The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
DIRECTIONS FUR
 USING REVOLVER Practical Suggestions By An
 Expert TARGET PRACTICE "DON'1S" Avoid Hurry, Worry, Fatigue, Waste of Ammunition, and, Above All, Re- frain From FInching-Has
 Peculiar Fascination.
TARGET PRACTICE "DON'TSv
From the Providence CR I.) Tribune.

confidence that comes over the man who knows he can hit what he fires at. For this reason it is matter of wonder that the enjoyment of the sport is not more general.
 One reason may be that the range of a pocket weapon is limited and that many of the revolvers are pretty nearly worth i less as target weapons. But with .SS or a 45-calibre of the best model some marvellous scores have been made at the range in the old Fenner lodge, off Cram l ston street, where the experts of the Providence Revolver club shoot matches against the world and sometimes tie or i better world records.
 Military revolvers with perfect ammu- milton will shoot accurately up to 800 yards although target shooting is seldom at a greater range than 75 yards. With this class of weapon one may shoot into a two-inch circle at 20 yards and into four-inch circle at 50 yards. Made High Score.
 Capt. W. Scofield of the Cleveland Rifle l and Revolver club scored 90 out of a pos sible 100 points. standard count, May }, l 1906, placing nine shots within the ten ring of 3S6 inches diameter, and one shot l in the nine ring, which is trifle larger. ] This remarkable shooting was done off, i hand at 50 yards with a regulation Colt ! ammunition.
 William Amy of the Providence Revoi- yer club shot a total of 456 in 50 shots at i 50 yards lastsy year. making S7, 91, 93, 92, 93 l in his successive strings, which is going some This was done for comparison i score with those made in the national l competition and was one better than the record of the national pistol champion, ] who made 455. So if MT. Amy had but
 1A f1af- score he would be the national champion today
 The best pocket revolvers are capable i of doing good work up to 20 yards, and l will shoot into a three-inch circle Be- 1 cause of the shorter barrel, small size and necessarily heavy load for defensive pur- poses tI{is class of weapon is more diffi- 1 cult to shoot close groups at target. First Learn Your Revolver. l Having set up your target here are an ! experts directions for learning to shoot:
 Learn your revolver thoroughly, for they all have some peculiarity shooting 1 high or low or left or right. Begin at 1 short range and with a large target and i bulls-eye. This will give you confidence, i show you where you are shooting and save time.
 As you become proficient and able to group most of the shots in the black move back little distance and practice there until you become master of this in- creased distance. Repeat this until you are shooting at the regulation distance. 1 The regular 50-yard standard, or Creed moor target, with eight-inch black, is good to start with at 10 yards.
 Take it easy and don't hurry or worry. Above all, do not finch. for this is a fa- tai habit The kick will not hurt you f YOU hold the revolver properly Remem- i Der the danger is at the muzzle end. Keep this end pointed upward or toward the target.
 The most natural position In shooting at target Is to stand facing little to the left of the target with the right foot six to nine inches ahead of the left and pointing toward the target. Stand upright. with the weight of the body sup ported by both legs and well balanced. The left arm may hang at the side or the left hand can be placed on the hip, thumb to the front.
 Easy Grip Is Best.
 Grasp the revolver easily, not tightly as in a vlse which will cause trembling. Slip your forefinger inside the guard and well | to the front not touching the trigger. Draw back the hammer with the thumb, get a good, comfortable hold on the stock, with thumb extended alongside the frame to steady the weapon and then raise it into position, say 20 degrees above the target.
 Stretch out the arm comfortably, not quite full length and lower gradually to the bottom edge of the bull, keep the re- volver plumb, not canted to one side, or the shot will go in the direction to which the weapon is inclined. Keep your eyes | on the bull.
 When the sights come into line most
 r.tx~ right-that is, just catching the tip of the front sight through the groove in the re- volver frame and just below the black. Take deep breath, hold 1t and begin gradual pressure straight back on the trigger.
 Don't try to pull" the trigger. Simply squeeze the hand together until the ham, mer falls. No one can hold perfectly steady. but practice will enable you in time to gradually tighten the pressure on the trigger as the sights are in correct position When the front sight Is too coarse or moves across or away from the bulrs-eye stop squeezing and work into line, increasing the pressure again at the same time.
 Do not think about the actual firing of the revolver. Watch the bull and the front sight and keep squeezing. Try to "call your shot'-that is, to tell from the position of the front sight after the dis charge where the shot should be- Don't 20 on banging away ammunition without Knowing why you miss. It Is waste of time and money. Reason out the cause of your error and correct 1t next time.
 If the shot went high, just over the bull, it was because you saw too much of the front sight or at the instant of firing 1t cut too far into the black and you lost the I tip. or you 'bobbed up." If not, then the reverse If to the right or left you prob ably canted the'weapon or pulled to one side' .f
 After you have fired five shots go and examine the target. Note whether the bullet holes tally with your Calling off the shots when fired. Stick paster over the holes and try again.
 When you grow tired stop, for 1t is of no use to try to practice at such time. Never fire a shot unless you feel it is correctly aimed. Resist tNe temptation to snap in chance bull's-eye
 Much valuable practice may be gained with an unloaded revolver, first and al- ways "breaking' the weapon to make ! certain that it contains no cartridges Place a piece of rubber under the trigger | to protect the weapon and you may snap | 1t without fear of danger.
 Never blink when the hammer falls. | Keen your eyes open and on the bulls eve. so that you can tell from the direc | ton in which the front sight moves where | your shot would have gone Fifteen min | utes a day of this sort of work will keep