SHOT 87 



cartridge may only fizzle, whilst the shot will possibly 

 be propelled some little way up the barrel, and so cause 

 serious damage to both gun and user should another 

 cartridge be inserted and fired. This mischief having 

 occurred on several occasions gives point to the necessity 

 for guarding against obstructions by glancing through 

 the gun-barrels before inserting fresh cartridges. If 

 by chance no powder at all is put in the cartridge, 

 it is unlikely that any ordinary cap will be equal to 

 the task of moving the shot. 



All the foregoing, gun and cartridge-case, powder 

 and wadding, are of no avail without a missile in 

 some form or other. Lead shot for sporting purposes 

 is formed by two distinct processes dropping or mould- 

 ing. The smaller sizes, those most frequently in use, 

 are made by pouring melted lead through a colander 

 having perforations, or from a trough having a notched 

 edge, corresponding to the size of the shot to be made. 

 The liquid metal, falling from a considerable height, 

 forms itself into globules which solidify on their down- 

 ward passage through the air, the cooling process being 

 completed by their reception in water-tanks. To insure 

 sphericity in the larger pellets of drop-shot, it is neces- 

 sary that the lead should be poured from a great height, 

 for unless sufficiently cooled on reaching the end of 

 their downward journey, their due roundness will not 

 be insured. Lead shot, dropped or moulded, to be 

 truly serviceable, must be perfectly round, smooth of 

 surface, and uniform in size. With shot imperfect in 

 form, or of mixed sizes, irregularities in shooting will 

 result. Shot is now made of two distinct kinds, the 

 original or " soft " form, made practically of unhardened 

 lead ; and the " chilled " or hardened shot. 



