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The Royal Navy had ordered a number of ten barrel Gatling guns in .65 inch calibre which were approved for service in August 1875.
The initial trials had been carried out with solid drawn cases, as there was some discussion about cost, those from Birmingham costing £50 per thousand whilst those from America were cheaper at only £27 per thousand. It is likely that the latter were made by the Union Metallic Company.
For service however, a typical Boxer coiled brass case was approved.
Ball Mark I
"Cartridge S.A. Ball Gatling Gun 0.65 inch Mark I" was approved in December 1875 and shown in LoC Paragraph 3324 dated June 1878. The title was later changed in December 1880 to "Cartridge Machine Gun Gatling .65 inch Mark I".
The case was of coiled brass with a brass base cup and brass base discwith a small copper primer. They were unheadstamped and had a single bullet securing cammelure.
The bullet was a lead alloy of 12 parts lead to 1 part tin and weighed 1422 grains. there was a single bullet cannelure and a white paper patch.
The propellant was 270 grains of RFG2 blackpowder.
Right: Drawn brass cass, possibly Ameican. Left: Ball Mark I coiled case.
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