Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-11-02
IMPROVING the Army ride.

1t is stated in army circles that
there is growing opinion that the
new small-caiber rifle for the army
will not be favorte with sharp
shooters. Generally speaking, there
appears to be little foundation for
this belief other than the knowledge
that in most European services where
small-caliber rifles are in use no at
tempt is made to provide the new arm
with finely graduated sights
Brigadier-Gencral ID. w. Flagler,
chief of ordnance, United States
army, in his last report on the small
,aliber arms of foreign services pre-
scntcd to the small-arms board, says:
at is distinguishing feature of the
sights, as compared with our own SER
Eice sight, that none are adapted for
accurate target shooting: nor would
they prove satisfactory for sharp
shooters use in action. The rear
sights are generally adapted only for
fixed elevations and have no arrange
ments by which compensation can be
made for drift or windagc allowance,
and for ordinary ranges only the plain
open notch, either square or V-sha ped,
IS provided. 1t appears that the ex-
from $40 yards, in the Belgium SER
vice, to g. 800 yards, in the British,
while the average is approximately
:, 200 yards. -
The new Krag-Jorgenscn rifle,
adopted for use in the United States
army, gives an initial velocity close
to l,>5o foot seconds. The Springfield
arm, which for so many years has
L.
States army, gives initial vclocities
seldom exceeding /. 800 foot seconds.
With tho low initial vclocities of the
Springfield arm remarkable sharp
shooting work has been done by Off
GERS and enlisted men of the army
Much of the excellence attained by
the Springfield gun has been due to
the use of closely graduated sights
and wind and draft gauges, and yet
not so delicate as to make ready adj
iustmcnt Of the sliding leaf impossi-
bic.
The new Krag-Jorgenscn arm, with
its high muzZlc vclocities if fitted
with sights as excellent in comparison
as those given to the old Springfield
gun should be capa BILE, it is declared
Of running up target scores hardly
within the realm of the Springfield
rifle.
The high initial velocities of the
krag-Jorgensen gun mean low ira jec-
tory, less error arising from atmos-
| pheric conditions, and from the fact
| that in long flights the ball travcrses
plane in which atmospheric phases
are more certainly known securing
| greater accuracy. Assuming that Gen
cral Flaglcr pays to the sights of the
| krag- Jorgensen gun the same atten-
ton which the ordnance department
of the army has devoted in the past to
the sights of the Springfield gun, it is
| deemed extremely probable that the
1 sharpshootcrs of the army will soon
| find themselves in possession of an
arm capable of rcmarkab BILE shooting
work.
! The Spring field gun has been made
to do good work over ranges not
| exceeding Zoo yards. The Krag-
Jorgeusen gun, if fitted with good
| sights, can be made to do close work
over ranges up TO ., 800 yards
Sharpshooting has long been a
| feature with American troops. IL was
because of the superior rife work of
I the Americans in 1872 that undrilled
levies were able to successfully con-
tend with the veteran regiments of
Great Britain, and it was an important
factor in securing the independence
of the United States. The familiarity
Of Americans with arms has in the
past been largely due to hostilities
with the Indians. When the Kentucky
rifle was in vogue, the sights, though
intended only for close work, were
usually as sharp as the edge Of a
knife. In later years superior rife
work in America has been fostered
and maintained largely by the
National Rifle association, and largely
by the efforts of the war department
to raise the skill Of enlisted men OF
the army to the standard of marks
men. In view of the record OF
American rihemcn in the past and tho
diligent efforts of the war department
authorities of to-day To keep up the
standard, there is little likelihood, i,
is thought among conservative men
of the ordnance department overlook
! ing the desires of sharpshooters. Gen
eral Flagler has laid the subject o.
proper sights for the new small arm
before "a board Of experienced officers
| This board need not be expected Il
make any mistakes.