It is true that distant objects are frequently missed for want of large shot, but then these bear no proportion to the number that are daily missed, by using shot of too large a size, especially with the feathered game. If a man was to shoot constantly with shot number five, for one partridge which he might chance to kill with a single pellet at the distance of eighty paces, he would miss twenty birds at eighty paces, which would in such case escape in the vacant spaces of the circle. But if the sportsman expressly purposes to shoot wild ducks or hares, then indeed he had better use the number five. However, in shooting with a double barrel gun, it may be prudent to load one of the barrels with large shot for the necessary occasions, and if in any case large shot is required, number five will be found to be better than any other, for its size is not so large as to prevent it from garnishing or being equally spread in the circle, and it can at the same time perform, in effect, all that a larger sized shot can do, which garnishes but very little, if any at all.
In order, therefore, to show clearly, and at one view, the comparative difference in garnishing of shot of different sizes, we here subjoin a table which indicates the number of pellets precisely composing an ounce weight of each sort of shot, the patent and the common, commencing at the smallest size in each.
| PATENT SHOT. | |||
| Pellets. | |||
| No. 8 | 1 ounce | 620 | |
| 7 | — | 480 | |
| + | — | 300 | |
| 1 | — | 220 | |
| 2 | — | 180 | |
| 3 | — | 157 | |
| 4 | — | 105 | |
| 5 | — | 83 | |
| COMMON SHOT. | |||
| Pellets. | |||
| No. 7 | 1 ounce | 350 | |
| 6 | — | 260 | |
| 5 | — | 235 | |
| 4 | — | 190 | |
| 3 | — | 140 | |
| 2 | — | 110 | |
| 1 | — | 95 | |
Shot compared according to Hawker:—
| MOULD SHOT. | ||
| No. of pellets to 1 oz. | ||
| L G | 5½ | |
| M G | hardly 9 | |
| S G | 1 | |
| S S G | 15 | |
| S S S G | 17 | |
| PATENT SHOT. | ||
| No. of pellets to 1 oz. | ||
| A A | 40 | |
| A | 50 | |
| B B | 58 | |
| B | 75 | |
| 1 | 82 | |
| 2 | 112 | |
| 3 | 135 | |
| 4 | 177 | |
| 5 | 218 | |
| 6 | 280 | |
| 7 | 341 | |
| 8 | 600 | |
| 9 | 984 | |
| 10 | 1726 | |
The pleasure of using and counting the dust shot I leave to those who recommend it.
The shot of different manufacturers varies much in size: for example, an ounce of No. 7, from Messrs. Walker and Parker, amounts to 341 pellets; and the same weight, from Mr. Beaumont (late Preston), 398; and in some places the numbers are reversed.
Many sportsmen recommend the use of unglazed shot; others wet their shot with oil. I have tried both these plans repeatedly, but could not find sufficient advantage in either to justify my recommending them. The object of both is to prevent the gun from leading; and as they can do no harm, I should if a choice readily offered, prefer using the shot unglazed, or oiled, for the chances of any trifling advantages which may be thereby derived.
If I mistake not, you are shooting grouse with No. 4.