New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-24

more than the value OF the contract for supply
ing 1900 rifles TO the State troops for 100000
It means that many more States will probably
follow New-York and adopt the rifle, and
hence the eagerness of the companies to
the verdict
The Winchester tested yesterday has barrel
2S inches In length OF nickel steel. there being Az
per cent OF the former metal In the composition
Colonel Adds said that nothing else would stand
the terrific force developed by the smokeless
powder used This is made at Wilmington
Del. 1t is a nitro gly cerine powder. and not
smokeless either the Veteran or rifeite pow
ders Being weaker. 30 grains OF It were used
as against 80 grains used In the other rifles. 1t
was said by the Winchester representatives
that this gave an initial velocity Of over two
thousand feet
In general appearance the gun exhibited does
not differ in It's action materially from the sport
ing rife Of the same makers. The magazine to
hold the cartridges is below the breech. not tubu-
lar. as In the ordinary gun The lever has two
arms. which pass each side Of the magazine.
connecting OF course. above and below. The
bolt Is the same In appearance as in the old
weapon with hammer behind 1t.
The test began as usual by the compahy's ex
pert firing fifteen shots at the 2o0-yari target.
Then Private Crane followed. The score was
t Va" 3 T. !. 81
This was good shooting Van Dyke braclng
against the rack Crane shooting offhand. The
gun kicked harder. according to Mr.. Crane, than
any other tried so FAR. The firing as a maya
zine gun came next. the score being:
g ys% n,. '....: + 5 -s
This was a great falling of in Cranes work
but the gun had become so heated that the
radiation absolutely obscured the target. The
gun was allowed to cool off in the last string
and hts shooting at once came back to his former
average In the fourth shot fred by Crane in
the nrst round the sight was blown out. APP
parentiy by an ESCAPE of gas from the breech
bur f. could not be traced although 1t left Private
Crane with a tear in his eye.
The Commlssi oners then took hold Of the gun.
II carries 1--WE shells In the magazine. loading
from the top. When the magazine Is fuH IL
cannot be used as single loader unless ilrst
one shot is fired from the magazine III smell
is put In the breech slot. the weapon Is at once
TANNED. unless there Is one smell OUT Oh the
magazine. To the Commissioners. Colonel Al
dis admitted that gun that had only nVe sho's
ln the magazine was logically q weaker gun thdn
the one having six. The movement seems TO
work hard at two points wheFe mere are ap
parently dead centres Of motion to be overcome.
which makes the action hard. Colonel Adds
stated that there would be no diticulty In AFTER.
ing the gun so that the magazine would hoid
~
The Commissioners were evidently largely IN
terested In these points stated and they VIII no
doubt have much influence In the ultimate de-
cision
The endurance test followed The time In
minutes and seconds was: 4:3O. 400. 5:Oo 49, $40,
400. 3:i5. 2:35. The gun stood the test well.
The test with detective cartridges came next.
Mr. Van Dyke dn not use a lanyard. but hred
from the shoulder, braced as usual. AT each
shot the escaping gas flashed up In flame from
the breech. but the gun ana It's hahdler were I'M
injured
When the excessive charges test came TO be
made Mr. Rislcy, OF the Savage Arms Company.
asked that the same powder used In the
other tests be used This was agreed TO. and
the shots were fired with lanyard. The gun
was uninjured and the Commissioners warmly
Colonel Adds upon the success
OF the tests
The rifle was then taken apart and assembled
again. The same tests were then taken up and
the following scores were made under these
conditions: FIred-Six shots after each exposure
to dust blast during che minute. (a) Magazine
empty breech closed tb> Magazine full. breech
closed (c) Magazine empty. breech open. (d
Magazine full. breech open.
A ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ~
y. ............................. q,
This was good shooting. and the Commis-
siorers were much pleased with the general
efficiency OF the gun save for the two points
already noted.
To-day all the guns examined will be taken
arart and the different parts counted and COM
pared and their general construction studied
ON Saturday the Blake rifle Of Batavia. N. Y.
will be tested. It is not likely that the Burton
gun will be ready In time to be tested before
the Commission finishes It's test On Tuesday