The bullets hit too hard for it to be an amusement suitable for ladies.
Great care must be taken to be sure to shoot Devilliers bullets and not lead bullets, by mistake.
They are useful for galloping practice on horseback, shooting at an air balloon fixed to posts, where lead bullets would be dangerous to use.
The cartridges can be reloaded and used many times.
When the cartridge has been fired there may be difficulty in removing the exploded cap. A wire pushed into the cap through the mouth of the cartridge dislodges the cap, but care must be taken that the cap is an exploded one.
These bullets are very apt to ricochet from walls so spectators must take care.
A canvas sheet hung loosely behind each shooter is the best stop-butt, as it gives to the blow of the bullet and stops ricochets. A bullet once fired is too distorted to use again.