246 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
The “ Boxer cartridge 33 has as many as fourteen:— 
1. The case of brass foil. 
2. Thin paper cover. 
3. Powder. 
4. Cotton wool. 
5. Bullet. 
6. Clay plug. 
7. Wood plug in apex. 
8. Lubrication. 
9. Papier-mache disc. 
10. The brass capsule. 
11. „ brass cup or socket. 
12. „ anvil. 
13. Copper cap. 
14. Pulminate. 
There is no doubt that these cartridges are waterpoof and serviceable, and 
that the bullet affords far greater precision with a 0*577" bore than any other, 
and, moreover, that the precision up to 500 yards is nearly equal to that of a 
small bore rifle. But it would appear that a calibre of 0*577" is too large 
to fire a bullet of only 530 grains which requires to be thus hollowed and 
lengthened to produce satisfactory results. 
A calibre so small as 0*45" with bullet and powder in the same quantities 
as at present used is open to several objections : (l) It is very liable to foul 
owing to the rapid rifling twist which becomes necessary. (2) The cartridge 
unless of special construction is very long, giving trouble in loading and 
withdrawing; and besides, more of the powder is blown out at the muzzle 
unconsumed than with a shorter cartridge. 
In laying down the conditions which a new military rifle and its ammuni¬ 
tion shall fulfil, the first point to be decided is the weight of the bullet, which 
should be as small as possible, with a due regard to efficiency in order that a 
soldier may carry as many rounds as possible. 
The use of a rapid firing breech-loader renders this consideration all the 
more important. 
The weight of the Enfield bullet is 530 grains, that of Westley Eichards' 
B.L. small bore musket, of which there are 8000 in the service, is 480 grains, 
and it is hardened with antimony. The weight 530 grains is considered 
necessary to break the bone of a horse's leg at moderate ranges, but as the 
hardened 480 grain bullet has much greater penetration through elm planks 
the diminution of weight has been allowed. The bullet for the Prussian 
needle gun weighs 487 grains, a reduced bullet of only 349 grains was 
under consideration in that country in 1865, but has not been adopted. 
It will be safe to conclude that an efficient and serviceable bullet should 
weigh about 500 grains, which will require a charge of about 75 grains. 
Next as to calibre. It having been shewn that 0*577" is too large for a 
525 or 530 grain bullet, and as 0*45" has been found very liable to foul, some 
intermediate gauge is likely to be preferable to either, and simplicity in quantity 
leads us to a calibre of 0*50." 
The present total length of musket and bayonet being considered indis¬ 
pensable it will not be possible to reduce the weight of a new rifle below that 
of the Enfield rifle, viz. about 9 lbs. without bayonet. 
