The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-24
BIRD W. SPENCER'S RIFLE.
A NEW ARM DESIGNED FOR NA-
TION1L Qua RDSMEN.

Tested Yesterday TO Iis sstlsrnction ON tn"
sen Girt RIne R~anGc-somc OF th" Point"
or Excellence Claimed for u over tue
.Io,r en.on ana the springfield Rifles.
81. w. Spencer. Inspcctor.Gcneral OF Rihc
Practice OF tho New Jersey National Guard. In
vIted n number OF National Guard officers from
Now Jersey md other States, several experts,
and a representative of the regular army to
witness the test ut the Sea Grit rifle range
Yesterday of n new rifle designed ior
the use of the infantry. Tho weapon repre-
sents ideas advanced by Gen. Spencer and Mr..
William Hayes, n member OF tho Second Now
Jersey Infantry, and is the result OF n years
experimenting.
In his report to Gov. Griggs last year Con.
spcncer recommended a singlc-shot rifle, when
would be a compromise between rihcs emoody'
inRthe Krag. JDrgensou ideas ana the Sprihghc'n
rife. This report was sent to all the small arms
experts OF tho regular army. with the request
tbnt criticisms be made. In every instance the
army officers concurrud with Gen. Spencer. As
n result Mr.. Hayes and Gen. Spencer began
series of experiments which culninat-
od In tho production Of the rifle tested
yesterday. The test was witnessed ny
Major Henry f. Smith. Z. >. A.; Brig.
Gen. p. Farmer Wanscr, Major george Ii.
Harries, In~spoctor-Genoral OF rifle practice OF
the District OF Columbia Guard; Major Il. Il.
Kimball, Inspector General OF ritle practce OF
the National Guard of New Hampshire; Col.
william Fl. Cooper, Capt. J. v. Alstrom. Capt.
d. E. G. Walker, Capt. J. f. Cline. Gen. G. +. p
Howard, Captain Of the last American rifle
team which went to Europe; Capt. w. V. Clark,
Cant. S. S. Armstrong, and Major c. A. Sprig.
sted.
According to the ideas Of tho officers who were
present yesterday there are four distinct faults
in the Springfield rifle: the large calibrc and
consequent heavy recoil, the diagonal firing
pin, the possibility of the cam not locking tho
brocch block, and the balance of tho piece. the
balance point being too far forward. According
to Gen. Spencer. the new gun overcomcs the
chief objections made to the Springfield rifle.
1t is Of .3s calibre, and it fires So grains of black
powder and 300 grains, Of lead rs against 40
fired by the Springfield gun. In length
the breech block is threc.quartors of an
inch shorter than he Springfield brecch block.
firing pin is straight, and when struck, by
shS t mSEEer q IL d seo9er1y .o cSslo onS of imposs oToGk
In tho matter of balance the advantage Is in
massing the weight nearer the stock, While the
piece is i've inches shorter than the Springfield.
the thickness OF the barrel metal is considerably
greater than Tint OF he springfield. An advan:
the trigger lock, which consists merely
Of a mainspring and swivel. Scting, on the
ing entirely done away with. The balance.o of
the piece Is six or eight inches ne, rE the
DrceCn tnHn me Dhlance Ol lHt SlTlHHHelui CIV
ing the marksman an opportunity for a much
Btea6ier aim.
yesterday strong wind was blowing from the
northeast, while the range was from west to
east. There were other disadvantages also;
and the sight intended for tho rife was
not completed. compelling Gen; Spencer
sisht N such h" ss the F sprin Dna P Tifics ape
equipped with. For the first trial a range OF
yards was used. Tho results were not disap-
pointing to the invSniors. The bu let travelled
per second faster, than the heavy Springfield
bullet. The reeoil proved to be less than half as
pleased the inventors and o%liccrs present more
than these virtues was the balance OF the rife
air" "im i in a a ssrons 70 %in neke M feleOe she pi ees S s,fefS
eight pounds and y quarter, or only u quarter OF
a pound less than the Springfield; its balance
made the apparent weight about two-thirds of
that Of tho old rifle. In point Of accuracy it was
prononncet superior to the old gun.
There were many req sons given by Gen.
Spencer and his brother officers AS to why the
Krng-Iorganson and similar types Of small
nitrate powder. are not suitable for national
guardsmen.
1.-THE regular army rifle practice at Sea Girt has
demonstrated that the steel-jacketed proiectile
it is. is not heavy enough to carry accurately
in a heavy wind at a range Of 800 yards or
nnn;n,.d The mi,b h | wiS5 guns . ar" Go,r not St
the most constant practice that a marksman
can learn TO gauge his aim according to the
strength NJ the wind, with nothing to guide him
but experience. At. times the marksman will
have to shoot six, feet to the right or left of
his target in order to overcome the infu-
ence of a strong wind. This objection alone
is n serious one to the adoption of these small
calibre rifles by the National Guard. for the
guardsmen do not have the opportunity
OF constant practice. In mechanism the
magaGines OF all these rifles are exceed,
ing!y delicate. and the ordinary unframed
national guardsnan would be sure to get
into trouble. The fact that he has a repeater in
his hands would interfere with lis taking u cool
and deliberate aim. as he Is not under the same
discipline as the regular. He would be apt to
bang away as fast as no could pump the loads
dangerous In the hands of novices.
More important than all these objections
Is the fact that the 3O-Calibrc guns could not be
used in riot duty. The bullet can penetrate
forty-rine or fifty inches of wnod. and can kill
at a distance OF two miles. Use this rifle in
would he apt TO kill a good many innocent
turbance.
"On the other hand, the Springfield rife is
not desirable. The heayy reeoil often has the
erect OF soaring an unframed mnn. III man is
once scared no will finch or close his eyes every
time he fires and Will be wnrt hless rs A. soldier.
The manner in which tho Springfield brcr CHI
block is locked makes tho explosion n the rifle
possible, and serious accidents OF this nature
I'VE are not IN this business to make a lot of
money and all that sort of Thing, but rs officers
OF the guard ana enthusiastic military men we
sey. New Hampshire, possibly New York and
other States will adopt the rifle. 1t Is not in
tended for the regular army"