THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE REVOLVER.
_Results of Revolver-firing up to Fifty Yards._
It was believed by many of the experts with fire-arms, as well as the
author, for a number of years, that the possibilities of the revolver were
not generally, if at all, known. Many were aware that the single-shot
pistol with a long barrel, suitable sights, and proper charge was capable
of doing excellent work at short and long range; but the revolver, on
account of its revolving cylinder, permitting an escape of gas, as well as
the comparatively short barrel, was capable of shooting accurately only at
short range; 25 yards or 100 feet was generally the chosen distance in
most revolver contests, and it was thought necessary to have a target as
coarse as the Creedmoor 200-yard rifle target to shoot on at these
distances. Believing that the revolver was capable of doing much finer
work than any previously recorded work it was possible for the author to
learn of, he closely watched the results obtained with this arm in various
parts of the world; sought and obtained the services of the most skilful
marksmen he could find; arranged public and private exhibitions; spent
days upon the rifle-ranges where experiments were tried, thousands of
shots fired from revolvers and pistols, at a rest with fine sights by
acknowledged experts in this style of shooting; professional and expert
amateurs' services obtained; and revolvers and pistols, of various makes,
shot from 7 up to 500 yards. Factories where the revolvers were
manufactured were visited, shooting witnessed and done, and the results
obtained carefully preserved.
As the author became impressed that the results secured from time to time
were beyond what was believed the revolver was capable of doing, he
forwarded targets or reports to manufacturers of the arms used, with a
request to be informed if the results were equal or superior to what they
had obtained, or thought were likely to be secured. In every instance
replies indicated that they were surprised at the excellence of the
results; and in most cases they frankly acknowledged that the accuracy was
beyond what they supposed the arms possessed. These replies have
influenced the author to record in this little work the results of pistol
and revolver firing which have come under his personal observation,
believing that they are much beyond what was generally believed to be
possible to do with those arms, more complete than has ever been
previously recorded; but at the same time firmly believing that if pistol
and revolver shooting becomes a popular sport in America,--if it is
indulged in to one-half the extent rifle-shooting is at the time of
preparing this work,--the feats chronicled in this volume will not be the
best results possible, and, doubtless, many an amateur will surpass them.
[Illustration: Eighteen shots with a revolver, by Mr. GEORGE BIRD, at 12
yards, winner of first prize in revolver match, Conlin's Gallery, New
York. Score, 210; possible, 216.]
Parties who essay to perform such feats as lighting matches and driving
tacks with a bullet usually attempt them at a distance of about 7 yards,
as that is about as long a distance as the average person can see such
objects. Ten and 12 yards is about the shortest distance at which
target-shooting is practised; at this distance the modern revolver, with a
barrel from four inches upwards, if properly charged and held, if all the
cylinders are loaded, ought to place every shot in a group which could be
enclosed or touched by a circle one inch in diameter. It requires a good
revolver, proper ammunition, as well as a skilful marksman, to do such
work; but it is no uncommon occurrence in galleries where the range is 12
yards, as will be seen by the illustrations in this chapter.
It is nothing uncommon for experts with pistol or revolver to place a
series of shots in a smaller circle than one inch, at 12 yards, especially
if a .22-calibre, single-shot, heavy pistol is used; but it should be
stated that such shooting is generally done with light charges; but it can
and has been done with full, heavy charges. At 20 yards it is not uncommon
to place all the shots, when fired at a rest, in or touched by a circle
one and one-half inches in diameter.
When revolver-shooting was introduced as an adjunct to rifle-shooting it
was thought that the Standard American target for 200 yards rifle practice
was the proper thing for revolver-shooting at a distance of 25 yards. A
match was first announced at the annual meeting at Creedmoor, in 1886, in
which there were three scores of 48 out of a possible 50 in five shots
secured. There were three scores to count, or possible 150 points. The
highest three scores in this match were 143, 140, 134. There were five
scores only of five shots each in which the shots were all inside of the
nine-circle, which is 5-54/100 inches in diameter. A month later the
Massachusetts Rifle Association announced a revolver match, in the annual
fall meeting programme, under similar conditions, excepting the match
called for five scores to count. As both matches were unlimited reëntry
matches, the best three scores of the highest four individuals are taken
to compare with the results secured at Creedmoor. Four scores are selected
because the person at the head of the list was a professional shot, and
his skill at that time was considerably in advance of his competitors.
[Illustration: Six shots with a Smith & Wesson .32-calibre revolver, at 12
yards, made in Conlin's Gallery, New York City, February 8, 1887, by Mr.
PIERRE LORILLARD, Jr.]
The second, third, and fourth prize-winners secured an aggregate of 142,
142, 141.
The professional shot was Chevalier Paine, who on his sixth entry secured
the possible of 50 in five shots and two scores of 49, making 148 out of a
possible 150, or the 15 shots (not consecutive) in a 5-54/100 inch circle.
This gentleman fired 40 shots. Of this number there were 27 in the 10
circle, which is 3-36/100 inches in diameter. Soon after this meeting
revolver-shooting sprung into popularity, and it was shown by the shooting
of the members of the Massachusetts Rifle Association that, if
revolver-shooting was continued at 25 yards, the possible would be secured
so frequently as to make the sport uninteresting. It is worthy of record
that Mr. A. L. Brackett of that association made the following 10-shot
score at 25 yards on the Standard American target:--
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 10 10 = 98
It was decided by this club to change the distance to 50 yards.
Chevalier Ira Paine was the first individual known to fire 100 shots on
this target at this distance, which he did Oct. 15, 1886, at Walnut Hill
range, using a .44-calibre Russian-model army revolver and factory
ammunition made by Union Metallic Cartridge Co.
The 100 shots were as follows:--
7 7 8 6 9 7 6 8 9 9 = 76
9 10 8 7 8 9 6 9 5 8 = 79
9 9 7 8 7 9 7 6 10 6 = 78
9 5 8 6 7 9 8 10 10 10 = 82
8 6 9 8 8 7 7 6 8 10 = 77
6 10 9 6 8 9 7 9 7 9 = 80
9 9 10 8 6 9 7 10 9 7 = 84
9 6 9 9 6 10 10 8 7 9 = 82
10 8 10 7 8 8 8 6 9 6 = 80
8 6 9 8 6 7 7 8 6 8 = 73
---
Total 791
[Illustration: Six shots with a Smith & Wesson Frontier-model revolver, at
12 yards, reduced charge, made by Mr. GEORGE BIRD, at Conlin's Gallery,
New York, April 23, 1887.]
The first person who attempted to equal Chevalier Paine's record was Dr.
C. C. Foster, who fired 100 shots with a Colt's .38-calibre double-action
revolver on same target, at the same distance, at Walnut Hill, Nov. 20,
1886, he securing 782 points. The next attempt at raising the record was
by Chevalier Paine, who shot against his own record at Walnut Hill with
the same weapon he used in the first 50-yard match. He shot on March 17,
1887, with the following result:--
9 5 7 10 10 10 9 10 9 8 = 87
7 6 6 7 6 9 9 10 7 5 = 72
10 9 10 7 7 7 9 10 9 7 = 85
10 10 9 7 9 6 7 10 9 9 = 86
10 10 6 10 10 8 10 7 10 9 = 90
9 8 7 8 7 9 10 6 8 7 = 79
10 8 9 9 8 10 9 8 6 9 = 86
10 7 8 9 10 9 10 10 6 8 = 87
8 8 8 6 10 9 7 9 10 7 = 82
10 6 9 10 9 8 7 10 9 9 = 87
---
Total 841
It will be observed that 70 of the 100 shots were bull's-eyes; 29 of the
shots were tens, or in the 3-36/100 circle. The first 10 shots broke all
previous 10-shot records; the fifth string counted 90, and was at that
time the best 10-shot record at 50 yards. The aggregate of 841 for the 100
shots was 50 points over his previous record, and 59 points more than had
ever been secured by any other individual in a 100-shot match.
This 100-shot was unbroken until Nov. 4, 1887; but on May 21, 1887, Mr. W.
W. Bennett broke the 10-shot 50 yards' record on the Standard American
target, by recording the following score at Walnut Hill:--
10 8 10 6 10 7 10 10 10 10 = 91
On November 4 Mr. F. E Bennett fired 100 shots at 50 yards with a Smith &
Wesson Russian-model, .44-calibre army revolver, with factory ammunition,
with the declared object of breaking the 100-shot record. He scored the
following result:--
1 7 8 10 10 9 7 10 7 9 10 = 87
2 8 9 8 9 7 10 8 6 9 9 = 83
3 6 10 9 8 10 10 9 8 10 7 = 87
4 8 9 10 9 6 10 7 10 8 8 = 85
5 7 9 8 8 9 5 6 9 10 7 = 78
6 9 10 8 7 10 10 8 10 6 9 = 87
7 10 9 9 8 10 10 10 7 7 9 = 89
8 10 9 9 7 9 9 7 10 8 7 = 85
9 9 10 7 9 10 7 8 9 7 10 = 86
10 10 8 9 10 8 8 10 9 9 9 = 90
---
Total 857
This score was 16 points higher than any previous record.
On November 14 a second match was shot by him, under similar conditions as
the first, resulting as follows:--
1 7 9 10 10 9 8 10 8 8 6 = 85
2 9 9 10 10 9 10 9 10 9 7 = 92
3 10 9 10 10 8 9 10 9 9 7 = 91
4 7 10 9 8 10 8 8 8 10 7 = 85
5 7 9 9 10 8 10 10 10 9 9 = 91
6 10 8 10 8 10 7 9 10 7 9 = 88
7 7 8 8 8 9 9 7 10 8 7 = 81
8 7 9 10 5 9 8 8 9 9 9 = 83
9 9 9 10 10 7 10 10 10 9 8 = 92
10 7 10 9 9 7 10 9 10 8 10 = 89
---
Total 877
This aggregate being 20 points higher than any previous record.
On Nov. 25, 1887, Mr. F. E. Bennett fired 100 shots, under similar
conditions, the 10-shot aggregate being:--
85 89 87 86 88 81 95 89 = 852
He fell short of the 100-shot record, but broke the 10-shot record by the
following score:--
10 10 10 9 9 10 9 10 9 9 = 95
[Illustration: Six shots with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model
revolver, reduced charge, made in Conlin's Gallery, New York, Feb. 12,
1887, by Mr. J. T. B. COLLINS.]
A diagram of this target is shown on page 100, in an illustration reduced
one-quarter.
[Illustration: 95 out of a possible 100, on Standard American target, in
10 consecutive shots, at 50 yards, with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre
Russian-model revolver, with Union Metallic Cartridge Co. ammunition, made
at Walnut Hill, Mass., Nov. 25, 1887, by Mr. F. E. BENNETT. Reduced
one-quarter.]
In November, 1887, a wager was made that Mr. F. E. Bennett would equal or
surpass 841 points or better for six consecutive days, firing 100 shots a
day, at 50 yards, on the Standard American target, using factory
ammunition. He commenced his task December 5, and following is the score
in detail:--
_December 5._
1 6 10 8 10 7 10 10 10 10 10 = 91
2 8 10 9 10 7 9 9 9 10 8 = 89
3 9 10 10 6 9 10 9 10 10 10 = 93
4 10 9 9 6 10 10 10 8 9 9 = 90
5 8 10 7 6 9 8 9 9 10 9 = 85
6 8 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 = 94
7 7 9 10 10 6 9 10 8 7 6 = 82
8 10 10 9 10 7 9 8 9 7 9 = 88
9 10 10 8 8 10 9 10 10 7 8 = 90
10 9 7 7 10 10 8 8 9 9 7 = 84
---
Total 886
_December 6._
1 5 7 10 9 10 10 10 9 9 8 = 87
2 8 9 10 7 6 9 10 10 10 10 = 89
3 8 9 10 8 10 7 8 10 10 9 = 89
4 8 9 10 7 7 8 9 9 8 10 = 85
5 9 10 7 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 = 94
6 9 9 10 10 0 7 10 9 9 10 = 83
7 6 7 9 10 9 9 10 9 9 6 = 84
8 8 9 10 9 9 10 10 8 6 8 = 87
9 10 10 8 9 10 10 10 9 8 8 = 92
10 8 6 7 8 7 9 10 8 6 8 = 77
---
Total 867
_December 7._
1 10 8 9 0 10 6 6 9 6 7 = 71
2 7 8 10 8 7 8 9 8 8 10 = 83
3 7 9 6 7 10 7 8 8 9 7 = 78
4 7 9 10 7 9 10 7 9 10 6 = 84
5 8 8 8 9 9 8 8 10 9 9 = 86
6 10 7 8 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 = 94
7 7 9 8 10 9 8 10 6 9 10 = 86
8 8 7 8 7 7 10 9 9 8 7 = 80
9 9 9 9 9 10 8 8 10 9 9 = 90
10 8 10 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 7 = 80
---
Total 832
_December 8._
1 8 7 10 9 8 9 7 7 10 8 = 83
2 8 7 7 9 9 8 7 10 9 8 = 82
3 10 5 9 8 5 10 8 9 8 6 = 78
4 10 6 9 10 8 9 9 9 10 10 = 90
5 8 10 10 8 10 7 10 9 9 10 = 91
6 7 6 9 9 6 10 10 10 7 10 = 84
7 7 8 7 9 8 8 8 8 7 10 = 80
8 9 7 8 10 10 10 10 6 10 10 = 90
9 9 8 9 9 7 8 9 6 9 10 = 84
10 5 6 8 10 7 6 9 10 10 10 = 81
---
Total 843
_December 9._
1 10 7 9 9 7 10 10 8 7 8 = 85
2 7 9 8 10 7 9 10 7 9 8 = 84
3 8 8 10 9 9 10 9 8 9 10 = 90
4 7 8 10 9 9 10 10 7 10 10 = 90
5 7 8 10 8 9 9 10 9 9 8 = 87
6 10 8 9 9 9 8 8 9 10 6 = 86
7 9 10 7 9 8 10 10 9 8 8 = 88
8 10 7 10 8 9 8 8 10 8 7 = 85
9 9 8 9 9 7 9 8 8 10 10 = 87
10 7 7 9 8 10 7 10 8 10 10 = 86
---
Total 868
_December 10._
1 9 8 8 9 10 10 9 9 10 8 = 90
2 7 10 7 10 8 10 10 7 9 9 = 87
3 10 8 9 6 9 8 7 8 8 10 = 83
4 10 9 10 10 9 8 10 7 10 9 = 92
5 9 9 7 10 9 9 8 10 8 8 = 87
6 10 8 10 10 10 9 7 9 9 8 = 90
7 9 10 9 10 10 7 6 9 9 8 = 87
8 9 7 10 6 10 8 10 9 8 8 = 85
9 9 10 6 9 10 10 10 9 10 10 = 93
10 6 7 9 9 9 5 8 10 10 9 = 82
---
Total 876
[Illustration: Eighteen consecutive shots, made by Mr. ALLEN P. KELLY, in
Conlin's Gallery, New York City, in revolver match, Massachusetts Rifle
Association target.]
The shooting of Mr. F. E. Bennett attracted the attention of Chevalier
Paine, who, on December 9, fired 100 shots, using a .38/44-calibre Smith
& Wesson revolver, this arm being the same as the .44 calibre in exterior,
but is bored .38 calibre instead of.44. It has a straight shell, which
extends entirely through the cylinder, coming flush with the end of
cylinder. This was a special arm, made to order, and took
specially-prepared ammunition. Only the aggregate for 100 shots was
preserved, which was 878 points. This was one point higher than had
previously been scored.
On December 13 Chevalier Paine fired 190 shots with a Smith & Wesson
.44-calibre revolver, but as 100-shot records were being compared, we take
the first 100 shots which made the most favorable showing, and the 10-shot
strings aggregated as follows:--
90 92 87 89 86 85 92 85 85 91 = 882
The next trial was on Thursday, December 15, using same revolver and
ammunition, with the following result:--
92 89 89 89 86 88 85 85 83 85 = 871
On December 17 he again faced the target, firing 210 shots, the first and
second 100 shots showing the following results:--
94 96 90 85 87 86 81 92 88 87 = 886
89 96 90 89 91 86 87 85 89 86 = 888
The last 100-shot score of 888 being two points more than any previous
record. The 10-shot record was also broken by two strings, which
aggregated 96 points; higher by one point than any previously known
record.
[Illustration: Score of 96 out of a possible 100, in 10 consecutive shots,
on Standard American target, at 50 yards, made by CHEVALIER IRA A. PAINE,
at Narragansett Gun Club grounds, Providence, R.I., Dec. 17, 1887, with
Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver, with factory ammunition
of Union Metallic Cartridge Co. make. Reduced one-quarter.]
On December 22 Chevalier Paine fired 100 consecutive shots in the presence
of the author, attempting to beat all previous records. The shooting was
done at the Narragansett Gun Club grounds, at Providence, R.I. The
revolver used was the Smith & Wesson Russian-model .44 calibre, with
factory ammunition. The score was as follows:--
8 8 10 10 8 9 10 10 9 9 = 91
9 9 7 10 9 9 7 7 10 10 = 87
10 10 8 7 9 8 10 10 9 8 = 89
10 9 8 10 10 10 9 10 7 9 = 92
7 9 10 10 8 9 8 8 7 10 = 86
10 7 8 9 10 10 10 9 10 9 = 92
10 8 10 10 10 10 8 9 9 10 = 94
8 9 10 10 10 7 10 9 10 10 = 93
10 8 9 9 10 8 10 8 7 10 = 89
10 8 8 9 10 10 9 8 9 10 = 91
---
Total 904
This aggregate raised the record 16 points.
It was generally supposed, when Chevalier Ira Paine secured an aggregate
of 904 points on the Standard American target at 50 yards with a Smith &
Wesson .44-calibre revolver, that the 100-shot record would not be
disturbed for some time. Mr. W. W. Bennett repeatedly stated that he would
never attempt to break his brother's record of 886 points, but would
contest against the record of any other individual. When it was announced
that Chevalier Paine had secured 904 points Mr. W. W. Bennett quietly
announced his intention of surpassing this record, earnestly went to work,
and, in the presence of reliable witnesses, rolled up the unprecedented
record of 914 points,--10 points higher than had ever been previously
secured, and twice during the shooting equalled the best 10-shot record of
96 points.
He shot at Walnut Hill range December 23, using a .44-calibre,
single-action Smith & Wesson Russian-model army revolver, loaded with
factory ammunition of Union Metallic Cartridge Co. make. The scores in
detail are as follows:--
1 9 10 10 10 10 8 9 10 10 10 = 96
2 8 10 10 9 9 9 9 10 8 7 = 90
3 8 9 10 10 9 9 10 8 9 10 = 92
4 8 9 10 9 10 7 10 9 8 10 = 90
5 10 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 = 96
6 9 10 8 10 7 10 9 10 10 9 = 92
7 10 10 9 7 10 7 9 9 10 8 = 89
8 8 7 8 9 10 10 9 10 7 8 = 86
9 9 8 10 8 10 9 10 10 10 9 = 93
10 10 7 9 10 9 9 9 10 9 8 = 90
---
Total 914
It should here be recorded that Chevalier Paine on his first and second
trial cleaned his revolver between every 10 shots. Mr. F. E. Bennett in
all of his shooting cleaned only between each 10 shots. In the balance of
Chevalier Paine's shooting he insisted on cleaning his revolver between
every 5 or 6 shots; and Mr. W. W. Bennett, after Chevalier Paine departed
from the custom of cleaning between each 10 shots, run a brush through
the inside of his barrel after every shot. There being no established
rules for pistol and revolver shooting in regard to cleaning, the results
were accepted as records of performances with revolvers. It is also
believed that Chevalier Paine's shooting, as well as Mr. W. W. Bennett's,
and a portion of Mr. F. E. Bennett's shooting, was done with a
trigger-pull of less than 3 pounds.
[Illustration: 96 out of a possible 100, on Standard American target, at
50 yards, in 10 consecutive shots, with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre
Russian-model revolver, with Union Metallic Cartridge Co. ammunition, made
at Walnut Hill, Mass., Dec. 23, 1887, by Mr. W. W. BENNETT. Reduced
one-quarter.]
[Illustration: Six shots with a Smith & Wesson .38-calibre revolver, at 12
yards, made in Conlin's Gallery, New York City, April 1, 1887, by Mr. D.
D. DAVIS.]
It will be found that within a period of two years the possibilities of
the revolver have been proven to be considerably beyond what the
manufacturers of the arms, the makers of the ammunition, and the experts
using the weapons supposed were its capabilities.
The first 100-shot record was 791 points, the last 914 points, or an
increase of 123 points.
[Illustration: Six shots with a .44-calibre revolver, at 12 yards, reduced
charge, by Mr. GEORGE BIRD, New York. Score, 71; possible, 72.]
In order to carry the shooting at 50 yards from its commencement on the
Standard American target to latest known record with no diversion, the
author now finds it necessary to go back several months to chronicle an
event worthy of note.
It has been stated that the first revolver competition on the Standard
American target was shot at 25 yards, and it has been shown that the
distance was too short for that target. When the programme of the 1886
annual meeting at Creedmoor was being arranged, it was proposed to use the
200-yard Standard American target at 30 yards, the author urged the
gentlemen in charge of this tournament to use the 100-yard Rifle target at
this distance, and by showing what had been accomplished on the 200-yard
target, it convinced them that a 100-yard Rifle target with a 4-inch
bull's eye was better for revolver or pistol shooting at 30 yards; and
that target and distance were selected for the revolver match at Creedmoor
in 1887, and many of the rifle and pistol clubs throughout the country
arranged similar matches. The first record established on the 30-yard
pistol target was in a 5-shot reëntry match at the spring meeting of the
Massachusetts Rifle Association, in June, 1887. The score of 43 out of a
possible 50 was made by Mr. W. W. Bennett, and was the highest score made
during the three-days' tournament. It was the opinion of a majority of
revolver-shooters at that time that this target at 30 yards was a
difficult one to roll up a high score on, and that 40 for 5-shots and 80
for 10-shots was good shooting. At the annual meeting of the National
Rifle Association at Creedmoor in September, 1887, the highest scores
recorded at 30 yards were by Mr. J. T. B. Collins, who secured three
aggregates of 44, and Mr. G. L. Garrigues, who also secured one score of
44, this being the highest aggregate secured in five shots at that time.
[Illustration: POSITION FORMERLY ADOPTED BY MR. F. E. BENNETT. (From a
photograph taken while shooting.)]
At the fall meeting of the Massachusetts Rifle Association Mr. F. E.
Bennett won the first prize in the revolver competition, with the
following scores:--
9 10 9 9 7 = 44
8 10 10 9 8 = 45
10 8 7 10 10 = 45
9 9 9 8 10 = 45
10 10 10 8 10 = 48
This made 48 the best 5-shot record.
The next event at this range was the recording of the following 10-shot
score at Walnut Hill on Oct. 12, 1887, by Mr. F. E. Bennett:--
10 9 10 9 8 8 10 7 10 9 = 90
This being the best 10-shot record. This shooting was followed by
Chevalier Ira Paine, who, in November, 1887, recorded the same aggregate
at Walnut Hill.
A week later Mr. F. E. Bennett recorded in a regular match at Walnut Hill
an aggregate of 91, which, at the time of closing this chapter, is the
best known 10-shot record.
[Illustration: Score of 48 out of a possible 50, in 5 consecutive shots,
on Standard American target, at 30 yards, made by Mr. F. E. BENNETT, in a
match at Walnut Hill, Mass., Oct. 6, with a Smith & Wesson Russian-model
.44-calibre revolver, and factory ammunition, Union Metallic Cartridge Co.
make. Reduced one-half.]
[Illustration: CHEVALIER IRA A. PAINE'S POSITION. (From a photograph taken
while shooting.)]