212 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



loading punt-guns of any size know that the detonating cap is 

 not sufficient of itself to properly ignite the main charge. The 

 gun's powder charge must have fired into it a flame sufficient 

 to set it away properly, and it is of great importance that this 

 flame be neither too strong nor too weak. In the first place, 

 if too strong, the ignition cartridge will create excessive and 

 sudden recoil from the main charge ; whilst in the second, 

 improper ignition often results in half the powder charge 

 being blown out of the gun unburnt, which, consequently, 

 means bad penetration — if any at all. 



We need hardly go any further on this point, since all may 

 see that a happy medium of ignition lies between excess and 

 insufficiency. And let this medium be ascertained as accu- 

 rately and correctly as possible, for in it lies the chief source 

 of the gun's efficiency. It is very easily found by experiment. 

 With new guns by good makers, instructions for loading, etc., 

 are usually supplied. We say good makers. By this we 

 mean good punt-gun makers, and would wish to refer chiefly 

 to those gunmakers who specialise on wildfowling guns, like 

 Messrs. J. and W. Tolley and others. Most ordinary gun- 

 makers know nothing about punt-guns ; the honest section of 

 them faithfully admit this, which is much better than pretend- 

 ing to instruct in a matter of which they are totally ignorant, 

 and hence establishing erroneous impressions in the minds 

 of beginners. This is a by - note. Let us revert to our 

 point. 



About half a dram of fine-grained gunpowder to 3 oz. of 

 punt gunpowder (the load to throw a pound of shot from a 

 good gun) is about the mark, and with a benefit on the side of 

 full and sure ignition. Do not use fulminating powders, for 

 there is no knowing their constant strength ; in fact, variance 

 is generally found in different batches of the one make. Ordin- 

 ary fulminating powder, we may all know, is a mixture of nitre, 

 sulphur, and potash ; but the correct proportions are important; 



