SIGHTS FOR REVOLVERS AND PISTOLS.
Nearly all revolvers and pistols have sights affixed to the barrels, which
are very properly supposed by purchasers to aid them in hitting the object
at which they shoot. In many cases the sights which the manufacturers
place on their pistols and revolvers are very little, if any, aid to the
shooter. Persons unfamiliar with these fire-arms, when they test a new
pistol or revolver, generally commence by aiming at the object desired to
hit, and if their holding is good they are likely to find the shots
grouped quite a distance above the object aimed at. The heavier the charge
and lighter the arm the greater the flip or kick-up. The shooter, when he
observes this result, generally corrects the fault by holding under the
object, and some wonderfully good shooting has been done by aiming
eighteen or twenty inches under the object. It is, however, apparent that
in most cases, where good as well as regular results have been obtained by
this mode of sighting, it has been at a regular distance and where some
object is found at the proper distance below the object desired to hit to
enable the marksman to sight at each time.
When Chevalier Ira Paine gave his first exhibition of revolver-shooting at
50 yards at the range of the Massachusetts Rifle Association, on firing a
few sighting-shots before commencing his one hundred shots, he found that
his elegant .44-calibre Russian model, Smith & Wesson, revolver, which was
perfectly sighted for about twelve yards when using the light loads and
round-ball shot in his exhibitions, with the heavy or full charge, shot
eighteen inches over the bull's-eye. He immediately asked permission to
place a spot at this distance below the bull's-eye, which was given; but
as he had only a few sighting-shots to judge the difference in the
elevation between the two cartridges, he did not make what he proved he
was capable of doing at a second exhibition, when he had the same revolver
he used at the first trial, but with a different sight, which permitted
him to aim directly at the bull's-eye.
It is generally believed that the manufacturers of revolvers never
supposed the fine work which is being done with their arms at the present
time was in the weapon, and the arms were intended for quick and deadly
work at short range, and for this reason but little attention has been
paid to perfecting sights.
Having witnessed considerable revolver-shooting, and not a little in a
section of this country where the arm was carried for protection, and
after many practice shoots to almost invariably hear the shooters remark,
"Any one of these shots would have hit a man," the writer formed the
impression that the majority of persons who carried revolvers were content
with an arm which, when fired, would hit the size of a man. On the
supposition that this is the case, it is not strange that so little has
been done to improve the accuracy of the revolver by correctly sighting
it. The sights which come on the most popular revolvers of to-day are
arranged, so far as the height is concerned which affects the elevation,
in such a manner that they shoot over from six to thirty inches when fired
from twenty to sixty yards. If the charge is reduced considerably, the
sights which come on the revolver can be used in aiming directly at the
object desired to hit; but with a full, heavy charge the over-shooting
mentioned is experienced.
The accompanying illustrations show, approximately, the difference
required in shooting a Smith & Wesson Russian model .44-calibre revolver
with a light and heavy or full charge.
[Illustration: FIG. 1.]
Fig. 1 shows the target-sight which is attached to this revolver when
purchased. If a sight of this height is used with the full charge at 50
yards, and a sight taken on the bull's-eye at 6 o'clock, if held
properly, the bullet will strike about 18 inches over the bull's-eye. The
same result will be experienced with the plain open-sight which comes on
this favorite arm, as well as most of the other revolvers of American
make, of large calibre. If, however, the shooter desires to use a light
charge of ten to fifteen grains of powder, he will find this sight
approximately correct in regard to height. As many of the finest shots
prefer to use the full charge, desiring to practise with a practical
charge, such as they would use in warfare or defence, and knowing that, if
properly held, it will give fine results, they procure another sight,
similar in shape, but higher, as shown in Fig. 2. This additional height
depresses the muzzle of the barrel, and counteracts the flip or kick-up,
and the shooter can sight directly at the bull's-eye at a distance of 50
yards. For shooting at 30 yards, a distance which most of the shooting is
likely to be done in the future, and on the Standard American 100-yard
rifle target, a sight slightly higher than the one shown in Fig. 2 should
be used.
[Illustration: FIG. 2.]
[Illustration: CHEVALIER IRA A. PAINE, Professional Pistol and Revolver
Shot.]
To do fine shooting with pistol or revolver requires fine sights. At the
time of writing this chapter such a feeling is growing, and many improved
devices are being brought out. The most favored sight by expert shots at
the present time is the sight shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for a forward sight,
and the rear sight as shown in Fig. 3, which has a semicircular notch to
draw the top of the front-sight into. This style of sight was devised by
Chevalier Ira Paine, and adopted by Messrs. Smith & Wesson, who style them
"Paine Sights," it giving the effect of a pin-head sight. Some good shots
prefer a fine plain front-sight without the bead, and some use a straight
rear bar without a notch, but a platinum line in the centre.
[Illustration: FIG. 3.]
An improvement in the rear-sight is made by dovetailing a lateral
sliding-bar across the barrel clutch of the Smith & Wesson revolvers,
which makes an effective wind-gauge. Those desiring to test the accuracy
of revolvers at a rest can do so very effectually by attaching to the
rear-sight a piece of thin metal to convert the semicircle notch into a
round aperture which, with a temporary aperture front-sight or the sight
shown, enables the tester to obtain a good sight, which is quite difficult
when shooting in this manner with open front and rear sights, which are so
near together.
There are several ways of taking sight with pistol and revolver. It is
believed that a majority of the best shots draw a very fine bead on the
front-sight, and touch the object aimed at at the lower part of the
bull's-eye at 6 o'clock. Other good shots prefer to place the sight on the
object or on the bull's-eye, while still others place the sight on the
object or on the bull's-eye, and see the tip at 12 o'clock. It is believed
that those who sight at the lower or bottom of the object aimed at possess
more advantages than in the other ways mentioned; but the shooter should
try the several ways, and, as soon as satisfied of his preference, adhere
firmly to one manner of sighting, if permissible. It will be found that
different makes and lots of ammunition vary considerably, affecting
elevations; different weather conditions also affect elevations; this will
be perceived with a few shots, and the error corrected by taking a finer
or coarser sight.
Doubtless in the near future there will be a rear elevating and wind-gauge
sight for pistols and revolvers. One has been devised by Messrs. Smith &
Wesson, which is a great improvement over any heretofore placed on the
market. It seems to be quite a difficult thing to perfect a
revolver-sight, as several firms know who have been endeavoring to
accomplish it for some time past. As with heavy charges the desired object
is to depress the barrel or lower the elevation, rather than raise; while,
with light charges, as you increase your distance you are obliged to
raise your rear-sight. A very high front-sight, which is necessary for the
large charges, is considered unsymmetrical by manufacturers, and until
some ingenious person devises a means of raising and lowering the
front-sight of a revolver, the person who desires to shoot several kinds
of ammunition accurately in one revolver, and at various distances, must
carry about with him several front-sights of various heights which will
interchange.