TO CLEAN DETONATING GUNS. 25- 



the wadding, the powder will be driven into the caps, 

 and become so firmly compressed as to destroy their 

 effect. 



" Should the caps be put on by mistake, prior to 

 loading, force them off with a turnscrew, and replace 

 them with new ones. 



" Never put the cocks down upon the caps when the 

 gun is loaded, as it compresses and spoils the detonating 

 powder, and is very dangerous, the cocks being liable to 

 be lifted up by catching hold of any substance, and 

 their falling will explode the gun. If left at half-cock, 

 this cannot possibly happen. 



" Keep the copper caps dry ; if exposed to the fire 

 for a few minutes, when required for use in damp wea- 

 ther, they will never fail. Take care that no oil or 

 grease gets to them. 



" The caps made with the purified detonating powder 

 should always be used in preference to those which are 

 made with fulminating mercury, and called ' anti-corro- 

 sive.' This powder is dangerous, as it inflames with 

 very slight pressure, and detonates with such extreme 

 violence, as frequently to burst the shields of the cocks, 

 and split the pegs. It also- wears them out in one 

 quarter the time the other does, and is likewise very 

 foul, and will not keep : it injures, moreover, the inside 

 of the barrels and breeches. 



" For cleaning the detonating lock as at present con- 

 structed, the following implements will be required, as 

 also for taking it to pieces previous to the process : A 



