New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-08
THE MAYNARD RIFLE.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.

WAsHSeToS, Oct. IS, 1850.
Having at my command ample means Of giving re-
liable information upon the subject of guu-msking and
especially Of some important improvements in email
arms that have been quite recently Invented, and
knowing that your citizen soldery DESTROYS of ex-
ceiling all The world in everything that will addto the
efficiency Of their respective corps, doubt not tha.
short article upon the sbovensmed subject Will interest
not few Of your readers.
1t was formerly supposed tina! accurate shooting
could only be attained by the use of a rery heOvy re
and that 300 yards was the utmost effective range that
could be obtained with the heaviest small-arm that
could be produced. But in quite recent times 1t has
been discovered that TO attain long range shooting
with smsi-srnt, it is Dot necessary TO use heavier
weapon tbs0 the modern infantry mrsket. To attain
range Of 0C0 ards with this arm all that ia neces-
rsIy is to slightly rife ts bore, and then use therein,
With the requisite charge of powder projecte Of the
proper SHAPE and freight, viz: an obLonS proJecte,
having conicoi head caP.shdgsd butt and weigh
ing about an ounce and half. The explosion OF the
charge will perfectly slug this form of projecte and
thereby destroy lie VIII dage and Cause the entire force
of the powder to act efficiently upon the p'ojecide
Tfis form of projecte WAS first used oy MAJOR
Minnie but heiDsereo an IRON cp into lta hollow bu,
on the suppcetion that the cup being dcvan into tn
pToectle BY tee force of the powder, would expand
II, and destroy its wiDdsge.
The principle was excellent, and IT has brought
sbout revolution in the small-arm departments OF
the service Of al the leading Governments OF Chsten-
dom but the mode Of carrying II out by means OF an
iron cup effective. The cup was frequently driven
into but through the prcle ctile, leaviog the ead
in the barrel II then found that the poa vas su'
peruous and that If the breech Of the proectle vas
holoutd ont or cupped, 1t would expand quite SUN,
GENTLY. This obloDg proecte, having conlcai mead
and cup chapel bntt, is the which Is populirly
known ss the Mir mis- ball. and is The one no used
In the Jifed nuekets in the United States military ser
vice. src ALTO in that Of Great Britain Inc name OF
Minnie il properly applied to the above mentioned pro
iectie but ne al obODg proiectile WA used IN rd
nutket rrior TO the cate of Minnee inventions and az
the ssid poeote can be used in every description OF
small arms, it is not proper TO Apply me term h'ns
rife to the Ttfed nuSkd. In England, the r1neo
utket termed the Enfield rfe simply ron the 'art
that the Government Armory where these arms have
b, en- largely produced, il located at Enfield
When thrown from q ritied musket by the force OF
the explosion Of a charge OF powder OF one tentn OF
its own weight the aforementioned proJecule has the
enormous rsnge of /, 900 yards, greater efficient
rsrRe than il attained by the beet field artillery, and
vet lie open 10 the following objections VIZ; aiter
firing but few shots comparatively, say ~ or -,
from red musket its bore becomes 20 foul that II Ia
impossible to lead IT again until after Il has been
cleaned And again, the bursting of the thin sides Of
its butt at the instant Of leaving the muzze OF the
Qun renders it impossible 10 attain accurate or uHI-
form shooting with the afore said Minnie proectle
The form Of projactile with which the most uniform
and accurate shooting has ever been attained Is one OF
an obonR shape, having conical head and q solid
proven fnt on the muiket which has recently been in
vented by DR.. Edv ard Maynard Of Washington, ID.
c. Thit Improvement, which can be added 10 any
muzzle loading musket rifle, at expense Of less
ibaD FIRE dollars, gives to rifed musket tue following
advsdtsges, viz:
First: The Maynard improved rihed musket can be
loaded and fred Indefinite number OF times without
requiiI cleaning.
Second: The Maynard improved rihed musket can
be fired three times faster than the Enfield rife.
Third: The range, penetration, and accuracy OF
shooting Of the Maynard improved rted musket great
" excels the Enfield rife.
Fourth. The Maynard improved rifed musket Ia not
20 isbIe In accidents az the Enfield rifle
Fifth. TIE Maynard improved rlfed musket can be
npped with 1oater-prO0f ammunition, put up in metal
he cartridges at lees expense than that Of the amun
ton put up paper cartridges, which 10 used in the
Enfield rife. q,
Sirfk The metallic cartridges used in this Maynard
inproyed ann while they are but tr1e heavier than
Ds cartridge can be used huodreds Of times without
ipiury snd can 10 loaded In the field by common SOL
der.
Serend: rTbs Maynard improved arm can be loaded
trthOW chan gtng It's position, and while the eyes OF
the user are upon his enemy upon the game OF which
be is in pursuit.
Eighth :kTbe said Maynard Improvement does not
charge either the shape, ,cerg POIse or proportions
Of the Enfield rife.
That the said Maynard improved rihed musket does
really poseess all the advantages above enumerated
has been fully demonstrated by practical experiments
conducted by number Of the most Skllfn sonmakers
and eportsmen in the country. h