Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/320

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��Popular Science Monthly

��of the butts sees the flag go down, he im- mediately orders his target half masted and the red flags placed on each one until the lookout runs his big flag up to the top of the mast, signifying that the coast is clear. However, when this method cannot be used,

��Roof

���^.zxe spacers

��Spacefilled with crushed stone or gravel

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Cne of the most popular pits. Also a target pit for pistol or small caliber rifles

a bullet stop, similar to the one shown in Fig. 3, should be built.

This stop should be about 30 ft. in height, with a slope of about 45 deg. and should be built up of earth, logs, wood and similar soft materials which will not cause the bullets to ricochet. The face of the stop should be covered with sod and it should be free from stones. A natural hill can sometimes be used for' this purpose, by cutting steps into its face and grading the space between these -steps to the 45 deg. When a natural hill is used as a stop, the pit may be sunk down so that the appearance of the completed butts is similar to that shown in Fig. 4. In any event, the bullet stop should extend from five to ten yards beyond the last target at either end of the butts.

In Fig. 1 we have a concrete retaining wall over which the earth is piled, tamped and covered with sod. This type is desirable where stone is scarce or transportation difficult, although the stone wall shown in Fig. 2 seems to be the most popular, when the material can be readily obtained. As mentioned before, the wall shown in Fig. 3 is used only for pistol or small-caliber rifle work, as it would hardly afford protection enough against bullets fired from a high pow- ered army or sporting rifle. In this type of wall, 2 by 8-in. planks are stood on end, 3 to 4 ft. from center to center, and 2-inch planks are bolted to them on each edge. This leaves an air space between the two walls which may be filled with crushed stone or coarse gravel. The earth should be piled at least 2 ft. deep over this type of wall so as to

��remove any chance of a bullet ploughing through it, even though someone should inadvertently fire a high power bullet into it. The cost of this type of wall would nearly equal that of concrete wall so it will be seen that it would be foolish to use this wooden wall except when the cost of trans- porting cement, gravel or stone would be much above normal. In Fig. 4 is shown the submerged type of pit. When drainage facilities are available, this is a good type, although a pit which is half way between Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, that is, a pit which is half excavated and half built up, is, to my mind, the best and most satisfactory as well as the cheapest in the long run.

In Fig. 5 is shown the details of the roof construction. This roof is covered with earth and sod. It is not absolutely neces- sary to cover the boards, as the only duty devolving upon them is to prevent the dust, dirt and small stones from falling on the men in the pits when a low shot knocks the top off the parapet. The sod does improve the appearance, however, and for that reason it is generally used on club ranges. In Fig. 6 is shown the platform construction, which consists merely of 4 by 6-in. sleepers, on which are placed 2 by 10-in. planks about

��51 ope to be

45° and sodded

���Where a natural hill is used for a stop, a pit for the signal man is dug in front

3 in. apart. These platforms should be placed well above the bottom of the pit so that the sun and wind may get underneath them and keep the bottom of the pit dry and sweet.

The length of the butts are naturally, governed by the number of targets it is de-

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