Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-15

"A will be armed with the Enfield
rifle, the service rifle OF the
troops of the British empire, which
American rifle manufacturers have
made in great numbers in filing for
eign contracts, and with which the
American army can be armed in less
time than with the Springfield rifle.
which Is the service rifle of the foot
troops and the cavalry Of the United
States Army. There is now a contro-
versy as to which is the better mill
tary rifle One expert has given It as
his opinion that Enthusiastically the
Springfield Is the most accurate ana
powerful army rifle ever devised. But
it has two major imperfections ana one
minor. which detract from its battle
efficiency fully % per cent 1hat -
mean. the death in battle of many an
American soldier whom 100 per cent
efficiency on the part OF the rlne Wouio
save" He says that the sights OF the
Springfield rifle are the worst sights
attached to any army rife In the world.
and the sights have been criticised ny
a large number Of American army ON
GERS.
the Springfield rifle Is given in the
government publication, Description
and Rules for the Management of the
e. S. Magazine Rife. Model 1903. Cali
Der 30" Some of the interesting 1aces
contained in that publication are:
Total weight of arm. including oil ea
and thong case, with bayonet, $50
pounds; total weight without bayonet'
$50 pounds; length OF gun completeo;
43.212 inches: diameter Of bore; 80
inches: length Of chamber and bore,
"3.7e inches: length of travel of bullet
in bore, 21697 inches: weight OF bar
rel, 219 pounds; number OF grooves, -
trigger pull. measured at the middle
point of bow of trigger. 3 to ~
bounds; initial velocity Of bullet. 200
feet per second; powder pressure In
chamber 10000 pounds per square
inch; weight of ball cartridge ABOUT
weight of powder charge. about 30
grains. The "kick." or the maximum
energy Of free recoil of this rifle Is
149S foot pounds.
The ball cartridge of the American
rifle consists of the case, primer and
charge of smokeless powder and bullet.
The case is of brass. The initials Of
the place of manufacture, the number
of the month and the year Of fabrica-
ton are stamped on the head of the
case around the primer. The primer
consists of the cup. percussion COM
position, disk of Snellacked paper and
anvil" The percussion composition
consists of AS grains Of non-fulminate
composition composed of tersulphide of
anthony. potassium chlorate, sulphure
and ground glass. The disk of shell
lacked paper covers the composition to
protect it from moisture and to prevent
electrolytic action. The anvil is of
brass and is assembled over the paper,
and after the primer is assembled to
he GAS "a Irnr Of oh 1lac 10 nils an
the head of the primer to make the
Joint waterproof.
The powder charge is of pyrocellulose
composition. very similar to the pow
ders used as propellins charges In Held
and seacoast guns. though much
quicker in burning-that is ignition.
inflammation and combustion are com
pleted in shorter space of time, not
only because of the greater smallness
of the grains. but also because of the
composition of the powder. The grains
are cylindrical. single. perforated and
graphited. and somewhat resemble
small grains of rice The normal
charge weighs from forty-eight to fifty
grains, varying with the lot of powder
used.
The bullet has core of lead and tin
composition inclosed in pocket of
copper-nickel. 1t weights $50 grains
and the point is much sharper and Of
fers less resistance to the air than any
previous bullet In the American serv-
ice.
In the matter of rapidity of fire TWEEN
ty-three aimed shots have been fired in
one minute from the Springfield rife
used as a single loader and twenty-five
shots in a minute using magazine fire.
FiFing from the hip without aim, TWEEN
ty-seven shots have been fired in one
minute using the rifle as single load
er and thirty-hve shots in one minute
using magazine flre.
Held at an angle of 45 degrees. the
bullet should fall 5.465 yards from the