152 SUGAR-LOAF BALL. 



the cone, than I ever did, or saw done, at 200 yards with 



a spherical ball." 



" A rough sketch of form of ball. From A to B the ball 

 is cylindrical ; the base of ball a segment 

 of circle, with slight projections, c and D, 

 to fit 2-grooved rifles ; although it may be 

 applicable to either 2-grooved or many- 



1 C grooved rifles. 



" Our method of rifling," continues Mr. 

 Lancaster, " is to diminish the rotatory 

 motioji of the ball in the following manner : the old method 

 adopted the standard of one revolution of ball in every 

 thirty inches of its progress ; we find that one revolution in 

 (11 feet 1 inch) eleven feet is sufficient to ensure the 

 highest accuracy with the advantages of diminished recoil 

 and friction, consequently greater range, added to which 

 our form of ball, nearly a pure cycloid, has done marvels 

 for the science of rifle-shooting." 



The one revolution of the ball in eleven feet is ascer- 

 tained in the following manner ; Mr. Lancaster's rifle 

 barrel is two feet ten inches long (which reminds me of 

 Cooper's Indian, long carabine) ; deduct one inch for the 

 patent breech, which leaves two feet nine inches length of 

 barrel for the direction of the ball. In that length there 

 is one fourth of a complete revolution ; that is, there is a 

 spiral of one fourth turn in the length of the barrel. Mul- 

 tiply the length by four, it follows that the ball effects one 

 complete revolution in eleven feet. The barrel is sixteen 

 bore. The round ball weighs one ounce ; the conical one, 

 one ounce and three-fourths. Its superior weight, as well 

 as form, arc the elements of its success, as you make no 



