8 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
creased surface. Nothing has surpassed this rifle in 
velocity, although so many improvements have taken 
place since the introduction of breechloaders, but 
in the days of muzzle-loaders it was a satisfaction 
to myself that I was the first to commence the 
heavy charge of powder with the 3 ounce bullet and 
16 drams, to be followed after many years by so 
high an authority as Mr. Purdey with a 200 grain 
bullet and no grains of powder, thus verifying the 
principle of my earliest experience. 
This principle is now universally accepted, and 
charges of powder are used, as a rule, which forty 
years ago would have been regarded as impossible. 
The modern breechloader in the hands of a well- 
trained soldier should be a most deadly weapon, 
nevertheless we do not find a greater percentage of 
destruction among the numbers engaged than 
resulted from the old Brown Bess. The reason is 
obvious: battles are now fought at long ranges, 
whereas in the early portion of the century fire was 
seldom opened at a greater distance than 200 yards, 
and the actual struggle terminated at close quarters. 
A long-range rifle in the excitement of a hot 
action has several disadvantages. The sights may 
have been set for 600 or 800 yards when the enemy 
was at a distance, but should that interval be 
decreased by an approach at speed, the sights w^ould 
require an immediate readjustment, otherwise the 
bullets would fly overhead, and the nearer the 
enemy advanced, the safer he would be. Troops 
require most careful training with the new weapons 
