THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
393 
Initial Velocity . 
13. The initial velocity of elongated projectiles discharged from guns of 
equal length and calibre depends upon the charge of powder, the weight of 
the shot, and the peculiarities of the grooving. In these experiments it 
was intended to eliminate, as much as possible, all differences between the 
competitors, except those of grooving, and, as before stated, the Committee 
themselves fixed the weight of projectiles, and also of the powder charge ; 
they allowed ± £ lbs. as the limits of weight to the manufacturer of the 
projectiles, and it appears that Commander Scott's projectiles, although 
well within the manufacturing limits, are yet generally lighter than those of 
the other competitors. This slight difference need not be considered when 
discussing the ranges attained, but the Committee have thought it right to 
reduce the observed initial velocities to that which would have been shown 
in projectiles of exactly 110 lbs. and 100 lbs. weight respectively. The 
gun rifled on the French system has somewhat decidedly the lowest velocities, 
and Mr Lancaster's, on the whole, the highest. He is in every instance 
superior in this respect to Commander Scott, but is exceeded once by 
Mr Jeffery and once by Mr Britten. 
The following table contains the result in full 
Table I. 
Systems. 
As observed. 
Reduced to equal 
weights 110 lbs. and 
100 lbs. * 
With round 
shot. 
Charges. 
Charges, 
Charges. 
25 lbs. 
20 lbs. 
12 lbs. 
25 lbs. 
20 lbs. 
12 lbs. 
20 lbs. 
12 lbs. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
ft. 
Nominal weight of proiectiles 110 lbs. 
1582 
1508 
1300 
1581 
1504 
Britten . 
1295 
— 
J effery . 
1596 
1510 
1286 
1598 
1508 
1286 
— 
Lancaster . 
1610 
1496 
1278 
1618 
1504 
1283 
— 
Scott . 
1594 
1502 
1277 
1583 
1493 
1270 
French . 
1529 
1444 
1254 
1526 
1441 
1252 
_ 
_ 
Nominal weight of projectiles 100 lbs. 
1557 
Lancaster . 
1686 
1355 
1687 
1558 
1356 
1983 
1666 
Scott ..... 
1632 
1548 
1352 
1625 
1541 
1346 
2162 
1827 
French . 
1603 
1545 
1319 
1609 
1552 
1325 
2081 
1718 
Range and Accuracy. 
14. In considering the order of merit, as to range and accuracy, the 
Committee are inclined to rely chiefly upon the results recorded with the 
3rd supply of projectiles, because there is no doubt that the 1st and 2nd 
supply of French projectiles were not studded on the best principles, and 
placed the gun (which is the thing to be tried) at a great disadvantage. 
The same remark applies to the 2nd supply of Commander Scott's projectiles, 
reduced to 100 lbs. in weight, by boring out from the rear. Some of 
these broke up in the gun, from the weakening of the hollow projectile 
by the grooves in which Commander Scott had placed his zinc ribs, and 
several others were found on recovery to be more or less damaged from 
the same cause. On the other hand, it must not be overlooked that 
