POWDER 69 



and in the density of the grains are important matters 

 in determining the regularity of results obtainable with 

 any powder. A powder having a considerable per- 

 centage of small grains, or one of friable nature that 

 pulverizes much, cannot be expected to give the most 

 regular results. With powders of this character an 

 undue proportion of the dust or small grains will, 

 now and again, be loaded into the cartridge-case ; 

 this may bring about so rapid an explosion that the 

 shooter will be shaken up most thoroughly, and the 

 gun subjected to greater pressure than is advisable. 

 Mixed grain powder may answer so long as the grains 

 can be kept duly mixed ; but in practice I find that 

 this cannot be insured with powders any more than 

 with the mixed shot recommended by some faddists 

 for use in game guns. 



Sportsmen are now in possession of two definite 

 types of smokeless powder, the so-called bulk powder 

 and the newer concentrated or condensed powder. The 

 first is designed to occupy the same space as black 

 powder in the cartridge-case, although only weighing 

 about half as much. There are several varieties of 

 both forms now on the market, many having proved 

 excellent and reliable sporting explosives when properly 

 handled; they, however, require to be differently 

 treated in many ways, the members of each group 

 varying considerably in composition and behaviour 

 one from another. That form of cartridge-case, kind 

 of cap, method of wadding, and turnover of cartridge- 

 case best suited to each individual powder must be 

 used, and care generally be exercised in following 

 out the directions given by the maker of each powder. 



We have passed through the somewhat troublous 



