A NEW BORE RIFLE

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 2, 27 October 1887, Page 2

A NEW BORE RIFLE

The Special Committee on Small Arms, which has under consideration the question of tho introduction of a magazine rifle, has virtually decided further to reduce tho here of tho future military weapon. Tho exact calibre has uot yet been fixed, but it will bo considerably less than tho unissued Enfield-llartini, which is Ah, gauge much smaller than IMartini-Ifcnry, the rifio at present in the hands of our trojps. Tills decision on the part of the committee will necessitate the discarding of all the new Enlicld-Martiuis about 100,000 stand, that have been made during tho past year in tho Government Small Arms Factory, and ;ho substitution of the slid mover boro weapon, which has a gauge of between j ■3O and AO. The committee are still! uuable to agree as to the best type of magazine to recommend for adoption for the British soldier, and it is understood that that question will not bo tin ally setlb.d iV,r a month or two. A clear step loiward, however, has been gained, in determining the final standard calibre of the future army riiio. ; Tito reduction of the bore will "enable \ the soldier to carry more ammunition, ' and at the same i ue to cnsuie a lower ! trajectory qt ull ordinary ranges. I