26 DIRECTIONS FOR TRYING BARRELS. 



THE RAMROD, 



WHICH has a worm, on the same principle as the 

 solid corkscretv, is the best to take hold of all kinds 

 of wadding, and admits of a brass cap as well as any. 

 The one made like a screw, after a little wear, is of 

 scarcely any more use than the end of a stick, and 

 the common worm is apt to flatten and become 

 troublesome. 



Many young sportsmen have been puzzled by shot 

 falling into the barrel when the ramrod was there ; 

 but if, instead of trying to pull it out by force, they 

 would turn the gun upside down, and press the 

 ramrod into the barrel, the shot would immediately 

 become disengaged, and fall out. 



Some of the old school, who still - keep to the use 

 of paper, have been obliged to leave the field from 

 having wedged in the ramrod, through a neglect to 

 disengage it in time from this sort of wadding. In 

 such a case, I conceive, that putting something wet 

 into the barrel, and softening the paper, by using a 

 little friction with the ramrod, would, most probably, 

 disengage it ; and, by holding the gun with the 

 muzzle downwards, after the paper had sufficiently 

 absorbed the moisture, the shooter would have less 

 risk of wetting his powder. 



DIRECTIONS FOR TRYING BARRELS. 

 A MAN may be taken in with a horse, or a dog, 



