The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-10-07

in ono hour The experience of our rebel
lion demonstrates the truth of this princi-
pie. Hence, of two guns, that one should
lie regarded az the best which will dis
charge fifteen or twenty shots in the least
space Of time and with the greatest pre-
cison rather than the one which will fro
the greatest number in an hour though
if gun could be devised which would
not only Ere ten rounds, but hundred,
In less time than any other gun, it would
doubtless be-, by just the difference in time,
the hest gun which could be had.
Some military men of experience, and Of
otherwise good judgment, have objected TO
broech-l loading arms on the ground that their
tendency IL 10 induce the soldier TO waste
his ammunition ly too rapid firing. Prac-
tict shows the reverse Of this to be true.
1t is well known that troops usually wear out
more cartridges by abrasion and jolting in the
boxes, while on the march, than they use in
acton. Broechloadirg cartridges generally
have metallic cases, which are practically in.
dcsructiblc except by fire. Hence it may
safely be assume that they are more ccono
meal IN every q, PC, o. the case than m11llc.
load rs.
Brecyh 'oadmg firearms are generally
named after the person who invonts
them, but they are technically classified ly
writer's upon ordnance according to the
| Ycculiarties of their construction. Without
| going into all the usual rcfncmcuts, il is
| s,.n IN Ia
them into two classes: first, brccch loalcrs
with magazine and automatic loading nr-
| paratus firing from eight to twenty shots
with great rapidly without rccharg
ing the magazine; and secondly, brcech-
| leaders which have TO be loaded by hand
after each shot The Spencer and Henry
rifles, using cartridges with metallic cnscs, be
long TO the former class the SHARP, Rem.
| iuGton, Chnsscpot, and Prussian needle gun
belong TO the latter class.
The Spencer carhine and rife are of
| American invention, and were first brought
into general use ~ our cavalry and mounted
| infantry during the rebellion. They were used
| by them with never failing success against the
| muzalc leaders of the enemy. Each one con
tains a magazine in the butt, carrying seven
| motalliccased cartridges point foremost, one
| behind the other. When the brecch block
is thrown out by the hand levcr-which also
acts as a guard to the trigrcr-a cartridge is
| pushed forward Ivy spiral spring coirI in
the magazine chamhcr then by closing the
| hand lever. the cartridge is thrust into
its place 10y shoulder in the brooch
block. The cartridge is fred By rcrcus.
sion upon its rim, through the mooney
| of a hammer set of by trigger
| The range of thos. guns IS dctrrmir,d by The
amount of powder and the weight and shape
| Of the lall which is coucal. Til, rapid ty
| with which they csn uc fired is very great.
ihcy ar easily kept in ycpair and rarely
cv-r g.: or, of order. When the r.L.lLcn
ended, hardly less than 100000 q. tArsr arms
were in the hands of the Union soldiers.
They were looked upon 10y our best officers
as ali that could be desired, while the men
WHO carried them thought items Ives in.
vino lc The rebels feared them moro than
any other arm, and expressed their fear b.
the remark that they did not object to fight
| INK ordinary soldiers but when IL came t.
| fighting mon who LOADED all night and
| fired al day. they wanted 10 be counted ont
The Sharp's rifle and cal1iur are single
| looders, and up TO the end Of the REBELLION
used PAPER cartridges, which were exploded
| ~ percussion caps. These arms worr r.
| garlcd as the best which had been invented
| .. J. Il.
re-. II - understood that they have been
| improved so as to use metallic cartridges.
uong away with the use OF caps The Rom.
ngon has mpler AID letter mechanism
Ian tie Sharp, Int il ie siogle.loalor.
| using ~ allie cartridges.
Tie needle gun was invented by Gen
HErysG, now commanding divisio9 AZ ,hc
Pras.ian army in France, WHO is said To-
have spent nearly thirty years in lr.n ng
is iLycat' 20 Z r'cti.n, THIS gGa r..
caivcs ita name from the ncell, and mac'.u.
ia ly wl.eh IL. rulMratng powder ia H.,
.utr 'ge i.igtel. les hurrrl Is au,u. tuir.y
x inches ia length, Nih four rl. 81. o..
Intending INN tie mu1la 70 o.. Sat o..
.1c clare, The latter is smooth, raa
iiglly large. t..u The bore o.. the piece, q.
a "o.-l'v tNc CASA with hrrc1lri.rs
| IA. enlargement is for tie pmuos- d.. a.
owing the balI., TO To- Gu. easily .nr
place, an! comp Hing it to #a. ND
yr1.; asa ri. g' fl" IAN .ue.,o. ...I.W
drsvu.ati piece IS fryl
The 20 1T o'.He gan v'r.s i.a. 90 81