356 lewis' ameeican spoetsman. 



should be laid in, in anticipation of a prolonged shooting excur- 

 sion in the wilds of the West.* 



CAP-CHARGERS. 



Cap-chargers are seldom or ever used by Sportsmen, it being 

 so much more convenient to carry the caps in a side pocket 

 appropriated to that purpose. These chargers, however, are 

 very ingenious and pretty instruments, and enable the Shooter 

 to tell at a glance how many shots he has fired in the course of 

 a day's excursion, which is often interesting and instructive. 



There are several different kinds of Cap-Chargers in use, 

 some are made round, some long ; the former are the more pre- 

 ferable, as they are more convenient, not only to carry but 

 to handle. There is also a variety of Charger invented with a 

 dial-plate attached, the indicator of which exhibits at a glance 

 the number of shots fired. 



THE NIPPLE, OR PIVOT. 



The orifice of the nipple should be large and countersunk, so 

 that the contents of the cap, when exploded, may be easily driven 

 into the chamber of the gun ; when the pivot-hole or barrel 



* A slip from tlic New York Spirit of the Times: — 



SUBSTITUTE FOR PERCUSSION CAPS. 



A London paper says : Mr. Pepper is lecturing at the Polj'tecbnic on a ncvr 

 composition recently discovered by Messrs. Winiwarter and Gerslieim, of Vienna, 

 "Patent Gun Primers," which claims to supersede the ordinary percussion cap. 

 The peculiar features of these "gun primers" arc, first, the absence of a me- 

 tallic coat or cover, and their uniform explosive power ; the materials being so 

 amalgamated that no residue is left behind after detonation. The materials are 

 composed of fulminating mercury, chlorate of potash, and sulphide of antimony ; 

 the dangerous properties of the ingredients being subdued or diminished bj' the 

 application of collodion, which is used as a cement. The primers are manufac- 

 tured in various shapes, and the composition is moulded into any required form, 

 dried, and then covered with a film of varnish and a bronze powder. Thus, 

 whatever may be the shape of the pellet, it is entirely formed of detonating ma- 

 terial, and the use of the ordinary copper cap is wholly dispensed with, Avhilst 

 the collodion acts as a water-proof varnish, and protects the component parts 

 from the action of moisture. The invention is one which must claim the atten- 

 tion of the military and naval authorities. 



