64 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



Having no pressure-gauge of this large size available, the pres- 

 sures given off by each powder could not be ascertained. From 

 the general behaviour of the gun on both fixed and loose firing- 

 stands, as well also from the state of the cartridge-cases after firing, 

 I certainly was impressed with the fact that, in many respects this 

 303 Rifleite nitro powder, used under the foregoing conditions, 

 approaches nearer in the direction of an ideal punt-gun powder 

 than does our aged and trusty servant " Col. Hawker's punt-gun 

 powder." A comparison of the cartridge-cases after firing showed 

 that in every instance the black powder exerted heavier breech 

 pressures than the '303 Rifleite. In some instances portions of the 

 strong paper tube of the cartridge-case were blown out of the 

 barrel by black powder, but there was no instance of this occurring 

 with the nitro powder. Moreover, when compared with the nitro 

 cases, the black powder cartridge-cases after firing bore on their 

 soft brass parts and also on their paper tube the unmistakable 

 impress of subjection to greater pressure. 



Other important gains accruing from the use of the Rifleite were 

 the lessening of the smoke and noise, and the very great reduction 

 of fouling in the barrel and breech of the gun as compared with 

 the black powder. In every instance after the discharge of the 

 latter, a dense, greasy mass of fouling was found to have ac- 

 cumulated round the base of the cartridge, and even to have insin- 

 uated itself for some little distance up the threads of the screw in 

 the breech-plug. In no instance was any weakness of shooting 

 displayed by either powder, and, on standing some little distance 

 to one side of the gun on firing, the speed of the pellets travelling 

 up to the target was remarkable. At the 60 yards range their 

 arrival on the sheet-iron plate appeared to be well nigh simul- 

 taneous with the report of the gun. All the pellets were flattened 

 out to the thickness of stout brown paper on striking the target. 



A further interesting comparative trial of black and nitro powders 

 in a punt-gun, made at the Barwick powder factory, deserves to be 

 recorded. This was as follows : 



NITRO POWDER. 60 YARDS. 



Punt-Gun: by Messrs. Holland and Holland, New Bond St., W. 

 Bore i^ in. 



Cartridge-case: lo-in. paper. 



Primer : a '300 brass case and fine powder. 



Powder : '303 Rifleite. 



Shot : size A. of 52 pellets to the ounce. 



