Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-11-13
MILITARY RIFLES.
Some of tho Dlsadvantase s and Shortcom.
ings of the Modcrs Gun.

Some of the taG es and Shortcom.
ings of the Modcr,s Gun.
The development of the military rifle
while a matter of surprise to many, has
not been as rapid as one could wish.
True, the improvements are many aud
1t sometimes seems as though perfection
were nearly reached. but q careful ex-
animation always shows something to
be desired. When inclined to be Salts
fed with what has already been accom-
plished, it is we'll to remember that this
same complacent feeling has always ex-
listed; each change of riling and each
new bullet being hailed as something
| which would admit of no further inn
provcment. 1t is plain that the range
is sufficient for all practical purposes,
as in actual service no soldier. even If a
sharpshooter, will ave- be called upon
to fire at q greater distance than tho
guns now furnished will carry with ac-
curacy; besides, in consequence of the
smoke which in nearly every instance
obscures the battlefield, small arms are
generally used at comparatively short
range. There is consequently no objec-
ton to military arms on account of lack
of range or precision and there can be
no question raised as to their effective
ness.
Let us now consider what changes in
military arms and ammunition are de-
sirsbl.. A tiatter trajectory would be
a valuable de%sideratum, if The accuracy
were not impaired thereby, as the SOL
der would not tncn waste SO many
shots through miscalculation of dis
tances. There is also a general desire
to secure an arm of smaller caliber, and
if this change can be satisfactorily CT
fected it will result bcn~eiicially in va
rious ways. The soldier would thus
be enabled to carry q greater quantity
of ammunition withous imposing addi-
tional weight and his gun will also be
lighter. The same advantages apply
to ammunition trains, thus permitting
movements 10 be- made with greater
celebrity and at less expense. it would
be difficult to conceive how the SIM
plicity, safcty. rapidity Of fire or dura-
bility of modern military arms is sus-
ceptible of Improvements.
In the way of ammunition there has
boon a call for something which will
give accurate results during rapid fir
ing, with a minimum fouling of the
barrel and no tendency to lead, the re-
suit to be obtained by improved pow
der, bullet or lubricant, o. by a CON-
bination of the three, such ammunition
to be applicable to either of the three
styles of shooting-hunting, target or
military. How to secure the desired
changes without %imperiling the cfi-
cheney already attained, is a problem
which will no doubt sooner or later be
satisfactorily solved. 1t mas been
claimed by writer's that there have
been greater improvements in mill
tary arms during the past twenty
years than during the preceding four
hundred years, and in view of this fact
we may well have faith that a few
years, at most, will witness the accom-
plishment of many other valuable inn
provements.
By the way, is it not possible that
the smooth-bore musket, shooting q
round bullet, possesses one advantage
| over the rilep 1t is conceded that when
elongated projectiles are fired from
riAed cannon ricochet fire is of no
practical value either on land or at
a less degree, perhaps, concerning
small arms. While, therefore, the
fatter trajectory of the rifle increases
the dangerous space. the bullet from
| the smooth bore is much more likely
| to rebound after striking the earth and
when falling short of the mark-more
likely to do execution than is the mod
ern projectile. Forrest. Forge and