82 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



strikers and chambers. It is not too much to say 

 that nothing would more quickly relegate all big 

 shoulder-guns to the limbo of disuse than the frequent 

 occurrence of hang-fires. Certainly I know of few 

 things more calculated to upset the gunner's equilibrium, 

 literally and figuratively, than the recurrence of such 

 troubles. A miss-fire may, undoubtedly, give the shooter 

 a few moments of trying suspense ; but a hang-fire, 

 unless he be superhumanly careful, catches him un- 

 awares, knocks him all a-cock, and shatters both nerve 

 and temper completely, if, indeed, nothing worse 

 happens. The bad hang-fires that I had to contend with 

 in some of my early experiments with nitros in 4-bores 

 and 8-bores are certainly to be reckoned amongst the 

 most trying of my gunning experiences. Mishaps of 

 the "sort effectually upset the peace of mind of the 

 most hardened gunner, rendering him distrustful ; then, 

 with confidence in his weapon or ammunition gone, 

 good-bye to all success in sport. But beyond the 

 mere question of nerve- and mind-trouble engendered 

 by a hang-fire, there is real physical danger, for unless 

 on hearing the snap of the hammer the first natural 

 impulse to lower the gun and tendency to relax the 

 grasp be checked, a heavy blow will be received. I 

 am pleased to record that this hang-fire difficulty has 

 been effectually overcome, the cartridge-case manufac- 

 turers having given their attention to the production 

 of suitable forms of ignition for the several nitros in 

 8-bore and 4-bore cases. Messrs. Kynoch have been 

 especially attentive in this matter of ignition, their 

 thin metallic " Perfect " cases being so largely in request 

 for wild-fowling. This improvement in respect of igni- 

 tion has resulted in benefit all round, especially in the 



