GUNS AND THEIR PROPER CHARGES. 41 



for anybody's use. Another great thing in favor 

 -of the breech-loader is its certainty in wet and 

 damp weather ; there are no misfires on that ac- 

 count. The first cost of a breech-loader is some- 

 what larger than that of a muzzle-loader of equal 

 goodness and finish. Formerly the cost of ammu- 

 nition made it dearer to use, but the employment 

 of metallic cartridge-cases has changed that. They 

 can be used over and over again, and I have used 

 some above a hundred times. Thus the expense of 

 ammunition has been largely reduced. There has, 

 too, been a great reduction of late in the price of 

 good, strong, exact-shooting breech-loading guns, 

 and they will, no doubt, soon supersede muzzle- 

 loaders altogether. Many of the superb, highly- 

 finished and fitted guns are sold, but if a man can- 

 not afford to go to the highest price, he can find 

 good serviceable weapons for less money. Still, 

 as a good gun will last a man the greater part 

 of a lifetime, it is well to buy the best you 

 can really afford when you are about the business. 

 A serviceable breech-loader can now be got for a 

 hundred dollars ; but where you have means pay 

 more money for a better finished, and perhaps 

 truer and more durable, article. I shoot with 

 a gun of ten gauge, thirty-two inches in the bar- 



