XXXVII
Handicap for Visitors. - Visitors, introduced by club members and permitted to shoot in handicap events, may, at the discretion of the governing body of the club visited, be awarded handicap points, otherwise they must shoot at scratch. Should such visitor be a member of an affiliated club the points awarded may be those under which he shoots at his own club. Should he belong to more than one club, and have different points in them, the points under which he shoots as a visitor should be the smaller number.
SHOOTING SCHOOLS. - There has lately sprung into existence, principally round London, a large number of shooting schools. These belong mainly to the big gun-makers, and are used for testing the accuracy of fit and general suitability of guns for the purchaser. But in addition they have become particularly popular of late years, as, so to speak, exercise grounds for shooters who live in London, and have not the opportunity of constantly handling a gun. The clay bird is, of course, the "clou," and with the perfection both of the birds and the traps, the utility of the schools has enormously increased. The grounds are most elaborately laid out to imitate the surroundings of the various game. The course pursued is naturally arranged according to what the shooter requires. He may walk up partridges which are released by strings, as he proceeds, from behind his back, or he may take driven birds over a hedge or rise.
Rocketing pheasants may be hurled over his head from a high tower or through trees.
The clay birds are propelled from the traps at every variety of angle, and the flight of the real bird is imitated with marvellous accuracy. An instructor accompanies the gun, helpfully criticising the shooting, pointing out mistakes, and generally advising as to timing, angles, and position. There can be no doubt that such coaching is invaluable to beginners, and mistakes that many people keep to their dying day can be noticed and rectified promptly by the instructor. Perfect as they are, they cannot, of course, compare with the real sport as a training school, but, as was said above, to London men who during the summer months forget [SHOOTING the feel of their guns-have anyhow perhaps only a few days' shooting a year-the schools are a godsend. In an afternoon or two they can, as Mr. Winkle expressed it, 66 get up their shooting again," and acquit themselves respectably in the field, instead of as is often the case spending two miserable days quite out of their proper form with stiffened muscles and a gun that somehow refuses to come up quickly. Needless to say that for the expert such things are not necessary; he seldom wants for practice; but the schools are not meant for him.
The cost, as a rule, is not large, though this will, of course, depend upon the number of birds thrown and the number of cartridges shot. About three guineas should procure the necessary instruction for an average person, though it is impossible to compute the cost exactly. The rates of any particular school can easily be obtained from the catalogues, prospectus, &c., issued by the proprietors. N. D. G.
PUNT SHOOTING. -The pursuit of wild fowl with punt and swivel gun forms a branch of sport with which comparatively few shooting men are able to claim a close practical acquaintance. Those, however, who have been initiated into the real science of punt shooting, and who can therefore appreciate its difficulties, uncertainties, and exciting characteristics, will readily acknowledge that it is one of the most arduous and fascinating of all our sports.
History of the Sport. - The history of wild-fowling, so admirably related by Mr.
Folkard in The Wildfowler, is both curious and interesting. Quoting from the most reliable authorities, he traces the various devices which were formerly, and are to some extent even now, practised for the capture of wild fowl. As regards coast fowling, pure and simple, with a large gun, he says but little until the period preceding the invention of gunning punts. Heavy fowling-pieces, capable of killing many fowl at a shot, had long been in use. Indeed, Gervase Markham, in his Hunger's Prevention and the Art of Fowling, published so long ago as 1665, recommends a gun five feet and a half in length for wild fowling purposes.
At the commencement of this century, when fowling punts were built narrow, crank, and high sided, considerable difficulty must have been experienced in approaching fowl in open waters. It is not therefore surprising to read that gunners adopted the plan of shooting their birds at low tide, when the mud-banks afforded them sufficient cover to creep along the small channels in their flat-bottomed boats.
Their guns were generally fired from the After Archibald Thorburn.
PUNT-SHOOTING.
THE TATE LIBRARY, BRIXTON, S.W.
SHOOTING] shoulder, the barrel being supported by a wooden crutch, previously stuck in the mud.
The advantages of the heavier stanchion or swivel guns at length became recognised by fowlers, but to Colonel Hawker is due the credit of perfecting the methods and appliances necessary for their safe employment. The Art of punt shooting, broadly speaking, consists in the fowler's ability, firstly, whilst lying concealed on the floor of his punt, to propel his craft stealthily within gunshot of a number of wild fowl, and, secondly, so accurately to judge his dising quarters which have gained notoriety in the past. In England: The Blackwater Estuary in Essex, the Solent, the Wash, and Poole Harbour. In Scotland: The Firths of Dornoch, Cromarty, Beauly and Tay, and the Bay of Findhorn. In Ireland: The River Shannon; Dingle, Tralee, Galway, Castlemaine, Killala and Sligo Bays; Wexford and Cork harbours, and Loughs Foyle, Strangford, Larne, Belfast, and Swilly. In many of these places fowl are still plentiful in severe weather, but owing to constant persecution and a variety A SINGLE-HANDED PUNT. tance, aim, and fire his gun, as to bag the largest possible number, whether there be many or few birds to shoot at.
To accomplish these objects neatly and effectively, much patience and practice is necessary, besides considerable judgment in choosing the right moments for approaching the fowl. Localities. Punt shooting is more or less carried on in all our fowl-frequented harbours, estuaries, and tidal waters by both gentlemen and professional gunners, the latter of whom endeavour to gain a livelihood thereby in winter. Favourite feeding resorts for fowl are those dreary wastes of ooze, whereon the sea grass (Zostera marina) grows most abundantly and luxuriantly. The following are some of the punt of other causes, they are very wary and difficult to obtain. There are, also, many localities on neighbouring continental shores where fowl congregate in their thousands, especially during the autumn migration.
The decoy-men, however, work sad havoc amongst them, the numbers taken at times being vast. The sport is almost entirely confined to the coast. On a few of the large Scotch and Irish lakes a little punting may be done, but its attractions ill compare with the charms of fowling on the tide.
Wild Fowl Proper. There are few species which strictly come under the category of wild fowl proper, when considered from the punt-gunner's point of view. The principal kinds are the two divisions of geese, grey and black, all the surface feeding ducks, and some of the diving ducks. In addition, sport is sometimes had with plover, or the larger waders, such as curlews, knots, godwits, &c.
Before proceeding to describe how these different sorts of wild fowl are to be obtained, it will be necessary to give some idea of the appliances with which the fowler is to work.
Punt or Stanchion Guns are sometimes constructed to turn on a swivel or pivot attached to the barrel of the gun. They CREEPING UP TO FOWL are then called swivel guns. Most fowlers, however, in these days use a crutch on which the gun lies balanced for shooting.
In choosing the gun, the fowler must satisfy himself that it is (a) suitable for the style of punt he intends using; (b) that its size and weigth are no greater than necessary, having regard to the number of fowl usually seen at his punting quarters; (c) that it is constructed on absolutely safe principles; and (d) that its mechanism is strong and simple. Furthermore, a wellturned-out gun should be so balanced that, when in position for firing, the stock end does not intrude far into the cockpit of the punt, and thus reduce the available space.
To secure good and regular performances, the barrel should be most carefully bored.
The stock should be short, and the fore and back sights accurately adjusted.
Muzzle-loading punt guns, being in every respect less costly, are in general use among professional fowlers, and they are for all practical purposes as serviceable as breech-loaders. Most amateurs, however, prefer breech-loaders, and doubtless they are more convenient, because they are easily loaded, and possess greater facilities for [SHOOTING exchanging the size of shot when required.
Moreover, the chance of a miss-fire is practically nil. A cylinder-bored barrel is considered preferable to a fully or medium choked barrel, as the former gives a wider spread to the shot at fair range.
Punt guns are usually single-barrelled, but many double-barrelled guns have been built which are said to be capable of doing good work under certain conditions.
Notable examples of these latter are Colonel Hawker's famous double-barrelled muzzle-loader, built in 1824, and Sir R.
Payne-Gallwey's double-barrelled breechloader, which is of comparatively recent invention.
The demand for punt guns being limited, there are few gun makers who seriously undertake this class of business. Of the London firms with which the writer is acquainted, Messrs. Holland and Holland, Messrs. J. and W. Tolley, and Messrs.
W. W. Greener have all had considerable practical experience in their construction.
A glance at the figures that follow, however, will demonstrate that their respective systems differ widely in principle and detail.
The action of the first gun (Fig. A) is simple, safe, and ingenious. It is, probably, the most effective weapon yet made. The gun is the joint invention of Sir R.
Payne-Gallwey, Captain G. J. Gould, and Mr. Henry Holland. This firm builds guns of other designs than the screw breech, the best known being " The London " drop down action. دو The next (Fig. B) is an illustration of a gun weighing about 50 lb., but the action is applicable to guns of all sizes. The whole of the breech action simply consists of one stout cross-bar, which contains the striker. To load-open breech by turning the milled wheel; the cartridge chamber is then exposed ready to receive the cartridge.
Replace the cross-bar by reversing the action of the milled wheel, and the gun is ready for firing.
Fig. C is an illustration of Messrs. W. W.
Greener's double-barrel 4-bore punt and shoulder gun. It is shown mounted on its recoil box, and instead of the old-fashioned breeching ropes, the gun is fitted with a spring and steel rods fastened by a pivot passing through the stock. It is a very convenient gun, and can be used as a shoulder gun if necessary; this gives it a certain advantage over more cumbersome patterns.
The fourth gun (Fig. D) is fitted with the most approved system of ignition. By firing a small charge of powder into the main, miss-fires should be avoided.
Loading. The correct load for every punt gun mainly depends upon the length, SHOOTING] bore, and weight of its barrel. It is noteworthy that, although the maximum and minimum loads can be approximately reckoned on these bases, the fowler can only discover by constant practice, and by observing carefully the results of fair shots at fowl, what is the exact load with which his gun performs best. Thus, approximate loads for the undermentioned guns would be as follows:- Length of barrel. 7 ft. 8 in.
Total weight.
Bore.
Charge of powder.
Charge of shot. (1) 75 lb. It in. 24 oz. 12 OZ. (2) 100 lb. I in. 3 OZ. 16 oz. 8 ft. 2 in. (3) 170 lb. I in. 5 oz. 30 oz. 8 ft. 8 in.
Some idea of the shooting capabilities of punt guns may be gathered from a report of some target trials made by Sir R. Payne-Gallwey and published by him in the Field (November 27th, 1897). On a 12-foot square target, fixed at 70 yards from the muzzle, a 175 lb. gun (2 in. bore), firing 61-7 oz. of powder and 2 lb. of B shot (80 pellets to the oz.), placed on an average two-thirds of the whole charge each time it was fired.
The same gun, in three rounds at 90 yards, with 61-6 oz. of powder, and 2 lb. of SSSG shot (18 pellets to the oz.), put on an average four-fifths of the charge on the target.
Again, a 100 lb. gun (1) in. bore), firing 3-34 oz. of powder, and I lb. of B shot, also placed two-thirds of the total charge on the target at 70 yards. In each case the pattern was satisfactory and the penetration excellent.
The subject of punt guns would be incomplete without reference to the following matters:of the existing nitros have been found sufficiently satisfactory. Wads-both felt and cardboard are specially cut to any size for punt guns. Cartridges should be loaded thus: - Over powder, (1) cardboard, (2) felt, (3) cardboard, (4) § felt, (5) cardboard; over shot one cardboard. For muzzleloaders a ball of oakum is best. Shotcan be obtained in various sizes adapted for shooting every species of wild fowl, but the tendency nowadays is to use larger sizes than are really necessary. ducks, &c., single "B" (75 to 80 pellets to the oz.) is a good size, and for Brent "AA" (40 to 42 pellets to the oz.). For any larger fowl, such as wild swans, grey 4 e.
Fig. L.
Fig II FigⅢ.
For b b.
Fig IX a Fig. 1.-Gun closed. (a) Locking lever; (6) trunnions; (c) lever for cocking gun; (d) trigger; (e) gun crutch (figured to show balance). Fig. 2.-View of stock and breech end of barrel with breech screw turned in. end of barrel with breech screw turned in.
Fig. 3.-Breech screw with revolving head attached, and handle (for turning screw in or out of barrel) hinged to its square end. The two claws (a a) grip the rim of the cartridge case, and withdraws the fired cartridge from the barrel, as the breech screw is turned out by means of its handle.
Fig. 4. Section of breech end of barrel, showing back sight; also (a) screw hole for locking lever and (bb) slots for claws of revolving head. Recoil Apparatus. For guns fitted with trunnions the best method of taking up the recoil is by a bolt rope breeching, rove through a hole in the stem of the punt and noosed to the trunnions. Colonel Hawker's famous spiral recoil spring (see illustration of "The Handy" punt gun, Fig. B) is still used and answers admirably, but in case the spring fails it is well to have an additional safeguard in the shape of a rope breeching.
Cartridges and Ammunition. Thin paper cartridge cases are recommended, though some fowlers use brass or steel cases in guns specially built to take them.
Powder. Black powder, particularly that known as Colonel Hawker's Punt Gun Powder, is still considered the best, as none geese, &c., "SSSG" (18 pellets to the oz.) is very effective.
Gunning Punts. - Colonel Hawker's designs for the gunning punt are, with certain modifications, those on which the modern craft is built. Gunning punts are nearly flat bottomed, and those constructed to carry two fowlers and a large gun are called double-handed, the single-handed being built to carry a smaller gun and one fowler. The double punt is, of course, altogether on a bigger scale than the single, and is equipped with additional rowing spurs and gear, to enable the extra hand to do his share of the work. If the fowler intends shooting in open dangerous localities, or if he possesses double punt is very large gun, a a of recommended on the score of safety and convenience.
The diagram given on p. 156, representing side and interior views of a single-handed punt, will show the form and main details [SHOOTING character of the shooting locality must mainly influence the fowler's decision in this respect. Thus, in fairly sheltered quarters, a light punt with a low freeboard would answer well for killing fowl, but, Fig. I.
H Fig 3. 2. 5.
Fig.Ⅱ.
Fig. 1.-(1) Shows lever of extractor; (2) shows wheel actuating breech block; (3) breech block (containing striker) calculated to sustain a strain of 80 tons; (4) hammer which is raised to full cock by ring; (5) the spiral recoil spring.
Fig. 2.
Section of the breach. of construction in a modern fowling craft (Fig. E).
Dimensions of Punts. The punt, whether single- or double-handed, must be built in proportion to the size of the gun intended to be used, and also to the height and weight of the crew. Although punt- Fig. 3.-Sectional drawing of patent extractor. if wide bays have to be sometimes crossed without the aid of a following boat, then the fowler will be properly advised to use a punt of rather stiffer construction. A punt of the latter description would necessarily float higher on the water, and the round of the decks would be perceptibly MAAAA ing men hold somewhat different views as to the best dimensions for either class of punt, it is obvious that, apart from individual ideas and personal capabilities, the increased to weather a loppy sea. Sir R.
Payne-Gallwey in his Letters to Young Shooters (Third Series), says very truly that it is impossible to build a gunning SHOOTING] punt that is a good sea boat, and with which the fowler could also successfully stalk shy fowl. As a rough guide to punt-building, the principal dimensions are here given of the writer's double punt, suitable for a Fig. I.
Fig.11.
B.
Fig. 1. The gun with double cap ignition and double-headed hammer.
Fig. 2.-(a) The chamber, to be filled with coarse powder: (6) the plug, which must be screwed into the chamber; (c) the nipples, each of which must be capped. gun weighing from 140 to 170 lb., in unexposed localities. .. .. .. .. ... ..