CLEANING GUNS. 55 



each barrel, it will be best to have the gun washed 

 on returning from the field ; and, if not, the way to 

 prevent it hanging fire (if kept loaded) is simply to 

 prick the touchhole, put fresh prime, and give the 

 but a few smart strokes with the hand. Should the 

 gun have been in the damp, or put by a long time, 

 the more certain way is to fire it off, then put in a 

 fresh charge of powder, while the barrels are warm, 

 and afterwards take off your locks, and wipe them, as 

 well as the outside of the breechings and touchholes, 

 which may be warranted free again, by being probed 

 with the clipped end of a stiff feather : and all this 

 done in less time than it requires to explain it. 



When you put away your gun empty, you, of 

 course, always let down the springs of the locks ; 

 and, as their being kept long at the half-cock tends 

 so much to weaken them, it would even be advisable 

 for those who keep their guns loaded to do the same. 

 A piece of tow should be put in the pan (or on the 

 nipple, if a detonater) to prevent damp, and the 

 ramrod left in, as a caution to those who might 

 otherwise take up the gun. It is highly improper, 

 however, under any circumstances, and particularly 

 where there are children in a house, ever to leave 

 fire-arms about charged, unless secured out of reach, 

 or by lock and key. 



A little cleaning ought to be occasionally had re- 

 course to in the field. Were the pans imped and the 

 feather inserted in the touchholes after every shot, 

 your gun would scarcely ever be known- to hang fire, 



