The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-11
THE MUNITIONS OF
MODERN WARFARE
Great interest in the Use of
SmokeIeSS Powder.
THE KRAG-J0RGENSEN RIFLE
Velocity Attained in the Recent Tests
Made by the Government Experts
America Leads the World
as Fighting Nation
THE KRAG-JORGENSEN RIFLE


the military operations in the Philippines,
and the rapidly recurring engagements be-
tween the English and the Boer troops have
all served to create a great interest in the
munitions of war-the heavy and light ar
tillery, the small arms and more particular
ly, smokeless powder.
The improvements in firearms have been
rapid, but not so rapid as those in smoke
less powder. The powders made first
and the gun which will be adapted to their
use then manufactured. There have been
constant changes in the style of guns and
no less frequent changes in the formulas of
powders, for the United States government
is most severe in the tests it imposes on the
rifles and ammunition with which 1t arms
its defenders.
These tests have had an excellent effect,
in that they have urged on the powder max
ers to do their best in their particular lines
and have resulted in greater progress being
made In these branches of industry during
the past ten years than was ever accom-
ollshed before.
From a recent series of tests which were
conducted by Uncle Sans baistic experts
at the frankfort arsenal, it appears that
while there are still some changes to be
made in the government rifle, the smokeess
powder itself has reached point very close
to perfection.
Small Arms
When this rifle, commonly called the
Krag-Jorgensen, was first issued to the
army much dissatisfaction was expressed,
the men asserting that it was by no means
a. to he oil Grvi off
This has, however, been shown TO be mainly
due to the fact that the old Burlington sight
with wind gauge that was used OH the As
Springfield was dispensed with on the new
arm, and plain open sight substituted. It
was the unfamiiiarity with the new sights
that gave rise to the complaint against the
Krag and to the belief that 1t was not an
accurate weapon. When the 3O-calibre rifle
was adopted the opinion was expressed that
wind gauges and sights by which correc-
tions could be made for wind, drift etc.,
were unnecessary for troops in the field.
However as the marksmen became accus-
toned TO the new weapon, the dssatisfac-
ton grew less, and it is now universally
conceded that the United States 30-calibre
magazine rife is, if not the most accurate
at least as accurate as any military rifle in
use.
AS is we'll known In army circles, every
for small arms ammunition is submitted to
most thorough and exhaustive tests, which
yer ballistc efficiency. firing for velocity
and determination of pressure per square
inch in the chamber.
How the Tests Are Made
The accuracy test consists in firing a
large number of shots at target, the gun
being held firmly in a government rest.
Under these circumstances each shot is
aimed at exactly the same spot as the pre-
ceding one, the rife being held so rigtdly
as to allow Of tho least possible deviation,
therefore any variation is due to the pow
der The firing is done al actual range
of 500 yards and at a plain target the
shots being grouped and a record made of
the actual position of each, the mean
radius of the mean vertical deviation being
calculated; the test is thus solely of the
powder, the same rifle being used through
out.
The chemical stability test, covers sensi-
tiveness of the powder to different climatic
conditions, and is arrived at by subjecting
it to heat, cold and moisture, then firing
and comparing the results with those OBJ
tanned under ordinary conditions.
1t was during the recent test at the
Franford arsenal of smokeless powder SUBJ
mitted by the Latin and Rand Powder
company of New York, that the best tar
gets ever made were secured. These targets
made at a range of 500 yards showed most
remarkable accuracy, repeated groups of
ten shots being fired so closely togther
that they required but the radius of an inch
and half to take them all IN. There was
also but very slight vertical deviation
which, coupled with the extremely high
velocity impaired to the projectile, made
the test all the more wonderful.
Meets the Requirements
The powder found TO meet all the
government requirements most satisfactory
ly, also giving the high muzze velocity of
1900 feet per second with very moderate
pressure. This powder, which is also made
for sporting purposes, was given a further
test as to stability. 1t proved to be abso-
lutely water proof and impervious to moist
ure or climatic changes
The powder with which these tests were
made was a new granulation which was in
tended TO give higher velocity than that
loaded by the government heretofore with
out giving any increased pressure. This
was accomplished, the new form of grain
proving thoroughly successful. The COM
position of the powder Is the same as that
made heretofore by the Latin & Rand
company for the United States magazine
rifles. In addition to the increased velocity,
the new granulation appears to give greater
uniformity of burning and more perfect
combustion. so that the residue of partially
burned grains is barely perceptible
Mara INhcient Than Mau.a,
With a muzzle velocity of 1900 feet per
secopd. the United States 30-calber rifle is
vastly more efficient than the Mauser used
by the Spanish troops during the recent
war, and for which SO many points of
merit were claimed. For though velocity
of $500 feet per second was accorded the
Mauser, the projectile was so much lighter