One of the most difficult things to determine in making rifle barrels is the twist or rifling required to shoot a given cartridge to the best advantage. Cartridges of different or like calibers containing different weights of powder or lead require a different twist. A perfect twist is one which will spin a bullet fast enough to keep it point on to the limit of its range and its pathway through the air as near a straight line as possible. If the twist is too slow, the tlight of the bullet will be untrue and it will "tumble" or "keyhole" as it is called when a bullet passes through the air in a lengthwise position instead of point on.. On the contrary if the twist is too quick or sharp. the bullet is spun so rapidly that it is unsteady in its flight and wobbles like a top when it first begins to spin. 'lie only sure'. way of ascertaining a perfect twist is by calculation and exhaustive practical tests. The Winchester Company have complete facilities for verifying all calculations for twist, which. enable them to determine with positive certainty the twist that will give the best results. with a given cartridge.
When Winchester guns are assembled, that is, put together ready for use, they are tested carefully for manipulation and accuracy. The test for manipulation consists of working the gun thoroughly with -dummy" cartridges and firing it as a single loader or repeater. slowly and quickly, to detect any possible defect in the action. If a gun is faulty in extracting, in handling the cartridges, or does not work smoothly, easily and rapidly, it cannot pass this test. Rifles are shot from three to ten shots, and shotguns from eight to fifteen shots to test their action.
If there is any one feature in which Winchester guns excel others, more than in an other, it is their remarkable accuracy. This is due to the excellence of Winchester barrels and to the care taken in targeting them. At the plant of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. there are ranges from a too feet up to 200 yards. At these ranges every gun is shot to test its accuracy, the distance varying according to the caliber. A corps of experts devote their entire time to this work, and before a gun is passed by them, it must be capable of shooting seven consecutive bull's eyes on a standard sized target for the distance shot. All guns are shot to line up the sights, an expert changing them until they are properly aligned and given the proper elevation. A gun which does not make a good target is condemned. Shot guns are targeted at 4o yards. Choke-bore barrels are not accepted unless they shoot at least 300 pellets of shot inside a 3o-inch circle, the testing load being 3 drams of smokeless powder and IX ounces of No. 7% chilled shot. Cylinder bore barrels are targeted at 3o yards, the load given above being used. Guns that pass these tests for manipulation and accuracy are given a final inspection for exterior finish, etc., and then they are ready for market.
The Model I902 single shot rifle, and the Model 1903 automatic rifle, caliber .22, embody the latest improvements in Winchester guns. The Model 19o2 has
a peep sight, a short trigger pull and a trigger guard of a new design which fulfills the purposes of a pistol grip. It is a " Take Down " and can be taken apart easily and quickly by simply unscrewing the thumbscrew located underneath the forearm, which releases the barrel and action from the stock. The action used on this gun is of the bolt type, and is exceedingly simple, consisting of very few parts. When the gun is cocked, the action is locked against opening until the firing pin falls. This permits carrying the gun cocked without liability of the action jarring open. The gun is cocked by pulling rearward on the firing pin, which is made with a nu•led head, to afford a good grip.
The Model t903 automatic rifle is a ten-shot, hammerless, "Take Down," using a new, inexpensive rim fire cartridge, loaded with smokeless powder and Winchester greaseless bullet. It is simple in construction and operation. After filling the magazine and throwing a cartridge into the chamber, all that it is neces sary to do to shoot the ten cartridges that the magazine holds is to pull the trig ger for each shot. The rifle can be shot as fast as the trigger can be pulled. The recoil from the exploded cartridge ejects the empty shell, cocks the hammer, and throws a fresh cartridge into the chamber. The barrel is round and 20 inches long and is fitted with open front and rear sights. The length of gun over all is 36 inches and the weight is about 5,y, pounds. 7'o 611 the magazine, hold the gun muzzle (lox\ n and turn the magazine plug, seated in the depression in the butt-plate, to the left, and draw out the magazine tube until the magazine follower clears the opening in the stock. Drop the cartridges, bullets foremost, through the opening in the stock into the magazine. Push in the magazine tube and lock it by turning the magazine plug to the right. 7'o use the gravity charger, fill the charger by pushing five cartridges head first into each tube. Insert the spring end into the opening in the stock. Press downward and the spring will release the cartridges. Hold the muzzle clown so that the cartridges will run in freely. To load the gun push quickly back the operating sleeve, which projects from the forearm, and let it spring forward. This cocks the hammer and throws a car tridge into the chamber. After this, the gun is loaded and cocked until the last charge is fired. To unload the gun, work the operating sleeve backward and for ward with a quick and positive motion; or, draw the magazine tube entirely from the gun, and push back the operating- sleeve. If it is desired to remove the car tridge from the chamber, draw the magazine tube out until the magazine follower clears the opening in the stock, and then push back the operating sleeve. To take dozon the gun, cock it by pushing in the operating sleeve. Press clown the take-down screw lock and turn it to the left until it is free from the receiver. Draw the barrel and forearm directly forward.