49^ DUCK SHOOTING. 



knows what the result of the discharge of his gun has 

 been, and it is probable that this difference in the time 

 of learning what the shooter has done may in part ac- 

 count for the widespread belief alluded to. 



The muzzle velocities of certain powders, with cer- 

 tain loads, have been given in various tests. With the 

 Dupont powder, the velocities in Mr. Armin Tenner's 

 tests are given as slightly under i,ooo feet, the loads 

 running from two and a half to three drams; while a 

 load of three drams, the equivalent of thirty-seven 

 grains, with one and an eighth ounce of shot, gives an 

 average of 1,040 feet. The new Robin Hood smoke- 

 less powder claims a velocity of 1,100 feet, with three 

 and a quarter drams, bulk measure, and one and an 

 eighth or one and a quarter ounces of shot. 



On the other hand, Curtis and Harvey's Sporting 

 powder is said, as stated below, to give a muzzle veloc- 

 ity of 1,344 feet with a load of four and a half drams 

 of powder and one and a half ounce of No. 4 shot. The 

 pattern with this charge is reported as good. 



From the experiments carried on at the works of the 

 Union Metallic Cartridge Company, at Bridgeport, we 

 have the following table, showing how many grains of 

 each one of seven of the best known nitro powders are 

 equivalent to drams of black powder, of which, how- 

 ever, the quality is not specified. In this table the new 

 Robin Hood powder is not included, as perhaps it 

 should not be. Mr. N. P. Leach calls it a new de- 

 parture, as it is neither a nitro nor a picric powder. It 

 is, he says, "a bulk powder, with high velocity, and 



