40 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
this plan and wish to do so, that they should pay most careful 
attention to the turnover of the cartridge. This is a most 
important point with these cases, and the more so because most 
of the loading machines to be bought at the gunmakers do 
not afford any very satisfactory crimping apparatus. About 
the best that I have seen was sent me by Messrs. Jeffery. 
Ammunition must not be dismissed without a word upon 
cases, and for the wildfowler there is only one word to be said. 
Since the introduction of the thin brass cartridge-cases called 
‘* Perfects ’ nothing else will do. Escape of gas is impossible ; 
there is hardly ever a jam in the chamber-cone, and, above 
all, they are entirely waterproof. 
And this last, for the fowler, is the most important thing 
of all. We have to shoot under conditions which the ordinary 
dry-land sportsman knows nothing of. In duck-pits, in creeks 
and gutters, in rain and snow-slush, the ordinary paper cases 
must inevitably become damped, swell, and finally injure the 
powder. 
The ‘‘ Perfect’ cases have done away with all that, and the 
gunner is immune from all accidents of damp or wet. 
It is true that the thin brass case adds considerably to the 
cost of ammunition. But it repays its cost over and over 
again. These cases can be reloaded, if necessary to the 
gunner’s purse—which is one consideration. But in any event, 
for rich or poor, the increased efficiency counterbalances the 
increase of cost. 
Let it be said that the thin brass cases are an absolute 
necessity for all those sportsmen whose quarry is wildfowl. 
A word upon the ordering of cartridges. I think that a 
few hints may be of service. 
A wildfowler who has his guns built for him by some 
famous firm of gunmakers is in safe hands. Having found 
by test and experience exactly what he wants for this or that 
gun, he will give his orders and they will be faithfully carried 
a 
