Following on from last week's pearls of wisdom from Tom and Jim Purdey (pictured above in the Long Room at Audley House in the early 1950s), here's the second instalment. Taken from their book, The Shot Gun, published in 1936, these sage pieces of advice remain a thoroughly enjoyable read today, with some amusing anecdotes, various slightly outdated nuances, and much that still retains its relevance for the modern outdoorsman.
Here are the seven more pearls of wisdom for you to enjoy.
1. Don’t rush your swing
Don’t shoot hurriedly, as we have said before. There is much more time than you think, and a hurried snatchy shot never connects. Look at the bird and take care that your gun has a proper connection with yourself, i.e. that it is firmly bedded into the shoulder and up to your face, so that your eye and your gun and your bird make a line.
2. Pick your bird
Don’t lose your head when a covey rises with a whirr of wings – pick your bird and be content to kill one. Never be induced to think you can fire into the middle of a covey and kill a bird. This is called ‘browning’ a covey. It is sometimes quite amazing how you can fail to kill three or four grouse when you shoot at a covey of grouse or partridges; but you very seldom kill two birds with one shot, and if you ‘brown’ you’ll never kill any.
3. Pheasant shooting is an art that not all master
In this chapter we will try to show the young reader (and some of the old ones) that there is an art* in killing high pheasants, and however much shooting he may do he will always have something to learn, on each day that he shoots, about the angles of flight and the many snares and delusions in which a pheasant can place him without the slightest difficulty.
*The writers would like to state that neither of them has yet learned the art.
Tom being instructed by Purdey's own shooting instructor William Morgan
4. Follow King George’s advice when missing pheasant
If you are unlucky and strike a bad patch, the following advice given to one of the writers by King George V may help – “Stop shooting – smoke a cigarette and watch their flight; then when you start to shoot again don’t look for the birds until they are nearly over you – then shoot.” You will find by this method that you will regain correct assessment of the speed and flight of the bird.
5. Avoid ‘bad form’
There is no more disliked person than the man who shoots your birds before they come to you, or who, when you have killed a bird well and cleanly, proceeds to kill it for you and then comes up with a half-apologetic smile and says, “I finished off that bird for you, old man.” He generally has a ranging dog, whose manners are often similar to those of its master. Luckily this type of sportsman is not universal, but see to it that you never become one of his followers or admirers.
6. Take care of your gun
There has been so much written by eminent authorities on looking after and cleaning guns that it is most difficult to start this chapter in any way that is original. However, let us say that whether your gun cost you £15 or £130, it is worthy of the greatest care you can give it.
Tom at Black Moss on the Millden Estate,1934
7. And finally – be kind to your gunmaker
In closing the chapter, let us say in all sincerity: make your gunmaker your friend, and don’t look on him as a robber. If the pence are scarce tell him so, and he’ll always meet you as regards his charges; but don’t do what some people do – send their guns in and have all sorts of work done and then first say they didn’t authorise the work; secondly, complain of the prices charged, and finally refuse to pay. It never impresses the gunmaker and cannot be much satisfaction to themselves. Fortunately this type is not numerous.
Be kind to your gunmaker, and you’ll get the best service and help he can possibly give you.