74 
MINUTES OF PEOCEEDlNGS OF 
FIAT TRAJECTORIES: WHAT ARE THEY? 
EXEMPLIFIED IN' THE CASE OF 
SMALL-ARMS AND FIELD ARTILLERY. 
A PAPEE EEAD AT THE E.A. INSTITUTION, WOOLWICH, PEBEUAEY 29, 1872, 
BY 
CAPTAIN J. SLADEN, E.A. 
Major-General Sir E. C. Warde, K.C.B., in the Chair. 
Tse subject which I have the honour to bring to your notice to-day 
has, since the introduction of rifled ordnance, become one of consider¬ 
able importance. This has been practically recognised in the increased 
charge of powder used in our latest small-arms and field artillery; the 
object in view being the projection of the bullet or shell with a high 
muzzle velocity. For example, the charge of 70 grains of powder 
for the Snider-Enfield is to be superseded by a charge of 85 grains in 
the Martini-Henry for the same weight of bullet (480 grains); also^ a 
charge of 1 lb. 2 ozs. in the 9-pr. B.L. has been superseded by a charge 
of 1 lb. 12 ozs. in the 9-pr. M.L. 
What are, then, the advantages of a flat trajectory ? They may be 
summed up chiefly under three heads,* viz :— 
(1) Greater accuracy. 
(2) Harder hitting* 
(3) Greater efficiency in covering the ground. 
Take the case of small-arms. 
(1) Greater accuracy; since the direction of the bullet on striking 
is less oblique to the target with the flatter trajectory, and consequently 
small errors in aiming or in judging distance are of lesser importance* 
(2) Harder hitting; because, the velocity being higher, if the bullets 
are the same weight and fired out of similar rifles, the blow must be 
harder and the penetration greater. 
(3) Greater efficiency in covering the ground—called by the Freuch 
“ longueur battuebecause, for the same range, the bullet does not 
rise so high in the air* 
