Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
LGHIESTs AND BEST
The 3. New Eae for Uncle 1
. = Sam's>Sedier's.-
RESULT s OF TIES rs
MANY ADv(g44oHz OVER vnA-
pom NOW In USE.
90 ~ los 8 -
Barrel is but Twenty Four Inches in
Length-Powerfu and Very
Accurate.
-

with the best, Shortest and highest rifle
known to experts, that is. unless present
plans miscarry, of which, however, there is
not much likelihood. This probable action
is the result of exhaustive tests under serv-
Ice condition of the experimental rlfe
manufactured by the ordnance department,
Interesting details regarding the new rifle
were impaired to a Star reporter by Capt
William w. Gibson, ordnance department,
recorder of the board of ordnance and for
tihcatons, in the course of conversation
in regard to the recent tests.
The tests said Captain Gibson, were
made by board of officers. composed OF
one cavalry, two infantry and one ordnance
officer, assisted by a firing detachment or
seven expert non-commissioned officers
from different branches of the service. The
program Included tests for safety, facility
for dismounting and assembling, for rapid
ity with accuracy for rapidity at WILL Tor
velocity, penetration, recoil accuracy and
endurance.
I'm all more than 10000 rounds were
fired. and number of the rifles We're sub
mitted to between five and six thousand
rounds, including number of rounds with
defective cartridges. and also with ex-
cessive pressures. amounting in some cases
to 1O0,0oO pounds per square inch.
The new experimental rifles which were
three lengths, 30-inch. 26-inch and 24-inch
barrels. and all had the S-inch twist. The
rifle uses rimless cartridge.
Bullet and Charge.
1.-The weight of the bullet is 900 grains
and that of the powder charge 40 grains
The powder pressure is 1900 pounds per
square inch and the muzzle velocity is 1900
feet per second The rifiing of the barrel
makes one turn in eight inches. The piece
is equipped with the rod bayonet.
THE magazine contains five cartridges,
and is charged with a clip, by inserting
either end OF it in seat in the rear end of
the receiver and by forcing the cartridges
fl ON it directly into the magazine by pres
sure of the right thumb on the top car
fridge. The clip is elected by the forward
motion of the bolt. The gun can be used
as a single-loader with the magazine empty
or full.
"a number of minor defects were devcl-
oped during the trial. none of which was
of any marked Importance, and all of which
were remedied during the trials or prior to
the exhibition and firing test of the rifle at
various military posts.
1.-THE result Of the tests showed that the
new experimental rife with muzzle We
locity of 300 feet per second is much more.
effective against steel shields than the pres
ent magazine arm.
Powerful and Accurate.
'1n firing at the gatlng gun carriage
shield no great effect was produced by
either the new experimental rifle or the
present service magazine rifle until the
range of 60 27S yards was used, when the
service arm made a small indentation,
while the new experimental rifle. with 30
inch barrel, made large and deep inden-
tations and cracked 41e back Of the plate.
At SO 10 yards the service arm made me-
dunn indentations against the gatling gun
shield, while the new experimental rifle in
several instances penetrated the shield and
struck the target behind the shield.
THE team of officers and men tested the
new experimental arm for accuracy in
comparison with the present service arm
at ranges from 500 to 1900 yards, using
the new rife with 30-inch and 24-inch bar
rels and the present service magazine arm.
The mean average deviations were as
follows:
At 500 yards-New rifle. with 3O-inch bar
rel $50 inches: 24-inch barrel, S.S9 inches;
United States magazine rife, model 1898
(present service ARM. 1871 inches.
At 1000 yards-New rifle. with 30-inch
barrel. 2124 inches; 24-inch barrel, POSI-
inches: United States magazine rifle, model
1898, 81. 81 inches.
.The results at 800. 1000 and targets
made. at 800 yards, showed that the barrel
of the new experimental rife need not ex-
coed "a inches in length, and that it could
be fixed at that length without any sacri-
1.-THE weights of the rifles under consid-
Grafton We're as follows: Experimental
rifle 30-inch barrel, 9.42 pounds: expert
mental rifle, 24-inch barrel. 81 pounds;
United States magazine rifle, model 1898,
with bayonet and scabbard present service
ARM, 1O.77 pounds; United States magazine
carbine, 7.97 pounds
Muzzle Velocity.
"The muzzle velocity of 1900 feet per
Fol ha oht
adapted to the new rifle with 24-inch bar
rel, without the pressure exceeding As, 900
ponds per square inch. The energy of re-
coil of the new experimental rifle, with 30
inch barrel, is 49, Is foot pounds, and With
24-inch barrel. 1888 foot pounds; of the
present service rifle. model 1898. the maxi
mum energy is 1886 foot pounds. The
computed maximum energy of free recoil
of the experimental rife, with 24-inch
barrel; when fred with ammunition giving
a muzzle velocity of 1900 feet per second
Is 10. 80 foot pounds. This is only 6.3 per
cent greater than for the 3O-inch expert
mental rifle.
"At 800 yards range the new experiment
tai rife, with the 30-inch barrel, will pene-
trate PAS inches of pine. with the 24-inch
barrel it would penetrate 22.90 inches of
pine, while the present service arm at the
same range will penetrate only AT inches
AT 600 yards the penetrations are 1885
inches, 1890 inches and 1000 inches, re-
spectively. -
iIAt LOO yards the penetrations are 655
inches g. 80 inches and 4.55 inches, respect
lively, the last being the penetration for
the present service arm! t,il-;5 ss.sc-A
Notwithstanding 1.-The familiarity of the
marksmen witHT the present rifle, when fir
ing in competition the new rifle exceeded
the former. theaArst 4itne it was fired p3 per
cent in rapiditgandrfS6 per cent in hits on
the first trial OF both guns. In some trials
made the new krifi6 exceeded the service
arm by oil per cent in. rapidity and ia
Der cent in hitss the targets fired at being
at 100 yards ranges dimensions Of targets,
& feet by featE i ass-.s,
f'sThe board SnsInd at. the end of It's trials
that the expeYimental rifle with the TWEEN
ty-four-fnch barrel and rod bayonet weighs
two pounds less than the United States
magazine rife, model 1893 with its bayo-
net and bayonet seabbard; the penetration
In pine of the formAr, up to and Including
/ 500 yards. isy aboHt 30 per cent greater
than that Of the Latter. and the accuracy Of
the former is. IA per cent greater at 500
yards, 40 perseent greater at 1000 yards
and also greatsE at !, 500 yards than that Of
It's Many Advantages.
"a comparison of the new rifle with. the
twenty-four and thirty-inch barrels shows
that the former is ~ pounds lighter than
the latter. and that the former Is equally