1917 rifle build

[fjruple]

Coogan-- I can pretty identify most of the locations at Eddystone where the filming took place. The only location that has me stymied is the location of the 500 yard outdoor range. There is no room at the plant for a 500 yard outdoor range unless they moved that testing down to near the Delaware River on the other side of the railroad tracks ?????

[fjruple]

I was a Federal Agent too long and liked challenges. I went back to some of my old photographs of the Eddystone Rifle plant and I think I found the "500" yard outdoor range. The 500 yard outdoor range is probably to simulate 500 yard fire. I found the cross target too good to be true for an actual 500 yards. I wish I had an old service that got that kind of groupings at 100 yards let alone 500 yards! The first photo is of the Baldwin Locomotive Administration Building with the old Eddystone Rifle Plant in the background. This photo was in the 1920's.Attachment 121845

[Coogan]

Coogan-- I can pretty identify most of the locations at Eddystone where the filming took place. The only location that has me stymied is the location of the 500 yard outdoor range. There is no room at the plant for a 500 yard outdoor range unless they moved that testing down to near the Delaware River on the other side of the railroad tracks ?????

I cannot comment on actual live fire testing, but a reduced 500 yard 'test' would only verify that the sight graduation is 'close'.

On the flip side, the OP of the video states that the plant is Winchester and it seems that is, now without a doubt, incorrect. It is also possible that the 500 yard portion of the video is a misrepresentation of fact.

[Coogan]

I was a Federal Agent too long and liked challenges. I went back to some of my old photographs of the Eddystone Rifle plant and I think I found the "500" yard outdoor range. The 500 yard outdoor range is probably to simulate 500 yard fire. I found the cross target too good to be true for an actual 500 yards. I wish I had an old service that got that kind of groupings at 100 yards let alone 500 yards! The first photo is of the Baldwin Locomotive Administration Building with the old Eddystone Rifle Plant in the background. This photo was in the 1920's.Attachment 121845

The grouping shown briefly would be an acceptable grouping for 100 yards using ball ammo.
Attachment 121848
Using my uncalibrated eyeball, it looks like a group ~2" wide by ~4" high. For a rifle in a mechanical rest with a guy that shoots all day, I would not be surprised this is a 100 yard group.

[fjruple]

The 500 yard range could be a bit of old fashion Propaganda for both the enemy and the soldiers who have to use the rifle. After looking at the "outdoor range" building it appears to be added as an after thought rather than a planned facility. Further looking through the photographs of the Eddystone Rifle Plant there appears to be a number of US Army uniformed inspectors on site. As far as i can see there are none in the short film. The photos are stamped not for publication. Additionally I believe the film was probably longer as I remember seeing another film which pictured a large number of woman workers at Eddystone.