GUNPOWDER. 201 



find any one who could. Let it not be understood, 

 however, that there is no difference in the quality 

 and purity of gunpowder ; for I know there is plenty 

 of very inferior stuff made, fit only for blasting pur- 

 poses, but sometimes purchased as cheap powder 

 for sporting use. The purchaser who pays twenty- 

 five or thirty cents per pound for an article must not 

 expect the quality to be of the best. But, in com- 

 paring the best qualities made by established manufac- 

 turers who have a reputation to keep, I do not think 

 there is such a marked difference as many suppose. 



For all kinds of shooting I prefer the unglazed 

 powder. I always fear that the glazed is more or 

 less leaded, to give it its beautiful gloss ; and I know 

 that it does not explode so quickly as that which is 

 not glazed. There may, however, be some advantage 

 in glazing powder which is to be shipped to foreign 

 ports, especially in a warm climate. 



The sportsman should study to know the kind 

 and quantity of powder to be used in his gun ; re- 

 membering that large-grained powder has more killing 

 force, is much cleaner than the fine-grained, does not 

 strain the gun so much, and produces less recoil. In 

 my opinion, almost any gun can be made to shoot 

 fairly, if the powder is well adapted, in respect to 

 quality and grain, to the length and weight of the 

 barrel. And, other things being equal, in proportion 

 as the sportsman makes this subject a careful study 

 will he excel in his performance with his gun. 



At short distances, there is perhaps little difference 

 between the effect of the coarse and fine powder ; but 



Q * 



