IMPROVE- MENTS IN GUNS, PROJECTILES, AND CARTRIDGES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAME
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Clark at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th December
1867.
1, GEORGE CLARK, of No. 29, Arundel Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GUNS, PROJECTILES, AND CARTRIDGES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists partly in the improvements in guns, projectiles, and
cartridges described in the Provisional Specification of the Invention for
which I applied for Her Majesty's Letters Patent and obtained a certificate of
Provisional Protection, No. 1757, dated the 15th June 1867, and partly in
further improvements in cartridges which I have since invented. I therefore
intend not to proceed with my said application for such above-mentioned
Letters Patent in order to embody the whole of the improvements above
referred to as those in which this Invention consists in one and the same
Specification and Letters Patent, and I give the following as a description of
súch improvements :-
First. An improvement in the arrangement of the movable charge cham-
bers of breech-loading guns consisting of a tube open at both ends on the
plan of my Invention of "Improvements in Guns, Gun Carriages, and
Projectiles, and in the Manufacture and Use of Materials employed in their
Construction," for which I obtained Letters Patent, No. 2226, dated the 12th

page_text: September 1864, and described as improvement No. 10 in the Complete
Specification of such Letters Patent. This improvement consists in causing
the tube which constitutes the chamber to revolve on pivots fixed on the
longitudinal central line of the tube and at unequal distances from the two
ends, so that the shortest end shall be next to the chase and the largest end
next to the breech closer, or vice versa, the extremity of each end being
vertically the segment of a circle of which the axis of the pivots are the
centre.
Second. An arrangement of the tube open at both ends, forming the move-
able charge chamber referred to in improvement No. 1, whereby the tumbler
of the luck or spring or lever connected with the tumbler shall serve to cock
or half cock the lock by the motion of either end of such chamber tube.
Third. A new mode of fitting the sliding bolt or plunger of the breech
nction of any breech-loading gun on the plunger principle, such mode
consisting in shaping the action of the sliding bolt in such manner that the
diameter of the lower part of the bolt shall correspond to and fit the insido
of the tube or socket in which it slides, and that the diameter of the upper
part of the bolt shall correspond to and be level with the outer diameter of
the said tube or socket. By this arrangement the opening formed in tho
tube or socket in drawing back the bolt for the insertion of projectile is
effectually closed and protected when the bolt is closed. The better to
explain the plan I here give Diagrams representing transverse sections of the
Ilt and its tube or socket.
No 1 shews the complete circumference of the tube in which the plunger
bolt works and is confined; No. 2 shows the opening in the tube or socket
for the insertion of the cartridge closed by the bolt; No. 3 shews the tubo
open for the reception of the cartridge. (a) is the bolt; (b) is the lower
part of the tube or socket in which the bolt slides; (c) shews the top of the
tube at the rear end where it is closed to confine and guide the bolt.
Fourth. A plan of rifling guns which I term "non-resisting curvilinear
guide rifling." It is carried into effect by limitting the width of the rifled

page_text: surface of the bore of the barrel to half or less than half of the circumferenco
of the bore in the spiral line of the rifling, leaving the unrifled part of the
circumference smooth-bored and corresponding in diameter to the largest
diameter of the rifling.
Fifth. A mode of causing rifled projectiles which have been previously
rifled to enter in issuing from the charge chamber into the rifling of the barrel
of a breech-loading gun readily and smoothly without shock or strain. This
I effect by tapering all the projecting ribs or bands of the barrel and the projec-
tile to a point at the breech end of the chase as to the barrel, and at the front
end as to the projectile, and by opening the corresponding ends of the grooves
or channels which form the recessed parts of the rifling of the barrel and
projectile, so that the tapered ends of the ribs and bands may enter freely
into such grooves or channels, and so that when the projectile issues from the
chamber into the chase the tapered ends of the projecting parts respectively
of the projectile and the bore shall lead into the opened ends of the recessed
channels.
Sixth. Covering hard metal projectiles with a coating of softer metal for
the purpose of preventing or diminishing the abrasion of the surface of the
bore of the barrel by the passage of the projectile through the barrel in
loading or firing the gun. My plan of so coating projectiles is to dip
them in fused soft metal, and with the medium of a flux, if required, or by
galvanic or electro-plating. In employing this method any kind of soft metal
may be used, but for projectiles made of iron or steel I prefer coating or
plating them with copper or an alloy of that metal.
Seventh. Burnishing, polishing, varnishing, or enamelling projectiles in
order to give them a smooth surface, so that in using such projectiles as
ammunition for guns their tendency to cause abrasion of the surface of the
barrel in passing through it may by their smoothness be counteracted or
diminished. If any kind of varnish or enamel be applied it must be of such
a nature and so fixed on the surface of the projectiles that it shall not be
affected by heat when the gun is fired to the extent of softening or detaching
the varnish or enamel.
Eighth. Case hardening the inside of the barrels of small arms and cannon
for the purpose of protecting the surface of the bore from abrasion and wear
The mode of attaining
by the passage of the projectiles through the barrel.
this object is to place and confine inside the barrel intended to be operated
upon the materials usually employed in the process of case hardening, and
submit the barrel thus prepared to the required temperature during the time
necessary to complete the process.
:

page_text: Niuth. A mode of making rifled projectiles of which the following is a descrip-
tion: Draw a rod of a convenient length of the metal of which the projectile
is to be made by passing it between rollers having grooves of the section and
twist required for the plan of rifling determined upon. In the case of soft
metal being used these rods may be formed by casting. Cut the rod when thus
drawn or cast into lengths corresponding to the intended length of the projec-
tile. The ends of these lengths are then to be brought to the form required for,
the front and base of the projectile, either by turning in a lathe or by com-
pression in a die with or without the nid of heat as may be found requisite or
convenient, according to the hardness or ductility of the metal employed. Or
by another process plain rods of metal of the required dinmeter, but not
previously rolled or moulded to the section of the rifling as above described,
may be cut into lengths corresponding to that required for the projectile, and
then these lengths of metal, heated or cold, may be moulded in a die by
pressure or stamping to the precise forms, dimensions, and kiud of rifling
required.
}
Tenth. A plan for making cartridge cases when rifled projectiles are used
for ammunition. This plan consists in so forming, the case that it shall bo a
mechanical fit to the rifled projectile, corresponding inside exactly to the
diameter and rifling of the projectile, and having outside the same form of
rifling enlarged by the increased diameter resulting from the thickness of the
case. The charge chamber is then made of the proper diameter and contour
of circumference to correspond to the outside diameter and form of rifling of.
the cartridge case, so that the latter may fit mechanically or nearly so into tho.
chamber. The object of this arrangement, the rifling in the chamber
corresponding in its lines of spiral direction to the rifling in the chase of the.
barrel, is to cause the rifled ribs and grooves of the projectile when it issues
from the chamber to pass freely and smoothly into the rifled grooves and ribs
of the chase without shock or material resistance. The case may be of metal,
papier maché, cardboard, or other material, but I prefer thin sheet copper or
an alloy of that metal.
Eleventh. A method or methods of inserting cartridges in and extracting
them from the charge chamber of any description of breech-loading gun, in
loading which a sliding bolt or plunger is used to push the cartridge into
the chamber and close the breach, of which method or methods the following
is a description:-To the front end and round the edge of such front end of.
any sliding bolt or plunger intended to come in contact with and be pressed,
on the rear end or base of the cartridge in loading the gun attach and
securely fasten either a metal tray or trough in the form of part of a tubo cut.

page_text: longitudinally or a metal rim of the like form, with a recess in such tray or
rim corresponding to a flange or enlargement of the base of the cartridge, as
lierein-after described, such tray or rim (whichever may be used) extending
round the edge (the bottom is preferable) of the end of the plunger half or
less than half its circumference. When the tray or trough is made use of
the cartridge is placed in it, and as the tray necessarily travels with the
plunger the cartridge is pushed into the chamber as the plunger is driven
forward, and the cartridge if not exploded, or the exploded case if the charge
has been fired, is extracted by means of the flange or enlarged base of the
cartridge being held in the before-mentioned recess in the tray when tho
plunger is drawn back. When the recessed rim, which may be regarded as
a short tray, is applied the action and result are similar, only instead of the
cartridge lying in a tray the flange or enlargement at the base of the cart-
ridge takes into and is held by the recess in the rim, and the cartridge or the
exploded case will, as in using the tray or trough, be extracted from the
chamber. The tray or the rim corresponds in diameter and circumference to
half or less than half the diameter and circumference of the front end of the
plunger bolt moving to and fro in the tube or socket of the plunger bolt with
the action of the latter, and fits into a recess in the ammunition chamber.
The cartridge case may be of paper or metal, separate or combined, or any
other suitable material. The enlargement of the base of the cartridge for the
purpose of extraction may be a flange or rim similar to that of the so-called
Snider cartridge, or a conical or other shaped enlargement of the base of the
cartridge. In the case of a tray there may be an enlargement of any part of
the case fitting into a corresponding recess or indentation in the tray, or in
either case the cartridge case may be of uniform diameter from end to end,
and a recess or indentation of any kind may be made in the tray or in
attached to the plunger, into which recess or indentation the enlargement of
the cartridge case produced by the explosion of the charge will be forced, and
the case will thus be held in the tray or rim so as to be drawn out of the
chamber with the plunger bolt. Or in lieu of a projecting rim on the edge
of the face of the plunger bolt as above described two projecting pieces, ono
on each side, may be fixed to the edge of the plunger below its central
horizontal line, such projecting pieces being in the form of hooks, into which
a flange or enlargement at the base of the cartridge case may be engaged in
inserting the cartridge in its place for loading. When a recessed rim or
hooked projections only, without a tray attached to the plunger, are used I
propose in some cases if found desirable to place a spring at the bottom of
that part of the plunger tube in which the cartridge is inserted in loading,

page_text: outer case.
such spring being so placed and arranged that it shall form a rest for the
cartridge to lie upon in loading, be pressed under the plunger when pushed
forward and spring up, throwing out the case when the plunger is drawn back.
Twelfth. A new plan of making up cartridges consisting in enclosing the
powder charge in a separate water-proof wrapper or case inserted into an
The fulminate as a means of ignition may be placed inside or
outside the powder wrapper or caso in combination with an arrangement for
explosion by perforating the wrapper with a piercer and so exploding a
percussion cap or patch inside the wrapper, or by placing a percussion
cap or patch outside and causing the flash of explosion to pass through
a hole or a lit in such wrapper. For this kind of wrapper or caso I prefer
a metallic tube of the size to contain the exact charge, the base end of
the tube tapering conically to a smaller diameter and closed, the front end
closed with a lid and sealed with cement when the charge has been inserted.
A small hole is made in the base of the outer cartridge case, through which
the blow of a striker explodes the fulminate and sends the flash through the
hole into the powder charge, the base of the tube acting as an anvil.
Thirteenth. Two methods of making cartridge cases, namely, employing
for that purpose thin metal tubes or cases lined with paper or cloth, or
making the cases of metallic foil paper, or of sheet metal and paper combined.
For the first-named method I make paper or cloth tubes or cases of the size
required to hold the charge of powder and bullet. I insert these inside metal
tubes or cases, placing each of tho former on a mandril. I coat the paper
tube or case with cement (waterproof by preference), and whilst the cement
is in a liquid or moist state I pass a metal tube or case over the paper tube
or case. For the second method I take metallic foil paper male in the usual
way having paper on one side and metal foil on the other, or I make sheets
of paper and thin metal combined of suitable sizes for the cartridge to be
made by fastening sheets of paper and sheets of thin metal to each other by
means of any suitable cement or adhesive material between them, and to
render the adhesion of the paper and metal more complete I subject the
combined sheet to compression in a press or between rollers with or without
the aid of heat. I employ the metallic foil paper or the combined metallic
paper prepared in this or any other way to make tubes for cartridge cases by
forming such tubes on a cartridge former. The nature of the Invention
comprised in this improvement is the construction of cartridge cases by the
combination of paper and metal in the form of tubes, cases, or sheets in the
manner above described.
Fourteenth. This improvement relates to the formation of cartridge cases

page_text: by means of two tubes either split or with joints closed by cement, or solder
one tube over the other, breaking joint as it is technically termed. The
method of making these cases is to roll thin sheet metal or combined paper
and metal into tubes, leaving the joint open or only closed sufficiently to
make it water-tight; then to insert one of such tubes into another, placing
the joints on opposite sides, closing the joint of the outer tube with cement,
and fastening the whole together with paper or cloth cemented or pasted
round the outer tube. The object of this arrangement is to render the cart-
ridge case elastic by reason of the readiness of which the two tubes will yield
to any pressure inside and return to their original position when the pressure
is removed, so that when the explosion of the charge takes place both tubes
will open each closing the joint of the other, and after the explosion will close,
but without any escape of gas; whilst the double tube, the joint of the outer
one being cemented or soldered, will render the cartridge until exploded
water-proof.
Fifteenth. Another improvement in cartridge cases is a mode of fastening
together the metallic base and the tube, whether of metal or paper, of which
the case is composed by passing a pin across and through the sides of the
base and tube and through a millboard or other solid plug (if any) inside.
To effect this holes are drilled through and through the sides of the base the
tube and the plug, and into the holes are inserted the cross pin with a small
head countersunk on one side of the base and a flat or round point which
slightly protruding through the hole inserted on the other side. Thus a
base cap and the tube of the case as well as any plug if used are firmly
fastened together. To give greater solidity to this mode of fastening together.
the base and the tube a ring or an inner base cap of metal, with or without a
paper or cardboard lining and of at least the same depth as the outer base
cup, is inserted inside and rammed close to the rear end of the tube, and the
fastening cross pin above described is passed through this ring or inner base
cap when applied as well as through the outer base cap and the tube. The
use of the inner base cap is to be preferred to a ring, as the former will
effectually close the rear joint of the outer base cap and prevent any escape
of gas through the joint.
Sixteenth. This improvement consists in a mode or modes of igniting the
powder charge by utilizing the cross fastening pin described in the last-
mentioned improvement, or making use of a pin fastened across and inside
a cartridge case when such pin is not employed for the purpose of fastening
the tule and base or bases of such cartridge case together, or in making use
of any pin, liar, disc, or plate fastened in the compressed paper pulps forming

page_text: the base of such cartridge case as a base or anvil on which to explode
a fulminate primer by the blow of a striker on the outer cartridge baso
having no perforation through it. A good plan of applying the principle
of this mode of ignition, when the aforesaid cross pin is used as a fastening,
is to place a fulminating cap or patch in contact with or close to the
rear side of the aforesaid cross pin, and interpose a hard substance between
the base cap and the fulminate, so that when the outer base cap having
no hole through it receives the blow of a striker of a breech-loading gun
(taking for example the Snider converted Enfield rifle) the blow is trans-
mitted to the fulminato and explosion immediately follows. Another mode
of applying this improvement is to place a patch of fulminate in a small
recess inside the base cup, described in improvement No. 15, and so to
place and fasten the cross pin as to be nearly in contact with the patch,
which being inside the inner base cup and in close proximity to the powder,
without the necessity of passing the flask through a small hole as in the
"Potit" and other plans, explosion of the charge is more certain and miss-
fire will be rare. I. propose to make use of a cross pin or bar placed in its
proper position as an anvil or base of resistance for front ignition.
Seventeenth. A mode of making a gas check or valve to be attached to
the fore end of any sliding bolt of a breech-loading rifle on the plunger
principle for the purpose of completely closing the breech and of the charge
chamber and preventing the escape of gas when explosion takes place. This
gas check or valve is on the same principle as the spring ring valve of a
steam piston. It is composed of two or more thin rings of steal cut through
like a ring for a bunch of keys, so as to be capable of expanding or closing
with the application or removal of pressure inside the rings. These rings
breaking joint at the lines of the cuts are fitted over a plug of vulcanized
india-rubber or other suitable elastac material or compound. Tho plug with
a hole through its centre. for the passage of the striker will in its normal or
uncompressed and expanding state be of the same length as that of the steel:
rings superposed one over the other. The rear end of this valve will. abut
upon and be fastened by means of a collar, or otherwise to the front end of
the plunger bolt, and to the fore end of the elastic plug will be attached a steel
disc with a flange having therefore a small and a large diameter. The small
diameter will coincide with that of the elastic plug and be fastened to it, so
that pressure being applied to the outer and larger end of the steel dise the
spaller end. will enter insido the steel rings and compress the elastic. plug,
which will be diminished in thickness and enlarged in diameter. The larger
diameter of the steel disc will correspond with that of the steel rings, in their

page_text: normal state, both being slightly less than the plunger tube, so that they may
work freely when the rings are not expanded. From this combination of the
parts of the valve it results that the valve being fixed to the fore end of the
plunger against which the cartridge is exploded the force of the explosion
acting on the front of the large diameter of the steel disc will drive the small
end of the disc against the elastic plug, and by compressing the latter in its.
thickness and expanding it in its diameter will thereby cause the steel rings
to expand and close the plunger tube, thereby making a gas-tight joint and.
preventing the escape of gas. The novelty and advantage of this modo of
applying an elastic plug arted upon by the explosive force of the gunpowder as
compared with other modes of using india-rubber discs or plugs for a similar
purpose are that the elastic material being confined inside steel rings is
protected from the action of ignited gas, which tends to destroy india-rubber.
or other elastic rings or plugs not so protected. I also propose to construct
a gas check or valve for the purpose above-mentioned by the use of steel
rings in the manner just described without an elastic plug inside, on the plan
of steam piston valves made of steel rings, with a provision for lubrication, or.
with a conical steel plug in lieu of the elastic. plug inside the steel rings, as
above described.
18th. A plan for withdrawing the striker which works inside any plunger
bolt of a breech-loading rifle by means of an automatic motion produced by.
making one or two spiral slots or channels (on opposite sides when two are.
made) in the bolt, handle, or lever which turns the plunger bolt in its tube.or
socket for the purpose of locking and unlocking such bolt, and by passing a.
pin through the striker with one or both ends of the pin projecting so as to
take into one or both of such spiral slots, the effect of this arrangement being
that as the handle or lever is turned round to lock the bolt the striker is
released and may be propelled forward by the action of the lock, and as the
handle or lever is turned up to unlock the bolt the striker is drawn back.
The object of this improvement is to insure the withdrawal of the striker from
the charge chamber after firing the gun and prevent the possibility of the .
striker protruding from the front end of the plunger when inserting the
cartridge, an incident which not unfrequently occurs when the withdrawal of.
the striker.of a central-fire or needle gun after discharge is made to depend on..
the action of a spring, which becoming fixed may not act, and thereby. the
protrusion of the needle or striker may cause accidental explosion in pushing
the cartridge into the chamber, a mishap which is not of unfrequent
COOonce

page_text: 19th. Another improvement in producing the ignition of the powder
charge of any cartridge in which an inner base cap is made use of, as above
described under No. 15, is to perforate a small hole through the base of
such inner cap and to place a fulminating patch over such hole and outside
the said inner base cap between it and the outer base cap, so that the blow of
the striker when it falls on the latter will cause the fulminating patch to
explode and the flash of explosion to pass through the hole into the powder
charge.
20th. With reference to the use of fulminate or other explosive compound
in any of the modes above described or referred to, and generally for self-
igniting cartridges, I propose as an improved mode of applying the same to
enclose a patch of such fulminate or other compound between two pieces of
paper or cloth or metal foil cemented together, and to place the patch so
arranged immediately over the powder supported by a disc of card or metal
having a hole perforated through it or on any other base or anvil, and I mean
this plan to be adapted to cartridges with or without a metal base in lieu of
the ordinary mode of applying fulminate in copper caps or recesses in the
form known as percussion caps, the former plan being simpler, cheaper, and
more effective than the latter.
21st. In making use of felt wads at the base of cartridges having no
metallic base and intended after the gun has been discharged to be fired
through the barrel by the next discharge or to be extracted I introduce one
or two felt wads inside the base of the paper case; or I introduce ono in-ide
and I fix another outside the base of such cartridge. Either of these arrange-
ments, especially the latter, materially contributes to prevent the escape of
gas through the breech closer of a breech-loading arm.
22nd. In addition to the foregoing description, under the head of improve-
ment No. 15, of the mode of fastening together the base and tube of cartridgo
cases by means of a cross pin, I have to explain that for the purpose of more
effectually preventing any escape of gas through the holes in which tho cross
pin is inserted 1 intend to pass a tube into which the pin shall closely fit
across the inside of tho before-mentioned inner base cap or ring from pin-holo
to pin-hole in such base cap or ring with the ends of the tubo projecting out-
side the holes and pressed down so as to become flanges externally round the
holes. This tute so secured will form a sheath for the pin to pass through,
leaving no joint at the pin-holes in the aforesaid base cap or ring through
which gas can pass.
23rd. These improvements are especially applicable to and chiefly intended

page_text: for breech-loading small arms, but I mean any of such improvements as are
available for either purpose to be applied to muzzle-loading small arms or to
ordnance.
24th. To render more clear and intelligible my meaning in regard to the
plan (herein-before mentioned under improvement No. 16) of using a pin,
bar, disc, or plate as a basis of resistance or anvil independent of any plan
of fastening the base and tube of the cartridge case together I give the
following description of a mode of applying that plan:-The cartridge case is
made with a covered base having its inner side, or the central part thereof to
the extent of about half its diameter, uncovered by any interior arrangement
for fastening the tube and base together. The cartridge case being then
made and ready to be charged a disc or plate of metal, card, or other suitable
material having a patch of fulminate at its centre is placed inside the case
in contact with the inside of the base cap. The fulminate may be on either
side of the disc or plate:-If on the side next to the base cap a hole or slit
must be made through the disc or plate. To support this disc another disc
or plate having a hole in the centre and fitting closely into the rear end of
the case is tightly rammed or swaged, or it may be both rammed and swaged,
over the disc or plate having the patch of fulminate on it. The powder
charge is then placed into the case and rammed down, the bullet being
inserted over the powder in the usual manner.
25th. As an addition to the improved method of applying a wad or wads at the
rear end of cartridges, before described under improvement No. 20, I in sonie
cases make use of a cap of thin metal (copper or brass by preference) over
an elastic or compressible wad at the base of the cartridge when any such wal
is made use of to prevent the escape of gas through the joint of the breech'
closer. The expansion of this metal cap caused by the explosion of the
charge and by the expansion of the wad inside will effectually close the joint
of the breech closer. To facilitate the expansion of both I propose, if
necessary, to cut slits in the sides of the cap, or to make the cap of combined
metal and paper, in the manner above described as improvements No. 18
and 14.
.
26th. In combination with or in lieu of the plan above described as
improvement No. 15 I fasten the tube and base of cartridges together by
using a tube closed or partly closed at the rear end, with an opening at the
centre of its base. Into this outer tube I insert and secure inside its re.r
end an inner tube having its rear end closed and perforated if required for
the passage of the flash of a fulminating priming. Over the rear end of the
case thus formed I place an outer base cap or disc, and I fasten all the parts

page_text: together by rivetting. Of this plan one mode is shown in the following
Diagrams, which aro not to scale but enlarged for the sake of distinctness :-
(a) is an outer base or disc; (b) is an inner base cap; (c) is a disc or strap of
metal fitting inside the inner base cap (6) with a patch of fulminato (d) at
its centre and openings (e, e,) at its circumference or sides; (f.f.) are studs
ou the disc or strap (c), serving to rivet it and the inner and outer base and
case (9) together. Holes corresponding in size and position to the studs on
the disc (c) are perforated through the inner and outer base caps for rivetting
the parts together. Detached rivets may be used in lieu of the studs.
Another mode of attaining the same result is to substitute for the inner baso
cap a ring of metal, the inside of which is tapped to correspond with a screw
on a ring on the inner side of the outer base cap or tube. The inner base
cap has a bar across it forming an anvil on which the fulminate priming
rests.
27th. As an improvement in the construction of cartridges for muzzle-
loading guns in lieu of the twisted paper end which has to be torn off to allow
of the powder being poured out into the barrel I substitute a paper cap with
a rim outside or a wad inside to cover or plug the case, and I fasten this cap
with a paper strap is connected to the cover with the cap may be easily
detached by tearing the strap with or without the aid of a string or tape.
To protect the powder from damp and facilitate the emptying of the powder
out of the cartridge I line the case with tin or other metallic foil.
28th. For the purpose of more securely confining the powder chargo in
any cartridge case I place a wad over the powder and then choko the base
closely and tightly over such wad, whereby the powder is confined and
resistance to its explosion being greater the propelling force is increased.
29th. As an improvement in cartridges for shot guns, with the view of
causing the shot to leave the barrel more compactly and without being
previously knocked about inside the barrel, I place the shot in a cup of papier

page_text: maché, wood, or other suitable material with a solid base of the proper size
to hold the charge of shot and of cylindrical form corresponding in diameter
externally to the bore of the gun. By this contrivance when the powder
explodes the cup containing the shot charge is propelled with its contents to
the muzzle, and the shots not being separated from each other or knocked
about inside the barrel but issuing from the muzzle in a body will fly truer
to the object aimed at, not diverging so much from each other as when
propelled from a gun in the usual manner.