If a duck gun is too large in the calibre, in proportion to its weight of metal, it will recoil considerably; and if too small, it will not have the desired effect of allowing the shot to lie compactly together.
A gun fired from a rest is felt more than if held out; because the left hand, when grasping it, checks the recoil. The stock of a heavy duck-gun should be more bent than that of a common gun as, when we are holding out a great weight, it is not so easy to lower the head: and it should also be observed, that the curve in the stock tends to lessen the recoil.
I have of late years had the duck gun stocks, which I used on the coast, made with a pistol grip, and whipped with waxed-end round the handle, similar to a cricket-bat, which rather lessens the jar; and the upper part of the butt very much cut away, in order to prevent it from hurting the shoulder-bone. I also paint and varnish the stock, by which means it does not get cracked, after being wetted with salt-water. The gun-makers’ stocks I found were always a great plague on this account, as well as from the trouble of keeping them in order, after being exposed to the spray of the sea. Add to which, they recoil most unmercifully, and are, therefore, only fit for light charges.
Trial at twelve sheets of thick brown paper, to ascertain the difference between two common duck-guns, and a very superior double gun, made by Mr. Joseph Manton.
| POUNDS. | FEET. | INCHES. | GAUGE. | |
| Large duck-gun | 14 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| Smallest, do. | 12½ | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| Double gun | 9 | 2 | 8 | 14 |
| WITH NO. 2 SHOT. | |||
| IN THE 1ST | THROUGH THE | ||
| YARDS. | SHEET. | 12TH SHEET. | |
| Duck-guns | 60 | 32 | 25 |
| Double gun | 60 | 20 | 18 |
| Duck-guns | 45 | 34 | 34 |
| Double gun | 45 | 26 | 26 |
The large guns were loaded with precisely double the charge of the small gun, which is one-fifth less than that with which they always killed best.
The paper was nailed up close to a sheet of water, and two men placed to observe that effect; which was, that the outside shot (that which flew wide of the paper) appeared to be driven with much more force from the heavy guns, and, of course, spread a much larger surface.
This proves that although, if both accurately levelled, the difference between a wild-fowl gun and a small gun, is not so very considerable, at a single bird; yet, from the immense circle which the large gun spreads, you have more chances of killing with an indifferent aim; and, of course, in a flock (as before said) would kill many more birds at a shot.—Hawker.