BREECHING. 33 



improve on a nc plus ultra, they had rendered their 

 breechings liable to repeated flashes in the pan , as 

 well as more difficult to see through (for ascertaining 

 that all is clean and safe), when held to the light. 



Let me now conclude my observations on the fore- 

 going gun breechings by recapitulating on each, in 

 reference to the annexed engraving. 



The common plug. No. 1, is adopted as the cheapest 

 and best calculated breeching for rough usage, dirt, 

 and neglect ; and is, for this reason, generally put to 

 all fire-arms that are merely used for personal pro- 

 tection, the service of the army, &c. Solne make the 

 common plug, with a little notch at the end, which is 

 filed, to hold a greater depth of powder at the touch- 

 hole ; others think that this collects the dirt, and leave 

 the surface quite plain. I have heard many sports- 

 men say, " After all, give me the old common plug; 

 it tires as well as any, and can never be stopped up." 

 But, on taking out their breechings, their " old com- 

 mon plug" has proved to be the chamber plug, which 

 is precisely the same to all outward appearance. 

 See the Plate. 



The chamber plug, No. 2, has the advantage, not 

 only of the common, but most of the patent breech- 

 ings, by means of the small perforation leading to 

 a concave, or cup, at the top ; where the powder is 

 suddenly ignited from the centre. But, as the touch- 

 hole goes through the threads of the female screw in 

 the barrel, it must be met by a hole nearly as large 

 as the tube itself, which comes from the tube in a 



B 



