The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-03-02

less. nor will any one plead guilty to
such charge; vet on this point the
majority of men are in need of admoni-
ton. With some there is tendencyto
shoot when the danger signal or trap is
up; markers have been injured. as re-
suit of their own carelessness; and who
hasn't made a bull on the wrong target?
Have no powder near you when seating
primers, and thus escape accident and
subsequent ridicule.
Every rifleman has his own peculiar
views regarding the preparation and
use of ammunition. Effective shooting
may be done by following anv one of
several methods; the best results. how
ever. are only obtainable by the practice
of what some may deem overcautious-
ness. Pay attention to the details. If.
by extreme care in some seemingly I'M
important particular. you can score
one more point in thousand shots, it
is a matter you cannot afford to neglect;
it may decide an important match. Let
your motto be: Carelessness in nothing;
uniformity in everything.
Every shell should have an even foun-
dation for the primer to rest upon, in
order that it may expl de the instant
it is struck. II the pocket OF the shell
is uneven the gas may escape, or
hang fire be the result. The pocket
should also be of even depth and diam
eter. Primers. when seated. should be
entered straight and pressed carefully
to the bottom of pocket care be-
ing taken not to crush the full
inmate. Improper seating of prim-
ers frequently causes either
hang or miss-fire 1t is well to
assert shells and lay aside those i'm
which the primers seem to fit either
too snug or loose. using them for warm
ing shots Orexperimental shooting. but
not in an important match. After
printing, some assort the shells, using
those with deepest pockets at the short
est range. Owing to slight differ
ence in thickness of metal, shells are of
unequal capacity. some holding few
grains OF powder more than others; but
this does not seem to cause any varia-
ton in the flight of the bullet. 1t is
customary to I'LL the extra space with
an additional wad or two. A better
elevation can be obtained by the use of
shells that have been fired at least once,
and are. by expansion. better fitted to
the chamber.
If convenient. it is well to throw the
shells in water rs fast as used This
softens the powder crust and renders
their cleaning comparatively easy
task. A solution of cyanide of potas-
SUM will cleanse them quickly and ef-
fectively. but this is a deadly poison.
and is also likely to iniure the shells
unless applied by one who understands
its use. The safe way is to use brush
and water; let them be carefully
cleaned and rinsei, and thoroughly
dried. A good plan is to drive nails in
a board and hang the shells thereon.
or they may be tied in bundles and
dried in moderately warm oven, OF
by being left several hours in the hot
sun. If the least moisture remains.
good shoot nc can not be done Before
reloadiDg rub the outside Of the shell
with slightly oiled rag. and clean the
inside of dust with dry brush. Ex-
anime the pocket carefully. scraping
out anything which may adhere to it,
and see that the primer hole. is unob-
structed. Shells should be carefully
scrutinized and any that show i'm
PROJECTIONS thrown aside. Sometimes
a slight flaw will be visible; the shell
can be rejected before bursting and
poor shot avoided. When YOU make an
unaccountable shot examine the shell
carefully, or mark and preserve it for
future inspection; it may have been
imperfect or improperly pinned
Forest, Forge and Stream.