Jan. 18, 1902.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
g 9 
Chote-Bores of Cylinders* 
From ^Experts on Guns and Shooting-? 
The theory and practice of shooting forward never seem to agree. 
We all acknowledge the theoretical necessity of shooting forward; wc 
none of us subscribe to the distance theory says we ought to shoot 
before our game. Even great shooters cannot agree oyer this 
subject except in this, that they all condemn the theoretical dis- 
tances as absurd and impossible; but a great deal of the disagree- 
ment is merely a different use of terms. What, for instance, is 
"swing"? Sportsmen are apt. to Use It to express two totally 
different things. Here is an instance of what we mean, being a 
quotation from a letter already published: 
"Now, a short time ago I had tbe pleasure of witnessing a really 
first-rate shot— namely, Earl de Grey— all through a day's covert 
shooting, when nearly 500 pheasants were killed, and I observed 
that invariably, when the pheasants afforded time, his lordship 
deliberately aligned his gun by swinging with the bird, often to the 
extent of several yards of its flight. Once or twice, when birds 
and rabbits were crossing a narrow open space, he put up his 
guh with a swing, but not getting 'on', dropped it without firing. 
At one hot corner I noticed Lord de Grey fire so quickly as to 
empty three guns before the first discharged could be reloaded, 
and about this time I saw three pheasants falling to. his gun at 
one time. If he missed with the first barrel he almost always 
followed with a deadly second without apparently taking Iiis gun 
from the shoulder, from which I concluded that he swung his gun 
from the first to the second shot." 
The writer here, in our opinion, correctly uses the word "swing." 
There are the double acts of following the game up and "swing- 
ing'' in front. We regard this latter term as anything that is done 
to get in front of the game, whereas "following" is a lower form 
of the same thing, and merely means trying to catch up the game 
for alignment when the gun is at the shoulder. Following round 
is usually condemned by the oracles, and when it is done to excess' 
and to danger, so it ought to be; but, all the same, alignment of 
a fast-coming-over bird cannot always be got without it. It is 
evident that if the above letter correctly describes Lord de Grey's 
method, he not only "follows" to get alignment, but also after- 
ward "swings" to get in front of bis game. 
But "swing" is a term that has been used to do duty for some- 
thing different to either of these actions. In a letter to us, 
quoted at length in a previous chapter. Lord Walsingham seems 
to understand the term to mean throwing the gun up to the 
shoulder and ahead of his game in a single action. It is not the 
ordinary serise of the term, and we think this action best described 
fls throwing tip the gun to a point ahead of the game. He was 
describing shooting at wood-pigeons, birds that, as every sports- 
man knows, go off at a tangent the moment they see the sports- 
man move to raise his gun. Game birds do not do this, although 
teal on occasion can shoot 30yds. perpendicular into the sky as 
they see the shooter raise his gun, and be well out of shot by the 
time it is up. 
Game birds, when they once have selected a line of flight, aft 
comparatively very hard to turn. Why, it is difficult to say, for 
when they are on foot they are sensitive to the faintest movement, 
and a gunner standing outside a covert where he can be seen by 
the running pheasant will get no sport if he is not as still as a 
statue. Hares and rabbits are not half so sharp-eyed as game 
birds, especially pheasants, but even they will not come to a 
gunner who cannot stand still. We have always had wonderful 
luck in obtaining a fair share of the bag wherever - we have been 
shooting, and it has been mostly in consequence of the inability 
of many sportsmen to stand still and to "hold their noise," as 
they say in Lincolnshire. 
The late Bromley-Davenport described how you should, by 
shooting in front, only hit a rocketer in the head- and neck. So 
much depends upon the distance. Up to 25 or 30yds. it is possible 
to shoot for the head and neck, but beyond that distance to do 
so would be to run great risk of missing altogether, or only 
hitting with the last and weakest pellets in a charge, as may be 
seen by examining the position of the pheasant, C, in regard to the 
column of shot represented in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig, 1 he is 
entering the column as it has mostly passed him, and, if anywhere, 
he will get the shot in the head and neck. This is likely enough 
at 20 to 25yds., but it is very unlikely when the column has 
lengthened out, as is here represented. A, in the same column of 
Fifteen feet column of shot from choke-bore, show- 
ing position of pheasant A, well timed for 40yds., 
and position of pheasant C, well timed for 20yds. and 
badly timed for 40yds. 
shot, represents a pheasant just entering the column to a well- 
timed shot, just as it reaches his line of travel, which is toward 
the point, B. In Fig. 2 this bird is represented to have passed 
the point B considerably before all the choke-bore column has 
come up. This is because he has to fly 2ft. or 2ft. 6in., while the 
slowest of the shots are traveling loft. He is going possibly one- 
fifth this pace, and will get through when they have covered about 
12ft. 6in. out of the 15ft. With a cylinder gun, as in Figs. 3 and 
4, the bird has to go twice the distance to get through the col- 
umn of shot, while it is- passing his line of flight. This he cannot 
do, and so he gets the full benefit of the cylinder pattern, and 
only a portion of that of the choke-bore at 40yds. from the gun. 
This perhaps has something to do with the popularity of cylinder 
guns for game shooting, in spite of the fact that choke-bores hold 
the field for pigeon shooting. It is easy to understand, therefore, 
that a cylinder may put more shot into crossing game than a 
choke-bore, even if equally well directed, aiid it is clear that the 
difference of the patterns at a flat* target is deceptive. 
The degree of inaccuracy of aim that may, nevertheless, by 
luck, score with the cylinder is also very much greater than with 
the choke-bore. In iig, 5, representing a cylinder's column of 
shot, 4ft. across and 20ft. long, H represents a phcasnrtt having 
almost passed before the shot arrive — a kill, perhaps, with a stern 
shot, with broken legs most likely, I represents & bird just en- 
tering, shot having just the proper allowance in front, and J is 
a pheasant whose head and neck enter the rear of the column of 
shot just as the last of it passes the bird's line of flight, and 
therefore represents the utmost possible allowance in front with a 
just possible kill. 
The bird Is shown in two positions. First in his proper dis- 
tance behind the other two birds in Fig. 5; second, as he would 
Showing pheasants A and C, as in Fig 1, 
when the column of shot has passed. 
enter the rear of the column of shot in Fig. 6, when he had 
arrived at the line of flight of tbe shot— the latter still going five 
times the pace of the bird. 
It will be seen, then, that here is a possible variation of 8ft, in 
the position of a bird when a kill results. A very high choke-bore 
will give about 3ft. less, or 5ft. variation in the comparative posi- 
tions of the game and the shot, yet resulting in a possible kill. 
But this only applies to the distance of variation on the correct 
line of flight. Once deviate from that line and, as we have pre- 
viously tried to make dear, the chances of hitting with each kind 
of bore vary, not by square measure any longer, but by the cubic 
space covered by the shot. It is a common assertion of the choke- 
borers that if a man cannot shoot with a choke-bore it is because 
he is not good shot enough. We trust that Figs. 1 and 2 may do 
something to dispel these ideas. At driven game a shooter is 
handicapped by a choke-bore far beyond the difference of spread 
upon the target between its and the cylinder's shot. 
In another chapter we have stated the lengths of the columns of 
shot, based on Mr. Griffith's measurements, to be at 40yds. from 
the muzzle, 12yds. for a cylinder and 9yds. for a choke-bore. These 
results were obtained by measurements obtained by Mr. Griffith's 
revolving target. This turned at the rate of 200ft. per second- 
less than a third of the mean velocity of the shot over the distance 
between the first and the last pellet. The photographs of targets 
taken in this way have therefore to be multiplied so as to be 
equivalent to making the target revolve as fast as the shot traveled. 
Here we have taken 20ft. column of shot from the cylinder barrel in- 
stead of 36ft., because in practice the straggling shot do not count for 
much. A careful examination of Mr. Griffith's photographs of 
revolving targets, and a lively remembrance of pellets that had no 
power to get beyond a rabbit's skin (any one who is shooting 
rabbits will, if he passes his hand over those killed, find a large 
proportion of shot have penetrated only the skin), assure us that 
we do well to neglect to count on the slower pellets. Yet, if 
any one believes they are of service he may in theory add 3ft. to 
the Sft. of inaccuracy of allowance permissible for the cvlinder, 
and make lift, of it, and one foot to the 5ft. of the choke-bore 
and make 6ft. of it. In practice he can do nothing of the kind; 
and surely 8ft. of possible variation ought to be enough for any 
one at 40yds. We think it is enough to explain the difference 
between the theory and practice of aiming in front. 
A bird going sixty miles an hour— no unusual pace in a breath 
of wind, to say nothing of a gale— travels 13ft. while the shot 
travels from the muzzle to 40yds. distance. This reduces the ab- 
solute necessary allowance of a well-timed shot to anything be- 
tween 5ft. and 13ft., for the spread of the shot, longitudinal and 
lateral, accounts for 8ft. of it. 
We do not regard the personal equation nor the time of ignition 
after the pull of the trigger; if we did, these would be constants, 
and necessitate additional allowance always. We do not regard 
them because when a shooter is in form he times his shot to leave 
the barrel as he gets his aim; he does not time himself to pull the 
trigger when he gets exactly on the spot, but when he sees that he 
is going to get there. The variation of allowance necessitated by a 
too hard or too light pull off ought to prove to any one that pull at 
any rate is made allowance for, and actually takes place before the 
gun comes to the desired spot. A well-known phase or quality 
always present in good form is when the hand and eye work to- 
gether. It is in everybody's mouth, and yet it would have no 
meaning unless it meant that the hand is obedient to what the 
senses tell the eye is going to happen in preference to what has 
happened. 
We think that the following analysis extracted from the columns 
of Land and Water, in 1877, will answer the purpose of setting 
out this point clearly; 
"Sir— I am always glad to be of use if I can, but I doubt 
whether I shall be able to satisfy your inquiring correspondent, 
'One Wishing to Learn.' I was careful, when I first wrote to 
you a fortnight ago, to say that what I considered the first rule 
and the only rule which can apply to everybody is: 
"Q— Every man being different, his success will depend upon 
different and often opposite rules? 
"A. — Believing this most thoroughly, how is it possible I can 
'lay down the law'? I can only reply to most of these questions, 
subject to differences of individuals. To begin: 
"Q. — In what position is the gun held when at the ready? 
"A. — That rather depends upon whether the shooter shoots from 
the right shoulder or the left. Perhaps I can best reply by getting 
on. to the next question. 
"Q.— Should the 'ready' position be the same in the butts as in 
the open? 
"A.— Distinctly no. In the case of a right-shouldered man the 
muzzle will be held bearing slightly to the left and upward in the 
butts. This positiott would be exceedingly difficult to keep in si 
day's Iramp upon the moofs. Nevertheless, as nsar to it as can 
be made comfortable to the shooter should be maintained when 
game is exDected, especially if wild -hots are to be accounted for. 
The gun will be carried with the muzzle pointing still more to the 
left in walking up game, but never so much as to cover, by any 
excuse, the man walking further to the left, and the muzzle should 
always be well up, or down, so as not to point into a man who hap- 
pened to be, by accident, in its line. I am doubtful whether it is 
correct to speak of the 'ready' in walking up game, for unless 
game is immediately expected, the gun is not carried in a posit»o» 
answering to the 'ready, but is thrown into it by the action which 
afterward brings it to the shoulder. Watch a shorter surprised by 
a rise of partridges, and you will observe that the arm's and muzzle 
are first extended in the direction of the birds, the gtsfl going up 
pointing their way before it is brought to the shoulder. If t.h* 
birds are going straightaway it is pulled straight in, and th« shofl 
leaves tbe barrel as the stock touches the shoulder; if, ori the' 
contrary, it is a crossing shot or a tall pheSsSnt, {he action is tfl«j 
same as in the butts, from the moment after the gun has reached 
its furthest outward position (never having stopped, for it is- 
almost a segment of a circle which is described by the hands) it 
crosses the game as the stock comes back to the shoulder, and 
keeping in the same line with the moving quarry, the trigger is 
pressed at that instant which the shooter feels will enable the sho« 
to leave the muzzle as soon as he has got it to the proper dista/!««t 
in front; in his best form that instant will be as the gun touches 
the shoulder. The best shot in tbe world is not always able to 
insure success of this method; if he is out of form he will 'poke 
at 'em' and 'follow,' like his neighbors, until he has 'felt his 
fingers,' that is, until form comes back to him, and by this poking 
and following he will kill if he has time. 
"Q— And do I understand him rightly, that when the gun is 
properly wielded, the swinging is done with the butt away from 
the shoulder, as the gun is rapidly brought up from the 'ready 
position to the 'present and fire' in one same instant; 
and that the butt ought not to rest against the shoulder until 
the shooter, having made up his mind where to send the shot to 
intercept the line of flight of the game, swing3 up the gun from 
the 'ready' position to the present, and pulls the trigger instanta- 
neously as the butt touches the shoulder? Ought 'swing merely 
to be the movement from the 'ready' position to the present, or can 
it also be a correction of the aim afterwards? 
"A.— The first part of this question I have already replied to as 
well as I am able: to the latter portion, I do think 'swing' ought 
to be accomplished before the gun touches tbe shoulder, but, as 
I have before said, it cannot always be done, even by the best 
shots, so that what 'ought to be' and 'what is' are not always 
identical. 'Swing,' it should be remembered, has no technical 
meaning other than its dictionary one; it may therefore descend 
into 'following,' 
"P. — 1 presume the gun ought to be kept still at the 'ready" 
position until the shooter has made his instantaneous calculations, as 
the driven bird comes into range? 
"A. — Certainly, no movement, should be made until the gun is 
quickly brought up. But I fancy a great mistake exists in think- 
ing the shooter can tell where to shoot while the gun is still at 
Twenty feet of cylinder column of shot, showing 
position of well-timed shot in regard to 
pheasant E. 
the ready. The successful point, in my opinion, is never settled 
until the gun is on the point of covering it. Indeed it cannot 
be termed a point at all; it is a line in the direction of' flight, and 
when the gun has covered a certain space more of it than the bird 
has, _the trigger is pressed. 
"Now comes the most difficult question to answer, and vet the 
most tin important, I believe. ' 
"Q— Should the swing cease as the gun comes to the shoulder 
or should it be continued afterward? 
"A.— To the beginner. I would say, swing on, because you can 
do no harm by attempting it, and you may do harm by attemntine 
to check your swing. The experienced shooter, however, allows the 
the k Z?^fJ™% ^ll^^^WJ 84 .ft** ^ knows 
cannot 
belp V( k le£t barrel brf ° re he feelS the 3tick " ' secon< *> he 
