10 
THE SMALL-ARMS OF EUROPE. 
III. 
General Observations. 
The weight of the cartridge, like that of the arm, is limited by 
certain considerations. The necessity for permitting each man to 
carry enough rounds for himself, makes it obligatory for the cartridge 
not to exceed a total weight of 30 to 40 grammes (463 to 617 grs.) 
The best ratio consists in taking for the projectile and the charge 
weights respectively equal to 25 and 5 grammes (385 and 77 grs.) 
It results from this consideration that in designing an arm it is 
especially necessary to give to the projectile a suitable density per unit 
of right section. 
This density plainly increases with the length of the bullet, which 
with an arm of large calibre cannot even reach 2 \ calibres without 
largely exceeding the permissible weight; it is therefore impossible, in 
this case, to obtain a sufficient density of section. On the contrary, if 
the projectile be not only lengthened but the calibre be correspondingly 
reduced, it is easy to go as far as 2| or 3 calibres, the calibre varying 
from 10 to 9 millimeters (0*3937 to 0*303 ins.) As shown by the 
system Y, these conditions, without exceeding the admissible limit of 
weight, are very favourable to shooting. Were it wished to convert 
the existing arms of 0*43-in. bore by lengthening the bullet to 
2 f calibres, to make it more fit for long ranges, the weight of the 
bullet would rise to about 32 grammes (494 grs.), or 0*3252 grammes 
per unit of section, and the large charge of 5 grammes (75 grs.) would 
only give the relatively low muzzle velocity of about 380 to 390 metres 
(1246 to 1279 ft.) The result would be that, while the conditions 
would be good for short ranges, for long ranges slightly diminished 
angles of fire and somewhat increased dangerous zones would be 
obtained. But the weight of 32 grammes is too great, and it would 
appear better to do with a somewhat lower sectional density without 
attempting a more exact adjustment of the different elements of the 
problem. 
The future of small-arms will, then, be marked by a further reduc¬ 
tion of bore; in order to get greater sectional density in the projectile, 
while adhering to the present weight, which cannot be exceeded 
without reducing the muzzle velocity which is necessary to secure a 
flat trajectory at the firing point. In the English rifle, for instance, 
a charge of 85 grains only gives a muzzle velocity of 1305 ft.* to a 
bullet of 480 grs. 
* As a matter of fact, the observed muzzle velocity of the Martini-Henry is 1353 f.s.—T. F. 
