32 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



Owing to the attention lately given to explosives and 

 the scientific exactitude brought to" bear on their manu- 

 facture, sportsmen and gun-makers are now put in 

 possession of powders which will serve their purpose far 

 better in many ways than did the black powder of by- 

 gone days. The ignition and combustion of these 

 modern productions can be regulated to a nicety, and 

 as the later tendency would seem to be in the direction 

 of letting the powder do much of its work near the 

 breech of the gun, it has been found that some few 

 inches of the muzzle-end of the barrel may be dispensed 

 with. 



A reduction of 6, 8, or 10 inches in the length of 

 barrel of heavy shoulder-guns would prove a great 

 gain, and one that would be immensely appreciated by 

 wild-fowlers, provided, of course, that the power and 

 efficiency of the arm was not impaired thereby. Some 

 few years ago, whilst carrying out some experiments 

 with nitro-powders in wild-fowl guns for The Field news- 

 paper, I remarked upon the advantages that would 

 accrue from a shortening of the barrels of those duck- 

 guns especially designed for use with the newer form of 

 explosives. Thereupon Messrs. Westley Richards wrote, 

 asking me if I would draw up for their guidance 

 specifications embodying my ideas as to what might be 

 effected in this direction. I went carefully into the 

 matter and recommended the following: 



DUCK-GUNS FOR SMOKELESS POWDER. 



LIGHT DOUBLE 8-BORE FOR DAY SHOOTING. 



Weight . . .10 Ib. 

 Barrels . . .30 inches. 



Case . . . " Perfect " for bulk powders ; for condensed 

 nitro coned-base paper 



