Pistol and Revolver Shooting Part 5

"Paine" Sights.]

Target sights are made in endless variety to suit individual ideas. The sights most generally used for target shooting are the "Paine" sights, named after Chevalier Ira A. Paine, who invented and was the first to use them. The rear sight is a flat bar with a semi-circular notch, and the front sight is a "bead" sight; that is, a sight that resembles a pinhead when aiming.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 60.

Rear Sight. Side View. End View. Appearance when aiming.

Front Sight.

Patridge Sights.]

Another sight that many of the best shots are using is the "Patridge"

sight, developed by Mr. E. E. Patridge of Boston, Ma.s.s. The rear sight has a wide rectangular notch; the front sight is plain, with a square top, as shown.

Fig. 61 represents the "Lyman" sights as adapted to Smith & Wesson revolvers. The distinctive features of these sights are the ivory bead of the front sight and the horizontal ivory line in the rear sight. These sights are well adapted for hunting and shooting at objects with a dark background.

These sights have been referred to in the order in which they are most used. It is generally necessary for individuals to try various sights before they are able to select intelligently. In target arms different-shaped sights may be used in the same base or fitting, so that it is a comparatively easy matter to try any or all of these sights on the same arm.

The notch of the rear sight should have a bevelled edge concave toward the front. This will secure sharpness of outline in any light. The front sight should also be distinct and is found to be more satisfactory when the side toward the eye is a surface at right angles to the line of sight.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 61.--Lyman Sights]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 62.--THE WESPI SEARCHLIGHT SIGHT A-Battery; B-Mercury switch; C-Electric bulb; D-E-Lenses.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 63.--The Wespi Searchlight Mounted on a Pocket Revolver.]

For years means have been sought to make successful shooting at night possible. White and phosph.o.r.escent paints have been applied to the sights and to the top of the barrel but all such methods have proved more or less unsatisfactory even in dim light and in total darkness the target or other object cannot be seen. A recently invented device that overcomes all these difficulties and makes shooting at night practicable is the "Wespi"

searchlight sight.[10]

This sight is a tube about 6 inches long and inches in diameter containing a miniature electric searchlight which projects a dark spot in the center of the illuminated field. When properly mounted on the piece the black spot indicates where the bullet will strike. This sight can be readily attached to any pistol or revolver. As offered on the market at the present time it is adapted for short range work up to, say, 60 feet.

The ill.u.s.trations show a section through the sight tube, and the sight attached to a revolver. The weight is six ounces. (See 61 and 62 facing p.

64.)

This sight embodies the principles of the telescopic sight and can undoubtedly be modified to increase its illuminating power and adapted so as to project well-defined dark lines similar to cross wires, on a target; or the dark spot decreased in size to about 3 or 4 inches in diameter at 60 feet. So modified this would be a practical sight for target shooting and would be a boon to many of the older marksmen whose sight is failing and who find it more and more difficult to shoot in artificial light with the ordinary sights.

Such a sight would also possess many advantages for beginners as the moving spot on the target would indicate the unsteadiness of the holding and impress upon the marksman the importance of holding the spot in the right position at the instant of discharge. A further improvement would be to subst.i.tute for the dark spot, a spot of intensely bright light. This would be equally as effective as the dark spot and would greatly increase the range at which the sight could be used, adapting it to game shooting at night. It is hoped that the manufacturers will develop a sight as suggested for target and game shooting.

CHAPTER V

SHOOTING POSITION

The position in pistol and revolver shooting is very important. In firing a long series of shots, a man with an easy, natural position will suffer much less fatigue, and will have a decided advantage over another whose position is straining and uncomfortable. Formerly the approved position was to stand with the right side toward the target. This required the head to be turned ninety degrees from its natural position, and was very uncomfortable. Undoubtedly this position is a relic of duelling days, when it might have been argued that a smaller mark was offered to the antagonist.

The positions adopted by the leading shots vary considerably. Most of them face a trifle to the left of the target, with the right foot 6 or 8 inches ahead of the left, and pointing directly toward the target, the weight of the body supported equally by both legs and perfectly balanced. Others shoot with the feet close together; some with one or both eyes open, and with the arm partly or fully extended. The question of position depends largely upon the physique and comfort of the individual.

Mr. Winans' position is an exceedingly strong one. His poise is very good, and he stands firmly on both feet. The left arm falls straight down along the left side of the body. This affords rigidity when desired, and imparts action to the figure.

Mr. Axtell has a stanch, natural position. Like Mr. Winans, he shoots with the right arm fully extended, and he holds the weapon in the correct and most approved manner.

The position of Mr. Anderton is excellent. He enjoys perfect health, and has his large muscular development well under control. His position is strong, natural, and comfortable.

Mr. Dietz's position is entirely different from any of those preceding. It is tenseless and flexible permitting him to shoot long series of shots without fatigue.

The positions of Mr. Patridge and Sergeant Petty are characteristic and typical of persons of entirely different physique.

Mr. Gorman and Dr. Sayre are men of similar physique. Their positions which resemble each other closely are firm, easy and natural.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 64.--Walter Winans]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 65.--C. S. Axtell]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 66.--Thomas Anderton]

Mr. Lane's position is natural and interestingly unconventional. He has perfect poise and shoots without apparent fatigue.

Dr. Snook has a well poised and deliberate position. He shoots with his arm not fully extended and with the feet close together.

The positions of Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Dolfen are very similar. They are men of entirely different stature but almost identical in physique. Their positions are firm and business-like. Both shoot with the arm fully extended.

NOTE.--For photographs showing shooting positions of individuals referred to in this chapter, see ill.u.s.trations facing pp. 68, 72, 76, and 78.

CHAPTER VI

TARGET-SHOOTING

In the development of firearms and ammunition, target-shooting has always occupied an important place. It is regularly and systematically practised in the army and navy, in order to maintain and improve the proficiency of the men as marksmen. Target-shooting, with many different styles of firearms, under prescribed rules and regulations, has also become extremely popular with civilians.

Target-shooting was indulged in extensively with the rifle before it became popular with the pistol and revolver. The shorter barrel, and the greater difficulty in acquiring skill with the latter weapons, were doubtless responsible for the mistaken idea, long prevalent, that these arms were extremely inaccurate. When, however, a few individuals developed sufficient skill to obtain fine shooting, their performances were considered phenomenal. Among the first to obtain a high order of skill with the muzzle-loading pistol in the United States was Captain John Travers of Missouri. He was well known as an expert pistol shot as early as 1860. In that year Captain Travers shot an interesting individual match in St. Louis at a distance of 100 feet. Fifteen china plates, nine inches in diameter, were used as targets. Captain Travers broke 11 out of 15, while his opponent broke but 9.

In 1865 Colonel William F. Cody, (Buffalo Bill) and Captain William P.

Schaaf of St. Louis became prominent as pistol shots. The latter subsequently joined Captain Travers in a three years' tour of the United States, giving exhibitions in nearly all the large cities.

About 1880 Ira Anson Paine, a native of Ma.s.sachusetts, attracted attention by his fine marksmans.h.i.+p with the pistol. In 1881 he went abroad, and for a number of years he traveled over the princ.i.p.al countries of Europe, giving public exhibitions of his skill with the pistol and revolver. While in Portugal in 1882 he was knighted by the King in the presence of a notable a.s.semblage, and made a chevalier of an ancient military order. In his exhibitions Chevalier Paine used a Stevens Lord Model pistol and a Smith & Wesson revolver. His skill with these arms was so far in advance of his contemporaries that he was popularly supposed to accomplish many of his feats by trickery.

Target-shooting with the pistol and revolver, as a sport, may be said to have originated at the annual meeting of the National Rifle a.s.sociation at Creedmoor in 1886. During that meeting a revolver match was scheduled to be shot at 25 yards on the 200-yard Standard American Rifle Target. It was a reentry match, with the three best scores of five shots each of any contestant to count. In this match three scores of 48 out of 50 were made, the highest individual aggregate of three scores being 143 out of a possible 150.

The same year a similar match was announced at the fall meeting of the Ma.s.sachusetts Rifle a.s.sociation at Walnut Hill. Chevalier Paine was a compet.i.tor in this match, and made 50--49--49==148 in six entries. The next best three scores equalled 142.

These matches proved so interesting and successful that target-shooting with the pistol and revolver became instantly popular all over the country. It was soon found that the arms possessed remarkable accuracy, and as the skill of the shooters improved the distance was increased to 50 yards retaining the same target.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 67.--John A. Dietz]