Iably used where great power of penetration is required. African
sportsmen found this out experimentally long before the idea occurred to
artillerists. Sights.--The hind sight should be far from the eye, even
though it be placed half-way down the barrel: else it becomes out of
focus and indistinct, when the eye is firmly set on the object aimed at;
this drawback is never compensated by the advantage of having the front
and hind sights far asunder. Ramrod.--The guns of servants and indeed
those of their masters, should have thin soft-iron ramrods; the
elasticity of these when slightly bent, will retain them in the
ramrod-tubes; both ends of the ramrod must be forged broad. Screw to
secure the Cock.--In common guns, this screw is very liable to get
loose, fall out and be lost; it is therefore desirable to have one or
more spare screws. Water-proof Cover should not be forgotten. Rust, to
prevent.--Paraffine and mercurial ointment are perhaps the two best
things to keep rust off iron, in sea voyages or in boat-shooting. Before
embarking for a voyage, it is convenient to enclose the guns in a leaden
case, which, on arrival, can be melted up into bullets. It is remarkable
how much better dirty guns withstand rust than clean ones. Olive oil, to
purify.--Put a piece of lead in the glass bottle that contains the oil,
and expose to the sun; a quantity of cloudy matter will separate after a
few days, then the refined oil may be decanted. The small of the stock
is the weakest part of a gun: it is constantly broken by falls in
travel. Sir Samuel Baker justly recommends that "all guns made for sport
in wild countries and rough riding, should have steel instead of iron fr
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