THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2432, 22 October 1886, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE.

In answer to a number of correspondents who became much interested in tho new system of musketry instruction, I am glad now-to be able to givo full information on tho subject, the covering specification having boon taken, out by its inventor a few days ago, Major Richards, almost from tho lirst day ho joined tho Volunteer Force, twenty-six years aoo, appears to have worked more or less persistently at tho idea of producing a miniature cartridgo which, while almost costless, should approach as nearly as possible, in tho conditions of firing it, to an ordinary ball cartridge. His professional knowledgo as a chemist and his powors as a shortraiiKO rillo shot wero enlisted in the Borvice, and had it not boon for the frequent changes of tho servico arm, the invention might have boon matured years ago. Tho miniature cartridgo system has boon applied by Major Ilichuvds successively to tho percussion rifle, tho Snidor, Enfield, and the Martini, the weapons which havo boon regulation for Volunteers in tho period; and whethor loaded at the muzsde or the Breech, certain leading •principles havo been kept Bteadfaetly in view. Those are—lst, That the bullet, though of miniature Bize, must be of tho samo calibre as the rifle, and take tho grooving. 2nd. That its accuracy and regularity of shootin? shall be equal to actual ball practice. 3rd.. That it shall bo manufactured by the marksman himsolf. And 4th. That cost shall be so small that any man may at a very small cost obtain almost unlimited practice. This is how he carries these principle into practice. The bullet is slightly elongated, but has a hollow in the baso to lighten it without reducing its diameter below 455 j it therefore fits closely and gets the proper Bpin in passing through the barrel, In order'to secure accuracy a great number of experiments have been necessary. The problem was to have ut sufficient charge of powder to drive the bullet 20 or 30 yards without appreciable curvature. of path, and yet. have but little reserve of force beyond that range. Ten grains ofpowdor are foundito suffice 1 for bullets weighing about 44 to the pound of lead Tho range boing reduced to about one,tenth the actual rango, the target had to be proportionally reduced, and it waß found by experiment that a ring of the.size of a penny at <a distance of 20 yards corresponded to a six-inch bulls-eye at 200 yards. The gargets are

•of- cardboardebnt theyfte :niar|jeigj fot class-firing in the auxiliary the rings reduced Aeaehin?themen'to. ; • ridges for themselves;, many are secured. The men become thoroughly interested in the process..-, fhis'has been strikingly proved both' in the East Surrey ' regiment, at Kingstpo-where all tho - " year's recruits have been instructed by . -"" Major Richard's system—and in the 3rd Battalion of the West Surrey" Regiment ' where the whole of the 8(56 .men" under .' ••■' the. command of .Colonp%i)avis, have been put uudor instruction during their ■ '••■« recent month's encampment on Menow ' : down,. Guildford, with results of the most satisfactory and surprising kinds. Thus made, the coat is reduced to that of the bare materials. After a cartridge is jj'fli •' the case is refilled; this can be done frjft thirty to fifty times. The battered buillts' are picked up, and by means of a bullet mould recast into fresh ones. The only new matorials required, thorofore, are the powder (ten grains) the porcussion capa and the wads, the whole cost of which is less than oue tonth.of a penny per round. The following is tho 'modm..■operandi ■ • adopted in making up the cartridges :-A new cap, in which a little'anvil BJlroi from an exploded cap has been insew|| is soated in the cartridge case with atap with a mallet. A thin wad is then inserted to keep the powder out of tho cup chamber of the "cartridge, than the grains of powder accurately measured, then a cloan wad wad,'following by a' greasy wad, and a second cloan wad, and finally the bullet, which before boing fixed in the cartridge-case has boon '-.'• rolled in a mixture of beesn-ax aud oil.

The practical success on a, regimental. scale obtained by the West Surrey battalion has been cerifiodby the Colonel commaiiding the 2nd Regimental District, Colonel Hercy, who inspected the'rogi-, montoii Wednesday last, and tbokW opportunity of warmly coiigratulatfg : Major Richards on the great practical success obtained, when, a few years ago, he inspected tho battalion to which Major Richards bnloiigs,name]y,the old Lambeth •Ritle Volunteers, now known as the 4th V.R, Battalion, the Quoen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment.-Weekly Times and Echo.