Introduction > Comparative Trials > Hythe Trials > Woolwich Trials > Rifle Fired by the Queen > Ordnance Select Committee > Henry & Metford Rifles > Hexagonal Rifling
Report By The Ordnance Select Committee
On the 26th of November, 1862, the Ordnance Select Committee published the following results of a series of trials made with the Whitworth and Enfield rifles.
The dimensions and constructions of the two rifles are stated below, the mean angle of elevation for a given range is tabulated, and also the mean radial deviation, or figure of merit. The experiments were instituted by the Secretary of State for War in the year 1861.
ENFIELD:-
Diameter of bore 0.577in.
Pitch of rifling, 1 turn in 78ins.
No. of grooves 3
WHITWORTH:-
Diameter across angles, 0.490in.
Diameter across flats, 0.451in.
Pitch of rifling, 1 turn in 20ins.
No. of grooves Hexagon.
| ENFIELD | WHITWORTH | |||
| Range Yards | Mean Radial Deviation | Mean Angle | Mean Radial Deviation | Mean Angle |
| inches | inches | |||
| 300 | 12.69 | 0° 44′ 8″ | 3.86 | 0° 56′ 49″ |
| 500 | 19.80 | 1° 45′ 13″ | 7.29 | 1° 23′ 37″ |
| 800 | 41.61 | 2° 46′ 6″ | 15.67 | 2° 17′ 6″ |
| 1,000 | 95.01 | 4° 3′ 33″ | 23.13 | 3° 5′ 36″ |
| 1,200 | 133.53 | 5° 9′ 48″ | 46.92 | 4° 3′ 6″ |
