MISCELLANEOUS HINTS. 377 



a gun leads quickly and a great deal, it is certain evidence that 

 it is imperfect in its bore, and will give the Sportsman much 

 trouble in rapid shooting, owing to the difficulty he will have 

 in loading his piece. 



The wire brush we have before spoken of is an excellent 

 instrument to free the barrels of the leading, and is the only 

 instrument that will do it effectually ; not even washing will 

 relieve the barrels when they are very rough, as common guns 

 most generally are. 



TO PREVENT EUSTING. 



A great many different modes have been resorted to to keep 

 gun-barrels free from rust when put away for a season, more 

 particvilarly by Gunners living near the Sea-shore, where the 

 atmosphere at all times is strongly tainted with the oxidizing 

 components. In our climate, under ordinary circumstances, 

 away from the Sea-shore, there is little danger of rust collecting 

 on the barrels in sufiicient quantities to be of any particular 

 injury to the metal, if proper care be taken to clean and oil 

 them before putting away. The barrels should be rubbed per- 

 fectly dry inside and outside, and, as has been recommended by 

 Blain, a piece of iron a little smaller in diameter than the bore 

 of the piece may be heated to a fraction short of red-heat, and 

 by means of a string (to which Ave suppose is attached a hook), 

 it is to be let down into the barrels and moved up and down 

 two or three times, so as effectually to dispel every particle of 

 moisture that might be lingering to the interior of the barrels. 



This being accomplished to our satisfaction, the gun may be 

 oiled very slightly, inside and outside, and the muzzles stopped 

 up with a Avoollen cloth. Neatsfoot oil is esteemed the best kind 

 for this purpose. There should not, of course, be a particle of 

 salt in any grease that is used to protect metal of any descrip- 

 tion from rust, for reasons before stated. The nipples should 

 be covered over with a particle of shoemakers' wax. This done, 

 the gun is now to be laid away in a dry place, otherwise all our 

 preventive treatment will prove abortive. 



If, however, the reader should reside near the Sea-shore, it 

 will be necessary to use some further precautions to protect his 



