240 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
KEMAKXS 
ON 
MILITARY BREECH-LOADING RULES, AND THEIR AMMUNITION. 
BY CAPTAIN R. W. HAIG, R.A. 
The loss of time incurred in loading a muzzle-loading small arm, an 
objection which was much greater before the introduction of elongated 
expanding bullets, owing to the necessity that then existed for using a 
tightly fitting bullet which was difficult to ram down, has led many to 
attempt the invention of a safe and serviceable breech-loading arm in which 
this difficulty should be overcome. Many examples of such attempts are to 
be seen in the Museum of Artillery in the Rotunda, Woolwich, both for 
rifled and smooth-bored pieces, some of them made so far back as the 17 th 
century.* 
Guns commonly known as breech-loaders may be divided into two classes, 
chamber loaders, and breech loaders proper. 
In the chamber loader, the barrel of the muzzle loader may be supposed 
to be cut in two, a short distance in front of the seat of the bullet. The 
short piece at the breech end has then to be loaded in the same manner as 
a muzzle loader, which can be done by hand, without the use of a ramrod. 
The chamber has then to be placed in position for firing, that is, so that it 
shall form a continuation to the front part of the barrel, to which it must be 
made to fit very closely in order that escape of gas may be prevented. 
Tor these purposes various mechanical arrangements have been tried. In 
some cases the chamber hinges on a trunnion at its breech end as in several 
Swedish rifles, in others the hinge is in front, and with the great majority 
some combination of the lever and wedge is used to press the chamber 
firmly against the barrel when in the firing position. 
The best known, and certainly one of the best rifles of this class, is that 
of Montgomery Storm, an American, the distinguishing characteristic of 
which is the method of closing the joint between the chamber and barrel so 
as to prevent escape of gas. This is effected, not by mechanical pressure, but 
by means of a cylindrical steel thimble fitting into and projecting slightly 
beyond the mouth of the chamber so as to enter the barrel a short distance, 
into which it fits easily. On firing the gun the thimble is expanded, and at 
the same time forced forward against the barrel making a perfectly gas tight 
joint at both its ends. 
* Vide Catalogue, p. 82, &c. 
