26 SHOOTING. 



rous. All caps should be cupped to the exact gau^e of the dia- 

 meter of the nipple. Should they be too small they will not explode ; 

 if too large, the cap of the second nipple aylU be apt to fly oif when 

 the other is fired. 



Mr. Greener treats of iron percussion caps in the New Sporting 

 Magazine (No. 65). These he recommends on the gi'ounds of the 

 tendency of the copper caps to become injui'ed when exposed to 

 damj) to such a degree as to be converted into a paste incapable of 

 igni.tion. He maintains that when powder is flashed or exploded 

 around the nipple of a gun, the residue left attracts moisture in- 

 stantaneously. To remedy this, the use of iron caps is enforced. 

 " They are much easier to explode, they detach no broken particles 

 to wound the shooter, nor even expand so much as to stick inthe 

 head of the striker. They do not stain the hands, and they might 

 be made cheaper." 



The Cap-charger \^ a useful appendage to the cap system. It is 

 ofEi'ench invention. There are several varieties of tliem- some 

 long, and sonae round ; but we think the latter have the preference 

 in pubUc estimation. 



Gun-waddings are matters of moment, and exercise a consider- 

 able influence over the sports of the shooter. However good a 

 gun may be, and however excellent all its main appendages — 

 powder, shot, &c. — still they may all be rendered abortive if the 

 proper wadding be not used. But we find in all questions relative 

 to snooting, that in proportion to their real intrinsic importance, 

 so likewise is the micertainty and dubiety which hang about them. 

 Some recommend card waddmg, some hat wadding, and some paste- 

 board. However, it is of great moment that whatever material is 

 chosen for this purpose, it should be strictly regulated according 

 to the bore of the barrel. Wadding punches are often made for 

 distinct barrels, when more guns than one are used. The range 

 and deHvery of the shot are greatly influenced by the wadding. 

 The conamon opinions on the matter are that all waddings should 

 be quite close to the barrel, but not rammed too hard. The ma- 

 terial should be rather softish in its nature, and yielding to a certain 

 extent, but still of suificient consistency to carry the shot in a 

 body to a certain distance from the muzzle of the piece. For if 

 the wadding is rammed too close, or is of a hard and rigid nature, 

 such as stiff brovm paper, the piece vriR recoil, and the shot will 

 spread more wide; if, on the contrary, the wadding is not suf- 

 ficiently close, and is composed of a shght and ^;oo pliant material, 

 such as wool or cotton, it will not be of sufficient consistency to 

 carry_ shot, and the discharge vnll lose its proper force. Besides, a 

 certain portion of the shot, which is more immediately in contact 

 with the wadding, will be melted by the explosion of the powder. 

 Mr. Greener_ says that a substantial wadding between the powder 

 and the shot is equaltoa considerable artificial friction in improving 

 the strength with which the powder expels the shot. It answers 

 the purpose of completely preventing the explosive matter becoming 



