It may seem trivial to mention nice points of position, such as standing, which any one might know, but in truth there are many little things which in the aggregate are essential.
Intense earnestness, quickness, firmness, the avoiding of diverting attractions, all help to success though any one may seemingly be disregarded without prejudice.
17. No shot is counted fair unless the stock of the rifle remain below the elbow till the ball has been thrown.
18. After firing, the stock of the rifle is brought down and held between the elbow and the hip by pressure of the elbow, while the shell is extracted; the muzzle is then depressed to an angle of forty-five degrees below the horizontal; the new cartridge inserted and the breech-block forced into place, when the muzzle is brought to its position above the level of the eye and the piece cocked.
It should be a matter of discipline with all to practice these motions with a view to making them a habit, in which there is safety and quickness.
19. The farther out on the barrel you can clasp your gun with your left hand, easily, the better control you will have over it.
It is this advantage that tall men have over short, that makes them frequently better field shots.
20. The importance of quickness of motion, cannot be over-estimated. There is always a tendency to follow the ball up with the rifle, but the first care should be to get the rifle to the shoulder as quickly as possible, when time to aim will be secured before the summit is reached, whereas, tardy action necessitates hurried firing.
21. During the second of time when the ball is at the summit, it does not seem to have any motion, and is, consequently, the best time to hit it.
22. Seeing the ball full over the sights, means in reality the allowing for a little drop before the bullet gets there.