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A GOOD SHOOTER.
BY A. W. ROBERTS.
For shooting tin-foil pellets, small stones, etc., one of the simplest and most powerful of easily made toys is shown in the accompanying drawing.
The barrel of the gun consists of a piece of green elder from four to six inches in length, from which the pith has been carefully removed. In this empty pith chamber we have an excellent "smooth bore," into which the piston (P) works. At one end of the piston is a knob, the purpose of which is to prevent the piston from passing into the gun. Over this knob passes a rubber band (E) half an inch in width, which fits in a slot cut into the top of the knob for the purpose of keeping the elastic in its place. The ends of the band are fastened on the outside of the barrel of the shooter with strong black thread as shown at T.
When using this shooter the piston is drawn back to nearly its full length, and the load follows it. By letting go of the piston the load is discharged with all the force produced by the sudden contraction of the elastic band. By discarding the elastic band, and using wet pellets of paper, and compressed air as a propelling force, a very good air or pop gun is the result.