278 Col. Miller's Description of a Percussion Rifle, 



stock with the fingers of the right hand, and pressing the thumb 

 against the button of the spring until the notch comes oppo- 

 site the trigger. The cap is then put on the nipple, and the 

 spring let down upon it, by again placing the thumb against 

 the button, and pulling the trigger with the middle finger. In 

 that position the spring is allowed to remain, until the piece 

 is about to be used, when it is again cocked and fired off. Fig. 1. 

 represents a side view of the gun ; and fig. 2. the action of the 

 spring. A piece of leather is put round the small of the stock, 

 to make it more pleasant to the touch ; and a box placed be- 

 hind it, for holding caps and patches. The power of the spring 

 may be increased or diminished at pleasure, by turning the 

 screw. 



This contrivance, it is conceived, produces fire more instan- 

 taneously than a common lock, from its having no friction. It 

 is also less liable to get out of order ; and a gun can be con- 

 structed on this principle, at about half the expense of that 

 now generally in use. 



A rifle of this construction was tried at Woolwich in August 

 last, of which the following is the result. 



Woolwich, August 1, 1827. 

 Report of the experiment carried on this day with a per- 

 cussion rifle, igniting by a spring instead of a lock, proposed 

 by Col. Miller. The rifle was fired by Col. Miller, and at 

 the ranges of 400 and 100 yards, proposed by himself. The 

 powder used was Curtis and Harvey's, brought by Col. Miller. 

 The target was one of 9 feet, of two boards each an inch thick. 



Target at 400 yards, balls 28 to the pound. 



Round 1. charge 1 drachm; grazed 100 yards short. 



2. 100 yards short. 



5. 20 yards short. 



4. 1 20 yards short. 



5. . 30 yards short. 



6. — — 1£ drachm; 30 yards short. 



7. • over all. 



8. struck target 4 feet 7 inches 



right of bull's eye, 1 foot 9 inches 

 under; ball penetrated 1 inch, 

 and lodged in target. 



9. grazed 20 yards short ; struck 



target, and dropped ; ball made 

 an impression half its own dia- 

 meter in depth. 

 10. grazed 28 yards short. 



Round 



