GUNS AND LOADING. 497 



who once thought it necessary to allow consider- 

 able leeway on crossing shots at quail and partridges, 

 declare that with the nitro powders it is not necessary 

 to hold ahead at all, but that the shot strikes the bird if 

 the gun is held directly on it. It is believed by them 

 that the increase in the muzzle velocity of shot pro- 

 pelled by nitro powder is about 50 per cent, over that of 

 black powder. In other words, that a charge of shot 

 from a nitro powder cartridge will go forty-five yards 

 while a charge from the black powder cartridge will go 

 thirty yards. If this is the case, the difference in the 

 holding will be obvious. 



Does the suggested difference in the velocity of the 

 flight of shot actually exist? Is it true that the nitro 

 powders send the shot to its mark more quickly than 

 the old-fashioned black powder, with its smoke, its tre- 

 mendous report, its cloud of sulphurous smoke and its 

 jarring recoil? Not only are there many bird shooters 

 who believe this to be true, but men who shoot at artifi- 

 cial targets from the trap, and others who have had 

 great practice in refereeing such contests, declare that 

 the shot goes faster and hits harder when sent by nitro 

 powders than by black powder. It would seem that ex- 

 periments must have been carried on by the various 

 manufacturers of nitro powders which would demon- 

 strate the truth or falsity of such beliefs. 



It is certain that shooters who use the smokeless 

 powders instantly see the effect of the shot, while with 

 black powder there is a perceptible interval of wait- 

 ing while the smoke clears away before the shooter 



