The Long Branch training rifle Operator's Manual

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LONG BRANCH TRAINING RIFLE

in order that you may operate and care for your rifle properly, and from it obtain the full benefits of the purpose for which it is intended.

The Long Branch Training Rifle is an effective target practice rifle that resembles the service rifles but is less expensive to manufacture and operate.

The purpose of the Training Rifle is to reduce training time and cost by covering a number of steps in the training programme before the final stage of actual experience on the firing range.

These steps are covered effectively without expenditure of ammunition and without the necessity of trips to the range. The number of men who can be given this preliminary training is limited only by the number of training rifles available. Instruction can be given in a small room or in the open-anywhere that the stand can be placed in a perpendicular position.

The shooter's aim is registered by needles that dart from the muzzle and pierce a paper target held on a stand directly in front of the rifle. Connecting links are used to control the relative distance between the rifle and the stand during operation.

Besides resembling the standard service rifle in operation, appearance, weight and balance, the training rifle emphasises additional advantages for the user.

To insure correct holding, butt pressure must be maintained in order to have the rifle operate.

Tilting, flinching and breathing during the firing are indicated by the type of puncture made in the target. Such TARGETS can be used as permanent records of the operator's performance.

Outwardly, the training rifle operates in the same manner as the conventional bolt action rifle. For recocking, the bolt must be unlocked and drawn to the extreme rear position. This action is designed to reproduce the conditions of ejecting and reloading on rifles where ammunition is actually used.

When the training rifle is cocked, the top arm of the sear engages the front edge of the cocking piece and holds it in this position ready for firing. However, before the sear can rotate sufficiently to do this, the lower projection of the trip lever must fit into the corresponding slot in the lower sear arm. Movement of the bolt to the end of the ejection stroke brings the top of the trip lever back with it and the lower end into position with the sear, which facilitates cocking and insures complete manipulation of the bolt before firing.

The bolt to be removed must be withdrawn approximately to the half-way position so that a circumferential slot in the bolt is opposite the trip lever at which point the bolt may be rotated clockwise through 90 degrees and then withdrawn from the body. The bolt may be replaced by reversing this procedure.

In the action of firing the rifle, the trigger movement causes the sear to rotate and slide off the cocking piece which is then free to move ahead. When the trigger is pulled, two distinct finger pressures will be noticed. These are caused by two trigger lobes which bear on the sear at different intervals. The second and heavier pull occurs when the upper lobe is brought into contact. Immediately after the second pull is felt the cocking piece has been released.

When the trigger is allowed to return to its free position after firing, it is automatically locked at the top by the trigger catch. The rifle cannot be fired again until the trigger is released by pressure on the butt plate.

Shoulder pressure must be maintained to operate the training rifle. Pressure on the outer butt plate forces the catch rod against the trigger catch causing it to lift at the front and giving the trigger a clear path in which to rotate.

The outer plate is riveted to two plungers mounted in bushings in the butt. The plungers, bushings and springs are held in place by the inner plate fixed to the end of the butt by two wood screws. These are accessible only through two holes in the outer plate.

Upon firing, the striker with the cocking piece is moved rapidly ahead by the striker spring to strike the end of the charger rod. From the impact, the charger rod receives sufficient momentum to enable it to complete its relatively longer stroke. In order to have the firing cycle act quickly, the charger rod spring returns the charger rod to its normal position immediately upon completion of the forward stroke.

The striker is assembled from the front of the bolt and is threaded and staked into the cocking piece.

The charger rod goes into the barrel from the back and threads into the charger pin mounting. For this purpose the head on the back end of the charger rod is slotted for a screw driver. The charger rod rides in a bronze bushing brazed in the barrel slightly in front of the charger rod head.

All parts of the charger mechanism are designed to run freely. Care must be exercised to maintain this condition.

As the charger rod advances the charger pin mounting rises up and travels forward with the upper pin striking the target on the sight line. The second pin strikes below this and registers another mark which tells the angular position of the rifle at the time of firing.

The pins are identical to phonograph needles (Victor Soft-Tone). They can be replaced by loosening the screw in the side of the mounting. Do not attempt to straighten or bend the needles while they are in the mounting. This will result in damage to the freely working charger mechanism.

To reproduce actual shooting conditions and give the impression of shooting over a longer range, the training rifle foresight is mounted midway on the barrel. In other respects the sights are the same as those of a conventional weapon.

The foresight consists of a blade, a block band and a protector. The block band is permanently fixed to the barrel by brazing and consequently its position is determined by the pin fixing the barrel to the body. The blade fits the dove-tail cut on the top of the block band and is located in its correct lateral position by a small prick punch at its base. The protector is held on by a screw going completely through the block band and threading into the opposite side of the protector. The large holes on either side are to permit easy adjustment or removal of the blade.

The backsight plate is snugly fitted and staked in a slot in the body. It should not be moved in making normal sight adjustments.

Sight aligning is done by moving the charger pin mounting to the extreme forward position and having the sights aligned with the white spot on the back end of the upper pin.

A piece of soft wire such as a paper clip bent around the mounting and hooking over the muzzle will hold the mounting forward.

All sight adjustments are made to the foresight. Six standard service blades are available for change of height.

Windage adjustments are made by sliding the blade in the block band dove-tail and locking as described in "Sights."

The target stand has connecting links that maintain a constant distance between the rifle muzzle and the target during operation. As the rifle is moved about the target, it travels vertically in a straight line and curves horizontally to follow the contour of the target. For best results, the axis of the rifle should always be approximately perpendicular to the target frame.

The stand is adjustable from the base within a six inch range. The base itself can be folded up when not in use. The connecting mechanism can be removed by drawing the pin that holds the triangular block to the stand.

To prevent damage to the rifle or the stand when not in use, the rifle should always be rested on the hook provided at the top of the target. To remove the rifle completely from the connecting links it must be tilted to the left and moved straight to the right.

No special TARGETS are supplied with the Long Branch Training Rifle. The combination of pins and clips on the frame allow the use of almost any standard paper target of approximately similar dimensions.