The country has recently been flooded with old model Springfield rifles. While these are very fine guns, they have too long a range for use in a thickly-populated region. As the writer could not use a rifle that carried over two hundred yards, he reduced the range by the following method:

Taking an empty regulation shell, 0.45 caliber, the head was bored out so that a 0.44 caliber revolver cartridge would fit snugly. Then the head of the regulation shell was turned out, so that the head of the revolver cartridge would be flush, as shown in accompanying sketch. The writer is using these cartridges up to a hundred yards with good results.

Fig. 358 - Reducing the range of a rifle.

Another Method Of Reducing The Range Of A Springfield Rifle

First pull out the ounce ball that comes in the loaded shells. Then clean out the powder, and reload with 20 grains if black powder is used. Cover this with a tight-fitting wad. Then fill the shell with fine sawdust, coarse cornmeal, or something of that nature. Next force in a round ball of 44 caliber with a patch of strong cloth that is thick enough to make a snug fit. The benefit of the patch is that it prevents leading of the rifling. The government loading tool crimps the shell at the muzzle. This crimp must be taken out before reloading the shell. The sawdust and wad clean the gun at every firing.