THE SMALL-ARMS OF EUROPE. 
5 
The quantity BT) is that given in the tables; it gives the greatest 
range of trajectory dangerous throughout. 
(h) Time of flight .—As pointed out at the commencement, the time 
of flight of a projectile to accomplish, in the air, the horizontal range 
defined by the elevation and the muzzle velocity V is the same as 
that required in vacuo to accomplish the parabola determined by the 
same conditions. 
( 8 ) 
On this point it is worthy of remark that it may be interesting, 
above all at the long ranges, to know the time of flight. Such data 
have a practical importance in firing against moveable marks with a 
known rate of motion. 
II. 
Examination of the Comparative Tables. 
The arms of the different powers of Europe are in the present day 
based on the same general principles. It may then be granted that 
their relative shooting properties vary exclusively on account of differ¬ 
ences between the weights of the bullets and those of the powder 
charges—that is, between the sectional density on the one part and 
the muzzle velocity on the other. 
For the closer study of the influence pf these two elements, we 
may take as extreme types the Austrian Werndl, converted for the 
strengthened cartridge (that of 1877), and the English Martini-Henry. 
The characteristic of the first is great muzzle velocity with a rela¬ 
tively feeble sectional density; that of the second, a great sectional 
density with low muzzle velocity. All the other systems take place 
between these, in which the following considerations, got from the 
comparative tables, illustrate specially their characteristic properties. 
Angle of Elevation <£.—In comparing the firing angles of the different 
arms for the same distance, it appears, at starting, that the increase of 
muzzle velocity takes the form of a reduction in the angle of elevation» 
Thus, at 100 paces the angle of elevation of the Austrian gun is but 
