The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-15
RIFLES At THE POST
A New Weapon of the 1896 Brand
Has Eeen Issued.
APPROVED BY THE ARMY MEN
There Is Some Criticism, But the
Gun Is, NO Doubt. success
Description of the Mod
ern shooting Iron.

Missoula, May 24.-Visitors at Fort
Missoula are always interested In the
new army rifle, with which the post
has been equipped for a long time. the
new gun is one of the most wonoerlui
inventions that have been added 10 the
offensive equipment of the army In the
last few years when there nave peen
SO many remarkable additions. IL IL
approved by most of the army men, al
though there have been some severe
criticisms made regarding IL. The FOL
lowing description Of the new weapon
will he of interest IL is taken from
the Springfield, Mass, Republican;
BY the end of this week the plant al
the United States armory, Springfield,
will have completed the furnishing OF
the cavalry department with the new
magazine rife OF the pattern OF 1896
This will supply the entire army with
these guns as the cavalry Were the
last to be furnished. After the pres
ent contract for the army is completeu,
the guns will be manufactured ana
stored until needed. The 1896 modei ull-
fers materially from former modeis'
the principal change being In the slght-
ing. owing to- the fact that the Veioci-
~ of the smokeless powder which is
used. is seriously affected by atmos-
pheric variations. Il was necessary TO
adopt a sight allowing fine ADJUST
ment of elevation. This was accom-
plished by substituting for the oio
form, in which the sight was governed
by catches and could be changed only
for 100 yards elevation at time,
screw adjustment, which allows the
sight TO be regulated for elevations as
small as one yard at a time. The peek
of the sight is also changed slightly,
from its semi-circular shape TO prevent
shadows from being thrown when aim
ing in the sunlight.
The butt plate of the new gun is
strengthened and curved 10 prevent
splitting, and contains cap covering
a hole in which a three ointed ramrod
Is placed, or, for the carbine. ram
rod I'm two sections This enables the
stock to be made shorter, and the rela-
tive lengths of the stock and barrel &c
back to the proportion In the old 45-cal-
iber gun. In order to prevent burning
the hand in rapid firing. the hand
guard Is extended back an inch farther
than in the old model. and the heads Of
the rivets are sunk into the wood. Tit
extractor, when drawn to the rear. II
held omen in place by catch, until
gentle blow releases IL, thus enabling
the gun to be loaded with the muzzl'
down. A safety lock also prevents TN
opening bolt from being thrown by &C
cident, which Is of especial service II
the cavalry WUtIt lnt Sun 10 -
a pouch at the right hand side OF tn
rider In the new rifle also specia
mechanism to prevent clogging witt
snow or ice and sand has been foun'
by careful experiment to be unneces
sary.
II is thought that the new model !
in every respect far superior In struc
ture and mechanism to any model be
fore manufactured. The projectory @
found off the ice At IN
Water-shop pond last winter, but ha
not before been made public. Unde
normal conditions of the atmosphere II
highest point was found to be about
feet. The accuracy of the gun wa
tested and the radius of the circle cor
tanning a group of shots fired from
fixed aim was found TO be about 25 pc
cent. less than the same radius wit
the old model. This means that the Isl
gun. which is q 30-caliber rifle. Is 20 ~
cent more accurate than the forme
which was a 45-caliber gun. on az
count Of the nghtness of the bullet u
accuracy of the gun is affected by u
wind from Is to 20 per cent. more tina
that of the old guns. In this conne
ton IL Is interesting to note the con
harrison between these rifles and Enl
fish guns of the same character. IT
British papers give as the average II
of the British rife barrel about 80
rounds. while the rifle manufactured
the armory works has been tested
over $4,000 rounds. and would probab
serve for $4,000 rounds.
Several new machines for the man
facture of the guns have been added
the equipment OF the plant during &
week The machines are increasil
constantly the capacity of the vario
departments. and should the appropri
ton for new equipment now befo
congress be passed. IL is probable III
some of the machinery now on ha
will be kept in reserve and the M
and improved machines be substitute
for IL in actual use. The experiment
gallery of the plant has also been 9
ranged recently for the taking OF '
locities. The Calling guns OF the p'
tern of 1894 are at present being
naired and brought up to date.