The first Paixhans guns for the French Navy were made in 1841. The barrel of the guns weighed about , and proved accurate to about . In the 1840s, France, Britain, Russia, and the United States adopted the new naval guns.
The effect of the guns in an operational context was first demonstrated during the actions at Veracruz in 1838, at Campeche in 1843, Eckernförde in 1849 during the Danish–Prussian War, and especially at the Battle of Sinop in 1853 during the Crimean War. The Naval Battle of Campeche made history because it was the first time both sides used explosive shells and the only time sailing ships defeated steamers.
thumb|Paixhans [[Shell (projectile)|shell with sabot]]
According to the Penny Cyclopædia (1858):