MAGAZINE RIFLE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XV, Issue 4723, 18 July 1890, Page 3

MAGAZINE RIFLE.

Tbe new magazine rifle, of which 5,000 have been ordered for the Victorian forces, has not come up to expectations, and the order for the new arm baa for tbe present been conntermanded. In order to obtain a high muzzle velocity the rifling is sharper and the barrel longer than with the Mar-tini-Henry rifle. From tbe breech to the muzzle tbe bullet makes two and a quarter revolutions, with the result that tbe jacket Is often completely torn from the ordinary leaden ballet. Accuracy in shooting ia thus sacrificed, and some risk Inoorred. Until a hardened bullet which will resist this tearing is adopted, this defect la the new rifle mast make it practically useless. Farther, the rifle has been sighted for a smokeless explosive whloh has not yet reached the practical stage. Consequently black powder would have to be used for a time, and no accuracy in ahootiog could be depended upon. Trials have very recently been made with the sample weapon now in the possession of the defence authorities as against cbe Martini, and in the matter of accuracy the latter bad—bb was to be expected, bearing in mind the want of sympathy between the method of sighting and the explosive In tbe magazine] rifle—much the best of it. The order for 5,000 rifles has accordingly been countermanded, and will only be renewed when all doubts as to the practical value of the weapon are at ao end,—Argus.