THE LEFAUCHEAUX GUN. 261 



pin explodes the cap, which is prevented from giving way by 

 the firm surface opposed to it, consisting of the side of the 

 hole in the wad, which is, as before described, lined with 

 brass. The pin also, in passing through the wad, is held so 

 safely that no gas escapes, and the whole of the gaseous con- 

 tents of the cartridge are driven out of its open end, where 

 they at once enter the cylinder of the barrel. 



These cases are only mode of two sizes 12 and 16 what- 

 ever may be the gauge of the gun they are intended for ; and 

 although the numbers 15 and 14 are stamped upon the cases 

 sold by those gunmakers who are fond of mystifying their 

 customers. They are chiefly manufactured in France, where 

 most of our gunmakers obtain them with their names stamped 

 to order. Eley now sells a considerable number of his own 

 make, really turned oiit of hand by machinery in this country, 

 but as at present sold, they are more apt to stick in conse- 

 quence of bursting than those of French make. The price 

 is 50$. per 1000 for 16-gauge, and 31. for 12, and as they 

 contain a substitute for the cap of the ordinary percussion 

 gun, the cost of these must be deducted, so that the actual 

 additional outlay is, as near as may be, a halfpenny per shot, 

 if a stock of these cartridges is laid in. Now, putting the 

 average value of each head of game at 2s., if only two per 

 cent, additional are killed, this increased expenditure will be 

 paid for, and as I think it cannot be denied by those who 

 have tried these guns that this estimate is too low, instead 

 of occasioning a loss, they are really entitled to be considered 

 as producing a saving. Few sportsmen would probably 

 regard the trifling extra cost, even if it were not reimbursed, 

 but as I believe that even on this ground the system can be 

 shown to l)e advantageous, it is quite as well to state the 

 question as it really stands. 



The locks of the Lefaucheaux gun are necessarily made 

 " back actioued," because there is no room for the bar, the 

 place of which is occupied by the lever and bolt. I have 

 already stated that the bar-lock is now preferred by most 

 sportsmen, but the disadvantage of the back action is so 

 trifling as to be scarcely worth mentioning. The hammers 

 are slightly lighter and the springs weaker than those of the 

 percussion gun. 



