The Modern American Pistol and Revolver Part 6

On November 4 Mr. F. E Bennett fired 100 shots at 50 yards with a Smith & Wesson Russian-model, .44-calibre army revolver, with factory ammunition, with the declared object of breaking the 100-shot record. He scored the following result:--

1 7 8 10 10 9 7 10 7 9 10 = 87 2 8 9 8 9 7 10 8 6 9 9 = 83 3 6 10 9 8 10 10 9 8 10 7 = 87 4 8 9 10 9 6 10 7 10 8 8 = 85 5 7 9 8 8 9 5 6 9 10 7 = 78 6 9 10 8 7 10 10 8 10 6 9 = 87 7 10 9 9 8 10 10 10 7 7 9 = 89 8 10 9 9 7 9 9 7 10 8 7 = 85 9 9 10 7 9 10 7 8 9 7 10 = 86 10 10 8 9 10 8 8 10 9 9 9 = 90 --- Total 857

This score was 16 points higher than any previous record.

On November 14 a second match was shot by him, under similar conditions as the first, resulting as follows:--

1 7 9 10 10 9 8 10 8 8 6 = 85 2 9 9 10 10 9 10 9 10 9 7 = 92 3 10 9 10 10 8 9 10 9 9 7 = 91 4 7 10 9 8 10 8 8 8 10 7 = 85 5 7 9 9 10 8 10 10 10 9 9 = 91 6 10 8 10 8 10 7 9 10 7 9 = 88 7 7 8 8 8 9 9 7 10 8 7 = 81 8 7 9 10 5 9 8 8 9 9 9 = 83 9 9 9 10 10 7 10 10 10 9 8 = 92 10 7 10 9 9 7 10 9 10 8 10 = 89 --- Total 877

This aggregate being 20 points higher than any previous record.

On Nov. 25, 1887, Mr. F. E. Bennett fired 100 shots, under similar conditions, the 10-shot aggregate being:--

85 89 87 86 88 81 95 89 = 852

He fell short of the 100-shot record, but broke the 10-shot record by the following score:--

10 10 10 9 9 10 9 10 9 9 = 95

[Ill.u.s.tration: Six shots with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver, reduced charge, made in Conlin's Gallery, New York, Feb. 12, 1887, by Mr. J. T. B. COLLINS.]

A diagram of this target is shown on page 100, in an ill.u.s.tration reduced one-quarter.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 95 out of a possible 100, on Standard American target, in 10 consecutive shots, at 50 yards, with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver, with Union Metallic Cartridge Co. ammunition, made at Walnut Hill, Ma.s.s., Nov. 25, 1887, by Mr. F. E. BENNETT. Reduced one-quarter.]

In November, 1887, a wager was made that Mr. F. E. Bennett would equal or surpa.s.s 841 points or better for six consecutive days, firing 100 shots a day, at 50 yards, on the Standard American target, using factory ammunition. He commenced his task December 5, and following is the score in detail:--

_December 5._

1 6 10 8 10 7 10 10 10 10 10 = 91 2 8 10 9 10 7 9 9 9 10 8 = 89 3 9 10 10 6 9 10 9 10 10 10 = 93 4 10 9 9 6 10 10 10 8 9 9 = 90 5 8 10 7 6 9 8 9 9 10 9 = 85 6 8 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 = 94 7 7 9 10 10 6 9 10 8 7 6 = 82 8 10 10 9 10 7 9 8 9 7 9 = 88 9 10 10 8 8 10 9 10 10 7 8 = 90 10 9 7 7 10 10 8 8 9 9 7 = 84 --- Total 886

_December 6._

1 5 7 10 9 10 10 10 9 9 8 = 87 2 8 9 10 7 6 9 10 10 10 10 = 89 3 8 9 10 8 10 7 8 10 10 9 = 89 4 8 9 10 7 7 8 9 9 8 10 = 85 5 9 10 7 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 = 94 6 9 9 10 10 0 7 10 9 9 10 = 83 7 6 7 9 10 9 9 10 9 9 6 = 84 8 8 9 10 9 9 10 10 8 6 8 = 87 9 10 10 8 9 10 10 10 9 8 8 = 92 10 8 6 7 8 7 9 10 8 6 8 = 77 --- Total 867

_December 7._

1 10 8 9 0 10 6 6 9 6 7 = 71 2 7 8 10 8 7 8 9 8 8 10 = 83 3 7 9 6 7 10 7 8 8 9 7 = 78 4 7 9 10 7 9 10 7 9 10 6 = 84 5 8 8 8 9 9 8 8 10 9 9 = 86 6 10 7 8 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 = 94 7 7 9 8 10 9 8 10 6 9 10 = 86 8 8 7 8 7 7 10 9 9 8 7 = 80 9 9 9 9 9 10 8 8 10 9 9 = 90 10 8 10 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 7 = 80 --- Total 832

_December 8._

1 8 7 10 9 8 9 7 7 10 8 = 83 2 8 7 7 9 9 8 7 10 9 8 = 82 3 10 5 9 8 5 10 8 9 8 6 = 78 4 10 6 9 10 8 9 9 9 10 10 = 90 5 8 10 10 8 10 7 10 9 9 10 = 91 6 7 6 9 9 6 10 10 10 7 10 = 84 7 7 8 7 9 8 8 8 8 7 10 = 80 8 9 7 8 10 10 10 10 6 10 10 = 90 9 9 8 9 9 7 8 9 6 9 10 = 84 10 5 6 8 10 7 6 9 10 10 10 = 81 --- Total 843

_December 9._

1 10 7 9 9 7 10 10 8 7 8 = 85 2 7 9 8 10 7 9 10 7 9 8 = 84 3 8 8 10 9 9 10 9 8 9 10 = 90 4 7 8 10 9 9 10 10 7 10 10 = 90 5 7 8 10 8 9 9 10 9 9 8 = 87 6 10 8 9 9 9 8 8 9 10 6 = 86 7 9 10 7 9 8 10 10 9 8 8 = 88 8 10 7 10 8 9 8 8 10 8 7 = 85 9 9 8 9 9 7 9 8 8 10 10 = 87 10 7 7 9 8 10 7 10 8 10 10 = 86 --- Total 868

_December 10._

1 9 8 8 9 10 10 9 9 10 8 = 90 2 7 10 7 10 8 10 10 7 9 9 = 87 3 10 8 9 6 9 8 7 8 8 10 = 83 4 10 9 10 10 9 8 10 7 10 9 = 92 5 9 9 7 10 9 9 8 10 8 8 = 87 6 10 8 10 10 10 9 7 9 9 8 = 90 7 9 10 9 10 10 7 6 9 9 8 = 87 8 9 7 10 6 10 8 10 9 8 8 = 85 9 9 10 6 9 10 10 10 9 10 10 = 93 10 6 7 9 9 9 5 8 10 10 9 = 82 --- Total 876

[Ill.u.s.tration: Eighteen consecutive shots, made by Mr. ALLEN P. KELLY, in Conlin's Gallery, New York City, in revolver match, Ma.s.sachusetts Rifle a.s.sociation target.]

The shooting of Mr. F. E. Bennett attracted the attention of Chevalier Paine, who, on December 9, fired 100 shots, using a .38/44-calibre Smith & Wesson revolver, this arm being the same as the .44 calibre in exterior, but is bored .38 calibre instead of.44. It has a straight sh.e.l.l, which extends entirely through the cylinder, coming flush with the end of cylinder. This was a special arm, made to order, and took specially-prepared ammunition. Only the aggregate for 100 shots was preserved, which was 878 points. This was one point higher than had previously been scored.

On December 13 Chevalier Paine fired 190 shots with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre revolver, but as 100-shot records were being compared, we take the first 100 shots which made the most favorable showing, and the 10-shot strings aggregated as follows:--

90 92 87 89 86 85 92 85 85 91 = 882

The next trial was on Thursday, December 15, using same revolver and ammunition, with the following result:--

92 89 89 89 86 88 85 85 83 85 = 871

On December 17 he again faced the target, firing 210 shots, the first and second 100 shots showing the following results:--

94 96 90 85 87 86 81 92 88 87 = 886 89 96 90 89 91 86 87 85 89 86 = 888

The last 100-shot score of 888 being two points more than any previous record. The 10-shot record was also broken by two strings, which aggregated 96 points; higher by one point than any previously known record.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Score of 96 out of a possible 100, in 10 consecutive shots, on Standard American target, at 50 yards, made by CHEVALIER IRA A. PAINE, at Narragansett Gun Club grounds, Providence, R.I., Dec. 17, 1887, with Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver, with factory ammunition of Union Metallic Cartridge Co. make. Reduced one-quarter.]

On December 22 Chevalier Paine fired 100 consecutive shots in the presence of the author, attempting to beat all previous records. The shooting was done at the Narragansett Gun Club grounds, at Providence, R.I. The revolver used was the Smith & Wesson Russian-model .44 calibre, with factory ammunition. The score was as follows:--

8 8 10 10 8 9 10 10 9 9 = 91 9 9 7 10 9 9 7 7 10 10 = 87 10 10 8 7 9 8 10 10 9 8 = 89 10 9 8 10 10 10 9 10 7 9 = 92 7 9 10 10 8 9 8 8 7 10 = 86 10 7 8 9 10 10 10 9 10 9 = 92 10 8 10 10 10 10 8 9 9 10 = 94 8 9 10 10 10 7 10 9 10 10 = 93 10 8 9 9 10 8 10 8 7 10 = 89 10 8 8 9 10 10 9 8 9 10 = 91 --- Total 904

This aggregate raised the record 16 points.

It was generally supposed, when Chevalier Ira Paine secured an aggregate of 904 points on the Standard American target at 50 yards with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre revolver, that the 100-shot record would not be disturbed for some time. Mr. W. W. Bennett repeatedly stated that he would never attempt to break his brother's record of 886 points, but would contest against the record of any other individual. When it was announced that Chevalier Paine had secured 904 points Mr. W. W. Bennett quietly announced his intention of surpa.s.sing this record, earnestly went to work, and, in the presence of reliable witnesses, rolled up the unprecedented record of 914 points,--10 points higher than had ever been previously secured, and twice during the shooting equalled the best 10-shot record of 96 points.

He shot at Walnut Hill range December 23, using a .44-calibre, single-action Smith & Wesson Russian-model army revolver, loaded with factory ammunition of Union Metallic Cartridge Co. make. The scores in detail are as follows:--

1 9 10 10 10 10 8 9 10 10 10 = 96 2 8 10 10 9 9 9 9 10 8 7 = 90 3 8 9 10 10 9 9 10 8 9 10 = 92 4 8 9 10 9 10 7 10 9 8 10 = 90 5 10 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 = 96 6 9 10 8 10 7 10 9 10 10 9 = 92 7 10 10 9 7 10 7 9 9 10 8 = 89 8 8 7 8 9 10 10 9 10 7 8 = 86 9 9 8 10 8 10 9 10 10 10 9 = 93 10 10 7 9 10 9 9 9 10 9 8 = 90 --- Total 914

It should here be recorded that Chevalier Paine on his first and second trial cleaned his revolver between every 10 shots. Mr. F. E. Bennett in all of his shooting cleaned only between each 10 shots. In the balance of Chevalier Paine's shooting he insisted on cleaning his revolver between every 5 or 6 shots; and Mr. W. W. Bennett, after Chevalier Paine departed from the custom of cleaning between each 10 shots, run a brush through the inside of his barrel after every shot. There being no established rules for pistol and revolver shooting in regard to cleaning, the results were accepted as records of performances with revolvers. It is also believed that Chevalier Paine's shooting, as well as Mr. W. W. Bennett's, and a portion of Mr. F. E. Bennett's shooting, was done with a trigger-pull of less than 3 pounds.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 96 out of a possible 100, on Standard American target, at 50 yards, in 10 consecutive shots, with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver, with Union Metallic Cartridge Co. ammunition, made at Walnut Hill, Ma.s.s., Dec. 23, 1887, by Mr. W. W. BENNETT. Reduced one-quarter.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Six shots with a Smith & Wesson .38-calibre revolver, at 12 yards, made in Conlin's Gallery, New York City, April 1, 1887, by Mr. D.

D. DAVIS.]

It will be found that within a period of two years the possibilities of the revolver have been proven to be considerably beyond what the manufacturers of the arms, the makers of the ammunition, and the experts using the weapons supposed were its capabilities.

The first 100-shot record was 791 points, the last 914 points, or an increase of 123 points.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Six shots with a .44-calibre revolver, at 12 yards, reduced charge, by Mr. GEORGE BIRD, New York. Score, 71; possible, 72.]

In order to carry the shooting at 50 yards from its commencement on the Standard American target to latest known record with no diversion, the author now finds it necessary to go back several months to chronicle an event worthy of note.

It has been stated that the first revolver compet.i.tion on the Standard American target was shot at 25 yards, and it has been shown that the distance was too short for that target. When the programme of the 1886 annual meeting at Creedmoor was being arranged, it was proposed to use the 200-yard Standard American target at 30 yards, the author urged the gentlemen in charge of this tournament to use the 100-yard Rifle target at this distance, and by showing what had been accomplished on the 200-yard target, it convinced them that a 100-yard Rifle target with a 4-inch bull's eye was better for revolver or pistol shooting at 30 yards; and that target and distance were selected for the revolver match at Creedmoor in 1887, and many of the rifle and pistol clubs throughout the country arranged similar matches. The first record established on the 30-yard pistol target was in a 5-shot reentry match at the spring meeting of the Ma.s.sachusetts Rifle a.s.sociation, in June, 1887. The score of 43 out of a possible 50 was made by Mr. W. W. Bennett, and was the highest score made during the three-days' tournament. It was the opinion of a majority of revolver-shooters at that time that this target at 30 yards was a difficult one to roll up a high score on, and that 40 for 5-shots and 80 for 10-shots was good shooting. At the annual meeting of the National Rifle a.s.sociation at Creedmoor in September, 1887, the highest scores recorded at 30 yards were by Mr. J. T. B. Collins, who secured three aggregates of 44, and Mr. G. L. Garrigues, who also secured one score of 44, this being the highest aggregate secured in five shots at that time.