SHOT, PO WDBE, SHELLS, WADS AND LOADING. 339 



not shake loose. No matter how well your shells may- 

 be loaded otherwise, if they are' negligently crimped 

 they will have lost their force and effect. I have been 

 complete in this explanation of how to load, because it 

 is the key that unlocks one of the doors of success in 

 shooting. 



So well recognized is the fact that uniformity of 

 loading and its being properly done is essential to suc- 

 cess, that machine-loaded shells are fast taking preced- 

 ence over all others. I have used them for the past 

 two years. No man can by hand load and obtain the 

 same uniformity that these shells possess. While these 

 same shells may not please us more than those of our 

 own loading, yet we must admit they are equally as good, 

 and when one has a family of inquisitive youngsters, 

 his Christian duty demands his buying loaded ammuni- 

 tion, rather than endanger his little ones with powder 

 unconfined around the house. 



Schultze powder is intended to be loaded bulk for 

 bulk, same as black powder, and the directions for 

 loading it are, to " put .the wads upon the powder 

 firmly with the hand, and should not be rammed ! " 



American wood-powder requires great particularity 

 in loading. The secret of success with it is, to have 

 the powder thoroughly confined, requiring thick wad- 

 ding and very great pressure. After being properly 

 loaded, if one cuts open a loaded shell he finds the 

 powder pressed together into a compact mass, that can 

 almost be cut with a knife. The pressure put on this 

 powder in loading runs from 75 to 100 pounds ; on 

 black powder about 40 pounds. 



