182 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



were supposed to throw the shot. But when it is 

 considered that the pellets of shot, which come in 

 contact with the sides of the barrel, compose nearly 

 half the charge, it will not be a matter of surprise, if 

 enlarging the surface of the calibre at the muzzle, 

 and thereby increasing the number of pellets that 

 touch it, would tend to make the shot be scattered 

 more widely. 



Espinar says, that the fault of the scattering of the 

 shot arises from the quality of the iron composing 

 the several portions of the barrel. Thus, he observes, 

 it may happen, that the reinforced part is formed of 

 iron, which is harder and closer in the grain than 

 that forming the fore- part of the barrel ; in conse- 

 quence of which, and also from the fore-part being 

 much thinner, the latter is more shaken by the 

 powder, and by that means produces a dispersion of 

 the shot. He therefore pretends, that widening the 

 muzzle, that is, making it bell-muzzled, by facili- 

 tating the explosion, diminishes the force of the 

 powder upon this part, and causes the shot to be 

 thrown more closely together. 



These contrivances, however, appear by no means 

 to answer the desired purpose ; most of the modern 

 gun-smiths are sensible of this, and therefore seldom 

 practise them unless to indulge the vthim of their 

 customers. For my own part, I am confident those 

 barrels, whose calibres are perfectly smooth and 

 cylindrical throughout, will be found to throw the 

 shot the best. Barrels of this kind have long sup- 



