In 1767 a book written by Thomas Page, titled "The Art of Shooting Flying", was published in London. The supposition of the book is that a dialogue is taking place between an expert gunner, one Mr. Aimwell, and a protege, Friendly. Their conversation provides us with a rare look at some details of shotgunning at that time. The following excerpts from the book were published in"The Age of Firearms", by Robert Held, Harper Brothers Publishers, New York.

FRIENDLY
Good Morrow, Mr. Aimwell.

AIMWELL
Sir, I hope you are well. You are very punctual, to be here rather before the time appointed.

FRIENDLY
I knew you were an early riser, and am desirous you should think me diligent to receive your instructions; but I am ready to await your leisure.

AIMWELL
Sir, it gives me pleasure to see you so alert: for as to sluggards, there is nothing to be made of them. But come, Sir, I am ready. I see you have brought your servant with you, whose attendance may be useful, and I have a man who is very good hand at shooting at a dead mark; for my part, I am not fond of it, for guns seem to recoil more at a fixed mark than at a flying object; and I am apt to lay my face so close as to get a smart blow on the cheek-bone, especially if the barrel lies too straight in the stock....

FRIENDLY
Pray, what is your method of loading? I have been told that gunsmiths in general put in a large quantity of small shot, to make them fill the paper they shoot at .

AIMWELL
'Tis very true, indeed, they are often obliged to it, when gentlemen won't be satisfied with what is reasonable for a gun to do; and it is a common practice in this country to load with a pipe bowl of powder and a bowl and a half of shot ; and when they find they can't kill often, think they don't put shot enough, and so put in more, and are obliged to lessen the quantity of powder to prevent its recoiling; not considering this axiom, "that action and re-action are equal''-that upon discharge of powder the gun is forced back, as the shot is forwards, in proportion to the weight of shot to the weight of the gun. . . . But if less of shot than powder will not carry the shot close enough for long shoots, they will certainly fly thick enough at shorter distances. To avoid the extremes, I use the best powder, and put in equal measures of that and shot, which in weight is nearly as one to seven, but usually prime out of that quantity. To a barrel of a middle-sized bore, whose diameter is about five-eighths of an inch (which I look upon to be the best size for shooting flying) [.625", exactly a modern 20 ga.] I put in two ounces of shot, No. 4, [equivalent to #5 1/2 modern American shot] which are about 200 in an ounce, and an equal measure of powder. [4 1/2 dram/123 gr.] This is the charge I use in the field.

FRIENDLY
And what sort of wadding do you best approve of? I have heard some say that tow is best, others, cards stamped to fit the size of the bore.

AIMWELL
Tow, I think, is uncertain. If cards be used, the end of your rammer must be almost as broad as your barrel will admit of, to go down free, and quite flat at the end, to prevent the card from turning; and must be push'd down gradually, to give time for the air to pass, otherwise it will be troublesome. This is therefore not the quickest way. Old hat may be used in the same manner, which is rather better: and some say leather shreds are best. But I cannot yet find any thing better, or so ready as thin brown paper rubbed soft, and cut into pieces about one inch broad and two inches long; so that when it is once doubled, it is an inch square. I punch a small hole at the corner of each piece, put a sufficient quantity upon a key-ring, hang them into my button hole, and tear off one as I want it. This being doubled, put it into to the muzzle, and close the corners up about the rammer (the end of which ought to continue of the same bigness for at least half an inch, or rather somewhat smaller just at the end) and thrust the paper thus put into the barrel gently down upon the powder. Your rammer will come back without danger of drawing the paper back, and will leave it closed against the sides of the barrel like a half cartridge. Put in another in the same manner after the shot. When your gun is quite clean, it is necessary to put in a second wad after the shot, to prevent its getting loose.

FRIENDLY
Do you ram your shot as much as your powder? I think I have heard some that pretend to experience say that they ram the powder well but not the shot. What is your opinion of this?

AIMWELL
After some experience you will find, if your gun is clean, and the wad thrust but lightly down, that in walking the shot will be apt to get loose: and if you discharge the piece in that state, it will seem, by the small resistance it makes as if there were no shot in it: and if you try one load pretty smartly rammed over the shot, and another with the wad thrust but lightly down, at a quire of paper, you will find the charge that is rammed will penetrate deepest, and that the shot will fly as regularly as the other which is not rammed.

FRIENDLY
Well, Sir, it seems rational enough; and I shall follow your counsel, and try it the first opportunity, because I think it a point necessary to be thoroughly convinced of.

Copyright © B. E. Spencer 2000 All rights reserved.