Jan. 19, igoi.] 
FOREST AND ^ STREAM. 
89 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
•882' 
I 
I 
I 
I 
^- 
^ 
I 
■Sir 
I 
4e 
--2-^<y- 
Standatd Sizes o£ Chamfcefs and Cartridgfes, 
The importance of correct relation in size between the chamber 
of a gun and the cartridge to fit it is obvious. The best_ gun- 
makers have always taken especial care to work to a series ot 
chamber dimensions best suited to the cartridges m ordmary use, 
and cartridge makers have likewise done their best to work to 
sizes that will give in practice a minimum of split cases and Daa 
extractions. But neither gunmaker nor cartridge maker has had 
the iruidance of a series of standard dimensions jointly recognized 
bv each Both therefCire have had to base their calculations upon 
a process of averaging existing practice, with the result Uiat com- 
plications have arisen when full gauge cartridges have been hred 
in exceplionallv small chambers, and, conversely, when small 
cartridges have "been fired from guns of large chambers. We need 
not here detail the difficulties with which all manufacturers have 
had to contend in harmonizing gun chambers and cartridges 
under conditions in which each was standardized with only partial 
reference to the other. In fact, the necessity for correct relation 
between the two is so apparent that it w'ould be idle to dwell upon 
the evils arising when the required conditions are. unfulfilled 
It is only diTring the past six years that the indusUy of gun- 
making, through an organized association, has been m a position 
\o dlfx with the question of standard-sized chambers, and to 
secure the recognition of such sizes by the ammunition manu- 
facturers Early in the history of the Armourers' Club the ques- 
tion of chamber sizes was brought into prominence. 
The Armourers' Club in June of 1895 passed a resolution m- 
viting '•^le°srs. Eley, Kynoch and Joyce to meet a committee of 
thl Armourers' Club to try and establish standard maximum and 
;jjinimmn"^fz"s of the leading sporting shells/^ The conference 
then decided upon was held on Jan. 29, 1896- and 
besides various members of the Armourers Club 
there were present Gen. Arbuthnot and Mr. 
Robert Frver, of Messrs. Kynoch; Mr. J. C. 
Irvine ^ Messrs. Eley, and Mr. P. Newton, of 
Messrs. 3»yce. At this meeting careful consid- 
eration was given to the points at issue, and 
although no definite sizes were put toyward or 
adopted, the ball was set rolling, and the prln- , 
ciple of joint action was confirmed. ^ All this , 
occurred in the days of the Armourers Club, ot , 
which Mr. H. A. Thorn was the hon. secretary. 'CQO 
and among his more active colleagues were Mr. QO^ 
Henry Holland. Mr. E. Harrison, Mr John I 
Rigby and Mr. A. H. Gale. . . 
These particulars are interesting as showing 
the genesis of the movement. Subsequently the 
Armourers' Club became the Gunmakers Asso- 
ciation, and the question of standards was for the 
time lost sight of until again brought mto prom- 
inence by tiv. T. W- Webley. This well-known 
gunmaker constructed on his own initiative a 
complete set of maximum and minimum gun 
chamber and cartridge gauges, and his figures 
received the careful attention of the leading gun 
and cartridge makers. But a difficulty arose 
which for the time being checked further de- 
velopments. Mr. Webley's specifications in- 
cluded the maximum and minimum sizes of both 
gun chambers and cartridges, and in several cases 
the opinion was expressed that while it was right 
that the minimum chamber should be determined 
in its relation with the maximum cartridge the 
.sizes should not be extended to include maximum 
chambers and minimum cartridges. The fixing 
of the latter sizes was considered to be the private 
.business of the gunmaker and the cartridge 
maker. Having specified the point of contact, as 
it were, between the gun chamber and the car- 
tridge, the other sizes become a question of man- 
ufacturing "latitude." Obviously, the closer a 
f;un is chambered to the minimum sizes the less 
ikelihood is there of tpHt cases in firing, but 
whether the allowable dilierence or latitude should 
be fixed at .002in. or .OOoin, was recognized as 
mainly a matter of quality of manufacture, con- 
trolled in turn by price. The ammunition man- 
ufacturers likewise did not wish to be tied down 
on the one hand to an impossible degree of ac- 
curac3', while on the other hand they had no wish 
to adopt a wider margin of error than was neces- 
sary to cover the unavoidable divergencies of 
manufacture. We can best illustrate this point 
in reference to the paper tubes of ordinary sport- 
ing cases. These tutjes are as a rule manufactured 
accurately to diameter within a margin of differ- 
ence of about .005in. Storage in a damp ware- 
house or the use of overlarge wads would readily 
cause an excess of deviation beyond the above 
margin. If, therefore, the cartridge manufacturers 
had bound themselves to any particular latitude 
they would have opened the door for endless 
disputes, arising from the unintelligent treatment 
of cartridges which would satisfy the required con- 
ditions. 
At this stage the Gunmakers' Association took 
the matter in hand, and under its auspices joint 
conferences were held last May and last October, 
at which the ammunition manufacturers already 
named were represented, while a delegate of the 
Birmingham and Provincial Gunmakers' Associa- 
tion attended on behalf of another important sec- 
tion of the gun trade. In the course of the dis- 
cussion it was' decided to reduce the question at 
issue to the simplest possible basis. It was rec- 
ognized that all that gunmakers required was a 
standard minimum chamber, and its official rec- 
ognition by the ammunition manufacturers, the 
term recognition implying an undertaking that 
cartridges should work satisfactorily in guns 
chambered within working limits of specified sizes. 
This at once put the matter on a sound basis of 
common sense. The gunmaker who chambers his 
guns properly is in a position, without knowing 
anything about minimum cartridge sizes, to in- 
sist on cartridegs that shall do their work effi- 
ciently._ The cartridge maker, knowing the mini- 
mum size of the standard gun chamber, is in a 
position to determine for himself the manufactur- 
ing latitudes which will insure a satisfactory car- 
tridge. Being thus in possession of the information- he requires 
from outside, the ammunition manufacturer is left with a free 
hand to take what measures he thinks suitable for turning out the 
best cartridge he is capable of producing. Having once clearly 
defined what sizes were to be determined, the comparatively simple 
task of fixing upon definite dimensions was all that remained. 
In order to set the minds of sportsmen at rest, we may at once 
point out that the new sizes are very little different from the 
average values which have hitherto been in use by the trade. In 
the course of the proceedings each representative present stated the 
sizes to which he had been in the habit of working. If one manu- 
facturer found that any particular dimension he had hitherto fol- 
lowed was in disagreement with those adopted by the majority of 
his confreres he waved his point, and the result of this averaging 
process was that the sizes ultimately approved did not differ 
materially from those previously in use by the best makers. For 
instance, it has been pointed out that the 12-bore minimum 
chamber sizes are, wdth one exception, in all respects similar to 
those put forward by Mr. Webley two years ago, the sole differ- 
ence being a divergence of .OOlin. in one of the measurements. 
It is thus important to note that the newlv adopted sizes will not 
render existing guns obsolete. In fact, the only guns that will be 
rendered obsolete are those which were alreadv proved to be over 
size in the chamber by their liability to split the cases fired in 
them. 
Minimum Gun Chamber Sizes. 
, 12-bore. 16-bore. 
Size under rim Sllin. .745in. 
Front end of chamber 798in. .732in. 
Depth of rim recess 074in. .062in. 
Diameter of rim 882in. .815in. 
Lengths. 
For Sin. cases. . . . 3.00 in. 3.00 in. 
For 2%in. cases 2.75 in. 2.75 in. 
For 2i/i>in. cases 2.56 in. 2.56 in. 
Turning now to the sizes adopted for 12, 16 and 20 bore car- 
tridges, as shown in the accompanying diagram and table, we may 
offer a few general remarks concerning them. In the first place it 
will be noticed that the walls of the chamber consist of a regular 
cone, the old principle which was recommended some years ago 
by Messrs. Kynoch, of making the rear portion of the chamber 
with parallel walls, being now definitely abandoned. The amount 
ot taper in the walls of the chamber, represented by the differ- 
ence between the diameters at the front and rear ?p4s, works ptjt 
at .013in. for every cartridge. It was agreed that with tile taper 
the withdrawal of the empty shell after firing in the process of 
extraction would give the case sufficient clearance to insure easy 
ejection. The taper of .013in. in the whole length of the cartridge 
applies equally to all sizes, so that 2%in.. 2%in. and 3in, cartridges 
vary somewhat in the taper of thte walls, the diminution of 
diameter being spread over a greater length in the longer chambers. 
The dimensions of the rim have received the most careful at- 
tention, the depth of the rim recess having been the first point 
considered. In the case of the 12-bore this remains much as be- 
fore. The 16-hore has been increased somewhat, so that it now 
stands at .062in. The 20-bore rim has, however, been very largely 
modified. Curiously enough, the rims of the old 20-bore cartridges 
were entirely out of proportion with those of other cartridges, 
their extreme smallness giving manufacturers of weapons of this 
bore considerable trouble in their efforts to secure reliable extrac- 
tion. The depth of rim recess is now .060, and the value of the 
change is to be appreciated by examining specimen cartridges 
manufactured by Messrs. Eley Brothers to the new sizes side by 
side with those previously issued. 
It would be safe to say that no one will benefit so largely from 
the standardization of cartridge and chamber sizes as users of 20- 
bcre guns. Besides the depth of the rim recess, its diameter has 
a great influence upon the efficiency of ejectors. The elevation 
of the^ rim above the walls of the cartridge may be judged by the 
diflerence between the diameter under rim and the diameter of the 
rim. In the case of the 12-bore this difference amounts to .071in,, 
which represents the elevation of rim above and below. Dividing- 
this by i we obtain .0355in. as the upstanding height of the rim. 
That of the 16-bore is .035in., and of the 20-borc .031in. The form 
of the rim recess is shown in the enlarged view at the bottom of 
the diagram. It will be seen that the walls of the chamber are 
w 
«k 
i 
■ 
'SIT 
-dw- 
12-BORE 3 INCH 
-7F 
--i- 
I 
r98 
\ 
I 
S/ 
m 
^1- 
I 
sir 
2YJ- -|-^ 
12-BORE 2i INCH 
* " ^^-i 7.- 
12-BORE 2h INCH 
798 
1^.4 2^6" f-^ 
y^s' rj^ 
16-BORE 
I 
I 
^■A 
'698" 
1 
2-56 "- -"f 
20-BORE 
20-bore. 
.698in. 
.685in. 
-OeOin. 
.760in. 
3.00 in. 
2.75 m. 
2.56 in. 
ENLARGED VIEW 
OF RIM 
Joined to the walls of the rim recess by the arc of a elrclis, this 
having been considered the most satisfactory design for general 
adoption. _ The ammunition manufacturers will be greatly aided 
by the definite fixing of the shape of the rim recess, because they 
will in future be enabled to shape the rim as nearly as possible 
to the contour of the rim recess, at the same time making the 
angle of junction as sharp as possible to enable the extractor to 
get a firm grip. Possibly, at some future period it will be inter- 
esting to examine enlarged views showing the contour of the old 
rims, as corppared with more modern rim.s constructed in accord- 
ance with the new standard dimensions and form of rim recess. 
The specifications of the length of the cartridge is a very impor- 
tant item in the new sizes. If a cartridge is undul)' long or short 
the cone of the chamber does not occupy the correct position rela- 
tive with the cartridge. By accurately determining the length of 
the chamber the cone can be suitably designed, so avoiding the 
difficulties that arise by the departure of the charge of shot from 
a case which, through being unduly long, is contracted at the 
mouth by the cone, this interfering with the proper exit of the 
charge. The exact determination of the length of cartridge will 
also do much to improve the quality of the turnover, since manv 
of the machines in use for this purpose work on automatic prin- 
ciples, and therefore require to be used in connection with car- 
tridges of a definite length. It will be clear that a case which is 
over long is liable to be crushed bw undue jamming of the turn- 
over, the increased length being also liable to cause an extra long 
turnover, so interfering with the pattern. In the same way an 
unduly short cartridge may not receive sufficient turnover to 
insure the proper ignition of the powder before the shot com- 
mences to move. 
The manner of giving effect to the new standard sizes will consist 
m securing accurately finished gauges, constructed exactly to the 
dimensions of the minimum gun chamber, for the several bores. 
This will be known as socket gauges, and a set of plug gauges 
will also be manufactured to correspond with the same dimen- 
sions. The plug gauge will serve to test the chambers of guns, 
while the socket gauge will act as a cartridge gauge. It is clear 
that every leaded cartridge which properly enters the socket gauge 
will also enter a gun chambered according to the new sizes. In 
this way manufacturers of ammunition, gunmakers, and others 
who load cartridges, will be able to test every single cartridge be- 
fore it leaves their factory, in order to insure that it shall properly 
enter any gun chambered in accordance with the new sizes. There 
are a i^umber of pth^jr gauges tha* wijl >)e required in actual roaBu- 
facturing operations, but these do not come within the scope of 
this article. ■ j ». • 
As a matter of general interest, it may be mentioned that, m 
nearly all cases where complaint is made respecting split cases or 
bad ejection, the first test is one to determ.ine whether the gun 
chamber is of accurate gauge, and the same with the cartridge. 
If one or the other is found to be in fault, the trouble may gen- 
erally be ascribed to this circumstance. Should a batch of car- 
tridges at any time be found not to enter the chamber of a gun 
without force, and the chamber be nevertheless of correct di- 
mensions, the cartridge would be obviously over size. If jt were 
then Droved that the cartridges were true to gauge on leavfeg the 
mskef's hands, it weuld then be clear that the tubes must have 
changed their dimensions since being issued, probably owing to 
storage in an unsuitable place. Difficulties of this kind, which 
have hitherto given so much trouble both to the user and the 
manufacturer, will in a measure disappear when the new sizes are 
introduced in practice, and when they do arise there will be less 
trouble than formerly in locating them. — London Field. 
Richmond Pigeon Club. 
RiCHMO.vfD, Va., Jan. 9. — The Richmond Pigeon Club made its 
bow to the public this afternoon at the baseball park in lovely 
weather. Every one had a ^ood time except the pigeons. This 
club, organized recently, will hold monthly shoots, the chief 
event being a 20-bird handicap, the highest aggregate at the end 
of the season (after the April meeting) being awarded a gold medal. 
Shooters killing their first or second 10 birds straight are pen- 
alized 1yd., the limit being 30yds. Score: 
7Vo^> score type— Copyright, 1901, by Forest and Stream Pub. Co. 
115265458885144211 at2 
Buckner, 28 , 2 21211128021 2 2 22022 1—18 
41113123184888312146 
Wood, 28 ^ 2 221222112201101111 2—18 
14614132341122522853 
Colquitt, 29 0 121 "J 11121102121222 2—18 
32844514485568558286 
Stearns, 80 0 2122021*0222222222 2—16 
831214264S6555165848 
Harrison, 28 2 2 1 0 2 2 2 1 0 1 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 0— Ift 
55855228521544451844 
Signer, 28 2 20012*16220*021020 1—11 
13862121821114124445 
Vaughan, 28 1 0 0 2 2 * 2 211102 1 20112 1— 15 
S2422411488454314481 
Boyd, as 0 122022112011202212 *— 16 
81841514265228858481. 
Hammond, 80 2 202222 2 22002202222 2-16 
Moline Gtrn Club, 
MoLiNE, III., Jan 1.— The Moline Gun Club ushered the old 
year out and the new one in by having a two days' tournament. 
The weather was much against us, and kept many away who had 
intended coming, and those \vho w'ere present did not enjoy the 
cold, biting wind and the snow which fell on the first day. 
The zero weather was warmed up a little by the sun, which 
shone' on the second day, yet the reflection on the snow was very 
trying on weak or old eyes. Some good scores were made on 
live birds, but not on targets. The electric pull was almost con- 
stantly out of order, and proves that it seldom works well in 
very cold weather. On this account part of the target programme 
w-as abandoned. 
The live birds were an excellent lot, many of them getting away 
to all appearances unhurt. The gentlemen who furnished them 
said they had been fed on cinders and were shotproof. It seemed 
to require more lead to bag these pigeons than any that I have 
seen this year, save perhaps some of John Watson's which he 
furnished during his December tournament. 
There was a good attendance of local shooters, and Geneseo 
sent over a small delegation. Dr. Stone came from West Liberty, 
while Tom Laflin and Sperry, of Rock Island, put in their appear- 
ance and shot into first money more than once, Laflin winning 
first day and Sperry getting almost all in sight on the second day. 
The head men of this club are the two Dunn boys and C. 
Stephens, of the Moline Plow Company. They are all O.K. when 
it comes to running a shoot. They had up a good tent, a good 
stove and a lunch man with hot coffee and plenty to eat. The 
attendance was in fact larger than the late tournament at Kansas 
City, and the local and country boys proved to be shooters and 
stayers. None of the regular attendants of shoots, such as Budd, 
Gilbert, etc., were present, but the L. & R. Tramp came early 
and stayed late, and claimed that the weather was against him, and 
he did not shoot quite up to his usual form. 
The grounds used were not the best, sloping too much and facing 
the south. This accounts for a loss of pigeons, as the shooter 
would aim over them. 
Events: 12 3 Events: 12 3 
Targets: 10 15 10 Targets: 10 15 10 
Seiber 7 10 8 Dunn 9 7 8 
T Miller..- 6 11 8 McCaughey 8 9 8 
\lcBroom 6 8 7 Wiggins 6 9 5 
Cropper 5 
Stone ...,,...,,.,.,„ 7 
Westby , ^ 
Teller 6 9 9 
F E Miller 6 5 6 
Mason . 4 7 .. 
Stephens 8 11 5 
Pigeons.— Event No. 1, 7 live birds, $3.50 entrance: Van Patten 
(27) 4, Van Woutengren (27) 6, Seiber (27) 5, McBroom (29) 1 
F. E. Miller (27) 7, J. O. Miller (28) 6, Zeller (27) 5, Cropper (28) 
6. Laflin (29) 6, Stephens (28) 5, Tramp (30) 7, McCaughey (27) 5 
Decker (27) 5, Soule (28) 1. 6 y ^ ly o, 
Event No, 3, 10 birds, $3 entrance: J, O. Miller 9, Seiber 8, 
Van Patten 8, Van Woutengren 4, Soule S, McBroom 9, Zeller 7, 
McCaughey 8, Tramp 9, Laflin 9, F. E. Miller 8, Stone 6 Warner 
•i. Cropper 9, Stephens 6. Decker 9, Westby 7. 
Event No. 3, 12 birds, $7.50 entrance: 
Laflin 111111221122—12 Miller 011111011121—10 
Van Patten OlOllOOw Cropper .,, 121212000210— 8 
Tramp 210112212220—10 
Warner 2100100w 
Stone OOOlllOw 
Seiber - . .221022011122—10 
Stephens 012012li3211— 10 
Monroe 0012020w 
J O Miller 012111111012—10 
McBroom 212112121220—11 
Second Day, Targets. 
Events : 
Targets : 
Foley 
Sperry 
Herr 
J O Miller S 
McCaughey S 
Zeller 7 
Humphrey 5 
Tramp 10 
1 2 3 4 5 
10 10 10 15 20 
10 8 10 14 17 
9 8 12 18 
8 12 10 
9 S 11 IS 
9 10 12 18 
. 7 10 10 
7 4 .. .. 
9 8 
Events: 1 3 
Targets: lo It) 
Stephens -fl g 
Grafton . . 
Wilber , . . "g 
Nance 
Dunn ' [[ 
Parker 
Shaffer [ . [ , 
Seiber 
3 4 5 
10 15 20 
7 18 13 
12 14 
12 .. 
.. 14 
. - 17 
Second Day, Pigeons, 
Event No. 1, 10 birds, $5 entrance: Laflin 5. Dunn 5 
Sperry 8, Stone 3, Herr 7, Foley 10, Wellburn 9, f. Miller o' 
Parker 8, Cook 6, Tramp 9, Stevens 7, Zeller .9, Crow'all 6 McC 8 
Event No, 2, 7 birds, $3.50 entrance: Foley 7. Parker 2, 'Stephens 
H, Sperry 5, Shoffer 6, J. O. Miller .5, Zeller 7, Wilber 6, Herr S 
Laflin 6, Nance 3, Seiber 4, Stone 6, Decker 5, Tramp 7. * 
Event ]SIq,_3, 15 birds, $10 entrance; 
Parker 002220202011210— 9 Herr 112102112211201— 1<? 
Stephens 221222202211110—13 Foley 212020002in0U— 10 
Sperry ....... .212121111121222— 15 Welles 1002122012w 
Seiber 111220212210111— lo Coot ...101110212122111—1'? 
Stone 011221200112102—11 Wilber 22202222212010(V-11 
Laflin 212111220210211-13 Westby 222011220211020-11 
Nance 12222122m2210--14 
Event No. 4, 7 live birds, high guns, entrance $5: Tramp 7 
Stephens 5, Pairker 6, Herr 6, Sperry 7, .Nance 6, Foley 6. Stone s' 
Seitier- Mquwe, 
