New-York tribune., 1903-05-23
NEU M4G4ZINE RIFLE.
Il ~ onderful " eapon for the 1rmy,
NaTu and Militia.

Washington May - tSpecian.-Thc army and
navy, and eventually the militia of the United
States will be equipped with the effective
hrearrn I'm the world This is the result Of eN-
h3ustive tests just completed with the
perimental 2i-nch magazine rife designed by the
Ordnance Department embodying the best features
OF tho army and navy service weapons. with nt'-
merous improvements their mechanism As
well over the best points Of foreign ordnance
This rife. which has Just triumphed n the most
ingenious tests that could be devised by board of
infantry and cavalry officers, rimleSs car
fridge. The weight bullet is 220 grains. and
that of the powder charge is 40 grains The
powder pressure 42.O00 pounds square inch.
and the muzzle velocity is 900 feet second. The
rifing in the barrel makes one turn in eight inches
The magazine be charged from clip by IN
serting either end of the clip in seat I'm the rear
of the receiver. and by forcing the cartridges
from IL directly into the magazine by pressure of
the right thumb on the top of the cartridge The
clip is elected by the forward motion of the bolt
The gun be used d single loader with the
magazine empty. and if the magazine is partly
empty It can be filled by the insertion of single
cartridges.
The experimental rifle with the 24-inch barrel
and rod bayonet weighs two pounds Jess than the
United States magazine rife, model of 1895 the
present service arm. with its bayonet and hayonet
scabbard- The penetration in pine OF the former
up 10 and including 1880 yards, is about 80 per
cent greater than that of the latter; and the ac-
curacy OF the former Is il per cent greater at 5o
yards. per cent greater 1.000 yards, and also
greater 1,500 yards than that of the latter The
Of the clip and the change in the cartridge
increase the weight Of 100 rounds threequarters OF
a pound.
A comparison of the q and 30 inch barrels shows
that the former is - pound lighter than the lat
and a slight saving in weight is made as a re
suit Of the shorter hand guard. The A-lnch rlile
same penetration it is better balanced and more
easily nanipula ted is especially available IN pTusl
A. d club; It's modified length makes
possible the equipment OF all branches o. the ser
vice with precisely the same weapon -.
The variations in range tests OF the new ana the
present service rifles were at 90 yards an aver
of $50 per cent for the 30-inch barrel anu 6oo
per for 24-inch; at 1000 yards ia ioF
the 30-inch and 20S1 for the 24-inch BY using d
type of cartridge d muzzc velocity OF z5NJ feet
be obtained with the new rifle 1ne recon- Wit'
the present service is there any material
loss in penetration. -oo
In an extensive test made OF rapid firing at 100
yards. markSnen kneeling prone. a general
average of twelve shots minute gave an aQNdli-
tage the gun over the service weapon VI
93 ner cent in rapidlty and lS.6 per cent OF llS
The examining board recommends lhal tie les "a,
latons REQUIRE that the rife be habltudIy uSed
a magazine gun. and that single Loading De PEI
mitted only under exceptional circurlst drces.
In a series of experiments in firing at the reeIid
shields 3-inch field gun and Tor d GatIlIs
gun. il shown that the new riTe, with a nuzz.s
velocity OF . 800 feet second, was much more eI-
fecfiye than the present service arm
The resources OF the great Sprlngneiu
armorv will now be devoted turning out quaint
ties of type of rifle as rapidly as po9lpi
and il is hoped by winter all DrancieS OF
the regular service will be equipped with IL As
soon as this has been accomplished the same
weapon will be supplied to all mlltla organic tloIIS
which have complied with the provision or the re
Militia Reorganization law ne 10 > II
/ to be derived from the uniform equlprnent OIL an
branches of the regular and volunteer services are
| regarded by ordnance officers as incalcuIaole