318 THE SPORTING RIFLE. 



making one turn in 6ft. Gin. The barrel being 3ft. 3in., it 

 follows that only half a turn is made in that length. The 

 bore has a diameter of 577; charge of powder, 2|drs.; and 

 weight of bullet, 520 grains; the shape being cylindro- 

 conical, with a boxwood cup inserted at the base, but many 

 are now used with a mere hollow cup in that part, and known 

 as the Pritchett ball. The Enfield rifle is well adapted for 

 sporting purposes, but requires considerable care in adapting 

 the bullet, as it often happens that considerable force is 

 required in ramming it home when the interior is allowed 

 to become choked with powder. 



THE OVAL SPIRAL, CLAIMED BY LANCASTER. 



Fourthly may be mentioned, the smooth oval spiral bore, 

 adopted by Lancaster, but which appears clearly to be a 

 reproduction of a plan published by Capt. Beaufoy in 1808, 

 his book " Scloppetaria" containing not only an allusion to 

 the plan, but also describing the mechanical details necessary 

 for carrying it out. The following extract from p. 87 will 

 satisfy any candid mind of the truth of this assertion : " But 

 while we are thus enlarging on rifles with grooves, let us not 

 pass over a very old invention, though quite obsolete in our 

 time, which is the method of making a plain barrelled gun 

 possess the advantages of a rifle, and yet not be liable to 

 detection unless more minutely examined than common 

 inspection usually leads us to expect. Having selected a 

 barrel, of rather thicker metal than those usually made, let 

 it be placed in the rifling bed, only in lieu of having a saw, 

 substitute an elliptical file at the end of the rod. The file 

 instead of being solid should be divided down the middle 

 longitudinally, and attach the pieces one on each side of the 

 rod, &c., &c., &c. These barrels are loaded in the usual way, 

 excepting that the ball used should be sufliciently large to 

 fill up the whole of the indentation ; and it is said that such 

 as are accustomed to these pieces will far outstrip anything 

 that can be done with the common smooth-surfaced cylindrical 

 barrel. It would be an improvement, though, instead of using 

 a spherical ball with these pieces, if it were rather of an oblong 

 shape." It is therefore clear, that whatever credit is due to 

 this plan belongs to Captain Beaufoy, not as the inventor 



