Letters

SAFE HANDLING

I was interested by Jonathan Irby’s article [To have and to hold – safely, October issue], particularly as I was brought up to close my gun in a way slightly different to what he calls ‘a right way’.

I was taught to take the weight of the gun in the left hand (assuming shooting off the right shoulder) and stablise it, whilst sliding the right hand half to two-thirds of the way back along the stock; then lift the stock. As the hand is two or three times the distance from the pivot point compared with Mr Irby’s method, the force required is reduced to half or one-third. It makes for a smooth action, all movement is restricted to the wood and the trigger finger is far back from the trigger. I feel sure Mr Irby will be familiar with this method and wonder what he thinks of it.

  I very much understand and recognise your ‘technique’. It works and ultimately achieves a safe means of closing a gun. I prefer to