New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-17

mat the modern s-inch guns b" converted. on"
M these rifles wiih prolcctuc weighing 300 pounds
AMI a. powder charr" ~ llJ pounds. develops an
initial vciocity Of ic0s foot seconds. and to'aI
energy OF GsN foot tons. Mr.. Wizard contends that'
using his Inventions the proectile. fired with
An enual heavy charge OF powder. Will nave IA much
higher velocity and energy of 100" FOOT tons
The wizard system proposes four decided changes
IN orInanc" construction a. now pracused. i"e
changes relate to the rilinS OF the pore OF guns
10 the shape OF projcctiles TO the character ana
design OF the breech mechanism. and TO the Ven'i-
lation of rincy. In the case Of the Army s-h'"
guns a.. now made. tho inventor Expresses
doubt II a weapon Of the kind can Withstand more
than ten service rounds fired rapidly. each pro-
icctllc having an energy OF 600 foot tons. me
terrific heat Developed In the bore by the powder
cases and friction OF the shot on the riding would
soon disable q modern builr-up gun OF this type 1t
Is ALLEGED The present system OF riding II re-
ear,led as defective. and opposed to wcl-Kho"h
mechanical laws. An sinch gun mas INSIDE
TIM. bore a number OF grooves. each OF which has
"A twist to mpart the revolving motion To the pro
i.culc The system H. known In the Army ana
Navy as the multi groove gaining-iwist pro-
,.ctile travelling outward from the chamber ~
plunging around and forward AT the rate OF l""
feet or more per second. its bands pressing hard
against the rinng in It's flight. The heat gen
Grated by the friction h. intense besides the pro-
,cc,ue IL seriously retarded Mr. Wizard proposes.
grooves in the bore. He contends that but one
crooyc is necessary and that additional ones tend
10 lessen accuracy and velocity He would nave
the borcs Of all rifles reamed ont, and new tube,
with one groove OF proper twist Inserted lie
would also have the projcctilcs OF special design
The form OF the proiecte favored differs essen
tally from those in In this country and abroad.
Projectcs now employed are spherical In shape.
The Wizard invention IL lenticular. and has been
described by Captain Michaes. of the Army, as
"a mitten shot. the best instrument yet handled
by ariillcrsts for the penetration OF arnor plates
In defence OF his claim to the superiority of his
projectilc others. Mr.. Wizard says that with
the spherical shot a bursting tendency equivalent
TO 22s9 seconds is left In the gun. tho effect
OF undue friction resistance to the passage OF the
shot through the bore. This energy is carried
out OF the gym with the Wizard projectilc. IL Is
claimed. imparting that much additional velocity
TO a shot shell. and consequently bringing
about greater destruction to the target. General
ly speaking. 1t is estimated that the friction Of
some OF the modern projectilcs absorbs nearly
one-half OF the powder burned In each round In
certain cases, resistance OF about $1,000 pounds
results from friction. with the Wizard proJectilc.
so constructed to reduce friction to mini
num- the velocity OF projectile IL only
higher. but increased accuracy OF aim Is obtained.
The projectes can be made Of the same material
and In the same manner AS those now in use for
attacking armor. the chief departure relating to
their form.
The Wizard breech mechanism is in part. II Is
entirely outside OF the bore OF the gun. Great ad-
vantage as to the increase Of power per shot by
the total restraint OF recoil is secured In Its use.
II Is claimed. That part OF the energy developed by
the powder charge now expended In projecting the
gun and mount backward from ships side. for
example. Is directed forward to increase the power
OF the gun. There Is no breech-block to go In the
bore. 10 turn on threads. TO be firmly secured and
To be returned and pulled out. permit OF sponging
and reoadng. In the Wizard mechanism the
breech loading device recedes automatically after
each round and moves clear. to enable tho gunner
to get at the bore The device itself Is a heavy
block of steel OF dimensions to suit the calibre OF
the gun upon which employed. 1t IL secured in
place by strong reinforced steel bars, which at
tached to the upper and lower outside surfaces or
the gun The bars are made fast to the surface by
steel pins screwed into the upper and lower sur
faces In the sectional drawing shown In the cut
can be the manner OF fastening the steel bars
the breech plug In place and the braces the rear
end. to prevent the plug being thrown backward by
the force OF the powder gases. are also shown. In
practical work this plug recedes after each expo-