Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-06-17
The Armstrong Gun.

The London Times, in describing the extraordinary
preparations going forward at the Woowich arsenal
gives the following facts in relation to the celebrated
Armstrong gun, which have before been made
public -
Each gun made in about three feet lengths and on
much the same principle the twisted gun barrels
Thin bars of the best wrought iron about two inches
broad heated to white heat and in this state twis
ted and welded together in spiral rolls round steel bar
core smaller in diameter than the bore of the gun
Over this, when cod another twist of the kind is
made with the spiral running in contrary direction,
and on, until three four layers have been put on,
according to the cabre of the gun and the thickness
qured The whole is then reheated and welded together
for the last time under the steam hammer. The edges
of the three feet lengths next paned down so to
admit their joining and tapping over and over these
edges forced thick wrought iron rings which, be-
ing welded down to white heat, of course contract
as to make the joint almost stronger than made in
piece In the breech an opening is cut down into the
chamber but the breech itself separate from the gum
and is worked backwards by powerful screw. When
the gun is to be loaded the breech is worked back and
wedge shaped piece, fitting into the opening of The
gun lifted out, but not to admit the CHARGE which is
pushed forward with a ramrod at the back, working
through the large in which the breech turns into
the chamber where the rifing begins. The wedge is
then replaced the breech screwed close by single turn
of lever handle, and the gun fired The operation of
loading and firing can be performed we believe three
times in one minute.
| Apart from the simple but effective mechanism of
the breech the great merit of this guns consists in the
manner in which it is formed in spras of metal bands
which give it such enormous increase of strength that
onehaf the thickness Of iron can be dispensed with
Thus an ordinary long 32pounder weighs 81 cwt and
requires 10 lbs power to throw ball to its utmost
effective range, 5000 yards Sir w. Armstrong; 32-
FOUNDER only weighs 26 cwt., and charge of lbs. of
powder throws its shot miles, nearly 10000 yards
In 32pounder of this latter kind there are no less than
IA rife grooves, having pitch in 10 feet, making
one complete twist round the inside in gun of that
length. greater pitch would no doubt give greater
impetus to the shot, but the risk of stripping the
lead great that it could not be attempted. The
shot used iron and cylindrical and at first were COM
pleey covered over with lead but this plan has been
altered and the shot have only two rings of lead
II inch thick and q inches broad one at the shoulder
and at the base of the cone. Both these
rings doveaied, to speak, into the iron shot, SO
to leave about one-tenth Of inch to fit the rng
Thus, when the cartridge is igned the ball is forced
forward from the chamber into the narrow BORE which
it fills closely, being actually too large for it, that
there is windage whatever, and every portion of the
explosive force is applied to projecting the ball. The
gun which the Government experimental for months
at SAoeburyness before adopting it, actually fred
$500 times, and yet is servceabe as the day it
left the foundry So perfect is the weapon as to accu
racy that is said that at 1000 yards target 10 feet
square could be hit 80 times out of 100 by good art
lervman.