§ MR. COURTHOPEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what are the breech pressures of the service .303 cartridge and the Swift .303 cartridge respectively; and what is the proof breech pressure of the service rifle.
§ MR. HALDANEThere are two patterns of Swift cartridge known to the War Office, one for a special chamber, the pressure given by which is not known, and another for the service chamber, giving about twenty tons per square inch at 60º F. The mean pressure given by the service cartridge at 60º F. does not exceed 16.5 tons per square inch. The service rifles are proved to twenty-one and a half tons per sqaure inch.
§ In reply to a further Question,
§ MR. HALDANEsaid the War Office always like to have a considerable margin of pressure in the interests of safety.