MUZZLE-LOADERS AND BREECH-LOADERS. 55 
adheres firmly to the sides of the barrel, can imagine 
the annoyance it causes; and if the cases get damp, 
or if refilled ones are used, the difficulty is con- 
stantly occurring. And then the ‘extractor’ is of 
little use, beyond pulling away the brass bottom of 
the cartridge and leaving the paper case more dif- 
ficult to remove.” 
New cases, whether they burst or not, scarcely 
ever stick in passably well-made guns, and reloaded 
ones rarely; but when they do, the extractor will, in 
nine times out of ten, withdraw them at once; and 
if on this tenth occasion the brass capsule is torn 
off, the extractor, by the aid of a hook at the end, 
made expressly for the purpose, will tear out the 
empty paper instantly. | 
“Unless the brass pin which explodes the cap is 
made very precisely, a miss-fire is inevitable. If 
there is any corrosive substance upon it or upon the 
sides of the hollow in which it is to travel, the ham- 
mer will fail to drive it home or explode the cap. 
The hammer must strike it in exact position, or the 
pin will bend; any extra length or protrusion of the 
pin, or any dampness or foulness which causes it to 
stick, or if the pin be nipped in any way so as to 
weaken the force of the hammer, a miss-fire will pro- 
bably be the result; and the pins must not be too 
loose, or they will drop out of the cartridges on any 
sudden or violent exertion on the part of the sports- 
man.” 
All but the last clause of this paragraph is pre- 
judice stated as fact, and that is simply ridiculous. 
