348 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN, 



sary, in some cases, to give the ramrod a few gentle taps with a 

 small stick of wood to make it go down far enough to disengage 

 itself from the shot. 



When one barrel is discharged, it will be more prudent when 

 loading again to try the ramrod on the wadding of the other 

 barrel, as the concussion of the first discharge is apt to loosen 

 if not move the wad a trifle from the shot ; and if this were the 

 case, there would be a greater tendency in the barrel to burst at 

 the next fire. We have never found that the concussion from 

 one single discharge was sufficient to loosen and throw the wad 

 off the shot of the other barrel far enough to do any injury, nor 

 do we think that such could be the case with a small fowling- 

 piece, although it might happen with a weapon of much larger 

 caliber — a Duck-gun, for example, particularly if slightly rammed 

 and heavily charged. We, however, for prudence sake, are in 

 the habit of sounding the loaded barrel after every discharge ; 

 provided the two are not fired in rapid succession. 



I say that we are accustomed to sound the other barrel for 

 'prudence sahe^ and would recommend all our friends to do the 

 same, as it is well to accustom one's self to this practice ; other- 

 wise we may not think of it, even after firing the right hand 

 barrel four or five times before discharging the left, as all young 

 shots and even old shots are too apt to do ; and in this case, the 

 repeated concussion may have moved the wad up the barrel 

 several inches, and might endanger the bursting of the Gun 

 owing to the thinness of the barrel as it nears the muzzle. At 

 all events, as said before, an " ounce of prevention is Avorth a 

 pound of cure." 



This accident, however, is much less liable to occur than one 

 might at first suppose, more particularly after the barrel has 

 been used a few times, as i\\Q fouling and loading of the Gun is 

 always greater just at the point, or rather a little above where 

 the wad is placed over the shot, and of course assists very mate- 

 rially in keeping the charge home. 



' AVe have generally been in the habit of slightly anointing 

 our wads, before using, with sweet oil; it certainly prevents 

 the barrels from becoming so quickly foul, and may otherwise 

 be of service. The best plan to do this is to empty a portion 

 of the wads out of a full box, and then pour a few drops of oil 



