OF THE OLD WOELD. 493 



The bullet should not fit too loosely, nor yet be 

 so large as to require hammering, in order to force 

 it down, as in the former case it is liable " to strip," 

 (or pass out of the barrel without taking the rifling, 

 and gaining the spiral motion,) and in the latter 

 it will have ragged edges, which will cause it to 

 diverge from its true direction in its flight through 

 the air. 



In pressing down the bullet, although great care 

 should be taken to drive it properly home, much 

 force should not be employed, as by ramming and 

 jamming with the ramrod the shape of the bullet 

 is altered and spoiled, which much affects its true 

 flight, and the powder is "mealed" and "caked," 

 by which the strength of the charge is much 

 diminished, as a certain amount of air is necessary 

 to ensure thorough combustion. 



The base of the bullet should rest evenly upon 

 the powder, and its axis be in line with that of the 

 barrel. 



For fine shooting, care should be taken that there 

 is no hidden defect in the bullet, for if any part be 

 hollow or imperfect, the centre of gravity will not 

 be in the line of the axis, and consequently there 

 will be a deviation in its flight. 



I shall now notice the causes of irregular firing, 

 over which the rifleman can have no control, but 

 which may, to a certain extent, be rendered less 

 injurious to " the score," if the following observa- 

 tions are carefully attended to : — 



