SHOT, POWDER, SHELLS, WADS AND LOADING. 339 
not shake loose. No matter how well your shells may 
be loaded otherwise, if they are negligently crimped 
they will have lost their force and effect. I have been 
complete in this explanation of how to load, because it 
is the key that unlocks one of the doors of success in 
shooting. 
So well recognized is the fact that uniformity of 
loading and its being properly done is essential to suc- 
cess, that machine-loaded shells are fast taking preced- 
ence over all others. Ihave used them for the past 
two years. No man can by hand load and obtain the 
same uniformity that these shells possess. While these 
same shells may not please us more than those of our 
own loading, yet we must admit they are equally as good, 
and when one has a family of inquisitive youngsters. 
his Christian duty demands his buying loaded ammuni- 
tion, rather than endanger his little ones with powder 
unconfined around the house. 
Schultze powder is intended to be loaded bulk for 
bulk, same as black powder, and the directions for 
loading it are, to “put the wads upon the powder 
firmly with the hand, and should not be rammed ! ” 
American wood-powder requires great particularity 
in loading. The secret of success with it is, to have 
the powder thoroughly confined, requiring thick wad- 
ding and very great pressure. After being properly 
loaded, if one cuts open a loaded shell he finds the 
powder pressed together into a compact mass, that can 
almost be cut with a knife. The pressure put on this 
powder in loading runs from 75 to 100 pounds ; on 
black powder about 40 pounds. 
