Part 8 (1/2)

In some cases the first sighting-shot struck the target. At 300 yards it took three shots from one party to find the target; at all other times one or two shots were sufficient. The scores given above are not intended to show excellence in marksmans.h.i.+p, but to record the results obtained at the first trial by persons unacquainted with the range of the revolver and the sights. The ammunition used was a condemned lot sent to the range by mistake, but which, doubtless, was better than supposed to be. It had been loaded several years, and the lubricant was hard, and in many cases partially detached from the bullet. After the first score had been secured at the several distances, Chevalier Paine shot at 200 yards, and secured 29 out of a possible 30, making five bull's-eyes and one centre.

Two weeks later Mr. F. E. Bennett, with a .44-calibre Russian-model Smith & Wesson revolver, shot over about the same distances, with the following results:--

_2d cla.s.s target.--150 yards._

5 5 5 5 5 5 = 30

_200 yards._

5 2 4 0 4 5 = 20

_250 yards._

3 4 5 4 3 0 = 19

_300 yards._

5 3 0 0 0 0 = 8

If the revolver is properly sighted, there is little doubt that good shooting with this arm can be done up to about 300 yards, under favorable weather conditions. With a single-shot pistol it has been shown that good work can be done at 400 yards. The revolver being a more practical weapon than the pistol, it is likely that the single-shot pistol will in future be confined almost wholly to indoor target practice, and the revolver will be used exclusively in many clubs who shoot their matches out of doors. It has been proven that the revolver is a powerful and accurate weapon from 10 to 250 yards. The results of experiments which have been recorded in this chapter were made with the object of showing that a marksman, or soldier with ordinary skill, ought to hit every time, with a shot from an army revolver, a standing object the size of a mounted cavalryman, from 50 to 250 yards off. As stated, the results given in this chapter were the first attempts with no previous knowledge of the range of the weapon, and if practice is carried on it will not surprise the writer to hear that perfect six-shot scores have been made on the second-cla.s.s target at distances from 100 to 250 yards. With the sights used on a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver at 30 and 50 yards one can shoot up to 250 yards without aiming off the target.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Standard American Target, reduced from 50-yard target, one-sixteenth; from 30-yard, one-eighth. Designed by Major C. W. HINMAN.

Adopted and used by American Pistol and Revolver Clubs.]

CHAPTER XI.

RULES FOR PISTOL AND REVOLVER SHOOTING.

The need of rules governing pistol and revolver compet.i.tions has been apparent during the past three years. The distance, trigger-pull, and some general rules were briefly laid down by the clubs where matches were shot.

For a time it has been generally believed that the arms used in these compet.i.tions should be cla.s.sed; that a decision arrived at in regard to trigger-pull, the sights permitted clearly defined, ammunition described, and rules determining the amount of cleaning permitted, manner of loading and firing, positions permitted, and other rules explicitly stated. The Ma.s.sachusetts Rifle a.s.sociation, after a long and careful consideration, adopted the following rules:--

All meetings for compet.i.tions will be conducted by an executive officer, aided by a.s.sistants.

The executive officer shall have control of the range for the conduct of matches, and shall give such directions to the employes of the club as in his judgment are necessary for the proper management of the same, and for the preservation of order.

The executive officer and his a.s.sistants are required to see that the regulations, and such directions as the executive officer may give, are rigidly complied with by compet.i.tors and all other persons upon the range.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MISS ANNIE OAKLEY, Expert Lady Pistol Shot.]

They will see that the squads of compet.i.tors are stationed in rear of firing-points, and that each compet.i.tor remains there until called by the score-keeper to take his position at the firing-point. The score-keepers will be seated in rear of the firing-points.

Score-keepers shall, as each shot is signalled, call in a loud voice the name of the compet.i.tor and the value of the shot, and, at the conclusion of the score of each compet.i.tor, announce in like manner his name and total score.

All compet.i.tors shall be allowed to examine the records of the score-keeper during the progress of the match, but in such a manner as not to interfere with or inconvenience the score-keeper.

Any compet.i.tor feeling himself aggrieved by the ruling of the executive officer, may make to the secretary a statement of his grievance in writing, which shall be handed at once to the executive committee for its consideration. The decision of the executive committee shall be final, subject, however, to the discretion of said committee, or any two members of it, to refer the matter to the board of directors for its decision.

Challenges will only be permitted at the discretion of the executive officer. The executive officer may, in his discretion, challenge the marking of any shot the allowance of which would be unjust to other compet.i.tors, and correct the score accordingly.