68 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



proverbial pikestaff that cartridge-loading should be 

 conducted on highly intelligent and careful lines if the 

 best and most regular results are to be obtained with 

 modern nitro-compounds. There are various ways in 

 which full or, possibly, increased charges of these powders 

 may be employed without developing a due amount 

 of energy. I well remember several years ago loading 

 some 1 2-bore cartridges with full and even extra charges 

 of a certain well-tried nitro powder, but with lessened 

 charges of shot. One batch contained a three-quarter 

 charge and the other merely half a charge of shot. 

 This was done on the supposition that thereby a 

 tremendously high velocity would be imparted to the 

 shot ; these cartridges being designed especially for 

 quick shooting at rabbits or woodcock in thick covert, 

 and for duck-flighting at close quarters in the half 

 light. Experience soon taught me that, however pretty 

 in theory, this little plan did not work out at all well 

 in practice, as I could not get along with these cart- 

 ridges nearly so well as with those containing complete 

 loads of shot. This, doubtless, was owing to the 

 lessened amount of resistance offered to the powder 

 by the reduced shot-charge, the friction of an extra 

 wad or two passing out of the cartridge-case and along 

 the barrel not offering a resistance equal to the weight 

 of the missing half-ounce of shot ; thus the full explosive 

 energy of the powder was not developed. 



The method pursued in the granulation of a powder 

 has an all-important influence upon its readiness to 

 ignite and the speed of its combustion. With black 

 powders, the smaller the grain the quicker the ignition 

 and combustion ; and this rule holds good to a con- 

 siderable extent with the nitros. Uniformity in size 



