Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-01

! BRErCu LOADING hEHS.!n ar9ther column
will be foun,! an adyrr!i>rr,,n: !.oln Merrill l.
I Co.'S Arms Manufacturing to!npany in Bali.
more Oar attention. has hc,A drawn to the
( following cx;ra:ts al Major Cui,!oGs report 70
/ the Armo:y commissioners ri .nlS State, con.
( ccGnn: vi. Mcrrii'> improvement:
The lirSt al the patent arms Which tried
MAS & cavalry carf:nc, ma'ie to load at the
b-ce,i!. hs Mc:rt!S arrangement. This arm,
Is wei q the Others, being before the commii-
..iDii i.i. ;hc;G cXaG;a:on there J.; no necessity
: ini' 4ny description.
/ Fifty shots ""rc fired with this carlne. The
cartridges used were ton large. .nl the recoi
vns & !itilc nnpi.asau; There Was no escape
mcHt vi gas il.ruugi, Tie brecch but the cnnrgc
being tno Eca"r, Ih2-c WIS considerable flash
through the :;ipplr itself $" Great Us 10 buru
the lace and disturb ,hr aim, ass. sometimes to
raise the hammer to bali .0ck. Tie arm shot
with great force. Tie ruMhrr OF hits out o.!
! hity shots waS cniv twenty. but thc arm has
no, Il fair riai. With Suailcg cartridges |
! have nn d"uht l!c firing woul,l have bern much
ci">@r.
! ,ip,i Ass, atroih"r ariir. altered iiv Mr Mer
!, :iii'> process Tiis wa.a (. s larpcl'S Ferry
+ rifle, cha#g,i :"a brccch !u,L!ng #'Iu ! fired
iit:S weapon n!,r hu,.i!e'; TINES at the target,
soi!:c !::y ~ !ittv shot, i.avi"s been fred pre-
/ viouSiy. Til ara >tUi ."ry well, the hrcech
l''at;!n. :.;angrni.i; working perfectly, and
! wi,nc, any escape 81 rae !'hc charge was
tea :!a:I> les. .!la;l for tie l!;u:teicu lIarpels
| Ferry rite, !lit ;hr balls sccri.c 70 possess tie
! Saipc force auh velocity.
the following * the record Of the firing, /
: diagram o! whir!! ACCOMPANIES l!;is rcpor:
/ tHI =:
irn. I. ). Harper, Ferry rife, altered to
breycii ioadiir:: by MerriliS patent; turget, 5
| fee, inches ~ 5 feet inches distance, sou
! wards
Nului,"r oi shells. ............ 100
Nu;it.uI ni :'!IS ................ s!
The difference in the nul!h7r .! nif> between
this arm au'i tie inaitered ldfper's Ferry RI
i!c, arose, have ro rlcub,. !:o.u the difference
/ in The locks. The first arm hcng very hard on
; the trigger, an. the latter quite easy
.Ktrr;lF> jrscrt iog'ii"g urmS--Mr. Merrill
claims 40 other atvarlsge for his arms than
! the mcti,oc! q; hrcrch loading. 1Fi> may bc
applied !. ANY barrels. Among tie arms sub.
muted. are y United States n!uskct and Cni-
ted States llarpcrS Ferry rife altered to brevrf
loading by thiS process.
nave IN hesitation N Sayin. that of all the
bTeerh !ul'iins arms have srcn. these seem To
Inc tie best suited for the purpose we have in
view
Oiidtg.-MrrriItS arrangement seems 10
elder great strength, and To be ul,lc 10 stand
heavy ctIargc*. There does not seem to be any
fraction brIwve:. tic parts, which can lead to
rsr!a wetIins.
.Smp'ict:y-Ihc irecci loading apparatus
IS Very sIInD!c and c:iST IT, tak 10 pieces and
put together again for clearing or o;ling. I
have not t"cn able TO detect any escape Of gas.
After firm: over 100 s;'a!s, | wipr, the plston
rcd with white pocket handkerchief, and
Iaand nut ;hc slightest trace OF powder dirt.
.immn"iiiD".-The great advantage Of these
arms the others is, that they can bc used
with the paper cartridge or with loose powder
and ball, without any metallic or other cai fridge
Case. his secures enc OF the Indispensable
conditions Of an arm oi war.
Another advantage Of Nj MrIri'l's patent ia
tic cs.c with which i; may Lc applied 10 other
n;,s. iahe Tor caHmplc tie United States
Nlnic-:!.." altered ny hlui. IT has tlc same
barrel, stock ami !"ek. Nothing is removed
but the oli trccch screw, and the arri is nos
in the least degree diminished iii solidiiy, and
hardly cii;n.c,! AT all in ap:Garancc II must
be aided To [hiS, that !!iH altered arm seemed
to have h:*aInc range and force with 50 grains
Of powde: as the EHairrcd rifle with the resu.
lar charge OF 80 grains.
II It >hrnld be tnuucht advisable To give
brccch loading raybinrS 20 cavalry AIT! brccch
!U.,:irr n.;Skc;S and rifles 10 the >crsrarts OF
inanirr, would give The preference, SO far As
/ al" an!- 10 j,!ise, to Mr.. Merriii's arms.