Before reverting to the table, it may be necessary to remind the reader that the great reduction in the weight of guns arises from the adoption of the elongated projectile. For example: the diameter of the _elongated_ projectile for an “18-pounder” is much less than the diameter of the gun for the _spherical_ 18-pounder; thus allowing the thickness of metal to be equal in both guns. The gun for the elongated projectile may be greatly reduced in weight without at all diminishing its strength, simply on account of the great diminution in the diameter of the arc. There is another important fact, which Mr. Whitworth, with all his boasting, has carefully concealed: viz., that a much greater pressure is exerted upon the square inch in the lesser than in the larger diameter of bore; and to conceal this fact, whilst claiming merit for a bullet of 50-gauge exceeding in range one of 25-gauge, the charge of gunpowder being alike in both cases, appears very like deception. Any engineer will tell us that the pressure in the lesser is twice as great as in the larger bore; and this explains why greater velocity is given to the projectile. With these explanations the reader will be better prepared to weigh carefully my observations. My task would, doubtless, have been rendered more easy, if a clear elucidation of the principles of the expansive bullet could have been given thus early in the work; but it is thought better to do this in its proper place. I will only add here, that although two bullets, one elongated, the other spherical, and of equal diameter, meet with the same amount of atmospheric resistance, yet the one containing twice as much matter as the other retains its medium velocity nearly double the distance. With these explanatory remarks I give the following table:-- ------------------+-------------+-------+--------------+---------- |Present Range|Present|Reduced Weight|Range when |of Guns. |Weight.|when Rifled. |Rifled. ------------------+-------------+-------+--------------+---------- 6-pndr. | 1,500 yds. | 17 | 12 cwts. |3,000 yds. 9-pndr. | 1,600 „ | 26 | 18 „ |4,000 „ 12-pndr. | 1,700 „ | 34 | 22 „ |4,500 „ 18-pndr. | 1,780 „ | 42 | 29 „ |5,000 „ 24-pndr. | 1,850 „ | 50 | 34 „ |5,500 „ 32-pndr. | 2,000 „ | 63 | 42 „ |6,000 „ 48-pndr. | 2,500 „ | 70 | 45 „ |6,500 „ 56-pndr. | 5,000 „ | 85 | 60 „ |8,000 „ 68-pndr. or 8-in. | 4,500 „ | 85 | 60 „ |8,000 „ 86-pndr. or 10-in.| 4,700 „ | 95 | 65 „ |9,000 „ ------------------+-------------+-------+--------------+----------