The modern infantry rifle, cal. 6.5 to 8. mm., is a magazine arm employing steel jacketed, pointed bullets, arranged in clips. The adoption of automatic rifles is contemplated. In these rifles the recoil energy is utilized for throwing out empty shells and for placing a fresh cartridge into the chamber at the same time. The objections made to the adoption of such a rifle (complexity of the mechanism, danger of wasting ammunition) are similar to the reasons advanced against the adoption of breech-loading and magazine rifles. In addition to the increased rate of fire, the advantage of eliminating the effect of the recoil on the skirmisher must not be underestimated. Moreover, the elimination of the recoil makes a further increase in the initial velocity of the projectile possible. The effect of infantry fire may be considered from two points of view, viz.: the effect on the enemy of a single projectile, and the effective hit in itself. 1. THE EFFECT OF A SINGLE PROJECTILE ON ANIMATE TARGETS.[124] [124] See _Löbells Militärische Jahresberichte_, 1905, p. 475, and 1906, p. 412, which contain complete references to military literature. _Militär-Wochenblatt_, No. 1, 1906. During the Russo-Japanese war the contending parties used the following small arms and projectiles: ======+=========+=======+=====+=====================+========= | Rifle. | Model | Cal.| PROJECTILE. |Initial | |(year).| |Description. |Weight.|Velocity. | | | mm. | | g. | m. ------+---------+-------+-----+-------------+-------+--------- Japan |{Arisaka | ’97 | 6.5 |Hardened lead| 10.5 | 715 |{Murata | ’94 | 8.0 |core with | 15.42 | 564 | | | |copper-nickel| | Russia| ---- | ’91 | 7.62|jacket. | 13.7 | 615 ------+---------+-------+-----+-------------+-------+--------- The ballistic qualities of the _Arisaka_ rifle were superior to those of the Russian arm, but the maiming effect of the two rifles was about equal. The striking energy of the projectiles was not sufficient in every case, however, to put a man out of action. The explosive effect produced by bullets striking interior organs and bones at short ranges (within 500 m.) was more evident in wounds made by the 8. mm. than by the _Arisaka_ rifle.[125]