Answer from the NRA Dope Bag

[Sonny from Vincennes]

A few months ago I made several posts about the balls per pound bore measurement method. I wanted to take this step farther by asking how this ball is made. I told the NRA that I was interested in a time period of 18th and 19th century. The person would be a back woods gunsmith with little to NO formal education. The back woods gunsmiths would have limited measuring tools to work with. I was interested a 10 gauge or 10 ball barrel. I think the gunsmith would not be able to calculate the bore diameter but would use a chart supplied by the master gunsmith during the gunsmith's apprenticeship. The return letter was very interesting and I am attaching a copy with my personal information blacked out. I had seen barrels made at the gunsmith shop in Colonial Williamsburg using a mandrel and forge welding. The bore was enlarged using reamers. I think we can appreciate the precision in our modern guns. Like the letter said, it is a shot in the dark.

Enjoy

 

[Dobegrant]

interesting response

 

[Sonny from Vincennes]

Thank you for your response. I am learning more about guns every day. I have used the NRA techs for many years to answer questions for my classes along with the NPS living history section.

Have a good day

 

[Johnny Tremain]

D.O.P.E.

Data On Previous Engagement

What a dumb name for a mail bag.

 

[Jamie Hurley]

D.O.P.E.

Data On Previous Engagement

What a dumb name for a mail bag.

The American Rifleman "dope bag" has existed since the 1930s at least. Far longer than far than this US Army style version of the acronym.

 

[Sonny from Vincennes]

I have learned a lot from the dope bag.

 

[SDSmlf]

D.O.P.E.

Data On Previous Engagement

What a dumb name for a mail bag.

Great response when one doesn’t know about or understand something. The NRA’s American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” at least since 1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shooters to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” also was a traditional marksman’s term for sight adjustment information, while judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.”

Data On Previous Engagements, also known as ‘D.O.P.E.’ is a collection of ballistic data that is useful when shooting targets at various distances. In tactical and PRS style matches, this information proves to be invaluable. It provides a quick reference chart in which to dial in elevation and windage. It removes the need for long-winded mathematical calculations (think Davenport Formula for example) that would rob valuable stage time.

 

[Whitworth]

"Doping the wind" I always figured had the same roots as "dope bag" from a time long before "dime bag" entered our lexicon.

 

[Sonny from Vincennes]

The Dope Bag has been a wonderful NRA benefit for me.