176 Testing the Value of Guns by Firing under Water. 



TABLE No. 15. 



RIFLE. 



DISTANCE THROUGH 

 WATER. 



DISTANCE THROUGH 

 AIR. 



U. S. Army Rifle 



4 feet 1 11-16 inch. 

 4 feet \y z inch. 

 3 feet8}< inch. 

 3 feet 10 3-16 inch. 



3182 54 feet. 



U. S. Model Rifle 



3176.25 feet. 



Sharp's Rifle 



2855.41 feet. 



Spanish Model 



2962 13 feet. 



From this table it appears that the bullets from the U. S. 

 Army rifle will penetrate a board through the air at 6.29 feet 

 farther than when the IT. S. model is used, and 327.13 feet 

 farther than when the Sharp's rifle is used, with the same weight 

 of powder and bullet. 



In conclusion, I would remark that there can be no doubt, 

 if the subject of firing submerged arms is understood and 

 appreciated, that in the future, when an arm is to be tested, 

 instead of firing in the air, it will be fired under water; and 

 that as the editor of the ' Forest and Stream ' says, " long 

 ranges for testing rifles will be supplanted by water tanks/' 

 With respect to the tank, a word or two may be of advantage. 



It should be about 12 feet Jong by 2 feet wide by 3 feet 

 high ; and if made of wood, the wood must be at least two 

 inches thick, and the sides securely bolted together. As water 

 is only very slightly compressible, it will readily be understood 

 that, when the gun is fired, the force of the explosion is at 

 once communicated to the sides of the tank, and unless they 

 are securely bolted they will be readily broken apart. The 

 tank could be made of iron, or could have heavy plate glass 

 sides in an iron frame, when the bullet could be seen to drop. 



By the use of this method, range and penetration can be 

 arrived at with the greatest precision ; — also the value of the 

 numerous gunpowders in the market can be accurately ascer- 

 tained, as well as the maximum effect from the minimum amount 

 of powder. The best weight of bullet for a given weight of 

 powder, the best length and bore of barrel for a given weight of 

 powder and bullet, and the actual range of a given cartridge, 

 — all these determinations can be made in a room less than 

 twelve feet square. 



