.Janiary ID, 1883. J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



489 



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MACHINE REST AND TARGET FOR TESTING GUNS. 



i HEREWITH inclose rough outline pen and ink drawing 

 of a machine rest and target, and below an explanation 

 of same. If in your opinion it shall prove of any practical 

 vnlue to sportsmen in general, please give it space in the 

 Fo :est AND Stream. 



So far as I am aware, up to the time of the appearance of 

 Mr. Greener's latest work, no drawing or plan for making a 

 machine rest have been given to the public, with the excep- 

 tion of a very indefinite explanation of the apparatus used in 

 the Chicago trials ; and even with Mr. Greener's cut before 

 one, it would be a very difficult matter to define its dimen- 

 sions and arrange its working parts, saying nothing of the 

 expense, as it seems to me, attending its manufacture. I in- 

 vented and perfected this apparatus for my private use, and 

 endeavored to combine cheapness with durability, simplicity 

 and accuracy. I have, fired from my machine over 700 

 charges during the season, with uniformily gratifying re- 

 sults. 



I do not wish to set myself up as "authority," but I can- 

 not deprecate too strongly the very common practiceof testing 

 the shooting quality of a gun by firing from the shoulder at 

 a stationary target for pattern at 40 yards range, or in tack- 

 ing up an old magazine and shooting at it, as a force or pene- 

 tration test. Such tests are, in my opinion, worthless from 

 lack of uniformity of conditions under which each shot is fired. 

 If a sufficient number of thin sheets of paper are nailed up 

 for a penetration test, it will be found almost impossible to 

 prevent bulging of the sheets in different places, and these 

 bulges wilf vary with each target placed. When the sheets 

 Inline, there will be found the greatest penetration, hence re- 

 sults obiained in this way are of no practical value. I have 

 found that while a 12-gauge 8-pound gun at 40 yards, with 

 8idre. of 0. & H. powder and ljoz. No. 8 soft shot, would 

 penetrate only from 3 to 4 sheets of uniform straw board, the 

 same being packed closely, it Wuuld penetrate only from 14 

 to 17 sheets of same when separated at intervals of J inch ; 

 and this, to me, is conclusive. If a proper apparatus is ever 

 devised and adopted with wdform rules either by clubs or 

 individual sportsmen, it would lead a to higher standard of 

 finish, so far as shooting qualities are concerned, besides ad- 

 ding to l he knowledge and pleasure of ever gun owner. 



In making the drawings I have omitted all shading, as 

 interfering with outlines, and also drawn the apparatus with- 

 out regard to scale, as I could show the parts to better advan- 

 tage and with less elaborate drawings. 



In F'eure 1, A is a bed plate .of seasoned white pine, 4 feet, 

 long, 2i inches thick and 14 inches wide, substantially 

 fastened to the frame B B as shown. The frame B B is 

 made of 2-inch pine, the side pieces or posts being 8 inches 

 •wide, with braces of 2x4. The projecting ends of frame B 

 B allow of pegging to the ground or screwing to a floor. C 

 is a pine plank similar to A, and serves to hold the frame B 

 B together in a substantial manner, at the same time it forms 

 a convenient table for various purposes. Between the tabl& 

 A and piece C, I insert a shelf, not shown in sketch, for hold- 

 ing, shells, swabs, oil, etc. Full height from top of table A 

 to bottom of cross ties is 20 inches. If desired, the table A 

 can be fastened to posts firmly sunk into the ground, which 

 is, I think, the better way. 



Resting upon the table A is a second table D, two inches 

 thick, fourteen inches wide and four feet ten inches long, 

 and pivoted at its rear end to plate A by a single bolt with 

 nut and washers. This allows of free side-shifting to right 

 or left of front end of table D when obtaining range, a por- 

 tion two inches wide as shown on each side of front end of 

 table D is cut away to allow for attaching two six-inch 

 malleable iron screw clamps, E E, the lower bed A being 

 slatted to receive them. To the projecting arms of table D 

 an adjustable block F is attached by means of thumb-screw 

 A To block F a coiled, steel wire spring H is secured ten 

 inches long, Jin. in diameter, a cord I Jin. diameter in con- 

 nection with hook J joins the gun-cairiage K with spring 

 H. If preferred, a spring-balance may be substituted for 

 spring H and the recoil be estimated by pounds. In centre 

 of table D, and beneath gun-carriage "K, a strip L, 20in. 

 long, 2in. wide and I'm. thick, is fastened to the narrow edge 

 of which is screwed the ratched plate M, made of ordiuary 

 stTap iron and notched at intervals of 1-16 of an inch. Op- 

 posite each notch, and at right angles to same, is a series of 

 designating marks, 1-I6in. apart ; every fifth mark is 

 lengthened and opposite, its distinguishing numbers, 5, 10, 

 15, etc, is placed Firmly screwed to outer ed^es of table 

 D are two pieces N N, 3ft. long, lin. thick and 2in. wide, 

 and resting upon their narrowest faces, and upon these are 

 screwed the pieces O O, their narrow faces outward. Upon 

 the inner faces of the pieces O O are screwed two iron V 

 guides.* K represents gun-carriage, 26in. long, 2Mn, thick 

 and 8in. broad, to the edges of which are screwed the V, 

 ways as shown, and extending full length of carriage. 



Across the extreme fro at end of K are the blocks P. P The 

 lower one, Hin. thick, 2£in. broad and Sin. long, is screwed 

 firmly to carriage K, whici is notched as shown to receive 

 the ftet of screw clamps A A. The lower bl< ck P is 

 grooved across its centre to the depth ef $ of an inch, and in 

 shape to correspond to that of a gun barrel. The upper 

 piece P is removable, and is the same size as the under piece 

 and is grooved in a. similar manner with the exception that 

 in the centre of the large groove a deeper groove is cut for 

 sighting when obtaining range. In front and secured to the 

 middle of underside of carnage K is a flat brass spring, 

 4in. long, Hin. broad at one end, and tapering to | of an inch 

 at, its smaller end, and adapted to engage with the ratchet 

 plate M. In thickness it should be 16, Brown & Sharp's 

 gauge. Its small end must be filled to fit 'he notches, and 

 its stiffness must depend upon the elasticity of spring H, 

 either plain as shown, or balance. Two pieces R R, f 

 thick, 2in. broad and 7in. lor-g, are attached to rear of car- 

 riage K, which is cut away to receive them as shown. 

 Across and set into the upper portion is the tie S., Jin. thick, 

 through which passes the thumb-screw T, and between the 

 pieces R R a removable block U, grooved in the same 

 manner as showu in P, is placed. 



Between the standards R R, and securely fastened to 

 carriage K, is a grooved block V, Hin. thick and Bin. long. 

 The groove is cut nearly through to fit the fore end, and 

 should be padded and covered with strong leather. 



Two arms W W, J thick, 2£in. wide and 30,n. 

 long, are screwed to carriage K, which is cut away 

 to receive them, and over this point passes the 



iv*.U*< * -V • 



rear ends of V, ways as shown by dotted lines. The 

 arms, WW, extend back upon K 6 inches, and one of them is 

 shown cut, away to show the rear attachments to same. A 

 cross-tie X secures the two arms and carries the thumb- 

 screw XI and two r! inch iron rods, YY, four inches long, 

 firmly bedded in the same. Upon the rods, YY, are two 

 pieces, ZZL adapted to move freely, 6 inches long, J thick 

 and 2 inches broad. The piece Z is padded and be'ween it 

 and Zl are two coiled wire springs, 2 inches long and very 

 stiff. A strong linen chord A 1 passes through two holes in 

 cross-tie X as shown. A stop pin, U l is inserted in the table 

 A, which prevents injury to the gun cirriage K. should the 

 chord I or spring H give way. A slot. FN 4 inches wide in 

 table A extends back to rear of table D, which allows for 

 dropping of breach when loading, cleaning, etc. 



THE TAKOET. 



Figure 2 shows the target proper, and figures 3, 4, 5 and 

 6 paris in detail. To the two pieces AA, 4 feet long, 6 

 inches wide and 1 inch thick, are fastened the uprights BB, 

 made of 2x4 scanllins,-4 feet 6 inches long. To the up- 

 rights BB are nailed 6 pieces of H inch pine, 8 inches wide 

 and 4 feet long. In the centre of" target is cut a slot, C, 

 7x10 inches. In the rear of target and below the perforation 

 C is the table D, and resting upon and fasted to both target 

 and table D is the device for holding the force or penetra- 

 lion sheets, figure 3. It is made of H inch pins, 12 inches 

 long and 9 inches deep, with a slot 0x9 inches, and to the 

 screw and upon each side of said slot arc secured the pieces 

 FF, 12 inches long, 7 inches high and 1} thick, with their 



inner faces grooved to a depth of i inch, and at intervals~of J 

 inch to receive the penetration sheets of their straw board G. 

 Spring brass clips, Brown & Sharp's gauge, .No. 20, 5 

 inches long, 1+ inches at one end and 1 inch at the other, are 

 bent as shown in figure 4, and attached to the edees of 

 screen by means of lath nails. I prefer brass on account of 

 rust, though strap iron will do. I prefer to use nails for 

 fastening them, as they are liable to lose their elasticity from 

 being hit with shot, and nails are easily withdrawn. A 

 piece, figure 5, fits snugly the slot C, and in the centre of 

 siid block is a bullseye of 3 inches diameter. This block is to 

 be used when obtaining range or in shoo ing for pattern alone. 

 A trammel point, lx'H inches, 18 inches long, carries the 

 pencil H at one end and the screw J at the other, the two 

 points being 15 inches apart and is used for obtaining the 30 

 inch circle. In front and resting on the pieces AA is the 

 table K, which offers a convenient rest for tools, etc., and at 

 the same time adds to the stability of the device. 



PATTERN SHEETS. 



I know of no sheets in the market 48x48 inches. Sheets 

 of suitable paper, 32x46 are obtainable, and by dividing one 

 of these the 48 inch way you obtain two sheets 16x46. Now 

 paste one of these to your full sheet and you will have a sur- 

 face of 40x47, which answers all practical purposes. To 

 fasten sheet to target, lift centre clip at top and slip sheet 

 under and it is then easy to adjust to the others. In shoot- 

 ing for patterns only, the bullseye block (Fig. 5) rnay be left 

 in place and the circle struck directly on the target, other- 

 wise the sheet mu9t be removed and circle struck upon a 

 floor or table. Unless the range is absolutely free from wind 

 effects, the circle should not be s'ruck until after firing, and 

 then the best pattern obtainable should be secured. The ap- 

 paratus should be housed in all cases, and if possible a board 

 fence, four feet high, should protect one side of range, at least. 



TO OBTAIN BANGS. 



Place bullseye block (Fig. 5) In slot C in target. Place 

 the gun in the grooves and lighten up all fcrews but X 1 and 

 clamps EE. Place gun in machine from beneath, and see 

 that fore end will allow breech to. diop freely. Now adjust 

 forward sight on bullseye by running or adding sheets of 

 paper beneath table (D) at front end, and tapping front end 

 of table (D) to right "or left. Your vertical and horizontal 

 axis is now supposed to be correct, but should you now fire, 

 say the right hand barrel, and your gun is accurate and no 

 wind to deflect the charge, you will find your true centre to 

 be from eight to ten inches to left of bullseye. Now fit an 

 ordinary card wad, perforated in the centre by a | inch hole, 

 in the muzzle of barrel you are about to use. and insert a paper 

 case in chamber, having first run a 3-10 drill through the an- 

 vil. You now have two peep line sights from centre of barrel. 

 By tapping the front end of table D you will bring the axis 

 of barrel in direct line with bullseye and your range is ob- 

 tained for right-band barrel. The name process must be 

 followed in obtaining range for left barrel, but the shift will 

 be 16 inches from left to right. I do not claim that all guns 

 vary as much as this, but all guns, both foreign and home- 

 mand, which I have tested, vary from 6 to 10 inches at 40 

 yards. The point blank range, in any case, can readily be 

 ascertained by moving the target nearer the Qiing point; 

 but I digress. The range now being obtained, remove the 

 block (Fig. 5), insert the force sheets and p'ace the pattern 

 sheet in position. Now load, throw up the breeeh and 

 tighten the set screw X 1 sufficiently, which experience alone 

 can teach you. The main dependence for holding Ihe gun 

 must be v'laced in the clamps QQ and set screw T, though 

 the padded block Z, backed by the coiled springs in rear of 

 same, materially assist in maintaining the gun in position, 

 any solid btetch rest will in lime strain the ac ion. 



One end of the cord A should row be pas?id around the 

 trigger, anil back through the hole in cross lie X, and its 

 two ends joiDed by a simple knot. 



To discharge the gun a sharp, quick twitch, directly down- 

 ward upon the trigger cord A 1 , and, since the cross tie X 

 acts as a fulcrum, the pull and resistance will be equal and 

 the effect of pull uniform. 



When the gun is discharged, the carriage K slides back- 

 ward, while the spring finger on front of sime engages with 

 ratchet M, and thus holds it until r coil is estimaed. 



If, however, it is desirable to find the recoil in pounds, a 

 spring balance may, as before st-ted, be substituted for 

 spring H, but the spring finger and ratchet should st'll be 

 retained, as it would hold the pointer in position on dial, and 

 so give exact recoil, without the necessity of smeaiing with 

 paint, as was done during the tests at Chicago. 



WfiiteMUU. Fa. F. G. FAHNru:*. 



■a. slnflp piece ixs may be substuvted for Hie two pieces w au.t 



O but in tiiis easp li should be bolt-tl to table II the head ot halt be- 



iirl mrli tioK-ljnle ,-ouuiersiuil. to receive noli-kiwl. ,-hould 



a single piece 1x3 be used, the table D can be made ten tncnei wide, 



