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359
lReprint.
THE NEW GERMAN RIFLE BULLET.
Two of the most important properties which a military rifle can
possess are great ranging power and a flat trajectory.
These propenies depend mainly on two factors, high muzzle velocity
and high sectional density, i.e., a high ratio between weight and crosssection of bullet. A third factor is the shape of the bullet, more particularly the shape of the head, by which the resistance of the air is
considerably modified.
Considerations of recoil, weight of rifle, &c., make a heavy bullet
incompatible with high muzzle velocity, and in order to keep the sectional density as high as possible, it has been found necessary, as the
evolution of the rifle has progressed, to reduce the diameter of the bullet
as well as to reduce its weight. In modern military rifles the diameter
of the bullet varies between 0'32, and 0'26 inch, the corresponding
weight of bullet being from 244 to 163 grains.
The German military authorities have been experimenting for some
time past with a view to increase the muzzle velocity of their rifle to
approximately 3,000 feet per second, in order to ensure the flattest
possible trajectory at decisive ranges, a consideration which they regard
as of primary importance.
There were obvious objections to doing this by reducing the calibre
of their rifle from 0'311 to 0·256 (or some smaller calibre), which would
be the first method to suggest itself. Apart from the great cost involved
in such a change, there are certain objections to a very small bore, per
se, viz., diminished wounding power and increased difficulty of cleaning
and keeping in order the interior of the barrel.
The alternative solution was to improve the ballistics of the existing
rifle by a suitable modification of its ammunition, and it appears, from
a recent article in the Kriegstechnische Zeitschrift (1905, Heft 9) that
this has been effected partly by the adoption of a more powerful charge
(whether a new powder is involved is not quite clear), but mainly by the
adoption of a new bullet, known, on account of its pointed shape, as the
Spitze'geschoss, or " B" bullet.
.
This bullet (a sketch of the reported shape of which, together with
further details, is appended) weighs only 154'3 grains as against the 227
grains of its predecessor, or as against the 215 grains of our Lee-Enfield
bullet.
This reduction of 73 grains weight, coupled with the higher pressure
given by the new charge, has apparently raised the muzzle velocity of
the German Mauser from about 2,090 f.s. to about 2,900 f.s.
An additional and by no means unimportant advantige secured by
the reduction in weight of the bullet is that about 15 per cent. more
ammunition can be carried than heretofore.
It will be seen that in designing their, new bullet the Germans have
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The New German Rifle Bullet
360
deliberately departed from the principle, hitherto considered essential,
of a high sectional density.
Assuming, however, the correctness of the published data, it is evident
that this low sectional density has been compensated for by the altered
shape of the new German bullet, which gives rise to a very much lower
air resistance than has hitherto been considered possible at normal
atmospheric temperature and pressure.
The importance of the alteration in form may be gauged by the fact
that had the normal shape been retained, the remailling velocity of the
bullet at about 1,000 yards would have been no greater than that of our
bullet, which starts at 800 f.s. lower velocity, while beyond 1,000 yards
the heavier bullet would have travelled faster.
BRITISH AND GERMAN RIFLE BULLETS.
Great Britain.
Weight, 215 grains.
Scale t.
Germany, 1888-1905.
Weight, 227 grains.
Germany, 1905. *
(Reported shape of "S" bUllet.)
Weight, 154'3 grains.
"----.,,;
I
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.....
I\,
(7J
,I '"
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.....
(
~~
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,
I
t
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I
,
t
I
' -_ _--\__1:
tI
I
~-O'311-~
'----l--'t I
11:
~-O'3J8-)j
:-,_ _~.,-':i.
I
.'I
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oo(-O·32Z-.:,.f
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All three bullets have lead cores, the British bullet having a cupro-nickel jacket, the
ja.ckets of the two German bullets being of nickel-plated steel.
* See drawing in Kriegstechnische Zeitschrijt, Heft 10, Jahrgang viii.
As it is, the "S" bullet maintains its superiority in velocity at
practically all ranges. Whether it compares favourably with the heavier
bullet in accuracy is, however, doubtful.
The greatest advantage given by the "S" bullet in the matter of
flatness of trajectory is to be found between 500 and 800 yards. At 700
yards range a ,man 5 feet 9 ,inches in height would be hit anywhere
RANGE TABLES.'
LEE-ENFIELD.
Range
Time of fligh t
Angle of projection
L.E.
Yards
I
"S,"
L.E.
Degs. Mins. Degs. Mins.
o ..
..
200 ..
..
0
I
"S."
"0"
~
"8"
0'411.
"S."
I
"0"
Striking ellergy
Remaining velocity
L.E.
BULLET.
L.E.
I
" So"
~
0'40.
Maximum height
Angle of descent
attained
L.E.
L.E.
" S."
"S."
I
I
Secs.
Secs.
Ft.-secs.
Ft.-secs.
Ft.-lb.
Ft.-lb.
Feet
Feet
0
0
0
2,060
2,909
2,036
2,916
0
0
9
4~
0'32
0'23
1,673
2,355
1,343
1,910
0'4
0'2
21
10t
0'72
0'52
1,361
1,900
889
1,244
2'1
1'1
28
14~
29
Hi
0'95
0'68
1,229
1,712
724
1,009
3'6
1'9
40
21
0'87
1,119
1,538
600
814
5'8
3'0
55
28~
529
13'3
6'8
1
36
53
3d
24'9
14'0
2
25
1
30
0
0
Degs.l\Iins. Degs. Mins.
0
0
0
5
11
!
0
37~
18k
1'21
800 ..
..
..
..
..
59
28~
1'78
1'30
981
1,239
461
1,000 ..
..
1 25
45i
2'43
1'83
886
1,039
377
1,200 ..
..
1 58
5~
3'14
2'44
807
930
313
298
42'2
25'2
3
26
2
19
240
222
83'5
53'5
5
22
3
53
155
142
198'0
141'0
9
56
7
39
400 ..
500 ..
600 ..
1,500 ..
2,000 ..
..
..
2
56~
5
8
1
I
1
46
3
21~
I
4'33
3'50
708
6'70
5'60
569
,
803
i
642
I
I
I
* The "S" table has been calculated upon the basis of the article in the Kriegstechnische Zeitschrijt.
Similar tables, based upon slightly different data, have appeared in the Field of December 16th last, and in the January number
of Arms and Explosives.
.
S" BULLETS A'I' 500, 700, AND 800 YARDS, MUZZL~'S 1.
L.E. (upper) - - -" S " (lower) - - -
TRAJIW1'ORIES OF LEE.:E;NF'IELD AND"
FOOl' FEOM GROUND.
A standing man, 5 feet 9 inches
in height, would be hit 'by either
bullet at 500 yards.
500 YARDS
400
300
200
100
FEET'
.
"2
..
11
10
8
8
7
6
...
...
- -
/;
"
2
1
....
~
o
--
-
--
--
100
~
200
- ...
--
... -'
.......
4
~
---
400
300
500
0;;:
The same man would be hit by
the "S" bullet over the en tire
range of 700 yards, while with
the present Lee.Enfield bullet he
would only be hit over about 250
yards .
....
'""- -...;;,;;:....
....
~
r~
700 YARDS
600
F"EET
11J
,
15
14
12
11
10
9
.... .... '"
8
7
6
~
6
4-
,-
,,-
1
o
--
--.-
13
~
./
---
L--
'"
-
........
........
........
-- ....-.....
-=--
-~
....
...
--
I
'0
....
....
....
"'-
-.........
,
-.........
----L100
'1'he same man
would be hit over
about 350 yards of
an 800 yards range
by the" S" bullet, as
against about 180 with
the Lee.Enfield.
'200
300
l DO
500
600
700
' .......
.~
800 YARDS
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The New German Rifle Bullet
363
along the range if the muzzle of the rifle were 12 inches from the
ground, the sights set at 700 yards, and the ground-line aimed at. The
same effect would only be produced with our present Service rifle at
about 550 yards.
Without experimental data it is difficult to estimate exactly the
energy of recoil of a 9-1b. rifle with a muzzle velocity of 2,900 f.s. and
a 154-grain bullet, but it would appear to be well below the limit of
15 ft.-lb., which is the maximum desirable in a military rifle.
Two further questions affecting the military value of the new bullet
arise: its wounding power, and its penetration.
Taking the striking energy of the bullet as the measure of its wounding power, it would seem that the new bullet is more effective than the
Lee-Enfield up to between 900 and 1,000 yards; beyond that range it is
. slightly inferior, but the difference is not marked.
Apart from its superior striking energy, however, the so-called explosive effect characteristic of modern high-velocity bullets at close
ranges would probably be occasioned by the "S" bullet at very much
greater ranges than is at present the case; possibly up to 600 or 700
yards, as against 200 or 300 with the present bullet. Experiments, however, would be necessary to test this point.
'
As regards penetration, the advantage must lie with the new bullet
at all except extreme ranges.
Diagrams of the new and old German bullets, and of our 0·303 bullet,
together with comparative ballistic tables and diagrams of trajectories,
are appended.
•
26
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The New German Rifle Bullet
J R Army Med Corps 1906 6: 359-363
doi: 10.1136/jramc-06-03-11
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