POWDER 71 



source of weakness in a gun ? I think the time must 

 come when that danger-trap, the cone or shoulder at 

 the end of the cartridge-chamber, will be dispensed 

 with, and a sufficient powder energy developed by means 

 of wadding of increased size say 10, or loj gauge 

 in 12-gauge cases or by certain other means. I feel 

 sure that 12-bores on these lines, having 24-inch barrels, 

 and weighing no more than 6| Ib. or 6J Ib. would throw 

 1 1 oz. of No. 5 shot, a most deadly load to use on game, 

 with absolute comfort to the shooter, and would prove 

 an excellent form of weapon for the purposes of modern 

 sport the shooting of driven grouse, partridge, and 

 pheasant. In these coneless guns any length of cart- 

 ridge, and bulk or concentrated powder, could be used 

 at will, and they would, I believe, possess greater power 

 for their size and weight than guns as now made with 

 chambers. 



Most sportsmen prefer to buy their cartridges loaded, 

 and, in a general way, this is the better plan. Unless 

 the amateur has previously gained some little insight 

 into the methods of cartridge-loading, he may take 

 it for granted that without quite exceptional care be- 

 stowed upon the ramming of wads, crimping of cases, 

 and weighing of charges, his hand-loaded cartridges 

 will compare unfavourably for regularity of shooting 

 with the machine-loaded cartridges turned out by the 

 professional cartridge-loader. In loading cartridges 

 care must be taken both in seating the wadding 

 squarely, and in maintaining an even pressure in so 

 doing, throughout the series. The latter cautionary 

 remark applies especially to powders that are more 

 or less compressible. A powder of yielding nature 

 may have its bulk reduced considerably by pressure 



