80 
SHORT NOTES ON PROFESSIONAL SUBJECTS. 
sometimes frequently repeated. In the event of a miss-fire, there is no way of with¬ 
drawing the cartridge, except by using the ramrod. 
The ammunition of the Martini-Henry arm is slightly more bulky than that of 
the Chassepot. 
The weight of the 90 rounds is:— 
lbs. oz. 
Chassepot.... 6 9 
Martini-Henry . 9 5 
The bullet of the latter, however, weighing 480 grains, against 380 the weight 
of the Chassepot bullet. The cost of the cartridges is believed to be about equal. 
The only advantage in favour of the Chassepot is in the lightness of its ammuni¬ 
tion. This is counterbalanced by the following points, which are in favour of the 
Martini-Henry arm:— 
Increased strength and safety of ammunition. 
Greater accuracy. 
Longer range. 
Matter trajectory. 
Higher penetrative power. 
Greater safety, strength and simplicity of 
construction. 
Increased rapidity of fire. 
61 . Experiments to ascertain the penetration of small arm bullets 
INTO VARIOUS SUBSTANCES :— 
The following is an abstract of the results obtained up to 1st March, 1869, from 
a series of experiments made at Woolwich, to ascertain the penetration of small arm 
rifle bullets into various substances. 
The small arms used during the experiments were as follows:—- 
(1) Henry B.L\ rifle, calibre 0*45 in.; Boxer cartridge; Henry solid bullet of 
480 grains hardened with of tin. Charge 85 grains. Curtis and Harvey 
powder, No. 6. 
( 2 ) Snider small bore B.L. rifle, calibre 0*5 in.; Boxer cartridge; Boxer bullet, 
with hollow head and expanding base, 440 grains. Charge 80 grains. Bifle E.Gr. 
powder. 
(3) Snider service B.L. (long) rifle, calibre 0*577 in.; Boxer cartridge; Boxer 
bullet with wood plug in apex and expanding base, 480 grains. Charge 70 grains. 
Bifle E.Gr. powder. 
(4) Enfield muzzle-loading long rifle, calibre 0*577 in.; service cartridge. 
Solid bullet with expanding base, 530 grains. Charge 70 grains. Bifle E.Gr. 
powder. 
The line of fire was in all cases direct. 
Wrought-iron plates, 6 ft, x 2 ft., secured to a' wooden frame, 
but unbacked. All the rifles used. 
No. 1, Birmingham gauge, 0‘312 inch in thickness :— 
At 100 yards, quite proof against all the arms. 
» 50 yards, Henry nearly through; proof against the others. 
11 25 yards, Henry through, 3 times out of 4; proof against the others, 
