IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES FOR RIFLES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Simon of N° 7 St Peter's Square, Manchester in
the county of Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
AND PROJECTILES FOR RIFLES" Communicated to him from abroad by The
Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft of Neuhausen by Schaffhausen,
Switzerland, an incorporated company.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Simon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th April 1883.
HENRY SIMON of N° 7 St Peters Square Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES FOR RIFLES " [Communicated to
me from abroad by The Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft of Neuhausen by
Schaffhausen, Switzerland, an incorporated company.]
The present invention relates to the use in combination with rifles having a very
small bore and rifling of quick pitch, of projectiles of considerable length relatively
to their diameter consisting of a lead core enclosed in an outer casing of copper and
constructed as follows.
A cylindrical piece of lead of a length equal to from 3 to 4 times its diameter,
is placed within an annealed tubular piece of copper closed at one end, where it is
pierced with a small hole for the escape of air. The open end of the tube or casing
through which the lead core was inserted having had its edges turned over so as to
retain the core, the combined parts are then placed into a divided mould or die
having the configuration which the finished projectile is required to assume, in
which mould the projectile is then subjected to pressure by the introduction of a
plunger at the one end of the mould, which is open, whereby it is made to assume
the configuration of the mould which is as follows:-The head (formed by the
closed end of the copper tube) is of cylindro-ogival form, and the middle part of
the projectile is of reduced diameter as compared with the head and rear end, the
latter part being slightly swelled out or coned to an enlarged diameter at the
extremity. By this construction of projectile the following objects are attained.
The cylindro-ogival head fits the bore of the rifle, while the middle part being of
reduced diameter reduces the friction of the projectile in the bore. The rear end
°

page_text: being made of slightly larger diameter than the bore, is compressed in firing so as
to take the grooves of the rifling and form the gas-check. By making the
projectile of very small diameter compared with its length as above stated, while
the cartridge with the powder charge is of a comparatively large size and by
preference formed as hereinafter described, initial velocity and precision are
attained, without giving any inconvenient recoil. The quick pitch of the rifling
imparts to the projectile quick rotation, insuring accuracy of aim.
The projectile being provided over its entire surface with a metal of greater
hardness and resistance than lead, does not become deformed on passing through
liquid non-elastic bodies, and has therefore greater power of penetration than lead
bullets.
As only the rear end of the projectile takes the grooves of the rifling with its
copper covering in forming the gas check, the bore of the gun does not become
soiled thereby.
The charge of the cartridge employed by preference in combination with the
above described projectile consists of a single cylindrical pellet of gunpowder
having a central longitudinal perforation, the front end being made to taper from
the comparatively large diameter of the cartridge case to the small diameter of the
projectile. This charge is formed by compressing granular gunpowder in a divided
mould, the gunpowder being introduced little by little and compressed by means of
a die or plunger fitting with a central hole on a central pin in the die, which pin
forms the before mentioned passage in the pellet. The pellet having been intro-
duced into a cylindrical cartridge case of ordinary construction, the front end of
the latter is reduced in diameter, by spinning, to receive the rear end of the
projectile, which is held therein by its slightly taper form above described.
On firing, the flame from the cap passes down the central passage of the pellet,
so as to initiate the combustion from that point. By this arrangement, a large
charge of gunpowder can be used without giving inconvenient recoil to the gun,
because, although the full force due to the combustion of the charge is imparted to
the projectile, this force is not all developed at the instant of firing, as is the case
with ordinary gunpowder charges, but is developed gradually during the time the
projectile is passing up the bore of the gun.
The further advantage is also obtained of having a cartridge of comparatively
short length; thus the best results have been obtained with a cartridge of only
2.56 inches (6.5 "/") in length with a projectile 37 diameters long, and with a
compressed powder pellet of 0.025 oz (6 Grammes) weight giving an initial
velocity V 25 = 1905 feet (580) meter).
The gun barrel employed by preference in combination with the above described
cartridge and projectile has a bore of 0.315 (8 "/_) while the pitch of the rifling
is such as to make a complete turn in a length of 11-82's (300 m/m), the grooves of
the rifling, which may be from 3 to 5 in number, being about 0.039 (1/m) deep
and equal in width to the lands.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Simon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1883.
HENRY SIMON of N° 7 Saint Peters Square, Manchester in the County of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES FOR RIFLES" A communication
to me from abroad by The Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft of Neuhausen by
Schaffhausen, Switzerland, an incorporated company.
The present invention relates to the use in combination with rifles having a very
small bore and rifling of quick pitch, of projectiles of considerable length relatively
to their diameter consisting of a lead core enclosed in an outer casing of copper
and constructed as follows.
A cylindrical piece of lead of a length equal to from 3 to 4 times its diameter,
is placed within an annealed tubular piece of copper, closed at one end, where it is
pierced with a small hole for the escape of air. The open end of the tube or casing
through which the lead core was inserted having had its edges turned over so as to
retain the core, the combined parts are then placed into a divided mould or die
having the configuration which the finished projectile is required to assume, in
which mould the projectile is then subjected to pressure by the introduction of a
plunger at the one end of the mould, which is open, whereby it is made to assume
the configuration of the mould which is as follows:-The head (formed by the
closed end of the upper tube) is of cylindro-ogival form, and the middle part of
the projectile is of reduced diameter as compared with the head and rear end, the
latter part being slightly swelled out or coned to an enlarged diameter at the
extremity. By this construction of projectile, the following objects are attained.
The cylindro-ogival head fits the bore of the rifle, while the middle part being
of reduced diameter, reduces the friction of the projectile in the bore. The rear
end, being made of slightly larger diameter than the bore, is compressed in firing,
so as to take the grooves of the rifling and form the gas check. By making the
projectile of very small diameter compared with its length, as above stated, while
the cartridge with the powder charge is of a comparatively large size, and by
preference formed as hereinafter described, initial velocity and precision are attained
without giving any inconvenient recoil. The quick pitch of the rifling imparts to
the projectile quick rotation, insuring accuracy of aim.
The projectile, being provided over its entire surface with a metal of greater
hardness and resistance than lead, does not become deformed on passing through
liquid non-elastic bodies, and has therefore greater power of penetration than lead
bullets.
As only the rear end of the projectile takes the grooves of the rifling with its
copper covering in forming the gas check, the bore of the gun does not become
soiled thereby.
The charge of the cartridge employed by preference in combination with the
above described projectile, consists of a single cylindrical pellet of gunpowder
having a central longitudinal perforation, the front end being made to taper from
the comparatively large diameter of the cartridge case to the small diameter of the
projectile. This charge is formed by compressing granular gunpowder in a divided
mould, the gunpowder being introduced little by little and compressed by means
of a die or plunger fitting with a central hole on a central pin in the die, which
pin forms the before mentioned passage in the pellet. The pellet having been
introduced into a cylindrical cartridge case of ordinary construction, the front
end of the latter is reduced in diameter by spinning to receive the rear end of the
projectile, which is held therein by its slightly taper form above described.

page_text: On firing, the flame from the cap passes down the central passage of the pellet,
so as to initiate the combustion from that point. By this arrangement, a large
charge of gunpowder can be used without giving inconvenient recoil to the gun,
because, although the full force due to the combustion of the charge is imparted to
the projectile, this force is not all developed at the instant of firing, as is the case
with ordinary gunpowder charges but is developed gradually during the time the
projectile is passing up the bore of the gun. The further advantage is also
obtained of having a cartridge of comparatively short length; thus the best results
have been obtained with a cartridge of only 2.56 inches (6·5 m/m) in length with a
projectile 3-7 diameters long and with a compressed powder pellet of 0.025 oz
(6 grammes) weight giving an initial velocity V 25-1905 feet (580 meter).
The gun barrel employed by preference in combination with the above described
cartridge and projectile has a bore of 0.315 (8 /m) while the pitch of the rifling
is such as to make a complete turn in a length of 11.82 (300 m/m), the
grooves of the rifling which may be from 3 to 5 in number, being about
0.0039ins = 0.1 m/m = 1/10 /m deep and equal in width to the lands.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings shew the mode of manufacture
of the before described improved projectile, and fig. 4 and fig. 5 shew separate
views of the cartridge case and the pellet of gunpowder, and fig. 6 shews a vertical
section of the complete cartridge.
A, fig. 1, is a tube of copper, closed at one end, into which is inserted the
cylindrical piece of lead B. The combined parts are then placed in a die where,
firstly, a small hole a is pierced in the closed end of A, as at fig. 2, and secondly,
the open end of the tube is turned over on to the lead cylinder, and the rear end
of the projectile is upset somewhat by a plunger, so as to enlarge it as shewn.
The projectile is then placed in another die or mould divided longitudinally and
having the configuration which the finished projectile is to receive, in which mould
the projectile is then subjected to pressure by the introduction of a plunger at the
rear open end, whereby the configuration is imparted to the cartridge, as shewn at
fig. 3, namely, with a head a¹ of cylindro-ogival form, with the middle part a² of a
slightly less diameter than the head and rear end a³, and with the latter slightly
Bwelled or coned to an enlarged diameter at the base. The pellet or compressed
gunpowder C formed as above described with a central perforation c having been
introduced into the cylindrical cartridge case D, fig. 5 the latter is spun on to it, so
as to assume the configuration shewn at fig. 6, and, the projectile having been
inserted into the reduced front end thereof, the case is spun on to the coned base of
the projectile, thus holding it securely in its place.
Having thus described the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, I
claim
First Constructing projectiles for rifles of a body of lead enclosed in an outer
casing of copper, the two parts being combined and formed substantially as herein
described.
Second Constructing the charge for a cartridge of a single pellet of compressed
gunpowder, formed substantially as herein described.
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Simon have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Twenty Fourth day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand,
eight hundred and eighty-three.
HENRY SIMUN. (L.S.)