174 MUZZLE-LOADERS AND BREECH-LOADERS. 



One immense advantage of the breech-loader is 

 its safety in loading, especially in a confined posi- 

 tion, as on a boat or in a battery. Whereas, in 

 the muzzle-loader, immediately after the discharge, 

 while the smoke is still pouring from the barrel, and 

 while the fire may be smouldering invisible below, 

 the sportsman deliberately pours in a fresh charge 

 of powder, holding his hand and the entire flask 

 over the muzzle, endangering Ids life, and incurring 

 injury far more frequently than most persons sup- 

 pose ; with the breech-loader, the barrels are opened 

 and fall into such a position that no discharge can 

 take place, and never point towards the person of 

 their owner. 



Several of the writer's friends have been maimed 

 for life by the premature discharge of a load in the 

 muzzle-loader from a spark remaining in the barrel ; 

 the risk connected with it has always seemed very 

 great ; and even with the patent flasks, which are 

 hardly practical inventions, more or less unavoid- 

 able. This danger is entirely obviated by the breech- 

 loader, which cannot go off until the barrels are 

 restored to position after the charges are inserted ; 

 cannot leave hidden sparks to imperil the owner's 

 life or limb ; never expose the hand over the 

 loaded barrel, that may have been left at half-cock, 

 if the sportsman is liable to thoughtlessness or 

 over-excitement ; and which can be loaded without 

 difficulty in the most confined position. So, not 

 only do we have rapidity, but entire safety in load- 

 ing. 



