396 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
10,000 or 20,000 rounds. The use of a wad would not only stop the 
scoring, but might also materially improve the accuracy of practice, 
if it prevented any rush of gas over the base of the projectile to 
produce initial deflection as the shot left the gun. With a breech- 
loading gun the windage might be much reduced, and in all probability 
the shot would come out perfectly centred; for whatever advantage is 
to be gained by the principle of centring is to be found in this gun. 
And not this only, but the fact that length in the gun is the only sure 
method of obtaining accurate practice could be taken advantage of; for 
with a breech-loading gun there is no limit to the length of the gun 
which can be made. 
