OF GUN-METAL

I29

CHAP. V.

Or the Figure and Length of t«e Bores ofGuns.

64 . Ou R ancestors wishing to derive every possible ad-vantage from the use of artillery, fixed certain dimensions forthe construction of their guns, and established rules for theirweights and calibres; which gave rife to the custom amongthe Italians of distinguishing guns equal in length of boreand calibre, but differing in weight, into heavy and mediumartillery.

Weights of GunS.

Nature of Guns.

Heavy

Guns.

Mediuth G

uns.

Pr.

rzut.

Ibu

C xut.

yri.

lit.

32

65

3

16

54

3

18

16

37

2

2

32

0

3

8

20

0

15

17

1

15

4

10

3

26

9

0

19

The heavy artillery is intended for operations that threatento be of long duration, as the sieges of fortified towns wellprovided with troops and stores.

The medium artillery is destined to march with armies,and be used in affairs that must soon be terminated; as gene-ral or partial engagements, attacks of posts or intrenchments,assaults of towns, houses or villages.

65. The ordinary figure of the bores of guns is cylindric;the length contributes to a certain point to increase the initialvelocity of the shot, and give longer and juster ranges.(Treatise on Powder). The length of the battering gunsnow in use, is not sufficient to project the stiot with the greatestinitial velocity; but if they were made longer and largercharges used, they would become extremely unwieldy:moreover, experience has proved that these very long gunsdo not throw their shot with justness ; and the shocks againsttheir sides, particularly near the muzzle, are more frequentand violent when charged with modern powder, which isI considerably