DETONATING SYSTEM. 67 



Which seems, as far as cursory observation will prove, 

 to confirm the opinion given after the trial on the 

 8th instant. 



This gun, however, which, from superior weight 

 of metal, had the advantage in the foregoing trial, 

 was afterwards shot against a flint-gun of equal 

 weight ; and then the flint-gun had the advantage, 

 not only both in strength and closeness, but also in 

 regularity of shooting. 



The foregoing trials will show the very great un- 

 certainty of even the best guns at all times throwing 

 the shot alike, and therefore prove the absurdity of 

 talking about people who " never miss," which every 

 one must often do, who shoots beyond thirty-five or 

 forty yards, and consequently this trumpery kind of 

 reputation is only to be maintained by picking and 

 choosing every shot, and therefore losing a third, or 

 perhaps the half, of those birds, which might, other- 

 wise, be put in the bag. 



We will now treat on every principal part of the 

 detonating system, in the same order as the flint ; 

 and, of course, as briefly as possible. 



GUN. 



To fire with detonating powder, the gun requires 

 to be much stronger than that used for a flint ; it 

 must be heavier to stand the recoil ; of a large sized 

 caliber, in order not to have the powder too narrowly 

 confined, which is absolutely dangerous; and the 



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