tract 34.

IN GUNNERY.

25

The object this day was the effect of cork wads, and ofdifferent degrees of ramming. The cork wads were near aninch long, and were made to fit very tight, being rathermore than 2 inches diameter ; and weighed 5 drams each.

N os 1, 2, 3, 8, *9 were without wads,

4, 5, 10, 11 with a wad gently pressed home,

6, 7,12, 13 with a wad, and hard rammed by 2 men.

At n° 12 one of the iron bands of the pendulum broke,and fell across the measuring arch. The band weighed41 lb; n° 13 was fired after the band was removed, andconsequently 41 lb must be deducted.

The velocities are

1416

1375

1426

1390

1442

D

> 1396 the mean without wads.

> 1408 with wads not pressed.

> 1442 with wads very hard rammed.

148 Mean recoil without ball275 Ditto with ball.

N° 13 is very doubtful, the vibration of the pendulumbeing evidently too large; perhaps 174 had been set downinstead of 164.

In the above there seems to be some small advantage infavour of the wads. But it is suspected the difference isonly accidental; and the number of experiments is too smallto afford any tolerably good mediums.