The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-27
NEW RIFLE ron SEA GIRr.
Gen. Bird spencer's Weapon Tested
at the New Jersey Range.


at the New Jersey Range.
Military men are interested in Gen. Bird
Spencer's new rifle which was tested at
the Sea Girt range this week.
The weapon represents ideas advanced
by Gen. Spencer and Mr.. William Hayes,
a member of the Second New Jersey In
fantry, and is the result of a years exper-
imenting.
In his report to Gov. Griggs of New Jer-
sey last year, Gen. Spencer recommended
a single-shot rifle, which would be COM
promise between rifles embodying the
Krag -Jorgenson ideas and the Springfield
rife. This report was sent to all the small
arms experts of the regular army, with
the request that criticisms be made. In
every instance the army officers concurred
with Gen. Spencer. AS a result Mr.. Hayes
and Gen. Spencer began series of expert
ments which eliminated in the production
of the rife tested this week.
According to Gen. Spencer, the new gun
overcomes the chief objections made to
the Springfield rifle. 1t is of 3S caliber, and
it fires SO grains of black powder and 800
grains of lead as against 70 grains of pow
der and 500 grains of lead fired by the
Springfield gun. In length the breech
block, is three-quarters of an inch shorter
than the Springfield breech block,
and is locked by cam on the right
side. The firing pin is straight, and when
struck by the trigger it securely locks the
breech block and makes a dangerous ex-
plosion impossible.
In the matter of balance the advantage
is in massing the weight nearer the stock.
While the piece is five inches shorter than
the Springfield, the thickness of the barrel
metal is considerably greater than that Of
the Springfield An advantage is also
claimed in the mechanism of the trigger
lock, which consists merely of a main
spring and swivel, acting on the trigger,
the tumblers of the Springfield lock be-
ing entirely done away with. The balance
of the piece is six or eight inches nearer
the breech than the balance Of the Spring.
field, giving the marksman an opportunity
for a much steadier aim.
When the test Of the new piece was
made a strong wind was blowing from the
northeast, while the range was from west
to east. There were other disadvantages
also. as the cartridges did not fit the barrel
and the sight intended for the rife was
not completed, compelling Gen. Spencer
and Mr.. Hayes to put on a Burlington
sight, such as the Springfield rifles are
equipped with. For the first trial a range
of 200 yards was taken. Afterward a range
of 500 yards was used.
The results were not disappointing to
the inventors. The bullet Travelled at a
velocity Of 400 feet per second, or 200 feet
per second faster than the heavy Spring.
field bullet. The recoil proved to be less
than half as great as that Of the SPRING
field rifle. But what pleased the inventors
aud officers present more than these vir-
tues was the balance Of the rifle and the
ability to take a deliberate and steady
aim in a strong wind. While the piece
weighs eight pounds and a quarter, or only
quarter Of a pound less than the SPRING
field, it's balance made the apparent weight
about two-thirds of that of the old rife
In point Of accuracy, it was pronounced
superior TO the old gun.