worn than the other. A fault which 
a great number are addicted to, is using too much shot. 
An ounce of No. 5, or any of the smaller sizes, is amply 
sufficient for a twelve or even ten bore gun. However, 
if you have reason to use a larger grain, a quarter of an 
ounce more may be added to the charge. The reason for 
this is that the small packs closer, and thus makes a more 
formidable resistance to the explosive power. For strong 
shooting, and therefore long shots, it is the driving force 
