Pistol and Revolver Shooting Part 6

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 68.--E. E. Patridge]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 69.--Sergt. W. E. Petty]

Mr. A. C. Gould, editor of _The Rifle_, and _Shooting and Fishing_, was the first one to recognize the possibilities of the pistol and revolver, and became greatly interested in the performances with these arms. He a.s.sisted and encouraged the shooters, witnessed their work, and made careful and elaborate records of all the important scores that were made in the United States from 1886 to 1900.[11] It was at his suggestion that Chevalier Paine essayed to fire the first 100-shot score at 50 yards on the Standard American Target, scoring 791 points. This shooting was done with a finely sighted .44-caliber Smith & Wesson Russian Model Revolver, regulation full charge ammunition, and a 2-pound trigger pull. A keen rivalry for the 100-shot record soon sprang up, resulting as follows:

Oct. 15, 1886, Chevalier Ira Paine at Walnut Hill 791 March 7, 1887, Chevalier Ira Paine " " " 841 Nov. 4, 1887, F. E. Bennett " " " 857 Nov. 14, 1887, F. E. Bennett " " " 877 Dec. 5, 1887, F. E. Bennett " " " 886 Dec. 17, 1887, Chevalier Ira Paine " " " 888 Dec. 22, 1887, Chevalier Ira Paine " " " 904 Dec. 23, 1887, W. W. Bennett " " " 914

This rivalry led to a long newspaper controversy, and culminated in the famous Paine-Bennett revolver match. The conditions were as follows: Stakes $1000.00; 100 shots per day for six consecutive days; Smith & Wesson Russian Model Revolvers, .44 caliber; factory-loaded full charge ammunition; trigger pull, 3 pounds; Standard American Target with 8-inch bull's-eye; distance, 50 yards. On the fifth day of the match, and while 9 points in the lead, Chevalier Paine entered a protest and withdrew. Mr. F.

E. Bennett continued shooting, as stipulated in the match, scoring 5093 points for the total of the six days. The protest was referred to the National Rifle a.s.sociation, which decided in favor of Mr. Bennett, awarding him the match and the championship of America.

In practising for this match Mr. F. E. Bennett, under the same conditions, made a score of 915. This record was not excelled until June 1, 1901, when C. S. Richmond of Savannah, Georgia, scored 918 points under substantially the same conditions.

During the summer of 1890, Mr. William E. Carlin, a.s.sisted by Mr. Hubert Reynolds, made a very elaborate series of tests with the revolver and various kinds of ammunition, to ascertain the possibilities of the arms, the accuracy of the ammunition, the effect of fouling, etc. About 10,000 rounds were fired, Mr. Carlin used a b.u.t.t-stock attachment, telescopic sight, and sand bag rest; and Mr. Reynolds verified Mr. Carlin's results from a machine rest. All the shooting was done with black powder charges in Smith & Wesson revolvers.

The best groups were made with the .32-44 S. & W. Revolving rifle cartridge; a number of the 10-shot groups at 50 yards, measuring 1 inches to 1 inches in diameter. Tests were also made at ranges of 100 and 200 yards. At 100 yards, groups of 10 shots were obtained with the .32-44, and the .44 caliber S. & W. Russian, varying from 3 inches to 4 inches in diameter. At 200 yards, the .44 S. & W. Russian gave the best results; a number of groups of 10 shots being obtained measuring 8 inches to 12 inches in diameter. These tests were considered most remarkable at that time, as such accuracy was not expected of barrels of only 6 inches and 8 inches in length.

Prior to these tests, the possibilities of the pistol and revolver were judged solely by the shooting of a few expert shots, which of course included the personal dispersion error of the individuals. These tests furnished the first definite information as to the real capabilities of the revolver, and had a far-reaching and salutary influence on pistol and revolver shooting. They demonstrated to the marksmen and the manufacturers of the arms that fine shooting approximating to that of the rifle was possible with the revolver, by developing the necessary skill in shooting and perfecting the ammunition.

A very interesting revolver match for a trophy offered by Mr. Walter Winans took place in 1892. Mr. Winans is a noted American revolver shot, residing in England, and the trophy--an American cowboy executed admirably in bronze--was modeled by him. The match was conducted by _Forest and Stream_. The trophy was won, after a spirited compet.i.tion, by Doctor Louis Bell. Under the conditions of the match, the winner was to defend his t.i.tle two years before the trophy became his property. The trophy was won successively by George E. Jantzer and Sergeant W. E. Petty. Sergeant Petty defended the trophy successfully for two years, and now holds it permanently.

A record, or "best on record," is the highest recognized score of any given number of shots fired under certain standard conditions, and with an arm complying with certain established rules. The records of pistol and revolver shooting in the United States were carefully established and compiled by _Shooting and Fishing_ until the year 1903.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 70.--J. E. Gorman]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 71.--R. H. Sayre]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 72.--A. F. Lane]

The record performances with the single-shot pistol, on the Standard American Target, at 50 yards, are as follows:

100 SHOTS--

Sept. 22, 1888, F. E. Bennett, Walnut Hill, Ma.s.s. 906 Nov. 10, 1888, F. E. Bennett " " " 934 Sept. 10, 1890, F. E. Bennett " " " 936 Feb. 25, 1900, J. E. Gorman, San Francisco, Cal. 939 May 26, 1901, J. E. Gorman " " " 942 March 1, 1902, E. E. Patridge, Walnut Hill, Ma.s.s. 942

50 SHOTS--

Nov. 10, 1888, F. E. Bennett, Walnut Hill, Ma.s.s. 470 Feb. 11, 1900, J. E. Gorman, San Francisco, Cal. 471 May 20, 1901, J. E. Gorman " " " 474 Dec. 7, 1901, T. Anderton, Walnut Hill, Ma.s.s. 476 April 4, 1903, T. Anderton " " " 480

Under the stimulating influence and encouragement of _Shooting and Fishing_, pistol and revolver shooting became a popular pastime and by 1900 numerous clubs had been organized throughout the country.

Unfortunately, the marksmen of each locality made their own rules and adopted independent standards as to targets, weapons, etc. This resulted in endless confusion and dissatisfaction when matches between clubs were attempted. Rumors of a challenge from the revolver marksmen of France for an international contest were also rife at this time. There was, therefore, an urgent need for a national organization to exercise general jurisdiction over the sport; formulate uniform rules, regulations, and standards, and to receive and act upon challenges.

A number of revolver enthusiasts met in Conlin's shooting gallery, New York City, in February, 1900, and issued a call to the revolver shots of the country, inviting them to join in forming a national revolver a.s.sociation at a meeting called at Conlin's gallery, March 5, 1900.

Replies were received from thirteen states and thirty-five gentlemen responded in person to the invitation. The United States Revolver a.s.sociation[12] was organized at that meeting.

This a.s.sociation, with the support and cooperation of all the leading shots of the country, immediately a.s.sumed national jurisdiction, formulated rules to govern pistol and revolver shooting, and inaugurated the annual championship matches. These are shot simultaneously in different parts of the United States, thus giving everybody an opportunity to enter the compet.i.tions.

The influence of the a.s.sociation on pistol and revolver shooting has been very beneficial. It has established uniformity in arms, rules, etc., and has encouraged and conducted many friendly matches between clubs, thus bringing the shots in different parts of the country in closer touch with each other.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 73.--J. H. Snook]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 74.--George Armstrong]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 75.--P. J. Dolfen]

The most important activity of the a.s.sociation in recent years has been the inauguration of the Indoor League Matches. Clubs in all parts of the United States enter into an agreement to shoot a match with each club in the League during the winter season. Medal prizes are awarded by the a.s.sociation according to the percentages of matches won to matches shot, similar to baseball leagues. The League has become exceedingly popular and twenty to thirty clubs partic.i.p.ate in the contest annually. The League agreement varies somewhat from year to year. The 1914 agreement will be found in the Appendix.

_International Matches._--The U. S. Revolver a.s.sociation also negotiates and conducts all the international matches. The first of these matches was between France and the United States and took place on June 16, 1900. This match attracted world-wide attention, and was won by the United States.

The conditions of the match were as follows; Ten men on a side; the Americans to shoot at Greenville, N. J., and the Frenchmen in Paris.

Results to be cabled. Each side to appoint an umpire to witness the shooting of the opposing side. Each man to shoot 30 shots on the French target at 16 meters and 30 shots on the Standard American target at 50 yards.

Following are the complete scores of the members of both teams on the two targets:

FRENCH TEAM--

On On French American Grand Target Target Total

M. Dutfoy 244 253 497 Comte de Chabannes 240 250 490 M. M. Faure 241 248 489 Paul Gastinne 238 251 489 Comte Clary 247 241 488 Capt. Chauchat 243 241 484 Com. Dilschneider 236 242 478 P. Moreau 239 236 475 M. Trinite 233 239 472 M. Labbe 226 240 466 ---- ---- ---- Totals 2387 2441 4828

AMERICAN TEAM--

On On French American Grand Target Target Total

J. A. Dietz 263 260 523 W. E. Petty 259 252 511 R. H. Sayre 253 251 504 B. F. Wilder 239 263 502 G. W. Waterhouse 253 246 499 L. R. Piercy 244 241 485 W. G. Hudson 222 250 472 J. B. Crabtree 225 244 469 W. A. Smith 224 240 464 A. L. A. Himmelwright 228 232 460 ---- ---- ---- Totals 2410 2479 4889

Americans led by 23 38 61

The first match did not satisfy the revolver experts of France, who claimed that the French team was not national in its character, that instead of representing the whole of France it represented Paris alone.

About June, 1902, it was suggested that a second international contest be held, and the French gentlemen began at once to gather material for a representative team. The army, the navy, and the revolver and pistol clubs of France united in their efforts to organize as strong a team as possible.

The conditions of the second match were the subject of considerable negotiation by correspondence and as finally agreed upon were as follows:

Fifteen men on a side. Each man to shoot 60 shots in 10 strings of 6 shots each on the Standard American Target at 50 yards. Each side to appoint two umpires to witness the shooting of their opponents. Results to be cabled.

The American marksmen a.s.sembled at the Walnut Hill range of the Ma.s.sachusetts Rifle a.s.sociation, near Boston, devoting three days to preliminary practice shooting and selecting the team. It was originally agreed upon that the match was to take place on June 30, 1903, and the American team shot their scores on that day. Owing to delays in transportation, the targets intended for the French team did not reach them promptly and their side of the match was shot several days later.

The members const.i.tuting the teams and their respective scores are as follows:

FRENCH TEAM

Comte de Castelbajac, Libourne 547 Commandant Py, Saint Omer 542 M. Dutfoy, Ma.r.s.eilles 541 Captain Moreaux, Rennes 529 M. Moline-Paget, Dieppe 526 Captain Chauchat, Versailles 524 M. Keller-Dorian, Lyons 522 M. Feugray, Paris 509 M. Despa.s.sio, Lyons 503 M. Lecocq, Paris 502 M. Caurette, Ham 502 M. Louvier, Paris 496 M. Balme, Paris 469 Adjutant Paroche, Rennes 466 M. Sartori, Paris 462 ---- Team total 7,640

AMERICAN TEAM

O. I. Olson, Duluth, Minn. 554 B. F. Wilder, New York, N. Y. 543 R. S. Hale, Boston, Ma.s.s. 540 J. A. Dietz, Jr., New York, N. Y. 534 W. A. Smith, Springfield, Ma.s.s. 532 C. S. Axtell, Springfield, Ma.s.s. 530 Louis Bell, Boston, Ma.s.s. 527 T. Anderton, Boston, Ma.s.s. 523 J. B. Crabtree, Springfield, Ma.s.s. 519 I. R. Calkins, Springfield, Ma.s.s. 519 E. E. Patridge, Boston, Ma.s.s. 517 R. H. Sayre, New York, N. Y. (Score shot in Paris) 515 J. T. Humphrey, Boston, Ma.s.s. 513 W. S. Amory, 2d, Boston, Ma.s.s. 512 C. L. Bouve, Boston, Ma.s.s. 511 ----- Team total 7,889

Americans led by 249

A careful a.n.a.lysis of the scores shows that the Americans shot much more evenly than the Frenchmen, and that the skill of the three high men on both teams was approximately equal.