SINGLE No. 50 Cts. 
 
 FULL SET $2.00. 
 
 ^'^ xGt 
 
 «^ 
 
THIRTY- FIYE YEARS 
 
 OF 
 
 RIFLE PRACTICE 
 
 1851-1886. 
 
 IN SIX PARTS 
 
 By C. D. WESTBROOK, 
 
 Late Lt.-Col. 120th Regt., N. Y. S. V., and late Col. and 
 Chief of Staff 5th Diy., N. G. S. of N. Y. 
 
 part I. 
 
 KINGSTON, N. Y. : 
 
 FREEMAN BRANCH OFFICE PRINT. 
 1886. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1888, by C. D. West- 
 brook, in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 
 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Books have multiplied so greatly, and fresh books are so constantly- 
 required to keep up with yearly acquisitions of knowledge, especially in 
 the industrial arts, that a rigid course of selection is enforced upon every 
 reader. Leaving out of view books which are intrinsically worthless, 
 there are so many branches and ramifications of any given subject as to 
 require many different books under the same general title. There are 
 also different classes of readers to whom the same subject must be pre- 
 sented in different ways. Therefore it is that something more than a 
 title is required to convince a reader that he has any interest in a book. 
 Thus a preface is in order. 
 
 The rifle engages comparatively a small department of human in- 
 dustry, and one of late development-, yet so great has been the power 
 wielded by its aid on the destiny of nations, that all men are called upon 
 to know something of its use. This great Republic is stirred to-day by 
 the danger to which its maritime cities are exposed, of attack by 
 armored vessels and rifled guns owned by insignificant nations, who may 
 even use them for piratical purposes. The lessons of our civil war seem 
 to have been forgotten. After the commencement of that war, imme- 
 diate demands were made by the Government on a private foundry for 
 rifled cannon, two batteries of which were first introduced into service 
 by the army at the battle of Bull Run. In the navy, at the time of the 
 attack upon Fort Sumter, in April, 1861, there was not a single rifled 
 cannon of heavy calibre, or a single armored vessel. In the language of 
 chief of ordnance Dahlgren, "the millions since spent by the country 
 would not bring back the years that had gone by unimproved, and we 
 went into the conflict like a man picking up the first weapon at hand." 
 
 But there is another reason for addressing the public generally. In 
 almost every house there is a fire-arm of some kind, and rifles without 
 number have been scattered broadcast through the country, and are kept 
 on hand ostensibly for the purposes of defense and game, though rarely 
 used for either purpose. The knowledge which is sought to be com- 
 municated in this book will enable owners to utilize these weapons, far 
 beyond the original designs of their manufacturers, in healthful recrea- 
 tion and important training, especially for the younger members of the 
 household. Many futile attempts have been made in this country to 
 organize a militia upon whom dependence could be placed to resist 
 
IV 
 
 invasion, but could the result be reached to which these pages are 
 directed, a reserve force would be provided, greater even than armed, 
 camps could furnish. 
 
 This treatise is then directed mainly to the masses ; but, at the same 
 time, manufacturers and experts could doubtless find something to learn 
 from its pages, because they follow a line which has not been taken up 
 in any other work, and embody thirty-five years of experience of an 
 amateur, who has loved his weapon as well as any artist ever loved his 
 pencil, or musician his instrument. 
 
 Kingston, N. Y., January 8th, 1886. 
 
 C. D. WESTBROOK. 
 
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 
 
 Although more than three hundred and fifty years have 
 ■elapsed since the discovery of rifled lire -arms, yet it is within 
 the last thirty-five years that improvements were effected in 
 their use, which have made them not only the arm of all 
 nations, but the only arm, whether small or great, on which 
 reliance is placed. . 
 
 It is worthy of remark that these improvements have been 
 mainly attained through the cartridge ; for, although the 
 -quick twist and shallow groove of the modern rifle are unde- 
 niable advantages, yet the former was not wholly unknown 
 at the commencement of the period alluded to, while, in 
 regard to the latter, it may be said that long range and 
 accuracy had been obtained prior to its adoption. The 
 brass cartridge, lengthened projectile, and large charge of 
 powder, sum up, in a few words, the chief improvements 
 which have been made. By their use, the breech-loader has 
 been transformed from a nuisance to be the king of arms. 
 
 We may follow these improvements, as they have been 
 developed in European practice, from the bullets of Delvigne 
 and Minie, to those of Whitworth, Jacobs, and Metford ; 
 and, indeed, it will be necessary so to do in the course of this 
 treatise ; but it is the writer's intention to deal mainly with 
 the results of American practice, as they have come under 
 his own observation and experience, during the last thirty-five 
 years. As many of the most important of these results have 
 not been placed upon record, with a statement of the means 
 by which they have been attained, it has been deemed proper, 
 at this time, to offer them to the public. 
 
 Again, great as have been the results obtained by the use 
 of improved weapons, during the European wars of the last 
 
b THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 decades, still greater are the possible achievements in warfare- 
 offered by the experiments of the four years which have 
 attended and followed the international contests, with mili- 
 tary rifles, between this country and England. The needle- 
 gun, which so materially assisted Germany in her conquests,, 
 together with the Mauser, which subsequently replaced it ; 
 the Peabody Martini, which astonished Europe with its long 
 range and deadly slaughter in the Russo-Turkish war, and 
 the Martini-Henry, which so easily vanquished larger op- 
 posing forces of Egyptians and Arabs, would prove to be 
 almost puerile weapons, when pitted with the cartridges they 
 then used, against the same weapons it may be, or certainly 
 against many weapons which have been in common use for 
 years, when supplied with the cartridges which can now be 
 furnished to them. 
 
 The improved shooting of the champion military rifles at 
 Creedmoor justifies this inference. Their methods of loading,, 
 however, are not upon record, and the public very generally 
 believe that the excellent shooting, of which they hear, is due 
 to the use of a rifle of superior excellence, or to a training 
 through years of experience, aided by exceptional natural 
 advantages. Such was, undoubtedly,, the view taken by the 
 public of the extraordinary performances of the match rifle 
 teams sent to Ireland some ten years since. But subsequent, 
 experience has convinced hundreds and thousands that 
 equal, and even better shooting, was attainable with rifles,, 
 furnished by a score of manufacturers, with factory car- 
 tridges. To obtain such shooting, however, with self-loaded 
 cartridges and self-fabricated bullets, is not quite so easy ; 
 and to turn these elegant match rifles to practical use, or to 
 obtain practical shooting, for the sportsman or soldier, of 
 equal nicety from them, or from sporting or military rifles,, 
 seems to be out of the question altogether, to the public 
 generally. And yet it is hoped that, from a perusal of these 
 pages, such results can be attained. 
 
 "We have alluded to two international contests between 
 this country and Eugland. The first was in 1877, when 
 match rifles were used. The second was in 1882, and again 
 in 1883, when military rifles were used. 
 
 The difference between these international contests is not 
 well understood. 
 
OF EIFLE PRACTICE. / 
 
 A discussion of this difference now, though chronologically 
 out of place, may serve to clear up some difficulties, and 
 secure a closer attention to historical details throughout this 
 treatise. 
 
 In the former of these contests we were victors, and in the 
 excellence of our weapons and the superiority of our marks- 
 men, still continue to hold the championship of the world. 
 In the latter, we have been beaten by England ; and the 
 reason simply was that we had cultivated the match rifle and 
 neglected the military rifle. In England, military rifles have 
 always received the chief attention. 
 
 Leaving out, for the present, the definition which is given 
 of these rifles at Creedmoor and Wimbledon, we will take 
 them up in a non-professional way. 
 
 In the first place, there is a specific difference between 
 these rifles ; and in the next place, there is a still greater 
 difference between the methods of using them. 
 
 1st. Although the weapons do not vary more than half a 
 pound in the weight to which the}^ are restricted, yet, in the 
 match rifle, there is a maximum of weight in the barrel and 
 a minimum of weight in the stock, leaving the latter, par- 
 ticularly in its connection with the barrel, of too light a 
 weight safely to endure the shocks of military usage. For 
 the purpose of fine sighting, it has also so large a bulk of 
 material on the end of its barrel, for its forward sight, as to 
 prevent the proper clasp of the bayonet, while its long and 
 slender back sights would not long endure military usage. 
 
 Per contra, we have in the military rifle, stocks sufficiently 
 strong for military purposes, which permit the use of a sling, 
 and extended over the length of the barrel, nearly to the head 
 of the bayonet, providing for the carriage of both sling and 
 ramrod, and protecting the hands in the use of a heated 
 barrel, which was of more consequence while muzzle loading- 
 was practiced than at present. The pull of its trigger is to 
 be double that of the match rifle, and its sights to be of bona 
 fide military pattern, to be attached to the barrel, and to be 
 without any movable attachment other than a hinged flap 
 and sliding bar, to be moved by hand only. 
 
 Although the barrel of a match rifle will spring under the 
 concussion of the heavy charges used in modern cartridges., 
 yet, paradoxical as the statement may appear, the spring 
 
8 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 which it has under the concussion of firing is a real 
 advantage over the performance of a heavier rifle in the 
 contests of the range. As this statement needs explanation, 
 for the comprehension not only of the public, but also of a 
 great many marksmen, it is well to clear up the matter 
 before proceeding further with the comparison of match with 
 military rifles. 
 
 If we examine the back sight of a match rifle, we shall 
 find it marked with sub-divisions, which almost universally 
 are one of only two kinds. It is either marked with twenty 
 divisions to an inch, which is multiplied by a vernier attach- 
 ment to one hundred divisions of the inch, or else it is 
 marked by degrees and minutes, which, if the back sight is 
 placed upon what is called the tang (which is not far behind 
 the lock of the gun, and three feet distant from the front 
 sight), would represent pretty accurately the angles of eleva- 
 tion. The marks upon the sight are for every five minutes 
 of elevation, reduced by the vernier to every minute of 
 elevation. 
 
 Thus, in the one kind of back sight, we have practically 
 100 sub-divisions to the inch, and in the other we have 
 somewhat over 90 to the inch. 
 
 Now, either of these sights, whether standing upon what 
 is called the tang of the piece (which places it about three 
 feet from the front sight), or whether fastened upon the butt 
 of the piece (which is almost four feet from the front sight), 
 has an actual value of elevation upon the target, at any dis- 
 tance, from one to one thousand yards, or more, which is 
 readily calculated. 
 
 For instance, the sight upon the tang which is marked 
 with hundredths of an inch, would have the value of eleva- 
 tion, for each hundredth, at 100 yards, of one inch, and at 
 1,000 yards of ten inches. Each minute of the other sight 
 would have a value of elevation upon the tang of 1.05 inches 
 at 100 yards, and 10J inches at 1,000 yards. 
 
 Now, the owner of a rifle will seek, by experience, to find 
 the number of marks on the back sight that will correspond 
 with the elevations required to hit the mark aimed at, for 
 various distances. For, although he will find a table given 
 by the manufacturer or (more correctly still by the Metford 
 tables), for a given weight and quality of powder, and a given 
 
OF RIFLE PRACTICE. V 
 
 weight of bullet, which tables will correspond, with con- 
 siderable accuracy, to the performance of different rifles of 
 the same calibre, owing to the uniformity of trajectories of 
 different riflesj with like weights and quality of powder, like 
 weights of bullets, and like calibres/ each rifle will have its 
 own reading, which will vary considerably from other rifles 
 similarly conditioned, as to these weights and calibres, for 
 the following reasons : 
 
 First. The sights, though made as nearty alike as is 
 possible to construct them, may be placed at varying eleva- 
 tions on the stock, which, of course, would vary the elevation 
 of the zero point, or starting point, of the marks upon the 
 sight; because, usually these zero points are marked on the 
 sight before it has been placed upon the barrel. 
 
 Moreover, as this zero point will be found to be constantly 
 changing, from different charges of powder and different 
 weights of bullet, the only inducement to leave it unmarked 
 upon the sight, until found by firing the piece, would be the 
 desire to use the piece with a fixed charge, and for a fixed 
 purpose. 
 
 Secondly. Supposing two rifles to be made exactly alike in 
 their proportions and sights, and alike in the trajectory of 
 their bullets, it will be found that, owing to the different 
 spring of their barrels under the concussion of fire, their 
 sights will read differently in actual practice. We are now 
 engaged with our explanation of the fact of this spring, and, 
 therefore, have run into a little obscurity by begging this 
 question, which will be dissipated as we proceed. 
 
 We now assume that the owner of a rifle is acquainted, 
 from experience, with the number of marks upon the back 
 sight, which will give him the necessary elevation at varying 
 distances. 
 
 If now he will fix a long-range match rifle in a vise, aimed, 
 we will say, at a mark 100 yards distant, and then open the 
 breech and look through the barrel, he will find that aimed 
 at a much higher elevation. Indeed, it should be aimed 
 higher (we will assume it to be ten inches) to allow for the fall 
 of the bullet by gravity ; but he will find it to be aimed very 
 much higher than that. Whatever he may find the height 
 to be, in so far as it exceeds ten inches, it will be owing to a 
 spring downwards of the barrel in the concussion of firing. 
 
10 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 This spring would not always be downwards for different 
 lengths of barrel and quality of charge, but for all long 
 range match rifles, under the rules of the range, it will be 
 found to be uniformly downwards, though varying somewhat 
 for different rifles. 
 
 For instance, the writer is the owner of a match rifle, that, 
 with a charge of 60 grains of powder and 325 grains of bullet, 
 will hit the mark at 100 yards with 13 minutes of elevation at 
 the tang. The same rifle, with the same bullet and same 
 quality of powder, will, with 115 grains of the latter, require 
 25 minutes of elevation to reach the same mark at the dis- 
 tance of 100 yards ; the extra quantity of powder having 
 caused the barrel to spring, apparently, 12.60 inches down- 
 ward in the distance marked upon the target, but really 
 about 17 inches, owing to the greater velocity and flatter 
 trajectory of the larger charge. 
 
 Now, at 200 yards distance, the first charge will require 
 25 minutes of elevation, and the latter 34 minutes. At 400 
 yards, the bullets will meet upon the target from the same 
 reading of the back sight. Therefore, an increase of the 
 charge from 60 to 115 grains, with a bullet of 325 grains, will 
 make no difference on the target at 400 yards, although, at 
 100 yards, they gave a difference of 12.60 inches. 
 
 Again, the same rifle, with 105 grains F. G., Hazard pow- 
 der, and 550 grains of lead will require a reading of 35 
 minutes of tang elevation, and of 45 minutes at the butt, to 
 reach the mark at 100 yards of distance. With the same 
 bullet and the same quality of powder, but with 115 grains 
 instead of 105, it will require 49h minutes of elevation at the 
 butt to reach the mark at the same distance — 100 yards. At 
 500 yards, the smaller charge will require 102 minutes, and 
 the larger charge 104 minutes ; but at 800 yards, both 
 charges require an elevation of 157 minutes. At that dis- 
 tance, 105 grains and 115 grains of powder, with 550 of lead, 
 require the same elevation exactly; so that any variation of 
 powder, by inexact measurement, or any other cause that will 
 give an increased or diminished velocity to the bullet, will 
 cause no appreciable variation between these extremes ; but 
 a variation in the charge, below 105 grains of powder and 
 550 grains of lead, will show an appreciable variation at the 
 target, so that a variation of 25 grains, below the quantity 
 
OF EIFLE PKACTICE. 11 
 
 which has been mentioned, will give a variation at the target,. 
 by the inexact measurement of a single grain of powder, 
 of many inches. 
 
 With another match rifle of the writer, the extremes of 110 
 grains and 120 grains of powder, with 550 grains of lead, will 
 meettTie target at 1,000 yards. 
 
 Thus the elegant match rifles which, at 800, 900 and 1,000 
 yards, have obtained such fame at Creedmoor, are really bet- 
 ter weapons at those distances than those made with heavier 
 or lighter barrels. And the reason of the advice given by 
 experts — "Find, by experiment, the quantity of powder that 
 your rifle will bear, by increasing the quantity used, so long 
 as it will give increased elevation ; then add a few grains,, 
 and you have found the charge for that rifle " — is made 
 apparent. 
 
 The second point of difference between the match rifle 
 and the military rifle has reference to different methods of 
 shooting. 
 
 In the first place, the shots from a match rifle are delivered 
 from an absolutely clean barrel, and for that purpose clean- 
 ing the barrel must be resorted to after every shot. It is 
 true that the Fisher wiper has very much curtailed the time 
 necessary for this performance, so that a large number of 
 shots could be probably delivered as effectively from the match 
 as from the military rifle, because the time taken for the 
 cleaning of the piece would be compensated for by the 
 reduction of heat in the barrel ; yet the use of a ramrod and 
 water, for this purpose, is incompatible with military- 
 exigencies. The military rifle must be fired rapidly, without 
 the encumbrance of loose ramrods or other adjuncts. A 
 rapid fire, for a few minutes of time, is all that is generally 
 required for a military rifle ; but that rapidity is an essential 
 qualification. It cannot, therefore, be cleaned between shots. 
 
 2d. The cartridges of match rifles do not generally con- 
 tain the bullets ; or, if they do, the bullets are very lightly 
 inserted, and the cartridges will not endure, without injury, 
 the rough transportation of military service. 
 
 The difference in accuracy between these two classes of 
 weapons, previously to the international contests of military 
 rifles, was about twenty -five per cent., in favor of the match 
 rifle, at long range. At the close of these contests, it had 
 
12 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 narrowed down to fifteen per cent. At the present time, it 
 is certainly less than ten per cent. 
 
 Previous to the international contests, the bullets and 
 charges of powder used in military were less than those used 
 in the match rifles. The Government cartridges of the 
 Springfield rifle contained 70 grains of powder and 405 
 grains of lead. The Remington and Sharp military rifles, 
 used on the ranges, were bored to take the same cartridges. 
 The bullets were unpatched and cannulared, and the grooves 
 filled with grease, to diminish the friction, soften the residuum 
 and prevent the barrel from leading during continued fire. 
 The bullets also were larger than the bore of the piec. The 
 military range, for accurate fire, was not over 600 yards with 
 these cartridges. 
 
 England, however, for fifteen years, had been using in her 
 army rifle a cartridge with 85 grains of powder and 480 
 grains of lead, with a smooth and patched, instead of a naked 
 cannulared bullet. The bullet was not dissimilar to that 
 used in the match rifle, and the practice with it had been at 
 1,000 yards. This bullet, like the unpatched one, was re- 
 duced in size at least y^f-Q of an inch in passing through the 
 barrel. The lubrication was effected by greased wads. 
 
 In the progress of improvement, it was found that this 
 swaging was wholly unnecessary, and was detrimental, from 
 its friction, causing increased recoil, and diminished range and 
 accuracy. The deep grooves of the rifle, which had rendered 
 this swaging policy necessary, were found to be much inferior 
 in performance to a shallow groove, with a harder bullet ; 
 and these shallow grooves and hardened bullets, with a 
 barrel approximating to that used in the match rifle, were the 
 main features of the special military rifles which made such 
 splendid performances in England, as long ago as the year 
 1878. In them was also used a heavier bullet (in fact, the 
 same as was used in the match rifle), and, in many instances, 
 a larger charge of powder. 
 
 Such were the rifles with which we were confronted at the 
 first national military contest with England. We hastily 
 improvised some military specials, by using the match rifle 
 barrel, and attempted to adapt to them military cartridges. 
 The rifle was all that was required, but the cartridges were 
 failures, and we were badly beaten, because unprepared. 
 
OF KIFLE PRACTICE. 13 
 
 The next year found us better prepared ; in fact, to an extent 
 which promised, to public anticipation on this side of the 
 water, a victory. But we were again beaten, simply by 
 failure at the extreme ranges. 
 
 It is profitable now to follow the improvements that were 
 introduced. In the first contest, the rifles used had been 
 prepared by the Remingtons, with a large shell, which, in the 
 second contest, was, as we shall attempt to show, unwisely 
 exchanged for a smaller one, the reasons for which opinion 
 will shoitly appear. 
 
 In the first contest we depended upon greased wads for 
 lubrication ; these, as we now know, were inadequate. In 
 the second contest we depended mainly upon the breathing- 
 tube, for moistening the residuum of powder in the barrel, 
 thus removing hardened obstructions and lubricating the 
 barrel. 
 
 The rifles supplied for this contest were from two sources — 
 four from Remington, and eight from Brown. Both were 
 bored for shells with the capacity of 106 grains — straight 
 shells, 2 t 6 q- inches in length. 
 
 The former used 76 grains of ducking powder, retaining 
 the wads, which filled the rest of the case. The latter used 
 105 grains of Hazard, F. G., with an apology for a wad — i. e.,. 
 a paper wad soaked in some preparation. Both depended 
 mainly upon breathing tubes. 
 
 The men and rifles were all that could be desired. Indeed, 
 the contest gave some evidence of their superiority. But 
 they were found defective at long range, as it was alleged, 
 from want of sufficient practice. This may have been the 
 reason at that time ; but the writer will attempt to show that, 
 had those men been supplied with proper cartridges, they 
 would have exhibited unquestionable superiority to their 
 opponents. 
 
 The difficulties with the Remington cartridges were in 
 carrying too small a quantity of powder, and powder not of 
 the right kind. 
 
 In support of the first allegation, we refer to what has 
 been already stated, as to the necessity of loading the rifle 
 with a charge sufficiently heavy, so that the addition of five 
 or more grains will show no appreciable effect upon the 
 target. Thus, variation from inexact measurement of powder,. 
 
14 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 from want of uniformity in its packing in the shell, or from 
 crushed powder, or any other cause which would increase or 
 diminish velocity and recoil, would have been in a great 
 measure removed. The objection to the quality is the quick- 
 ness of its explosion — a minor fault, which will not be dis- 
 cussed at present. 
 
 The difficulty with the Brown cartridge was the want of a 
 sufficient wad, to prevent the collection of quantities of 
 residuum which w T ould escape the compensating action of the 
 breathing tube. 105 grains of Hazard's F. G. powder may 
 be sufficient for the shell ; but to carry a wad of sufficient 
 size, to have been effective, would have required a larger 
 shell. 
 
 But experiments, followed up since the contest, have 
 demonstrated the possibility of using a smaller quantity of 
 powder to gain the same propulsive force, and at the same 
 time secure cleanliness to the barrel, and a sufficient, and, 
 indeed, superior, lubtication to that afforded by grease. The 
 use of three grains, by weight, of wood powder, at the 
 bottom of the shell, and 100 grains of black rifle powder 
 overlaying it (which requires the same room in the shell as 
 110 grains of black powder), will give a propulsive force of 
 120 grains of black powder. This quantity is all that is re- 
 quired for the nicest performance of the rifle at 1,000 yards. 
 
 The 2 t 6 q- shell, however, will not contain this quantity of 
 powder, and insert the bullet two-thirds of its diameter, 
 without packing the powder to a deleterious extent. More- 
 over, the wad, which is an essential part of the cartridge, and 
 which should also provide a proper solvent, must be left out. 
 
 Here we will leave this discussion, again to be taken up at 
 a more advanced portion of this work, and consider in order 
 the improvements of rifle practice for the last thirty-five 
 years. 
 
 For assistance in this work, and for greater accuracy, a 
 long list of treatises has been consulted, prominent among 
 which are the books of Chapman, Cleveland, Wilcox, Norton, 
 Jervis, Wingate, Perry, Laidley, Weston, Greener, and Re- 
 ports of Army and Navy Bureaus of Ordnance, of the Patent 
 Office, and of the New York Spirit of the Times ; from all of 
 which quotations have been made. 
 
OF RIFLE PRACTICE. 15 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 RIFLES ANTERIOR TO OUR CIVIL WAR. 
 
 It is now nearly thirty -five } T ears since the writer came into 
 possession of a rifle constructed b} 7 Edwin Wesson, of North- 
 boro, Mass. There are yet man} 7 living who remember the 
 wonderful advance in range and accuracy secured by these 
 Wesson rifles, and those manufactured b} T James,, of Utica ; 
 Xewis, of Troy ; Fish, of New York ; Billinghurst, of Roches- 
 ter, and others whose names are too numerous to mention 
 here. All of these rifles, however, were indebted, for their 
 efficacy, to their use of the flat-ended picket, or elongated 
 bullet, and loading muzzle, patented by Alvan Clarke, of 
 Cambridge, Mass., on the 21th of April, 1840. 
 
 Before Delvigne had patented or Minie applied the 
 elongated bullet, Clarke had preceded them, as it was more 
 than a year afterwards, viz., in June, 1811, that Delvigne 
 obtained a patent for his elongated bullet in France. More- 
 over, it was found impracticable to use this bullet in the 
 Delvigne model rifle of 1842, for which it was designed, and 
 the spherical bullet, which was then in universal use, and 
 which had been previously used in the Delvigne rifle, so long 
 ago as the year 1830, in its first issue to the Guard Royal in 
 the Algerian campaign, continued to be used until the pillar 
 or tige of Thouvinen was applied in the model of 1846, under 
 the name of the tige rifle, when the elongated bullet finally 
 became successful in France. In June, 1849, at a competi- 
 tive trial at Ymcennes, the tige rifle and bullet were beaten 
 by a rifle without the tige, and by a bullet of M. Minie. 
 
 The winter previous to the writer's possession of a Wesson 
 rifle had been passed in the city of Montreal, where he fre- 
 quently accompanied the proprietor of the hotel in which he 
 boarded, on his daily visit to the building erected on the ice 
 of the St. Lawrence River, where the Rifle Club of Montreal 
 were practicing for their annual competition. The proprietor 
 was an American gentleman, and also a member of the Rifle 
 Club of Montreal — of which he was the only one that was in 
 possession of an American rifle. The other members used 
 English rifles, with a spherical ball, surrounded with an 
 annular projection. They were practicing at twenty rods, 
 while the American was practicing at sixty rods, and the 
 
16 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 latter informed the writer that it had been proposed in the 
 club — against which he was strenuously protesting — to shoot 
 at these odds, at the annual contest, on the ground that they 
 represented the actual difference between the rifles. 
 
 The rifle used by the American had been manufactured 
 for him by James, of Utica, after he had tried and failed to 
 get one of Wesson's rifles, who, as he informed the writer, 
 made the best rifle that could be procured. 
 
 The writer then remembered that he had been offered a 
 Wesson rifle, at Portland, Me., during the previous summer, 
 for which he went at once, on his return, to Portland. The 
 owner, however, had died, and his widow lived at Bangor, 
 and so it was the next summer before the rifle was finally 
 procured. The writer well recollects his astonishment when 
 it was tried on the farm of a friend, at Gorham ; and it is 
 well to remark here, that the performance of the Wesson 
 rifle thirty-five years ago has never been surpassed, as to 
 accuracy, in any distance, up to forty rods, although a 
 greater range was obtained by heavier barrels and bullets, 
 constructed on the same principle, before the war of the 
 rebellion. 
 
 It was in 1841 that Wesson began the manufacture of his 
 rifles at Northboro, Mass. At that time, the shortest string 
 of the old rifles, at 40 rods, was 50 inches. After the intro- 
 duction of his rifles, a 20-inch string, at that distance, was 
 common shooting. With a rifle made by James, Mr. J. T. 
 Chapman, author of a work on the improved American rifle, 
 made a string of 13| inches at 40 rods. At a sporting match 
 in Sherburne, N. Y., in January, 1845, the prize was won by a 
 three-shot string of 3§ inches at 40 rods. The best strings 
 which have been made by Chapman, at 40 rods, were 12 
 inches with a James rifle, and 11 inches, at the same distance, 
 with a Wesson rifle. With a James rifle, at 40 rods, using a 
 telescopic sight, he has made a string of 9§ inches, averaging 
 less than an inch of variation to each shot. 
 
 The Wesson rifle owned by the writer weighed 13 J Ihs. ; 
 the weight of its barrel was 10 lbs. ; it had open, globe and 
 telescopic sights, loading muzzle, chamber bushed with 
 platinum, movable wind-gauge on forward sight also graudu- 
 ated on platinum and cut with an index of -fa of an inch ; the 
 bead stood about T 3 ¥ of an inch from the barrel, and was 
 
OF RIFLE PRACTICE. 17 
 
 shaded by a hood of § of an inch in diameter and one inch 
 long ; the barrel was of cast-steel, annealed, and 32 inches 
 long, about 33 in its calibre, and cut with a g lining twist, 
 commencing with one turn in 6 feet, and ending with one in 
 3J feet, with 6 grooves, and the sides of the lands cut square 
 to their face, and the grooves not quite so wide as the lands. 
 The ball was conical, of 240 grains in weight, and used with 
 a charge of 75 grains of Hazard's sea-shooting powder. The 
 globe sight was turned with a screw of 64 threads to an inch, 
 which marked the declination of the ball as 1 foot in 20 rods, 
 4 feet in 40 rods, 13 feet in 60 rods, and 24 feet in 80 rods. 
 There was no spriug in the barrel under the concussion of 
 firing, as may be observed in the Creed moor rifles of the 
 present day, and a touch to its hair trigger would send a 
 bullet, wind and weather permitting, into a previous hole at 100 
 yards. The writer has actually fired, from a rest, seven suc- 
 cessive shots in the same bullet hole (making a slightly 
 curved line of 1J inches in length), from a distance of 173 
 yards. 
 
 There were faults, however, in the performance of the rifle, 
 in occasionally overturning the bullet. The general idea 
 seemed to be that this happened from a fracture of the hold 
 of the bullet in the grooves of the rifle.. The recovery of 
 some bullets which had been fired, however, taught the writer 
 that the ribs of the bullet had been melted, as he found a 
 drop of lead, thus melted, on the forward part of the bullet, 
 which had been one of its ribs This discovery, exonerating 
 the twist from the blame of deforming the ball, was the basis 
 of subsequent experiments to increase its velocity, which, at 
 that time, however, were only successful at the expense of its 
 accuracy. The fear of a rapid twist was then, and even now 
 is, a bugbear in developing the performance of a rifle. 
 
 The patchin of the ball was a circular piece of linen, 
 about twice its diameter, wet with spittle when designed 
 for immediate firing, and grease when used for hunting, 
 which was laid flat on the loading muzzle, the flat end of the 
 picket standing on its centre, when the guide starter would 
 be put on, embracing the false muzzle. The bullet would 
 then be driven into the grooves of the rifle, surrounded by 
 its fold of linen, passing through the false muzzle into the 
 rifle a distance of several inches, according to the length of 
 2 
 
18 THIRTY-FIVE YEAES 
 
 the starter, whose flat top would be driven by a blow of the 
 hand. In the false muzzle the bullet would take the grooves, 
 and pass below the grip of the true muzzle, which extended 
 only an inch and a half from the entrance, from which point 
 the bore was freed or enlarged to the chamber of the rifle, so 
 that the bullet glided easily down to the powder. The re- 
 moval of the false muzzle left the grooves in the true muzzle 
 sharp and clear to the exit of the bullet. To this fact the 
 superiority in accuracy of the rifle loaded with a false muzzle 
 is attributable. 
 
 A more efficient covering of the bullet completely pro- 
 tected it from the heat of the gas, and by enabling it to 
 retain its hold upon the grooves, permitted the use of larger 
 charges of powder, and more effectually blocked the escape 
 of gas through the grooves of the rifle, which were much 
 deeper than those used at the present day. The writer was 
 engaged in these experiments at the outbreak of the rebellion, 
 and before their completion was called upon for active service 
 in the field. 
 
 But, postponing at present a detail of the improvements 
 which had been made, at the commencement of the war, in 
 rifles and their projectiles, the writer returns to historical 
 narrative of little incidents which, though unimportant in 
 themselves, will serve better to elucidate rifle practice than 
 more scientific discussions bristling with trajectories and 
 algebraic formula. 
 
 The writer was in possession of his long-sought rifle, and 
 had returned to his temporary residence at Guildhall, Ver- 
 mont. On the next morning, after breakfast, looking over 
 the wide square which fronted the hotel, to the hill beyond, 
 some fowls were seen at a convenient distance, the ownership 
 of which was assumed by the fat landlord, who was sitting 
 in an easy chair, smoking his pipe. In answer to a request 
 for a shot at a straggler, the writer was given permission to 
 shoot all day at that distance. Balancing the rifle on a 
 chair, the shot was made, when immediately the usual gyra- 
 tions of an animal from a mortal wound were visible, and the 
 result of the shot as quickly announced by a spring of the fat 
 landlord from his chair, with the exclamation, " You have 
 shot her !" A measurement was shortly made, from which 
 the distance was found to be 123 J yards. The shot gathered 
 
OF RIFLE PRACTICE. 19 
 
 -some of the leading men of the village, who pronounced it a 
 chance shot. The village merchant proposed to put up 
 chickens, at 100 yards, for sixpence a shot, while the village 
 doctor would put up, at 40 rods, the largest turkey in the 
 county, at ninepence a shot. These propositions were all 
 accepted, and in due course of time, the parties appeared 
 with their birds. The first chicken, at 100 yards, was missed, 
 which miss was followed by a peal of laughter from the 
 •crowd, and a bystander offered to bet a box of cigars that 
 the next shot, also, would be a failure ; which proposition 
 also was accepted by the writer. The second shot secured 
 the chicken, as did also the succeeding ones, consecutively, 
 until six chickens had been scored. The merchant then 
 pleaded that he had lost enough. Upon a call for the tur- 
 key, the doctor made his appearance with a thirty-two- 
 pounder, with which he proceeded to the requisite distance, 
 and, with true Yankee ingenuity, tied him with his body be- 
 hind a fence post, ou the top of which his fan-like tail was 
 spread. No fence post of timber, however, grown in that 
 country, was proof against the bullet of a Wesson rifle, nor 
 was any large enough to hide the body of that turkey. The 
 doctor brought him back, after the first shot, a corpus delicti, 
 upon which the whole party subsequently dined. 
 
 A few days afterwards, a flock of ducks made their appear- 
 ance in the Connecticut River, near the New Hampshire 
 shore. The writer fired a shot at them, from a distance of 
 about 100 yards, selecting a group of three who were in line. 
 Two of the ducks remained dead in the water, while the 
 third was observed to fall from the flock at a considerable 
 ■distance. This shot, which was observed by others, and 
 talked over, induced an old gentleman, who had been a 
 notable shot in his da}^, to propose to the writer that he 
 should shoot at a dollar, put up at 100 } T ards, at ten cents a 
 shot. Accepting the challenge, without any doubt as to the 
 result, the writer was victimized by a target fastened to the 
 edge of a lath, laid horizontally, with a back-ground of snow, 
 which rendered it invisible. Subsequently, however, the old 
 gentleman was equally victimized, by putting up a dollar bill, 
 to be shot at on the same terms, at 60 rods, pasted on the 
 middle of a nine-inch bull's eye. As the target w r as on the 
 ice of the Connecticut River, and a gale of wind was blowing 
 
20 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 at the time, he supposed his venture was reasonably safe. 
 Two shots, however, out of five, would win the prize, until 
 the old gentleman was satisfied. 
 
 In the course of time, the scene of the writer's employment, 
 and amusement* with his rifle, shifted to the west, in the State 
 of Wisconsin. Shortly after his arrival, thirty or forty wild 
 ducks were killed by his rifle, on the suburbs of a village, 
 with many spectators. At another time and place, a par- 
 tridge was killed, from a tree, more than 100 yards distant, 
 in the presence of several spectators. In answer to the sug- 
 gestion that it was a chance shot, a mark was put up at 200 
 yards distant, at which off-hand shots were fired with a hair 
 trigger, which averaged about three or four inches from the 
 centre. A match was then spoken of, with a tige rifle, which 
 had recently been brought from Europe. The match did not 
 come off; but the same tige rifle was subsequently used by 
 the writer, for shooting in the woods, for which purpose,, 
 from its light weight and easy loading, it was handier than 
 his Wesson rifle. Its accuracy, moreover, was sufficient to 
 bring a squirrel from the loftiest trees, a fact which rather 
 surprised the writer when he heard, about the same time, of 
 the Minie rifle, that was superseding it, with a range of 1,100 
 yards, and when the published trajectories of both bullets 
 came under his observation, at a later date, and failed to 
 confirm his expectations of their efficiency. It is well, how- 
 ever, to mention that the tige rifle, in Wisconsin, was suc- 
 cessful for squirrel shooting by the use of a light bullet, and 
 was of smaller calibre than those used in the French service. 
 
 The weight of the Wesson rifle, together with its append- 
 ages and care required for its loading, made it an awkward 
 weapon for field use. The rifles and rifle barrels made by 
 the elder Eemington (the latter of which were furnished to 
 rifle manufacturers at various localities), supplied the mar- 
 kets, until the breech-loaders of Colt, Sharpe and Maynard 
 came into general use as sporting and military weapons. In re- 
 gard to breech-loaders, it may be said that " Hall had patented 
 them in 1811, and afterwards furnished 10,000 of them to the 
 Government, which were used with success in the Black 
 Hawk and Seminole wars, some of which remained on hand 
 until the war of the Eebellion ; that Ferguson had supplied 
 breech-loaders to the enemy, under his command, which 
 
OF RIFLE PRACTICE. 21 
 
 were used against us at the battle of King's Mountain, in the 
 Revolutionary war ; and that, at a later date, Burnside, Jen- 
 nings and others, had furnished breech-loaders to the Gov- 
 ernment for trial ;" which, though not successful at the time, 
 served as the basis upon which other companies were organ- 
 ized, and successful weapons were manufactured at a later 
 date, subsequent to the war of the Rebellion, of which due 
 notice will be taken at the proper time. From 1850 to 1860, 
 however, Colt, Sharpe and Maynard furnished the only 
 weapons that gained public attention, beside the European 
 weapons which had acquired reputation during the wars of 
 England and France with Russia (1854), and the war between 
 France and Austria (1859). 
 
 In the year 1854, these European rifles were tried at 
 Harper's Ferry, under orders from the war department, and 
 experiments instituted by which the Government arms were 
 determined upon, that were afterwards used to a limited 
 extent in the war of the Rebellion. r J he 120th Regiment, 
 N. Y. S. V. (from the County of Ulster, which the author had 
 the honor of commanding in several engagements), were fur- 
 nished with these weapons. The 20th Regiment (from the same 
 county, in which the writer had previously served), were 
 armed with the Enfield rifles. In the three months' service 
 they had been armed with the smooth-bore musket. 
 
 As these trials embraced the smooth-bore musket, which, 
 up to that time, had bemi the general arm, together with 
 rifles which had been manufactured by the elder Remington 
 for the United States Government, and breech-loaders fur- 
 nished by Sharps it will be of interest, at this late date, to 
 insert some of these tables, to ascertain what was the status 
 in the knowledge of military projectiles anterior to the war 
 of the Rebellion. 
 
 The rifles and revolvers of Col. Colt were the first suc- 
 cessful breech-loaders and repeaters that have been made, 
 although numerous inventions for such fire-arms are upon 
 record for the last three hundred years. His rifles, one of 
 which first came under the author's notice in 1843, were not 
 at first successful ; but his revolvers used in the Mexican 
 war, gained a world-wide reputation and sale. The rifle was 
 used by Marcy, in his overland expedition to the Red River, 
 in 1852, and received his commendation. It was afterwards 
 
22 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 adopted by an army board, in 1858. His patent had been? 
 obtained abroad, in England, in 1835, and at home in 1836.. 
 His first patent for revolving barrels dated back to 1830. 
 
 The Colt rifle was constructed on the same general prin- 
 ciple as his pistols. A revolving chamber received the- 
 charges, which were either loose powder or cartridges. The 
 charge was fired by a cap. At the outbreak of the war, it was 
 regarded, by high authority, as " unsurpassed as a sporting 
 weapon, and unequaled for accuracy by any military re- 
 peater. With open sights, it has placed ten consecutive 
 shots in a nine-inch ring, at 200 yards. At 400 yards, 48 
 shots were successively placed in a target space four feet 
 square ; ten successive shots in a space 8x6 inches, at 200 
 yards, and six successive shots in a space 12x5 inches, at 400 
 yards. The rifle was .44 calibre, the weight of bullet was 
 256 grains, and of powder 36 grains." 
 
 " The Maynard rifle was first patented May 27th, 1851. A 
 patent was obtained for a metallic cartridge in 1856, through 
 which the fire was communicated from a cap. The Maynard 
 cap, or primer, consisted of a narrow strip of varnished 
 paper, of double thickness, having deposits of fulminating 
 powder between the two, at equal distances apart. The strip 
 containing three or four dozen of these cells was coiled in a 
 magazine beneath the lock-plate, and brought up by the- 
 motion of a wheel in the act of cocking, so as to bring a cell 
 directly upon the top of the nipple. The fall of the hammer 
 exploded it, and at the same time cut off the paper behind, 
 so that it was not seen again until the gun was cocked. The 
 barrels were of different sizes, easily attached to and removed 
 from the stock, one of which usually was of .50 calibre, load- 
 ing 48 grains of powder and 350 grains of lead, and the other 
 of .35 calibre, loading 36 grains of powder and 140 of bullet. 
 In 1857 and 1858, Edward Stabler, a noted hunter of Mary- 
 land, was performing feats with this rifle, which have never 
 been excelled for precision and celerity of fire at game. He- 
 says : ' As good, if not the best, shooting I have ever wit- 
 nessed, has been done by my thirty-two-inch, small calibre 
 Maynard. After properly arranging and adjusting the 
 sights, and attaching a hair trigger, I have fired, with a rest,. 
 four successive balls, at 66 yards, all breaking into the first 
 hole, and all covered by a York shilling. At 300 yards, also,. 
 
OF RIFLE PRACTICE. 23 
 
 with a rest, three successive shots were all within the com- 
 pass of a visiting card, or less than a two-inch ring. A year 
 or two later (1861), a hunting companion, with me, fired at a 
 deer swimming, at over 100 yards, and missed ; before he was 
 much, if any, over half re-loaded, I fired three balls into the 
 same deer, killing him before he could escape.' At another 
 time, ' coming upon two deer, within 50 or 60 yards, they 
 standing within three or four feet of each other, I dropped 
 the first in his tracks, and before the second had moved 
 twenty-five yards, I had re-loaded and knocked him down 
 also.' " 
 
 At a later date in the war, the Confederates, at Ball's 
 Bluff, used these rifles with deadly effect. 
 
 The Sharpe breech-loader was first patented in 1848, by 
 Christian Sharpe. A company was organized for its manu- 
 facture in Hartford, in 1851, which carried on the business 
 there with great success. They obtained reputation during 
 the anti-slaver}^ struggle in Kansas. Carrying a heavier 
 charge of powder (which was 60 grains) and heavier bullet 
 (450 grains) than other breech-loaders of the time, it rose in 
 favor, though its growth was a long time retarded by its im- 
 perfect cartridges and unpleasant escape of gas at the breech. 
 The cartridges prepared for these rifles, during the war, were 
 of stout linen, strong enough to bear rough handling ; the base 
 was of paper, through which the powder was ignited by the 
 explosion of the cap. 
 
 In January, 1875, a new company was organized, under a 
 special charter from the State of Connecticut. Early in 1876 
 the new organization erected an armory at Bridgeport, Conn., 
 whose weapons were conspicuous in the international con- 
 tests at Creedmoor and Dollymount, and whose military 
 rifles were considered unequaled, for a time, at Creedmoor. 
 
 There were also two magazine rifles used during the war, 
 which it is necessary to mention in this connection. The 
 first was the Heniw, with a magazine under the barrel, con- 
 taining fifteen metallic cartridges. The calibre was .42 ; 
 weight of ball, 216 grains, and weight of powder, 28 grains. 
 It was afterwards merged into the Winchester rifle, whose 
 popularity at a later date will receive subsequent mention. 
 
 The second was the Spencer repeating rifle, which was 
 patented in the United States in 1860, and in the principal 
 
24 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 kingdoms of Europe at subsequent dates during the same 
 year. It was ordered in large quantities during the war, and 
 used, among the first, the rim-fire copper cartridge. The 
 magazine was in the butt, and contained seven charges. 
 The calibre was .50 ; the charge of powder was 38 grains, 
 and weight of bullet 450 grains. It had, also, a sporting 
 bullet of 236 grains in weight. 
 
 The Wesson and Ballard rifles were also used during the 
 war, both taking the copper cartridge. The latter came into 
 more general notice at a period subsequent to the war. The 
 other was manufactured by F. Wesson, who was formerly 
 associated with his brother, the late Edwin Wesson, of 
 Northboro, Mass., who is so well known in connection with 
 the best of work in the manufacture of target rifles. The 
 calibres of both weapons were .44, and the cartridges of each 
 contained 26 grains of powder and a bullet of 216 grains. 
 
 General Norton, in his elaborate work on " American 
 Inventions in Small Arms and Heavy Ordnance," gives the 
 following list of American systems of breech-loaders, manu- 
 factured and purchased from January 1st, 1861, to June 
 30th, 1866, which were issued almost entirely to mounted 
 troops : 
 
 1,509 Ballard. 20,002 Maynard. 
 
 1,002 Ball. 1,001 Palmer. 
 
 55,567 Burnside. 20,000 Remington. 
 
 9,342 Cosmopolitan. 80,512 Sharpe. 
 
 22,728 Gallagher.. 30,062 Smith. 
 
 1,052 Gibbs. 94,156 Spencer. 
 
 3,520 Halls. 25,603 Starr. 
 
 11,261 Joslyn. 4,001 Warner. 
 
 892 Lindner. 151 Wesson. 
 
 14,495 Menill. 
 " The conditions, wdiose observance is essential to the 
 utmost perfection of accuracy and power, were more rigidly 
 adhered to in the American target rifle than in any one 
 which had yet been produced antecedent to the war of the 
 Rebellion, and their fulfillment has resulted in the produc- 
 tion of a weapon whose accuracy, probably, never can be 
 surpassed. This weapon, weighing from twenty-five to fifty 
 pounds with loading muzzle an i telescopic sights, proved its 
 value, under certain circumstances, during the war, having 
 
OF RIFLE PEACTICE. 25 
 
 been used by the Confederates as well as ourselves." The 
 writer saw, at Lancaster, New Hampshire, in 1880, a couple 
 of these weapons, with forty-pound barrels, in the shop of a 
 gunsmith, who had been in the Confederate service during 
 the war, and who had used them in the forts about Richmond 
 with deadly effect. 
 
 " General Jacobs mentions, as a proof of the remarkable 
 power of one of his rifles, that a good shot could put nearly 
 every ball into a circle of eight feet diameter, at 1,000 yards. 
 With the target rifle and telescopic sights, the feat has 
 repeatedly been performed of firing a series of shots, without 
 .a single miss, into a flour barrel, at three-quarters of a mile. 
 At Yorktown, the Andrews sharpshooters, armed with these 
 rifles, in repeated iustances held the enemy's batteries silent 
 until counter-works were established, which could not have 
 been erected but for their aid. On one occasion, a party of 
 our men, working in the trenches, were annoyed by a sharp- 
 shooter, who had posted himself in a tree 800 yards distant, 
 from which he could make their position an uncomfortable one, 
 while it was impossible, at that distance, even to distinguish 
 him, with the naked eye, among the branches of the tree. 
 Two of the Andrews sharpshooters were placed in the 
 trench, a telescopic sight was placed upon him, and the first 
 shot brought him down." 
 
 On the 30th of June, 1863, a match, of fifty shots each, at 
 40 rods, was shot between a target rifle, weighing forty-two 
 pounds, of .51 calibre, with a bullet weighing 577 grains and 
 a charge of powder weighing 134 grains, and another gun of 
 the same kind, with a slightly larger calibre, and with a 
 bullet shorter than the first, but one and a half grains 
 lieavier. The fifty shots of the former measured 77-^f inches, 
 and the fifty shots of the latter, 73j-f inches, the average, in 
 each case, being one and a half inches from the centre. It 
 was a very bad day for shooting, the wind blowing in violent 
 gusts, and shifting its course continually. 
 
 " The guns were laid upon a solid frame of timber, and 
 elevated and depressed with a screw, like artillery. Stream- 
 ers of light cotton cloth, attached to poles, were fixed at 
 intervals along the line of fire, to indicate the direction and 
 force of the wind. The aim being adjusted, the shooter had 
 nothing to do but watch the flags and decide upon the right 
 
26 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 moment to pull the trigger, which he might do for himself, or 
 direct another to do for him with equal certainty of success.'* 
 
 The rifles which had accomplished the victory at New 
 Orleans, in 1816 (to which further reference will shortly be 
 made), were generally of the type which Cooper afterwards 
 immortalized through a succession of his novels. With 
 barrels of 3J feet to 4 feet in length, weighing from nine to 
 twelve pounds, and with round bullets weighing from 60 to 
 300 to the pound, the exploits of Leather Stocking, and of 
 another hero equally familiar to the public ear as David 
 Crockett, were performed. 
 
 In foreign countries a larger bore had been used. The 
 general characteristics of European rifles appear to have 
 been very large calibres, light and short barrels, and a twist 
 of one turn in three feet, sometimes using a patch and some- 
 times not. In England, the barrels were 2J feet long, and 
 bullets of 20 to the pound, without a patch. In 1846 the 
 zone, or belted, rifle was introduced by Moore, a noted 
 London manufacturer. 
 
 Grooves were first used in Vienna, in 1498, to facilitate 
 the loading of bullets. In 1522 it had been found that 
 giving the groove a spiral turn, relative to the axis of the 
 bore, that greater accuracy could be obtained. 
 
 CHAPTEK II. 
 
 METALLIC CARTRIDGES. 
 
 Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson obtained a patent in 
 August, 1854, for the employment in a cartridge of the 
 metallic or indurated seat, so that it shall rest directly on 
 the powder, in combination with arranging the priming or 
 percussion powder in rear of said disc, or on the side of it 
 opposite to that which rests against the powder, thereby 
 affording the .opportunity for applying the force of the blow 
 by which the priming is inflamed, such force being applied 
 in the line of the axis of the cartridge. Under this patent 
 they constructed, in 1859, a revolver using a central-fire 
 metallic cartridge. In April, 1860, they also obtained a 
 patent for a rim-fire metallic cartridge. 
 
OF EIFLE PRACTICE. 27 
 
 " Thus to the Americans is due the honor of bringing the 
 metal cartridge to its present state of perfection, and Messrs. 
 Smith & Wesson were the first Americans to use the copper 
 cartridges for their pistols. The copper cartridge, for 
 weapons of war, was first largely adopted in our own armies 
 during the Rebellion, and was the parent of many beautiful 
 inventions in breech-loading small arms, both in our own 
 and other countries." In England, the first metallic car- 
 tridge cases were made from coiled metal foil, and covered 
 with paper. They were invented in 1866, and known as the 
 Boxer cartridge. The paper, however, rucked up when in- 
 serting the cartridge in the chamber of the gun, and has 
 been superseded by coil brass. 
 
 For sporting guns or fowling pieces, however, non-con- 
 suming cartridges, in breech loaders, had long been used. 
 They were invented almost simultaneously by two French- 
 men, whose inventions deserve special notice in this con- 
 nection. 
 
 The first invention, though of slower growth, was eventually 
 of the greatest importance. A. M. Pottet, in France, in 1835,. 
 invented the central-fire, non-consuming cartridge case, and 
 his system is still the one in general use. In this cartridge 
 the base was of metal and the cylinder of coiled paper. The 
 base of the cartridge was filled with hard card-board, pressed 
 into the case when it is a pulp} T state. These cartridges 
 were introduced in England in 1862. 
 
 The first gun on the central- fire principle appears to have 
 been the Prussian needle-gun, which gun had the detonating 
 mixture distributed over a paper wad, at the base of the 
 bullet, the needle having to pass through the powder before 
 it reached the detonator. It was invented by Herr Dreyse, 
 in 1838, and adopted by the Prussian army in 1842. 
 
 To M. Lefaucheux is due the honor of inventing the 
 modern breech-loading sporting gun ; but, although, so to 
 speak, a practically useful weapon when first introduced by 
 him, the action was weak and imperfectly developed. But 
 his great achievement was the introduction of a shell, or car- 
 tridge case, which should fit the breech of the gun. The 
 shell, or case, by expanding at the moment of discharge, 
 effectually closes the breech-joint and prevents the escape of 
 gas. Conditions such as these had not been brought about 
 
'28 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 before M. Lafaucheux's discovery, bv the combined ingenuity 
 of bis predecessors. The escape of gas was the first difficulty 
 to be overcome, and however close the breech might be 
 iitted, the gas would without the case, escape at the moment 
 of firing, and find a way through the joints of the best fitting 
 breech ; its doing so was owing to the expansion of the 
 metal. The happy idea of making the cartridge contain its 
 own ignition greatly contributed to the success of the inven- 
 tion. Strictly speaking, the cartridge case is the breech and 
 nipple of the gun, the cap being inside of the barrel ; the 
 brass striking-pin becomes the nipple ; thus the objection to 
 conducting the flash from the outside to the inside of the 
 barrel is overcome. 
 
 The cartridge invented and used by Lefaucheux is still the 
 same as that now commonly used in pin-fire guns. It was 
 invented in 1836, and made of paper, with a metal base. The 
 cap was placed into a chamber, with its cup end pointing 
 upwards ; a loose brass rod projected from the cup of the 
 caps upwards through the cartridge case, and was struck 
 by the hammer and driven down in the cup, thus causing 
 the discharge. 
 
 From this cartridge may be dated the success of the 
 modern breech-loader, for, by its expansion, at the moment 
 ■of discharge, escape of gas at the breech is rendered im- 
 possible ; though, if not well made, or heavily loaded, they, 
 in common with all pin-fire cartridges, will burst at the pin- 
 hole and allow the escape of gas through it. 
 
 The greatest advantage gained by the central-fire principle 
 is the non-escape of gas at the breech ; the next is cleanli- 
 ness — there is no pin-hole in the barrels to let in the wet. 
 The pin-hole is a great objection, as the pin must fit in the 
 notch in the barrels, before the barrels can be closed ; in 
 very rapid loading, and during excitement in shooting, or 
 when after dangerous game in wild countries, this would 
 cause delay in fitting the cartridges properly. The central- 
 fire plan greatly facilitates loading and unloading. It is 
 often difficult to extract a tight-fitting cartridge from a pin- 
 gun, especially when the gun is foul ; this is another cause 
 of delay. The cartridges are not so handy to carry, on ac- 
 count of the projecting pin, as the central-fire. 
 
 The Lefaucheux cartridge was most unsuitable for a mili- 
 
OF BIFLE PBACTICE. 29' 
 
 tary rifle, on account of the projecting pin. About 1860 the 
 rim-fire cartridge was successfully used. 
 
 The solid brass-drawn cartridge was first used in the 
 United States. That which contained the ignition in the 
 rim proved, upon trial, to be unsatisfactory, on account of 
 the frequency of misfire, and liability to split and expand at 
 the base. Moreover, it had the disadvantage that the cop- 
 per shell could not be re-formed or re-loaded after the con- 
 tents had been discharged. 
 
 With the rim-fire ammunition, as soon as the charge of 
 powder exceeds 40 or 45 grains, there is danger of the shell 
 bursting in the flange and allowing the gas to escape. The 
 next step, therefore, in advance, was the use of the central- 
 fire, which has a solid base the thickness of the rim, and the 
 flange is reinforced within by an inside cup. With this car- 
 tridge we are able to use a heavy charge of powder. Ity 
 concentrating the percussion composition in the centre of 
 the head, the quantity used is reduced to less than one- 
 fourth of what is required to prime the entire circumference 
 in the rim-fire, and this small quantity is so much better 
 protected as not to be at all liable to accidental explosion. 
 
 The use of this cartridge, however, with the heavy charge 
 of powder and paper lining of the bullet, was subsequent to 
 the war of the Bebellion, and will receive further notice. 
 
 The advantages of the metallic cartridge were its com- 
 pleteness and simplicity, being either self-primed or capped 
 with great facility, and used as a whole in loading ; its 
 strength and safety, withstanding the roughest usage, and 
 thoroughly protecting the powder and fulminate ; its accu- 
 racy, because of the coincidence of the axis of the bore and 
 the bullet ; and, added to these, the impossibility of using 
 more than one cartridge at a time. It is impervious to 
 moisture, and may be even used after immersion in water. 
 
 CHAPTEK III. 
 
 BULLETS. 
 
 The first method employed in loading the rifle consisted in 
 forcing the bullet (spherical), either naked or covered with a 
 greased patchin, down the muzzle, with blows of the mallet, 
 
30 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 or with the rammer. This manner of loading deformed com- 
 pletely the forepart of the ball, and greatly increased its 
 length, at the same time rendering the process of loading 
 very slow. 
 
 The second method was loading at the breech. This con- 
 sisted in giving to the part of the bore at the breech a diameter 
 somewhat greater than the other part of the barrel, and 
 placing in it a ball larger than the diameter of the barrel, 
 bnt fitting the breech. This ball, under the action of the 
 powder, was forced into the grooves, and had to follow them, 
 thus getting its motion of rotation. This manner of loading 
 was simple and easy ; but the complication of mechanism 
 the breech-loader requires, and the escape of gas at the 
 joint, were inconveniences that prevented it from being gen- 
 erally applicable to arms for troops. 
 
 The third was to load by the muzzle. It consisted in 
 giving to the ball a circular rim, which, fitting into the 
 grooves (the rifle had but two), followed them, and thus had 
 communicated a motion of rotation. This method did not 
 destroy completely the windage, neither did it give any 
 notable increase of accuracy. 
 
 None of the above methods fulfilled the conditions required 
 of an arm for soldiers; the first being too slow, the second 
 offering breech-loading defects, and the third not giving any 
 marked superiority over the musket. The rifle, as an arm 
 for infantry, would probably have fallen into disuse in 
 Europe, and been forgotten there, had not a new method of 
 loading been discovered by M. Delvigne, an infantry (French) 
 officer of the Royal Guard. 
 
 The universal weapon for infantry had been the smooth- 
 bore musket. In England, the renowned " Brown Bess," for 
 a century and a half, was the regulation arm for the British 
 forces. It was slightly modified for land and sea service, but 
 the difference was trifling. It weighed 11 lbs. 2 oz. The 
 barrel was 3 feet 6 inches long, and the bore .753 inches, or 
 11 gauge. The bullet used was about three sizes smaller 
 than the bore, and was wrapped up in a loosely fitting patch, 
 which formed a cartridge. The service charge was 4J 
 drachms (122 grains), with a bullet of 490 grains. 
 
 The calibre of the United States musket was .69. Its ser- 
 vice charge was 110 grains, and weight of ball 400 grains. 
 The initial velocity was 1,500 feet per second. 
 
OF RIFLE PRACTICE. 31 
 
 The method of Delvigne for loading the rifle with a 
 spherical ball, consisted in screwing into the lower end of the 
 barrel a hollow breech, the diameter of which w T as a little 
 less than the diameter of the barrel, forming thus a chamber 
 in the bottom of the piece, in which the powder could be de- 
 posited, and a projection, or shoulder, upon which the car- 
 tridge could rest. The cartridge was composed of a sabot of 
 wood, hollowed out spherically on its upper side, and having 
 about its inferior part a patchin of greased serge. The 
 sabot, resting on the shoulders of the chamber, gave to the 
 ball a fixed support, which permitted the person loading to 
 flatten it slightly, by means of a few gentle taps of the ram- 
 mer, thus forcing the lead into the grooves ; the shoulders of 
 the chamber prevented the ball from penetrating it, and thus 
 made its expansion into the grooves regular ; the patchin 
 served to prevent the inconvenience of fouling ; and, finally, 
 the grease, melted by the inflammation of the powder, 
 formed, with the residuum, an unctuous paste which offered 
 no resistance to the descent of the ball in loading, and which 
 was, in part, thrown out by the discharge. 
 
 The contrivance of Captain Delvigne, without the sabot, 
 was first introduced in 1826, and tried two years in the 
 Garde Roy ale, during the expedition to Africa, in 1830, and 
 was found still defective. The edge of the chamber on w r hich 
 the bullet lodged, not being opposed to the direction of the 
 blow with the ramrod, did not form a sufficient support upon 
 which to flatten the bullet, whilst, after a few rounds, a foul- 
 ness formed in the chamber and on the outside of it; some- 
 times, also, a portion of the charge of powder, when poured 
 in, having lodged on the contraction, cushioned, and caused 
 the bullet, instead of resting on the edge of the chamber, to 
 rest on the powder, so that it was no longer really forced into 
 the grooves ; consequently, the latter, becoming foul, could 
 not, in their turn, any longer act effectively on the bullet. 
 Besides, the military authorities in those days would not 
 hear of an elongated projectile; hence arose another objec- 
 tion ; for, if the spherical bullet w 7 as rammed too hard, part 
 of the lead was forced into the chamber, thereby lengthening 
 the projectile and throwing its centre of gravity out, so that 
 it turned over on the axis of its smallest amount of inertia, 
 and the accuracy became greatly affected at 220 yards. 
 
32 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 M. Del vine's fundamental principles were, however, too 
 important to be passed over with neglect, and his rifle was 
 submitted to an artillery committee for further improvement. 
 By this committee (of which Lieutenant-Colonel de Pon- 
 charra, of the engineers, was president), greased cartridges 
 were adopted, which, introduced with the bullet, cleaned the 
 groove each time ; and the ball was further made to rest on 
 a wooden cup, or sabot, which, fixed to it, rested on the top 
 of the chamber. 
 
 The Poncharra-Delvigne rifle, although answering exceed- 
 ingly well in the practice carried on within France and Bel- 
 gium, in 1839, was still objectionable as a war weapon, from 
 the complication in the ammunition, causing the latter to be 
 procured with difficult} 7 in the field. M. Delvigne then pro- 
 posed a rifle musket ; but, about the same time, the com- 
 mandant of the French artillery (Thierry), presented another 
 model of a rifle, from which cylindro-conical bullets were to 
 be fired ; and these M. Delvigne had proposed should be flat 
 at the bottom, the body cylindrical, and a conical point. 
 Although tried on a large scale, they were not found to 
 answer with the Thierry rifle, and were replaced by spherical 
 bullets. 
 
 Colonel Thouvenin, of the same service, then endeavored 
 to overcome the difficulties which the Delvigne rifle pre- 
 sented, by fixing at the bottom of the bore an iron shank,, 
 having an axis identical with that of the bore, and around 
 which was placed the powder; the shank, stopping the 
 bullet, allowed it to be struck in such a manner as to cause 
 the lead to penetrate into the grooves. But here another 
 defect appeared. The pillar occupying a large portion of 
 the centre of the barrel, and the charge being placed in the 
 annular space surrounding it, the main force of the powder, 
 instead of taking effect in the axis of the piece and in the 
 centre of gravity in the projectile, acted only on that 
 spherical portion of it which lies over the annular chamber, 
 and thus the bullet, receiving, obliquely, the impulse of the 
 charge, was propelled with diminished force. Colonel 
 Thouvenen's rifle was thus about to share the fate of M. 
 Delvigne's, when it was considered advisable to try it in con- 
 nection with the elongated bullet already proposed. 
 
 Captain Delvigne, as we have seen, had proposed the 
 
OF KIFLE PRACTICE. 33 
 
 adoption of lengthened bullets, consisting of a cylinder ter- 
 minated by a cone, which was subsequently replaced by an 
 ogive, and he had further obtained a patent, dated 21st 
 June, 1841, amongst other matter, "For having hollowed the 
 base of my cylindro-conical bullet, not only for motives men- 
 tioned in the descriptive memoir, given with my demand for 
 a patent, but, besides, to obtain its expansion, by the effect 
 of the gases produced through the ignition of the powder. 
 By this means the efforts of the powder itself, which formerly 
 caused spherical bullets to deviate from the grooves, now 
 contributes to force the bullets of my system more firmly 
 into them." 
 
 In a paper published by M. Delvigne, in the '• Spectator 
 Militaire," of August, 1813, we find : " But during these in- 
 vestigations, I made an important discovery, which was, that 
 the gas, produced by the ignition of the powder, rushing into 
 the vacuum formed at the base of the bullet, expanded it and 
 forced it into the grooves. I here give the idea — a new one, 
 as I think — and recommend its application to such as occupy 
 themselves with the effect of fire-arms and powder. The 
 following, however, must be avoided : if the hollow is too 
 deep, the expansion is too great, and the consequent friction 
 enormous ; sometimes, even, the gas will traverse the bullet, 
 and, consequently, the projectile is deprived of a propor- 
 tion ary amount of velocity ; if too small, the expansion does 
 not take place." 
 
 Captain Minie, an instructor in the school of Vincennes, 
 merely filled up this hollow with an iron cup. This pre- 
 vented the gas forcing its way through the lead, and the 
 iron pressing on the lead increased the expansion. 
 
 It was then considered that a practical and definite solu- 
 tion had been obtained, which would enable soldiers to be 
 armed with a more useful weapon, firing a cylindro-ogival 
 bullet, having a groove in the cylindrical part, intended to 
 receive a greased patch ; at one time this was thought to be 
 useless. People were then surprised to find that the firing 
 lost much of its accuracy, and the groove was replaced, 
 when it was discovered that any variation in its shape and 
 in its position materially affected the practice. Not only 
 variations in the groove caused great alteration in the accu- 
 3 
 
34 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 racy of the fire, but any modification bearing on the trunk 
 of the cone, in rear of the projectile (for it was not quite a 
 cylinder), or on the fore ogive, altered the conditions of the 
 firing, so that the groove became, as it were, lost in the 
 midst of many other principles, the functions of which were 
 as much unknown. These theoretical considerations served, 
 however, as a point of departure for further investigations. 
 
 Captain Tamisier, another instructor in the school of Vin- 
 cennes, intrusted with following up the facts, and connecting 
 them by theory, had not ceased, for several years, concen- 
 trating his entire attention on the subject. 
 
 The groove had deprived the bullet of all geometrical form. 
 M. Tamisier wished to study the simple form, and tried the 
 pure cylindro-conical shape. He successively varied the 
 length of the cylindrical part and the angle of the cone. 
 
 The difference between a conical and cylindro-conical 
 bullet, in practice, is found in the fact that the former will 
 not naturally lie in the barrel as it should do, so that the 
 axis of the one may be coincident with the axis of the other, 
 but will lie at an angle, and, on leaving the barrel, when 
 inclined to one side, the inflamed gunpowder is enabled to 
 escape at the muzzle, on one side of the ball, before the other 
 is out of the barrel, thus giving the bullet a tendency to 
 deviate from its true path. 
 
 Having found that these variations greatly influenced the 
 accuracy of the firing, Captain Tamisier sought out the 
 reason. The conclusion he came to was that, to increase 
 the precision of elongated bullets, it was necessary to ascer- 
 tain the means of giving them a point of resistance, as far as 
 possible, behind their centre of gravity. His first endeavor 
 was to carry this centre of gravity to the furthest possible 
 point forward ; but to effect this, he was compelled to flatten 
 the fore end of the bullet, which had the disadvantage of in- 
 creasing the resistance of the air to the movement of projec- 
 tion. On reflection, he was led to adopt another plan for recti- 
 fying the path of the bullet through each instant of projec 
 tion ; and this was by creating, at the posterior end, resistances 
 which should act in case the axis of the bullet did not coin- 
 cide with the direction of motion, and this was carried out 
 by cutting upon the cylindrical part, instead of one as many 
 
OF RIFLE PRACTICE. do 
 
 circular grooves of .28 inches in depth as that cylindrical, or, 
 rather, slightly conical, part could contain. An increased 
 precision of firing, was the immediate result. 
 
 It is well to remark that the idea of carrying the centre of 
 gravity forward, had not escaped the penetrating mind of 
 Bobbins, who proposed to overcome the deviation of spherical 
 bullets, by making them of an egg-like form, "For, if such a 
 bullet," says he (Mathem. Tracts, vol. 1, p. 338), " hath its 
 shorter axis made to fit the piece, and it be placed in the 
 barrel with its smaller end downwards, then it will acquire, 
 by the rifles, a rotation around its larger axis ; and its centre 
 of gravity lying nearer to its fore part than its hind part, its 
 larger axis will be constantly forced, by the resistance of the 
 air, into the line of its flight ; as we see that, by the same 
 means, arrows constantly lie in the line of their direction, 
 however that line be incurvated." 
 
 Colonel Beaufov, in a very excellent little work published 
 in 1812, remarks upon this : " Several experiments. have been 
 tried with the egg-shaped ball, recommended by Mr. Robbins, 
 as preferable to the spherical form usually adopted, the 
 general results of which are nearly as follows : At long dis- 
 tances — that is, from 300 to 600 yards — when fired with a gun 
 of T G ¥ of an inch bore, they were found much less liable to 
 deviation than at 200 yards and under, with this peculiarit}-, 
 that in windy weather, whereas balls are usually driven to 
 leeward of the object, these had a diametrically opposite 
 effect. It was found, however, that these balls were subject 
 to such occasional random ranges, as completely baffled the 
 judgment of the shooter to counteract their irregularit}\ 
 Their deviations to windward, most likely, arose from the 
 effect of the wind on the after part, which, as being the 
 lightest end of the two, was driven more to leeward, and, 
 consequently, acted as a rudder to throw the foremost end 
 up in the wind." 
 
 That these grooves have the effect of improving the- accu- 
 racy of firing when the bullets are not perfectly homogeneous, 
 is certain ; but the British committee on small arms justly 
 considered that, owing to the careful way in which the bullets 
 are made in England, by compression, these grooves might 
 be dispensed with, and also that such a form might be given 
 
36 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 to M. Delvigne's hollow at the base of the bullet as would 
 obviate the use of the iion cup. 
 
 Balls were made by pressure in England, in 1838. Jn 
 France, however, at the time of which we are writing, they 
 were molded. 
 
 With these objects in view, Lord Hardioge, in 1852, re- 
 quested the leading English gun-makers to lay before the 
 Small Arms Committee such suggestions as they might con- 
 sider would effectually improve the projectile then in use, as 
 well as the arm. No bullet, however, was submitted which 
 was not a compound one — that is to say, having either a 
 separate plug, or an iron or copper cup, to produce the re- 
 quired expansion — except one, by Wilkinson, of Pall Mall, 
 which had, however, the defect of losing its accuracy when 
 made up into cartridge, as two very deep grooves, round its 
 lower part, closed up, by the force of the powder, and nipped 
 the paper round it, and held pieces of it during its flight, 
 thus causing very wild practice beyond 300 yards. But, 
 after the several trials weie over, a bullet was submitted by 
 Mr. Pritchett, of St. James Street, consisting of a simple 
 cylindro-conoidal projectile, having a small hollow at the 
 base. The expansion of this bullet is obtained by its being 
 made of such a length, in proportion to its diameter, that the 
 force of the powder, when ignited, acting suddenly against 
 the base, driving it up slightly before the inertia of the point 
 of the bullet is overcome, thus causing it to expand through- 
 out its cylindrical part, and more especially at the shoulder, 
 the most important part being directly over the centre of 
 gravity, the hollow at the base being more with the view of 
 lightening the bullet, and throwing its centre of gravity for- 
 ward, than to obtain expansion by»its means. 
 
 The shooting of this bullet, up to 800 yards, was found 
 superior to any that had yet been tried, when loaded ac- 
 cording to the usual Minie style, with greased cartridges 
 reversing the bullet. A satisfactory solution was then sup- 
 posed to be arrived at ; but, owing to the difficulty of loading 
 after fouling, which was so seriously complained of in the 
 Crimea, the whole question of the projeciile was reopened, 
 and a bullet was substituted with a deeper hollow, and a 
 wooden cup, which became the regulation service bullet. 
 
OF RIFLE PRACTICE. 37 
 
 The writer from whom we have been quoting (Captain 
 Jervis, in 1859) goes on to say : " I have carefully abstained, 
 throughout this work, from offering any opinion of mine own 
 upon the various suggestions or trials which have been made 
 at different times, respecting any part of the musket rifle ; 
 but as this bullet, with a wooden cup, is a decidedly retro- 
 gressive movement in the science of gunnery, I shall make 
 one or two remarks. 
 
 " When the Crimean war broke out, the practical applica- 
 tion of the theory of projectiles was in its infancy, and 
 numerous features remained to be demonstrated, and, amongst 
 others, 1st, the amount of windage required ; 2d, the manufac- 
 turing of the cartridge. Now, as, according to the theory of 
 expansion, there was only the difference of .01 allowed be- 
 tween the width of the bullet and the diameter of the bore, 
 and even this space was taken up by the paper of the car- 
 tridge, which was greased around the bullet so as to lubri- 
 cate — that is to say, clean the barrel each time it was loaded ; 
 but, nevertheless, it was found that, in hot weather, fouling 
 would take place to considerable extent, and at the same 
 time, the grease around the cartridge evaporating from the 
 same cause, the bullet , after some twenty rounds, got forced 
 through the paper of the cartridge, and after some rounds 
 could not be forced down at all. This was a serious ques- 
 tion, and, after due deliberation, the fault was laid to the 
 Pritchett bullet, and the Minie was restored, a boxwood 
 plug being substituted for the iron cup. But an important 
 fact had been overlooked, which was, that owing to the cup, 
 the paper of the new cartridge was always carefully tied at 
 the base of the bullet, to prevent the plug falling out, and 
 that it was this tie (termed a choke) which prevented the 
 bullet forcing its w r ay through the paper, and that, had it 
 been continued with the Pritchett bullet, it might have 
 answered as well. However, this new projectile did not do 
 away with the real difficulty of loading when the barrel 
 fouled ; and it has been found necessary to diminish the 
 diameter of the bullet to .551, a wise and judicious step, 
 which, though it may slightly affect target practice, will 
 afford most important results in the field, where facility of 
 loading is of paramount importance." 
 
38 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 These are sagacious remarks, and there is no doubt but 
 that, with the present cartridge, the Pritchett bullet even 
 now would make good work at tho butts, and prove to be a 
 good military bullet. But it is necessary to pass on to 
 other considerations, to see the Pritchett bullet experimented 
 on unsatisfactorily by our own army officers. We quote 
 now from them : 
 
 The rifle with the stem (carabine a tige), model of 1846, 
 had a calibre of .676 inches. Its ball weighed 717 grains, 
 and its charge of powder was 648 grains. In the essential 
 requisites of length of range and accuracy, it far excelled all 
 arms heretofore tried. At 1,421 yards, the cylindro-conical 
 ball struck the target point first, passing through two targets 
 of inch poplar plank, and indenting the third. 
 
 The rifle a tige, as a weapon, seemed brought to perfec- 
 tion, or in other words, the range, accuracy and simplicity of 
 this arm seemed as perfect as possible, when a new invention, 
 by Captain Minie, gives us not a greater range or accuracy, 
 but greater simplicity in construction and loading. The ball 
 was fired from the same rifle, the tige being removed. The 
 report, from which these items are extracted, was made in 
 Paris, in 1851. 
 
 In England, in 1852, the following experiments were made 
 with small arms : 
 
 The following principal gun-makers offered arms to the 
 Master-General of Ordnance, which, as well as the Minie 
 rifle adopted in 1851, and the regulation two-grooved rifle, 
 were experimented on, being fired from a frame arranged for 
 the purpose. All the makers proposed bores and bullets as- 
 follows : 
 
 Mr. Purdy 650 inch bore, or 17 balls to the pound- 
 Mr. Lovell 625 " 18 " 
 
 Mr. Greener 621 " 19 " 
 
 Mr. Eichards 577 " 24 " 
 
 Mr. Lancaster 540 " 30 " 
 
 Mr. Wilkinson 530 " 31 " 
 
 Eegulation Minie. . . 702 " 13 " 
 
 Brunswick 704 " 13 " 
 
 Distances for fall of ball, 4 feet 7 J inches. 
 
OF RIFLE PRACTICE. 
 
 39 
 
 Yards. 
 
 Lancaster 194 
 
 Lovell (heavy ball) 190 
 
 Lovell (light ball) 176 
 
 Wilkinson (naked ball) 185 
 
 Purely (plug ball) 180 
 
 Regulation Minie 177 
 
 Brunswick (rifle) . 173 
 
 Wilkinson (cartridge) 172 
 
 Feet. 
 
 
 
 Inches. 
 11 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 Q 3 
 
 °TO 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 2h 
 
 1 
 
 6* 
 
 Comparison of Percussion Musket of 1842 with Minie 
 Rifle of 1851 : 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .a a 
 
 => a 
 
 05 
 
 a-* ,5 
 S 3 
 
 » 0> 
 
 0Q 
 
 o5 £ 
 
 s g 
 
 •a ii 
 
 to 
 
 <a "g 
 
 is 5 
 
 3 * 
 
 3 
 
 IS 
 
 00 
 
 a 
 o5 » 
 
 § 33 
 
 P >H 
 
 a w 
 
 « n 
 
 S o 
 
 tf o 
 
 ^ o 
 
 w o 
 
 an 
 
 tfH 
 
 a Ph 
 
 M Ph 
 
 100 
 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 48 
 
 68 
 
 94 
 
 111 
 
 149 
 
 189 
 
 74.5 
 
 94.5 
 
 200 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 20 
 
 47 
 
 62 
 
 104 
 
 85 
 
 160 
 
 42.5 
 
 80. 
 
 300 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 20 
 
 32 
 
 17 
 
 72 
 
 32 
 
 110 
 
 16. 
 
 55. 
 
 400 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 29 
 
 7 
 
 71 
 
 9 
 
 105 
 
 4.5 
 
 52.5 
 
40 THIRTY-FIVE YEAES 
 
 Returning to the trial of arms that was made at Harper's 
 Perry, in 1853 and 1854, we shall first record the result of 
 the trial of the smooth-bore percussion musket then in general 
 use. 
 
 " To give the spherical ball heretofore used a fair trial, on 
 equal terms, a new musket of the exact calibre was fitted 
 with the same breech sight, or guide, used on the rifles a 
 tige, and fired from the same rest, and with every precaution 
 necessary to insure accuracy. 
 
 The annexed table of the firing shows that, at 300 yards, 
 the musket is not as accurate as the new rifle bullet at 
 double the distance ; and at 400 yards, the fire of the musket 
 is so uncertain as to be useless : 
 
 Target Practice at 300 Yards. Percussion Musket, 
 Service Charge. 
 
 "5 
 
 c3 
 £H 
 «H 
 
 o 
 
 <s 
 s 
 
 3d 
 
 30x15 
 
 o 
 
 A 
 
 6 
 
 25 
 
 42.04 
 
 "3 d 
 sg-2 
 
 ^ s » 
 70.75' 
 
 as.2 REMARKS. 
 
 87.06 12 per cent, missed target. 
 
 At 400 Yards. 
 
 u 
 
 03 
 
 En 
 
 o 
 
 N 
 
 30x15 
 
 o 
 
 d 
 
 25 
 
 S-l 
 
 HI 
 
 51.90 
 
 {J2 Mean 
 ■ Horizontal 
 
 jx* Deviation. 
 
 P |.2 REMARKS. 
 
 1-1 
 
 68.20 80 per cent, missed target. 
 
 To compare the spherical ball with the new elongated ball 
 in the rifle, a supply of rifle cartridges was procured at the 
 Washington Arsenal, and fired from the same rifle used in 
 the trials with the elongated ball. The annexed table gives 
 the result of these trials, which show that the limit of accu- 
 racy with the spherical ball is between 200 and 300 yards ; 
 over this latter distance it fails entirely. 
 
 The regulation rifle thus used had a diameter of bore of 
 0.54 ; of barrel at breech, 1.15 ; at muzzle, 0.90 ; with a length 
 of 33 inches, and a weight of 5 lbs. 5 oz. The length of the 
 arm was 48.8 inches, and weight 9 lbs. 10J oz. It had 7 
 grooves, 11 inches wide and .02 in depth at breech, and same 
 
OF RIFLE PRACTICE. 
 
 41 
 
 depth at muzzle. Its twist was regular, with one turn in 
 6 feet. 
 
 The weight of the service charge of the regulation musket 
 was 110 grains, and weight of bullet 397.5 grains, and the 
 initial velocity of the bullet was 1,500 feet per second. 
 
 The weight of the service charge of the regulation rifle was 
 70 grains, and the weight of its spherical bullet was 217 
 grains. Its initial velocity was 1,750 feet per second. 
 
 Target Practice with Eegulation Rifle, Service Charge, 
 Spherical Bullets. 
 
 o 
 
 a; -i-3 
 
 -2 3 
 
 5 
 
 s 
 
 o 
 
 33 
 
 o 
 d 
 
 fl § o 
 
 S a.S 
 
 S 5.2 
 
 a) a 
 
 150 yds. 
 
 8x8 
 
 25 
 
 7.24 
 
 6.16 
 
 10.53 
 
 200 " 
 
 8x8 
 
 25 
 
 12.13 
 
 13.27 
 
 19.67 
 
 300 " 
 
 8x8 
 
 25 
 
 15.58 
 
 32.03 
 
 39. 
 
 remarks. 
 
 7 shots in bullseye. 
 3 missed target. 
 1 shot in bullseye. 
 19 shots missed target. 
 76 per cent 
 
 Target Practice with Sharp's Carbine. Table of Mean 
 Deviations. Target, 8x8 Feet. 
 
 o 
 
 P 
 
 03 
 O 
 
 00 -d 
 
 d 
 
 £5*3,0 
 
 » s .3 
 
 So 
 
 3p 
 
 ■8 
 
 a: -J 
 GO 
 
 DATE. 
 
 
 150 yds. 
 
 25 
 
 10.12 
 
 7.71 
 
 13.78 
 
 1 
 
 Feb'y 14, 
 
 1854. 
 
 200 " 
 
 20 
 
 15.08 
 
 9.15 
 
 19.95 
 
 1 
 
 March 6, 
 
 1854. 
 
 300 " 
 
 20 
 
 23.96 
 
 7.91 
 
 27.29 
 
 4 
 
 March 9, 
 
 1854. 
 
 Be marks. 
 
 The bullets are too large for the diameter of the chamber 
 of the barrel. After being fired four or five rounds, it was 
 found impossible to force the cartridge in without bursting it 
 and spilling the powder. The firing was continued by 
 resorting to the expedient of separating the bullet from the 
 cartridge, forcing it into the chamber with a stick, and after- 
 wards pouring in the powder. The slide frequently became 
 very difficult to move. When the arm was taken in the shop 
 to be cleaned, after the firing was concluded, the slide could 
 not be moved at all, until thoroughly soaked in oil to soften 
 
42 
 
 THIRTY-FIVE YEAES 
 
 the dirt around it. The paper of the cartridge is always left 
 behind in the chamber, after each shot, and is frequently on 
 fire when the succeeding cartridge is inserted. To remove 
 all likelihood of danger from this, the paper remaining in 
 the chamber, after each shot, was removed before inserting 
 another cartridge. 
 
 Experiments conducted for a couple of years, at Harper's 
 Ferry and Springfield Arsenals, which embraced the promi- 
 nent European rifles and bullets, in July, 1855, the following 
 calibres were established : 
 
 .69 inch . Eifle-musket, model 1822, altered. 
 
 .69 " " " 1842, " 
 
 .58 " " " 1855, " 
 
 .58 " Eifle, " 1841, new. 
 
 .58 "... " " 1855, " 
 
 .58 " Pistol-carbine, " 1855, " 
 
 Trajectories. 
 
 Yards. 
 
 New Rifle-musket. 
 Bullet, 501) grs. ; 
 Powder, 60 grs. 
 
 Altered Rifle. 
 Bullet, 500 grs. ; 
 Powder, 60 grs. 
 
 Altered Musket. 
 Bullet, 730 grs ; 
 Powder, 70 grs. 
 
 200 
 
 0.20 
 
 0.25 
 
 0.30 
 
 300 
 
 .40 
 
 .50 
 
 1. 
 
 400 
 
 1.05 
 
 1.10 
 
 1.30 
 
 500 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.50 
 
 600 
 
 2.00 
 
 2.10 
 
 2.15 
 
 700 
 
 2.20 
 
 2.35 
 
 2.50 
 
 800 
 
 2.50 
 
 3.00 
 
 3.15 
 
 900 
 
 3.30 
 
 3.40 
 
 4.10 
 
 1000 
 
 4.15 
 
 4.30 
 
 4.50 
 
 Penetration of Seasoned White Pine Plank, 1 inch Thick 
 lh inches Apart. 
 
 
 New Rifle-musket. 
 Yards. Bullet, 500 grs. ; 
 Powder, 60 grs. 
 
 Altered Rifle. 
 Bullet, 500 grs. ; 
 Powder, 60 grs. 
 
 Altered Musket. 
 Bullet, 730 grs. ; 
 Powder, 70 grs. 
 
 200 11 
 
 n 
 
 
 10* 
 
 600 6J 
 
 5| 
 
 
 6^ 
 
 1000 3£ 
 
 3 
 
 
 3i 
 
 Initial velocity 963 
 
 914 
 
 
 880 
 
OF RIFLE PEACTICE. 
 
 43 
 
 Table of Mean Deviations foe New Rifle-Musket. Tar- 
 get 16x24. Weight of Ball, 500 Grains. Weight of 
 Powder, 60 Grains. 
 
 100 y 
 
 ards. . 
 
 . . . 1.9 inches 
 
 vertical. 
 
 1.5i 
 
 niches 
 
 hor 
 
 izontaL 
 
 200 
 
 it 
 
 .. 4.4 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 3.8 
 
 a 
 
 
 it 
 
 300 
 
 a 
 
 . . . 5.5 
 
 ( 
 
 a 
 
 5.1 
 
 a 
 
 
 a 
 
 400 
 
 a 
 
 ... 9.1 
 
 n 
 
 a 
 
 8.8 
 
 a 
 
 
 it 
 
 500 
 
 a 
 
 ...13.6 
 
 t 
 
 a 
 
 17.1 
 
 it 
 
 
 a 
 
 600 
 
 a 
 
 ...22.2 
 
 u 
 
 a 
 
 14.6 
 
 a 
 
 
 a 
 
 700 
 
 a 
 
 ...30.6 
 
 t 
 
 it 
 
 14.4 
 
 tt 
 
 
 a 
 
 800 
 
 it 
 
 . . .39.6 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 21. 
 
 a 
 
 
 it 
 
 900 
 
 ti 
 
 ...34.8 
 
 EC 
 
 it 
 
 21.4 
 
 a 
 
 
 a 
 
 Points of Trajectory New Rifle-Musket, U. S. Dis- 
 tance, 200 Xabds. Weight of Ball, 500 Grains. Weight 
 of Powder, 60 Grains. 
 
 Height, inches 14.5 17.7 19.3 19.6 17.5 10. 
 
 Distance, yards ... . 50 75 100 125 150 175 
 
 Points of Trajectory of Altered Musket, U. S. Dis- 
 tance, 200 Yards. Weight of Ball, 730 Grains. Weight 
 of Powder, 70 Grains. 
 
 Height, inches . . 
 
 ..16.2 
 
 18.8 
 
 19.7 
 
 20.9 
 
 17.5 
 
 10.4 
 
 Distance, yards . . 
 
 .. 50 
 
 75 
 
 100 
 
 125 
 
 150 
 
 175 
 
 Points of Trajectory Harper's Ferry Rifle, U. S. Dis- 
 tance, 500 Yards. Weight of Ball, 400 Grains. Weight 
 of Powder, 50 Grains. 
 
 Height, inches J85 UJ. L45 L50 J97 
 
 Distance, yards .... 100 200 250 300 400 5C0 
 
 This was the rifle made by Remington for the spherical 
 ball of 219 grains, and weight of powder, 70 grains. Altered 
 as above to use an elongated ball. 
 
44 
 
 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 The highest point of the 100 yards trajectory for the pistol 
 carbine was 12 inches ; and the highest point of the 300 
 yards trajectory for the rifle-musket was 40 inches. 
 
 A strong wind blowing perpendicularly to the direction of 
 the rifle-musket ball, will deflect it from its course 12 feet in 
 1,000 yards, about 3 feet in 500 yards, and about J foot in 
 200 yards. 
 
 Trajectory of the Enfield (English) Rifle at 100 Yards. 
 Weight of Bullet, 520 Grains ; of Powder, 62 1 Grains. 
 
 Distance from Muzzle, yards 50 75 100 
 
 Height of Bullet, inches 9 6f 
 
 At 200 Yards. 
 
 Distance, yards 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 
 
 Height, inches Hi 14| 19 21 20i 10£ 
 
 At 300 Yards. 
 
 Distance, yards. .50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 
 
 Height, inches... 17i 26i 33 40 & 42^ 43 39 32 24 14 
 
 Mean Variations Eeferred to Mean Point of Impact of 
 100 Shots Fired. 
 
 
 Yds. 
 
 Yds. 
 
 Yds. 
 
 Yds. 
 
 Yds. 
 
 Yds. 
 
 Yds. 
 
 Yds. 
 
 Distances . . . 
 
 161 
 
 273 
 
 382 
 
 437 
 
 54G 
 
 656 
 
 765 
 
 874 
 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Minie 
 
 A tige 
 
 24.40 
 
 24.80 
 
 33.87 
 38.20 
 
 46.37 
 59.37 
 
 47.63 
 48 03 
 
 59.44 
 
 69.68 
 
 104.74 
 115.35 
 
 109.44 
 137.40 
 
 129.11 
 137.40 
 
 In the month of June, 1849, these new balls were thoroughly 
 experimented upon at Yincennes. All the comparative trials 
 of this bullet, and the elongated one with the " a' tige" rifle, 
 were made, firing off-hand at different distances. 
 
 The graduation of the hausse for the Minie rifle was not 
 quite so high for the same distance as for the " a' tige." 
 
OF RIFLE PKACTICE. 
 
 45 
 
 Comparison of the Infantry Musket and Musket Altered 
 
 "A' Tige." 
 
 Distances 
 Dimensions 
 
 Yds. Ft. 
 
 to aud 
 of Target. 
 
 In. Ft. In. 
 
 No. of 
 Marksmen. 
 
 No. of 
 Balls fired. 
 
 Infantry 
 Musket. 
 
 Hits. 
 
 Infantry 
 Musket 
 altered 
 to Rifle 
 "A Tige.' 
 Hits. 
 
 164 
 
 6 
 
 6x 1 10i 
 
 15 
 
 60 
 
 18 
 
 37 
 
 218 
 
 6 
 
 6x 4 8 J 
 
 15 
 
 60 
 
 21 
 
 45 
 
 437 
 
 6 
 
 6x 6 6 
 
 15 
 
 60 
 
 3 
 
 31 
 
 656 
 
 6 
 
 6x13 
 
 15 
 
 60 
 
 3 
 
 25 
 
 874 
 
 6 
 
 6x19 
 
 15 
 
 60 
 
 3 
 
 14 
 
 
 Time of Flight. 
 
 
 Time of Flight. 
 
 Range. 
 
 
 
 
 Range. 
 
 
 
 
 * Rifle 
 
 Wallpiece. 
 
 t Rifle 
 
 Rifle 
 
 Wallpiece 
 
 Rifle 
 
 Yards. 
 
 1842. 
 
 1842. 
 
 A' Tige. 
 
 Yards. 1842. 
 
 1842. 
 
 A' Tige. 
 
 
 Seconds. 
 
 Seconds. 
 
 Seconds. 
 
 Seconds. 
 
 Seconds. 
 
 Seconds" 
 
 165 
 
 0.42 
 
 0.46 
 
 0.50 
 
 765 .... 
 
 
 2.97 
 
 218 
 
 0.74 
 
 0.75 
 
 0.69 
 
 874 
 
 
 3.67 
 
 328 
 
 1.29 
 
 1.37 
 
 1.13 
 
 984 ! . . . . 
 
 
 4.35 
 
 437 
 
 1.75 
 
 1.73 
 
 2.44 
 
 1093 
 
 
 
 5.07 
 
 546 
 
 2.64 
 
 2.53 
 
 1.86 
 
 1202 
 
 
 
 5.81 
 
 656 
 
 
 4.40 
 
 2.37 
 
 | 1312 
 
 .... 
 
 
 6.71 
 
 * Round ball; 517 grains ; initial velocity, 1,408 feet per second. 
 
 t Cylindro-conical ball ; 725 grains ; initial velocity, 1,023 feet per second. 
 
 The annexed table gives the mean results of many trials 
 made at Vincennes. The piece was loaded with as great 
 regularity and care as possible, and was fired from a stand 
 which held it at each discharge in exactly the same direction. 
 
 Mean Deviations of Carbine A' Tige. 
 
 Distances 
 of the 
 Target. 
 
 Mean 
 Horizontal 
 Deviation. 
 
 Mean 
 
 Vertical 
 
 Deviation. 
 
 Distances 
 of the 
 Target. 
 
 Mean 
 Horizontal 
 Deviation. 
 
 Mean 
 
 Vertical 
 
 Deviation. 
 
 Yards. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Yards. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 165 
 
 4.72 
 
 5.11 
 
 656 
 
 21.26 
 
 22.04 
 
 218 
 
 7.87 
 
 8.26 
 
 765 
 
 24.40 
 
 29.52 
 
 328 
 
 11.02 
 
 11.81 
 
 874 
 
 29.52 
 
 39.37 
 
 437 
 
 12.59 
 
 13.77 
 
 984 
 
 37.40 
 
 59.51 
 
 546 
 
 17.32 
 
 17.71 
 
 1093 
 
 49.21 
 
 82.67 
 
46 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
 
 Mean Deviations of Musket Altered to Rifle A' Tioe. 
 
 Distances 
 of the 
 Target. 
 
 Mean 
 Horizontal 
 Deviation. 
 
 Mean 
 
 Vertical 
 
 Deviation. 
 
 Distances 
 of the 
 Target. 
 
 Mean 
 Horizontal 
 Deviation. 
 
 Mean 
 Vertical 
 Deviation, 
 
 Yards. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Yards. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 164 
 
 5.90 
 
 6.30 
 
 546 
 
 19.29 
 
 20.86 
 
 279 
 
 9.44 
 
 9.84 
 
 656 
 
 24.40 
 
 26.37 
 
 382 
 
 13. 
 
 13.77 
 
 765 
 
 30.31 
 
 35.43 
 
 437 
 
 14.96 
 
 16.14 
 
 874 
 
 37.40 
 
 47.24 
 
 Shortly after the introduction of the Brunswick (belted 
 ball) rifle, the Minie rifle was produced, and his principle 
 adopted by the British government, who gave M. Minie 
 c£20,000 for his invention. 
 
ustotie 
 
 In closing the space allotted to the first part of this work on rifle prac- 
 tice, it is well to remark that the next number will continue the descrip- 
 tion of the Whitworth, Lancaster and Jacob bullets, which were all 
 brought out anterior to our civil war. It will then take up a resume of 
 the lessons taught by that war, and commence a description of Peabody, 
 Remington, Winchester, Sharp, and other rifles, and their work, which 
 will be continued throughout the third number, taking in a description 
 of the improvements in shells, and more particularly the Berdan shell 
 and bullet. The fourth number will be devoted to the express and ele- 
 phant rifles, and incidentally to the choke-bore gun which was preemi- 
 nently an American invention. The fifth number will be devoted to the 
 development of the match and military rifles, particular^ at Creedmoor, 
 Dollymount and Wimbledon The last number will be devoted to the 
 improved cartridges, which logically grow out of this discussion, and to 
 their tabular performances, when fired from different weapons — from 
 the elegant match rifle down to the cheapest form of military rifle. 
 These cartridges for military purposes will be of three kinds. 
 
 1st. A cartridge, to be fired from a rifle, Avith the ordinary fixed sights, 
 containing a very high charge of powder and a light bullet, to be used 
 within a range of 500 yards, with a very low trajectory and unsurpassable 
 accuracy, extreme range 1,800 yards. 
 
 2d. A cartridge, with less powder, but heavy bullet, to be fired from 
 the same rifle, with a fine sight, which can readily be attached to or 
 detached therefrom, which will cover from 500 to 1,500 yards with 
 extreme accuracy, extreme range beyond two miles. 
 
 3d. A cartridge, containing a heavy explosive bullet, to be fired from 
 the same rifle, with a range of two miles. 
 
 The elliptical targets and bulls-eyes ordered to be used in the army 
 will receive particular attention. It is an understood fact that they are 
 rendered necessary by the excess of vertical over horizontal discrepancies 
 in the use of the Springfield rifle, a fact which may be verified by a 
 glance at the tables which have been already introduced ; and a fact 
 that will always be established by using 70 grains of powder in any rifle 
 at long range ; it is also an undoubted fact that the Springfield bullets 
 
48 
 
 differ in their initial velocities from ten to fifteen feet a second, because 
 the bullets of match rifles have been found to vary more than that by- 
 Greener's experiments ; yet it is also a fact established by the records of 
 Creedmoor, of the match for the Leech Cup, on July 4, 1884, a fact 
 which was also witnessed by the writer, who will testify that it was a 
 windy and stormy day, that more than half of the rifles engaged in that 
 match made full scores at 800 yards, and that one rifle made 43 bulls-eyes 
 out of 45 shots, equally distributed at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. Here, 
 though there were varying initial velocities of 25 feet a second, yet there 
 was no need of elliptical targets, and if the Springfield rifle could be made 
 to contain a cartridge loaded with 110 grains of powder, the necessity for 
 elliptical targets for that weapon would disappear. 
 
 A large space will be devoted to the consideration of hollow bullets, 
 of which the author has made a specialty. 
 
 Early impressed with the importance of flat trajectories, we have 
 sought to realize them from hollow bullets, as only in their use the 
 length of bullet and lightness of projectile can be obtained. We have 
 seen that they have been in use for a long time, for explosive shells and 
 express rifles, but curiously enough they have only been used with light 
 twists to the grooves, probably because the superiority of their spinning, 
 furnished, with this light rifling, all that would be required for accuracy 
 in the short distances, for which they were to be used. It was probably 
 supposed that the quick twist of the long-range rifle would deaden the 
 velocity, which was the essential thing sought for in an express rifle- 
 So we read in Greener's books of 125 yards and 150 yards of point-blank 
 range, of the express rifles, conveying the idea that^r-^hisdistance the 
 bullet, from its extreme velocity, would keep upon a ka?get without any 
 curvature. It is unnecessary to refute this absurd notion, and we dis- 
 miss the attempt with the single remark, that in none of the velocities 
 of the express bullets, which he has recorded, would the fall of the 
 bullet, in 150 yards, be less than one foot measured upon the target, and 
 that with this declination, raising the back sight above the front .08 of 
 an inch, in the distance of 3 feet between sights, would accomplish this 
 point-blank, without a deviation of over 3 inches when aimed at an 
 intermediate object. 
 
 As to the statement that hollow bullets, though of unsurpassable 
 accuracy at short distances, go wild after traversing a distance of 250 
 yards, we have this to say, that they could not have been of a proper 
 length or fired from a proper twist. We have them of all sizes and 
 weights, and are prepared to state that they can be fired at long range 
 with accuracy. Of course, they are varied by the wind more than solid 
 balls, but the accuracy of their flight is greater, until we reach, in the 
 solid bullet, the prescribed length of three diameters. When we have 
 reached this length, the weight of the bullet is too great for flat trajectory 
 from a military rifle. 
 
 The material for the successive numbers of this work is prepared, and 
 will appear in print as rapidly as circumstances will allow. 
 

 
 
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