1^4 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sept. 10, 1885. 



'anje §Hg Htjd §nt\. 



Address all covinmnications to the Sparest and Stream Publish- 

 ing Co. 



THE CHOICE OF GUNS.— IV. 



\ FULL-CIIOKED gun is one so bored as to throw tlie 

 charge of shot as close together as possible: a modified 

 choke is otic that shoots less close than a full-cboke, and a 

 cylinder is. sttictiy speaking, one not choked at all but of 

 tlie same width ol' bore fi'otn muzzle to cliamber. 



The choke consists of a constriction of the muzzle. There 

 are several methods of accomplishing the same result, snch, 

 for example, as the "jug choke," the "muzzle choke," the 

 "taper choke" and the "multiply choke;" but the principle 

 of all is the same— all arc modiiications of the same system, 



The cheapest and poorest is the "jag choke," Avhich is ac- 

 complished by making the barrcls'a true cylinder and then 

 boring tuem out .01 or .03-inch in depth, beginning from 4 to 

 6 inches, and ending from ^ to 1 inch from^he muzzle. This 

 is the method usually adopted by gunmakers when they 

 "re bore guns to make them shoot hard and close," and it 

 often produces good results, it is especially adapted to 

 muzzh-loading guns, as the wad may tit down tight on the 

 charge. 



The "muzzle choke" is usually adopted by American mat- 

 ers, and is pretty generally regarded as equal to any other 

 system. The barrel is a cylinder from the moulh of the 

 chamber to within i to 1 inch of the muzzle, where it is 

 suddenly tapered down from .005 to .03 of an inch smaller. 



The "taper choke" is perhaps the best of all, especially 

 for heavy shooting at long range. As its name imphes, the 

 barrel is gradually coustricicd from chamber to muzzle until 

 the desired ilt-gree of choke is attaiued. Some makers com- 

 bine the "taper ' and "jug ' choke, and claim therefore im- 

 proved shootine. 



The "muhiply choke." as 1 understand it, consists in effect 

 of two or more "jug" chokes; one near the muzzle, foUow- 

 ms it a short cylinder, and then another and longer "ju"- 

 c'loke." " 



Mr. Greener says that "a 12-gauge cylinder gun loaded 

 with ounces (270 pellets to the ounce) by weight of tSfo. 6 

 chilled shot, hred at a target 30 inches in diameter at 40 

 yards, will make a pattern of 100 to 130; a modified choke 

 140 to 180; a full choke 180 to 330." 



Rouiihly estimating it, a cylinder makes a target of, say 

 33i per ccijt. ; a modified choke, say 50 per cent. ."and a full 

 choke, say 75 per cent, of the charge at a similar target. But 

 guns .shootiug so close as the last estimate are rare indeed. 



I have recL ntly read in another paper some articles calling 

 attention to the defeciive borino of some American choke- 

 bored guns, and stating that the diameter of the bore was 

 sometimes greater than it sliould he. The articles in ques- 

 tion suggested as a t<^st the pushing of a wad corresponding 

 in number with the gauge of the gun, through the barrels; 

 if it fits tight .all the way from the mouth of the chamber, 

 tlie gun is bored small enough; if it drops part of the way 

 down toward the muzzle, the gun is bored too large, and 

 will not shoot well. The suggestion is a good one, and there 

 is no special fault to find with the test suggested, but only 

 one side of the question is suggested by the above summary 

 of the discussion. 



Tlie Parker guns are all bored one size larger than any 

 other make of American guns, and as a rule they are strong 

 shooting guns; but Parker Bros, recommend the use of a 10 

 wad in a 13 gun, and an 8 wad in a 10 gun, which of course 

 is correct, brass shells being used; and they also recommend 

 the use of wads a size larger than the number of the shell in 

 paper shells. A gun can be bored, and a great many are 

 bored, too small the entire length of the barrel, giving great 

 recoil and less penetration. A gun ought to be bored so that 

 a wad corresponding in number with the gauge of the guu 

 will fit snugly all the way, but not so that a 13 wad in a 13 

 gun will give the best attainable result.", but so that a 9 wad 

 in a 10 shell and a 11 wad in a 13 shell will give the best re- 

 sults, If a uvm wants to use a snraller wad than wil! load 

 well and shoot best in a 10 or 13 gun, he should get a smaller 

 gun, for if there is any advantage in a 10 or a 13 over a 14, 

 he loses it when he has it bored too small. 



In a properly-bored 13-gauge gun, a 1:1 wad will fit snugly 

 all the length of the barrel, and a 13 wad is large enough 

 for ordinary shooting; but increased penetration will be ob- 

 taiued liy using wads a size larger, and so of the other bores. 



As above intimated, my prtference is for the "taper 

 choke.^' The gun should be bored largest just at the mouth 

 of the chamber and gradually contracted to" the muzzle; but 

 the contraction should be more sudden from within six to 

 eight inches of the muzzle. 



Many sportsmen seem to forget that the gun that makes 

 the best display at a target (that is best for trap-shooting, or 

 for heavy long-range shooting) is by no means the best gun 

 for field use. 1 have owned at least one gun that was almost 

 useless in the field because of its excessive close shooting. It 

 was like .shooting a large-bore rifle; at short range quails 

 were literally smashed — reduced to a pulp and rendered un- 

 fit for food — if squarely hit. I sold this gun to a trap 

 shooter, and have no doubt he found it just the thing for his 

 basiness. 



For general use I prefer a 13-gauge to have the right, or 

 first barrel, a medium modified choke, and the left a full, but 

 not the closest choke. Loaded with three drachms of pow- 

 der and an ounce and an eighth of No, 8 shot, of New York 

 standard size, 399 to the ounce, such a guu will make a pat- 

 tern of something like 200 to 335 with the right, and 375 to 

 300 with the left barrel fired at a target 30 inches in diameter 

 40 yards distant. Properly bored, the penetration of such 

 barrels will be all that any "sportsman could desire; the right 

 barrel will shoot at 15 or 30 yards without tearing the game 

 and yet be good up to 30 or 40 yards, and the left barrel will 

 shoot as far and as hard as any"l3-gauge gun. 



If the gun is of smaller bore— 16 or 14-gauge — I prefer to 

 have the right barrel a true cylinder and the left a modified 

 choke; and some sportsmen prefer to have a 13-gauge field 

 gun so bored. Indeed, where the gun is to be used exclu- 

 sively for quail and similar e:ame, I myself prefer the cylin- 

 der and modified choke to the modified and full choke; but 

 for a 13 gauge guu for general shooting, my preference is as 

 above expressed. 



In selecting a gun for field use it should be remembered 

 that ninety nine out of every hundred quail that are killed 

 at all are killed inside of forty yards, and that quite a larce 

 majority are killed within half thati distance. For the possi- 

 biiiiy ot making an occasional long shot, do not get a gun 

 witli both barrels so close that it will be useless at short dis- 

 tances 



Even distribution, regularity of pattern, coupled with first- 

 class penetration, are tlie main things to be considered. As 

 much spread of shot as is consistent with good penetrating 

 power, provided the pattern isnotso wide that game birds may 

 escape between the pellets, is not only allowable, but desir- 

 able. If, however, you should find your gun to shoot too 

 close, you can, in some measure, overcome this fault by your 

 method of loading. 



In selecting your gun by its shooting, do not rely implicity 

 upon the maker's statements as to its performances recorded 

 on the tag accompanying the gun. It is a hard saying, but 

 nevertheless a true one, that not one gun in ten can be made 

 to shoot up to the tag. I have tried several of different 

 makes and have barely found one that I thought performed 

 according to the tag. The patterns recorded on the tags 

 are not the average patterns, but are the best single targets 

 which can be selected from an indefinite number. And I 

 have been told that some of these wonderfully close targets 

 are made at shorter range and with smaller powder charges 

 than the tag says; but I do not believe any of the best Amer- 

 ican or foreign makers would record a deliberate lie on the 

 tag, whatever a certain class of makers may do. 



Ir, targeting your gun let the same shots count for both 

 pattern and penetration ; for while, on the one hand, it 

 would be of no service to ascertain how close your gun 

 could be made to throw the shot if they possessed no killing 

 power, it would, on the other hand, "be equally futile to 

 know that immcuse force could be imparted to the pellets if 

 they flew so wildly that the chances of hitting a bird were 

 reduced to the minimum. One or two shots will not be 

 suflicient to ascertain the shooting qualities of your gun, but 

 a dozen or two shots must be fired from each barrel with dif- 

 ferent charges and at different distances. But if after re- 

 peated trials you find your gun to shoot satisfactorily at forty 

 yards, you may be pretty sure it will shoot well up to the 

 extent of its range. It is well, however, to try it at different 

 and longer distances, up to seventy-five yards, beyond which 

 it is hardly necessary to go, save as mere matter of curiosity. 



By these repeated trials, at various distances and with 

 various charges, you will, by carefully noting both pattern 

 and penetration, be enabled to arrive at a jusi and accurate 

 knowledge of your gun's capacity and, at the same time, 

 ascertain the charges most suitable for it. 



If you have none of the prepared targets or penetration 

 wads you can make a fairly good target out of heavy brown 

 paper. Take a sufficient quantity, some thirty or forty sheets, 

 cut it into squares of about ten inches and fasten in the center 

 of a thirty -inch sheet of paper, with a nail, to a board, a 

 barn, or other suitable surface. If you have not the paper 

 conveniently at hand you may utiUze a "Congressional 

 Record" or "Patent Office Report." I have found these 

 public documents better to shoot at than to read. Remove 

 the backs from the books and fasten up as already shown. 

 By counting the number of pages or sheets penetrated, the 

 number of pellets inside the smaller and larger targets re- 

 spectively, by observing whether the distribution of the shot 

 is uniform and regular or patchy and irregular, and, in case 

 of uncertainty or inexperience, by comparing the targets 

 with those of a gun which shoots satisfactorily, you may 

 readily ascertain whether your gun shoots to your notion. 



It is a common belief that the penetration of a full choke 

 gun is superior to the penetration of a modified choke, but 

 in repeated tests I have been able to discover no difference, 

 and I do not believe a full choke superior in this respect to 

 a properly bored modified choke gun. Between guns of dif- 

 ferent weight equally well bored, with the same charge, the 

 difference of penetration is in favor of the heavier gun ; the 

 difference is slight, but perceptible. And the same gun will 

 show better penetn^tion in the hands of a heavy man than in 

 the hands of a light one. 



If the gun does not exceed 8 or 6i pounds weight it should 

 not be larger than 13-bore, for better results and more com- 

 fortable shooting can be had with a 13-bore of this weight 

 than a still larger bore of the same weight. And up to 9 

 pounds I have been able to discover no material difference 

 between the 10 and 13 bores, for the reason that a 13 bore 

 will handle with effect any charEre that can be used in a 10- 

 bore of less than about 9 pounds weight. 



It is a little out of place, but not improper, here to say 

 that any sized shot may be safely used in any well-bored 

 gun, no matter how close the choke; provided that in using 

 buckshot they be first chambered in the muzzle of the gun, 

 and only that size used that will properly chamber in the 

 muzzle, 



You cannot overestimate the importance of having your 

 gun fit you. If the stock is too long it is difficult and incon- 

 venient to reach the trigger; if too short a backward motion 

 is necessary to enable you to pull the trigger; if too straight 

 the muzzle of the gun will be too much elevated and you 

 will overshoot; if too crooked the muzzle will be too much 

 depressed and you will undershoot. In any case, ease, 

 dexterity and accuracy of shooting are greatly interfered 

 with and impaired. 



Gun stocks range from about 13i toaboutlS inches in length, 

 and the drop or crook at butt varies from 1^ or 3 to 4 Inches. 

 A stock 15x4 inches is very long and crooked, while 13ix8 is 

 very short and straight. 



If you are a tall man with long arms and neck, you will 

 require a gun with long and crooked stock. If you are of 

 short stature, with correspondingly short arms and neck, 

 you will need a short, straight stock. If you are neither tall 

 nor short, but between the two, a medium stock will fit you. 

 In other words, the shape of the shooterdetermines the shape 

 of the stock. 



yome gun dealers— not all of them, I am glad to be able 

 to say— will tell you that the shape of the stock is a matter 

 of little concern"; that a stoch a little too long or a httle too 

 short, a little too straight or a little too crooked, will suit you 

 best. It is amazing to see how different dealers will 

 "exactly fit" a man with guns of entirely different shapes, 

 and how the same dealer will make the same gun fit a dozen 

 men of dissimilar shapes. In this respect they are not unlike 

 the Hebrew dealer in ready-made clothing, who will have 

 his customer try on a coat, and who, after grabbing up a 

 handful of surplus cloth in the back, will swear by all the 

 prophets it is "shoost a fit." 



A gun fits when the stock is just long enough for you to 

 reach the front trigger easily and comfortably, and not so 

 short as to require any backward motion of the arm or body 

 in changing your finger from the front to the rear trigger; 

 when it comes up level, so that, without any raising or lower- 

 ing of the muzzle, without any inconvenient twisting of the 

 neck or elevation of the butt of the gun above the hollow of 

 the shoulder, you can instantly throw it on an object. You 

 should be able, naturally and without any noticeable effort at 

 taking aim, to bring the gun to bear on a stationary object 

 at the very moment the heel-plate touches your shoulder. 



The ease with which this is done should approach that with 

 which you point your dexter finger at an object. In trying 

 a gun to see if it fits, do not endeavor to adapt the eye or 

 ad just your position to the gun ; this you may do, and this 

 the dealer in ready-made guns may endeavor to have you do; 

 but remember that the gun is to fit you, and not you the 

 gun. If the gun does not "come up right" do not take it. 



If you have not a number of guns to select from, one of 

 the best methods of ascertaining whether the stock is of 

 the proper length is the followdng: Take a gim that nearly 

 fits you, or if you cannot get one take any gun, and for con- 

 venience of handling, remove the barrels from the .stock; 

 bend the elbow of the right arm so that the forearm shall be 

 at right angles with the upper arm, while the upper arm is 

 held closely to the side; take the stock in your right hand 

 and place the butt-plate firmly and perpendicularly against 

 the upper arm inside the elbow, and allow the forefinger, 

 with the hand naturally and easily placed, to fall on the front 

 trigger. If the forefinger, about one-third bent, so falls that 

 you can easily pull that trigger, and by slipping the finger 

 to the rear trigger can draw that one without any awkward 

 or cramping movement, and without any change in the posi- 

 tion of the arm, the stock is of the right length. If the 

 forefinger goes naturally beyond the front trigger, or behind 

 it, hy just so much is the stock too long or too short. 



To ascertain the length of the stock, measure from the 

 center of the butt-plate to the center of the front trigger, 

 with the hammers on full cock. If the stock you are trying 

 is too long or too short, the distance from the center of the 

 butt-plate to the point at which the front trigger should be 

 to tuake the stock the right length, as shown by your trial, 

 will be the length of stock you want. 



To find how much drop or crook a stock should have to 

 fit you, use a hammerlcss, or a low hammer gun, or a gun 

 with the hammers removed if the hammers are high. Hold 

 the gun naturally, as you would in the field; some say with 

 the left arm well extended, and so I think is the better and 

 easier way in the field, but this may not be convenient to 

 you, and so, I say, throw the gun up naturally, comfortably 

 and quickly, and, without any efl'ort at taking aim, allow 

 the cheek to come to the stock and glance along the barrels. 

 If the sight is on a line with the breech, and ho part of the 

 top rib is visibb, but only the whole of the sight shows 

 above the breech, the drop is right. But try this several 

 times to make sure. If, however, a part of the rib is visible, 

 the stock is too straight; if the sight is either wholly or partly 

 invisible, the stock is too crooked. If too straight, take some 

 square bits of pasteboard, and with a rubber band such as is 

 used for filing papers, fasten them one at a time on the top rib 

 at the extreme breech end of the barrels, and, as you add a 

 bit of pasteboard, continue to test as before, until you have 

 found- the exact crook. If the stook is too crooked proceed 

 in the same way, except that the pasteboard must be fastened 

 at the other extreme of the top rib. When you have found 

 a fit, put it to other tests. Take deliberate aim at stationary 

 objects above, below and on a fine with your head; throw 

 the gun up quickly and see if the sight continues to appear 

 to be at the breech ; throw it on a mark with both eyes open, 

 then close the left eye and see if your aim is point blank; 

 aim several times at a small object on a line with your head 

 and some twenty yards away, and when you have located it 

 in your mind, bring the gun up with both eyes closed, and 

 while holding it in position, open the right eye and see if 

 you are on the mark ; try it in any other way that may 

 occur to you, and if you hav(! ascertained the drop with 

 absolute correctness, the result will always be the same. 



To measure the drop, lay the gun bo"ttom upward, with 

 the bits of pasteboard on it, if it has been necessary to use 

 them, on a smooth, level table, taking care that the hammers 

 are cocked or removed and that the sight is allowed to go 

 beyond the edge of the table, and carefully measure to the 

 sixteenth of an inch, the distance from the edge of the ex- 

 treme butt to the surface of the table. This gives the "drop 

 at butt." The distance from the "comb" (the elevation of 

 the stock just hack of the grip) to the table will give the drop 

 at cheek. 



Now, in my judgment, the drop at comb (or cheek) 

 is properly ascertainable by the ascertainment of the drop 

 just forward of comb. The drop at this point I deem of 

 even more importance to the proper fit and easy handling of 

 a gun than the drop at butt. If the drop at wrist— just for- 

 ward of comb — is sufficient, you cau comfortably and effec- 

 tively use a straighter .stock than you would otherwise be 

 able to use. Indeed, without pretending to speak authorita- 

 tively, my judgment is that American sportsmen usually use 

 stocks with too much drop or crook at butt and not enough 

 at the point just in front of the comb. I am over six feet in 

 height, and formerly deemed Si inches drop at butt just the 

 thing for me; but by having guns made with more drop 

 forward of comb, and less at butt, I found that 3 inches drop 

 at butt was amply suflicient, and 1 am not now so sure that 

 3f would not be sufficient. The drop at comb should not be 

 more than is absolutely necessary; for by having the comb 

 high enough, you get four points of holding— the shoulder, 

 the cheek against the stock, and the hands, and perhaps the 

 best of all these is the pressure of the cheek and stock. 



The drop just forward of comb should be as deep as pos- 

 sible, so as to keep the right hand grasping the stock out of 

 the way of the eye in sighting, and so that in case of recoil, 

 your hand will not knock your nose off. According to my 

 notions, the drop in front of comb should not be more than 

 one-half an inch less than the drop at butt; that is, supposing 

 the drop at butt to be 3 inches, the drop forward of comb 

 should be 3i inches, or 3 7-16 inches at least. This would 

 give the drop' at comb 3 inches, which would be about right. 

 The slock should have a good high comb, measurmg 7-16 to 

 i an inch, 



' It is hardly necessary to go at length into my reasons for 

 the views above expressed. I invite the attention of my 

 brethren to the subject, and hope they will report their views 

 through the columns of this paper. I am confident they 

 wiU find that the Engfish have not been so far wrong in 

 using so much straighter stocks than are used in this country, 

 and that proper drop forward of comb will in great measui'e 

 give the results that Americans have sought by increasing the 

 drop at butt. With proper drop at the point forward of 

 comb, and a good comb, a stock much straighter can be con- 

 veniently used than most sportsmen are in the habit of using. 

 For quick work, the straighter stock will be found to possess 

 advantages over the crookeder one. And it is observable 

 that the gun with the straight stock will appear to "feel 

 better," "handle better," and possess that ••indescribable 

 something" so often attributed to English guns at the ex- 

 pense of'" the reputation of American masers. The very 

 straight stocks of the English guns have, to a certain extent 

 at least, given them the reputation of possessing that "ex- 

 quisite distribution of weight" which, it is said, is always 



