Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 002.djvu/76

 Shoot further: Only over-Charge not so far, as to endanger the Gun.

5. The right Charge found, the best Random is to be sought by trying all Randoms, by degrees at a time.

To know, What Gun Shoots farthest;

1. A Gun, to be prepared of Culverin-Bore (as being held the best for Shooting far,) but much longer (double the Ordinary length may do well;) is to be placed as in the former Experiments, and charged with the Ordinary Charge of a Culverin, or rather with that Quantity, which by the former Experiments shall be found the best; and being Shot, the fall of the Bullet is to be markt, and distance measured, as hath been suggested.

2. Then try less, and more Powder in her, as before.

3. Then cut off two inches of the Muzzle with a Saw, and try as before, doing every thing in the same manner: And so cut off still for new tryals, till the Shot begin to fall shorter than before.

4. The same may be done with Guns of different Bores.

1. The way to accommodate the Canvas, &c. proposed for finding out the Point-blank-distance; is, first to pitch two stakes of the just height of the upper-side of the Cylinder of the Peece, some 6 or 8 foot asunder, in the streight line between it and the upper-side of the Mark, by a long Ruler, having one end in the Peece, after the Peece is duly point at the Mark; and then, by the Eye looking over the Stakes to the upper-side of the Mark, or rather by a Telescope, the Paper or Canvas interposed may be let down, or placed just so, as the undermost side may seem to touch the upper side of the Mark, to one that looks at it from the top of the first Stake.

2. If this way of Experiment be made for further distances and raisings of the Peece, as high as conveniently may be above the Level, and the distances measured as hath been intimated; and then all Randoms above these likewise tryed and measured, the distance of an Object, to be Shot at, being known, and other necessary cautions, beneath to be mentioned, carefully observ'd, good Gunners may with great confidence undertake to hit the Mark, be the distance what it will, so it exceed not the reach or the Gun. Rh