The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-18

III lne H1uZZle OF a shotgun, heavily
loaded with buck. 80 steps Off Ask
frontiersmen, accustomed to use and
face arms Men, who have often faced
siN-shooters and Winchesters will hesi-
tate before encountering a resolute
man with a double barreled shotgun.
There would be something overpower-
ing then in the on-rush of a regiment
of trained shots, each with a cooked
shotgun raised in the air. The uplift-
ed barrels, glittering in the sun, would
reflect as sinister a glare from the adj
vancing line as so many sabers; the
consciousness of what those barrels
contained would make the boldest en-
envy quail
To perfect such a weapon and such
method of using IL Captain Paddock
has conducted numerous interesting
and exhaustive experiments during the
past few years. Incidentally, he has
discovered that such a gun can be dis
charged directly over the head of a
horse without paining or exciting IT,
A gun expert, for example, who re-
Gently visited Eagle Pass. and who
was no horseman. practiced long with
a new gun on the captains half-bron-
cho Texas saddle horse without eXcht-
ing the brute. Had half as many pis-
tol shots been fired over the head of
the gentlest mount In his troop IL
would have taxed the best of riders TO
keep a firm seat on him. The reason
lies in the length of the scatter gun"
It's muzzle extends beyond the horses
head. The explosion is consequently
before, not behind the ears, and the
shock in the eardrums is less severe
and painful.
In selecting a gun for this purpose.
captain Paddock has had no little
trouble. Such guns are now made for
civilian, and chiefly for sporting trade.
They do not meet the rigid require
ments of the military service. A sold
iers gun must combine the utmost
simplicity and strength with the ut
most efficiency. II must not get out
of order; and, IL 1t does. it must be
capable Of easy and quick repair, dis
assembly and reassembly without tools
or special mechanical skill. 1t has been
very difficult to find a shotgun filing
these requirements. Recently n great
firearms maker built a gun especially
for Captain Paddocks use 1t was an
odd-looking weapon. Imagine a re-
peating shotgun with a barrel and
magazine for six shells, % inches long.
and with no stock or shoulder piece
merely a pistol grip like the butt of
the horse pistols of a century ago. A
hand hold sliding on the magazine.
grasped by the bride hand, serves to
reload the weapon. In practice Cap
tain Braddock found that the tompli-
Gated mechanism of the gun was not
made to fit with the accuracy needful
In a military gun. When the reload
ing arm was drawn also. two long
levers projected for an instant, one
above and one below the breech. af-
fording dangerous catch-hold for bril-
die straps or other impediments.
Lately, however. in a gun built es-
pecially for sheriffs, Captain Paddock
has found breech and reloading ac-
ton which, applied to his charge pis-
toll answers all requirements. This
gun has all its mechanism about the
breech. To reload IL the triggerguard
is drawn backward along the grip, and
the old shell is elected and a new load
inserted with a minimum of movement
and with no projection OF arms or lev
ers up or down from the niece Jts
reloading also can be ACCOMPLISHED
with one hand; n firm hold of the tripr-
ger guard and jerk or throw is all
that Is necessary; the weight or the
inertia of the piece does the rest"
this gun is built like n
is mo rattle or Iosr mo
ton in Its few working parts, and they
can be taken apart and reassembled
almost with the same facility as tho
new army rife.
The weight OF the gun is inst five
pounds, as against six for the Up-htest
that Captain Paddock could secure he
fore; while the mechanism. being IN
the butt or back of the breech. like
the heavy hilt Of a sabre, gives bal
ance TO the weapon, 50 that IL can be
raised. lowered and aimed in one hand |
with facility. Another ADVANTAGE nos |
sessed by this new action is ease in /
reloading on a FESTIVE horse. The ierl,
ing or bride rein was ant To inter
fere with working the ordinary reload /
ing grip that slides on the magazine 1
when grasped by the bride hand. as II
must be when used I'm a cavalry |
charge. With the improved charge |
pistol however. such jerking is ac- |
tualiy a help TO the soldier, facilitating l
the operation OF reloading this nan /
gun by aiding the weight or inertia n, /
the piece in sliding Il forward from,
the reloading grip. which alone ia /
grasped by the right hand when work |
ing the breech action. This action
Also, Is so simple that there is little 1
possibility OF hanging or gettinr- 4,
out OF order from such ierEinr or
rough treatment vi
Already Captain Paddock has mado
a report on his weapon and the nnath
Dd OF using II TO the military depart-
ment In Washington and Officers in
.erested In the cavalry service havs
heard OF IL. There Is no Uttta go
among them over its merits-one Ieod