GUN-GEAR.
208. Breechings for all guns are to be made of the best hemp, of three-stranded rope, shroud-laid, and soft; and for smooth-bore guns not to measure less than seven and a half nor more than eight inches in the coil, excepting those for IX-inch guns, which are to measure nine and a half inches, and for XI-inch ten and a half inches.
209. The breeching-bolts must never be of less dimensions than those prescribed by regulation, and there must be double sets for the IX and XI inch guns.
210. In fitting breechings, a thimble is to be spliced into one end, the strands stuck through twice, and marled down. A thimble is to be turned into the other end, so that the length of the breeching may be conveniently altered. Thus fitted, when the gun is run in and levelled, breechings must be long enough to allow the muzzle of the gun to come a foot inside of the upper port-sill, if the breadth of the vessel will allow it. With guns of violent recoil this distance may be advantageously doubled, where there is room enough, as thereby the strain will be much lessened.
Breechings are neither to be covered, blackened, nor rendered less pliable in any way.
Lith. by J.F. Gedney, Washn. C.K. Stellwagen, del.
BREECHINGS.
| Class of Gun. | Length of Breeching when Cut. | Length of Breeching when Finished. | Circumference of Breeching. | Thimble. | Weight, including Thimble. | ||||
| Diameter. | Depth. | Radius of Score. | Diam. bolt-hole. | ||||||
| Feet. | Feet. | Inch. | Inch. | Inch. | Inch. | Inch. | Lbs. | ||
| Pivot. | |||||||||
| XI-inch | 38. | 32. | 10.5 | 6. | 4. | 1.75 | 2.05 | 172. | |
| X-inch | 37.5 | 31.5 | 10. | 6. | 6. | 1.75 | 2.05 | 170. | |
| IX-inch | 34. | 28.5 | 9.5 | 6. | 3.6 | 1.6 | 2.05 | 110. | |
| 100-pounder | 37.5 | 31.5 | 9.5 | 6. | 3.6 | 1.6 | 2.05 | 130. | |
| 60-pounder | 33. | 28. | 8. | 5.5 | — | 1.3 | 1.55 | 91. | |
| 30-pounder | 27.5 | 23.5 | 7. | 5. | — | 1.2 | 1.55 | 43. | |
| 20-pounder | 26. | 21. | 6. | 4. | — | 1.0 | 1.55 | 40. | |
| Broadside. | |||||||||
| XI-inch | 38.0 | 32.0 | 10.5 | 6. | 4. | 1.75 | 2.05 | 172. | |
| X-inch | 34.5 | 28.5 | 10. | 6. | 4. | 1.75 | 2.05 | 160. | |
| IX-inch | 31.5 | 25.5 | 9.5 | 6. | 3.6 | 1.6 | 2.05 | 100. | |
| 8-in. | 63 cwt. | 28. | 23.3 | 8. | 5.5 | — | 1.3 | 1.55 | 76. |
| 8-in. | 55 cwt. 6,500 lbs. | 27. | 22.3 | 8. | 5.5 | — | 1.3 | 1.55 | 72. |
| 32-pounder | 57 cwt. | 28.5 | 24. | 8. | 5.5 | — | 1.3 | 1.55 | 76. |
| 32-pounder | 42 cwt. 4,500 lbs. | 26. | 21.5 | 8. | 5.5 | — | 1.3 | 1.55 | 70. |
| 32-pounder | 33 cwt. | 23.5 | 19. | 8. | 5.5 | — | 1.3 | 1.55 | 65. |
| 32-pounder | 27 cwt. | 22. | 17.5 | 8. | 5.5 | — | 1.3 | 1.55 | 61. |
| Broadside Rifle. | |||||||||
| 100-pounder | 35.5 | 31. | 9.5 | 6. | 3.6 | 1.6 | 2.05 | 115. | |
| 60-pounder | 28. | 23.5 | 8. | 5.5 | — | 1.3 | 1.55 | 80. | |
| 30-pounder | 25.5 | 21.5 | 7. | 5. | — | 1.2 | 1.55 | 39. | |
| 20-pounder | 23. | 17.5 | 6. | 4. | — | 1. | 1.55 | 34. | |
211. Gun-tackle falls will be made of Manilla or such other pliable rope as may be directed from time to time by the Bureau of Ordnance. It is prohibited to blacken them or to diminish their pliability. Three-inch rope will be found large enough for the heaviest, and from 2 1/2 to 2 1/4 inch for the lighter guns.