“For the last few days a very interesting and important series of experiments has been in progress at the Government School of Musketry, Hythe, in order to test the comparative merits of these two rifles. The trial, which was of the most searching and impartial character, was conducted by Colonel Hay, the able head of the school, and has terminated in establishing beyond all doubt the great and decided superiority of Mr. Whitworth’s invention. The Enfield rifle, which was considered so much better than any other as to justify the formation of a vast Government establishment for its special manufacture, has been completely beaten. In accuracy of fire, in penetration, and in range, its rival excels it to a degree which hardly leaves room for comparison. “The following table gives the best results that have been obtained from 10 shots of each arm respectively, in the course of the experiments, which have extended over a week in time, and were brought to a close yesterday in the presence of Lord Panmure and of a number of military and scientific spectators:-- -------------+---------+----------+--------- |Range in |Elevation.|Figure of RIFLE. | yards. | | Merit. -------------+---------+----------+--------- | | Deg. | Feet. Whitworth } | { | 1·15 | 0·37 Enfield } | 500 { | 1·32 | 2·24 Whitworth }| {| 2·20 | 1·00 Enfield }| 800 {| 2·45 | 4·11 Whitworth } | { | 3·45 | 2·41 Enfield } |1,100 { | 4·12 | 8·04 Whitworth }| {| 5·00 | 4·62 Enfield }|1,400 {|6·20 to 7.| No hits Whitworth } | { | 6·40 | 11·62 Enfield } |1,800 { | -- | -- -------------+---------+----------+--------- It would appear from these figures that at 500 yards in 10 shots the Manchester rifle has a superior accuracy of 1·87 of a foot; at 800 yards 3·11; at 1,100 yards 5·63; and that at 1,400 yards and upwards the Enfield weapon ceases to afford any data for a comparison. In penetration the results obtained have been equally decisive; the Whitworth projectile, with the regulation charge of powder, going through 33 half-inch planks of elm, and being brought up by a solid oak bulk beyond, while the Enfield ball could not get past the 13th plank. “The shooting on Tuesday was more to satisfy Lord Panmure and the other strangers present upon the comparative merits of the two weapons than to show the limit of what each could do under favourable circumstances. Still, the targets of every 10 shots on either side bore decisive evidence of the superiority of the new rifle, as a glance at the following table will prove:--