The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-29
SHARP EEvoLvER SHOOTING.
Tho Art and Knaok OF ExcsllinR In an
Important Branch of Mnrksmanship.

From ne ChIedOo Record.
Americans are generally supposed to DO the
best shots in the world with revolver. As a
nation they probably are, and more individuals
among them are doubtless better acquainted
with the possibilities Of the weapon than among
other But IL remains true nevertheless,
that the ordinary man who buys revolver knows
nothing Of the art of shooting with one He
usually buys a sclfacting weapon whose five or
six chambers be rapidly discharged, and
the dealer loads II for him II any necessity
arises he pulls the trigger as fast as he can and
the bullets are hurled harmlessly into space
II mere accuracy in target shooting is sought
for, the heavy framed revolver of 22Caliber il
easiest to become expert with The rccoil is
slight and the tendency to ovcrshoot is greatly
lcssencd But target shooting with these heavy,
long barrclled. small calibcr weapons Is mere
gallery practice. 1t is not Of practical use and
must remain simply as an exhibition Of indoor
skill in particular branch of revolver shooting.
The target shooting with the 4i-caliber revolver,
when practscd in the open and at distances up
to fifty yards requires great skill. All such
shooting is done oiThand by the experts and
Walter Winans, the American revolver shot. is
to-day the best living at this game. Some mem
bcrs OF the Boston revolver clubs however, arc
credited with having pushed him close lately In
cannot, Of course, be carried except in a belt. A
soldier expert in their use, would be dOubly Of
fcctive against an enemy at close quarters for
the shooting rules, giving comparatively brief
space between Shots tend 10 produce quickness
as well as accuracy in the marksman. The men
who are skilled in this kind Of shooting can plant
4i-calibcr bullets into space the size Of mans
body at forty or fifty yards in rapid succession
wi IN rarely miss.
The long barrelled rcvolvers 9 inch 81, inch
inch and "a inch, give greater accuracy than
the short barrelled weapons Being heavier they
do not throw up so much, and are capable of
being held stcadicr But the difference be
tween shooting with them and with the short
pistols is SO marked that excellence with either
Is separate and distinct art To shoot well with
pa inch, or 81 inch barrel oiIhand and at
ranges from twenty to fifty yards distance is
very uncommon accomplishment BY shooting
Wen, l mean shooting quickly and with n fair
degree Of accuracy for nine shots out Of ten There
is nothing very difficult in taking one Of the,shott
barrcllcd rcvolvcrs in both hands and making
good scores at targets. This can DO learned by
practice.
But the ability to shoot ofrhand with the short
barrcllcd gums" holding the weapon in one hand
Is science II is not to be mastered by simply
Most rcvOlvcrs OF this kind, and even the long
barrclle'l ones are built with a rib above the barrel
anu n high, coarse sight above the rib, to make
up for the tendency of the weapon to raise or
Throw up" In deliberate target shooting by the
novice so much tirnc Is generally taken to get
his shots go far and high The first thing to
DO after getting revolver is to clamp it in wise bo
solutcly accurate. II five or six bullets all go
about in the same spot when the revolver is fired,
gunsmith and have him reduce the trigger pull
Nearly all fevolverS pull too hard on the trigger
d mar trigger balance is, Of course to be avoid
for the sake Of accuracy. The next thing 10 do |
Is to apply the PRINCIPLES of snap shooting with
With the ev9ve oo With bo ey sso "paa
Don't try to drive tNcks with bullet, but do try
at ten, twenty, thi,ty or forty Yards Practice
shooting at all angles, up and down, sideways,
fSa t Tnct on the water straight up in
up, and instinctivey allow for that raise as you
70 either one side the other Shoot by intutiye
Judgment, not by taking aim, but simply BY hold
ing the revolver firmly and getting the angle |
gun or skilled archer does with a bow.
man should he abe in this way TO shoot q |
good long distance away. When going 10 mill |
in dov Iowa sn WITH H., Gen IN ardemnG in ny 6oyhood
thr. wagon in seven consecutive shots with a AZ
cnlibcr cap and bail revolver Every chicken |
m " or a s"S' M%ny s 94s and
from ne wagon. would rein in the horses and |
atop Snn 'hg W WA and ,hs old Texan would draw
motion, and each time he fired he rot his bird
Al We're shot through the body He told me that
with revolver bullets, but that he thought WINS
taking ndvGntngr 3f the birds. He einined to
and still think, That he was a first class one
lhcrc was no poking about 10 get aim with him,
Just the leyclling Of the weapon and the report
II takes the using UP Of quite lot Of cartridges
TO attain even tolrrabe proficiency as a revolver
shot with short barrcll"d gun. but once acquired
happen to have occasion for your skill more than
once or twice In n lifetime. but when you do need
is TO have n knowlcdgc which necessarily takes
man mt" the woods and iicds, end gives him
fit TO him. The greatest care should be taken
N whe s gslng IN he yyGT in these wendcnEs
The least settled portion Of the country is the best
for practising in.
Shooting rapidly with double action or self |
but quite the reverse. And a double acting pistol |
even Of the best make, will somctimcs suck and |
IN some cases. lt7is otter to trust to cooking |
the weapon each, time even II you have n double, |
han grind out ali the charges in Gn,ng " gum
fashion. one bullet in the object aimed at is |
better nan SFiSi ?f them over "rognd or under
'rre from dirt and rust. After firing few rounds
Tho weapon should be thoroughly cleaned Nny
rust dirt is apt to clog the working Of thc parts
Never keep q revolver whore children or women
an ind IT, -, Don't use it in town tho Fourth
makes ar or the % ones wGn w rs 1nS G
o be the cheapest in the long run. Leather ho!-
'tcrs viii keen them from wearing the pocket if
I is found necessary to carry one in tho CITY
Such q necessity arises among bank messengers
non who carry sums q money I" pay on hands
n remote districts, and in some other eases Tho
arriving of rcyClvcrs MS n prHctiC" ly men
lot habtually In peril breeds CowNrdicc and
rhine
But as sport. whether ut target or in the
open. II can be mad" as fascinating and as manly
m exercise rifle shooting And nation which
las generally become proficient In the use uf the
cvolvcr and the rifle is one which commands
-cspcct
Not So Savage as He Looked.