42 THE COMPLETE SHOT 



the striking velocities of the various proportions of the load 

 at different distances are given here. But although this 

 represents the only use of the instrument for this purpose, 

 on truly scientific principles, ever recorded in print, the 

 author would be sorry to affirm the absolute accuracy of the 

 instrument on this or any other occasion, although the relative 

 accuracy of one record to the other is much more likely to be 

 correct. 



The (42) and (49), after the description of the gun in the 

 table on p. 41 refers to the load of Schultze powder, and in all 

 cases ii oz. of shot No. 6 was used. 



In order to arrive at striking velocity from these trials, it 

 was necessary to compare the time taken at one range with 

 that taken at another range by a different cartridge. 



That in some cases the leading pellets are recorded as 

 slower than those behind them, is not, as would at first sight 

 appear, an absolute disproof of accuracy, because it may be 

 that the leading pellets are constantly dropping back, and 

 others are becoming leaders. Obviously the fastest pellets lose 

 speed at the greatest rate, and obviously, also, the leading 

 pellets get least help and give most to their neighbours, by 

 setting up air disturbance, or a breeze, in the direction of the 

 load. 



We all know from paper pad and strawboard tests that the 

 penetration of pellets from the same discharge often varies as 

 two to one. Some of these records do not confirm this ; but as 

 they can only be accurate on the assumption of that which 

 must be true the fluctuation of relative positions of the pellets 

 in flight this adds to their value, because that assumption is also 

 required to explain the greater known variation in penetration 

 than the most indicated in these tables of speed. 



The above remarks have been founded on the comparison 

 of the chronographic time of one load at one distance with that 

 of another discharge fired 10 yards farther away; and the 

 mean speed over the 10 yards has been taken as the striking 

 velocity at the midway distance of the 10 yards. This is how 

 Mr. Griffith worked out the striking velocities. And from his 



