THE RIFLE. 547 



quite wet in the mouth, and draw it on as tight as you can without 

 tearing, and stick the edge down with mucilage, using as little gum 

 as possible. Do not attempt to seat the bullets until they are per- 

 fectly dry, then shoot them into a S)iow bank ; they will penetrate 

 it from three to six feet, according to its density, when they can be 

 readily dug out, and if they do not hit anything harder than snow, 

 they will be found as perfect as when they left the gun. If they 

 are upset so as to show the groove one-half or five-eighths of an 

 inch they are about the right temper ; but if they are upset more 

 they are too soft, and if not as much they are too hard, and more 

 or less tin should be used ; when casting bullets stir the metal 

 often. 



" Then the size of the bullet is another point to be attended to. 

 If it is too large it is apt to bind in the grooves of the g^n in in- 

 serting the cartridge, and tear the patch ; and if too small and is 

 loose in the shell, it is liable to slide a little toward the muzzle if 

 the gun is held muzzle downward, and also to be driven forward 

 a little by the blow of the firing-bolt upon the cap before the charge 

 is ignited. AH these little things make a difference in the shoot- 

 ing and help to produce unaccountable misses. The same care 

 and nicety should be observed in loading each and every cartridge 

 as would be required in loading the most elaborate muzzle loader." 



Another important requisite to successful shooting, as may be 

 gathered from what has been already said, is that the ball should 

 have sufficient impinging surface to give a severe shock to and stun 

 the game fired at. This requires a large calibre for small game. 



of powder, exploded in the brain and tore off the top of the skull, killing him 

 instantly." They can be carried in the pockets with safety. We would not 

 advise their use in a Winchester rifle. 



Point Blank. — "First." — By point blank is meant the second point where the 

 trajectory or curve of the ball in its falling flight intersects ortK^j the line of sight. 



This mathematical ^(jiW in theory and sciiince, corresponds to the exact centre o1 

 the target in practice. 



" Second." — By point blank range is meant the straight line or shortest distance 

 from the piece to the point blank (or c Jt as above). 



This distance is horizontal in gunnery practice, and generally in all long range 

 shooting. But it may be oblique in practice, and yet virtually comply with the con- 

 ditions of long range firing. The horizontal distance is measured along the level 

 ground from the piece to the target. Both in thecr}' and practice the distances are 

 the same 



