408 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
The failure of a 9*22-inch gun of the original construction (Expl. No. 222), 
when compared with this 9-inch gun on the cheap plan, was in favor of the 
latter, as this table shews :— 
Calibre. Average charge of powder. Projectile, 
ins. lbs. lbs. 
9-22 39*88 217-33 
9-0 42-81 253-25 
Burst at round. 
402 
400 
One-fourth of the guns above 7 tons weight for 1866-7 were then 
ordered, with the concurrence of the Admiralty, on the cheap construction.'* 
And further, in reporting on the general question, 25th June 1866, the 
Ordnance Select Committeef stated that the guns of the then service ( i.e. 
original) construction were fully equal to the requirements of the service, 
and were not exceeded in strength and durability by those of any other 
known construction or material; but, as a measure of precaution, the service 
of the 9 -inch \/un should be limited 400 rounds , of which not more than 
150 should be with battering charges. 
Second Trial of 9 -inch Guns determined upon. 
Prom the result of the previous trials, the Committee repeated that the 
guns of cheap construction were not inferior in strength to those on the 
more expensive mode; but recommended further trials with 9-inch guns, 
including those on a newer plan without forged breech-pieces, which 
Mr. Eraser, from the experience recently gained, was led to submit, and the 
following five 9-inch guns were finally entered for trial:—- 
Expl. No. 329. 
„ 330. 
n 331. 
„ 332. 
„ 333. 
Original construction. 
“ Eraser’s,” without breech-piece, but reinforced with a 
triple coil, thick steel barrel. 
“ Eraser’s,” Without breech-piece, but reinforced with a 
triple coil, iron barrel. 
“Eraser’s,” wdthout breecli-piece, but reinforced with 
two double coils, thin steel barrel, 
do. do. do. 
The four first guns had the Woolwich rifling, the last Lancaster’s oval 
bore. 
64 -pr. B and D Guns tested. 
But in the mean time the navy were crying out for cheap 64-prs., and 
two “Eraser” guns were doomed to rapid destruction, to ascertain whether 
either pattern would answer. One (Expl. No. 320) was known as the B 
pattern, the other (Expl. No. 317) as the D. Each had a coiled wrought- 
* Extracts from “ Proceedings of O.S.C.” Yol. IV. p. 76. 
f Extracts from “Proceedings of O.S.C.” Yol. IV. p. 192, 
