The Lee-Metford Rifle.

Manawatu Herald, 24 September 1898, Page 3

The Lee-Metford Rifle.

One of those acts which kindle enthusiasm for the army was related as having occurred in the NorthWest boundaries of India, where a small band of soldiers, surrounded toy the enemy not only determined to sell their lives dearly, which they did, but also determined that the enemy should be no gainer in arms by their death, as they threw the breach bolts of their guns away down hill amongst the scrub and boulders. The rifle they used wap the regular service Lee-Metford, and we were yesterday shown one of these by Mr McQueen. From bis explanation and from an inspection of the weapon it was clearly seen how utterly use* less these brave men had rendered the arm that so close upon their death they had resisted their enemies with. The Lee.Metford is a, Magazine rifle, which contains ten. rounds. The magazine is v^ver. used except by command and. when the enemy are at close quarters, when the order is sung ou«i m fiit magazines," and then they « c fired from the hip, as actual p^ta j a not necessary so long as toe bullets do ntft fly too high. 33nfc in working the rifle with the Hftagatine, quick hand action is necessary, as the breach must be opened to Gject the spent cartridge. How quickly this. can be done was illustrated by Mr McQueen. In* al! •ordinary eases the rifle ia loaded by -band at the breach, fired, and re loaded, the withdrawal of the bolt causing the discharged cartridge to be expelled. The power of the powder which, is used for these rifles is so great that the bullet is ejected so swiftly t'faat the rifle has hardly to beelevatp/1 at all when,, pointed at an object ST/) yards away.. The bore or calibre is -808, and the bolt of the breac>j ig six inches in length. The cartridges are very light, as whereas in '«he days of the Enfield rifle 50 rounds was the regulation number for eaoh private to carry, and 75 rounds for the Martini-Henry rifle, for the Lee-Metford rifle the number is 180 rounds. . This rifle is sighted to over 2800 jards.'and though it is not to be •expected nice aiming at minor object? <sould be secured yet they are fired at that distance into clouds of dust raised by cavalry or artillery. Now the sighting to enable a man stand ing up to aim at this range is neatly arranged, by what are termed <' dial " or auxiliary sights fitted at the Bid? of the rij|e, ,, enabling an aim to be takers, though in doing so the sight on the barrel of the rifle is pointing iligh up in the air. This rifle has another improvement in the shape of a wooden handrest placed over the lower portion of the barrel, as owing to the immense velocity of the cartridge Mr McQueen informs us, no one can touch the barrel, owing £0 its heat after ten rounds have been fired.