The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-06-10

copper Is used for this purpose each
year inslthe United States alone, in
spite Of the small degree of which
military preparation for war Is here
developed. Within the past few
months huge orders Of ammunition
required in Europe have been placed
with firms in this country many or
them concerns formerly engaged in
making other kinds of goods, but who
are not unwilling to modify their
plants and procedure In order 10
benefit by the high prices paid Tor
quick delivery Of The various NUM-
tions now being consumed so lavishly.
1t Is impossible to estimate how much
copper is now being used for this pur-
pose, but some idea may be CLEANED
from the way in which the price Of the
metal has risen in the past few
months, and continues to rise in
spite of the efforts of the mining com
panies to increase their output.
When copper in ammunition IL
mentioned the natural association is
with the brass cartridges used FOR or
binary rifles, Greater attaches to the
cartridge cases for quick-flrers and
field-guns, The case of the cartridge
for 3-inch gun weighs / ID. or,
while that for q 6-inch gun weighs
28 ID. IA or. AS In million rifie-car-
tridges only $4,000 to 10000 lb. copper
is used II Is seen that the greater
weight Of the larger carthage tends
to compensate for the less frequency
with which they are fired But there
are other uses of copper in ammunl-
ton. Every shrapnel she'll must hav.
copper band about 1t In order to pre-
vent the escape Of the gases Of the ex-
plosion past the projectile. These rings
average ~ to ID, in weight per shell |
The copper expands under the impact |
of the explosion and makes tight flt |
against the sides Of the gun. This
saves the wear caused by the rush
of the gas past the projectile and in
creases the power of the gun; 1t also
makes the projectile follow the rifling
better.
Every cartridge requires a primer
these are made Of copper or a soft
brass rich in copper. The old-styIe
lead bullet Is not suitable for use In
the modern high-power rifles, so the
is commonly made with q
hard jacket over lead core. An alloy
of IS per cent copper and Is per cent
nickel IL the most suitable for this pur-
pose. The Germans use sheet-steel
cases for bullets. plating them to pro-
tect them from rust The steel is be-
lieved to wear the rifling of the barrel
more rapidly than cupro-nickel, bur !,
does not foul 1t so quickly, being hard |.
ar. One of the armies of Europe uses
/ solid brass bullet, The lead used in
III projeetles. especially shrapnel :,
contains anthony hence the present
demand and high price of that metal
Spelter advances with the demand !.
or copper in war. The brass used In :,
he making of ammunition must be IF
he hest quality, containing about 70 /.
,er cent copper and so per cent zinc,
o 1t will not crack in working. nor be
destroyed in firing, as all cartridges
re reloaded, The specifications or
he United States army require car
ridges to stand 20 re-loadings without
allure The reason for this Is that y
ne case of q rifle cartridge costs ! Il "
ents, while the complete cartridge
,sts only 2hc-, thus II is good econ
my to reload as often as possible.
/ making a case, fiat discs are stamp
| out of brass sheets of the requisite
,ickness. The next operation cuts
lie disc, and by series of these II Is :,
rmed into a cylinder. 'neckeddown'
the shape required, and the head Is -
lily formed from the thick metal left
the base. After each operation the "
ass must be annealed as the work ~, ~
e makes. It hard and it would crack ~,
further working Both the copper
ID shelter must be pure, as impuri- -
IS make the brass hard and cause 1t -
crack Good electrolytic copper Is
re enough, but the spelter must be 0''
rer than ordinary brands. when -
ntaln too much lead for this purpose, ~"
elter made from the franklinite and EOS
leite ores of New Jersey and the 'pe
,nde from Tennessee which are free
I'M lead, therefore command ~
smium over prime Western. This g
smium has recently been large
,ugh to warrant the re-distilling OF WIS
llnary spelter in order to purify it. WV
other reason for using brass Of the Wv
hest quality should be pointed out.
.s g.. aa..,5,.., ,..,,., cont
n copper because the cases must ne
sess sufficient residence to spring Pe'
nv from the sides of the gun l"',
mber, after firing; otherwise the '''o
!, oanrat No ov+raotoa ana tno ,,r is a
out of commission. This 'i'e''
important in The case OF ''''''
elk firing guns. If the case splits
racks, il win stick In the chamber.
S previously stated al cases are
oaded. But 1t must be remembered
/ 1t is a long way from Bukowina
he Naugatuek valley Of Connect
an,'s '"a.S smeis o. ~ - M rani