IMPROVEMENTS IN TARGETS FOR GUN PRACTICE OR TRAP SHOOTING, AND IN AN APPLIANCE TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1884

page_text: We, WILLIAM TRANTER of Aston Juxta, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Manufacturer and CORNELIUS DIXON of Station Road Witton,
near Birmingham, aforesaid Instructor in Shooting, do hereby declare the nature
of said invention for 66 IMPROVEMENTS IN TARGETS FOR GUN PRACTICE OR TRAP
SHOOTING, AND IN AN APPLIANCE TO BE USED THEREWITH" to be as follows:-
―
Our invention has reference principally to ball and dish like targets, which are
projected into the air by a trap; and when sighted are shot at, for sporting
purposes, in place of birds.
Ordinary ball targets are usually made of some vitreous plastic materials; so
that on being projected into the air by a trap, and then struck by pellets or shot,
is shattered into fragments, which fall to the ground and there lie to the detriment
of grazing cattle; or to the injury of grass plots or lawns upon which they are
scattered.
The principal object of our invention is the production of ball or dish like targets
from non-vitreous or plastic materials, which may be detonating or non explosive
as circumstances require; that is, in the case of a detonating ball target, the
detonating material forms the lining thereof, and when struck or hit the pellet or
shot passes through the thin outer shell and explodes.
We produce ball targets according to our invention, by employing a thin sheet
metal ball consisting essentially of two half spheres, raised from thin sheet metal,
and connected or closed together by pressure applied at their overlapping edges;
and enclosed within the interior of this sheet metal sphere is a loose lining of paper
impregnated, or charged with fulminate or other detonating material, so that on
the ball being projected into the air by the holder or projecter of the trap, is shot
at, and when struck by pellet or shot explodes with a report and so indicates to
the sportsman that the target has been hit. The pellet or shot on striking the
target passes through the thin sheet metal shell, and penetrates the loose fulminate
lining, thereby igniting the fulminate or explosive material, and forcing asunder,
the hemispherical metal shells which fall to the ground, and can be readily
collected and the number of pellets which have struck the shell ascertained by the
number of holes, the spent shells can also be collected and utilized as old metal..

page_text: The spherical sheet metal targets can be used without being charged with
fulminate or feathers and after being shot at, on being picked up, the number of
shots which have hit it can be ascertained. .
Although we have spoken of a spherical target, yet the said sphere may be
flattened upon its two sides so as to form an elipse or have facets or flats formed
thereon.
The ball targets may be charged with both fulminate and feathers which
explodes with a report and scatters the feathers or light substances.
The dish like target consists of a half sphere or shallow cup, with its metal edges
turned over, the concavity of which is charged with feathers or fulminate or of
both as may be required.
Although I have described ball or dish like target made from thin sheet metal
or alloys of metal, yet I wish it to be understood that non-vitreous materials, such
as paper may be employed with like effect.
The appliance to be used for projecting or throwing the flying balls or dish like
targets consists of a holder having a concavity suitable for holding the targets to.
be thrown the lining is made of india-rubber or other soft material to prevent
any possible detonation of the target on its projection by the trap.
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1

page_text: We, WILLIAM TRANTER of Aston juxta Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Gun Manufacturer, and CORNELIUS DIXON of Station Road, Witton,
near Birmingham, aforesaid, Instructor in Shooting, do hereby declare the nature
of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TARGETS FOR GUN PRACTICE Or Trap
SHOOTING, AND IN AN APPLIANCE TO BE USED THEREWITH," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
Our invention has reference principally to ball and dish like targets, which are
projected or thrown into the air by what is commonly known as a trap, and when
sighted, are shot at, for sporting purposes instead of birds.
Ordinary ball targets are usually made of some vitreous material, and when
struck by pellets or shot, are shattered into fragments which fall to the ground, and
there lie to the detriment of grazing cattle, or to the injury of grass plots or lawns
upon which they may have fallen.
The principal object of our invention is the production of a target of thin sheet
metal instead of from a vitreous or plastic material now employed-The target thus
produced according to our invention, may be a non-explosive or detonating one as
the circumstance may require; thus the target when non-detonating, may be
charged with finely divided charcoal or colored powders, or both powders combined
with feathers or the hollow shells may be used without any filling in material-In
the case of a detonating target, the explosive material forms the lining, and when;
hit by a pellet or shot, passes through the thin outer shell and explodes.
Figure 1 represents a ball target inåde from thin sheet metal constructed
according to our invention, and consists essentially of two half spheres A B
figure 2, which are connected or closed together by spinning or pressure applied at
their overlapping or socket-like edges a b²; that is to say, the shell á is provided
with a flange or annular half beading a² into which a corresponding half beading b
fits and seats itself—The closing or pressing over of the edges of the one upon the
other, connects the two half spheres together, which constitute a ball target figure 1
made and raised from thin sheet metal-Figure 3 is a transverse section of figure 1,
showing the thickness of the metal, and how the overlapping edges of the one are
closed over the flange edges of the other.
On using the target, it is projected or thrown into the air by a trap or projector,
and is then shot at; and if struck the pellets or shots penetrate or pass through the
thin metal shell or shells which may or may not be forced asunder-The half shells
which fall to the ground, can be readily collected and the number of hits ascertained
by the number of holes or penetrations.
Instead of using the empty sheet metal spheres figure 1 as described, the said
spheres or balls may be charged with sub-divided charcoal or colored powders, and
when struck or hit by pellets or shot, the powders are scattered in the air, which
indicates to the sportsman that the target has been hit-Or instead of employing
powders, feathers or chopped paper may be employed with like effect, or a

page_text: .
combination of powder, feathers or paper, may also be used; and further when the
target is to be an explosive one, we prefer to use a loose or other lining of paper,
impregnated or charged with fulminate or other detonating material; so that when
the ball is shot at and struck, the target explodes with a report, and so indicates
that the target has been hit, thus the pellets penetrating the fulminate lining
explode and forces asunder, the hemispherical metal shells enclose feathers or
chopped paper, and other light substances; and when the said shells have fallen to
the ground, they can be collected without difficulty, and the number of hits
ascertained as before described-The spent shells when upon the ground, squeeze
up without injuring the feet of cattle when trodden upon.
Although we have described and represented the targets as spherical, yet the
form may be changed if desired; thus flats or facets may be formed thereon,
instead of being a complete sphere.
Figure 4 represents a modification of our invention-In this target the some-
what spherical or convex body c is. provided with, an annual flange d running
round the belt as a circumference of the said target-e is a holding piece closed
between the shells from which the target is made, the half shells being connected
together by turning over the metal d² or by other means-fare feathers at the other
end also closed between the half shells-Figure 5 is a transverse section of figure 4,
and figure 6 is one of the half shells.
Instead of employing an enclosed target as before. described, a half sphere or
shallow cup figure 6 may be used, the concavity being charged with paper, feathers,
fulminate, dust or other like substances, which may be covered by a thin film of
paper; which on being struck and broken, scatter the contents in the air, or the
plain half shell or dish like target may be used alone or without being charged.
The appliance to be used for projecting or throwing the flying balls or dish like
targets, consists of a holder, having a concavity suitable for holding the targets to
be thrown The lining is made of india rubber or other soft material; to prevent
any possible detonation of the target, on its projection by the trap.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
The improvements in the production of targets from sheet metal substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6 of the accompanying Drawing.