The Coolidge examiner., 1934-09-14
HOW re 81.
S EO or
By Bob Nichols
: Shooting Editor. Field and Stream

NJ Ool beginners In upland win.
A'i shooting make the mistake OF
trying TO use a gun too heavy for
their strength. Shooting quail.
woodcock, grouse. pheasant and
rabbit calls for fast, suappy action.
The game bursts from cover. usu.
ally at the most unexpected moment,
When this happens In dense cover,
as II most frequently does, one must
be able TO snap his gun into posi-.
ton Instantly and shoot In a flash
II your gun weighs too much for
your arms you simply cannot do ef-
fectiye work. The overweight In
your heavy gun not only tires you
out before the days hunt Is done,
but II gives you an ever-present
sense OF uneasiness- You lack
composure. You lose that conf
dence that Is so necessary to good
shooting-the feeling that you can
hit anything that gets up In front OF
you. Down In your lower nerve CEN
ters always turks the fear that you
will not be able to swing your gun
into action fast enough.
The result OF such fear Is usually
a hurried, uncertain shot. Time
and again you shoot and miss. Yet
you do not understand why you
miss. You may have shot over, and
under, or wobbled right or left. But
until you learn TO call your shots,
to know why you are missing, you
can never progress very rapidly to-
wards becoming a crack wing shot.
The good shot is practically never
In doubt about a miss. He knows
where he shoots. When he makes
a mistake 1t is frequently because
he mlsjudged the rise OF the bird
and consequently under-shot. or he
falls TO take into account the birds
speed In sudden swerve to right
or left and shoots behind his tar
get II is little errors like these
that frst led gun makers TO add a
second barrel, or a magazine with
extra shells. TO their guns.
Using a gun that Is too heavy Is
one Of the chief reasons why the
poor field shot continues being a
poor shot-indefinItely. Point your
finger at any object and you not
only point with accuracy. but with
efrortless ease. Nature beautifully
proportioned your hands and arms
TO the weight OF your body. But
suppose your pointing hand sud-
denly had five pounds OF dead
weight added 10 It. Your point
ing would not be near as quick or
as accurate. The same thing Is
true OF your gun. IL you want to
hit what you shoot at. with rea-
sonable regularity, see that your
gun weight is proportioned to your
weight.
The average upland gunner has
no business with a gun that weighs
more than about Ga pounds. Remem-
Der also. that the weight OF your
gun should be proportioned to the
charge II shoots. A 6i5 pound II
gauge gun Is just a trifle too light
TO shoot heavy loads. Especially for
the beginner. Ii kicks like sam
hill. and before you know 1t you
may acquire that worst OF all shoot
ers' curses-the fllnching habit.
The 16 gauge Is an admirable gun
for upland work. But best of all.
especially for the beginner. is the
20 gauge. II Is a powerful and
deadly gun. Shooting the ounce
loads IL has 80 per cent OF the max
Imum killing range of the u gauge
Rating the dead certain killing
range OF the II gauge at 80 yards
and that Is all you can expect OF ii.
claims TO the contrary notwith-
standing-the II gauge has a range
OF IS yards, and the 20 will
kill with absolute certainty at
20 yards. SO what is the sense
OF toting ~ to S pound II gauge
In the field for a mere 10 yards ex-
ira range? Especially since the
lighter weight 20 can be brough.
into action quicker and thus re-
duce Its handicap over the larger
gun. And especially. too. since
more than 80 per cent Of all upland
game Is killed within 80 yards.
Cut down your gun-poundage and
you will find you have more com
fort-and you will get more game.
After all, the shot gun Is distinct
ly short-range weapon that calls |
for fast, snappy action In handling
II. Try 6 to 6la pound 20 gauge. |
See how quickly It will help you
gain confidence In your ability to
use it. See how quickly your shoot
ing improves.
q. Western NewsDaDer Union.