REVOLVER PRACTICE FOR THE POLICE
The revolver is a part of the regular equipment of the police force of
nearly every city in this country. Unfortunately the general lack of any
regulations for the care of and the practice with these arms largely
nullifies their usefulness. Even in the large cities, members of the
police force frequently admit that they have not used or cleaned their
arms for six months or more. An inspection of the arms under such
conditions not infrequently reveals the fact that center-fire arms are
loaded with rim-fire ammunition, and _vice-versa_. The mechanism is often
so badly rusted that the cylinder will not revolve and the barrel so
corroded as to seriously impair its accuracy. When occasion requires the
use of the arms under such conditions, accidents almost invariably result,
either to the policemen who attempt to fire the arms, or to the innocent
bystanders and property.
The records of every large municipality show that large sums are annually
disbursed in litigation and to individuals who have suffered either
personal wounds or property damage from accidents of this character.
By adopting suitable arms, and regulations governing practice shooting
with them, it is entirely practicable and comparatively easy to train a
large police force to become good marksmen. The possibility of accidents
is thus reduced to a minimum and the efficiency of the men increased to a
maximum. The moral effect of a high order of marksmanship of an entire
police force, when generally known, cannot be overestimated. Practice and
skill in the use of the revolver embodies the essential elements of rifle
shooting, so that in case of riot, insurrection, or war, a large police
force could be made quickly available for duty with very little additional
instruction, by arming them with rifles.
A practical plan to develop such results is as follows: The services of a
competent person to teach the men must first be secured. This man should
be an experienced and skillful marksman with the revolver and be qualified
to maintain proper discipline and teach the subject in all its details. A
suitable range must next be provided. Two men from each precinct selected
for their fitness to become instructors should then be detailed to take a
prescribed course of training and practice under the teacher referred to.
Each of these men should devote not less than four hours a week to this
course. In four months’ time these men should be qualified to undertake
the work of training and instructing others under the inspection and
supervision of the original teacher. After providing sufficient range
facilities, squads of men from each precinct should then be detailed for
practice and instruction under their own instructors, devoting at least
two hours per man per week to this work. At least one and one-half hours
of this time should be devoted to actual practice shooting. After
sufficient skill has been developed, teams of the different precincts
should shoot matches with each other, which will keep up a friendly
rivalry and promote interest in their work.
By adopting such a plan it is possible, within a year from its inception,
to convert an entire police force into perfectly safe and reliable shots
of good ability; _i. e._, such ability as would enable all of them to hit
an object the size of a man every time at 50 paces. The mistake is
sometimes made of requiring the men to practice during off-duty time; this
has never proved successful.
After the first year, or after a sufficient degree of skill has been
developed, the efficiency of the men can be preserved and maintained by
devoting an hour every two weeks to regulation practice. There is little
doubt but that the cost of the time and ammunition devoted to such a
course of training would be more than offset by the elimination of a large
portion of the accidents, litigation, etc., that result under the present
conditions.
Much of the efficiency that it is possible to attain depends upon the
character of the regulation arm that may be adopted for police service.
Such an arm should be of large caliber and sufficient power to fulfil the
requirements. When carried in the pocket the perspiration of the body
causes rust, and a nickel finish will therefore generally be more
serviceable than any other. The sights, hammers and other projections
should be of suitable form, and as referred to in the text under “Pocket
Arms.” In order to secure suitable accuracy, the barrel should be 4 inches
in length and the trigger pull 4 pounds. A first-class weapon for police
service is the .38-caliber Smith & Wesson safety hammerless, the
.38-caliber or .32-caliber Colt Police Positive or the .32 caliber Smith &
Wesson hand ejector revolver. The .38-caliber Smith & Wesson safety
hammerless is particularly well adapted for police service, the safety
feature making accidental discharge almost impossible, and being also a
decided advantage in case the weapon should fall into the hands of an
unskilled antagonist.
In all cases a regulation arm and ammunition should be adopted so as to
secure uniformity and involve the purchase of only one line of supplies
and ammunition.
The following course of instruction and regulations for practice shooting
are recommended:
_Revolver Practice_
_Regulations._--All members of the Department are obliged to practice
shooting with the regulation arm, at least two hours in each calendar
month. The captain of each precinct will designate the time and place for
instruction and practice for each individual under his jurisdiction.
Every member of the department will be expected to qualify in one of the
three classes: Marksman, Sharpshooter, or Expert, and will be rated
accordingly. Decorations of suitable design will be awarded to those
qualifying; the decoration to be worn directly under the shield. Ratings
in any year will be determined by the average scores made by each
individual in the three months prior to January first of that year, on
which date decorations will be awarded annually. A member failing to
qualify in any class shall be rated a Beginner, and if holding a
decoration awarded the preceding year shall surrender same.
All practice shooting shall be in the prescribed order in each class as
given below. Entries unlimited. Each individual must qualify at each stage
before he can be advanced to the next stage. All shooting to be done under
the following:
_General Conditions._ The position shall be standing, free from any
support, the weapon being held in one hand with the arm extended so as
to be free from the body. Target, standard American 200-yd. rifle
target with 8-in. bullseye, outside dimensions 28½ in. by 28½
in. Ammunition shall be the regulation full charge, factory loaded,
brought to the firing point in the original package. Arms shall not be
loaded except at the firing point, when the competitor is ready to
shoot his score. All scores to be 10 shots, fired in two strings of 5
shots each. Slow fire to be timed after the first shot of each string.
Rapid fire to be timed as follows: The competitor standing at the
firing point with the arm loaded, not cocked, and the barrel pointing
downward in a direction not less than 45 degrees from the target, when
ready to begin each string shall say, “Ready.” The scorer, watch in
hand, when the second hand reaches an even 10-second point on the
dial, will give the command “Fire,” _after which_ the competitor
raises and cocks his weapon and begins his string. Just as the time
limit for each string expires the scorer shall announce, “Time.” If a
shot is fired after the time limit has elapsed, the shot of highest
count shall be deducted from the string. In case of misfire,
accidental discharge, or defective ammunition, it shall be scored as a
shot and if the bullet does not strike the target it shall be scored
zero. Ties and all other details not covered by these conditions to be
decided by and to comply with the Rules and Regulations of the U. S.
Revolver Association.
MARKSMAN COURSE
_Slow Fire_:--10 shots at 10 yds. One minute for each string of five
shots. Possible, 100; qualifying score, 90.
_Rapid Fire_:--10 shots at 10 yds. 30 seconds for each string of five
shots. Possible, 100; qualifying score, 80
SHARPSHOOTER COURSE
_Slow Fire_:--10 shots at 20 yds. One minute for each string of five
shots. Possible, 100; qualifying score, 90.
_Rapid Fire_:--10 shots at 20 yds. 30 seconds for each string of five
shots. Possible, 100; qualifying score, 80.
EXPERT COURSE
_Slow Fire_:--10 shots at 20 yds. 30 seconds for each string of five
shots. Possible, 100; qualifying score, 90.
_Rapid Fire_:--10 shots at 20 yds. 15 seconds for each string of five
shots. Possible, 100; qualifying score, 80.
Inasmuch as regular instruction and practice in revolver shooting has been
instituted in only a few of the larger cities of this country, the police
of other cities in the absence of such training, or its equivalent, have
so little knowledge as to the proper use and care of the revolver that the
arm adds little or nothing to their efficiency. To assist such policemen
individually who have the ambition to increase their efficiency by their
own initiative, the following practical suggestions and general rules will
prove helpful:
GENERAL RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS
Never point a revolver in any direction where it would do harm if it
went off accidentally. _Always observe this rule_ whether the arm is
loaded or not.
In carrying the loaded revolver on the person see that the hammer
rests between two cartridges. (Or if of the rebounding hammer type
have one chamber of the cylinder empty and opposite the hammer.)
When necessary to use the revolver on vicious dogs, etc., such animals
should be driven into a rear yard or alley where there is soft ground
to stop the bullets. Never shoot on the sidewalk or a paved street
where it can be avoided, on account of the liability of the bullet
glancing off and doing serious damage. Similarly when firing to
attract attention, shoot into soft ground or a heavy timber, when
practicable, instead of into the air.
Never attempt to shoot while running. Stop for a moment and take
deliberate aim. The shots will then be effective.
Thoroughly clean and oil the revolver as soon after using it as
practicable. If carried on the person regularly it should be
overhauled and re-oiled inside the barrel and cylinder as well as
outside, once a week, to keep it in good condition.
In case regular practice shooting is not provided when on duty,
practice target shooting when off duty, firing at least 50 shots once
a month and following the prescribed course as given in this chapter
as near as possible.