BULLETS. The general modo of making bullets is noticed under SHOT-MANUFACTURE. We may, however, here state that a patent for making bullets was taken out in America in 1849, in which the bullet is formed by punch ing. The end of the punch has a hemispherical cavity, and a die is used which has a similar , cavity. A strip of sheet lead is laid on the die, and the punch is brought down upon it', with a force sufficient to sever a small piece of lead, and to form it into a globular shape by means of the two hemispherical cavities.
Several years before, however, in 1840, Mr. David Napier had patented a method, some what similar in principle, but more compre hensive, for making bullets in which great accuracy of form may be required. The ma chinery consists of two sliding plungers, placed horizontally and opposite to each other ; each carrying a hemispherical die. The meeting and closing of the two dies give a perfectly spherical form to any substance compressed between them. In the centres of these plungers
are two sliding plugs, which, in the retroces sion of the plungers, are urged forward by a spring placed behind them, and drive out the compressed ball. An alternating motion back wards and forwards is given to the plungers. Strips of lead having projections, prepared either by rolling or casting, are supplied to the machine, the continuous pressing of which converts the projecting pieces of lead into per: feet spheres, held together by a thin film of lead. The strips are then taken to a small hemispherical punch, working vertically into a circular bed the same size as the balls Land on bringing down this punch by means of a foot treadle, the balls are cut out, fall through the bed, and roll down a trough into a proper receptacle. This method of making bullets by compression was, we believe, at one time adopted by the government at Woolwich, the apparatus being worked by steam.