The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-09-06
Brcech-LOading Gums.

Revolution in the manufacture Of
infantry fire arms has fairly begun -
like othor great changes. it has required
time for its inception but it is now ac.
tually started, and promises to be sweep.
ing and thorough. Governments arc
proverbially sluggish in the adoption of
innovations. But prejudice has been
at last overcome, and only the recent
achievement Of Koniggratz was needed
to rouse all Europe from its lethargy,
and open the eyes of the world to full
appreciation Of the last great improve
ment in fire arms.
Though Prussia has been the first to
effect an entire radical change in her
small arms, and to demonstrate to the
world its advantage, yet it is due our
own Government to have the credit Of
fostering that special improvement,
which secures the consummation of sue
cess III this direction. More than Il
year ago, our Government organized a
commission to investigate the subject Of
breoch-loading arms, and report upon
the merits Of such specimens as might
be presented for examination. The ox-
perimonts were continued for many
months, with great variety Of guns.
The report Of the deliberations Of that
Commission has not yet been made pub
lie, but it cannot be doubted by those
who are acquainted with the trials made,
that the new Remington brcoch. loading
rife will be approved as the most ciIec-
tive weapon Of the kind that has yet
been produced.
Since that time, as fast as samples
could be procured, similar trials of this
gun have been in progress in several of
the countries Of Europe; thus far with
but one rosult-tho most favorable
In these trials, the dosidcrata arc, of
course, extent Of range, portability, du-
rability, accuracy, safety and conven
icnco of handling in action, simplicity
and choapness Of construction, and final
ly, capacity for the most rapid firing.
The superiority in other respects, being
easily established, and in most cases
readily conceded, competition has been
attempted almost solely in respect to the
rapidity Of firing. And here again, the
success is most triumphant. In none
Of the public trials is its rate Of firing
quoted at less than thirteen shots per
minute, while in the hands of an adept
it has oltcner exceeded sixteen shots
per minute. In the report Just rccciv-
cd Of recent trial in England, it is
stated that "thc Remington gun was
fired Al times In less than three min
utcs, while the Spencer gun was fired
only 70 times ii thesamespace Of time"
(Morooycr, it is to be noted that the
use Of the Remington gun is not attcn-
dcd with the dangers and disadvantages
Of magazine il the brecch, which is
necessary to the Spencer gum But
more important than ali hitherto,Sis the
last news from Austria. The Vienna
correspondent of the London Times
says; Lindnor & Remington will have
the honor of seeing their system tried
in actual cOmbat; )" and much more, to
the effect, that Austria's decision is net
doubtful also that "all the resources
of private and puo.ic works are to be
taxed for the supply Of these new de-
scriptions Of firearms" Confrmatory
OF the above, we lealn that Messrs. Il.
Remington & Sons, of Ilion, have just
received d spatch by the Atlantic ca
BILE, saying Austria has adopted the
Remington arm, France impatient for
the arrival of the sample guns ordered.
Apropos to this, we learn that the sam,
pies ior France have probably by this