LOADING,] 



SHOOTING, 



[loading. 



has attained a mastery amongst his craft. 

 Between just theories, and accurate practice, 

 there is always a wide gap ; and it happens, 

 now and then, that the one is made to throw 

 light on the other. 



Many trials must be made with every fowl- 

 ing-piece before it can be fully ascertained 

 ■what are the proportions of powder and shot 

 that will suit it best, and produce the most 

 pleasant and most effective method of using 

 it. AVhen, however, something like a general 

 idea on the point is obtained, a series of what 

 may be called small experiments should be 

 made, in the way of variations in the quantity 

 of loading, that the truth of the general 

 opinions formed may be tested. A detonating 

 piece requires a little less powder than a flint- 

 gun; but the exact diflerence of proportion 

 between them is not a matter that can be 

 subjected to any general rule ; from a fourth 

 to a fifth less is often adopted. Colonel 

 Hawker says — " To load a single gun of six, or 

 double gun of seven, eight, or nine pounds' 

 weight, take a steel charger, which holds pre- 

 cisely an ounce and a-half of shot; fill it 

 brimful of powder, from which first prime, and 

 then put the remainder into the barrel ; to 

 this add the same measure bumperful of shot, 

 and then regulate the tops of your flasks and 

 belts accordingly." This, however, is the pre- 

 scription for a flint-gun, of which the colonel is 

 the segis. The same authority says, that for a 

 gun of twelve pounds these proportions may 

 be doubled ; for one of eighteen, trebled ; and 

 for one of twenty-four, quadrupled. Although 

 these proportions for powder be correct, yet 

 the experience of shooters shows that a certain 

 diminution of the quantity of shot should be 

 made for each kind of gun now mentioned. 

 The commonly received regulations are the 

 following : — The sixth part of an ounce of 

 powder for a single percussion-gun, and the 

 seventh for a double. The weight of shot for 

 an ordinary piece of this kind may be one ounce 

 and three-quarters ; a much heavier gun will 

 bear one ounce and seven-eighths. For a 

 double gun an ounce and three-eighths may be 

 used for the left barrel, and for the other an 

 ounce and five-eighths. Many sportsmen load 

 the left barrel with less shot than the right, 

 which has to be fired at a greater distance than 

 the first. A young sportsman, commencing to 

 524 



make experiments on the gun he is about to 

 use in the field, should begin with small quan- 

 tities of powder and shot, notice the effect* 

 produced by an increase, and endeavour to 

 ascertain, with the most scrupulous care and 

 nicety, the exact proportions which are best 

 calculated for the make and calibre of his 

 piece. All written rules only serve as general 

 landmarks or finger-posts to direct the way to 

 set out on the journey, but cannot supply the 

 place of well-regulated experiments and accu- 

 rate observations. It may be remarked, as a 

 leading maxim in game-shooting, that heavy 

 loading does not facilitate the sportsman's 

 success. If too much shot be put into a gun, 

 the expansive force by which the charge is 

 thrown out will be disregarded, and, in conse- 

 quence, both its range and propulsive power 

 will be diminished ; if, on the other hand, too 

 much powder be used, it may be ejected, or at 

 least disturbed, before it acts on the mass of 

 shot. Such are the results of experience. 



In loading a double-barrelled gun, the ram- 

 rod should not be put down one barrel whilst 

 the other is being loaded ; because, if a stray 

 grain of shot gets down, it may be so fixed by 

 the ramrod in the barrel, as not to be got out 

 without difficulty ; and it may even injure the 

 internal coating of the barrel. After the fired 

 barrel has been re-charged, the piece should be 

 slightly shaken, so that it may be ascertained 

 whether the shot in the right-hand barrel has- 

 been removed. If there is heard any vibra- 

 tion of the shot against the sides of the barrel, 

 then the charge must be more firmly rammed 

 down. The slightest vibration will detect the 

 loosened shot. 



Mr. Greener, a gentleman of great expe- 

 rience of the gun, says, in reference to the 

 proper charge — " Suppose you begin with two 

 drachms, and vary the charge one-eighth of a 

 drachm each shot up to three-and-a-half 

 drachms, or, as may be required, according to 

 the length and bore of the gun, and, for pre- 

 cision, taking three sliots for each charge, at a 

 sufficient number of sheets of paper; which- 

 ever you find strongest, with the least quan- 

 tity of powder, that is the best charge, as very 

 likely the two additions of powder will shoot 

 equally strong, and yet not stronger, because 

 more of it remains uuburnt. Therefore the- 

 least quantity that shoots equally strong is tho- 



