MISCELLANEOUS HINTS. 443 



the two next additions of powder will shoot equally strong, and 

 yet not stronger, because more of it remains unburnt. Therefore, 

 the least quantity which shoots equally strong is the proper charge, 

 which having once ascertained, never change for any person's 

 plan. 



"Next as to the charge of shot. All guns, according to their 

 bore and length, will shoot a certain weight and a certain size of 

 shot best. A great deal of shot in a small bore lies too far up the 

 barrel, and creates an unnecessary friction ; and the shot, by the 

 compression at the moment of explosion, becomes all shapes, a 

 circumstance which materially affects its flight. If of too great a 

 weight, the powder has not power to drive it with that speed and 

 force required to be efficacious, because the weight is too great in 

 proportion. Those who reason with mathematical calculation will 

 object to this doctrine. Say they, The greater the weight the 

 greater the effect. No doubt it is so, if thrown with a propor- 

 tionate force ; but that cannot be obtained with a small gun. We 

 must adapt the weight of projectile force to the power we are in 

 possession of; and, from many experiments, I am inclined to think 

 that a fourteen -gauge two-feet-eight barrel should never be loaded 

 with above an ounce and a half of shot, (No. 6 will suit her best,) 

 and the utmost powder she will burn. A fifteen-gauge will not 

 require more than one ounce and one-fourth ; and no doubt No. 7 

 would be thrown by her quite as strong as No. 6 by the fourteen- 

 gauge gun, and do as much execution at forty yards with less 

 recoil; and, setting aside all other reasons, I should, on this ac- 

 count, prefer the fifteen-gauge gun, if both be of a length, finding 

 I can do as much execution at the same distance with the one as 

 with the other. To render a fourteen-gauge barrel superior, I 

 think Colonel Hawker is right in stating that it should never be 

 under thirty-four inches, which description of barrel I very much 

 approve." 



