if the cartridge had a "short" charge of powder in it, 

 which would likewise cause a "squib." Or again, it might 

 be caused by the wad, which ought to lie on the powder, 

 having been put in edgeways. 



Now, we have already shown that our cartridges are 

 loaded by automatic machines whereby this liability to 

 loadmg error is eliminated. The wad can only get edge- 

 ways if it is so small to gauge that, in^ead of exactly 

 fitting the cartridge case, it drops in of its own weight, 

 tilts over, and is pressed by the rammer edgeways into the 

 powder. This is not likely to happen at the Kynoch 

 fadory, where all the wads are carefully gauged, and, in 

 addition, special contrivances are attached to the loading 

 machines to detedt a "small" wad should one have es- 

 caped rejection at the hands of the inspectors. Therefore, 

 it may be taken for granted that a Kynoch factory- 

 loaded cartridge cannot be responsible for a bur^ of No. 

 1 description unless the shooter has allowed the cimmu- 

 nition to get thoroughly damp. 



No. 2 is caused by the pressure set up on the ignition 

 of the cartridge being greater than the gun can stand. 

 Here again, the use of fadory-loaded cartridges practi- 

 cally puts the possibility of the cartridges being at fault 

 out of the question. 



We have already shown that the use of an automatic 

 machme makes it almost impossible for the shot and 

 powder charges to vary. It is quite impossible, for in- 

 stance, for two powder charges to be put in one cartridge 

 case. Therefore an increase of pressure can only be a 

 small one above the standard provided for. This standard 

 is about 3f tons per squcire inch. But all guns are tested 



88 



