BREECH-LOADERS. 71 



No chance of miss-fires on that account with a 

 breech-loader. 



16. The breech-loader takes very 

 Cleaning. 



little time to clean; a piece of tow and 

 an oiled rag run through the barrel is sufficient ; 

 and by looking through them, it is very easy to 

 be seen whether they are clean a great advan- 

 tage. Whereas, with an ordinary gun, by the 

 act of reloading, the dirt and debris of the last 

 discharge is forced into the breech or the nip- 

 ple, and frequent washing out of the barrels is 

 required. 

 No Second 17< The carrying out of a second gun 



Gun required. -\ . j /> 



is obviated; tor a sportsman can re- 

 load his gun in most cases more quickly than his 

 keeper can hand him another. I have always 

 had an objection to having a keeper walking 

 behind me with a loaded gun. Perhaps it may 

 be a weakness I have ; but I always feel afraid 

 of his stumbling, and " making game " of me. 

 Less to Carry. 18. The bother of carrying powder- 

 flask, shot-bag, caps, wads, loading-rod, and nipple- 



