NEW RIFLE FOR BRITISH FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1932, 30 November 1888, Page 22

NEW RIFLE FOR BRITISH FORCES.

Wellington, November 28.

The Defence department have received au interesting memo, on the magazine and small bore arms, drawn up by Colonel Slade, which conveys some information bearing upon the recent cables, statiug that the English army will .shortly bo furnished whh the best magazine rifle in existence, and that the authorities have decided on u?ing much les-s powder for cartridges. Tho memo., after detailing the weapons in use by various nations, goes on to bay : — Tbe question of introducing a magazine rifle in England his been under consideration since 1877 ; but all patternri brought beforo the Small Arms Committee broke down under trial, or were found unsuitable, except fchroo. It was nob till 1885 that the candidates wero reduced to this number. The conditions required were : (1) Strength to stand rough usagein the field; (2) non-liability to get out of order ; \3) easy extraction of cartridge case after firing; (4) lowness of trajectory ; (5) accuracy ; (6) easo of manufacture aud repair. It having beeu anally settled to give up the Martini breech action and adopt a bolt action magazine rifle with a 402 in calibre, trials were continued during the early part of 1886 with the three remaining patterns. The American Leo, which bad successfully passed throngh all stages, was discarded because of- its detachable magazine and because it was too difficult to iill tho magazine when on the rifles. Owen, Jones, and Lee-Burton weapons were then put to further severe tests. Finally the former was condemned as too complicated, costly, and difficult to repair. The Lee system, in which the magazine is under the action, was again taken into consideration, and it was found po?sible, by making some alterations, to fix the magnzine in the rifle by a screw, and also to fill it from above, thus removing the objections which had caused it to bo put abide. This rifle, called the " Improved Leo," was te&ted as against the Lee-Burton. The ouly difference was iv the position of the magazine, the former having it under the action in front of the trigger guard, the latter having it overhanging on the right side of the action. In May 1887 300 specimens of both arms were supplied to the army and navy for trial at Home and in India, and tbe general verdict was in favour of the Unproved JJ- c. TheLee-Burcon was consequently condemned. While these trials were going on the question of calibre cropped up again, experiments in Switzerland having shown conclusively the superiority of the smaller bore. The opponents of small bore said the bullets would ntve.r stop a cavalry charge, as they would go through a boree or roan, leaving an almost imperceptible wound. Accuracy afc long ranges would be out of the question, and the small barrel would lead to excessive fouling. On the other hand it was argued that a reduction in the eizs (if the bore would enabje soldiers to carry more ammunition, 115 rounds 9303 calibre weighing the Fame as 70 rounds of the Martini-Henry. There wa3 practically no recoil, and the same sight; could be used up to 470 yds, and increased accuracy and penetration, and more cartridges could be usod in tho magazine. To settle the question the committee carried out exhaustive trials, which satisfied them that the small bullets would stop cavalry, that the accuracy was greater than with the larger burtj, ami there was singularly little fouling This point decideil, various experiments were carried out with a view to ascertaining the exact calibre, rifling, form of breech action, aud size and nature of magazine most suitable for adoption in her Majesty's

service. It was determined to build up an arm which should combine the best points of al] 6ystems. Repeated trials showed the "303 calibre and the Metford system of rifling were the best, and they were adopted. The Lee bolt and magazine were chosen with some modification, which reduced the size of the latter, but enabled it to hold more cartridges. As there were objections both to a fixed or detachable > magazine, a compromise was effected by attaching it to the rifle with a stout steel chain, and providing one spare interchangeable magazine to be carried by the suldier. The rifle is sighted up to 2300 yds. Some minor alterations being" added in the direction of safety with the bolt action, a pattern rifle wa3 finally submitted in January iBBBj to be known as the Bufisld hftgaiiiue rifle* The weight is 91b 2^oz including the, magafciriei which holds eight cartridges. At the same time experiments with side' anne • resulted in the recommendation of a short sword bayonet, and the length of the weapon supplied with the new rifle is accordingly lft>, weighing lib. The experiments have given most satisfactory result?, the only question remaining to be settled being as to ammunition, which has always been a great obstacle to the introduction of the. small bore. At the time Colonel Slado wrote, the authorities bad not made up their mind either as to the metal for tho bullet or the nature of the powder. Lead was unsuitable, and copper, nickel, and steol had all been tried in turn, Tfce probability was that a compound steel-covered bullet would be the best if it did not harm the barrel, but power was still an open question. We are now informed that the military authorities at Home have decided to use the new smokeless powder. Colonel Slade -concludes as follosvs : — Tbe question as to which is the befit magazine rifle yet produced would appear to fee a very open one judging from the fact that up to the preseut nearly every nation in Europe has adopted a different system. No arm that has come before the Small Arms' Committee combines so m«iy of tho essentials of a military weapon as (he one about to be introduced into our service. It is strong and handy and of convenient weight, the accuracy leaves nothing to be desired, the absolute mean deviation at 1000 yds being a little over Iff;. The trajectory of the bullet is low, and there i» no recoil perceptible As regards tho magazine, it is strong and simple, difficult to injure, and easy to repair, capable of being replaced by the spare one if broken. It has been the fashion to decry the shooting of the British soldier, but it will bo found that the general handiness and absence of recoil iv the new arm will tend to vastly improve the shooting. .