26 



EQUIPMENT. 



have seen long, heavy double rifles of 8-bore, fitted 

 to a light breech action with bar-locks, and the 

 metal cut away just where it was most required, 

 being left barely strong enough for a light shot- 

 gun." 



The break-off in the breech-loader should not be 

 less than three-fourths inch in thickness, and the 

 strap long and tastened to the stock by two screws. 

 The locks, as quoted from Greener, should be back- 

 actioned, thereby leaving the action stronger, and 

 should have a fine oily feel, and give forth a sharp, 

 clear click on cocking. (For a muzzle-loader I 

 should prefer forward-action locks, as they are 

 more pleasing to the eye, and do not weaken the 

 gun any more than the old style, if as much. They 

 should be independent, as they are less liable to 

 get wet inside.) The mainspring should be rather 

 stiffer than is usual in muzzle-loaders, and the 

 hammers should have a good sweep, as some 

 breech-loading caps require a strong blow to ex. 

 plode them. Rebounding locks are rather a detri- 

 ment than an advantage. They are more liable 

 to get out of repair than the common lock, 

 cannot (from principles of construction) be made 

 to strike a blow sufficiently heavy to always in- 

 sure exploding the cap or primer, and from the 



