200 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



be taken to employ shot of the same size in each ex- 

 periment, the quantity both of the shot and powder 

 being regulated by exact weight ; otherwise we can- 

 not, even in this experiment, arrive at any certainty 

 in comparing the strength of different powders, or of 

 the same powder at different times. 



From what has been said in the preceding part of 

 this article, it will easily be concluded that powder 

 should be kept very dry, and that every degree of 

 moisture injures it. Good powder, however, does not 

 readily imbibe moisture ; and, perhaps, there is no 

 greater proof of the bad quality of this composition 

 than its growing damp quickly when exposed to the 

 air : this aptness to become moist arises from the 

 saltpetre not having been properly freed from the 

 common salt it contained in a crude state, and which, 

 in consequence, has a strong attraction for watery 

 particles. 



Gunpowder may acquire a small degree of damp- 

 ness, and be freed from it again by drying, without 

 much injury to its quality ; but if the moisture is con- 

 siderable, the saltpetre is dissolved, and the intimate 

 mixture of the ingredients entirely destroyed. Dry- 

 ing powder with too great heat also injures it ; for 

 there is a degree, which, although not sufficient to 

 fire the powder, will yet dissipate the sulphur, and 

 impair the composition, by destroying the texture of 

 the grains. The heat of the sun is perhaps the 

 greatest it can with safety be exposed to, and, if pro- 

 perly managed, is quite sufficient for the purpose; 



