206 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
The pellets were made up into cartridges in the usual serge bags, and the 
experiments conducted in the same manner as before. The following table 
gives the results. 
Table YII. 
Abstract showing the velocity of solid spherical shot, fired from the bronze 
68-pr. block (Expl. iSTo. 202), with ££ pellet ” powder similar to that used by 
the Committee on Gunpowder. 
Mean weight of shot. 41'2 lbs. 
„ diameter ,, . 6*746 inches. 
Length of cartridge before loading . 18*5 „ 
„ „ after loading ...... 11*5 „ 
Diameter of cartridge . 6*6 to 6*8 ins. 
Brand of powder, ££ indented pellet ”. 9/9/64, unglazed. 
Charge . 14 lbs. 
Weight of one pellet. 80 grains. 
Date of experiment, 13/9/64. 
§ 
> 
o 
6 
& 
Total No. of 
rounds. 
Distance of 
point of igni¬ 
tion from rear 
of cartridge. 
Observed velocities at 100 
feet from muzzle. 
Mean observed 
velocity. 
Mean 
difference of 
velocity. 
Calculated 
mean initial 
velocity. 
Difference from 
greatest initial 
velocity. 
Remarks. 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
in. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
1 
3 
O'O 
1889-41855-7 
1835-5 
_ 
_ 
1860-2 
19-5 
1910 
41 
No wads used. 
The cartridge 
3 
5 
2'20 
1812-0 
1922-3 
1915-2 
1903-4 
1835-7 
1877-7 
43-1 
1928 
23 
was rammed up 
| 
to same place 
4 
5 
3-58 
1898-7 
1851-0 
1910-5 
1891-7 
1901-0 
1890-6 
15-8 
1941 
10 
each round. 
5 
4 
4-96 
1906-1 
1880-5 
1908-4 
1903-8 
— 
1900-0 
5-6 
1951 
— 
6 
3 
6-45 
1862-1 
1844-3 
1898-7 
— 
— 
1868-4 
20 ; 2 
1918 
33 
The velocities given by this powder are higher than those given by rifle 
L.G. powder ; this is probably owing to the lighter specific gravity of the 
“ pellet ” powderj 
It appears that No. 5 vent has still a slight advantage, although the 
differences are not nearly so marked as was the case with L.G. and rifle L.G. 
powders. This is probably owing to the ease with which the gas first 
developed can penetrate the rest of the cartridge through the large interstices 
between the “ pellets/" 
14. Erom these experiments the following conclusions may be drawn :— 
(1) With L.G. and rifle L.G. powders, where the grains are compara¬ 
tively small, the initial velocity of the projectile is considerably influenced by 
the position in which the cartridge is first ignited. The velocity increases 
as the point of ignition moves from the rear, is greatest a little behind the 
centre, and then diminishes * 
