Appendix II

PROGRAM OF TESTS OF SELF-LOADING MAGAZINE RIFLES AND CARBINES SUBMITTED BY INVENTORS AT THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY

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Test I.

(a) The gun will be dismounted and an examination made by the Board of all the working parts of the gun.

(b) The number and means of all parts, and the kinds of springs will be noted. The number of pins and of screws will be noted.

Test II.

The times, number and kinds of tools requires for each of the following will be noted:

(a) To dismount the piece.

(b) To assemble the piece.

(c) To dismount the breech and magazine mechanism with the exception of the lock.

(d) To assemble the breech and magazine mechanism with the exception of the lock.

(e) To dismount the lock.

(f) To assemble the lock.

Test III.

The piece will be fired as a self-loader 100 rounds into butt to observe general behavior. No time will be taken and the firing will be deliberate enough to prevent the necessity if cooling during this test.

Test IV.

RAPIDITY WITH ACCURACY – The piece will be fired from the shoulder at a target 6’x2’, range 100 feet, under the following circumstances, the cartridges disposed at will upon a table.

(a) Number of shots and hits firing for one minute, using gun as a self-loader. Test begun with magazine empty.

(b) Number of shots and hits firing for one minute, using gun as a repeater. Test begun with magazine empty. Any cartridge missing fire in this or other tests will be opened to ascertain the cause of failure.

Test V.

RAPIDITY AT WILL –

(a) Same as Test IV (a) except that the number of hits will not be considered and that the piece may be fired from the hip without aim into a butt at short range.

(b) Same as Test IV (b) except that the number of hits will not be considered and that the piece may be fired from the hip without aim into a butt at short range.

Test VI.

VELOCITY – The velocity of the bullet at a distance of 53 feet from the muzzle will be determined, taking the mean of five shots.

Test VII.

DUST – With the mechanism closed, and both ends of the barrel tightly corked, the piece will be exposed in the box prepared for that purpose to a blast of fine sand for two minutes and then removed. The surplus sand may be removed by blowing thereon, jarring the piece or wiping with the bare hand only. It will then be fired twenty rounds under each of the following conditions.

(a) Magazine empty when exposed to dust. Before firing charge the magazine and fire as self-loader.

(b) Magazine loaded when exposed to dust. Remove and wipe cartridges, re-load and fire as above.

In case the self-loading mechanism fails to work in either of tests, (a) and (b), the piece will then be tried as a repeater.

Test VIII.

ENDURANCE – The test will be fired deliberately 500 rounds as a self-loader for endurance, cooling the barrel after each 50 rounds. The general working of the piece will then be examined by members of the Board.

Test IX.

DECREASED CHARGES – The piece to be fired 12 rounds as a self-loader with cartridges in which the powder charge has been decreased so that the first four fired will give pressure 25% less, the second four 15%, and the last four 10% less that the service pressure.

Test X.

EXCESSIVE CHARGES – The piece to be fired five times as a single loader with cartridges in which the charge of powder is so increased as to produce a pressure in the chamber of 64000 pounds per square inch.

Test XI.

The gun will be fired twice with each of the following cartridges:

(a) Cross-filed on head to nearly the thickness of metal

(b) Cut at intervals through extractor groove into powder space.

(c) Cut longitudinally nearly through the body of shell

Test XII.

RUST – The mechanism will be thoroughly cleansed of grease, the ends of the barrel tightly corked, and the piece then placed in a solution of sal ammoniac for five minutes. After exposure to the open air for twenty-four hours, ten shots will be fired into a sand butt, using the piece as a self-loader. In case the self-loading mechanism fails to work, the piece will then be tried as a repeater.

GENERAL REMARKS – During the above tests the piece will be entirely in the hands of the Board, and no alterations or repairs other than those possible on the ground will be allowed, except by special permission of the Board. If the piece fails in any test the remainder of the program may be discontinued in the discretion of the Board. Any piece which successfully passes the foregoing tests may be subjected to such supplementary tests to further determine its endurance or other qualities as may be prescribed by the Commanding Officer.

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY,

March 29, 1909