THE COPPER-CAP. 339 



The wadding we should recommend is that made 

 of felt, and anointed with some chemical prepara- 

 tion. We are not sure that this is the very best 

 description of wadding, but we know of none better. 

 New waddings are constantly invented. The me- 

 tallic wadding, concave wadding, punched cards, 

 or punched hat wadding, are any of them good, as 

 regards shooting. The chief reason why we bestow 

 a preference on the anointed wadding is, because 

 the barrel is kept less foul, and may be fired so 

 many times oftener without requiring cleaning, 

 than when any other description of wadding with 

 which we are acquainted is used. We are not 

 partial to a tight wadding, but it should fit so 

 that when the barrel is clean and smooth within, 

 the charge will not stir. There is little fear of 

 the charge stirring after a barrel has been fired a 

 few times, as the place where the leading or foulness 

 accumulates in greatest quantity is just above 

 where the charge of shot lies. 



Considerable improvement has been made in 

 copper-caps since they were first introduced. The 

 composition in all of them is now good, that which 

 possesses the anti-corrosive principle is perhaps 

 best. There is much difference in the copper of 

 which they are made, but that is of little con- 

 sequence when good locks with concave or well 

 shielded hammers are used, otherwise those made 

 of bad copper are said to be dangerous. We 

 never heard of an accident from them. The 

 shooter should be particular in procuring copper- 

 caps of a proper size ; for if they do not fit the 



