The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1901-06-06
TIPS ON HANDLING GUNS
IF OBSERVED THEY WILL MAKE THE
SPORT SAFE.


sport so generally INDUCED in that the
safe handling of firearms is a matter
of grave Importance, declares a writer
in the New York Sun. How to carry
the gun, how and when to shoot, accur-
acy of aim and how to put ourselves
and our fellow men in the least posi-
bic danger may be termed the most
important things to the gunner. To
become proficient one must BEGIN
young. Familiarity with a gun, when
acquired at late stage in life gives
evidence that it is not natural, but is
more or less put on. There is 30 rea-
son, however, why person of mature
age cannot learn to carry a gun in a
proper manner and with few simple
precautions place accidents beyond a
possibility.
A gun pointed at no object or person
can do no harm even if it does go off
accidentally. 1t is very easy to carry
the gun with the barrels pointed earth
ward or skyward. When the gun is
carried with the barrels pointing to-
ward the earth and the trigger guard
resting on the wrist it is apparently
in a position to do no one any harm.
but a foot has been shot off more than
once by a gun held in this position To
make this method absolutely safe the
simple precaution of breaking" the
gun should be followed. With the gun
broken it is impossible for it to go
off accidentally, and it is matter OF
but a small part of a second to close
the barrels. Closing the gun and
bringing it to the shoulder for aim can
be accomplished in one motion.
If the gun is carried on the shoulder
the trigger guard should be uppermost.
This will bring the barrels into a posi-
ton pointing almost directly skyward.
If the reverse method is used, that is,
the trigger guard down, the barrels
will be on level with any one trailing
in the rear. Many accidents have been
caused by crossing a fence with a
loaded gun in hand. These accidents
may be avoided by laying the gun
down within reaching distance Of the
other side. A still safer method is to
before crossing any obstruction. This
last method removes possibility of ac-
cident. One famous old rule formu-
lated in behalf of safety was to carry
the gun always at half cock, but the
rebounding lock now used which ne
cessitates the gun always being at half
cock, has done away with this.
-, -, Sc
one, no matter how great the distance.
Guns sometimes carry marvellous dis
tances, and the range of danger cannot
be guaged accurately, for of two shells
though they are marked the same one
is often more powerful than the other.
A trlfle more powder may have been
put in one or the difference may be in
the explosive strength of two equal
amounts of powder The condition OF
the atmosphere often has great deal
to do with the distance a gun VIII
carry.
If walking in line never change your
position by stepping ahead or dropping
behind. If spread apart to the right
and left this rule should be even more
closely followed. The person on the
extreme right is in the safer position
on account of the tendency to shoot to
the left, whereas the person in the cen
ire will probably have the better sport.
The left is the more dangerous posi-
ton because of the tendency to swing
the gun in that direction. On the other
hand the more reckless shot should be
placed on the left.
The first handling of a gun moulds
the career of the future sportsman,
and for this reason he should be put
in the hands of a strict instructor The
policy of beginning with single bar
rel gun is a thing of the past. 1t is
very easy to have the lock of one bar
rel fixed and then when the time comes
to use the second barrel all there is to
do is to free the fixed lock. The object
of allowing the beginner to use only
one barrel at first is to make him care
full of his aim. If he began with both
barrels he would think if he missed
with the first he would bring down his
game with the second anyway This
would tend to make him careless with
his first barrel. and this carelessness
once acquired cannot easily be got rid
of. If he began with single barrel
gun he would have to begin all over
again with double barrel gun for he
would have a strange weapon.
To have a beginner measured for
gun is no longer a matter of mere the
ory. but is the most important feature.
1t is really the first step in the ar OF
shooting. Take the beginner to gun
shop aud pick out several guns. Then
let him try the guns, placing the stock
about an inch from the chest and three
inches below the shoulder. Let the
neck of the gun be slightly grasped
with the right hand, with the fore
finger close to the trigger The LETT
arm should be extended along the bar
rel with slight bend at the elbow
and the left hand grasping the barrel
firmly. II the gun is fit an upward