4b Experiments tLpon Gunpowder. 



feet in a second, instead of 1276 feet in a second, which 

 was the mean velocity with this charge and with the 

 vent in this situation when the powder was rammed. 

 See the experiments No. 43, 44, 45, and 46. 



When, instead of ramming the powder or pressing 

 it gently together in the bore, it is put into a space 

 larger than it is capable of filling, the force of the 

 charge is thereby very sensibly lessened, as Mr. Robins 

 and others have found by repeated trials. In my 30th 

 experiment the charge, consisting of no more than 165 

 grains of powder, was made to occupy 3.2 inches of the 

 bore, instead of 1.45 inches, which space it just filled, 

 when it was gently pushed into its place without being 

 rammed; the consequence was, the velocity of the bullet, 

 instead of being iioo feet in a second, or upwards, was 

 only at the rate of 914 feet in a second, and the recoil 

 was lessened in nearly the same proportion. 



And from hence we may draw this practical inference, 

 that the powder with which a piece of ordnance or a 

 fire arm is charged ought always to be pressed together 

 in the bore ; and if it be rammed to a certain degree, 

 the velocity of the bullet will be still farther increased. 

 It is well known that the recoil of a musket is greater 

 when its charge is rammed than when it is not ; and 

 there cannot be a stronger proof that ramming increases 

 the force of the powder. 



Of the Relation of the Velocities of Bullets to the Charges 

 of Powder by which they are impelled. 

 It appears by all the experiments that have hitherto 

 been made upon the initial velocities of bullets, that 

 when the weights and dimensions of the bullets are the 

 same, and they are discharged from the same piece by 



