Page:Miscellaneous Papers on Mechanical Subjects.djvu/91

 sufficient rotation, and that any weight that may be necessary can be obtained by adding to the length, I adopted for the bullet of the service weight (530 grains) an increased length, and a reduced diameter, and obtained a comparatively low trajectory. This affords very great advantages; less elevation is required and the path of the projectile lies more nearly in a straight line, making it more likely to hit any object of moderate height within range, and rendering mistakes in judging of distances of less moment. The great difficulty experienced in the use of the rifle for long distances arises from the utter incapability of any marksman to judge correctly the distances of objects far away; it can only be met by making the projectile move in a trajectory or path as low and level as possible, this is done by using the reduced diameter which offers to the resistance of the air a proportionally less area, so that a high velocity is attained, shortening thereby the time of flight, and the projectile is very much less deflected by the action of the wind.

While the ordinary grooved rifle depends upon the expansion of the soft metal projectile,