Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
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legends of the committees. they seldom fail
10 insist on every legend being fulfilled"
x
"In The Star of November 4" writes Mr.
James b. Bray of Waverly, n. Y to The
Evening Star, Il saw an article credited
to the Chicago Record on Practical Hints
on How to Excel With a Pistol" While
the article gives good advice, it does not
give instructions how to take rapid and
accurate aim, which are the great essen
tiaIs in using the pistol. When 1 was a
young man, over forty years ago, pistol
shooting was one Of my most admired
sports, and I spent hours and days in
practice to become proficient. For a long
time | followed the usual practice of sight
ing that is. looking over sights placed on
the barrel. but one day |, as many would
say, accidentally discovered how to take
aim without sighting and to shoot accu
rately in any position, and it came about
in this way I saw a red squirrel a short
distance away, down by the side of a fence,
and my mother being with me, called her
attention to it. but as it was nearly con-
Cealed in the grass she could not see it,
| said: Now look along my finger at
the same time pointing with the index
finger of my right hand, and she, as re-
quested. looked along my finger you
would in sighting pistol. when she re-
marked: You are pointing directly at it
l Immediately caught it as by inspiration,
that there was something worth remem-
bering. and the next day l put the idea
frtO practice, and soon found myself an
expert in accuracy. The method | pursued
was this. | used a single barrel pistol of
fair weight and length, and, grasping the
stock firmly in the hand, used the second
frger on the trigger, placing the index
finger along the side of the barrel, and
used thai for pointing at the mark. 1t TAX
ing the place of sighting. | soon found by
practice that | could shoot from any posi-
ton if l could only get a chance to point
my finger at the mark. To assist me in
holding my finger directly in line with the
bore of the barrel until l got familiar with
1t, fastened Il loop or guide for the finger
alongside the barrel, but / only required
this a short time. The idea that if you
point your index finger at any object you
VIII ind the range accurately, and prac-
tice will improve your ability to point your
gun where you want to place the shot. This
is one of the great secrets in rapid and ac-
CITRATE pistol shooting, for you can take
aim as quick as you can point your finger.
and 1t does not require raising the arm.
Let the arm rest by the side of the body,
bend the elbow, point your finger and you
have an accurate aim. by practice. This is
only one of the many positions, but gives
an idea how it is done | prefer a single
shot pistol that pulls fairly easy and is of
good. fair weight If you use a cylinder
pistol. then you must protect the finger
from the escaping powder fumes between
the barrel and cylinder by wearing thick
leather finger guard. If any OF your read
ers have never tried this method of shoot
ing, they will be pleasantly surprised at
the results accomplished In a short time,
but, of course, systematic practice is re-
CURED to bGCome proficient"