36 EQUIPMENT. 



qiiently happens if wads of too small a size are 

 used. Rej^eatcd firing, however, will loosen most 

 any wad ; so the sportsman if in the habit of 

 firing one barrel more than the other should, 

 after firing that barrel two or three times in 

 succession, change the loaded shell remaining in 

 the gun to that barrel, and put the fresh one in 

 its place. Some sportsmen of my acquaintance 

 use wads three or four (and one five) sizes larger 

 than their guns ; but this I consider decidedly 

 going to extremes. Where one of so large a size 

 is used it crimples, and holds even less than a smal- 

 ler one. If the wads are at all thin, two should 

 be used over the powder. One alone is apt to 

 be blown to pieces in the barrel, causing the gun 

 to shoot badly. 



More breech-loaders get shaky in the action by 

 being worked carelessly than from repeated firing, 

 and when buying a gun the purchaser is seldom 

 taught the proper method of using it, so I will 

 attempt to describe it here. The barrels should 

 never be allowed to drop down suddenly, bring- 

 ing up with a sudden jerk, as is the favorite way 

 with the snap advocates ; neither should they be 

 thrown back into position with a snap ; that 

 must wear the hinge excessively. But, on taking the 



