Pistol and Revolver Shooting Part 7

The next international match partic.i.p.ated in by the revolver shots of the United States was the Olympic Games Match at London, England on July 10 and 11, 1908. Preliminary and elimination trials were conducted under the auspices of the United States Revolver a.s.sociation resulting in the selection of the following team: I. R. Calkins, Springfield, Ma.s.s.; C. S.

Axtell, Springfield, Ma.s.s.; J. A. Dietz, New York, N. Y.; and J. E.

Gorman, San Francisco, Cal.; R. H. Sayre, New York, N. Y., Captain. The conditions of the match were as follows:

Any revolver or pistol with open sights; any ammunition; trigger pull unrestricted; distance, 50 yards; international target, 10 ring, 2 inches in diameter, rest of target divided by concentric rings one inch apart, bull's-eye containing 10, 9, 8, and 7 rings; 60 shots in strings of 6 shots; 2 sighting shots allowed; position standing, right or left hand with arm extended; maximum number of entries from any country in individual contests, 12; maximum number of entries from any country in team contest, 1; teams to consist of four men each.

A time limit of four minutes for each string of five shots was established, and all other conditions of the matches were governed by the rules of the National Rifle a.s.sociation of Great Britain.

The result of the match was as follows:

1st--United States: J. E. Gorman 501 I. R. Calkins 473 John A. Dietz 472 C. S. Axtell 468 ---- 1914

2d--Belgium 1863 3d--United Kingdom 1817 4th--France 1750 5th--Sweden 1732 6th--Holland 1637 7th--Greece 1576

The next Olympic Contest was held at Stockholm, Sweden, in 1912. The American team consisted of A. P. Lane, New York, N. Y.; H. E. Sears, Boston, Ma.s.s.; P. J. Dolfen, Springfield, Ma.s.s.; and John A. Dietz, New York, N. Y.; R. H. Sayre, New York, N. Y., Captain.

The match was shot on July 2nd, under practically the same conditions as the former Olympic Match and resulted as follows:

1st--United States: A. P. Lane 509 H. E. Sears 474 P. J. Dolfen 467 J. A. Dietz 466 ---- 1916

2d--Sweden 1849 3d--United Kingdom 1804 4th--Russia 1801 5th--Greece 1731

In the individual match which was shot on July 1st under the same conditions, and partic.i.p.ated in by over fifty compet.i.tors of the different nations, Mr. Lane and Mr. Dolfen won first and second places with scores of 499 and 474 respectively. Mr. Sears won 7th place with a score of 459, and Mr. Dietz 9th place with a score of 454.

CHAPTER VII

TARGETS

A target is a mark or object of suitable form and color designed to be fired at. It usually consists of a frame covered with canvas or paper, presenting a white surface with a prominent spot or bull's-eye in the center. Concentric circles or "rings," around the center divide the target into zones which are a.s.signed values, decreasing from the center outward.

On a regularly equipped range the targets are movable frames, so arranged that they may be raised to the firing position and then lowered into a pit, where the marker can safely examine the target, mark the shot accurately, and cover the shot-hole with a paster. The sum of the values of a limited series of consecutive shots, as 5, 7, 10, 20, 50, etc., const.i.tutes a score.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 76--Standard American Target

Diameter of Rings

10 ring 3.39 inches } 9 " 5.54 " } Bullseye 8 " 8.00 " } 7 " 11.00 "

6 " 14.80 "

5 " 19.68 "

4 " 26.83 "]

The official target of the United States Revolver a.s.sociation, which is used in the annual championship matches and for record shooting, is the Standard American Target. This target is used by practically all the shooting clubs and organizations in the United States. For 50-yard shooting the bull's-eye is 8 inches in diameter and contains the 8, 9, and 10 rings. This target is well suited for target practice at this range. It has been used extensively since 1886. Ten shots, with one hundred for the possible, usually const.i.tute a score.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 77--The U. S. R. A. Combination Target. (Standard American rings in heavy lines and International in light lines.)]

This target as supplied by the United States Revolver a.s.sociation for use in all the outdoor championships shows also the rings of the International Union target (in light lines) and is known as the "Combination" target.

The International target rings do not interfere in any way with the shooting or the scoring by Standard American count, and they have the distinct advantage that the marksman may easily determine, for purposes of comparison, what any score is by International count.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 78--The International Union Target. Diameter of 10 ring==5 Centimeters==1.9568 Ins. Other rings==2 Centimeters, about 0.984 In. Diameter of 1 ring==50 Centimeters==about 19 In.]

The International Union Target is used in the Olympic Games Matches, and has been adopted by nearly all the European and South American countries for pistol and revolver contests at 50 meters. It is without doubt the best target for the purpose in general use. The ten-ring represents approximately the average dispersion of the most accurate revolvers and pistols and with the concentric rings a uniform distance apart, the score has a proper relation to the dispersion of the shots. The size of the target, about 19 inches in diameter, is also well determined. The target could be improved by increasing the size of the bull's-eye so as to include the 6 ring. This would make sighting on it less straining and would improve the scores. The target so modified would be better adapted for the United States Revolver a.s.sociation Matches than the one now used.

Target L is the Regulation Pistol Target used in the prescribed target practice of the War Department. It is used also in the National Pistol Match.

For gallery shooting at 20 yards the Standard American Target is reduced so that the bull's-eye is 2-72/100 inches in diameter, and for 10-yard shooting 1 inch in diameter.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 79--Target L. (U. S. Army.) Diameter of Bull's-eye Counting 10==5 Ins. Concentric Rings Around It, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4, are 1 Ins. Apart. Diameter of 4 ring==26 Ins. Diameter of 3 ring==46 Ins.

Rest of Target, 4ft. x 6ft. Counts 2.]

An arm of large caliber has a decided advantage over one of small caliber in short-range shooting, on account of the larger hole made by the bullet, and, for this reason the large calibers are preferred for gallery shooting. For distances less than 25 yards not more than five shots should be fired on a paper or cardboard target. In case a close group is made, the scoring will be much easier and more accurate than when ten shots are fired at a single target.

The best grades of target arms are capable of making "possibles" or perfect scores on the Standard American Target, using regulation ammunition. To make high scores is therefore simply a question of skill on the part of the shooter.

A great many other targets designed princ.i.p.ally for rifle-shooting have been recommended at different times by well-known and scientific marksmen.

Some of these targets possess much merit and have become popular in certain localities. It is unquestionably a mistake to introduce new targets in this manner as long as satisfactory targets are in general use, and on which all the important matches and records have been shot. The merit of a score on a new target cannot be judged by those unfamiliar with it, and frequently a highly meritorious score fails to receive the recognition it deserves on account of having been shot on a comparatively unknown target.

In selecting a target for longer ranges than 50 yards it is always preferable to have the bull's-eye sufficiently large so as to be seen with ease and comfort when sighting. Small bull's-eyes strain and tire the eyes and have no advantage whatever.

In England and France the targets generally have smaller bull's-eyes than here. At Bisley, the shooting is princ.i.p.ally at a distance of 20 yards on a bull's-eye 2 inches in diameter. At 50 yards the bull's-eye is 4 inches in diameter. The English targets have no circles of count within the bull's-eye. The regulation targets of the United Shooting Societies of France have bull's-eyes 5 and 6 centimeters in diameter for the pistol and revolver, respectively, at 20 meters, and 20 centimeters in diameter for 50-meter shooting. All these targets have two or more circles of count within the bull's-eye.

CHAPTER VIII

TARGET PRACTICE

In order to become familiar with the arms and develop skill in shooting, careful and systematic practice is necessary. This can be most conveniently and intelligently obtained in target-shooting. At a properly equipped range, each shot is "spotted"[13] as fired, so that the shooter can tell instantly where each shot strikes. This is a great aid and advantage, as it enables the shooter to note the effect of changes in light, wind, slight displacements in sights, etc., and modify his work accordingly. The usual distance is 50 yards in the outdoor matches and 20 yards in the indoor contests.

Very good shooting has been done at 100 yards, and even at 200 yards, but such long-range shooting is rarely attempted except by the very best shots. The whole target being so small at that distance, a shot need not be very wild to miss the target. Such an occurrence is very unsatisfactory and disconcerting even to a fairly skillful shot. There is, moreover, nothing to be gained by extremely long-range work. The pistol and revolver are not designed for it, and there is much more pleasure and satisfaction at the shorter ranges.

It is customary and desirable to practise at the target under conditions governing the annual championship matches. This accustoms one to those conditions, and is a decided advantage if one expects to enter the compet.i.tions. It is also excellent training for record shooting. In target practice with military arms, regulation full-charge ammunition should be used in all cases, especially when practising rapid-fire shooting. With target weapons, reduced charges are frequently used, and the shooting is generally slow and deliberate.

Target practice is required in all the branches of the military and naval service of the United States. This practice varies somewhat from year to year both in character and amount. The recent adoption of the magazine pistol as the service weapon by the War Department has resulted in a number of changes in the regulation target practice, the conditions and details of which are fully explained in the "Small Arms Firing Manual" for 1914.

The Manual also details a prescribed course of target practice for the Organized Militia, which includes the National Guard of the various states. This is adapted princ.i.p.ally to the revolver, as the National Guard has not yet been armed with the regulation automatic pistol. As fast as the latter is issued, the organized militia will adopt the target practice prescribed for the army with the regulation weapon.

The revolver until 1915 was the service weapon of the United States Navy, but it has now been superseded by the automatic pistol (Colt, Government Model, .45 cal.). The 1917 firing regulations are novel and drastic, in some respects are much more elastic than those formerly in effect, and are very practical. They are published in a pamphlet of 62 pages.

A digest of all the foregoing target practice will be found in the Appendix.

_Matches and Compet.i.tions._--Various matches and compet.i.tions have been established under the auspices of the recognized shooting organizations which not only give an opportunity of testing the skill of individuals and teams but also, by the scores made in successive years under the same conditions, indicate the improvement and advance in the sport. Most of these matches or compet.i.tions are annual events. The International Matches at the Olympic Games take place every four years.

The conditions of the annual championship matches of the United States Revolver a.s.sociation are excellent and the experience of fourteen years since they have been inst.i.tuted proves that they are well adapted to stimulate interest in the sport, improvement in the arms and ammunition and develop a high order of marksmanship. The matches are conducted simultaneously in many places throughout the United States under the supervision of authorized representatives and under as nearly identical conditions as possible.

In connection with these matches re-entry matches under the same conditions are provided which furnish preliminary practice for compet.i.tors who wish to enter the championship events. The League contest which is conducted by this a.s.sociation affords excellent practice indoors, and enables the marksmen to keep In good form during the winter months.