THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



opinion of late, in this respect, that many gun-smiths 

 now assert, that short barrels carry farther than long 

 ones ; and the reason they assign is the greater fric- 

 tion of the ball or shot in passing through a long bar- 

 rel, by which the velocity is retarded, and the force 

 diminished. If the barrel be so long that the addi- 

 tional impulse, which the shot is continually receiving 

 in its passage, becomes less from the friction between 

 it and the sides of the calibre, then indeed the barrel 

 by being shortened will shoot with more force. And 

 it seems clear, that a barrel may be made so long 

 that it will not throw the shot with such great velo- 

 city as one that is considerably shorter (supposing 

 the calibre of both to be equal): and the reason of 

 this decrease of velocity in very long pieces is the in- 

 crease of the counter-pressure of the external air in 

 the cylinder ; to which may be added, that the elas- 

 tic fluid generated by the explosion of the powder, is 

 constantly escaping while the shot is passing along 

 the cylinder ; which it not only does at the touch- 

 hole, but also between the pellets of the shot (hence 

 the absurdity of touch-holes which prime themselves, 

 and also the necessity of good wadding). 



However, after all, the precise length of barrels is 

 far from being ascertained. Many experiments have 

 been made for this purpose by men of science and 

 ability (and among the number, the Great Frederic 

 of Prussia); and although some useful lights were 

 thrown on the general cloud, yet the darkness, at this 

 very hour, is far from being dissipated. But it is not 



