346 SHOOTING. 



The blue and battue only should be used in barrels 

 of small gauge. 



The cartridge does not require either a greater 

 or less charge of powder than loose shot, but there 

 is this peculiarity attending it. A heavy charge 

 of powder throws the shot from the cartridge more 

 closely than a small charge, by reason of its allow- 

 ing more time for the escape of shot from the net- 

 work. This is exactly the reverse of the manner 

 in which the loose charge acts. The greater the 

 charge of powder when loose shot and wadding are 

 used, the more is the shot dispersed, and vice versa. 

 Either loose shot or cartridge shot is projected 

 with greater force and velocity when a heavy 

 charge of powder is used. When birds lie well, 

 we would recommend the shooter who adopts the 

 cartridge to charge lightly with powder, to give 

 the shots time to spread well ; but when birds are 

 wild, he should charge with as much powder as 

 the shoulder can conveniently bear, so as to give 

 the greatest possible force, and at the same time 

 the greatest practicable degree of closeness. It is at 

 long distances only that the superiority of the 

 cartridge is conspicuous. 



Amongst the advantages attending the adoption 

 of the cartridge, it may be mentioned, that the re- 

 coil is not so severe, and consequently a lighter 

 gun may be used, than with the loose charge, and 

 this is a great relief to the shooter in a heavy 

 country, and especially on the hills in August, 

 when the heat of the sun is frequently overpower- 

 ing. The cartridges act well when fired from 



