D-J( 5 3 )T H E N E W R I F L E : A D I S C U S S I O N . hOlil)OllEYLESMOJtE IIUSSIA. IN By Captain J. H. HARDCASTLE, j-. i.a. late H.A. 'l ilEEK have been debates in Parlininoit recently about our l>rcscnt rifle, and Lord Haldano told us that the Government factories had been at work for a long time getting out an altogether new rifle and that an o-periniental issue would shortly be made. He ad ed that it would be a groat improve ment on the present pattern and would bo tlio best in tlio world in all respects, including flatness of trajectory, but would not be automatic in its action. AVcmay safely presume, though, that it will be so designed as to offer )io insuiieiable obstacle to rcadj" conversion to an automatic rifle when the time is ripe. Just at the end of Feljruary Colonel Scely, in the Houj-c of Gommons, gave the iiiformution that the calibre of the rifle under experiment was 0'27'» inch, that is to say, a mere trifle smaller than the Ross small bore, but considerablv larger tliau tho 6'5 mm. Maiinlichcr familiar to us all some years ago as the most popular bore for match rifles on Stickledown. Sufficient data exist (always supposing that no fresh surprise like the effect of j>oin«ing the bulIe®iB spriing upon us) to make a very fair guess at the future, and it is the object of this article to attempt to point out the sorb of way iu which the minds of the designers must be working and the limits of ballistics within which the final result must ncftj"l\ surely lie. Tlie chief he-adings which are for discussion are in more or less logical order the following : The maximum pressure in the bore, the capacity of the cartridge case, the weight and nature of the powd-r charge, the calibro. the weight of the bullet, the co-efHcioiit of shiijic for tlio bullet, and. finally, the muzzle velocity. For the rifle itself, it is oid v possible to make as shrewd a guess as possible at the details affecting the shooting, because they are so largely a question of fashion and comptomise. It is reasonable to suppose that the barrel will be about two feet long with a rather sliort lead and that the cartridges will besemi-riinle-iB, the bullet almost exactly large enough to bottom in the groves and the lands somewhat lower than at present. The fore-end might well be stouter so that if hollowed to take automatic mechaniain enough strength would be left to carry the bayonet, and the bolt will he front-locking. The spin of the rifling must, however, be in substantial agreement with Sir (ireenhills table for the rotation necessary to ensure stalnlity revert now to the original subject, the cartridge, and to' take the points in order and to soliloquise on each. 1 ho p, oBSute may surely be taken as the greatest now m military fashion, nominally 20 tons to the square inch, which gives a substantial manjin of safety for tropical chm-tes and casual defects. The capacity of the present cartridge is 0T8 cubic inch, and as it can be increased by 50 per cent, without making an undulv heavy or awkward case, the now case will benearlvO-27 cubic inch in capacity and about CO grains of powder at a density of loading of 0 J, which is about the greatest density at wliich modern Bmokele8.s powder can be got into a case. The nature of the jiowder can hardly be other than some form of cordite and not nitro-ce lulosu as the presence of a percentage of nitro-gl* cenno ihixed with the guncotton and vaseline adds so largely to the keeping riualitics of the finished powder anda'so to its potential energy per lb., though it increases tlie heat of combustion and there fore the erosion. In form it should be either leaflets or like vei-mioelli, chopped or cut to the length of the case, as both these sh.ajiL-s evolve gas when burning at a more regular rate ^ The calibre is said to be f|"27C, but the limits might .at any moment he varied between 0"25 and 0*28, according to the school of thought in power at the time of the fin.al choice; and it will be as well to continue the argument with each ot these bores and perhaps ."plit the difference in the end. Ihc weight of the bullet can hardly be less than 140 or greater than 175 grains, because we have already come down to li o and 140 brings us very close to iiielFectivc long range lirv- I'utting the lighter bullet into the larger bore as one extreme, ami the heavier into the smaller as the other oitreino, the value of tlic scetion.al den.sity lies between 0'4 and 0'2.55, and a glance at the table on jKige 223 of the 'I'ext Rook of Small Arms, 1000, shows that tlm exact value selected will lie towards the lower figure, although Germany has gone aa low as 0'21.5, hut, ho it remembered, in an adniittcdly iimkesliift cartridge. To obtain the ballistic co-ctlicicnt on which tin- trajectory for a given velocity entirely dcpcinls, the .secticnal density is divided by the co-eflicient of aliapc which gets Biniiller, and therefore more favourable according to the design of the pointed portion and chiefly according to the length of the point. AVith the modern point this factor of shape may varv from 0*55 to <l*(>5, the latter fignro for a short iwint so that the sectional densities 0*4 .and 0*255 divided i-eHjiec- tivolvlty these decimals produce as their ballistic properties tiic dividends of about 0*7 ami 0*4. Kveii the smaller of the.-e fi"iires is a.s great as tbe pr-.sent Mark VII, and the greater i.s very much larger than that of any existing military bullet: l ilt ncverthel-S3 tliere exists a Jiitherto unpublished reason for neither of these fig'ires being reccssariiy any guide at aU to the remaining velocities or angles of elevation at long raiigc.s. This reason is extreiiicly toelinieal, referring as if dues to the construction of halli-tic tables and the laws of reslBtaiico of tlie air, but it is cajiablo of being explained in simple language. It has been found by actuol experiment that altiiough iv'biilliKticco-efficiciit of about 0*4 fits in fairly well with tlio ]iorforinaocesof the Mark VII bullet up to l.OOOyards. it gives wrong results at longer ranges. For instance, witii velocitv of 2,450 foot seconds 0*4 give.3 a 1,000 yard angle of about 59 minutes, and this is also about the angle required on the range itself, hut at 2,100 jiurds the angle calcuiateil from 0*4 ib about 4 degrees, but the angle required is over 5 degrees corresponding to the angle calculated from O'SSolwut. One of these causes must produce this discrepancy (a) the heavy base may tilt the bullet at long ranges, (5) the new ballistic tables may not be dnoctly apjilicablo to pointed bullets (c) the drift may be downwards. If (o) or (t) is the cause the time of flight for 2,100 yards is G'5 seconds and if (c) t h e n o n l y 5 * 7 E e c o m l s . ^ It appears, then, that the ballistic co-emcicut may cause •» severe controversy among the designers, and at that we must leave it Dividing the sectional densities again by the calibre we "et 1*0 and 0*9, proportional to the lengths in calibres of the bullets, and this exercises a noticeable effect oo the proportion of the iiotenti.l energy of the charge anDcarin" as actual energy in the bullet. Cordite contains about 259 foot lbs. of energy to tlm grain, of which about three-quarters is wasted in he.at and fnction and blown out of the iniizzle in tho hot gas, and in practice, each grain ol M D cordite imparts from 7i) to 50 foot lbs. of energy to «» lead bullet with a cupro-nickel envelope, tho amount varyu^ with the length of the bore, the maximum pressure, the detail of tlie rifling, the air spacing of the charge, the piojiortioii ot powder to shot, ami such like conBitieratioiis connected witU the science of interior ballistics. From my own observation^ n„d calculations I should say that the heavier of the t«^^ bullets which we arc discussing would obtain about b5 foot lbs- of energy from each gniiu of tbe •barge and the lighter aiwut- r.n AVith a charge of about OO granisof M.D. Tubular and ft sho® tnavel of nhont24 inches, the bullets would have 3.'.M)0and 3,00"' foot lb« of muzzle energv or velocities of about3,170 and3,4jM' foot seconds. Supposing the hore to bo 0*275 it seems qmte likely that tho muzzle velocity of tho Service ritio in ■will "be 3 100 foot seconds or more giving a 5 ft. 3 iu. tnijectoiy to a 15u'grain bullet of about SoO yards with a chj^i^'c o» nearly GO grains, ami ft pressure of 20 to«is to the squar inch "but an extreme range of leas than two miles. TROOPS' WINTER PRACTICE. ^inco the return of the British rurliftinentary party that paid a visit to ."St. Pctorsbiirg there has liecn n scries o£ ' Omplimeniary lettor.s passing botweon Losd m and tho Rinssian capital showing how considerable has been tho '•ilect of this pilgrimage in es*iiblishiiig bolter and clo-ser 'eIittion.s between Russian and British people in tbe capital vities. It will bo remembered that Mnj.-Gen. Lord Cheylesmor", f-hairmaii of the Council of tlie N.R.A., was one of the party lo mako tho visit, and tho very wuriu reception giv'en to tbe dolegntc.s, he assured a reprcsontntivc of the JS'.Ji.A. Journal, wasnfamost oxtrnordinarv and regal kind. From tbe moment that tho City Fathers o'f St. Petersburg received the party tho visit was one long series of delightful excur- =-ions and receptions. The authorities spared neither pain.s nor expense to mark their appreciation of the British party's arrival, and such friendships have been established that it iH almost certain that St. Fetensburgaud London will iu tho fiitiiro bo drawn much more clo.sely together by other visits of this character. Wherever tho British party moved they found special train.s, motors, or sleighs await ing them and with the lines and the sUcets specially cleared for the p.as.sage at all times for vehicles bearing ft Bmall f-'nion .Ihck in front. The whole of tho proceedings were tborefore delightful in the oxtieme. and the Uity bathers save to iheir visitors tho most unbounded delight. The partj" were summoned to the Itnporial Fulacc and i'!'d tlic honour of being presented to the Tsar : tho Isarina, the Crown I'rinco, and the younger Royal children were all present. After luncheon a vi.sit was paid to tho Dmna ''Ud thero was a gala at tho Opera, whore the party were received with intense enthusiasm, tho British National ■\ntheta rousing tho audienco to accord tho "visriors a rveoption which will long remain in tho memory of those l're.sent. Tho Dowager Empress also received the paity, «nd Lord Clieyle.smoro rcnowed his ncqiiaiiitance with the birand Duke Cyril. Visits were made to the Girls Technical f'ullege where 0,000 pupils ranging in ago from lo to 18 aie trained in a m st wonderful way. Lord Choyle-sraore was "'so shown over a prison, a matter of some interest to him, "o doubt, as ho was in charge of Kilinamham Gaol during t h e R h c c n i x P a r k t r o u b l e . s . , . Loixl Chcylesmoro. whose name i.s o{ cour.sc well-known the Russian capital not only as a Guaydsman but as a Vrniiiotcr of rifle shooting, was entertained by the 1st Guards t'fgt., which corresponds to our own Grenadi^ Guaids, to *hich our Chftiriiian belonged as a regimental ofhcei. 1 heir t'arraeks are close to tho Palace and some interesting work Been on the parade ground in .skirmishing. in tno ^■ooms the i-oldiers have ingenious devices for practising their 3-lino Nagant rifles. Figures adorn the end for aiming, and there are levels for tes mg good ho d- •Vf? and many other xvays for interesting tho m us "flo during tho long winter nights of the north. - I'tan is to make a lundscupo on a table with sand and fix '•pun it all tho topographical feuture.s of a picco of countrj. A scheiiio is then not and conducted in rcguLtion form. A to tho Military Riding School was also made. ^ho visit to Moscow included visits to tho ^ Monastery, the races, etc. The dmuers u both cities included tho Municipal dmrn-r at bt. 1 eters- Ist Chamber dinner, Duma dinner, Moscow English y»b lunclieon, Moscow Chamber of Cmnmorco dmuor, otc. British party naturally did not leave without entertain- "S their hosts, and after a splendid parting an excellent provided with excellent focd placed them on tho ®ntier for homo. SUNDA Y SHOOTING. A S T R O N G N O l ' E O F D I S S E N T . — Hif T. GnisON. Tho question of Sunday shooting has of late been stvougly urged by a certain class of shooting men. As an old Volun teer, as one greatly interested iu shooting and in the Territorials, I stiould greatly regret to .see this oven partially adopted. It is said by those who urge the matter that Suiiilay is almost the only day that the majority of Terri torials have for sliooting and that, as the shooting is to fit men for tho defoni-o of their coimtrj*,it is a patriotic duty and that therefore the end justifies tho means. But in all this is thero not a great deal of cant ? When the Volunteer movement originated tho hours of labour were much longer, tho Satuiday half-holiday movement had scaicoly begun, and other holidays were much Itss frequent, y«t the idea was never once mooted that the Sunday should bo utilised for shooting. riieso men Wc-re p'ltriotic enough in thoii- endeavour to mako themselves efficient "to scorn delights and live laborious days." I feel sure that if Sunday shoot ing were to become a recognised part of Territorial training it would practically spell ruin to tho Foi-ce. Thei-o are huodreis of people who are now the backbone of the force who would at once cease connection, and there are hundreds more who would do all they culd to prevent people over whom they had control or influence connecting tbemst-lves with it. it is proposed by some in order to, as it were, hallow tho practioo, to have it conjoined with a religious service. But to those who object to Sunday shooting on principlo this would not make tho slightest difference. I have in my time had a considerable amount of experi ence in shooting, in musketry, private practice, and at diflcreut rifle meetings, and I can hardly say that these gatherings are spi'Cially conducive to the devotional spirit, although it m-iy be true that many a time one caino away from tho targets with a sadly chastened and humbled feeling. I havo a great admiraliou for Col. Stanley Outhbert's opinion generally on shooting matters, but his somewhut strained imaginary picture of a Sunday serviee .at Malleny following a riflo practice does not appeal to me, nor would it, I am sui-e, wore it adopted, conduce to filling the ranks of the Queen's. Shooting on Sunday is attempted to be justified by the fact that people on Sunday golf, motor, cycle, yacht and do a variety of things. But tho question of Sunday shooting is not quite on the same plane. These people who do these things do it in an individual capa- city and commit no one but themselves ; whereas, if shooting on a Sunday was recognised as an official part of the Tenitorinl training, the whole Force would bo to a certain extent committed by it. Many of those xvlio are most anxious about Sunday shooting are those who have most time, just as those enthusiasts for compulsory military ser vice are frequently found among those who have never "■iven a day's voluntary service to their country's defence. I am de.ad against any unnecessary addition of Sunday labour. Sunday is one of the most precious boons we have, quite apart from tlio religious idea of the day. And if once it were admitted that for a pseudo patriolic idea wo are justified in having Sunday shooting there would soon be other equally cogent reasons, patriotic and otherwise, to introduce other forms of labour. "AU things are lawful but all things arc not expedient." Admitting on tho Pauline theory the lawfulness of Sunday shooting, it certainly is to be classed in the categovv of things not expedient. — R I F L E M E E T F u N G D A T E S . AVill Secretaries kindly forward the dates and particu lars of tho Rifle Meetings for insertion in tbe N.Ji.A. Journal. Tho Editor's ncldrcsB will ho found on page •Al. WWW.RIFLEMAN.ORG.UKNext >