320 



THE SPORTING EIFLE. 



MAJOR NUTHALL S RIFLE. 



rounded angles, slightly varying in form (see fig. 72 a b), 

 and the other five (fig. 74). These are respectively the 



MR. BOUCHER S BALL. 



SECTION OF MR. BOUCHER S RIFLE. 



plans of Major Nuthall and Mr. Boucher; but the latter 

 having published full particulars in the Fidd of May 14th, 

 1859, (while Major Nuthall's was not patented for sometime 

 afterwards,) he is entitled to the priority in the merit of the 

 invention if the two prove to be similar in all other respects, 

 as I believe they are. Mr. Boucher also specially alludes 

 to the four-sided plan with an unfavourable mention ; but, 

 to avoid any risk of mis-statement on my side, I will give 

 his letter entire, as far as it relates to this subject : 



" Surrey Villas, Camberwell. 



" I am an advocate for a somewhat heavy rifle, as the 

 shooting with such a weapon is always more steady, with 

 less recoil ; particularly if the weight of the metal is 

 judiciously accumulated behind and immediately surround- 

 ing the breech. The barrel of the one I am now about to 

 describe is 2 ft. 6 in. in length ; weight, 5 J Ibs. The bore 

 is exactly half an inch in diameter a size which the great 

 majority of our practical marksmen agree now in recom- 

 mending. I am not favourable to four grooves, for this 

 reason : when the bullet leaves the muzzle of the piece, it is 

 made by the force of the explosion nearly square, or four- 



