62 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



Messrs. Eley Bros'. -380 brass cases containing 16 gr. of 

 pistol-powder. All charges of both powder and shot 

 were carefully weighed, and the pellets per ounce of the 

 shot ascertained. The conditions of trial and the result 

 obtained with -303 Rifleite, and with black powder, for 

 purposes of comparison, are appended : 



NITRO POWDER. 60 YARDS. 



Punt-Gun : by Messrs. Moore and Grey, weight and dimensions 

 as given. 



Cartridge-case: M. and G.'s 8 in. tube with patent base. 

 Primer: Eley's "380 long, 16 gr. pistol-powder. 

 Powder charge : i J oz. '303 Rifleite. 

 Shot charge: 16 oz. of sizes A., AA., i., and 2. 

 Wadding: on powder, two and a half felt wads measuring f in. 

 x 1 1 in. ; on shot, a stout card. 

 Turnover : about % in. 

 Target : iron plate 6 ft. x 6 ft. 



Size of shot. Pattern. Velocity at 10 yards 



in feet per second. 



A. 663 1329 



647 1329 



573 1373 



AA. 565 1396 



592 1384 



No. i. 951 1339 



2. 1267 1373 



The 1 6 oz. of A. shot contained 832 pellets ; of AA. 752 pellets ; 

 of No. i, 1408 pellets ; and of No. 2, 1776 pellets. A more regular 

 series of patterns than were here displayed I do not recollect to 

 have seen made by any punt-gun. The distribution of the pellets 

 on the plate was remarkably even, and in onje or two instances it 

 was noticeable that the shot had been disposed with almost mathe- 

 matical precision. Of course such patterns as these are decidedly 

 close, too close in fact for the ordinary purposes of the punt-gunner 

 in the daytime, and far too close for general night work. 



BLACK POWDER. 60 YARDS. 

 Punt-Gun : same as in previous trial. 

 Cartridge-case: do. do. 



Powder: i\ oz. " Colonel Hawker's Punt-Gun," made by Messrs. 

 Curtis and Harvey. 



