Small is not allowed to be too small. Once the bullet is small, it will have no air tightness to speak of, and naturally there will be no power to speak of.
Therefore, the bullet must be as large as the diameter of the tube.
After lowering his head and thinking for a moment, Han Du said: "Although you can't make the bullet smaller, you can make it shorter. Isn't that okay?"
Lin Mo nodded and replied: "I understand, how about you wait for me to do it again?"
Once the length of the bullet is changed, even the structure of the breech-loading gun needs to be remade. In other words, the gun in Han Du's hand is useless before it can be fired.
After thinking about it, Han Du thought he could give it a try. What if the gun could withstand the bullet? Wouldn't that be better? The more gunpowder the bullet contains, the more powerful it will be, and of course it will shoot farther.
.
"You can give it a try."
After Han Du finished speaking, he opened the chamber of the bullet and inserted the bullet.
Seeing Han Du's actions, Lin Mo was shocked. He quickly stepped forward to hold Han Du's hand and said loudly: "No, Lord Marquis, you must not open fire. If anything happens to Lord Marquis's rich body, the villain will die."
There is no way to atone for his sins."
Han Du let Lin Mo grab the breech-loader and sighed, "When did I say that I would just open fire like this?"
"Hou, aren't you going to test the gun?" Lin Mo was a little confused.
Han Du nodded and said: "I do want to test the gun, but not with my own hands as you thought. I know the danger, but I still try it with my own hands. Do you think I am a fool?"
"Yes, yes, the villain is not thinking carefully." Lin Mo was now relieved and said with a smile on his face.
Han Du did not argue with him and directly ordered: "Go and find a way for me to stand up."
When Lin Mo asked someone to bring over a wooden frame, Han Du ordered them to tie the breech-loading gun to the frame, then put a long rope around the trigger, and hid behind the wall while holding the rope.
After clearing everyone around him, Han Du suddenly pulled the rope in his hand.
"Boom~"
There was an explosion, and Han Du hid behind the wall, with one eye on the breech-loading gun. He saw with his own eyes that it was blown into two pieces from the chamber, and splinters of wood flew everywhere, and his ears were filled with wood chips falling to the ground.
sound.
The rope that helped load the gun was broken long ago, and even the wooden frame was damaged to a certain extent.
Han Du and Lin Mo went up and saw the mess all over the ground. Lin Mo's mouth opened wide. He was now very lucky to be reminded by the Marquis, otherwise he might not have been able to save his life if he had tried rashly.
Han Du was not too surprised. When he saw the size of the bullet given by Lin Mo, he guessed that it would probably explode. Because the strength of steel now is far different from that of the future, it simply cannot withstand such a violent impact.
impact.
What surprised Han Du was that even the steel pipe was torn apart by the explosion. Han Du reached out and picked up the steel pipe with half of the wood tied to it. It could be clearly seen that the steel pipe was cut along an almost straight path.
The thread was torn apart.
Without even thinking, Han Du could guess that this line was probably the original seam of the steel pipe.
"It seems that it still doesn't work."
"Master Hou, do you still want to try?" Lin Mo asked softly.
Han Du stood up slowly, shook his head and sighed: "No need to try, these steel pipes are not good, and there will be no results if you try again."
Seeing the disappointment on Han Du's face, Lin Mo thought that making firearms was in vain, so he couldn't help but said: "What kind of pipe does the Marquis want? Let's talk about it. Maybe I can make it."
Han Du picked up the blasted and cracked steel pipe, pointed at it and said, "Do you see this gap? This is the connection point of the steel sheets. This place was originally forged by overlapping, but now it seems that this will not work.
"
Lin Mo looked at it for a few times and suddenly said: "Master Hou, maybe there is a way I can try."
"What solution?" Han Du frowned, a little suspicious that Lin Mo had thought of a solution so quickly.
Lin Mo didn't pay attention to Han Du's expression, and said directly: "Master Hou, the craftsmen who make copper pots know a technique of seaming the edges. Only with this technique can the copper pots be tightly connected and ensure that
It won't leak. I think this method can be tried."
Han Du nodded secretly and saw Lin Mo saying wow,
He couldn't help but scratch his face and asked quickly: "Do you know this kind of skill?"
"I'm a villain, but I just happen to know this skill." Lin Mo nodded matter-of-factly.
Han Du suddenly became happy and said with a smile: "Okay, then you can try it."
Immediately, Han Du explained how Tao Chengdao hammered steel sheets into steel pipes.
At the same time, he also suggested: "I think you can make that special anvil longer, and it is best to roll out a four-foot-long steel pipe at one time."
Lin Mo nodded and agreed.
A few days later, Lin Mo sent word again that he was ready and asked Han Du to try it.
Han Du came to the weapons bureau and looked at the breech-loading guns placed on the table. Han Du was surprised by the bright silver metal gun body.
"What kind of special steel are you making it from?"
Lin Mo nodded with a smile and replied: "Master Hou, aren't you worried that this gun will explode? I think it might be better to use this kind of fine steel to make it."
It would be a little better, but the price is good. I have already done it anyway, and Han Du is too lazy to say anything more.
No matter what, you have to try first to see if it works.
He opened his hand towards Lin Mo and took the bullet.
This time, the bullet made by Lin Mo was half shorter than the last time, like a fattened revolver bullet. After loading the bullet, Han Du put the rope on the trigger again and hid far away behind the wall.
Pull hard, "Bang!"
This time there was no explosion and the barrel was intact.
However, the target standing twenty feet away was also intact, with not even a layer of skin falling off. With the huge power of this breech-loading gun, if the bullet hit the target, it would definitely leave a hole.
Obviously, the accuracy of this breech-loading gun was so poor that the bullets flew to nowhere even at a distance of twenty feet.
"Try again." Han Du ordered, asking Lin Mo to continue loading bullets.
Firstly, I want to see if this breech-loading gun is reliable. Secondly, I want to see how accurate this gun is?
After trying dozens of bullets in succession, Han Du was very satisfied with the strength of the gun body. After firing so many bullets, he did not see any changes. Obviously, this gun is relatively reliable.
But the accuracy disappointed Han Du. After dozens of bullets were fired, there was only one bullet hole in the target. The target was made of one-inch-thick elm wood board and was very hard. But the bullet easily punched a hole in the target.
The holes that penetrate the hole have smooth edges, and it is obvious that the bullet is very powerful.
The power is enough, but the accuracy is just a bit off.
Such accuracy is even worse than that of a revolver.
Han Du frowned and stood up, muttering to himself: "It seems that it still needs to be engraved with rifling."
"What?" Although Han Du's voice was low, Lin Mo had always focused on Han Du. As soon as Han Du's words came out, he heard them.
Seeing the curious look on Lin Mo's face, Han Du picked up the breech-loading gun, pointed it into the barrel, and explained: "The bullets are fired from here. If they don't rotate, they won't be stable enough. They will fly everywhere."
"Master Hou, is it true that with the rifling that Master Hou said, the bullets will not fly around?" Lin Mo asked curiously. He knew that every time Han Du said something unheard of, it was
An incredible skill. Now that he encountered it again, he naturally wanted to find out what was going on.
Han Du nodded and said: "Of course, this gun has rifling or not, but one is in the sky and the other is in the ground."
With that said, Han Du explained to Lin Mo what rifling was, which made Lin Mo very excited. However, he knew that slanted lines must be carved into such a small tube, and the inclination of each line must be the same.
Lin Mo shook his head and said it was too difficult. Just giving it a try did not guarantee that he would succeed.
A few days later, Lin Mo came to Han Du with a steel pipe carved with rifling.
Han Du raised the steel pipe, pointed it at the sun, and frowned after just one glance.
His head wrinkled. I don't blame Han Du for being dissatisfied. It's because the rifling inside is shallow and unevenly spaced. It's as if a dog has gnawed it.
"I'm afraid this won't work. These lines are not smooth at all. Under the violent impact of bullets, they may be easily worn out." Han Du said with a frown.
If the rifling is not polished, the gun is useless.
Lin Mo smiled bitterly and nodded, and said: "I also know that I am afraid that it is far from meeting the requirements of the Marquis, but this is already the best one that I asked the master craftsmen of the Ordnance Bureau to try their best to make.
.Others were even worse, and some were even scrapped directly.”
"What's the problem?" Han Du also knew that it was not easy to get this thing. He did not blame Lin Mo, but asked the reason.
Lin Mo glanced at Han Du gratefully, and quickly explained: "There is only one problem, and that is that the steel is too hard, and it is almost impossible to carve it with human power alone."
In order to avoid exploding the barrel, Lin Mo hoped that the tube could be as hard as possible, but now that he had to carve rifling, Lin Mo hoped that the tube could be softer and easier to carve. However, this is obviously impossible. ?
?
What about the machines that were not made by humans? Han Du's eyes suddenly opened, and he immediately thought of the steam engine in the academy.
Although this thing is a tuberculosis ghost now, it can be used reluctantly in a short period of time. As long as a combined auxiliary machine is designed, with the powerful power that the steam engine can provide, there should be no problem in carving a few riflings. At most, it can be sealed with glue.
It's just that the quality is easily damaged, so what if it's damaged? Just replace it in time.
"Don't worry about this matter. I will find a solution." Han Du waved his hand to appease Lin Mo.
Lin Mo immediately breathed a sigh of relief, nodded and replied: "Okay." If the Marquis insisted on him doing it, he really didn't know what to do, but now he did what he wanted.
"In addition, if you make more steel pipes, I will use them." Han Du made a request to Lin Mo.
Lin Mo immediately nodded in agreement. He didn't need to think about it. He knew that Mr. Hou must find a way to carve rifling on the steel pipe. Although he was curious about how Mr. Hou could carve the rifling on the steel pipe, but since Mr. Hou didn't say it, he didn't.
OK, ask again.
Han Du ran to the academy that day and found Sun Xian.
Sun Xian thought Han Du had some good news and was looking excited.
As a result, Han Du asked him to find a way to make a machine.
Now Sun Xian is devoting himself wholeheartedly to the steam engine, and it is about to succeed. This involves hundreds of thousands of dollars. Naturally, he doesn't want to make other machinery.
However, Han Du persuaded him, "Although the steam engine is good, but without rubber, I can tell you clearly that it is impossible to actually make it. Instead of wasting time waiting in vain, why not take this opportunity to make some necessary
A machine driven by a steam engine will come out? In this way, once the rubber is available and the steam engine is built, wouldn't it be able to be used immediately?"
"Besides, I won't let you work in vain. How about five thousand guan?"
Sun Xian didn't care whether it was five thousand guan or not. Instead, he felt that what he said was very reasonable. Now that we can make something that can use a steam engine, we can go into battle directly without wasting time at all.
With Han Du's advice from the side, Sun Xian and his students, after more than half a month, actually built a machine that can carve rifling.
This kind of machinery is more complicated, but when Sun Xian saw Han Du's ingenious use of mechanical linkage when he modified the steam engine, he was greatly shocked. Therefore, when making the machine that carved the rifling, he also
Subconsciously, try your best to automatically realize Han Du's various requirements through various linkages.
When the machine was ready, Han Du was so happy that he asked Sun Xian to start the steam engine, ready to test whether the machine could carve rifling lines.
As the machinery is connected to the steam engine, the steam engine slowly and continuously generates power.
The long pole with the carving knife slowly but firmly pushed towards the steel pipe. The moment the two came into contact, Han Du's heart almost jumped out.
without any hindrance
Without any obstruction, the carving knife slowly and firmly pushed into the steel pipe, and the speed was not affected at all.
"Successful." Han Du clenched his fist happily. The tension in his heart did not relax at all. Now it was time to see if he could penetrate the steel pipe in one breath.
Sun Xian also watched with bated breath. When the carving knife emerged from the other end of the steel pipe as expected, he breathed a sigh of relief.
After finishing the first step, I quickly continued with the second step, and the third step was finished after carving six steps in a row.
Han Du turned on the machine, took off the steel pipe, and looked into the pipe toward the sun. The six engraved lines were evenly arranged with beautiful arcs, and it looked like a perfect vortex.
Han Du nodded with satisfaction, "Okay, that's it. Five thousand strings will be delivered to you tomorrow. In addition, you can carve these things out for me like this. Also, this machine must be closely guarded.
, no one can come in and contact it without my order, let alone use it."
"Thank you, sir." Sun Xian replied with a smile. After all, it was five thousand guan. The one he was given was still 1,000 guan. This was not a small amount of money.
At the same time, Sun Xian, who heard Han Du's instructions, quickly made a promise: "Sir, don't worry, this place will be sealed off immediately after the students use it."
Han Du nodded and walked away with the steel pipe in his hand.
When he came to the Ordnance Bureau, he found Lin Mo and handed him the steel pipe in his hand.
Lin Mo just took one look and was extremely surprised. He asked with an incredible expression on his face: "Master Hou, how did you do this?"
Only by doing it himself did Lin Mo understand the difficulty of carving rifling in this steel pipe. He originally gathered all the master craftsmen of the Ordnance Bureau to find a way, but the best one was carved by Han Du.
The one that was chewed.
Sun Xian took the steel pipe in his hand and looked at it over and over again, his eyes as gentle as looking at the beauty under the lamp. The engraved lines were evenly arranged, the arc was smooth and graceful, and there was a unique sense of beauty when he looked at it. It seemed like it was in his hand.
What he is holding is not cold steel at all, but a warm jade-like thing.
Han Du laughed and didn't tell Lin Mo.
Lin Mo also realized instantly that this was probably the Marquis's secret, and immediately shut up and stopped asking.
Han Du also changed the topic and said: "Well, you can make one first."
"Okay." Lin Mo turned around and left in excitement, carefully holding the steel pipe in his hand like a treasure.
Han Du tried the newly made breech-loading gun, but found that its power was not as powerful as when there was no rifling on the front, and the bullets were flying everywhere.
Han Du was puzzled. He checked carefully and found that the rifling was there, but the bullet was still the same size, and the rifling effect was not used at all.
He also asked Lin Mo to re-make the bullet to match the size of the rifling. The power of the improved bullet has indeed improved greatly, and its accuracy has also improved by leaps and bounds. Ten times out of ten, it hits the target, and the impact point is also very good.
concentrated.
But a new problem has arisen. Even if it is a brass warhead, the wear of the rifling is very alarming. After firing a hundred times, you can clearly feel the decrease in accuracy. After three hundred times, the rifling has almost been worn flat.
, completely unusable.
After Han Du found out, he couldn't help but shake his head. He didn't expect that the breech-loading gun was just like the steam engine. It was a tuberculosis ghost and not durable at all.
Although this breech-loading gun is easy to load and has great power, if a new one is built but can only be used a hundred times before becoming useless, then the price is too high.
Even if the Ming Dynasty had gold and silver, it could not afford such expenditure. Therefore, it was necessary to find a way to reduce the wear of the rifling.
Since copper doesn't work, we can only try softer lead.
Lin Mo followed Han Du's idea and replaced the warhead with lead.
When I tried it, I didn't expect it to work very well. The lead will expand under the squeeze of the gunpowder explosion. Because the bullet expands, the bullet itself can be relied on to complete the sealing of the chamber at the moment of launch without leaking gas.
And since lead is much softer than copper, the wear on the rifling is negligible.