The sharp pitch of the rifling, one turn in ten inches, is necessary to keep the point of the bullet end on and prevent key-holing. The rapid twist of the rifling and the great pressure of smokeless powder compels the use of some less yielding metal than lead, as a soft lead bullet would be blown directly out of the barrel; the bullet would strip. The body of the new bullet is formed of lead, covered -with a metal jacket.
Sportingand target peep siglit for the Savage .303 magazinerifle are shown in Vit.,rure 9. A is the Savage wind gange peep sight ; B is the Savage combina tion rear sight ; and C is the Savage combination rear sight with cup disc.
It can be used with or without the disc. The writer has made excellent ta.r gets with the Savage rifle using these sights and holds it in high favor. Fig ure 10 shows a. target of 10 shots at 100 yards. Actual size bull's eye. .11in iature lead bullet, cartridge number 4.
A Afexican Itoard of Army officers selected by President Diaz, in 1897, re ported most favorably on the Savage rifle. They reported it as one of volun tary repetition. ln view of the number of shots made with the rifle without same being blocked in its mechanism or injured or broken in any Way I the number of shots tired was about nine hundred), this Board reported it to ; have necessary strength and solidity, and on examination of the various parts cif the weapon. found. thatthese possessed the necessary resisting powers.
The powder experiments proved satisfactory, the weapon resisting the charge, . which was an excessive one, perfectly well.
The small .303 caliber oxpanding bullets, when they first appeared, excited some little derisical among those who had always considered the large caliber bullet necessary to secure effective results. Their experience WnS Oilly With black powder, and their deductions were correct. under those ecmditions. The immensely increased velocity imparted to these small .303 caliber bullets by modern smokeless powder is the secret of the enormous smashing power of t he modern small caliber bullet. The soft nose of the expanding bullet, ex pands on inipaet with the softest 1 issues. splitting the jacketed portion. de funning the whole bullet to such an extent that the wound made covers a larger area than ever 'before seen.