IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES.
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Maurice Bauer at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 6th July 1880. A communication from
abroad by Mr. Jacques Gauderic Soler, of Geryville, Algeria (Africa).
"
MAURICE BAUER, Civil Engineer, of the Firm of M. Bauer & Cie., Solicitors
of Patents, 30, Boulevard Magenta, Paris. IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES.".
A communication from abroad by Mr. Jacques Gauderic Soler, of Geryville, Algeria
(Africa).
This Invention relates to an improved cartouche apparatus for short distance
practice (300 to 350 feet about) in barracks and so forth, and capable of being
adapted to all arms firing a metallic cartouche with central percussion. The objects
and advantages of the apparatus are the following:-1st, small cost of manufacture
and its use for short distance firing; 2nd, remarkable exactness for steady firing,
without necessity of frequent clearing of the barrel; 3rd, knowledge of the exact-
ness of the gun which each soldier may soon acquire, the ball being of the calibre of
the arm; 4th, the certain progress of instruction in shooting which has never
hitherto been possible to attain.
The block of the apparatus is composed of a piece having corresponding form and
same dimensions as the bore of the gun; its length being such that, capped by the
ball it enters into the rifling. It is made in brass, and will thus not cause any
deterioration to the arm. At the back of the block is buried in a recess therein an
ordinary cap nipple. This is for the purpose of receiving the shock of the hammer.
without the same sustaining any damage.
At the front part is a chamber brought into communication with the nipple by
an opening, said chamber being for purpose of receiving the cartouche and the tail
of the ball which forms the wad. The communicating opening is of as small
diameter as possible for giving greater tower to the jet of flaine.
The liberated gas
from the lighted powder cannot return by way of the opening in consequence of the
hammer pressing upon the nipple completely preventing the same.
The cartouche contains from 6 to 7 grains of powder, and is composed of a paper
case closed at its two extremities by thin paper wads, and always one of these wads
are pierced to ensure ignition and prevent any miss fire. The cap is substantially
the same as that ordinarily used for sporting purposes.
It is necessary to employ a ball which is to be forced into the barrel of the piece,
because in a tube merely it. is not possible to give a soldier the least idea of the
action of his gun. In consequence of the slight charge employed it is not desirable

page_text: that the forcing of the ball should be very great, but that it be sufficient for
ensuring the rotation, for which purpose the last flange of the ball only has at the
back a calibre larger than that of the chamber of the barrel. Two circumferential
grooves at the body of the ball forward of the said rifling flange are filled with
grease, which facilitates the passage of the ball, and prevents the leading of the
rifling grooves. The form of the tail end of the ball is necessary for fixing it into
. the block of the apparatus.
This projectile weighs about half an ounce, and gives perfect accuracy at 54 yards
with the natural height of the French gun, that is, at sight of 328 yards, and at
109 yards with a sight of 546 yards..