6 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[July 25, 1889. 



PATTERN AND PENETRATION TESTS. 



THE COLT GUN. 



THE trial in the Forest and Stream Gun Test, which 

 took place July 17 brought to the front a pair of 

 Colt guns. They formed an attractive but not altogether 

 an even running team. One of these arms was the prop- 

 erty of Dr. A. E. Merrill , U. S. A. He had put the gun into 

 the hands of a smith for a recess choke treatment, intend- 

 ing to make it so that ball as well as shot cartridges might 

 be fired from it. The report on the boring, or rather, the 

 measuring of the barrels after the, boring, shows that the 

 enlargement of the bore commences about 14in. from the 

 muzzle and is about .006 or .008 of an inch larger for 

 about 2in. in the left-hand barrel. The enlargement of 

 the right-hand barrel commences about |in . from the muz- 

 zle and is about 3im. long, and so far as can be judged from 



COLT GUN (DR. MERRILL'S), 40 YDS., RIGHT BARREL, 249 PELLETS. 



the use of lead disks it is somewhat larger than the change 

 in the left, about .02 of an inch. Putting the distances 

 from the breech and the measurements taken of them 

 into tabular form, the report shows: 



Diameter, inches. 



Distance from Breech. Right barrel. Left barrel. 



Breech 813 .813 



3.1 753 .752 



3.2 74(5 .742 



7.0 736 .738 



10.0 736 .738 



13.0 734 .737 



16.0 733 .737 



19.0 731 .736 



22 0 728 .736 



35.0 727 .734 



26.5 726 .733 



28.S. .731 



Mizzle 726 .726 



When the gun reached the Forest and Stream office 



COLT GUN (DR. MERRILL'S), 40YDS., LEFT BARREL, 283 PELLETS. 



for trial, a request was made on Gunsmith Dannefel- 

 ser to prepare a series of charges. He loaded fifty cart- 

 ridges with 3Jdrs. of dead shot powder and l|oz. of No. 8 

 chilled Cincinnati shot. Bullet charges were also pre- 

 pared, but upon their performances a separate report 

 will be made. At the range Supt. Alfred Moss had a 

 Colt arm also of 12-gauge, of which he is very proud, and 

 with which he has had no end of sport. He was invited 

 to shoot both weapons and did so, using the cartridges 

 from the same batch. His weapon was of the regular 

 full muzzle choke pattern, and in looks, finish and bal- 

 ance a very satisfactory arm. 



The day was all that could be wished for such a test. 

 The wind" was a lazy 3-o'clock breeze, with hardly power 

 enough to lift the bit of blue ribbon hung to guide the 

 marksman in his aiming. The big roll of white paper, 

 into which the shots pass to make their pattern, was set 

 in motion; the penetration pads were dropped one after 

 another into the slot behind, and the gun firing went on 

 with grea/t celerity. First the Merrill Colt made its record 

 at 40yds., and this was promptly followed by the per- 

 formance of the Moss Colt at the same range. Then back 

 to 60yds. the more severe test was applied to the arms in 

 the same order. There was not a single break or pause 

 in the entire test. What the weather conditions were, a 

 glance at the recorded meteorological observations will 

 show. No better day for such work ought to be asked 

 for by any gun man, and that they were doing their best, 

 or very near it, there is no reason to doubt. So far as 

 hitting power was concerned, as indicated on the pene- 

 tration pads, the two arms were very nearly equal, and 



each barrel as well, but in pattern the difference was 

 great enough to rouse the query whether after all the old 

 form of choking, in order to make room for the solid-ball 

 cartridge in use, was altogether an improvement to the 

 Merrill arm. It certainly did not gain much advantage 

 in its extra weight, and as for recoil, marksman Moss 

 complained that the kick was much greater than in his 

 own gun. Looking at the results by percentage it will 

 be seen that but one barrel out of the four fired from got 

 over 50 per cent, of the average load into a 30in. circle, 

 while at a previously-struck circle the percentage was 

 much lower. 



In the shots fired for maximum patterns, irrespective 

 of aim, the Moss gun showed itself a much better holder 

 than its companion weapon. The table of the variation 

 of centers between the points aimed at and the centers 

 taken for best pattern show as follows: 



MERRILL (COLT) GUN. 



40 Yards. 60 Yards. 



Right Barrel. Left Barrel. Right Barrel. Left Barrel. 



23^in. 1... 9 in. 8 in. 



6 in. 3 ... 8y 2 m. 9Uin. 



5J^in. 3....10jfln. 10 in. 



9 in. 



10 in. 

 9 in. 

 6^in. 



Aver'ge.5 in. 



1.... 2^ in . 

 2.... 3^in. 

 3 ... 4 in. 



Aver'ge.SJ^in. 



Without further talk of the test we leave the formal 

 record of it to tell its own story. How the cartridges 

 were loaded, how the guns were handled and how they 

 behaved themselves are all told there in the dead accuracy 



!>s ; ii. Avei'ge.9 in. 



MOSS (COLT) GUN. 



l^in. 1 ... 7 in. 



3 in. 2. .. T^in. 



3^in. 3 ... SJiQi. 



Aver'ge.V^in. 



COLT GUN (SUPT. MOSS'S), 40VDS., RIGHT BARREL, 285 PELLETS. 



of unyielding figures. Enough shots were fired to show 

 that there were no flukes, and to make the averages real 

 records of the doings of the respective arms. At some 

 future day, when other Colt guns are tried, perhaps they 

 will tell a'different tale, and as soon as the Hartford Co. 

 shall send on a weapon for trial the Colt may be expected 

 to show quite a different gait along the range where the 

 tests are conducted. 



COLT GUN (SUPT, MOSS'S), 40YDS., LEFT BARREL, 316 PELLETS. 



Claeemont, N. J., July 17, 1889. 



TEST MADE AT FOREST AND STREAM GUN-TESTING SCREEN. 



Gun— Colt, Damascus steel barrels (Dr. Merrill's Gun). 

 Cost, •$— . No. of gun, 3,075. Weight, 8J£lbs. Length 

 of barrels, 30in. Gauge, 13. Right barrel, recess choke. 

 Left barrel, recess choke. 



Weather— Clear. Direction of wind, 3 o'clock. Force of 

 wind, 3 miles per hour. Thermometer, dry, 76° . Do., 

 wet, 67° . Humidity, (33° . Barometer, 39.9in. 



Charge, as given by holder of gun : 



BOTH BARRELS. 



Shell— U. 8. C. Co.'s Climax. 

 Powder, Brand— Dead Shot. 

 Powder. Qu outity— '-\}4 drs. 



i Moke— Cincinnati Chilled. 

 Shot-) Quantity— l 1 ^ oz. 



/ Size— 8. 



CARTRIDGE ANALYSIS. 

 Three Cartridges Taken at Random. 



BOTH BARRELS. 

 Loading. Powder. 

 Heavy card over shot; II.., 98 grs. 

 two B. E. wads and-' 2... 99 grs. 

 card over powder. I 3. . . 98 grs. 



Shot 



543 grs. 569 pellets. 

 561 grs. 589 pellets. 

 532 grs. 552 pellets. 



Average 98 grs. 545 grs. 570 pellets. 



TEST AT 40 YARDS. 



Five Shots per Barrel from rest at fixed 30-inch Circle. - 



EIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



Pattern. Penetration, s pellets. Pattern. Penetration, 3 pellets. 



1. 244 pellets. 



2. 249 pellets. 



3. 207 pellets. 



4. 197 pellets. 



5. 135 pellets. 



14 sheets. 



12 sheets. 

 21 sheets. 



13 sheets. 

 13 sheets. 



1. 263 pellets. 



2. 250 pellets. 



3. 255 pellets. 



4. 245 pellets. 



5. 158 pellets. 



12 sheets. 

 14 sheets. 

 16 sheets. 



12 sheets. 



13 sheets. 



Av. 206 pellets. 14 sheets. Av. 234 pellets. 13 sheets. 



Tliree shots at 4-foot square; 30-inch Circle selected, from 

 best pattern. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 280 pellets. 1 290 pellets. 



2 243 pellets. 2 281 pellets. 



3 199 pellets. 3 263 pellets. 



Average 237 pellets. Average 278 pellets. 



TEST AT 60 YARDS. 



Five Shots per Barrel f 'rom rest at fixed 30-inch Circle. 



LEFT BARREL. 

 Pattern. Penetration, 3 pellets. 

 92 pellets. 6 sheets. 



RIGHT BARREL. 

 Pattern. Penetration, 3 pellets. 



h 91 pellets. 



2. 94 pellets. 



3. 27 pellets. 



4. 78 pellets. 



5. 120 pellets. 



6 .sheets. 



4 sheets. 



5 sheets. 



5 sheets. 



6 sheets. 



43 pellets. 

 68 pellets. 

 85 pellets. 

 96 pellets. 



5 sheets. 

 5 sheets. 

 .. sheets. 

 4 sheets. 



Av. 82 pellets. o sheets. Av. 77 pellets. 5 sheets. 



Three shots at 4-foot square; 80-inch Circle selected from 

 best pattern. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 112 pellets. 1 90 pellets. 



2 106 pellets. 2 72 pellets. 



3 92 pellets. 3. ..... 110 pellets. 



Average 103 pellets. 



Average 90 pellets. 



Claeemont, N. J., July 17, 1889. 



TEST MADE AT FOREST AND STREAM GUN-TESTING SCREEN. 



Chin— Colt, Damascus steel barrels (Alfred Moss's Gun). 

 Cost, $65. No. of gun, 6,413. Weight, 7Klbs. Length of 

 barrels, 30in. Gauge, 12. Right barrel, full choke. Left 

 barrel, full choke. 



Weather— Sunny. Direction of wind, 3 o'clock. Force of 

 wind, 3 miles per hour. Thermometer, dry, 76°. Do., 

 wet, 67°. Humidity, 63 0 . Barometer, 29. 9in. 



Charge, as given by holder of gun: 



BOTH BARRELS. 

 Shell— \J. S. C. Co.'s Climax. 

 Powder, Brand— Dead Shot. 

 Powder, Quantity— 3}4 drs. 



( Make— Cincinnati Chilled. 

 Shot- Quantity— 1% oz. 

 ( Size— 8. 



CARTRIDGE ANALYSIS. 



Three Cartridges Taken at Random. 



BOTH BARRELS 



Loading. Powder. 

 Heavy card over shot; ( 1.. . 98 grs. 

 two B. E. wads and - 2. . . 99 grs. 

 card over powder. 13... 98 grs. 



Shot, 



543 grs. 569 pellets. 

 561 grs. 589 pellets. 

 582 grs. 552 pellets. 



Average 98 grs. 545 grs. 

 TEST AT 40 YARDS. 



570 pellets. 



Five Shots per Barrel f rom rest at fixed 30-inch Circle. 



RIGHT BARREL. 

 Pattern. Penetration, 3 pellets. 



1. 268 pellets. 



2. 193 pellets. 



3. 285 pellets. 



4. 228 pellets. 



5. 145 pellets. 



14 sheets. 

 12 sheets. 

 12 sheets. 

 14 sheets. 

 11 sheets. 



LEFT BARREL. 

 Pattern. Penetration, 3 pellets. 



1. 279 pellets. 



2. 316 pellets, 



3. 106 pellets. 



4. 244 pellets. 



5. 272 pellets. 



14 sheets. 

 16 sheets. 



10 sheets. 



11 sheets. 

 13 sheets. 



Av. 224 pellets. 12 sheets. Av. 243 pellets. 13 sheets. 



Three Shots at 4-foot square; 30-inch Circle selected front- 

 best pattern.. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 301 pellets. 1 270 pellets. 



2 268 pellets. 2 292 pellets. 



3 254 pellets. 3 314 pellets. 



Average 274 pellets. Average 292 pellets. 



TEST AT 60 YARDS. 



Five Shots per Barrel from rest at fixed, 30 inch, Circle. 



RIGHT BARREL. 

 'attem. Penetration, 3 pellets. 



1. 38 pellets. 



2. 93 pellets. 



3. 59 pellets. 



4. 97 pellets. 



5. 40 pellets. 



7 sheets. 



5 sheets. 

 .. sheets. 

 . . sheets. 



6 sheets. 



LEFT BARREL. 

 Pattern. Penetration, 3 pellets. 



1. 92 pellets. 



2. 91 pellets. 



3. 105 pellets. 



4. 120 pellets. 



5. 114 pellets. 



sheets. 



8 sheets. 



5 sheets. 



6 sheets. 



9 sheets. 



Av. 65 pellets. 6 sheets. Av. 104 pellets. 7 sheets. 



Three Shots at 4-foot square; 80-inch Circle selected from 

 best pattern. 



RIGHT BARREL. LEFT BARREL. 



1 90 pellets. 1 115 pellets. 



2 68 pellets. 2 122 pellets. 



3 87 pellets. 3 106 pellets. 



Average 81 pellets. 



Average 114 pellets. 



A 200yds. Dash. — For some time past a bear has been 

 strolling about the farms in Kempt Road, and during 

 that time carried off four sheep. One day last week a 

 son of Nat Comley's was down on his knees weeding tur- 

 nips, when he heard an unusual sound, and on looking 

 up says he "saw the best animal race they ever had in 

 that part of Bonaventure." The race was between an 

 immense bear and a two-year-old heifer, and the distance 

 200yds. The race was close throughout, but the heifer 

 got a couple of yards start and kept that distance to the 

 barn, where the bear was scared off. Next evening Mr. 

 Comley sat at the edge of the woods, a short distance 

 from the house, with a smooth-bore gun in his hand. He 

 bad to wait but a few minutes when bruin appeared. 

 Mr. Comley is a good shot. The bear weighed 4501bs. 

 The skin brought $22. — Restigouche Pioneer, Campbell- 

 ton, N. B., July 10. 



Tubular Bullets.— Mr. A. Weed, of Tarrytown, N.Y., 

 whose tubular bullets were described in these columns 

 the other day, will be absent on a camping trip in Can- 

 ada for six weeks, and his correspondents who may apply 

 for specimen bullets will be obliged to await his return. 



