OF THE OLD WORLD. 481 



•577, but that of the bullet is rather less, in order 

 to facilitate the loading. This difference in size — 

 i.e., the difference between the circumference of the 

 bullet and the bore — leaves a space between the 

 bullet and the bore, termed the windage, which 

 was the principal cause of the inefficiency of the 

 old " Brown Bess/' for two reasons : the first, be- 

 cause a great part of the explosive force, or gas 

 generated by the ignition of the powder, was lost, 

 as it escaped by the space between the bullet and 

 the side of the bore ; and, secondly, because this 

 irregular escape caused the ball to rebound from 

 side to side in the barrel, instead of passing evenly 

 through the bore, and the consequence of this was, 

 that it took an erratic impetus throughout its flight. 

 The Enfield bullet is, however, so constructed as 

 to do away with these objections. Although the 

 circumference is much less than that of the bore, so 

 as to enter the barrel easily in loading, all luindage 

 is effectually prevented, as in the base of the pro- 

 jectile is a hollow, into which is fitted a small wooden 

 cup, or plug, which, by the force of the explosion of 

 the charge, acts like a wedge.* and expands and 

 enlarges the lower part of the bullet, making it fit 

 the barrel tightly, and take the rifling, so that in its 

 passage through the barrel it is constrained to tuni 



* This theory, although adopted by the School of [Musketry at 

 Hythe, is contradicted by several competent authorities ; and I 

 believe there is reason to doubt its accuracy. Vide Major John 

 Boucher's excellent work for the use of Volunteer Riflemen. 



2ii 



