
670 
FOR ES TAN DAS TR EEN IVE 

[Oct. 26, 1907. 


16-Bore Patterns at all Ranges. 
As a complement to the diagram of pattern which have 
been reproduced in previous articles for the purpose of 
displaying the distribution obtained at 20yds., it is now 
appropriate to show the relative dispersions at different 
ranges of a single charge. The charge selected for this 
further analysis is 15-16 ounce of No. 6 shot. This is the 
maximum and standard charge for a 16-bore gun with a 
42-grain powder, and a typical pattern of the same was 
illustrated in the article which appeared on the 21st ult. 
The pattern in question is repeated in Fig 1 herewith in 
a slightly different form of diagram. The target still 
represents 2ft. square at 20yds., and the area has been 
divided into the usual 4in. squares, but these have been 
supplemented by an additional index of the scale of re- 
production used by showing in the center of the area 
most thickly covered with pellets the outline of a par- 
tridge true to scale and bereft of feathers. The partridge 
thus takes the place of the circle previously shown. The 








Fig. 1. Improved cylinder 16-bore, 15-l60z. No. 6 
shot (253 pellets), at rds., on a target 2ft. square, 
divided into 4in. squ s, and showing a partridge 
in outline true to scale. 
latter indicated the space at the shorter distance, which 
contains the pellets that lie within the 30in. circle at 
40yds. Its presence would, however, be inappropriate 
for the purpose now in view, since separate diagrams aré 
shown for a comprehensive series of ranges from 20 to 
40yds. 
ram, as published in the article 
circle which was selected as in- 
<ly covered area was scribed from 
1 center lying in the upper half of the target. The par- 
ridge has been drawn in the same position, and this 
accounts for its elevated situation in the first diagram 
Fig. 1 of the accompanying series therefore represents a 
repro¢ t f 20vds. diagram of the previous articl 





Fig. 2. The same pattern graphically enlarged to 25yds. 
with a partridge outline true to scale in the selected 
center of the pattern. The bird when so struck would 
receive three pellets in the left wing, two in the neck 
and some sixteen further shots in the body. This is 
clearly a case of doing the work at least twice, and most 
likely four times, over, and it shows that a 16-bore gun 
giving this class of shooting throws very close patterns 
at 20yds. Such an objection, however, only holds true 
for the central portion of the pattern, and as_ short- 
distance shooting involves very rapid manipulation of the 
gun, it is to be assumed that the outer borders of the 



pattern where the pellets are less thickly distributed will 
more often than not cover the bird, thereby diminishing 
the objectionable characteristics which Fig. 1 demon- 
strates so clearly. , 
Fig. 2 shows exactly the same pattern with the extra 
separation of the pellets which is known to occur be- 
tween 20 to 25yds. The bird here appears in the center 
of the target, the general expansion of Fig. 1 giving a 
sufficient margin for making the thickest part of the 
pattern coincide with the center of the target, the ex- 
pansion process having, in a sense, pushed a certain 
number of pellets out of bounds. This does not imply 
that their usefulness has disappeared, but merely that 
the exigencies of illustration require that attention should 
be restricted to the central 2ft. square of the pattern. It 
covers a rather smaller area than the familiar 30in. circle, 
the latter having been indicated at the corners of this 
and the succeeding diagrams. The 2ft. square and the 
30in. circle are so nearly coincident that conclusions 
based upon the one are to all intents and purposes 
equally applicable to the other. Many useful pellets 
strike outside this purely arbitrary boundary, especially 
at the longer ranges, but the shots which strike inside 
are an index of the others outside. The 30in. circle has 
always been accepted as a conventional space covering 
errors of alignment, and the pellets outside this space 
merely represent so many additional chances in the 
shooter’s favor. The thinning effect of the 25yds. range 
has diminished the number of pellets striking the bird 
to one shot in the head, two in the wing, two in the leg 
and eight in the body. This, again, represents an un- 
desirable surplus of hits, and therefore once more sug- 
gests that a truly centered charge at 25yds. will spoil the 
condition of the game for the table. 
Fig. 8, which depicts the next stage of dispersion, is 
much more favorable from the shooter’s point of view. 
The body shots are still eight in number, but they sug- 
gest a diminished pounding effect, while the surround- 
ing portions of the pattern are nicely opened out, with a 
corresponding enlargement of the useful diameter of 
killing pattern. The spars€ area around the neck of the 
bird shows that an accident of position has accentuated 
the closeness of the pattern, to such an extent, in fact, 
that were the bird to occupy any other part of the 
target, the effects would be much more in harmony with 
the general appearance of nice distribution which the 
380yds. conditions depict. 
Fig. 4 begins to emphasize one of the greatest surprises 
which gradually became apparent during the preparation 


of the accompanying series of drawings. The system by 
which the self-same pattern is progressively expanded so 
as to show the characteristic dispersion of a charge of 
shot has been proved sound beyond all question of doubt; 




nevertheless, the 16-bore charge which has been con- 
sidered, instead of developing the expected patchy and 
uncertain tendencies due to extreme separation of the 
vellets, still holds so well together at 35yds. as to leave 
no doubt on the mind of the observer that a_ well- 
directed charge will be efficient at that distance and even 
further. Fig. 5 certainly confirms this conclusion, and 
even though the pattern selected for the present com- 

yrehensive analysis is exceptionally even as regards dis- 
tribution, it is by no means ideal or phenomenal. 
Fig. 5 shows the greatest degree of enlargement which 
been applied, and the reader can judge for himself 
yy mentally completing the 30in. circle how effective and 
satisfactory is the distribution. The original diagram 
showed that the 30in. circle contained 138 pellets at 40yds., 
which is exactly the behavior of an improved cylinder 
2-bore firing the full 14g0z. charge. The 16-bore charge 
of 15-160z. can by suitable choking be made to reproduce 
1as 



the same results inside the 30in. circle. The ordinary 
vehavior of the barrel used in the experiments is to 
throw 50 per cent. of the charge in the 30in. circle at 
10yds. In the pattern under consideration the actual 

vercentage is 55, thus establishing an equality with the 
full 12-bore charge, giving ordinary improved cylinder 
conditions, viz., 46 per cent. pattern. 
So far from reversing the previous conclusions that 
choke-boring is too close for a 16-bore, the present sys- 
tematic analysis of a single pattern not only finally con- 
demns the full choke, but makes the half choke appear 
too close, and so suggests the inadvisability of ever ex- 
ceeding ordinary 50 per cent. improved cylinder boring 
even for the left barrel. If practical game shooting is 

carried on between 20 and 40yds., the approximate av- 

yds. should show the distribution of 
pellets, and the area covered at their best. Reverting, 
therefore, to Fig. 3 pattern, and judging it in such a 
Jight, it will be seen to represent very nearly ideal con- 
ditions. The gun has admittedly thrown twelve more 
pellets in the 30in. circle than is normally the case. AI- 
e distance of 




lowing for variations below as well as above the standard 
performance of an improved cylinder 16-bore, the Fig. 3 
pattern may be passed as very satisfactory. No 6 shot, 
moreover, is not the only size used, and the large number 
of shooters who prefer sizes 5%, 5 and even 4, will find in 
the slight suggestion of closeness which Fig. 3 indicates 
every justification for using a reduced number of larger 
size pellets. More than this, the charge considered in 
the present instance has already been described as the 
maximum for the 16-bore gun. This provides a third 
justification of the apparent closeness of the gun’s shoot- 
ing at the middle range of the five considered. In fact, 
taking the present and all previous experience into ac- 
count, improved cylinder boring seems to be ideally 
suited for the whole of the conditions under which 16- 
bore guns are likely to be used in field and covert. The 
patterns which are suitable for partridge will at least be 
equally deadly for the other and larger varieties of game 
encountered in this country. There are, in fact, many 
arguments in favor of entirely removing the choke from 




































































































Fig. 4. The same pattern at 35yds. 
it into a true cylinder. The improved cylinder behavior, 
as here depicted, clearly attains the limit of closeness 
which can ever be required, and as a margin of choice 
seems desirable, it looks as though the only alternative 
in 16-bores for improved cylinder boring is the more 
| 
the second of our experimental barrels, and so converting | 
| 
open shooting truly cylindrical muzzle.—Field (London). | 
Expert Tourists. 
Oct. 18.—Commencing with a tour- 
Md., on the 22d, the following 
BALTIMORE, Mad., 
nament at Baltimore, 
squad of expert shooters started on an exhibition tour 
through some of the Southern States: W. R. Crosby, 
J. R. Taylor, Lee R. Barkley and J. Mowell Hawkins, 
all representatives of the Winchester Repeating Arms 

The same pattern at 40yds. 
Company, and Fred Gilbert, who is a joint representa- 
tive of the Dupont and Winchester companies, After 
leaving Baltimore, the squad will spend the last three 
days of the week at the Jamestown Exhibition, where 
a tournament is scheduled and where the squad will give 
daily exhibitions oi their skill at the traps. After the 
Jamestown Exhibition tournament the squad will leave 
for other points in the South, but at this time it is| 
impossible to give full details as to the itinerary. On 
its tour the squad will be accompanied by Edward Banks, 
assistant manager of the sporting powder division of 
the Dupont Company, who will look after the interest 
of his company, and in all probability furnish the right 
kind of material for the representatives of the daily and 
weekly press at the points visited. 
J. Mowett Hawkins. 






