Elric
Well-Known Member
A New Mid Range Bullet For The .30-40 Krag Rifle.
American Rifleman, vol 37, no. 20, February 23, 1905 page 411
No link, but Google scanned it...
The development of ammunition with cast bullets for the Krag rifle, that may be used up to 600 yards, has received much attention from expert riflemen, and excellent practice may be obtained with a number of bullets that have been brought out
Sergt. Geo. Doyle, of the Seventy-first Regiment, N. G. N. Y., desiring to obtain a bullet of greater weight than those at present in use, has designed the bullet illustrated herewith, the mold being made by the Ideal Mfg. Co. It is cast of an alloy of ten per cent tin, ten per cent antimony, and eighty per cent lead. A sample at hand weighs 195 grains, and measures .3125 in diameter. The actual length of bearing on the lands of the rifling is three-quarters of an inch, as the point, one-eight-inch beyond the bands, measures .303.
DOYLE-IDEAL, NO. 308274, 195-GRAIN.
Lieut. K. K. V. Casey, of the Seventy-first Regiment, determined, by recovering some of these bullets shot into a tank of water, that 16 grains of Laflin & Rand Marksman powder could be used without producing fusion of the base. On Feb. 18, a number of enthusiasts journeyed to the Creedmoor rifle range, to test the bullet at the target. A more unfavorable day would seldom be encountered, the wind from seven to nine o'clock varying from ‘twenty-five to thirty-five ' miles an hour, while the temperature was well below the freezing point.
At 300 yards, a series of shots were kept in the 4-ring, the elevations holding very well. Retiring to the 600-yard range, results were similar, demonstrating to those present that under ordinary weather conditions good scores should be readily obtained. At 300 yards, 16 grains of Marksman powder required 350 yards more elevation than the normal for the service charge, and at 600 yards, 450 yards additional from the 600 yards normal was necessary. The velocity obtained was slightly over 1500 feet per second, as estimated from tests made with similar loads. The maximum windage required with this bullet at 600 yards was 5 ¾ points.
Lieut. Casey then fired a score with 36.2 grains W. A. powder and the Peters 220-grain service bullet, and three points of windage were found to be necessary. On cleaning the rifles used, no trace of leading was apparent.
In loading the Doyle bullet an Ideal armory tool was used, the Frankford shells being resized and the bullets seated, uncrimped. These cartridges are in such form as to work perfectly in the magazine and are well adapted for skirmish practice, at a minimum cost. There is, of course, less danger of accident from wild shots with a cast bullet than with the 220-grain service with metal jacket, an additional consideration on the average rifle range.
American Rifleman, vol 37, no. 20, February 23, 1905 page 411
No link, but Google scanned it...
The development of ammunition with cast bullets for the Krag rifle, that may be used up to 600 yards, has received much attention from expert riflemen, and excellent practice may be obtained with a number of bullets that have been brought out
Sergt. Geo. Doyle, of the Seventy-first Regiment, N. G. N. Y., desiring to obtain a bullet of greater weight than those at present in use, has designed the bullet illustrated herewith, the mold being made by the Ideal Mfg. Co. It is cast of an alloy of ten per cent tin, ten per cent antimony, and eighty per cent lead. A sample at hand weighs 195 grains, and measures .3125 in diameter. The actual length of bearing on the lands of the rifling is three-quarters of an inch, as the point, one-eight-inch beyond the bands, measures .303.
DOYLE-IDEAL, NO. 308274, 195-GRAIN.
Lieut. K. K. V. Casey, of the Seventy-first Regiment, determined, by recovering some of these bullets shot into a tank of water, that 16 grains of Laflin & Rand Marksman powder could be used without producing fusion of the base. On Feb. 18, a number of enthusiasts journeyed to the Creedmoor rifle range, to test the bullet at the target. A more unfavorable day would seldom be encountered, the wind from seven to nine o'clock varying from ‘twenty-five to thirty-five ' miles an hour, while the temperature was well below the freezing point.
At 300 yards, a series of shots were kept in the 4-ring, the elevations holding very well. Retiring to the 600-yard range, results were similar, demonstrating to those present that under ordinary weather conditions good scores should be readily obtained. At 300 yards, 16 grains of Marksman powder required 350 yards more elevation than the normal for the service charge, and at 600 yards, 450 yards additional from the 600 yards normal was necessary. The velocity obtained was slightly over 1500 feet per second, as estimated from tests made with similar loads. The maximum windage required with this bullet at 600 yards was 5 ¾ points.
Lieut. Casey then fired a score with 36.2 grains W. A. powder and the Peters 220-grain service bullet, and three points of windage were found to be necessary. On cleaning the rifles used, no trace of leading was apparent.
In loading the Doyle bullet an Ideal armory tool was used, the Frankford shells being resized and the bullets seated, uncrimped. These cartridges are in such form as to work perfectly in the magazine and are well adapted for skirmish practice, at a minimum cost. There is, of course, less danger of accident from wild shots with a cast bullet than with the 220-grain service with metal jacket, an additional consideration on the average rifle range.