MUZZLE-LOADERS AND BREECH-LOADERS. "49 



breech to become rusty or burnt out with percussion 

 powder, and the barrels may always be kept in per- 

 fect cleanliness. 



" 4. The recoil on discharge is heavier and the 

 report louder than that produced by the muzzle- 

 loader." 



The first portion of this paragraph is answered by 

 the foregoing tables, and the second is not only false 

 but childish. 



" 5. The penetration of wet and damp in rains, 

 fogs, or mists, between the false breech and barrels, 

 and often into the cartridge itself, cannot be avoided 

 in the present form of breech-loader, more especially 

 in one that has been much used. And if the car- 

 tridge-case gets damp, it adheres to the barrel, and 

 cannot be removed without considerable difficulty." 



That rain cannot penetrate the cartridge-case is 

 pretty well proved by the experience already men- 

 tioned of firing a gun that had been under water 

 fifteen minutes; and if dampness gets in between 

 the false breech and barrels, or under the latter, the 

 parts should be wiped dry after use. The residue of 

 this paragraph is answered below. 



" 6. There is obviously a greater risk of bursting; 

 indeed, the safety of a breech-loader, after much 

 usage, becomes doubtful by reason of the escape of 

 gas between the false breech and barrels, particu- 

 larly after the trying vibrations of heavy charges." 



There is no such escape of gas, and " obviously " 

 can be none, unless it can find its way through nearly 

 a quarter of an inch of solid paper and brass. Does 

 3 



