The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-06-15
THE SPRINGFIELD RIFLE;
OUR GOVT. MILITARY ARM
A Detailed Description Of the Gun
and Instructions ON Its Use;
Information Of Special In
terest to Military Stu
dents.
dents.

Considering the fact that large
number of men will soon be going
through the motions of the Manual
|Of Arms and learning how to shoot
the army rifle, short talk on the
rifle which is In use by the United
States government at present may be
Of interest.
The United States rifle, caliber 80,
model of 1908, as 1t is officially des-
ignated, is bolt action repeating
rifle. The action is an improved
form of the regular Mauser action. 1t
consists of bolt which contains the
firing mechanism and made with a
handle at the rear end and locking
Jugs at the forward end. To work it,
lift up on the ha ndle which rotates
the bolt and unlocks it, then pull it
straight back and the empty cartridge
will be elected If you have just fired
the rifle. Pushing it straight for
ward carries new cartridge into the
chamber and turning the handle
down to its original seats the lock-
ing Tugs in their recesses and finishes
cooking the firing mechanism. The
safety is thumb piece OF the back
end of the bolt marked on one side
ready" and on the other safe"
Turning it all the way over so that
safe" appears, locks the action and
the mechanism: putting it in a verti-
cal position locks the firing mechan-
ism but permits the action to be
worked. This position is useful in
unloading the magazine if it is not
desired to shoot the cartridges.
The Ammunition.
Cartridges for the Springfield ri
file are sent out by the government
packed in bandoliers which are belts
made of olive drab cloth, each of
which contains sixty cartridges ar
ranged in clips of five, two clips to
pocket. To load the rifle, pull the
bolt back, drop a clip of cartridges
in front of it with bullets toward the
muzzle and with the thumb press
the cartridges smartly down out of
the clip into the magazine. Closing
the bolt takes the first cartridge into
the chamber ready for firing and
throws out the empty clip.
The sight consists of folding
slide which, when in the upright po-
sition, gives sightings for distances
up to 1850 yards. When folded
down in the so-called "battle sight
position, it is sighted approximately
correct for $40 yards. Practically all
rifles are made with the bar
rel we'll covered with wood nearly to
the muzzle. This is done to protect
it in rough usage and also to pro-
tect the hand of the soldier in con-
TUNED firing as the barrel gets very
hot.
If you have an opportunity to ham
die one of Uncle Sans rifles, you will
find that it is simply and ruggedly
To acquire an under
of the part played by each
piece of the action, work it very slow
ly several times and watch closely.
Below is a condensed table of in
racts about our national
arm:
Facts ON the Government Rifle.
Length over all, 43 inches.s
Weight of rifle without bayonet,
ga pounds.
Caliber, 80 inch.
Length of barrel, "a inches.
Powder pressure about $1,000
pounds per square inch.
Speed of bullet, 200 feet per sec
md.
Maximum range, 1891 yards.
The RecOil.
At any big military rifle tourna-
ment you are sure to see during the |
irst few days number of men each |
with large red bump on the bridge |
If his nose, a red spot under his |
light eye or what appear to be cat |
scratches on his right cheek. These |
decorations are not the result of fis- |
tic encounters-they are caused by a |
physical contact with some portion of
! recoiling military rifle.
Such results produced by the army |
weapon have led to its gaining a rep
ltation among those who are not ia
niliar with it of being a bad actor
n the way of heavy recoil. The fact !
hat husky novice in the two humid
ed pound class gets flaming red
,pot on his nose after only few
shots while the one hundred and
pound expert can shoot all
lay without physical discomfort
shows that something besides the re-
,oil of the rifle is to blame.
The Model 1903 U. s. magazine ri
lie, popularity knownSas the Spring
'ield, has a free recoil of under fir
cen foot-pounds, an amount equal
o just fraction more than one-half
hat given by twelve gauge shot
run. The solution of the problem of
low to use the Springfield rifle with
tut getting all banged UP is only a
natter of learning how to hold the
lille SO that the recoil will be taken
lp by the shoulder and arm muscles
md not by the shooters nose.
The Prone Position.
Practically all slow fire military
arget shooting is done in the prone
the sling strap which is at
ached to the rifle being used. The
ules state that the shooter must be
'rone, with head toward the target
nd there must be no support for the
ifle from his left elbow to the muz-
lie. The strap may be used in any
way desired, but it is against the
ule to disconnect either end of it
rom the rifle.
10 ENCOURAGE USE OF
HIGH DENOMINATION STAMPS
As measure of economy postmas-
ers and postoffice employees are di-