SPORTING, 
of No. 7 will affect its vitality, equal to a 
pellet of No. 2, the chances for using the 
former are multiplied in the marksman’s fa- 
vour ; for it is the number, and not the 
magnitude of the particles, that kills on the 
spot. If sportsmen would be persuaded to 
use No. 5 and 6 in grouse and partridge, 
and No. 7 in woodcock-shooting, instead of 
No. 3 and 4 j and No. 4 and 6 for black- 
game and pheasants, instead of No. 2 and 
3, they would bring home one-third more 
game, and not destroy one bird more than 
usual. They who prefer large shot, and ac- 
custom themselves to fire at great dis- 
tances, leave nearly as many languishing in 
the field, as immediately fall, whereas those 
that use small shot, and shoot fair, fill their 
bag, with little spoil or waste, beyond what 
they take with them from the field.” 
We derive much satisfaction from the 
support of so respectable an authority, and 
from the assurance of another veteran, in 
ornithologic devastation, who assures us, 
that for upwards of twenty years he never 
used any shot for field sport, above the size 
of No. 6, with which he has killed bustards 
and deer ; the same authority further states, 
that for the ordinary birds of small game, 
such as snipes and quail. No. 8 was always 
found perfectly adequate. For geese, and 
in general for ducks, it was his constant 
practice to load with No. 2 or 3, according 
to the expanse of water. We are likewise 
indebted to the same authority for a kind 
of standard, by which sportsmen in general 
may be guided with propriety, which 
serves, at the same time, to supply a defici- 
ency prevailing in all publications , on this 
subject. 
“ Many persons, are unable to estimate 
the proper charges of powder and shot for 
their respective pieces^ it is true, some 
authors tell us, to be guided by the weight 
of the ball ; but it often happens, that a 
ball is not at hand ; and, when obtained, 
unless it fits exactly, and is perfectly sphe- 
rical, will not determine the true dimen- 
sions of the bore. I have always found, 
that, with the best powder, a charge equal 
to a diamei er and a half of the bore, was the 
best, tliat is, die most efficient quantity ; 
that it impelled an equal quantity of shot 
with' great force ; and that without causing 
too great a recoil. Thus if the bore were 
six-eighths of an inch, the load of powder, 
poured loosely into the piece, should raise 
the ram rod nine-eighths from an inch ; or 
one inch and one-eighth. The wadding 
should be of thick leather, or felt (i. e. old 
hat) cut out with a machine ; that should be 
rammed down firmly, but not so as to 
bruise the grains of powder. Then put in 
the same measure of shot, as you did of 
powder, and ram it down rather mode- 
rately, after covering with a second wadding 
as above. Observe, that shot will spread 
more or less in proportion to the force 
with which it is rammed down ; the more 
it is rammed, the less it will diverge. The 
above mode of Charging will cause the 
charge in a piece of three quarters of an 
inch bore, to occupy a depth of full two 
inches and a half in depth. Some, who 
have a great predilection for large charges 
may smile at the above quantity, which has, 
however, answered admirably with me, and 
will be found, under fair and repeated ex- 
periments, to be the most killing charge 
that can be used. But I must remark, 
that, owing to some fault in the construc- 
tion, dud especially if the vent be placed at 
all beyond the bottom of the barrel, some 
guns will recoil severely, even vrith the 
above ipoderate charge. When such is the 
case, I should recommend that the piece be 
chambered.” 
The foregoing perspicuous mode of 
charging appears so reasonable, and is 
founded on so regular a computation, that 
we feel a confidence in urging all sportsmen 
to give it a fair trial ; it is obviously mo- 
derate ; therefore may be considered as de- 
void of danger. Upon that principle we 
could expatiate, at great length, regarding 
the highly culpable practice of carrying a 
piece full-cocked ; also of letting it swing 
in such a direction as might cause the 
charge, in case of accident, to wound any 
person in the field. The muzzle ought al- 
ways to be carried above the shoulder ; 
and, in general, it ought to be the endea- 
vour of every sportsman, to avoid every 
liability to endanger either himself, or any 
other person. However inconvenient stop 
locks may prove on some occasions, they 
nevertheless have the great recommenda- 
tion of being on the safe side of the ques- 
tion : when a gun is put by in a situation 
accessible to other persons, even wlien un- 
loaded, it ought to have the lock stopped, to 
prevent its beitig injured ; but when a piece 
is loaded, which should never be the qase, 
except under very pressing circumstances, 
due care ought to be taken to prevent its 
being in the hands of children, or of any but 
those for whose use it may be intended. 
Having said thus much in regard to the 
constrpetion or kinds of guns proper for 
