THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
215 
This will at once he apparent on looking 12 - 13, 
at the accompanying drawings (Figs. 12 and 
13), which are taken from photographs of 
12-pr. solid shot which had penetrated a 24 " 
iron plate; Fig. 12 is hardly altered at all 
in form, whilst Fig. 13 is a good deal bulged 
out at the end. 
An experiment was carried on to test the comparative effect of hollow¬ 
headed and solid shot. The shot were of steel and cast-iron, of a mean 
weight of 101 lbs., and were fired from a V' B. L. Armstrong rifled gun 
with a charge of 12 lbs., at a “ Warrior” target at 200 yds. range. 
The mean indentations were as follows :— „ 
o, , ( Solid shot. 3*08 
bteel . I Hollow-headed ... 2*12 
n , . f Solid shot.. 0*9 
Cast-iron j Hollow-headed ... 0-6 
Thus showing a great advantage in the solid shot. 
A suggestion was made by Mr Mackay that a trial should be made of 
cylindrical shot fired from a smooth-bore gun, and for this purpose he 
forwarded to Shoeburyness some steel and cast-iron 8" shot, 10*25" long, 
and three of the latter description, of a mean weight of 117 lbs., were fired 
from a 68-pr. S. B. gun with a 10lbs. charge at a “ Warrior” target at 200 
yards range. The shot were very high gauge, the windage being only 0*04", 
and the velocity at 530' was 1102 ft. per second. The armour plates were 
deeply indented and a good deal cracked by the blow, and the shot broke up. 
The report states that the shot 
“Bid very considerable damage to the target, considering the low charge of 
powder used; they all struck the target with their points, and did not turn over” ... 
but that they “ are not suited for general use.” 
None of the steel shot were fired, as Mr Mackay objected to the charge 
being reduced in proportion to the increased weight of the shot, suggesting 
that on the contrary it ought to be increased, and as this suggestion was not 
feasible the experiment ended. 
The general results obtained from the experiments made by the Com¬ 
mittee led them to report-— 
“That conical-ended shot are superior in accuracy and range over flat-ended 
projectiles and, that except, perhaps, for oblique firing they are also superior for 
penetration.” 
The comparative value of rifled and spherical projectiles against iron 
plates is thus alluded to in a report on an experiment which took place at 
Portsmouth in August, 1860. 
“ The rifled projectile, striking a plate with the same momentum as a spherical 
one, will penetrate deeper than the latter, for although the force of the blow given by 
each projectile will be the same, there will be a greater amount of resistance due to 
the greater diameter of the spherical projectile, consequently its penetration is less 
than the elongated projectile, but the force of the blow is more spread and the 
smashing effect is greater.” 
The Special Committee on Iron in their final Report state that they 
“ Are satisfied that elongated shot (steel) have great advantages over those of a 
spherical form of the same weight, as admitting of being more uniformly tempered 
throughout.” 
[VOL, IV.] 
28 
