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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
In the same way the perforating effect of the 12" gun at 1000 yards 
would appear to be nearly as much as that of the 20" American gun which 
is more than double its weight, but in reality the 12" gun has greater 
perforating power than the 20" gun, as an ogival-headed or gothic shaped 
projectile is more adapted for penetration than a shot (no matter whether 
it be circular or norman in profile) with a round head. For strict com¬ 
parison therefore, the rule only applies to shot of the same shape, and, I 
may add, of the same material also. 
But stubborn facts are still more in our favour; at the recent experi¬ 
ments at Shoeburyness our 10" gun of 18 tons penetrated 15 inches of iron 
(in 3 5" armour plates), upon which the 15" Rodman gun of 20 tons only 
made a shallow indent. 
In fine, the investigation of the subject, whether by theory or practice, 
only serves to confirm the conviction that we have the best guns, as well 
as the best ammunition in the world. For our superiority in the latter 
respect we are indebted to the excellent powder manufactured at Waltham 
Abbey, and the exquisite fuzes and projectiles produced in the Royal 
Laboratory under the able superintendence of Colonel Boxer. 
Major Palliser’s guns . 
Major Falliser who has shown great practical talent in introducing chilled 
shot, improved armour bolts, mode of studding projectiles, &c. has for some 
years back been labouring at an expedient for converting our numerous 
cast-iron smooth-bore guns into rifled guns, by inserting a lining of coiled 
wrought-iron, and his experiments have been so promising in their results 
that the immediate conversion of several 8" shell guns of 65 cwt. into 64-pr. 
rifled guns is contemplated. Fig. 10. 
Fig. 10. 
His method consists simply of boring up an old gun and inserting a coiled 
wrought-iron tube of the required calibre; in some instances (depending on 
the nature of the gun) this tube is double, the exterior fold being of cheap 
iron, or the exterior portion near the muzzle is of cast-iron. The tube is 
turned to fit the gun as exactly as possible, and being of wrought-iron it is 
“ set up 33 or s tightened in the gun by the proof rounds, whilst to make it still 
more secure [in the gun a metal collar is screwed over it at the muzzle 
(see Fig. 11), and a pin is screwed into it through the chase of the gun. 
Kg 11. 
32-pr. C.I. gun of 58 cwt. converted into a rifled 64-pr* 
