The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-08
WHY GUNS SOMETIMES BURST.
Some Valuable Suggestions from an Expert as
to the Proper Care of Hunting Weapons.

Just go up that dark stairway in the rear of
the building, and you will find our gunsmith,
who can tell you what you want to know" said
Mr. Joseph Beck to an excited young man who
had in his hand double barrel shotgun with a
hole in the right side near the muzzle.
At the head of the stairway there was one
long room filled with vises and lathes and
benches around the sides, while peculiar old
guns and strange tools were scattered here and
there.
"Ah, ha, you have had wad in that BARREL
said the old smith, as he looked over his glasses
at the gun. IA thin paper wad affording only
the resistance necessary to hold it in the barrel
will burst gun if the wad is at the muzzle A
rim of dirt will prove equally effective in destroy
ing a gun, and for that reason should
put the muzzle of his gun on
the soft earth, as some sportsmen do in
climbing a fence or passing an obstruction.
To eighteen inches above the butt barrel ia
built to withstand lateral resistance The
mainder of the barrel might as we'll De made Of
tin All it does is to retain the direction of the
discharge This is true of all guns. Last sum
at a shooting park here OF the best
marksmen in the State blew up one of the finest
guns in this city by a little carelessness. He
was cleaning out the barrels and did not take
time to pull ont loose piece of flannel which
was hanging partially out at the muzzle when a
stray bird flying over his head gave him
chance for a good shot. He killed the bird but
he also took ont nearly eight inches of the side
Of his gun.
and clean from the breech. Powder that burns
wet should be used and the gun cleaned before
the burned powder bakes on the sides of the
barrel A piece OF flannel will remove the dirt
If the powder has baked moisten the flannel
with sperm oil, vaseline cosmoline. After
cleansing the barrels thoroughly they should be
moistened with oil and then placed in the case.
which ought to be kept in dry atmosphere. tbs
remarkable how effectively moisture will make
its way into q n-barrel Ii rust has begun to
form in the barrels il should be cut out with .
wire burr some similar continuance, and tho
gun cleaned in the ordinary way The barrels
of gun should be inspected at least once .
month and particles of rust removed their
first appearance. Rust impairs the range of
gun"
..Can a new barrel be substituted for one that
Is broken in q shotgunf"
Not without great cost A majority of guns
are made by machinery. and the various parts
TO fit one another door hinges do To make
q broken part for such a gun would be like max
Ing broken part for a hinge. 1t would be
special work and the cost would be extravaganza
1t would cost s75 or 500 to put barrel on a
gun that originally cost only $25 or $50. When
gun bursts all you can do with it is to throw
it away, unless the injury is near the muzzle.
where it can be cut out. Barrels ara
than twenty-six inches. How are tho
holes put in shotgun oarrels2 I might
plated around cores The boring of barrel
Is merely process of dressing. | think there
is no work of gun better than the American
Unless one is acquainted with the methods of
the mouse that sold his gun no cannot tell
whether . gun In imported or domestic. For
example,, there are New York houses that send
TO England large contracts for guns The bar
rels may be made in q half dozen cities of En-
gland, and the stamp. besides bearing the name
of the man who gave the con tract also bears the
name of the city at which tbs work is done. It
Is nothing against gun that it was made
In England and at the time the |
only thing In its favor 10 cheapnesa They make |
guns in England for less money than we do |
here. The range Of . gun depends on several |