324 
MINUTES OF PEOCEEDINGS OF 
During the 2800 rounds the muzzle-loader was revented twice: the first 
time after 1714 rounds, the next after 524; the last vent therefore was 
fired 562 times with the service charge, and 60 times more with the 
increased charges finally used. 
The breech-loader with its three vent-pieces had all the copper rings 
renewed twice; the first time after 867 rounds, the next after 904 rounds. 
The rings were refaced six times, and the vents were renewed once.* 
(14) Strength . 
These guns were finally fired with increased charges, and with air space 
left between the powder and the shot, to ascertain whether they would 
burst suddenly and violently, or give previous indications of a liability to 
give way. Both broke up gradually and in a manner which would have 
inflicted no damage to a gun detachment. The breech-loader furnished an 
interesting example of what the apparatus is sometimes able to endure, by 
the vent-piece and breech-screw remaining uninjured to the last. 
The "Whitworth gun stood longer, but ended by bursting violently, and 
without any previous indication, into eleven pieces. 
(15) Bursting of a shell in the lore. t 
Each gun had five common and five segment shells burst inside it, by 
boring a hole in the shell's base, and opening the end of the cartridge so as 
to leave a free passage for the flame to pass up to the bursting charge. 
In the M.L. gun no damage was detected. In the B.L. some trifling 
indentations were produced by the first shell burst, but they were not 
increased by the subsequent explosions, nor was the accuracy of firing (as 
tested by target practice) affected by them. 
(16) Effect of a shot striking externally .f 
Shots from a 9-pr. Armstrong gun, at 40 yards distance, were fired so as 
to hit each gun twice, at an angle of 30° with the line of fire. They were 
slightly indented, but four rounds were afterwards fired from them without 
difficulty. 
(17) Capability of coming into action after being upset. + 
The pieces were thrown into a muddy ditch and left there all night, so 
that when taken out they were more or less covered, outside and inside, 
with thick mud. They were then mounted (before being cleaned) and ten 
rounds of solid shot fired from each with the following results, reckoning 
the time from the order to load:— 
B. L. 1st round in 2 min. 35 sec.; 10th in 7 min. 15 sec. 
M. L. u 3 n 30 a h 7 « 50 /# 
Whitworth 1 // 4 n « 5 n 10 « 
* Eeport, p. 30. 
f Eeport, p. 29. 
