Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-01-02
American Cartridges.

Russia was among the first to make
use of the American metallic cartridges,
and she attempted in vain to initiate
them. After wasting 100000 of
cartridges made of inferior material,
she wisely concluded TO buy here, as
other foreign nations have since done.
Some of the American cartridges sent
to Russia were subjected to the unpar-
alleled test of five-week's soaking in
the waters of New York harbor, the
vessel carrying them having sunk off
Staten Island on her way out. They
were hshed up as good as new, and,
triumphantly passing the ordeal of a
new test of their firing quality, went on
their way again, and have no doubt
long since added their quota to the re-
turn of casualties. For good cartridges
American copper is needed, fact
which the Europeans are beginning to
learn. Even so long ago as the days
of the moundbuilders, it was discov-
cred that our Lake Superior region
purity. Ore of equal purity is not, it
would seem, to be found elsewhere,
and perhaps the process Of annealing
is not so well understood abroad. At
all events, the brass made of the
foreign copper, abounding III the
sulphurets, lacks the necessary
strength and ductility, and for some
reason the metallic cartridges made
abroad are liable to deteriorate in quail
ty. During her war with Turkey, Rus
sia purchased large quantities of brass
here, one Connecticut firm alone sup
plying 2,000,00 worth of sheet brass.
Other Governments have, no doubt,
been purchasers. Ready-made cart
ridges have also been sent abroad in
such quantities that a million has be-
come the unit of calculation. The Gov
ernment cartridge contains 20 grains
of powder and hardened bullet, COM
posed of one part tin and sixteen parts
lead, weighing 405 grains. The Pea
body-Martini has S5 grains of powder
and bullet of the same composition
weighing 4S0 grains. The long-range
bullet has one part tin to fourteen parts
lead, and weighs 500 grains, the charge
of powder being 100 grains. Tho ad-
vantagos of the heavier cartridge are
well shown in the experiences of the
Turkish wer already referred to.
Whatever else they may lack, the Turks
have certainly shown superior intelli-
gence in the armament of their troops.
The English, who use the same gun,
had, on a smaller scale, an experience
similar to that of the Turks, The rifles
used by the rifle brigade in the cam
paign against the Afghans were sighted
for 1000 yards, and at 2, 100 yards were
found effective. The rifles with which
our own army is provided are sighted
to 1900 yards. Some of the sights
used by rifemen in long-range shoot.
ing are also shown; the Vernier sight
and sight tcombining spirit-level and
wind-gauge. The ordinary Vernier
will register to the thousandth of ar
inch, and Verniers have been made so a.
to register the twenty-thousandth par
of an inch, these finer sights being useC
to regulate the ordinary sights. These
very fine sights are not adapted to mil
itary service, in which the rifle is sub
jected to very different usage from
that prevailing at creedmoor, where
the long-range rifeman is able to giv'
his weapon all the care that musician
would take of his precious Stradivariu
violin OF his Tourte bow.-CoL. w. @
Church, in Scribner for January.