SPRINGFIELD RIFLE.
This arm operates in a similar manner to the old English Snider. The breech block is pivoted to the barrel, and moves upward and forward, leaving an opening sufficiently large to enable the cartridge to be inserted in the barrel with facility. The breech-block may then be returned into firing position, and the arm fired. A lock with an ordinary hammer is employed. This arm has been very extensively used in the United States Army. Caliber, 45; charge, 70 grains black; bullet, 405 grains. Eighty grains was the limit powder charge that could be used, as the cam latch worked loose with a greater charge. The first model had a bullet of 5oo grains weight, and as a consequence kicked terribly. The barrel is of low steel. Its length is 32.6 inches; the thickness of metal at the breech is o.297 inch; from this point it gradually diminishes (the exterior delimit being a slightly re-entering curve), to the muzzle where it is 0.14 inch. The rifling consists of three plain concentric grooves, 0.235 inch wide, equal in width to the lands, o.005 inch deep, with a uniform twist of one turn in twenty-two inches. The grooves start front the center of the throat ; the bottom of them is, therefore, not continuous with the surface of the chamber. The chamber extends 2.155 inch from the base of the bore, and is made slightly conical so as to facilitate the withdrawal of the cartridge case. At the mouth of the chamber a is cut for the head of the cartridge, and a slot is cut in the barrel for the reception of the ejector.
Vor all around work, the author highly approves an 8-pound model of the Springfield, desigtied for officers. The length of this barrel is 26 inches. The stock is checked "fore and aft" the breech, and is tipped with white metal. The rifle has a plain "buck-horn" sight on the barrel, graduated like the service-sight, and also has peep and globe sights. The globe-sight can be folded down on the barrel when its pin becomes an open front-sight, which is used with the buck-horn sight. The peep has a lateral as well as a vertical motion, and by Writing the screw and loosening it, may be adjusted to counteract any deviation to the right or left. When at the bottom of the slide, the peep is adjusted for a range of so yards; when at the top it is adjusted for a rang-e of 1,too yards. The peep-sight may be folded down on the barrel either forward or backward. In the former position, the peep should be pushed to the bottom of the slide, or the hammer, in being cocked, will strike it. The globe-sight is distant from the buck-horn and peep sights 20.8 inches and 32.75 inches, respectively. The rifle has a "single-set" trig, ger. When set, it is a hair-trigger ; when unset, it is the ordinary service-trigger, requiring, a pull of about 4 pounds.