This book is a technical treatise on the thermodynamics of firearms, including the principles of combustion, the behavior of gases, and the performance of ammunition. Clark Shove Robinson, a professor of physics, provides detailed analysis and equations for each topic, as well as practical advice for gun designers and enthusiasts. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in firearms and the science behind their operation. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Even the earliest weapon developers faced the need to understand how and why guns and ammunition work in order to improve their effectiveness. As weapons became more sophisticated, the field of ballistics naturally divided into three main areas of specialization: interior, exterior, and terminal ballistics. Providing unique coverage of all three ar