The following experiment shows the effect of defor- 

 mation on striking velocities with different charges of shot. 

 The powder charge was adjusted to give pradically the 

 same velocity over 10 yards m each case. 



A further experiment, with cartridges giving higher 

 initial velocities ^ill shows the same result, although in 

 this instance chilled shot was used. 



I OZ. 1 1 oz. 



No. 5 Chilled No. 5 Chilled 

 Velocity over 10 yards • 1259 1235 



Striking velocity at 30 yards - 855 828 



It will be noticed that whil^ the velocity over 1 yards 

 was 24 feet higher with the 1 oz. charge, the stnkmg 

 velocity at 30 yards was 27 feet higher, instead of the 7 

 or 8 feet which we should have expeded. 



The illu^ration shows selected pellets from various 

 charges of shot, magnified so as to show the nature of the 

 deformation. There is no doubt that the deformation of 

 the shot throws light on the otherwise puzzling differences 

 in the striking velocities of various guns, and shows that 

 there is some foundation for the reputation of some guns 

 as specially hard hitters with certain charges, quite apart 

 from the now recognised effects of chamber dimensions on 

 muzzle velocity, which, we may mention, were first pointed 

 out in these columns some two years ago. 



The pellets were carefully chosen so as to be thoroughly 

 representative. Each row consists of two of the most 

 perfect pellets, two moderately damaged, and two badly 

 crushed pellets. 



56 



