8 BARRELS. 



for about three-fourths of the barrel (always taking 

 care, however, to preserve a tightness for a little 



friction just where the shot first moves], and let the 

 remaining part be gradually relieved to the muzzle. 

 For instance, suppose a barrel to be two feet eight 



. inches long, we would say (beginning at the breech 

 end) about six inches tight; twenty-one inches a 

 cylinder ; and the remaining five inches relieved to 

 the muzzle. All this must be done with the most 

 delicate possible gradation, and in so small a degree, 

 that even some gunmakers can scarcely discover it. 

 How natural then is it, that many sporting authors 

 should be so far deceived, as to fancy the best guns 

 are bored a true cylinder, and, therefore, argue in its 

 favour! This relief has the effect of making the 

 gun shoot as close as it can do, compatibly with the 

 strength and quickness required : \\hich should, how- 

 ever, be increased as much as possible by the best 

 constructed breechings. 



The other plan is, to make the barrel regularly 

 tighter all the way down, so that, in firing, the shot 

 goes progressively easier as it approaches the muzzle. 

 All this relief must be given in a very trifling degree ; 

 because, should the barrel be too much opened in 

 any part, it would admit of the powder escaping 

 between the wadding and the sides of the caliber, by 

 which the shooting of the gun would be rendered 

 weak. For this reason, I should even object to having 

 a hole through the wadding that covers the powder, 



