Chapter VII: The Science of Gunnery

New principle--Improved rifles--Useless inventions--Scientific
principles of gunnery: 1. The explosive power and its velocity. 2. The
retarding agents. 3. Construction of the tube. 4. Form of projectile--
Robins’s theory--Hutton’s experiments--Suitable velocity the germ of
the science--Author’s experiments and their results--Penetrating power
of bullets--Resistance of the atmosphere--Friction detrimental--
Construction of the tube--The Cylindro-conoidal form best suited for
projectiles--Jacob’s and Whitworth’s bullets--Lengthened projectiles
tend to burst the barrel--Amount of heat needful to explode gunpowder
--Advantage of unglazed powder--Percussion powder--Best form of nipple
(with cuts)--Propellant velocity the grand desideratum--Why short guns
shoot better than long ones--True science of gunnery--Cause of guns
bursting--Mr. Blaine’s difference of opinion with the author on
explosive force--Shooting powers of different gun barrels--Tables of
strength and pressure--Colonel Hawker’s axiom--Mr. Daniel’s remarks on
shot--Duck and swivel guns--The wire cartridge--Bell-muzzle guns--Mr.
Blaine on long barrels--The just medium--Belgium guns will not stand
English proof--Cause of their inferiority--French gun-makers behind
the age--Author’s notes on the “Specimens by French Gun-makers at the
Paris Exhibition”--On recoil in shooting--Causes and experiments--Mode
of determining the size of shot suited to the bore of gun--Mr.
Prince’s double gun 257

CHAPTER VIII.--THE FRENCH “CRUTCH,” OR BREECH-LOADING SHOT GUN.

Breech-loading fire-arms unsafe and inferior--Objections specified--
Trial of breech-loading against muzzle-loading guns--Danger from using
breech-loaders--Excessive recoil 329