List of pIates. List of line diagrams. Preface. 1. My first pistol - The appeal of shooting - Weapons of the amateur shooter - First steps - Legal requirements - How and how not to get Firearm Certificate - The Firearms Act, 1937, and another Act which is not so wise. 2. Buying a rifle - English and foreign .22 rifles - Military rifles - Big game and other sporting rifles - English gunmakers - Buying second-hand. 3. A rural menace - How to avoid accidents - Rules of the range and field - Bursts. 4. Momentum and energy - Types of bullets - Gunpowders - Interior ballistics. 5. Cartridges - Rifling - Accuracy. 6. Exterior ballistics - Ballistic tables - Elevation for target rifles - Sighting of sporting rifles. 7. Rifle components - The stock - An accident - Barrel bedding - Actions - Trigger adjusting - Hair triggers - Safeties. 8. Drawing the long-bow - The accuracy of the rifle - Need for good sights - Iron sights - Open sights - Aperture sights - Fixing - Adjustments. 9. Telescopic sights - Their advantages - Types suitable for specific purposes - Fitting and adjusting - Cheek pieces - Silencers. 10. A new thrill with an old flame - Buying antiques - Renovation - The law relating to using muzzle-loading rifles - Re-proving - Muzzle Loaders' Association of Great Britain - A memory of the past. 11. The shooting positions - Requirements of marksmanship - Moving targets - Balance and fit of rifle - Constructing a range. 12. The evening-dress boys - Need for practice - Technique of pistol shooting - Semi-automatic pistols - Revolvers - Pistols of present-day make - Buying a pistol. 13. Leather goods - A hunting sling without metal parts - A homemade cartridge belt - Pistol holsters - A rifle bag. 14. An old catalogue - Gun cabinets - Cleaning. Glossary.