BREECH-LOADING, in artillery, relates to a mode of constructing large pieces of ordnance, and small-arms or haud-firearms, the peculiar manner of charging which the term describes. This subject is now occupying much attention, and the patented inven tions relating to it are very numerous. The Armstrong gun (see ARMSTRONG), among others, is a breech-loader; and so is the Whitworth gun. A considerable amount of additional mechanism is necessary for this purpose; seeing that the breech must be so far opened as to admit of the introduction of a ball or shell, and a cartridge, and then so firmly closed as to resist the imtnense pressure occasioned by the explosion. The objects sought to be attained by this change from the old system are many—quickness in loading, ease in cleaning after firing, accurate ad justment•of the diameter of the hall to the calibre of the gun, facility in making the ball accommodate itself to the spiral rifle-grooves of the piece, etc.; but it is still a contested question, especially between the rival inventors of breeeh-loaders and muzzle-loaders, to what extent these objects are attained. In relation to muskets and fowling-pieces, Mr. Greener, of Birmingham, who
has written much on the subject, disputes the usefulness of B.; he denies that it is more safe, more accurate, or more forcible than muzzle-loading; while certain advantges which it may possess are, he thinks, counterbalanced by the greater cost of the weapon. The relative merits of breech and muzzle loading fowling-pieces were tested in 1850-60 by various trials, under the management of the editor of The field, and resulted in favor of the breech-loadcrs. The demand for the latter has, in consequence, enor mously increased.—This subject receives further notice in various parts of the Encyclo pedia, in relation to certain kinds of ordnance and small-arms expressly constructed on the B. principle, See Bitraztit-LOADmi..pd by ,..,rrnqnft (14)