The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-09-27
HOW T8::;':..:.
SHO or
By Bob Mich OILS
Shooting Editor, Field and Stream

ONE of the poorest guns In the
" world for the beginner in wing.
shooting to use Is the close shooting
full choke gun. In fact, for upland
work the close bored gun is poor
gun for anyone to use. except In open
plains country where birds frequently
rise at 20 to 30 yards. in which case
you've got to have a gun that will
reach out and get them.
The choke In a shotgun barrel
means the degree to which its bore is
CONSTRUCTED Mt the mnz2le. The shot
charge travelling through full choke
barrel is suddenly squeezed together
inst before 1t reaches the muzzle. The
effect Is to cause the shot pellets To
hing closer together. which results In
d pattern of small diameter and maxi
mum density. The construction, or
choke. is In the first two or three
inches nj the mnzzle. For this reason
never try to make a short barrel BY
saving off three or four inches Of the
nnzzie. Yon Will ruin the gun.
Thereafter your gun will throw Il
wide. uneven pattern that can't
he relied on. good gunsmith can
frequently turn out good Job OF
| this kind providing the metal In the
| barrel Is not TOO thin at the point
| where Ii Is sawed off. His trick will
| be TO start back about an inch or two
| from where he sawed the barrel. and
| then bore the barrel out slightly from
| there down towards the hreech. This
| method Is called recess choking. or
jug choking. The results are apt
to be somewhat Of a gamble.
Only the good wing shot Is capable
| of doing good work with the full choke
/ gun The small diameter shot pattern
II throws takes close expert holding
! And In thicket and brush shooting
/ such n gun Is ''pesteration." You
can't LET your game get too far AWAY
or you lose sight of 1t, and If you shoot
at close range you mince the bird and
ruin 1t for the table.
Capt. Ed G. Crossman the we'll
known rifle expert. tells the amusing
story OF the man who went Into the
| hardware store and asked for 'clnse
shooting. gun. Naturally the clerk
sold him a full choke gun. Several
DAYS later the irate customer barged
into the store and demanded his money
hack-either that or another gun.
"This amt q close shooting gum" he
complained. y shoot at rabbit at
20 Yards and she blows him TO pieces.
She's a far shooting gum"
The full choke gun Is very special
weapon. It's use Is justified only In
few kinds OF field sport And under
no circumstances is the full choke the
right gun for anyone but an expert
shot Pass shooting on ducks usually
calls for all the range one can get Out
Of his gun. and 1t Is here TINT nothing
but the full choke should be consid'
cred. But such shooting Is not for the
novice. In fact do not believe there
Is more than one shot In hundred
who Ia capable OF knowing how to leaf
fast flying ducks at so to 90 yards
and even he will have to do lot o.
guess work. For the speed OF higl
fiyinQ ducks varies. On calm Sill
day 1t is one speed. On windy dai
with the birds travelling against thu
wind Ii is another And when the,
are coming down-wlnd plus their nor
NAL fast flying speed, then It's decided
Nv something else again Flying o
running game must always be led
In order to score hits. That Is. youv
got to shoot ahead of 1t. Why this Y
SO will be explained In later article
The best gun for practically all up
land shooting Is the one with barre
bored improved cylinder. II double
barrel gun, make the first barrel I'm
proved cylinder and the second modl
fed choke. The gun should be ligh
enough to handle fast. from six TO 81
and half pounds, for the faster you
gun handles the better yon will shoo
II. Without hurry or confused haste
one should be able to let off his frs
shot within half a second after IN
butt touches the shoulder. When 20
take longer time your muscles Degl
to freeze into rigidity-thc resul
! YOU slow up or stop your swing. VII
) q fast handling gun you do not nee
/ the longer range of the full choke gun
e Your improved cylinder will do tn
work. and II will teach you to shoe
a shotgun the way such gun Shout
be shot--fast and instinctively.
60 Western Newspaper Union.