The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-30
THE SPRINGFIELD MUsxEr MUST 90.
A Gun of Smaller CAlIbre Required for che
New STYLE OF Powder

Nc" style or Powder.
WAsHtNGToN. July 20.-The Secretary Of War
has about decided to issue an order which will
render the abandonment OF tho Springfield
musket necessary. There Is no better gun Of
Its kind than the standard arm now in use, but
recent experiments have demonstrated tho
Tact that better results can be obtained by
using gun OF smaller calibro. The Spring
Held gun has calibre Of 40. and 1t is proposed
to change from that size to 80 For years it
mas been the great desire Of ordnance experts
TO produce gun which would be equally
effective as the one now in use, and
would enable the soldier to carry a larger
number OF rounds OF ammunition. In connec-
ton with this problem 1t has been desired to
obtain powder which would give to the pro-
Iectile Halter trajectory. To obtain the lat
ter 1t would be necessary, OF course. to attain
a higher initial velocity. With the powder
commonly used tho initial velocity is about
l'35o feet per second. To render the Spring
field gun effective at distance OF two miles 1t
must be iirod at n very high anglo.
Agar ago the Swiss army was supposed to
nave tho best small arms Of any country. The
cailhre OF the gun was put at 30 and COM
pressed powder OF great strength was used.
Ihis nowdcr gave to tho proectie IN initial
velocity Of about l,sQO feet. The German Cow
ana powder. and tho whole army was rearmed
WIN tho new pattern OF musket. Recently
hIntner order has been made by the Emperor
which will cause the adoption of an entirely
new new gun This has been brought ABOUT by the
larry successful experiments made with
There are several kinds OF this explosive
mnsnuiactpred. The officers OF the Ordnance
american invention, Is superior to any OF the
foreign brands. 1t has been found that none
are perfect. They arc very susceptibIe Of Mt
mospherIc changes, ana will ra ticularly not
perP f on 3 5her qE Of
powder to very fine grains, an when used the
e oHr,I Is very loud. besides causing the
nal consistency the powder is slow burning
t ,has Ghng TO- the nroetle at first slow mo-
Un gHs Is ETGd@Iay acroased until the
t9hned. II is confidently expected that some
OF its qualities.
ger ger used IN musket of 45-caliblo nattens the
pall anu roughs the bore Of the gun. TO use |
he % e .hd it h9 been
OF steel and also reduce the bore. This Will |
decrease the weight considerably. and by sub
OF the Springfield lock could 10 used. This |
ma, ,ay pc done for the present but ultimately |
lior the army furnishes tho navy with lis small |
arms will be armed with magazine guns. |
The armies OF all Europoan countries are |
mi, ne cost OF the Springfield gun is sll.l3. |
mere are now about 100000 in use in this |
country, including those issued to tho militia |
Tue various states. IhS cost to issue this |
nous. but the policy OF the department will be |
10 rearm the regiments sincly. and as con- |
Sehienco will permit. Tho militia fund annu-
ally appropriated Is $4OO0UO0 out OF this |
sum the State troops will gradually rRy for
their new arms. 1t Is estimated that there
will be no need for an extra appropriation 10
onaole Tue secretary to carry out this project
except perhaps a small sum to secure ma.
ohlheryt 10 make the parts necessary for The
u asaAlne OF the gun. The Springfield mus
nment' both from the regular army and the
state troopS These may be sold 10 some other
country or be held in resery o in case the ext
Eenelss Of affairs demand the armiug OF a
Not only will the muskets be changed, but
the Gatiing. Hotchki.s. and Maxim guns will
have TO be remOdelled to conform to the stand
nrd callbre OF 80. This will be necessary be-
tauso me ammunition used for the muskets
is also USED Tor the machine guns.
III al OF the experiments made with the
smoke ess powder the Ordnance Bureau as
serts that the most unsatis actory was the test
~ the Ellsworth powder. There is nc merit in |
tne Invention Whatever and 1t is declared to
De the grossest kind OF fraud.
by perfectinR the smokeess powder another
great Difficulty will he obviated in firing on
5hlpb0ard. Commander Barber. OF the navy,
says tLat at the hnmbardment of Alexandria |
N the beginning OF the action there was "A stiff
oreeZe, but alter lew rounds the wind died
II dense cloud OF smoke. The effect of gun
powder smoke on the wind is like oil on |
water. Had the smokeless powder
1een used no effect would have been made on
ne wind and while there is a small rift OF
'moke 1t Is quickly dissipated, and leaves the
vision uuObStructel. 'N