DIRECTIONS FOR CLEANING GUNS. 53 



DIRECTIONS FOR CLEANING GUNS, 



AND 



PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THEIR HANGING FIRE. 



LET your barrels be first washed perfectly clean 

 with cold, and then Jill each of them with hot water ; 

 which, by the time it has nearly run out at the touch- 

 holes, will accelerate their being wiped dry, as much 

 as though boiling water had been used ; and, before 

 they have completely discharged the water, stop the 

 muzzles and touchholes ; and, after shaking it up 

 and dow r n in the barrels, turn it out at the muzzles, 

 by which means you will effectually stir up and expel 

 any extraneous matter, that may have lodged in the 

 bottom of the chambers. To ascertain this, hold 

 them with the touchholes towards the window, and 

 (with the breechings which I have recommended) 

 you will, by looking into each muzzle, plainly per- 

 ceive the light in the chamber, appearing like one 

 dot surrounded by two (arid sometimes three) rings. 



I have recommended washing guns with cold water, 

 from having found that it always more readily re- 

 moves the foulness occasioned by the powder, which, 

 from sudden heat, is apt, at first, to dry and adhere 

 more closely to the caliber : whereas, with cold water, 

 it remains in a moist state, and immediately mixes. 



In cleaning barrels, a little fine sand may not be 

 amiss, and will generally answer in removing the lead. 

 If hot water should be required for this purpose, the 



