"Numerous patterns of bullet-moulds are now in use, and the point from which the bullet is run varies—the usual places at which the run-hole is placed being, 1st, the point; 2nd, the side; 3rd, the ridge between the hollow and exterior of base; and 4th, the hollow in the base.

"However well a bullet is cast, it is always subject to certain defects-which are, an irregular surface at the spot whence the neck has been removed, and generally, or always, an air-hole, which is usually situated just below the place at which the bullet has been run. The great object to be attained is to place these defective parts in such a position as to exert the least possible influence on the motion of the bullet when passing through the air. The first defect— irregularity of surface-injurious to the correct flight of the bullet, by the air acting on it, and thus altering its direction; and the latter-internal air-holes-by disturbing the balance of the bullet round its axis of rotation, and thus tending to cause a certain degree of irregularity in its motion; but if this air-hole be situated on the bullet's axis it will not affect its balance on that axis, and the further it may be from it the more its disturbing influence must be felt.

"It is clear, therefore, that in order to reduce the influence of the two unavoidable defects pointed out to a minimum, the bullet should be run from the centre of the hollow in the base, as the "burr" left is then in a position where the air cannot act on it, and the air-hole is, in all probability, on the axis of rotation. The only moulds that I am aware of that fulfil the conditions required are of a pattern invented and patented by Mr. Charles Lancaster, and are most ingenious in their construction. The plunger which forms the hollow in the base of the bullet is cupped out to the shape of a small basin, in which there is a hole slightly eccentric, or just off the centre. To this plunger a small handle is attached, a movement of which in either direction, after the lead has been poured into the mould, detaches the neck and leaves the bullet perfect. It is true that, in order to cut off the neck by a circular movement of the plunger, the run-hole cannot be precisely over the axis of the bullet, but it is so nearly so as to amount practically to the same thing.

Running from the point is, in my opinion, better than from the side or edge of the base, because the bullet is usually cast more uniform on surface, and so slight an unevenness at the point as is left where the neck is carefully removed is not sufficiently acted upon to influence its flight; but no bullet having an open air-hole at the point should be used. Running at the side is objectionable on account of the difficulty of removing the burr so accurately as to prevent its rendering the bullet hard to ram down, should the point at which it was run happen to come opposite to one of the lands in loading.

"Some moulds are made in which bullets of various lengths may be cast by the adjustment of the plunger, which is fitted on a screw passing through a plate tapped to receive it, and secured to the lower part of one cheek of the mould. On the screw a nut works, by which it is clamped in any position. In these moulds the run-hole is generally at the point, but might be placed at the side if desired. They would be useful to such persons as propose using the Pritchett bullet, as slightly increased length to that formerly adopted in the service, since by altering the adjustment various lengths might be cast and experimented with, and that which yielded the best results, with the particular pattern of rifle adopted, determined on.

"Mr. Lancaster's is the best description of mould that has yet appeared, the only objection to it being its expense; but as it would not be necessary for a volunteer corps to have more than one or two to supply its members from, the question of cost is not a material one.

“WELSHMAN.”

Agreeing as I do with every syllable of the contents of this letter, I need make no further remarks upon the subject.

CASTING BULLETS.

Having the mould ready, the lead should be melted to the proper heat, which experience alone can indicate, in an iron. ladle with a fine lip to it, and all impurities being skimmed off, it should be carefully poured into the mould, holding the

lip close to the "run hole," so as to avoid any chance for a bubble or air-hole. In the simple form of mould the two cheeks must be separated, when the bullet readily comes out; but when there is a plunger it must be raised according to the particular form of which it is made. When the bullets are cool they still require to be trimmed, and if conical, and for accurate shooting, they should pass through a die or "swedge."

SWEDGING.

Messrs. Greenfield and Son, of 10, Broad-street, Goldensquare, London, who are the chief bullet-mould makers, and who have constructed the bullet stamping machines for Government, have lately advertised a very simple bullet-correcting machine, applicable to the Pritchett ball. Its form is as here represented, and its intention is to ensure correctness in

Fig 91

GREENFIELD'S SWEDGE.

the size of all kinds of cast bullets, whereby the inconvenience experienced with tight fitting balls is entirely removed, and greater correctness of shooting produced. The directions for use are-Place the cast bullet in the mouth of the die, press down the handle which will force the bullet through; occasionally pass a slightly oiled feather into the die.

PATCHES.

Patches are made of paper, or of lawn, cambric, or very The thin calico, all greased with spermaceti ointment. intention is to facilitate the application of a lubricating

agent, and at the same time to prevent windage by filling up the space between the ball and the barrel. They are made of a circular form for spherical and short conical balls, and are placed over the mouth of the barrel with the greased side downwards, the ball being pushed down upon them. The common circular patches are not suitable to any bullet having much cylinder to it, as, if the patch is thick enough to give a good fit at the base of the bullet, the gathers formed by the edges round the shoulder render it very hard, if not impossible, to ram it down; and if allowance for this is made in the thickness of the material, or in windage, the base does not then fit close. For this reason circular patches are only applicable to round or conoidal projectiles. They may, however, be used by altering their form from that of a circle to that of a cross, the centre part of which is exactly the size of the base of the bullet. The readiest mode of getting at this shape is to cut the patches circular first; then lay on them a steel or tin pattern of the cross required, and cut out the angles with a sharp-pointed knife, or a stamp may be made to cut them out at one blow. However used, patches are troublesome, and render the loading slow, being difficult to separate and dirty to handle. Hence many good shots (among whom may be included Mr. Purdey and that high authority Mr. Boucher) dispense with patches altogether, and merely dip the base of the bullet in a composition of beeswax and tallow, as described at page 323, in an extract from one of Mr. Boucher's letters.

A correspondent of the Field ("F. J. J.," of Derby) has suggested a simple contrivance for keeping patches on the ball ready for use, whereby the act of loading in the field is considerably accelerated. He says: "The inconvenience is known to all rifle shooters of handling the patches and balls separately in the field, picking the former with difficulty out of the box, and adjusting them with the ball at the mouth of the rifle. To obviate this, I have had made a number of tin cylinders, the length of the ball or bullet (I use the Enfield), and just admitting the patch and bullet. One end of the cylinder is slightly trumpet-mouthed to ease the fitting in of the patch and bullet. Its appearance is as in

A A

Fig 92

PATCH

PATCH CYLINDER (SLIGHTLY
REDUCED).

fig. 92 a. Preparing for the field at home, I load as many of the cylinders as may be desired, by placing the patches on the trumpet-mouth (using cruciforin patches), and then pushing them down with the bullet into the cylinders. The bullets are pushed down till the flat end comes within one-eighth of an inch of the other end of the cylinder, leaving, therefore, one-eighth of an inch of the dome-shaped end of the bullet protruding above the trumpet-mouth; this prevents the patch from being chafed out of place in the pocket, bag, or cartouche pouch. The appearance of the loaded cylinders is shown in section fig. 92 d. Loading is done thus:Placing the cylinder on the mouth of the rifle, press down the dome end of the bullet, just entering the flat end into the barrel, and pluck off the cylinder, and return it empty into the pocket. A slight tap of the hand forces down the bullet and patch into the barrel, and the ramrod is then applied. I find this plan to answer perfectly.

CARTRIDGES.

"F. J. J. (Derby).”

Cartridges for rifle balls are made in various ways, as noticed under the head of each particular kind of rifle. Most sportsmen, in using the muzzle-loader, prefer to load from a powder-flask; but even then it is well to carry the bullet prepared either with a patch in a tin tube, as described by "F. J. J.," or enclosed in paper according to the following directions, which are those of a "Welshman," whose great experience has already been alluded to:—

"It is not probable that, for ordinary practice, volunteers will go to the trouble of making up regular cartridges, but will generally prefer to load from a flask, and carry the bullets separate in a pouch. A good mode of preparing the bullet to be used in this way is to roll it in paper in the following manner:

"The paper is first cut into trapezium-shaped pieces, the depth of each piece exceeding the length of the cylinder on