108 THE WHITWORTH RIFLE. 



Whitw riv From the numerous experiments I 

 have made and witnessed, I consider 

 that, for accuracy of fire , nothing equals that 

 of Mr Joseph "VVhitworth, of Manchester ; 

 his rifle with the hexagonal bore and elon- 

 gated projectile having " distanced " every 

 other at long ranges in the course of expe- 

 rimental trials lately made at the School of 

 Musketry at Hythe ; besides which the trajectory 

 is lower than any other system. He uses a short 

 barrel, having an hexagonal bore and a very 

 quick turn ; for whereas the Enfield rifle has 

 only one turn in 6 ft. 6in., and therefore only half 

 a turn in the barrel of the Enfield, which is 3 ft. 

 3 in., he has a 45-inch bore, with one turn in 

 20 inches, which rotation is sufficient with a 

 bullet of the requisite specific gravity. Mr. 

 Whitworth has reached such a pitch of accuracy, 

 that in a shed excluded from the influence of 

 wind, and firing from a beautifully-contrived 

 rest, at 500 yards he can put any number of con- 



