§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War seeing that a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet per second can be obtained in the short Lee-Enfield rifle with a 150-grains bullet without exceeding the pressure which the breech action is amply strong enough to stand, why the ammunition now supplied to the British Army gives only 2,060 feet per second as against the 2,900 feet per second given by the ammunition used in the German Army and the 2,650 feet per second by that used in the United States Army.
§ MR. HALDANEThe pattern of cartridge is still under consideration. There are many other details to be considered besides the velocity.
§ MR. PIKE PEASEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many tons of pressure are exerted on the breech action of the Lee-Enfield rifle by the ammunition now supplied by the Army; and how many tons of pressure would be exerted by a cartridge giving a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet per second.
§ MR. HALDANEThe present ammunition exerts a mean pressure not exceeding 16½ tons at 60°; a cartridge giving a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet seconds would exert a mean pressure not exceeding 18¼ tons at 60° and 19½ tons at 120°. The maximum for any individual round is ½ ton higher in each case.