190 



PROPORTIONS OF POWDER AND SHOT. 



If you overload a gun with powder, the shot will scatter 

 amazingly, and but few pellets will strike the object. If an in- 

 sufficient quantity of powder is used, the shot will not be driven 

 with the requisite force. But it is more than probable, that a 

 trifling variation will be found in all guns ; or, in other worde, 

 it will be a difficult matter to find two guns (though of the same 

 length and caliber) which require precisely the same charge. 

 The best method of ascertaining the proper load for the fowling- 

 piece is, by firing at sheets of paper at given distances, and the 

 progressive result will instruct the sportsman whether to increase 

 or diminish the powder or shot, or both The general error in 

 loading guns, I am inclined to think, is using too much powder, 

 which not only scatters the shot prodigiously, but renders the 

 recoil extremely unpleasant it is quite a mistaken notion to 

 suppose, that a distant object is better reached by a large load of 

 powder, or that the force of the shot is thus increased ; for, 

 however paradoxical it may appear, it will be found, on experi- 

 ment, that (to say nothing of the scattering of the shot, by which 

 a small object will generally be missed) those pellets which strike 

 the mark are not so strongly driven as when a reduced, but a cor- 

 rect, portion of powder is used. There is a certain proportion 

 both of powder and shot with which a gun will shoot better than 

 any other ; these proportions are easily ascertainable in the 

 manner just described ; and, when ascertained, can be adopted. 



If percussion priming is made use of, very little more than 

 half the common load of powder will answer the purpose, see 

 page 163. 



