ON RECOIL. 195 



tliis great improvement in the manufacture of gunpowder 

 will either be partially or wholly nullified. In arranging 

 the proper quantity of powder and size of grain for a charge 

 the fact should not be overlooked, that though there may 

 appear to be no powder thrown out unburnt, yet, as the 

 charge is ignited gradually, and the combustion is quick or 

 slow according to the size of the grains, a considerable portion 

 is often burnt outside the barrel without falling ; the im- 

 mense velocity of the flame enveloping the unburnt grains, 

 and setting fire to them even after they have left the muzzle 

 of the piece. Any extra amount of powder, therefore, that 

 may thus be used will add to the force of the recoil, but 

 not to the velocity of the shot, as it adds to the dead 

 weight which the inflamed portion of the powder has to 

 lift. 



" As a further practical illustration that great recoil is 110 

 test of great velocity, let any man take a three-grooved rifle, 

 having the lands as broad or broader than the grooves, and 

 test its initial velocity and recoil, as before, with a nicely 

 fitting bullet and a proper charge of powder. Let him then 

 place the rifle in the hands of a careful rifle-maker, to have a 

 circular shallow groove run up on each land, exactly parallel 

 to the others. Let him then test the rifle again, and he will 

 find that the velocity of the bullet is now greater and the 

 recoil less, and the rifle, consequently, considerably improved. 

 The intelligent marksman or gun-maker will at once perceive 

 that the result is simply owing to there being less friction ; 

 for be it remembered that in the act of expanding, the bullet 

 is also in the act of moving forward, and until it is fully 

 expanded, into the grooves, the pressure and retarding friction 

 is caused by the lands alone, and which, being so broad, must 

 also, to a certain extent, retard the quick expansion of the 

 lead into the grooves. In fact, a portion of that power which 

 should be beneficially employed in expelling the shot is use- 

 lessly expended in overcoming friction, causing at the same 

 time more recoil action and reaction being still, and always, 

 equal." 



With every word that bears directly on the subject of 

 recoil in this letter I fully agree, though there are some 

 points which may be disputed, as for instance the opinion 



o 2 



