TIIL- UlfLE.] 



BY FIELD, WOOD, AND WATKK. 



[the BIl'LE. 



a certain portion of tlio shot, which ia more ] 

 immediately in contact with the wadding, will 

 bo incited by the explosion of the powder. Mr. 

 Greener savs, "that a substantial waddin?, 

 between the powder and the shot, ia equal 

 to a considerable artificial friction in improving 

 tiie strength with which the powder expels the 

 shot. It answers the purpose of completely 

 preventing the explosive matter becoming 

 mixed with the shot ; and the powder is con- 

 iiiied the same as it would be were there a ball 

 in the barrel that fitted tight. Thus the 

 whole force is properly exerted." 



WaUiers metaUic gun-icaddings have a con- 

 :iiderable reputation, partly from the fact of 

 tlieir metallic edges preventing the surface of 

 the barrel from becoming leaded. Other 

 waddings are likewise recommended, as Joyce's, 

 Wilkinson's, and Beckwith's. The principal 

 object is to keep the whole charge in the gun 

 as compact as possible, that it may act least 

 offensively on the gun, and most effectively 

 on the object aimed at. 



THE RIFLE. 



Up to this point we have said nothing 

 about the Bijle-gun, which is used in deer- 

 stalking, and rook-shootiug. The barrels in 

 all rifles are much stronger and heavier than 

 those of the ordinary fowling-pieces. The 

 bore has long been manufactured with in- 

 dentations within, which form spiral grooves 

 throughout the entire extent. The principle 

 on which all rifles are made, and the object 

 thev aim at accomplishing, is to impart to the 

 ball a rotary or spinning motion round its axis, 

 as it passes out through the barrel. The old 

 mode of manufacturing pieces of this kind 

 failed to accomplish this purpose to any great 

 extent ; but modern art has eflected a con- 

 siderable change for the better. The barrel of 

 a rifle is now cut with only two opposite 

 grooves ; and the ball being framed with a 

 projected belt or zone round its equator, of the 

 same form as the grooves, it enters so readily 

 into these hollows, that little or no force is 

 required to press it down upon the powder. 

 The general result has been, tliat guns of this 

 character carry either ball or large shot much 

 further, and with a vastly increased impetus, 

 than can be done by the common flint or 

 percussion fowliug-projectiles. The locks for 



rifles have, likewise, undergone a great change, 

 and many iin[)ortant alterations and improve- 

 ments have been cfiected in their Btructuro 

 and mechanism. By reversing the position cf 

 the main-spring, the general conipactneHS and 

 strenirth of the works have been increased, 

 and rendered more powerful, durable, and 

 easy of repair. The ignition of the powder is 

 so certain, that a misfire is rare in good rifles. 

 Tiiey are getting daily into more general use 

 in sporting circles, not only in this country, 

 but on the continent, and in the United States 

 of America. 



In bringing our observations and descriptions 

 of the gun to a close, we may observe, that every 

 reader of sporting works on this instrument, 

 must have remarked the very conflicting 

 opinions respecting its uses, and the nature 

 and character of its prominent attributes. 

 These opinions are so contradictory, and are 

 frequently set forth with so much confidence 

 and dogmatism, that the impression is forced 

 upon us, that the true theory of projectiles is 

 not yet perfectly understood. Much, how- 

 ever, is now being done to master the subject; 

 and we have no doubt, that opinions more 

 generally correct, and easier to be reconciled 

 with each other, will, at no distant day, per- 

 vade the minds of all intelligent sportsmen 

 throughout the country. 



"We find in almost all the more elaborate 

 treatises on the gun, a loose and inconsequen- 

 tial mode of reasoning adopted. Facts are 

 mingled with theories, and theories with facts ; 

 and there is no regularly concatenated chain 

 of reasoning on the subject. The systematic 

 writers on the fowling-piece seem, in many 

 cases, to have set out in their inquiries with 

 some preconceived theory, to support which 

 they either mould facts already ascertained, or 

 mould the theory to the party, and thus en- 

 deavour to establish much that is not tenable, 

 or worthy to be established. The mere mer- 

 cantile enterprises connected with sporting, 

 I have tended, in many cases, to prevent too fiae 

 current of inquiry into the ofiices of the gun. 

 A gun-maker invents something which he con- 

 ceives of importance, and takes out a patent 

 at a considerable expense. He is naturally 

 desirous of having his invention made known, 

 and he accordingly does all he can to have it 

 puffed,or recommended throughout the coua*:ry- 



507 



