I Have Never Seen Any Rifles Which Combine The Requisites For
Ceylon Shooting To Such A Degree As My Four Double-Barreled No.
10, Which I Had Made To Order.
Then some persons exclaim against
their weight, which is fifteen pounds per gun.
But a word upon
that subject.
No person who understands anything about a rifle would select a
light gun with a large bore, any more than he would have a heavy
carriage for a small horse. If the man objects to the weight of
the rifle, let him content himself with a smaller bore, but do
not rob the barrels of their good metal for the sake of a heavy
ball. The more metal that the barrel possesses in proportion to
the diameter of the bore, the better will the rifle carry, nine
times out of ten. Observe the Swiss rifles for accurate
target-practice - again, remark the American pea rifle; in both
the thickness of metal is immense in proportion to the size of
the ball, which, in great measure, accounts for the precision
with which they carry.
In a light barrel, there is a vibration or jar at the time of
explosion, which takes a certain effect upon the direction of the
ball. This is necessarily increased by the use of a heavy charge
of powder; and it is frequently seen that a rifle which carries
accurately enough with a very small charge, shoots wide of the
mark when the charge is increased. This arises from several
causes, generally from the jar of the barrel in the stock,
proceeding either from the want of metal in the rifle or from
improper workmanship in the fittings.
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