SHOOTING PROPERTIES OF THE SMALL-ARMS IN USE 
IN EUROPE. 
(Illustrated by Tables from the “ Ballistik dev Sandfeuerwaffen in Tabellenf) 
BY 
LIEUT. A. INDRA, AUSTRIAN ARTILLERY. 
TBANS1ATED BY 
Bt.-Major T. EBASEB, B.E. 
In a complete theory of the motion of projectiles one must take into 
consideration influences of all kinds which pertain to the arm, to the 
projectile, or to the resistance of the air; but a certain number of 
these influences entirely escape our methods of observation, and can 
only be expressed by more or less arbitrary hypotheses, which in a 
measure prejudge their importance, while singularly complicating 
calculations. 
In practice, on the contrary, one can, without disadvantage, confine 
oneself to the consideration and employment of none but the essential 
influences. In such case calculations become sufficiently simple. For 
instance, to compare the shooting properties of modern small-arms 
one may confine the consideration to two main variables : the powder 
charge — i.e., the muzzle velocity given to the projectile—and the mass of 
the latter, expressed for purposes of calculation by the weight for each 
unit of area in a section at right angles to its axis.* 
The resistance of the air is a function of the muzzle velocity and of 
the latter quantity, which we shall call density of right section , while we 
propose to give the name proportion of charge to the ratio of the weights 
of projectile and powder. 
To get flatness of trajectory, such as is now-a-days required, a high 
muzzle velocity is required; but this has the disadvantage of de¬ 
veloping a considerable air resistance, the influence of which is all 
the more perceptible in proportion to the small size and weight of 
musket bullets. 
As, on the other hand, the density of their right section is small, 
the slightest variation therein leads to very marked variations in the 
trajectory. The comparative tables that end this sketch show this 
very distinctly. 
Formulae once established permit of the ready calculation of tables, 
with the aid of which the influence of each of the two independent 
variables—namely, muzzle velocity and density of section can be con¬ 
sidered. This method has, over the analytical one, the advantage of 
being within the reach of all, and of lending itself to many and easy 
applications. 
To construct these tables, take a projectile fired with an elevation of 
degrees and a muzzle velocity V. The time t for describing, in 
* Usually expressed as — • 
w 
[VOL. XI.] 
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