£54 
FOREST AND STREAM 
v 
Even Before the Youngster Is Old Enough to Handle a Gun He Enjoys Going Out Once in a While With Dad—He Is Also 
Convenient in the Toting of Dad’s Shell Jacket. 
The Boy and His Gun 
A Few Sensible Observations That May be Read by Men With Boys 
As Well as by Some Grown Up Boys Themselves 
By John W. Davis. 
E VERY real American boy wants to own a 
rifle. Show me the boy who does not. 
It is not to be denied, however, that there 
is an element of danger in handling firearms. 
But if a boy is not to be trusted with a gun, is 
he to be trusted with a team, or an axe or any 
of the many things which are dangerous in the 
hands of a careless person? I do not mean by 
this that boys under ten years of age should 
have a gun, and those over only under the care¬ 
ful supervision of his father or some other com¬ 
petent person. 
This early training in the use of a gun should 
be most thorough, and careful habits should be 
so carefully taught that they stay with him all 
his life. When you think of the proportionally 
few number of gun accidents, caused by persons 
who handle firearms carelessly, and then think 
of the hundreds of thousands of guns in use 
in this country, it will be seen that there is no 
unusual risk in handling firearms. It is the boy 
who was never allowed to have a gun at home, 
who goes over to the neighbors and “didn’t know 
it was loaded.” 
The very nature of shooting, particularly rifle 
shooting, is to inspire confidence in one’s self, 
to develop steady nerves, and keen eyesight. And 
rifle shooting is not an expensive sport. A 22 
caliber rifle, costing from three to five dollars, 
and ammunition costing $2.25 a thousand, will 
provide excellent sport for a long time. As the 
boy gets older he may want a larger rifle, one 
with more power, and if he has mastered the 
first principles of rifle shooting with his little 
rifle, he will find, that with due allowance for 
difference in range and power, that he can use 
the big rifle as well as the small one. He will 
learn that with a higher powered rifle he must 
correctly estimate the “range” or distance shot 
over, and set his sights accordingly. This range 
finding is in itself a desirable thing to learn. 
The principal danger in boys handling fire¬ 
arms, is in a crowd. A group of boys with guns, 
unless under the supervision of a competent per¬ 
son, is a dangerous combination. Somebody is 
liable to get hurt. The boy’s first few years 
with a gun should be under the care of his 
father or grown up brother, and his hunting bet¬ 
ter done alone. The thing that must be im¬ 
pressed on his mind is: Never point any gun 
toward any one at any tune. Equally important 
with this, never load a gun in the house or leave 
it loaded there. 
He must be taught that in loading a gun, 
anywhere, keep it pointed toward the ground. 
One time in a thousand a gun will go off while 
being loaded, and that is the time to guard 
against. Another rule that must never be vio¬ 
lated : Never carry a gun loaded in a wagon, 
buggy or auto. Some unexpected jar or knock 
may set it off. And it is bad policy to shoot out 
of a vehicle, because if driving a team, the team 
may jump and throw one, or even run off. An 
automobile is still more uncertain to carry a 
loaded gun in, as the swaying of the car or some 
rough place in the road may set the gun off. 
Keep loaded guns out of vehicles. It is but an 
instant’s work to load a gun after one is out of 
them. 
Many persons are shot each year getting 
through fences. The one safe way to get 
through or over a fence with a gun, is to care¬ 
fully put the gun on the other side first, being 
careful not to get any snow or dirt in the muz¬ 
zle in doing so, and then get over or through the 
fence. Of course one can step over a fence 
with a gun in his hand, but there is danger of 
slipping or tripping, and falling on the gun in 
such a way as to set it off. 
Rifle shooting is entirely distinct from shot¬ 
gun shooting. With a rifle, one need not kill 
game unless so inclined, but instead may simply 
practice target shooting. It requires a much 
steadier hand and clearer eye to successfully use 
a rifle as compared to a shotgun. Personally I 
prefer a rifle, as I consider rifle practice excel¬ 
lent training. It is a dangerous practice to 
shoot without first having a clear view of the ob¬ 
ject shot at and a definite idea as to where the 
bullet will fly. In this way much shotgun shoot¬ 
ing will usually impair one’s rifle shooting. 
A little advice to the beginner in rifle prac¬ 
tice is in order. A rifle gets its name from the 
spiral grooves inside the barrel, and on these 
grooves depend the accurate shooting qualities 
of the rifle. They must be protected from rust 
and kept clean of powder fouling, after each 
day’s use, and above all, the ends of the riflings 
at the muzzle end of the rifle must not be nicked. 
If they are, it will seriously impair the accu- 
