SHOT, POWDER, SHELLS, WADS AND LOADING. 333 



started to use it, refrain from changing. For, although 

 he may not believe it, there is such a great difference 

 in brands, that when he has started to use, and does 

 use a given brand for any length of time, he will see a 

 difference in his shooting, and the change usually 

 proves detrimental to good scores. The powder should 

 be strong, clean and moist, leaving in the barrels, even 

 if fired throughout the entire day, a soft residue, which, 

 is easily wiped out. But let the reader bear in mind 

 that the atmosphere has the greatest influence on the 

 powder on hot, dry days. The powder will cake in the 

 barrels forming a crust that disgusts every hunter. On 

 the contrary, on cool, moist days, the effect is seen just 

 the contrary. As water is always in close proximity 

 to the shooter while duck shooting it is a very simple 

 matter to have clean barrels, which can be done by 

 dipping the barrels into the water. Should the be- 

 ginner notice red streaks or flaky substances in the 

 muzzle of the gun, after it has been fired, pay no atten- 

 tion to it, it amounts to nothing, and is no indication 

 of lack of strength or of impurity in its manufacture. 



The sized grains of powder used in wild fowl shoot- 

 ing is generally FG. This is pretty coarse. FFG 

 being finer, and FFFG still finer. The coarser the 

 powder the slower it is and greater the penetration. 

 Should one constantly shoot FG at ducks, then use the 

 finer grades, he would speedily detect the difference, 

 as the finer would give greater recoil, and being quicker, 

 less time allowance would be necessary. I am partial 

 to FG, and use that size at ducks and at the trap ; at 

 the same time, I have seen very fine and extra coarse 

 powder used with equally good effect. This being the 

 case, we are led to the conclusion, that no particular 



