THE LOADING OF CARTRIDGE-CASES. 



28<> 



is turned round until a dent is made in it above the wad, as 

 shown at ee. By this plan, the shot has no interval to pass 

 over between the end of the case and the shoulder of the 

 chamber, this space being filled up by the cartridge-case. 

 No plan I have yet seen is so good as this, in my opinion, and 

 I find that in practice it acts remarkably well. Mr. Blanch, 

 of Gracechurch-street, has also registered an ingenious little- 

 machine for turning over these cases, but I confess that I see 

 no advantage in it over the hand-tool, and the choice, in my 

 opinion, lies between the latter and that of Messrs. Trulock 

 and Harris, above described. 



In a large proportion of cases cartridges are spoilt by the 

 first discharge, but if they are made very well, they some- 

 times serve again, requiring only re-capping. Several in- 

 genious contrivances are sold with this object in view, and 

 Messrs. Trulock and Harris have also invented a very in- 

 genious little machine for effecting this operation, which 

 though extremely simple, is difficult to describe; and it will 

 be far better for those who require its assistance to obtain 

 one from the inventors or from their agents, Messrs. Eley, 

 of London. 



A small instrument called an extractor is sold for the 

 purpose of removing those cartridges which do not readily 

 come out of the chamber. It has a hole at one end for the 

 pin, and a sharp hook at the other for the inside of the 

 cartridge, if the pin should leave the case behind. No one 

 should use a Lefaucheaux or Bastin gun without this assistant 

 about him. 



Mr. Needhams carlrit/ge is loaded in the usual way with 

 powder over which a felt wad is placed, then the shot, and 

 finally, instead of a shot- wad, the mouth of the case is tied with 

 twine. Each cartridge as it explodes leaves a wad behind it, 

 which is pushed forward and lies in front of the next cartridge 

 used, serving to keep the shot in their place. See p. 274. 



7A/.S-////X cartridge is loaded as for the Lefaucheaux gun in 

 all particulars. 



Mr. Lancnxttr's is also to be managed in the same way, 

 but he uses a block of wood in which a cylindrical chamber is 

 cut to receive the cartridge while the turn-over tool is being 

 used. This is done also in Blanch's and one or two other 



