i THE RIFLE OF A PAST HALF CENTURY & 



charge of 110 grains, more than half the weight of the bullet. 

 The extremely high velocity of this rifle expanded the pure soft 

 lead upon impact with the skin and muscles of a red deer. At the 

 same time there was no loss of substance in the metal, as the 

 bullet, although much disfigured, remained intact, and continued 

 its course of penetration, causing great havoc by its increased sur- 

 face. Nothing has surpassed this rifle in velocity, although so 

 many improvements have taken place since the introduction of 

 breechloaders, but in the days of muzzle-loaders it was a satisfac- 

 tion to myself that I was the first to commence the heavy charge 

 of powder with the 3 ounce bullet and 16 drams, to be followed 

 after many years by so high an authority as Mr. Purdey with a 

 200 grain bullet and 110 grains of powder, thus verifying the 

 principle of my earliest experience. 



This principle is now universally accepted, and charges of 

 powder are used, as a rule, which forty years ago would have been 

 regarded as impossible. 



The modern breechloader in the hands of a well-trained soldier 

 should be a most deadly weapon, nevertheless we do not find a 

 greater percentage of destruction among the numbers engaged than 

 resulted from the old Brown Bess. The reason is obvious : battles 

 are now fought at long ranges, whereas in the early portion of the 

 century fire was seldom opened at a greater distance than .200 

 yards, and the actual struggle terminated at close quarters. 



A long-range rifle in the excitement of a hot action has several 

 disadvantages. The sights may have been set for 600 or 800 

 yards when the enemy was at a distance, but should that interval 

 be decreased by an approach at speed, the sights would require an 

 immediate readjustment, otherwise the bullets would fly overhead, 

 and the nearer the enemy advanced, the safer he would be. Troops 

 require most careful training with the new weapons entrusted to 

 their care. Although a rapidity of fire if well directed must have 

 a terrible result, there can be no question that it engenders a wild 

 excitement, and that a vast amount of ammunition is uselessly 

 expended, which, if reserved by slower but steady shooting, would 

 be far more deadly. 



Although the difficulty is great in preventing troops from inde- 

 pendent firing when their blood is up in the heat of combat, the 

 paramount duty of an officer should be to control all wildness, and 

 to insist upon volleys in sections of companies by word of command, 

 the sights of the rifles being carefully adjusted, and a steady aim 

 being taken at the knees of the enemy. 



There cannot be a better example than the advice upon this 



