206 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



be ascertained with precision. Before I proceed fur- 

 ther, I will beg leave to mention an excellent prin- 

 ciple in the practice of the artillery on this subject. 

 It is asserted, that, by using small charges at first, 

 and increasing the quantity of powder by degrees, 

 the ranges will increase to a certain point; after 

 which, if the charge continue to be augmented, they 

 will progressively dimmish; though the recoil will 

 still continue in the ratio of the increase of the 

 charge. This is a consequence that may be deduced 

 from a variety of experiments, and is perfectly agree- 

 able to the principles of mechanics; since the recoil 

 and the range ought to be in the reciprocal ratio of 

 the gun and the shot, making allowance for the re- 

 sistance which these bodies meet with. 



I am perfectly aware, that many rules have been 

 laid down for loading of fowling-pieces, and am at 

 the same time convinced of their futility; since guns 

 of the same calibre, and apparently alike in every re- 

 spect, will be found to vary. The surest and best 

 method to ascertain the, precise loading, is to fire at 

 sheets of paper at the distance of thirty or forty 

 yards; and by this means the point may be ascertain- 

 ed with tolerable precision. The paper should be 

 many sheets in thickness, as by this means the 

 sportsman will see very clearly with what force the 

 shot is driven, by the sheets which are perforated : 

 that charge which throws the shot in the roundest 

 and best manner, and at the same time drives with the 

 greatest force, will of course be the proper one ; and 



