204 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
Table V. 
Abstract showing the velocity of solid spherical shot, fired with a charge of 
14 lbs. L.Gr. powder, from the bronze 68-pr. block, bored np to 42-pr. 
calibre. (Expl. No. 202). 
The cartridge was ignited in six different positions, as shown in the tracing. 
The gun was washed out after every five rounds. 
Weight of gun. 122 cwt. 
Length of bore in calibres ......... 16'5 
Diameter of bore. 6*9 ins. 
Charge. 14 lbs. 
Length of cartridge filled. 12*75 ins. 
Diameter. 6*80 „ 
Mean weight of shot . 40*89 lbs. 
„ diameter „ .. 6*746 ins. 
1 
t> 
<4h 
O r-j 
Mean 
Observed velocities at 
100 feet from muzzle. 
Calculated 
mean 
Difference 
from 
Remarks. 
O 
A § 
* 2 
recoil. 
initial 
greatest 
6 
& 
Min. 
Max. 
Mean. 
velocity. 
velocity. 
ft. in. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
1 
5 
( not 7 
i obs. j 
1714-4 
1741-7 
1726-5 
1773 
87 
2 
5 
1 9 
1720-5 
1770-2 
1735-8 
1782 
79 
Brand of powder, L.G. 
No wads used. 
3 
5 
1 11 
1722-3 
1752-0 
1742-0 
1789 
72 
The cartridge was ram- 
- med up to the same 
6 
4 
0 0 
1747-7 
1792-9 
1763-5 
1811 
50 
place each round. 
Date of experiment, 
4 
5 
2 0 
1744-1 
1795-5 
1768-1 
1816 
45 
17/12/63. 
5 
5 
2 1 
1792-9 
1829-2 
1812-5 
1861 
0 
Prom this table it appears that the position of the vent exercises a very 
material effect on the velocity of the projectile. The greatest velocity was 
given by No. 5 vent, or when the cartridge was ignited near its centre; and 
the least with No. 1 vent, or when the ignition took place at the rear. 
The service vent was No. 3, and the difference between the velocity 
obtained by its use and by that of No 5, amounted to 72 feet per second. 
In all cases the loading was performed in the same manner, and the 
cartridge or serge bag .appeared to be equally well removed from the gun 
by every description of vent.* No appearance of extra fouling was observed 
* The competitive Armstrong muzzle-loading 70-pr. gun, used by the Armstrong and Whitworth 
Committee, was vented so as to strike the cartridge near the centre. This gun fired 3000 rounds 
without any difficulty occurring in the removal of the cartridge. It is possible, however, that in 
firing salutes with blank reduced charges, there may oe some tendency to jam the remains of the 
cartridge against the end of the bore and so leave a residue. 
