THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
273 
THE MERITS OF A 
LARGE BORE AND SMALL BORE CONTRASTED, 
WITH REFERENCE TO 
RIFLED ARTILLERY AND SMALL-ARMS. 
A LECTURE DELIVERED AT THE R.A. INSTITUTION, WOOLWICH, EER. 17, 1871, 
LIEUTENANT J. SLADEN, R.A., 
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR, ROYAL LABORATORY. 
Major-General J. H. Lefboy, C.B., R.A. in the Chair. 
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen :—The subject which it is proposed to 
consider to-day is one which is calculated to provoke a good deal of 
discussion; and the opinions of individual officers on these controverted 
points are so many and so numerous, that I cannot hope that everything 
I bring forward for your consideration will meet with the approbation 
of all parties; but I do hope that the discussion of these matters by 
officers who are most concerned in them, will have practically the good 
effect of merging onr different notions into one harmonious whole, 
which is, I believe intended by ns all; viz., the good of the service. 
In order to obtain the. best results with any gun or rifle, the diameter 
of the bore must bear a certain proportion to the weight of the projectile 
intended to be carried on service, due regard being paid to the mobility 
and efficiency of the various parts of the equipment; and the power of 
the gun depends considerably upon the selection of the best proportions. 
It is necessary to fix upon one of these elements as a standard to 
judge by, e.g., either the diameter or weight. The weight of the pro¬ 
jectile seems to be the most practical standard to start from, since upon 
that, mainly depends the number of rounds that can be carried into 
action. 
This will then be considered first with regard to small-arms. For 
range, penetration and accuracy the heaviest bullet should be used 
consistent with the requisite number of rounds of ammunition which 
the soldier can carry into action. The weight of the bullet in the 
Martini-Henry, Snider, and the needle gun is about 480 grs.; and this 
is about the heaviest that can be carried with efficiency. Sixty rounds 
of Boxer ammunition Pattern VIII, for the Snider-Enfield packed as 
