THE BOXER CARTRIDGE.
The Boxer cartridge for the Snider rifle is a compound metallic cartridge, for though, like the American, it consists of but four parts, the shell, the fulminate, the charge of powder, and the projectile, some of those parts are compound in themselves, so that, in truth, it consists of 14 parts, some of which are doubtless unnecessary. The shell, or cartridge-case, is of two distinct kinds of metal-brass and copper, and in three distinct parts, namely, the base, the coil-shell, and the cap for fulminate; and the projectile is composed of lead, wood, and clay; wood for the centre of the bullet, and clay for the expanding plug. The cylindrical portion of the cartridge-case is formed of a little over two turns of very thin sheet-brass, which is supposed to be expanded, or rather slightly uncoiled, by the explosion, thereby avoiding the danger of fracture of metal by expansion, and of consequent gas escape, even though the cartridge be used in a chamber somewhat larger than its diameter. The base of the cartridge was originally of thin sheet-brass, which was put aside for brass of much greater thickness than the cylindrical portion to which it was welded or soldered, and it had a projection to stop its entering too far into the barrel, as well as to facilitate its extraction. The expansion at the base with the thin sheet was sometimes so great, that it was found impossible, by the ordinary method, to extract the empty cartridge-case; hence the change to a thicker base, also of brass, which has now given place to a base of iron. The weight of the cartridge without the powder is now about 200 grains. It has, therefore, been necessary to reduce the weight of the bullet at the expense of the utility of the weapon, and the secret of the conflicting reports made to the House of Commons on the efficiency of this cartridge is, that in the several trials a continual change of cartridge has been made - the powder and ball charge being constantly varied. This cartridge now consists or the iron base a and the brass shell b, as shown in the woodcut. As the brass shell is not soldered to the iron base, a pasteboard wad surrounds the cap and fits to the bottom to prevent the escape of gas, and between the powder and the bullet there is another wad of cotton-wool c. In the centre of the base piece is fixed a cap of copper, which contains the means of igniting the charge, and from which the cartridge derives its name, central-fire. For the purpose of retaining in the new projectile (although decreased in weight 50 grains) the length and figure of the old, as also with a view to place the greater weight as far as possible from the centre of rotation, the bullet has a picket of wood e running through its centre, halfway from the apex of the cone towards the base. At the base is a cavity containing an expanding plug of baked earth d, which latter is also intended as a support to the sides after expansion. As was a necessity with the old muzzle-loaders, the bullet for the present breech-loading arm is still made smaller than the bore, and depends for expansion into the grooves on the plug of baked clay at the base. The cartridge is covered with a paper covering, attached by gum to protect it from damp. We are not aware that this cartridge-case can be re-primed and
charged after being once used. The charge of powder is 75 grains, and the weight of 60 rounds is about six pounds ten ounces. With reference to the efficiency of this cartridge, we give the report of C. Hay, the inspector-general of musketry, February 15, 1867, which was printed by order of Parliament, on the 22d of February last, and is as follows:
"SIR: In obedience to the instructions contained in your letter of the 29th ultimo, I have made a trial of the 'central-fire ball cartridges' made up with a shorter, or 480 grains bullet, called 'pattern No. 3,' with the Snider breech-loading long rifle, and have now the honor to report, for the information of His Royal Highness the Field Marshal commandingin-chief, that the shooting at 600 yards is equal to, and at 800 yards better, than that of the muzzle-loading long Enfield rifle, pattern 1853, with ordinary ammunition, vide table as per margin. I would remark, however, that the angle of elevation with the Snider rifle is considerably greater, at both distances, than the Enfield rifle, pattern 1853, although the bullet is fifty grains lighter. I need hardly observe, that while the curve of the trajectory is considerably increased, (a serious defect in a military arm,) the penetration, owing to the decrease of the momentum of bullets, must be considerably less than with the ordinary muzzleloading ammunition. In several instances the cartridge-case stuck fast, and could not be removed without the ramrod. The rifle fouled considerably, and in one or two instances there was a slight escape of gas, which did not, however, interfere with the working of the breech-block. I have no doubt that these defects will be easily overcome when the process of manufacture is better understood. The weather has been very unsettled, hence the delay in making the trial in question and this report consequent thereon."
Though some of the defects of this cartridge have been overcome since the date of the above report, it seems strange that the British government should persevere at great expense in endeavoring to improve a very faulty cartridge,¹ when a superior article is already in the market, and suitable to the regulation arm. We allude to the cartridge lately invented by Mr. Daw, of London, a compound cartridge, and which, amongst recent inventions, is worthy of special mention, as containing some peculiarities of novel and ingenious description. The cartridge is composed of four parts, two of which are compound. The bullet, as in the Boxer, has the wooden picket through half its longer axis, and the clay plug in the base for expansion. The shell is also of brass, and in three parts, retaining the copper cap for the fulminate in the centre of the base. In almost all other respects this cartridge differs materially from the Boxer. It is much shorter than the present service cartridge, and the inventor consequently claims for it greater facility of extraction from the regulation arm. The cylindrical portion of the case is composed of a little over one fold of thin metal, which, being united, is perfectly gas-tight, and, from the slightness of this one fold, of little or no weight, and of great flexibility and toughness. The latter is a marked advantage over stouter metal, as the case, on the ignition of the charge, cannot fail to take the form of the breech, or chamber, in which it is enclosed, and cannot impede, in the least, the extraction of the shell after the explosion, as the sudden alteration of the temperature, after the gas leaves the barrel, causes a slight contraction of the metallic shell. It is waterproof as well as gas-tight, requiring no paper covering or lubrication, as, in addition to the shell being joined by cement or solder, it grips the bullet closely above the cannelures, or grooves, and thus the projectile, with the powder and fulminate, are held together in one compact body by the slight shell. The weight of sixty rounds of this cartridge is five pounds eleven ounces, the weight of bullet 465 grains, that of shell and fulminate 105 grains, and the charge of gunpowder is 65 grains.
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¹ Lord Bury narrowly escaped being killed by the explosion of a Boxer cartridge quite recently. He says: "At the first shot the rifle exploded at the breech, blowing away the covering of the breech and twisting the internal works. I found myself on the ground bleeding profusely and the cartilage of my nose broken. From the appearance of the cartridge it is evident that the primary cause of the accident is the bursting of the metal base of the cartridge." In one of Colonel Boxer's latest Patent Specifications he says: "In the arrangement heretofore employed, the anvil has been made of such a form that if the cartridge was subjected to a sufficiently sharp blow it could pass, more or less, entirely into the percussion cap, so as to strike against the fulminating compound, and thus explode the cartridge." The improvements introduced in this patent were intended to cure this and other defects of the cartridge, but the accident to Lord Bury, and the recent fatal explosion in the cartridge factory at Woolwich, show that the Boxer cartridge is still very dangerous to those who have to handle it.
(Reports of the United States Commissioners to the Paris Universal Exposition, 1867.)
