An Improved Safety Target for Rifle Practice.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Safety Target for Rifle Practice.
I, MATTHEW MULLINEUX, of 17 Maple Street, Cheetham, Manchester, Piano
Tuner do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to targets generally, and more especially to those used at
short ranges in rcoms, drill sheds &c.; and has for its objects the prevention of
lead splashing and the saving of the metal of the bullet for further use. Metal
targets with flat faces cause the bullet to break up, on impact, scattering the
fragments in all directions to the great detriment of surrounding property, and
danger to limb. By the means hereinafter described this danger is obviated and
the spent bullets collected for further use.
I may use either paper or metal targets. When paper is used, I place it so as
to form the front of a metal box, which may be of cast iron, or other suitable metal,
and may be hung upon a wall. The sides of the box may be curved, inwards, or
straight, having a sharp edge to the front. When straight sides are used, I have
an additional inside plate or the side thickened, so as to present an incliued plane
to the firing point; sloping from the edge of the box rearwards towards the centre,
about one third of the distance to the back of the box. At the back of the box,
that is, the part opposite the target, in rear, a ridge is formed by two straight or
curved sides, extending the full length of the box, presenting a salient angle to the
firing point.
The box may be open at the bottom and a receptacle placed beneath to catch
the spent bullets.
The bullets after passing through the paper targets will strike one of the inclined
planes or curved surfaces, and after spending its force will drop into the receptacle
below.
When I use a metal target I make it with convex face and attach metal plates
thereto, which I call catchplates, extending outwards from each side of the target,
then curved forwards and inwards to the face of the target, forming a curve rather
greater than a semicircle. The bullets on striking the face of the target are
deflected to the nearest catchplate, and finally lodge at the bottom where they can
be collected for further use.
Dated this 17th day of November 1893.
MATTHEW MULLINEUX.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Safety Target for Rifle Practice.
I, MATTHEW MULLINEUX, of 17 Maple Street, Cheetham, Manchester,
Pianoforte Tuner do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to targets, and more especially to those used at short
ranges in rooms, drill sheds etc.; and has for its objects the prevention of lead
splashing and the saving of the metal, of which the bullet is made, for further use.
Metal targets with flat faces cause the bullet to break up on the impact scattering
the fragments in all directions to the great detriment of surrounding property and
077

page_text: danger of limb. By the means hereinafter described this danger is obviated and
the spent bullets collected for further use.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawings.
Like letters indicate similar parts throughout.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the target made of stout tin suitable for hanging
in any room for use with air guns. A is a card face kept in position by slots B.
C are vertical deflecting plates forming salient angles at D and D 1. E is a
movable drawer or receptacle to catch the spent bullets.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section of Fig. 1 at the middle.
Fig. 3 is a section of the target made of sheet steel suitable for shots of greater
impact than air guns. The deflecting plates may be formed by fixing solid pieces
of metal to the sides as at C 1.
Fig. 2 is a section of the target made of cast iron suitable for revolvers etc.
Fig. 4 is also a section of the target cast in iron suitable for full charge rifle
and also where a large target face is required.
The bullet after piercing the card face A strikes one of the deflecting plates C
or C1, and after spending its force against the inner side F finally drops into the
receptacle below.
As a greater impact requires a quicker angle to break the force of the missile,
I make the inner side F to suit this requirement.
As already indicated the target may be made in various shapes and of various
strength of material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
A safety target or target box constructed as herein before described which will
direct the flight of the bullets after piercing the target-face into a safe receptacle,
..thus preventing injury to property and limb, and saving the metal for further use.
Dated this Sixteenth day of August 1894.
MATTHEW MULLINEUX.