Re: Early cartridge rifles

In article <1131107849.200588.176950@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Tony.Williams@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
>Nicholas Smid wrote:
>> Over the years I've read a fair bit about the first generation black powder
>> cartridge rifles. The two you hear most about are the Martini Henry and
>> Springfield Allen conversion, both of which had a reputation for extraction
>> problems when they got hot. I wonder did others like the 1871 Mauser and
>> Gras 1874 have the same problems?
>
>I expect so. I think that there was a basic problem of accumulated
>chamber fouling which tended to gum up the works after a spell of
>intense firing; that apparently happened at Rorke's Drift.
>
>Tony Williams
>Military gun and ammunition website: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk
>

Wasn't one of the other problems the state of metalurgy, in terms of the brass
cartridges being constructed in two pieces, such that the base could be torn
off, if the walls got stuck in the chamber? ISTR that there were a number of
Custer's men found with their rifles rendered inoperative by that problem....
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Early cartridge rifles
    ... Nicholas Smid wrote: ... > Over the years I've read a fair bit about the first generation black powder ... > cartridge rifles. ...
    (sci.military.moderated)
  • Early cartridge rifles
    ... Over the years I've read a fair bit about the first generation black powder ... cartridge rifles. ... The two you hear most about are the Martini Henry and ...
    (sci.military.moderated)
  • Re: Early cartridge rifles
    ... cartridge rifles. ... The two you hear most about are the Martini Henry and Springfield Allen conversion, both of which had a reputation for extraction problems when they got hot. ... chamber fouling which tended to gum up the works after a spell of ...
    (sci.military.moderated)