ADDITIONAL HINTS. 567 



not soil the gun, does not heat the barrel, sends a ball further than the old 

 powder, keeps shot well together, can be kept wet for any length of time, and be 

 transported or stowed in that state without danger from fire. It is three times 

 stronger than black sporting powder, and three times as bulky. There are two 

 distinct and different kinds of shot gun powder, marked— 



S. A., coarse grain. 1 



S. B., medium grain. I ^H alike in strength. 



S. C, fine gram. ,' 



ff., very fine grain. J 



The shot gun powder may be used in all the larger bores, from No. 6 to No. 

 14. For bores above 14 the rifle powder should be used, as this variety does not 

 give good results unless well confined, as it is much slower than shot gun powder. 

 At present three sizes of rifle powder are made. 



R. A., coarse. ^ 



R. B., medium. \ All the same strength. 



R.C., fine. ) 



When using rifle powder fill the cartridge shell to the top, give it a few taps on 

 the table so that the powder may settle down even, and load the bullet as usual. 

 Do not press powder into a shell with a stick. There is no need of using a wad 

 and lubricating material on top, as the powder does not foul the gun like black 

 powder. For muzzle loading rifles press the powder down with the bullet, as you 

 would when using black powder, till you feel the bullet is on the powder. Use a 

 good fitting bullet. If you use the powder in pistols or revolvers, without shells, 

 do not ram or force the bullet with a lever into the chamber, as in this case you 

 ■will confine the powder too closely. Siinply use force enough to permit the bullet 

 to rest upon the powder, having top of bullet level with top of chamber. The 

 rifle powder is the proper kind for small arms." 



Directions for Loading Shot Guns. — Use about the same 

 measured quantity as you would of black powder. If this does 

 not give satisfaction use a little more, up to half a drachm meas- 

 ure. This will give you the same bulk as black powder after the 

 wad is pressed down. Give a few taps to the charge to settle 

 the powder evenly, and you will always have the same weight 

 (that is, about one-third) as you would have by using an equal bulk 

 of black powder. In brass or metal shells use a wad two sizes 

 larger than bore, and in paper shells use one size larger. 



By carefully following the above detailed directions for shot 

 guns and rifles, effectiveness and safety are secured. 



If the powder becomes wet, spread it on paper and it will dry 

 quickly without injury to its power. If desirable to store it in an 

 exposed situation, it can be keptVet in a cask and afterwards 

 dried in the air or in a room. The most delicate tests thus far 

 made have not exhibited the slightest trace of injury to the finest 

 barrels by the products of combustion. 



