CHAPTER I_Pistol and Revolver Shooting

PISTOL AND REVOLVER SHOOTING

Pistol and Revolver Shooting

BY A. L. A. HIMMELWRIGHT

_Illustrated_

OUTING HANDBOOKS

_Number 34_

NEW YORK

OUTING PUBLISHING COMPANY

MCMXVI

Fully Revised

PREFACE

Interest in pistol and revolver shooting has increased very rapidly in

recent years and particularly since smokeless powder has been introduced.

The revolver and the magazine pistol now constitute part of the regular

equipment of army and navy officers and cavalry troops. Regulations

governing practice shooting with these arms have been issued and adopted

by both branches of the service and by the National Guard of the various

States. In the National Rifle Association and in the various State rifle

associations that have recently been organized, pistol and revolver

shooting has an important place, and the matches provided are largely

patronized. In the numerous civilian shooting clubs scattered throughout

the country pistol and revolver shooting has become extremely popular, and

in many cases the majority of the members practice more frequently with

the smaller arms than with the rifle.

Practice with the pistol and revolver affords training in sighting, steady

holding, and pulling the trigger, which are the essential features of

rifle shooting also. On account of this relation, and the fact that skill

with these arms can be instantly utilized in rifle shooting, the

development of marksmanship with the pistol and revolver assumes national

importance.

While numerous standard works have been written on the subject of rifle

shooting, there is comparatively little information available on pistol

and revolver shooting. The object of this volume is to supply practical

information on this subject. The author has attempted to treat the subject

in a clear and concise manner, keeping the size of the volume as small as

practicable and so as to be conveniently carried in the pocket. Particular

pains have been taken to give sound advice and elementary instruction to

beginners.

The author extends his grateful acknowledgments to Baron Speck von

Sternburg, Messrsr. J. B. Crabtree, John T. Humphrey, William E. Carlin,

Chas. S. Axtell, Walter Winans, Walter G. Hudson, Ed. Taylor, J. E.

Silliman, M. Hays, and the various arms and ammunition manufacturers

referred to herein, for valuable assistance, suggestions, information and

_data_ in preparing this volume.

A. L. A. HIMMELWRIGHT.

_Stockholm, N. J._

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. INTRODUCTORY AND HISTORICAL 13

II. ARMS 17

III. AMMUNITION 37

IV. SIGHTS 62

V. SHOOTING POSITION 67

VI. TARGET-SHOOTING 70

VII. TARGETS 86

VIII. TARGET PRACTICE 94

IX. REVOLVER PRACTICE FOR THE POLICE 99

X. PISTOL SHOOTING FOR LADIES 107

XI. CLUBS AND RANGES 111

XII. HINTS TO BEGINNERS 122

XIII. RELOADING AMMUNITION 147

APPENDIX 167

ILLUSTRATIONS

Smith & Wesson .38-Caliber Revolver}

Colt Army Special Revolver } FACING PAGE 22

Smith & Wesson .44-Caliber Revolver}

Colt New Service Revolver }

Smith & Wesson Russian Model Revolver} " " 24

Colt Single Action Revolver }

Webley & Scott “W. S.” Model Revolver}

Webley & Fosbury Automatic Revolver } " " 26

Colt Automatic Pistol }

Parabellum or “Luger” Automatic Pistol}

Webley & Scott Automatic Pistol } " " 28

Mauser Automatic Pistol }

Smith & Wesson Pistol }

Remington Pistol } " " 30

Stevens Pistol, Gould Model}

Adolph Weber Pistol }

Gastinne-Renette Pistol } " " 32

Colt Automatic Target Pistol }

Colt Police Positive Revolver}

Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector Revolver }

Smith & Wesson Double Action Perfected }

Revolver } " " 34

Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless Revolver}

Smith & Wesson Pocket Revolver }

Colt Police Positive Target Revolver}

Stevens Diamond Model Pistol } " " 36

Colt Automatic Pocket Pistol }

Savage Automatic Pocket Pistol } " " 38

Smith & Wesson Automatic Pocket Pistol}

Military Sights PAGE 62

Paine Sights } FACING PAGE 63

Patridge Sights}

Lyman Sights } " " 64

The Wespi Searchlight Sight}

Walter Winans, C. S. Axtell, Thomas

Anderton " " 68

John A. Dietz, E. E. Patridge, Sergt. W.

E. Petty " " 72

J. E. Gorman, R. H. Sayre, A. P. Lane " " 76

J. H. Snook, George Armstrong, P. J.

Dolfen " " 78

Standard American Target PAGE 87

U. S. R. A. Combination Target " 88

The International Union Target " 89

Target L. (U. S. Army) " 91

Combination Set: Revolver, Pistol, Utensils,

and Case " 109

Details of Alternating Targets, Pit, etc., for

50-yard Range " 114

Details of Booths at Firing Line, “Trolleys,”

and Butts for Gallery Ranges " 117

Shooting Gallery of the Crescent Athletic

Club, Brooklyn, N. Y. FACING PAGE 120

Correct Manner of Holding the Revolver " " 124

Correct Position of the Sights in Aiming at

the Target PAGE 128

Showing the Travel of the Line of the Sights

About the Bullseye in Aiming " 130

Moulding Bullets " 151

PISTOL AND REVOLVER SHOOTING

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY AND HISTORICAL

Pistol shooting has been practiced ever since “grained” gunpowder came

into general use. It is only recently, however, that it has developed into

a popular pastime and has been recognized as a legitimate sport.[1]

The useful and practical qualities of the pistol and revolver have been

developed almost wholly during the last half-century. Before this period

the small arms designed to be fired with one hand were crude and

inaccurate, and were intended to be used only at short range as weapons of

defense. The single-barreled muzzle-loading pistol has, nevertheless, been

part of the army and navy officer’s equipment since the sixteenth century.

These pistols were of large caliber, smooth-bored, heavy, and unwieldy.

The load was a spherical bullet and a large charge of powder. Enough

accuracy was obtained to hit a man at 15 to 20 paces, which was deemed

sufficient. The usefulness of these arms in action was limited to the

firing of a single shot, and then using them as missiles or clubs.

The pistol in early days was considered a gentleman’s arm--a luxury. It

was the arm generally selected for duelling when that code was in vogue,

the contestants standing 10 to 20 paces apart and firing at the word of

command.

The development of the pistol has been contemporaneous and closely

identified with that of the rifle. With the grooving or rifling of the

barrel, the accuracy was greatly improved and the arm adapted to conical

bullets. Although numerous attempts were made to devise a multishot arm

with flint, wheel, and match locks, it was not until the percussion cap

was invented that a practicable arm of this character was produced. This

was a “revolver” invented by Colonel Colt of Hartford, Conn., in 1835, and

consisted of a single barrel with a revolving cylinder at the breech

containing the charges, the mechanism being such that the cocking of the

piece after each discharge revolved the cylinder sufficiently to bring a

loaded chamber in line with the barrel.

The greatest advance in the development of firearms was the introduction

of the system of breech-loading, employing ammunition in the form of

cartridges. This principle rendered the operation of loading much simpler

and quicker, and vastly improved the efficiency and general utility of the

arms.[2]

The present popularity of pistol and revolver shooting is due, no doubt,

to recent improvements in the arms and ammunition. The arms are now

marvels of fine workmanship, easy to manipulate, durable, and extremely

accurate. With the introduction of smokeless powders, the smoke, fouling,

and noise have been reduced to a minimum. The effect of these improvements

has been, not only to increase the efficiency of the arms, but also the

pleasure of shooting them.

As a sport, pistol shooting has much to commend it. It is a healthful

exercise, being practiced out-of-doors in the open air. There are no

undesirable concomitants, such as gambling, coarseness, and rough and

dangerous play. In order to excel, regular and temperate habits of life

must be formed and maintained. It renders the senses more alert and trains

them to act in unison and in harmony. But, above all, skill in shooting is

a useful accomplishment.

Anyone possessing ordinary health and good sight may, by practice, become

a good pistol shot. Persons who are richly endowed by nature with those

physical qualities which specially fit them for expert shooting will, of

course, master the art sooner than those less favored; but it has been

conclusively shown that excellence is more a question of training and

practice than of natural gift. Some of the most brilliant shooting has

been done by persons possessing a decidedly nervous temperament; but those

of phlegmatic temperament will generally make more uniform and reliable

marksmen.

It is much more difficult to shoot well with the pistol or revolver than

with the rifle. The latter, having a stock to rest against the shoulder

and steady one end of the piece, has a decided advantage in quick aiming

and in pulling the trigger. The former, without a stock and being held in

one hand with the arm extended so as to be free from the body, is without

any anchor or support whatever, and is free to move in all directions.

Consequently the least jar, jerk in pulling the trigger, puff of wind, or

unsteadiness of the hand greatly disturbs the aim. Intelligent practice

will, however, overcome these difficulties and disadvantages to such a

degree that an expert shot with a pistol or revolver under favorable

conditions can equal a fair shot with a rifle at the target up to 200

yards. When the novice essays to shoot the pistol or revolver, the results

are generally disappointing and discouraging; but rapid progress

invariably rewards the efforts of those who persevere, and when once

thoroughly interested in this style of shooting, there comes a fascination

for it that frequently endures throughout a lifetime.