MUZZLE versus BREECH LOADERS. 71 



the discharge, we shall have a gun corresponding 

 nearly if not quite to the ideal gun of our wishes. 



Do the breech-loaders of to-day answer these latter 

 requirements? That is the question. The answer 

 will appear in an examination of the best styles of 

 these guns now in the market. 



Large manufactories of breech-loaders are now 

 established in England and in France; and in both 

 countries these guns have been adopted with a readi- 

 ness and an enthusiasm without parallel in the history 

 of sporting. At first they were accepted on account 

 of their convenience alone ; as in all the early trials 

 of their powers of execution they fell in their results 

 lamentably behind the muzzle-loaders. In this re- 

 spect, however, the English guns particularly were 

 rapidly improved, until at the present time they fully 

 equal the best execution of the old guns. 



The French breech-loaders I am not particularly 

 conversant with. But very few have found their way 

 into the American market ; while the breech-loaders 

 of English manufacture, however, have been brought 

 here in quite large numbers, and' have become well 

 known to all of our best sportsmen. The latter guns 

 are exceedingly handsome guns ; and every one is ac- 

 companied by a "fit-out," not unworthy to "set before 

 a king." All of these guns, at least all I have seen 

 in this market, are what I may call tipping breech- 

 loaders, and are constructed in one general way. In 

 loading, the muzzle-end of the barrel is depressed, 

 and the breech-end elevated from its bed and away 

 from its abutment in the stock, for the purpose of in- 



