GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1879 . 
521 
A shrapnel containing small bullets must be burst closer to the object 
than one with larger, as the small ones lose their velocity quicker and 
require a higher velocity to be effective. On the other hand, the chances 
of hitting any individual object within the ground covered by them are 
increased on account of the larger number contained; but the depth of 
ground covered is much reduced, and as in war we cannot depend on 
being able to burst shells exactly where we like, it appears that fairly 
large balls should be used. Our 18 per lb. balls seem to answer very 
well, and we think should form the bulk of those used. 
The following table gives the velocities of round bullets of various 
sizes at various distances ; starting velocity = 1000 f.s.- 
Nature. 
Dia¬ 
meter. 
Range, 
100 yds. 
Range, 
200 yds. 
Range, 
300 yds. 
in. 
f.s. 
f.s. 
f.s. 
18 per lb. 
•65 
765 
620 
520 
24 „ 
•58 
750 
601 
500 
34 „ 
•50 
739 
586 
487 
84 n 
•38 
667 
501 
400 
The velocity of 1000 f.s. is about what the proposed 24-pr. shell 
would have at 2000 yds. It has actually 1042 f.s. 
The question is, therefore, What is the lowest velocity requisite to 
disable a man ? Experiments carried out with a bullet 24 per lb., fired 
from a carbine, proved that less than 400 f.s. is sufficient to pierce a 
deal board \ in. thick; we may say, then, that this velocity is sufficient 
to disable, and that a 24 per lb. bullet—the smallest in the proposed 
24-pr. shrapnel—would be effective 400 yds. from the burst at a range 
of 2000 yds. 
It appears possible to improve our shrapnel in another way—in the Alloy of 
material of which the bullets are composed. bullets. 
Experiments have showed that it is necessary to harden the bullets 
by mixing some other material with the lead of which they are mainly 
composed. Pure lead is too soft; it loses its shape from the shock 
consequent on discharge, and thus exercises a great disruptive force 
tending to break the shell up in the gun. The action of the bursting 
charge would have the same effect, the result being that the flight is 
retarded and penetration lessened. The alloy at present used is lead 
and antimony. It possesses the desired hardness, but has two defects 
—the bullets are rendered brittle, and their weight is reduced. This is 
a serious matter; reduction of specific gravity of the material used 
means that for a desired weight the diameter must be increased. This 
course is very objectionable; it prevents the insertion of as many 
bullets into a shell body of given weight and content as would be the 
case were they denser and smaller. Moreover, a large diameter causes 
a comparatively great loss of velocity, and reduction in penetrative 
power, compared to a denser bullet of the same w r eight but smaller 
67 
