MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS OP 
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A shot of 830 lbs. weight which was fired with a 50 lbs. charge from 
Mr Lynall Thomas' 9" gun at the same plate, made an indentation 7|" deep. 
The velocity was 1222' and the shot broke in half. 
A shot of 301 lbs. weight, fired with a 45 lbs. charge from a lO’fi" 12-ton 
gun, has penetrated both the “Chalmers” and “Lord Warden” targets; 
in one case being “set up” I'd", and in the other breaking into four pieces 
after striking a block of granite. 
In the “ Small Plate” target experiment a similar shot was fired with a 
reduced charge of 35 lbs. equivalent to a 45 lbs. charge at 1500 yds. range; 
it penetrated the target, and was only “set up” O'BS"—and it was also 
found that steel shot of 220 lbs. weight, fired from a 9*22" Armstrong 12-ton 
rifled gun with a 44 lbs. charge, would penetrate this target at a range of 
1500 yds. 
Two steel shot of 603 lbs. weight have been fired at a 6J" plate on a 
“Warrior ” target (as regards backing) at 200 yds. range. 
The first shot which was fired with the full charge of 70 lbs., of course 
penetrated the target, making a hole 19"xl6" in the plate, and 4' square 
in the skin; it was “set up ” 2*2". The second shot was fired with a 
reduced charge of 40 lbs., the striking velocity being equivalent to that 
produced by a charge of 70 lbs. at a range of 3300 yds.; it struck the top of 
the target, broke off a piece of plate weighing 1 cwt. 11 lbs., and drove it 27' 
to the rear; the shot did not penetrate the skin; the “set up ” was only 1” 
in a length of 17|". 
Form of Projectiles. 
At the time of the appointment of the Special Committee on Iron, in 
January 1861, much difference of opinion existed as to the best form of shot 
for penetrating iron plates. 
Sir W. Armstrong, in his evidence before the Committee, stated that he 
thought “a bolt of the smallest diameter” was best suited for the purpose; 
but he did not think that “ there is much in the form of the head,” and 
further, “ that a given weight in the form of a cylinder will be more effective 
for penetration than in the form of a sphere.” 
Mr Lancaster on the other hand was satisfied that spherical shot produced 
the most effect; and Capt. Hewlett, R.N., thought that a flat-headed shot 
would act more like a punch, and that the penetration would therefore be 
greater than with a round-ended shot. 
Mr Mallet was of a different opinion, he stated,—* 
“ I do not think that any better effect is produced by flat-headed shot than even 
by spherical shot, provided the same amount of momentum could be imparted in 
the same time and upon an equal surface of plate by the latter 
and further,— 
“ It appears to me that the best possible shot for penetration, will be a rifle shot, 
in order to get a sufficient velocity and range together,.the front end of it 
should be an extremely obtuse curve.” 
Mr Lairbairn undertook some experiments, with a view of ascertaining the 
resistance of different kinds of shot to a force tending to crush them, and 
obtained the following results 
