22 THE SPORTSMAN'S VADE-MECUM 



the end of the row. Then work back from left to right on the 

 next row, and, on completing that one, work again from right to 

 left, and so on, until every case has a charge of powder in it. You 

 will find it will take a very short time ; keep hold of the funnel 

 and measure all the time. Lay down funnel and measure and take 

 up a handful of wads in left hand ; with the finger and thumb of 

 right hand, place one in the mouth of each case, working alternately 

 as in putting in the powder. Take the rammer in right hand and 



rani down all the wads, being careful that they start fair and 

 square, Just look over the lot to see you have missed none and 

 then proceed with the shot in the same way as the powder. You 

 cannot load a case with a double charge of either powder or shot, 

 for it will not hold it. Put in the wads over shot, pressing them 

 down if necessary with the rammer. Take them out one by one, 

 and turn down in the usual manner, replacing them in box, or 

 dropping them into a bag, as you think best. 



To load ball cartridges for the gun. Mind the bullet- mould is a 

 size smaller than the bore of your gun, i.e., a 13 mould for a 

 12-bore gun. Be careful to cast the bullets of softish lead, such as 

 I recommend for the Express, and, after cutting off the core or 

 neck, carefully tap down the slight protrusion with the side of the 

 mould, so that the bullet is uniformly spherical. Have some thin 

 cotton rags cut into squares of 2in. a side, and well greased by 

 insertion in the melting lubricant wax and mutton fat mixed in 

 the proportions of four to one. Wrap up each bullet in a patch, 

 screwing the corners and surplus material into a tail, which cut off 

 close to the bullet. Load the cases with your favourite charge of 

 powder, 3 to 4drs., put a thin card and then a thick felt wad in, 

 and then the bullet, being careful that the opening of the patch is 

 down on the wad, if possible ; it should be, if the lubricant has 

 attached it firmly to the bullet, but if inclined to stick to the sides 

 of the case and allow the bullet to go down alone, it is better to 

 have the opening upwards. Crimp the case just above the bullet 

 by passing a strong cord once round, one end of which has been 



