SNIDER RIFLES V. NEEDLE GUNS.

Southland Times, Issue 599, 3 December 1866, Page 2

SNIDER RIFLES V. NEEDLE GUNS.

The " London Times," of August 25, contains a very interesting article on the relative merits of the Snider Rifle, with which the English army will very soon be supplied, as compared with those of the much-vaunted Needle-gun of the Prussians. At last (says the writer) the English troops are to be armed with, breechloaders. Cavalry, infantry, artillery, and marines, will all have them early next year, and as soon as possible afterwards the Militia and Volunteers will be similarly equipped. In fact, from this time neither at Enfield, nor at any of the large private firms occasionally employed, will any more muzzle-loaders be made for the Government. Such arrangements are now being made as will enable the Enfield Ordnance to turn out at least 1000 converted rifles per day. Long series of tests at Woolwhieh have shown that its shooting powers, both as regards penetration and accuracy, have been increased rather than diminished by the alteration ; and more than this it would be impossible to say in its favor. Neither the War Office nor the Horse Guards would listen to proposals to put breechloader into the hands of our troops until the Prussian lesson had been completed. What the Prussian needle-gun effected, however, could not be overlooked, and some of these rifles with their special ammunition were got over and tested. A single week of trials in this country at ouce sufficed to destroy their reputation. They shot neither with accuracy nor with great penetration. The " absolute necessity of breechloaders" was, however, beyond dispute ; and attention was now given to Mr Snider's plan for " converting" Enfields. As compared with the Prussian needle-guq., the efficiency of the English breechloader is nearly four times greater in all that relates to the accuracy of aim or the rapidity of fire, while as regards the safety and ease with which the breech mechanism is worked, it is beyond any degree of comparison. There are eight distinct movements of the breech required to load and fire the needle-gun — there are only four necessary in Mr Snider's. Seven rounds per minute have been fired from the Prussian gun, and the average is four, while twenty-one rounds per minute have been fired from the English breechloaders, and the average, it is believed, will be ten. The brass-coated

ammunition whi h is used is also a great improvement from its strength an i waterproof protection'; No less than 40,000,000 rounds of this improved ammunition have been ordered, and 250,000 breechloaders have been more or less commenced upon, and both guns and cartridges will be ready by the Ist of April. This is a fact upon which we can most sincerely congratulate the country.