muzzle in compact form, more or less 
welded together, and they continue to¬ 
gether but gradually increase in di¬ 
ameter, which increases through at¬ 
mospheric influence after the first 10 
feet at about the rate of 1 to 1-1.2 
inches to the yard, spreading apart 
and finally arriving at the target at, 
say, 40 yards in an egg-shaped mass 
44 to 48 in. in dia. by 50 to 60 in. in 
length. This would present an ideal 
form of pattern and shot column were 
it not for the width of the spread. A 
50 per cent, or modified choke presents 
a shot column “betwixt and between” 
the above two extremes, giving at the 
target at 40 yds. in a more or less egg 
shape form 36 to 40 in. dia. by 7 to 8 
feet long, and in this form of choke 
the greater number of pellets strike 
the target at the same precise instant 
and with a concentration of the charge 
towards a common center amply suffi¬ 
cient for practical purposes. In a small 
bore gun, with its limited shot charge, 
the form of the bore and amount of 
choke needs to be given more considera¬ 
tion than in the larger bores handling 
ci greater amount of shot. Fast flying 
game or swift targets that might be 
missed by the excessive spread of the 
cylinder shot column, or that might es¬ 
cape through imperfect leading and 
the likewise thin and lengthy shot 
column of the full choke, might be 
caught by the thickness of the modi¬ 
fied pattern both in spread and in the 
shorter length of the shot column. Ex¬ 
pert trap shooters recognize the value 
of this short shot column, and few, if 
anly of them, use a gun of much more 
than modified choke, or they adapt their 
grans to a load producing such results. 
For general purposes, at all kinds of 
game, and at duck over decoys, a 16 
ga. bored right 1-4 choke, and left half 
to 3-4 choke, will suit the great ma¬ 
jority; while for use where its prin¬ 
cipal purpose is afield or in the marsh 
at snipe, the right bored improved cyl¬ 
inder and the left modified will be found 
superior, especially where 9s and 10s 
are to be used. Too many shooters 
handicap themselves with guns bored 
to shoot too close; not one man in a 
thousands can successfully use such a 
weapon, and the writer confesses to 
belonging to the great majority. There 
is a fascination about owning a gun 
delivering an extra close pattern, but 
its value is principally in shooting pat¬ 
terns for exhibition, or in setting shots 
on game at long distances; for as field 
guns, and for use at duck over decoys, 
etc., they generally outshoot the shoot¬ 
ers. 
The patterns here shown were shot 
at the usual game distances; 35 yards 
for large shot, such as might be used 
on duck, and 25 yards for small shot 
and such game as quail and snipe. 
Twenty-four inch circles were selected 
Page 527 
Real 71 
earn 
Work 
Jim, those dogs are cer¬ 
tainly on the job. They 
haven’t broken a point or 
overrun a covey, today.” 
“Well, whyshould they? 
E. C. and Infallible sure 
are backing them up. 
Whenever we get two clear 
shots, they bring in two 
dead birds.” 
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Samkelsss 
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Only $32.50 
$12.00 CASE FREE 
s a Rifle, length 35 in. 
As a Target Pistol 
A. 
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perfectly balanced accurate rarm msmi .— maimer long rifle cartridge, improved model, is a 
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It will identify you. 
