MINUTES OF PKOCEEDINGS OF 
22 
knows what he is about, and what elevation he is really using; for example, 
the difference between the centre and the bottom or the top of a 9 ft. target 
at 1000 yds. is + 5', if this correction is required it should be fairly given on 
the tangent scale. Equally at variance with correct principle is, the common 
practice of laying at the top of the target when the intention is that the 
shot shall strike about the centre. It is simply recording an elevation less 
than it would be if it were given above the point struck or meant to be 
struck, but does not alter the facts of the case, or the relation of the axis of 
the gun to the proper line of sight. It makes a difference of 4' or 5' at 
1000 yds., the target being 9 ft. square. The object is sometimes explained 
to be that by so doing the shot strikes short, and the gunner can correct 
his aim next time; he could do this equally well, and preserve consistency, 
by aiming at the point he intends to strike, but giving 4' or 5 X less elevation 
than is due to the estimated distance. Eor example,—March 10, 1862, A 
squad at exercise fired 22 rounds with a 12-pr. at a 9 ft. target, distant 
1000 yds., and all the shots struck. Table III. assigns 1°, 50' as the 
proper elevation to strike the centre of the target at 1000 yds., the gun 
being laid at that centre: the actual elevations given were 1°, 47' to 1°, 53' 
the gun being laid near the top, or 1°, 51' to 1°, 57 as referable to the 
centre. It is difficult to see what difference in practice it would have made 
to the gunner if he had been taught to lay at the centre and give 1°, 50' 
which would have struck low, and have been corrected next time; or if 
1°, 50' proves eventually rather too small a mean elevation, if he had given 
1°, 53' or whatever else may be the ultimate tabular quantity. In principle 
however it makes a material difference whether he is taught to expect to 
strike the point he lays on, or to strike another point. Range tables can be 
as easily accommodated to one system as the other—but the one is accurate, 
consonant with the instructions of theory, with musketry practice, and with 
the practice of other artilleries; the other is arbitrary and, in principle, 
inaccurate. It is scarcely necessary to remark that mean ranges, as the term 
implies, are not the actual ranges under all conditions; the judgment of the 
officer must under any circumstances direct him how closely to follow the 
table,—and when to deviate from it. 
8. The following Tables are deduced from actual practice in the manner 
here recommended, subject to future correction from better data :— 
Table III. 
Nature. 
6 -pr. 
3£c. 
9-pr 
. 6c. 
12 -pr. 8Jc. 
20 -pr. 16£c. 
Charge. 
12 oz. 
lib. 2oz. 
lib. 8oz. 
2 lbs. 8oz. 
Elev. 
T. 
Elev. 
T. 
Elev. 
T. 
Elev. 
T. 
yds. 
O 
/ 
see. 
O f 
sec. 
° 
sec. 
° 
/ 
sec. 
200 
0 
14 
0-58 
0 
16 
0-60 
0 
25 
0-40 
300 
0 
24 
0-86 
0 
26 
0-85 
0 
39 
0*90 
400 
0 
36 
1-22 
0 
35 
1-12 
0 
63 
1-25 
600 
0 
60 
1-66 
0 
46 
1-45 
1 
8 
1-57 
600 
1 
6 
1*92 
0 
68 
1-82 
1 
23 
1-90 
700 
1 
23 
2-30 
1 
10 
2*14 
1 
38 
2-25 
800 
1 
41 
2-66 
1 
22 
2-46 
1 
53 
2-58 
900 
2 
0 
3-00 
1 
35 
2-75 
2 
9 
2-90 
1000 
2 
20 
3*36 
1 
50 
3-06 
2 
26 
3-26 
1100 
2 
42 
3-73 
2 
6 
3-40 
2 
44 
3-60 
1200 
3 
4 
4-10 
2 
23 
3-75 
3 
3 
3*96 
