150 BLANK CARTRIDGE. 



Before the novice is allowed to fire 



Blank 



Cartridge. ^^ ^^^ ^e gh^d practise a certain 



routine of blank-cartridge firing, in order to 

 further the same object for which he was exer- 

 cised in snapping caps, as well as to accustom him 

 to the " recoil " or " kick," which is a backward 

 motion caused by the force of the explosion of 

 the powder acting against the breech of the barrel 

 at the same time as against the bullet. 



The force of the recoil depends 

 upon the charge of powder, the 

 weight of the bullet, the weight of the rifle, the 

 windage, the rifling of the barrel, the boring of 

 the barrel (whether purely cylindrical or other- 

 wise), the amount of friction, and the foulness, 

 which much increases the resistance offered by 

 the air to the bullet passing up the barrel. The 

 instructor should impress upon the novice the 

 necessity of pressing the heel of the butt well 

 and firmly into the hollow of the shoulder, as the 

 more confidently a man " stands up" to his rifle, 

 the less likelihood there is of random shooting. 



