Military Rifles

—An e ential improvement in this destructive arm has lately been introduced into the British service, at the suggestion of Mr. Lovell: IMG:4147767755307473660_illo0477a.png:Barrel rifling and balls The intention in all rifles is to impart to the ball a rotatory or spinning motion round its axis, as it pa es out through the barrel. This object was attained, to a certain degree, in the rifles of the old pattern, by cutting seven spiral grooves into the inside of the barrel, in the manner shewn by fig. 407. , the spherical ball, fig. 408. , being a little larger than the bore, was driven down with a mallet, by which the projecting ribs were forced into the surface of the ball, so as to keep it in contact with their curvatures, during its expulsion. Instead of this laborious and insecure proce , the barrel being now cut with only two opposite grooves, fig. 409. , and the ball being formed with a projecting belt, or zone, round its equator, of the same form as the two grooves, fig. 410. , it enters so readily into these hollows, that little or no force is required to pre it down upon the powder. So much more hold of the barrel is at the same time obtained, that instead of one quarter of a turn, which was the utmost that could be safely given in the old way, without danger of stripping the ball, a whole turn round the barrel, in its length, can be given to the two grooved rifles; whereby a far more certain and complete rotatory motion is imparted to the ball. The grand practical result is, that better practice has been performed by several companies of the Rifle Corps, at 300 yards, than could be produced with the best old military rifles at 150 yards; the soldier being meanwhile enabled to load with much greater ease and despatch. The belt is bevelled to its middle line, and not so flat as shown in the figure. This mode of rifling is not, however, new in England. In fact, it is one of the oldest upon record; and appears to have fallen into disuse from faults in the execution. The idea was revived within the last few years in Brunswick, and it was tried in Hanover also, but with a lens-shaped (Linsenförmig) ball. The judicious modifications and improvements it has finally received in Mr. Lovell’s hands, have brought out all its advantages, and rendered it, when skilfully used, a weapon of unerring aim, even at the prodigious distance of 700 yards. IMG:4147767755307473660_illo0477b.png: Mr. Lovell’s Lock. The locks, also, for the military service generally, are now receiving an important improvement by means of his labours, having been simplified in a remarkable manner. The action of the main spring is reversed, as shown by fig. 411. ; thus rendering the whole mechanism more solid, compact, and convenient; while the ignition of the charge being effected by percu ion powders in a copper cap, the fire of the British line will, in future, be more murderous than ever, as a mis-fire is hardly ever experienced with the fire-arms made at the Royal manufactory, under Mr. Lovell’s skilful superintendence. FIRE-DAMP; the explosive carburetted hydrogen of coal mines. See Pitcoal .