24 SIMRTSMAN'S HAND BOOK. 



projects, with a very sharp knife or shell cutter remove the 

 surplus, then the shell will crimp with a neat, firm bead, 

 giving the end of the shell rather a pretty appearance. For 

 12 gauge shell 2. l / z inches, and for 10 gauge shell 2$ 

 inches long will be found to be about right, without cutting 

 off, unless very small charges are used. 



As a rule it don't pay to reload paper shell, except the 

 best grades; even then, life is too short to be hunting 

 with pockets filled with empty paper shells, which are too 

 cheap to be worth saving. 



The shell chambers of guns should be oiled occasion- 

 ally. For this purpose, it is quite convenient to carry a 

 pocket oiler in the vest pocket, where it would always be 

 ready for use. 



The following letter, written by the author of this 

 book, was published in the Forest and Stream, in the year 

 1884, in connection with the long discussion on the perform- 

 ances of shotguns. It is here reproduced, as it has many 

 hints directly pertinent to the subject: 



THE PERFORMANCE OF SHOTGUNS. 



In an editorial note, February 21, you truly say that the 

 comparison of muzzle-loaders and the breech-loaders is a 

 dead issue, but a comparison of the shooting qualities of the 

 two guns will certainly bring about just the discussion you 

 suggest: " the relation of experiments and tests in loading 

 to secure pattern and penetration." 



My experience in hunting, shooting and experimenting 

 runs back for thirty-five years. It has been with all kinds 

 of guns, from the old Continental flint-lock musket to the 

 best breech-loaders of to-day. I now own three breech- 

 loaders made by myself for the especial purpose of experi- 

 menting. One is a single barrel 3-bore, weight 1 1 pounds, 

 in which I use one-inch Gatling-gun brass shells; no paper 

 shell large enough are made. One is a single lo-bore, 14 



