1830.J 
Observations on Shooting Apparatus. 
381 
may say — but still they are in such-of finding out their mistake by some irrepara- 
ble accident; for all guns are liable to club or cluster, (which latter is the most 
likely to do mischief, as it is similar to firing several bullets or slugs,) and if but 
very rarely, still the bare possibility of the cii’cumstance must leave something of 
an unsatisfactory feeling in the mind ; so that the writer, under these impressions, 
considers, that he shall render a public service, if his new plan becomes generally 
adopted, and, therefore, trusts it will have a full and fair trial. 
Eighthly. The spread, disc, or circular space covered by the shot, at any given 
distance, is, perhaps, on an average, not materially different beyond thirty or forty 
yards, either with different guns or charges, (except when a very large or very 
small proportion of powder is used ;) nor even with the wire cartridge, as regards 
that circumference which takes in the greater portion of the charge, merely ex- 
cluding a few very wide straggling pellets ; but there is a great difference as to the 
manner in which the shots are dispersed over such disc: thus, as the wire-case 
retards the dispersion, of course there must always be a greater number of pellets 
about the central part of the disc than with loose shot, or with any other cartridges 
that do not, by some other means, retard the dispersion. And when the common 
charge clubs more or less, it sometimes, by gradually dispersing, thus acts somewhat 
as a wire cartridge. But though there is not much variation in the space covered by 
different guns and charges, there is, as before observed, a great difference in differ- 
ent parts of such circle, and therefore there must, of course, be a similar variation, 
as to the number of pellets put into a sheet of paper ; but, as before noticed, not a 
much greater difference than occurs with the same gun and chargein different trials. 
These circumstances are attributable, no doubt, to the very uncertain manner in which 
the shots dispose themselves when separating. The penetrating force (strength, as xt 
is termed,) of the pellets also varies extremely ; and no doubt, the cause of many 
of the weak pellets, with loose shot, when no sixbstance is employed to fill the in- 
terstices, is, that all those which come in contact with the barrel, are nearly flatten- 
ed in passing through it, by the violent compression and friction which occurs, but 
which the dust, &c. by filling up the spaces between the pellets, completely prevents. 
Having thus fax*, and in the most concise manner he was able, stated his ideas, the 
result of numerous experiments, and long attention to the subject, the writer sub- 
mits them with deference to those conversant with it ; and now proceeds, in as few 
words as possible, to explain the principle of his new cartridges, and every thxng 
requisite to enable any person to make them. 
The principle of the new carti’idge (or brittle charge , which the inventor consi- 
ders a more appropriate appellation,) consists in the charge of shot being held toge- 
ther simply by a uniform brittle substance occupying the interstices, instead of any 
sort of paper or other case or covering which all other cartridges have, and which 
cases by failing to rupture sufficiently for the egress of the shot, occasion thereby 
the circumstance of balling, an accident which cannot possibly occur with a charge 
or cartridge cemented together into its proper form by a brittle substance only : for 
the firing of the powder, by acting similarly as a blow of a solid body, as infallibly 
breaks the whole of such brittle substance into the smallest particles , as a violent blow 
of a hammer breaks a piece of glass. . 
There are several other very material advantages attending this principle of form- 
ing the charge of shot ready for loading with ; besides this most important one of 
impossibility of balling, which being set down as the first, we may add— second, 
facility and cheapness of making; third, exactness of sizes, being, in this respect, 
similar to bullets cast in one mould ; so that when once the proper fit for a gun is 
obtained, it will always be preserved in any number ot charges required ; and roin 
the solid ty of conformation, will not in the least alter in form by carrying about, 
which all other cartridges are liable to do. Fourth, the charges of one making, or 
batch, like a batch of bread or biscuits, must be all the same m every respect. 
Kfth, roundness and strength of the pellets, and a uniform regularity of spread 
over the disc, that is to say, not tending so much to clusters as the shot in the usual 
way. Sixth, quickness in loading, as wadding is rendered entirely useless it the 
charges are made to fit with nicety. Seventh, a perfectly clean barrel (above the 
breech) for any number of shots. 
Directions for making the Brittle Charge. Invented by Mr. J. Jenour. 
According to the weight of shot to be made into charges, take a proportionate 
u A Hnfprior meal af several sorts would no doubt an- 
quantity ot common bread mfenor^eal a ^ flour) , ^ 
swer, but the inventor has not tried an> mm 0 r nmnnriinn nf larrl nr 
it into as stiff a paste as possible, with water and a small proportion of lard or 
