130 
FOR E S T A X D S T R E A M 
March, 1919 
TAKEAKAMPKOOK 
on/out FISHINCTRIP 
Good hot coffee and a tasty 
lunch ready in less time than 
it takes to gather wood for 
an ordinary camp fire. No 
delay, no fuss or trouble when 
you use an 
AMERICAN KAMPKOOK 
The ideal camp stove for tourists 
and all who hunt, fish or go camp- 
ing. Has two burners. Burns gaso- 
line. Folds securely into steel case 
when not in use. Set up and going 
in two minutes. Not affected by 
wind. Simple, substantial, safe. Also 
sold with KAMPOVEN for broiling 
and baking. 
Sold by sporting goods and hard- 
ware dealers. 
Write for attractive literature. 
American Gas Machine Co. 
807 Clark St. Albert Lea, Minn. 
Size, folded, 141,4x8x3^ 
inches. Weight, 8 pounds. 
TTEALTHY, vigorous competi- 
-*■ tion of life in the open made 
America’s soldiers supple, self- 
reliant and keen-witted. “Out- 
door life did it’’ and canoeing is 
chief among sports that furnish 
both pleasure and health. The 
“01dTown’’is the Master Canoe. 
Buoyant, yet staunch, trim and 
natty in appearance, speedy and 
safe. Ask to see the unsinkable 
“Sponson Model.’’ your 
dealer’s or write for catalog. 
OLD TOWN CANOE CO. 
893 4th St. Old Town, Maine 
Sport! 
THOMAS 
The Thomas hand made split bamboo 
fishing rod has been perfected to meet 
both the all around and the various special 
requirements of the modern angling sport. 
Made of the finest bamboo, light, resilient, 
perfectly jointed and balanced. In the 
Thomas rod the acme of perfection has 
been obtained. Send for our interesting 
booklet. 
THOMAS HOD COMPANY, 
117 Exchange St., Bangor, Me. 
AMD EIFLEMEM 
THE TYRO’S PRIMER 
CERTAIN TERMS, PHRASES AND IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS 
USED BY MILITARY RIFLEMEN ARE DEFINED AND EXPLAINED 
By CAPTAIN ROY S. TINNEY, Associate Editor of FOREST AND STREAM 
(CONTINUED FROM LAST MONTH) 
T he rifle must be held firmly with 
the butt-plate pressed snugly in 
the hollow of the shoulder. Do not 
place the butt against the shoulder- 
point or the biceps of the arm, this is, 
unfortunately, a common error and 
causes the painful bruises so often sus- 
tained by soldiers and trap-shots, who 
fire a large number of cartridges in a 
short time. The old injunction “hold 
her tight’’ is good advice, providing it 
is not overdone, for too much pressure 
is just as fatal to accuracy as a loose, 
sloppy grip on the piece. Hold the butt 
in the hollow of the shoulder with a 
firm, even pressure that does not vary 
from shot to shot and “ride the recoil” 
by permitting the shoulder to move back- 
ward a short distance as the gun speaks. 
In this way one avoids all injury and 
punishment, and secures accurate con- 
sistent shooting. 
FLINCHING 
T his is an involuntary, nervous 
-twitch of the shoulder muscles that 
occurs just as the trigger is “eased 
off” or, I regret to say, “pulled” in many 
j instances, and renders utterly worth- 
less the best trained and most experi- 
enced men. This vicious malady is 
caused by three things; not holding the 
gun properly, using a stock that does 
not fit you, or firing an overloaded weap- 
on. The shooter’s shoulder soon becomes 
one great, throbbing bruise; every shot 
is simply so much added agony and, as 
it is only human to fear that which hurts 
and injures, a man soon finches in an- 
ticipation of the coming punishment. 
The best way to cure “flinching” is not 
to contract it; therefore, do not fire 
heavy ammunition until you are fully 
instructed as to the proper method of 
holding your gun. 
I 
THE SLING 
M ost people think the sole office of 
the sling is to assist in carrying 
the weapon, while in reality that 
use is merely a by-product; as the real 
purpose of the strap is to steady the 
gun at the instant of firing and re- 
duce the effect of the recoil by making 
it possible to hold the butt firmly into 
the hollow of the shoulder with the 
even, consistent pressui’e that is re- 
quired. There is just one safe rule to 
follow: Learn to use the sling correctly 
and then tise it — at all times and in all 
positions. 
The old service slinc; was made of 
leather, cumbersome to carry, stiff to 
use and difficult to adjust, also a leather 
strap has a nasty habit of not staying 
where it is “put” and after a few shots 
is prone to slip out of position and' cause 
trouble. The new web strap now issued 
to our boys has cured all these annoy- 
ing difficulties and for civilan use pos- 
sesses the added virtue of costing much 
less than the “bit of bullhide” formerly 
used. 
To adjust the sling loosen the lower 
part to its full extension as a single 
strap, then lengthen the larger, or up- 
per loop until it comes opposite the comb 
of the stock. The average Tyro will 
loudly proclaim that the sling is “so 
tight,” but experience will soon show 
him that this measurement is correct 
for a man of average build and need 
only be slightly lengthened or shortened 
to suit the anatomy of the individual. 
After you have become thoroughly ac- 
customed to the use of the sling, make 
a mark on the under side of your rifle 
stock giving the length that is “right” 
for you. 
To put the sling on the left arm, hold 
the gun in the right hand by seizing the 
weapon at the grip and resting the heel 
against the groin ; pass the fingers of the 
left hand into the large loop with an 
inside hooking motion so the arm will 
enter this loop from the right side, as 
shown in the illustration. Bring the 
loop up well into the armpit and shove 
the keeper firmly home above the biceps, 
and see to it that the sling stays there; 
if it slips down toward the elbow the 
value of the sling is lost. I would sug- 
gest you see to it that the keeper fits 
the strap smugly so it will hold the loop 
firmly against the left arm and it is 
good idea to sew a piece of small rope 
around the sleeve of your shooting coat 
to keep the sling up where it belongs. 
Slide the left hand well out under the 
rifle, all the way up to the forward 
swivel, and be very careful that the for- 
ward part of the stock rests upon the 
palm of the left hand, and is not sup- 
ported by the fingers, which should be 
placed firmly about the wood covering 
the barrel. Always remember the sling 
must pass around the right side of the 
left wrist and if the pressure causes 
pain, just slip a heavy, lined glove on 
the left hand, like we bugs do. .Also 
remember that the left hand has just 
one job to do, hold, firmly and consist- 
ently. Until a man can adjust his sling 
readily rnd use it with comfort, he 
should not be permitted to fire a shot. 
