62 CENTRAL-FIRE SYSTEM. 



Secondly. A cartridge extractor, which weakens 

 the breech, and is a complication liable to get out 

 of order, is absolutely required in this system, 

 and even then the exploded cartridges are some- 

 times difficult to get out. 



Thirdly. I have known a gun on the central- 

 fire system to explode in the act of closing the 

 breech, from the percussion cap protruding above 

 the brass plane of the cartridge, and striking 

 against the needle, which in some guns, even at 

 half-cock, projects slightly. 



Fourthly. Cartridges on the central-fire system 

 are certainly more dangerous to load than pin 

 cartridges, for should a grain of sand get under 

 the cap, or if the cap should project above the 

 brass plane of the cartridge, the act of ramming 

 down the wads smartly might cause the percus- 

 sion-powder to ignite and the cartridge to explode. 



Fifthly. Pin cartridges are in more general 

 use, and can be bought all over the Continent, 

 whilst those on the central-fire system are difficult 

 to be got except in London. 



