SHOOTING IN SELF-DEFENCE
This chapter is written entirely from the technical point of view as a
branch of pistol shooting, while the legal aspect of the question is
treated by law experts in the Appendix of my larger treatise, _The Art of
Revolver Shooting_. Fortunately, however, in the great majority of cases,
the object of protecting oneself--or, what is more important, protecting
someone else--is attained without actually shooting. The mere fact of
being armed is generally sufficient, and in many cases wearing the
revolver openly or having it in one's hand, even unloaded, suffices. As
Polonius says: "Beware of entrance to a quarrel, but being in, bear't that
the opposed may beware of thee." But, if shooting _has_ to be done,
everything depends on _getting the first shot_.
I am _not_ dealing with the ethical aspect of the case; and, putting
_that_ aside, if you can take your adversary unawares, and "get the drop
on him" before he gets it on you, you have a great advantage.
A short-barrelled pistol is best if it has to be concealed, but of as big
a calibre as you can carry without its being too bulky and showing in your
pocket. If there is no necessity for concealment, carry one six inches in
the barrel.
Some prefer a large-bore army revolver, with the barrel cut down to two
inches. I am assuming that the shooting will be done at a distance of only
a few feet, and without aim in the ordinary sense of the word.
It is very dangerous to carry an automatic pistol loaded in the pocket,
unless it has a safety bolt.
The proper way to carry a revolver (unless a "safety revolver" is carried)
is to leave one chamber unloaded, and lower the hammer on that empty
chamber. The revolver here described obviates these risks.
This is the Smith & Wesson .38 calibre safety hammerless pocket revolver.
This revolver cannot go off accidentally, even when all the chambers are
loaded, as there is a safety catch which prevents the revolver being
discharged unless it is pressed at the same time that the trigger is
pulled.
Any one used to revolver shooting, who holds this revolver as I have
described in my instructions for revolver shooting, and _squeezes the
trigger_, will be able to shoot without thinking of the safety catch, for
he presses it unconsciously in gripping the stock. A person not accustomed
to a revolver cannot, however, fire it; in fact, if a man not an expert
revolver-shot wrested the revolver from you, it would be harmless in his
hands against you. Indeed, the pistol could without danger be given,
loaded, to a small child to play with, as it requires a stronger grip than
a child's to discharge it.
Most revolver accidents occur either from the hammer receiving an
accidental blow, slipping from the thumb, catching in something, or from
the trigger being touched unintentionally, or the revolver being left at
full-cock.
In this Smith & Wesson safety revolver all these causes of accident are
impossible, and it is always ready for instant use. Its further advantages
are:
1. There is no external hammer to catch in anything.
2. Pressure on the trigger cannot discharge the revolver unless the stock
is properly grasped at the same time.
3. The revolver cannot be kept at full-cock.
4. Being hammerless, and having no projections, it can be drawn more
quickly than an ordinary revolver.
5. It can be carried with absolute safety loaded in the pocket, with the
knowledge that a fall or blow will not discharge it.
This revolver is also made in smaller calibre (.32), with both 3 in. and
1-1/2 in. barrel. In the latter case it is called a bicycle revolver, and
takes up less room in the pocket.
This calibre might be better for a lady's use; but for a man I prefer the
large calibre, as being more powerful.
The cocking by trigger action in this revolver is so arranged that it can,
with a little practice, be held at full-cock whilst the aim is taken,
instead of the cocking and firing being a continuous action, as in other
double-action revolvers. As to its accuracy I can put all the shots in a
"man" target at twenty-five yards with it.
Carrying the pistol in the hip pocket is in my opinion a mistake, as the
movement of putting back the hand to draw will instantly put an adversary
on his guard and most likely draw his fire.
For a case where you are likely to be robbed, the inside breast-pocket
(where bank-notes are usually carried) is a good place for the pistol, as,
when you are asked for your money, you can appear to be taking it out of
this pocket whilst you are really drawing the pistol, or it can be shot
from this pocket without drawing it.
Usually the right-hand side-pocket of a jacket is the handiest, or,
rather, the pocket on the side of the hand you can shoot with best.
Shooting through the pocket is as quick and unexpected a way as any;
another is to turn partly away, and in doing so draw and fire from behind
your back, or under your other arm.
But, assuming that you would prefer, if possible, to capture your
assailant without shooting him, try whether you cannot unexpectedly "get
the drop" (_i. e._, an aim) on him, and make him hold up his hands before
he can draw his revolver.
As in fencing and boxing, the great thing is never to take your eyes off
your opponent's for an instant; and if by any subterfuge you can induce
him to take his eyes off you, or distract his attention to anything else,
then is the time to "get the drop" on him, or, as a last resource, to
shoot.
Knocking a chair over, throwing something past or at him, with your
non-shooting hand, or calling out to some imaginary, or real, person
behind him may often have the desired effect.
If he is a really "bad" man, and armed, the worst thing you can do is to
take a pistol in your hand--or even make towards it--unless you mean to
shoot instantly; it will only draw his fire, or he may unexpectedly disarm
you in the way described below.
Supposing you are unarmed and your adversary has a pistol, you may be able
to render his weapon harmless by ejecting his cartridges. This does not
apply to an automatic pistol.
The way to do this varies with different makes of revolvers, but the
principle in each case consists in making a downward stroke on the barrel
of his revolver with one of your hands, and in the same movement operating
the opening catch or lever with your thumb.
If you get an assistant to take an empty revolver and point it at you, and
you practise this trick, you will find it very simple and effective, but
of course there would be no use in trying it with an adversary who
suspected you were about to do so. The Smith & Wesson Russian Model can be
rendered harmless by seizing the middle of the barrel with your thumb
under the catch, you being to the left and using your right hand, or _vice
versa_. Simultaneously with seizing the revolver give a quick quarter turn
to your wrist to the right, and all the cartridges will fly out.
With the Webley, you place your thumb OVER instead of _under_, the catch
in seizing the revolver, and press your thumb towards the palm of your
hand in making the wrench.
With solid frame revolvers, like the new Colt and Smith & Wesson, you
operate the catch, and instead of twisting your wrist, you push out the
cylinder with your first and second fingers, at the same time pushing the
extractor plunger with your little finger, but this make of revolver is
much more difficult to disarm suddenly than those I have named above.
With any hammer automatic pistol or revolver you can make it harmless by
slipping your thumb under the hammer, or, in the case of a revolver, if
you are strong in the grip, by holding the cylinder and preventing it
revolving after the first shot is fired.
I saw a very good suggestion in an article in an American paper--the
writer's name I unfortunately forget--to the effect that it was an
excellent thing, when expecting "trouble," to wear a big revolver
ostentatiously and to have a smaller one in your hand, concealed under a
cape, or otherwise; your adversary would think himself safe as long as he
watched your big revolver and saw that you had not put your hand near it,
whilst all the time you would be ready to "hold him up" or shoot with the
other pistol, the existence of which he would not suspect.
If a burglar is in your house, do not carry a candle, as that makes you an
easy target in case he should try to shoot at you. The pistol which is
sighted by projecting a light would simply give the enemy an easy aim.
The iron rails of banisters, especially if they are wide, ornamental ones,
are a good protection. A door is of no use (except for concealment
_before_ the man has seen you), as a bullet with an ordinary charge will
go through it.
Use a light charge revolver (gallery ammunition by preference) for house
protection; with an automatic pistol you may shoot some of your family
through a thin wall when "burglar-potting."
Out-of-doors, too, a lamp-post, or other narrow object, will spoil a man's
aim by making him try to hit that part of you which shows on either side
instead of his having your full width to aim at, even if it is too narrow
or small fully to protect you.
It is better not to try to give him a small mark to aim at by standing
sideways, as then, if he hits you, he will rake all through your vitals;
whereas, if you are facing him squarely, he may put several bullets into
you without fatal effect. Holding your bent arm across your heart, and at
the same time protecting your temples with the side of your pistol--which
duellists do directly they have fired,--may be of some use; but it is
better to depend upon hitting your adversary before he hits you. If he
shoots and misses you, drop at once, as if hit, and he will probably pause
and give you a chance to shoot.
If a man does not look desperate and capable of continuing shooting till
he is killed, if you can break his shooting wrist it may be sufficient;
and if he should try to shift his pistol from the disabled hand to the
other, you can break that also.
Should you be mounted and your adversary afoot, jumping off and sheltering
yourself behind your horse will protect you from a revolver-shot; but not
an automatic pistol; also galloping hard at him and shouting may spoil his
aim; but if he is cool he may take an easy shot at you when you are past
and before you can turn.
If a man is running away from, or coming at you, and has no firearm, you
can make him helpless by shooting him in a leg; a long crossing shot in a
bad light would make the leg shot rather doubtful, unless there be time to
have several tries.
If a man absolutely has to be killed, it is better to shoot where the
white shirt shows in evening dress. This is a bigger mark than the head,
and he may, moreover, duck his head as you pull.
The stomach shot is a murderous one, and would not be justifiable except
under very rare circumstances. A charging man at very close range would
have the wind knocked out of him, and be stopped perhaps more effectually
by this shot than any other.
If your opponent is a bad shot, you can take a long shot at him from a
distance, say 120 yards, at which, if he has a cheap revolver, he cannot
hit you except by a fluke.
In fact, a bad shot armed with a pistol is less dangerous than a strong,
determined man with a knife. It must be remembered that a knife can be
thrown some distance, so it does not do to let a man with one in his hand,
or even suspected of having one, come too close.
A cartridge loaded with salt is a good man-stopper for burglars and has
the advantage of not endangering life, but of course it is of no use
against a determined man unless he is shot in the face; and in that case
salt might do even more damage to his eyes than a bullet, and a bullet
would be a more merciful load.
The writer of a small pamphlet entitled _Self-Defence_ says that to put
the pistol beside the head of the bed, or under the pillow, is to court
being disarmed during your sleep, and recommends having it between the
mattresses, handy to your reach, or in a padded bag hanging at the side of
your bed under the sheets, the object of the padding being to prevent the
pistol making a noise against the bed when you are drawing it.
This is all very well if you remember to take out the pistol each morning;
if you forget, and the housemaid makes up the bed roughly, there may be
trouble.
It also advises rolling under a bed or sofa as a precaution when
exchanging shots.
Make sure that nobody can tamper with your pistol or cartridges. I knew of
a case in which a muzzle-loading revolver was kept loaded in an unlocked
box at the side of the bed. When there was a burglary in the house, this
revolver was found to have been _dipped in water_ and thus rendered
useless!