STRENGTH OF POWDER. 341 



they cannot be held quite perpendicular, so that 

 the whole charge of powder shall find its way to 

 the breech. One-fifth of the charge will sometimes 

 adhere. Doubtless, when tight wadding is used, 

 the whole, or nearly the whole, of the charge finds 

 its way to the bottom : but in what state ? A por- 

 tion of it is wet ! and the result is, that, when 

 the piece is discharged, only four-fifths ignite ! 



The fowling-piece should be put by clean, oiled, 

 and the barrels corked or stopped, and with the 

 hammers upon the pivots. It should be kept in a 

 cloth or wooden case, in a dry room, and, when not 

 in constant use, occasionally rubbed with linen 

 dipped in olive oil. The inside of the barrel should 

 be frequently oiled, the oil being immediately wiped 

 out with a dry cloth wrapped round the cleaning 

 rod. Neafs-foot oil is best for the locks, and 

 linseed oil is recommended for the stocks, but it 

 is so offensive that we prefer olive oil. 



Large-grained powder is generally stronger than 

 small-grained. It is well to be cautious that the 

 grain is not so large as not to fill the nipple freely, 

 or misfires will be the consequence. Powder which 

 suits one gun may not suit another ; the larger the 

 bore of the gun, the larger should be the grain of 

 the powder. An instrument for trying the strength 

 of powder should not be trusted to : the best trial 

 is with the gun in which the powder is intended to 

 be used, and there can be no better target for try- 

 ing the comparative strength of different powders, 

 than an unbound book fixed firmly against some- 

 thing solid. 



2 F 



