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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/33287-8.txt b/33287-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5bb3abe --- /dev/null +++ b/33287-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1181 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hints on the Use and Handling of Firearms +Generally, and the Revolver in Particular, by Lieut. H. Onslow Curling + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hints on the Use and Handling of Firearms Generally, and the Revolver in Particular + +Author: Lieut. H. Onslow Curling + +Release Date: July 29, 2010 [EBook #33287] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HINTS OF THE USE AND HANDLING OF FIREARMS *** + + + + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet +Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +HINTS ON THE USE AND HANDLING OF FIREARMS GENERALLY, AND THE REVOLVER IN +PARTICULAR. + +BY LIEUT. H. ONSLOW CURLING, C. L. A. B. + +_'Nunquam non paratus.'_ + + LONDON: + DULAU & CO., 37 SOHO SQUARE. + _All Rights Reserved._ + + 1885. + + + + + LONDON: + PRINTED BY STRANGEWAYS AND SONS, + Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's Lane. + + + + +HINTS ON THE USE AND HANDLING OF FIREARMS, _&c._ _&c._ + + 'He, that rides at high speed, and with + His pistol kills a sparrow flying.' + SHAKESPEARE: _Henry IV._ + + +THE National Rifle Association may fairly claim the honour of +introducing, at their meeting in July 1885, the subject of Military +Revolver practice in this country. For years past the want of such a +movement has been felt, but the many obstacles to be overcome have been +so vast that no one seems to have cared to venture upon the matter, and +so it has slept. + +The great drawback has been, and is now, to find suitable ranges +anywhere near London. Such ranges, the use of which is enjoyed by our +Citizen Army, are insufficient, and the expense of keeping them up is +considerable, falling heavily upon the corps to whom they belong. + +The National Rifle Association, although they offered some 40_l._ in +prizes, and provided not only revolvers but ammunition, for a small +consideration, or entrance fee, met with but poor support; but it should +be borne in mind that this was the first year of such a competition, and +it was in consequence not generally known of. Very little was known of +the movement till it actually took place, and then only when noticed by +the press the day after its introduction. + +Again, it should be remembered that the entries were restricted to +officers, warrant officers, and petty officers, of her Majesty's land +and sea forces, and doubtless this restriction accounted for the spare +attendance. Every Englishman belonging to the auxiliary forces should +hail with pleasure the opportunity offered of making himself master of +this useful weapon; one that in skilled hands is most deadly at long or +short ranges, and a thorough knowledge of the use of which might at any +moment be the means of saving another's life from an opposing force when +no other weapon was at hand. + +The difficulty in using even an ordinary pistol with accuracy is, and +always has been, an acknowledged fact, as it requires great practice to +enable a man to make his mark as a crack shot. Some men would perhaps +miss a haystack at twenty yards, while others, with little practice, +soon become excellent shots at very small objects. It is marvellous the +accuracy with which the professional burglar has of late years used his +revolver against the police and others; but it may be accounted for by +the fact that these men use a small, light weapon, easily carried and +much easier wielded than the military regulation revolver, which weighs +2 lbs. 8 oz.; that they invariably take what may be termed flying +shots--and it should be remembered that a full-sized man at +comparatively close quarters presents a very large target. I venture to +affirm that if these burglarious minions of the moon, who make night +hideous, were compelled to stand before a Martini-Smith target (a foot +square) at twenty yards, with a military regulation revolver, they would +make but sorry marksmen. + +The use of the military revolver is acknowledged to be a question of +great importance, as one not only affecting those who embrace the +profession of arms, but those who travel; and as no one knows when he +may be called upon, or where he may be, it is imperative that he should +gain a thorough knowledge of every minor detail, most useful in the hour +of need, and which will enable him not only to protect himself with +confidence, but to come to the assistance of the weak should occasion +require. + +It is to be deplored that what once formed part of the education of a +gentleman--_i.e._ the use of the small sword and broadsword--should have +been so thoroughly neglected of late years in this country. That part of +the education of youth seems to have become quite a secondary +consideration. + +General Sir Charles Napier has truly said, 'Young men have all the +temptations in the world to pleasure, none to study; consequently, they +some day find themselves conspicuous for want of knowledge, not of +talent.' + +The introduction of the Breech-loader has revolutionised firearms. When +we look back upon the extraordinary achievements of arms during the +present century, with the comparatively crude weapons then in use as +compared with the marvellous inventions of the present moment, it is +simply astounding what results were obtained. + +The terrible work done by the old Brown Bess, with its unique +flint-and-steel lock of its day, at Waterloo and elsewhere, is now +matter of history. In those days artillery and cavalry had a chance of +existence in the field, they have scarcely any now. The old flint lock, +although it has had its day, has done its work well, and is entitled to +veneration. Many a noble fellow has bit the dust from its spark, and +England's first and greatest battles were fought and won by its aid. The +Nipple and Percussion Cap came next into use, and subsequently the +Breech-loader; but since Rifles have superseded military smooth-bore +weapons, the old spherical ball has been condemned. + +The breech-loading rifled arm of the present day may be looked upon as a +marvel of modern ingenuity; as combining exquisite manufacture, +extraordinary precision, and unequalled range. The latter may be +accounted for by the conical shape of the bullet, and the rotary motion +given thereto by the grooving of the barrel; and lastly, from the full +force of the evolution of gas consequent upon the powder being enclosed +in a copper tube which is inserted in the breech when loading the piece. + +The barrel of the Breech-loading Rifle is by its own action of firing +kept comparatively clean, as compared with the old Muzzle-loader; for +with the breech-loader any fouling of the barrel is driven out by the +discharge, and the powder in the cartridge is kept perfectly free from +any contamination with the moisture adhering to the barrel by its copper +case and being inserted in the breech; whereas in the old muzzle-loading +weapon the barrel, after the first discharge, becomes lubricated, and +consequently a portion of the powder poured down the barrel adhered to +its moist sides, thereby becoming deteriorated and decreasing the +explosive force. As a weapon of precision the Snider is perhaps +preferable to the Martini-Henry; but, of course, this is matter of +opinion. + +The sportsman of the good old school would be somewhat astonished, and +would perhaps feel uncomfortable, upon finding himself armed with a +breech-loading fowling-piece of the present day, particularly as +prejudices are strong and obstinacy very prevalent among some people, +and the keen eye of the old sportsman would view the modern innovation +upon his rights--as he would probably call them--with dread, suspicion, +and distrust. + +It is a fact, even at the present time, that there are many old farmers +in England who use their ancient flint-and-steel fowling-pieces from +choice in preference to modern weapons. + +The cool old sportsman of days gone by would sally forth in quest of +game, having previously overhauled his lock, and, if necessary, +adjusted a new flint, with as much care as an angler would examine his +tackle previous to a day's sport, as he well knew that success depended +upon vigilance and care. There was no blustering and banging away in +those days, as soon as a bird rose, as is unhappily too often the case +now-a-days, resulting in either blowing the bird all to pieces or +probably missing it altogether. No, the keen eye of the old school would +coolly watch his bird rise, take a pinch of snuff, cock his piece, cover +his bird, and then bring it down, allowing it to get well away before +drawing the trigger. + +Many a young gentleman calling himself a sportsman knows little of the +capabilities of the weapon he wields, and cares less; his whole aim is +to see how many head of game he can bag, and to blaze away is the order +of the day, to the astonishment of poor Ponto, who, if he chance to run +within range, sometimes gets a charge of shot in his tail. + +In the Royal Navy the use and practice of the pistol, and latterly of +the revolver, has always been kept up. Consequently the Jack Tar knows +more about the pistol and the military revolver than most men give him +credit for. In boarding vessels, for instance, the pistol was one of the +arms used. The importance of the revolver movement as inaugurated by the +National Rifle Association has resulted in the formation of a club +called 'The Metropolitan Revolver Club.' This Club, which is in its +infancy, has many obstacles to surmount, but it is to be hoped that the +Provisional Committee will be able to carry out the object in view, +which is, according to the programme, as follows:-- + + 'That this Club be formed, having for its object + the provision of facilities for acquiring a + thorough knowledge of and proficiency in the use + of the Military Revolver.' + +DUDLEY WILSON, Esq., 2 Pall Mall, is the Honorary Secretary, and may +success attend him. + +To the inexperienced, the revolver is, perhaps, as deadly a weapon as +can well be handled; and to no class is this fact so well known as to +naval and military men. The many deplorable accidents resulting from the +incautious handling of firearms is terrible to contemplate; and +sportsmen and military men have frequently fallen victims to +carelessness, to say nothing of novices. The unfortunate part is, that +foolish and inexperienced people often inflict misery upon innocent +persons; unintentionally, it is true: but they are none the less guilty. +Firearms should be looked upon as a kind of machinery, which no one in +his senses would attempt to handle unless he knew the use of them. + +The abominable practice of those to whom firearms belong, or those in +the charge or care thereof, of keeping or leaving such weapons loaded, +so that they may at any moment fall into the hands of children, or +perhaps, what is worse still, inexperienced adults, is most seriously to +be condemned, and may be designated really as a criminal act, which +ought to be summarily punished. + +It is an act which has no real motive, no real _bonâ fide_ object, and +is lawless and idle in the extreme,--an act which has resulted in the +death of its thousands, and the maiming of even more. + +A weapon should never be brought within the portals of a man's house +loaded; the breech-loading cartridge can be easily withdrawn. If the +piece is a muzzle-loader it should be discharged after the day's sport +is over; ammunition is really not so very costly as to require to be +husbanded at the probable cost of a serious accident, or perhaps a +fellow-creature's life. This rule cannot be too strictly adhered to. +Some years ago it was my lot to be staying with a gentleman of eccentric +habits, a man of violent temper, and when in one of these fits really +not answerable for his actions. I was aware that he kept a full-sized +revolver loaded with ball, and capped, in his dressing-room. I confess I +was coward enough to let this matter trouble me. I felt I could stand up +and face death with any one in the field, fighting in a good cause and +armed as others; but to be taken advantage of at any moment, and +perhaps shot down like a dog, was rather too much. I therefore resolved +in my own mind, not only to disarm my friend but to render his weapon +useless; but how to accomplish this was the question, as to raise any +suspicion would perhaps bring down wrath upon my own head. I therefore +resolved to leave everything precisely intact till an opportunity should +present itself. The very next day the time arrived, and during this +Grand Turk's absence I hastily removed the caps from off the nipples of +the revolver, and having exploded them upon the nipples of his +double-barrelled gun, I pinched them back into their original shape and +replaced them on the revolver. I then put the box of caps into my pocket +and felt perfectly secure, and could have sat and been fired at without +the slightest fear. This gentleman shortly afterwards was seized with +paralysis of the brain, and ended his days in a madhouse. No one, I +believe, ever suffered any inconvenience from the revolver, and what +became of it I know not. + +If leaving weapons about is necessary (which I do not for a moment +admit), then most assuredly they should be rendered harmless by being +left unloaded, and thus the means of rendering them destructive would be +kept out of the way of meddlers. All ammunition should, as a rule, be +kept in some secret and safe place, and always under lock and key. Every +man knows that edged tools are dangerous, consequently that the leaving +loaded firearms within the reach of anybody who may chance to come +across them is simply leaving means of destruction unprotected, and he +should bear in mind that this mischief of his own neglect might +accidentally at any moment be wielded against himself. + + 'How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds, + Makes deeds ill done. + SHAKESPEARE: _King John._ + +The responsibility of those possessing firearms is great, and proper +precautions and proper care cannot be too strictly enforced. Care costs +nothing, and may be the means of preventing loss of life and many a +deplorable accident. The precautions necessary to be borne in mind in +the safe use of firearms for one's own protection, as well as the +protection of others, are voluminous, and so varied are they that it is +with difficulty they can be all dealt with in this little treatise; it +is only therefore proposed to mention some of them, and detail a few +important hints for the guidance of the unwary. Generally speaking, if a +man will not exercise a little gumption, care, and discretion, when in +the society of a shooting-party similarly armed as he is himself, he +must put up with the consequences. Accidents in properly regulated +families should never happen. Since the introduction of the +breech-loader there is no excuse for any man carrying a loaded weapon +and swinging the muzzle of it about when carrying it on his shoulder +(which is often done), bringing every one in his rear in the line of +fire of the piece. A man can load his piece now when he arrives upon the +ground in a moment; and should a bird rise, with the present facilities +given by the breech-loader, there is ample time to load and bring the +bird down without the slightest difficulty. For any man therefore, when +not in the field, to strut about with a loaded weapon in his possession +now-a-days is simply bombastic tomfoolery. + +To carry a gun gracefully and properly is an art. It should never be so +carried or wielded as to be a risk to the possessor, or any one. The +following are a few ways how a gun should be carried:--For safety, when +commencing sport, the right hand grasping the piece at the small of the +butt, the butt resting on the right hip or thigh, muzzle up. The weapon +can then, on the rising of game, be at once safely presented. + +When carried on the shoulder it should be always with _lock down_: this +mode will so elevate the barrels that the muzzles are far above the +heads of any one; even when at close quarters, on the march, or when +approaching or returning from cover, this way will be found easiest and +with the least possible fatigue, as the weight of the weapon is centered +in the stock held in the right hand. To relieve the shoulder pass the +hand up to the small, or neck of the butt; at the same time seize the +butt with the left hand, then raise your gun to a perpendicular +position, carry it across the body, and place it on the left shoulder. +The left shoulder can be relieved in a similar manner, _i.e._, pass the +left hand to the small or neck of the butt, at the same time seize the +butt with the right hand, raise the gun to a perpendicular position, and +carry it across the body and place it on the right shoulder. Never +present, much less fire, when any person, whether keeper or beater, +intervenes or is near the bird. Never fire over any one, even if he what +is called 'ducks,' or stoops to allow of your doing so. A keeper or +beater should never be encouraged in, or allowed to 'duck' or stoop; the +practice is a bad one, and should be for ever discountenanced. If no one +fired over a ducked body the habit would soon fall into disuse. +Sportsmen and others would do well to bear in mind that an accident +deprives the injured man from earning his livelihood, and the poor wife +and children suffer: better to forego taking a shot for safety sake and +let the bird escape for another day than run any risk. This should be +made a hard-and-fast rule among sportsmen, and a law of sport. + +The left hand should never be placed upon the gun till the bird has +risen and _all is clear_ ahead. Coolness in the field is everything; +there should be no blundering, no hurry; a man who knows the +capabilities of his gun can afford to be cool. He knows but too well +there is no occasion for haste; the cool hand would pause after the bird +rose, and give it time to get fairly away before presenting. + +A gun should never be so wielded as to bring its barrels in line with +any one, or the barrels athwart any one. When quite a youth I remember +being in the field, when one of the party becoming fatigued from the +effects of a tight boot handed me his gun; the friend, who evidently did +not appreciate the confidence placed in the youngster, kept aloof--well +to the right; presently a bird rose, I hesitated; looking at the bird. +'Fire! Fire! why don't you fire, sir?' exclaimed the old gentleman with +some warmth. 'How can I,' cried I, 'with those peasants at work right in +front?' The effect was marvellous. The old gentleman, thoroughly +appreciating the caution, at once joined me, and I had the benefit of my +full share of the sport. + +Firing when in thick cover and from behind hedges should be conducted +with caution, and with a knowledge that all is clear on the other side. + +Little observation will show whether your companion has been accustomed +to the use of firearms. A man of reckless temperament, one who would +blaze away blindly, a devil-may-care sort of fellow, should be avoided; +give him a very wide berth, and keep the gentleman well on your extreme +left. If you can shunt him altogether so much the better. A gun should +never be carried in the field at the trail; should never be carried +under the arm, hugging the lock; should never be carried muzzle down, so +that by an accidental slip, or stumble, or fall, the barrels may become +choked with earth (which would burst the muzzle if not removed before +firing); should never be carried transversely across the body with +barrels pointing left. When shooting, a man should be as much upon his +etiquette as he would be in my lady's drawing-room; should mind his P's +and Q's, and remember that when in a china-shop he should refrain from +carrying his umbrella under his arm. + +As a fact, the closing of one eye in taking aim is unnecessary. The +complete angle of sight upon a given object can only be obtained by the +use of both eyes. Consequently two objects cannot be seen distinctly or +clearly at the same instant, one is clear while the others are blurred +or misty; hence it stands to reason, that in laying a gun the top of the +notch of the hindsight, the apex of the foresight, and the object, can +be brought into line as accurately with both eyes open as with one +closed. + +An artilleryman can lay a gun perfectly without closing one eye. The +eyes should not be less than 12 inches from the hindsight, if from 2 to +3 feet so much the better, and a more accurate aim will be the result. + +Upon the principle that the hand follows the eye, a sportsman fixing +both eyes upon his bird can take as perfect an aim as he could with one +eye closed. + +This rule applies equally to all arms. + +A man when in the field or at practice should keep his eyes about him; +he should remember whom he is with; that he may be covered by a friend's +gun or rifle at any moment, and that as the abominable and unnecessary +proceeding of carrying weapons loaded, when not actually in the field, +is the rule rather than the exception, he may perhaps find himself +accidentally pinked at any moment, and when he little expects it. + +I remember some years ago the magnificent solemnity of a military +funeral was brought to a somewhat ludicrous termination by one of the +firing party shooting his comrade in the stern. How the accident really +occurred I never could learn; but it was a fact that the rear-rank man +managed somehow to discharge his rifle, and pretty nearly blow off the +tail of his comrade's tunic. + +The wounded man, who was more frightened than hurt, seemed not at all to +relish the joke. An old lady came to the rescue. + +This good old soul seems to have been in the habit of carrying a flask, +and, graciously offering the 'pocket pistol,' suggested a drop of the +creature. The offer was most readily accepted, but, I regret to say, the +terror of the injured man was so great that he emptied the flask. He had +evidently had enough of soldiering and 'villainous saltpetre,' for the +very next day he sent in his resignation. + +At ball practice men should refrain from talking, joking, and that +ungentlemanly pastime known as _horse-play_. Their attention should be +directed to what they are about to do and what others are doing, and +they should leave frivolities for some other time. + +Many accidents in the field have occurred when getting over stiles, +gates, hurdles, stone walls, and even through hedges. + +Within the beautiful glades of Kensington Gardens stands a lasting +memorial. + + IN MEMORY OF + SPEKE. + VICTORIA, NYANZA, + AND THE NILE. + 1864. + +Here is a terrible record of an awful death through carelessness. A +noble life lost, sacrificed in a moment. Poor Speke, who had faced death +often in many forms, met it at last by his own hand. + +While out shooting, in getting through a hedge he dragged his +fowling-piece after him, the muzzle towards his own body, when, the lock +becoming entangled in the brambles, his immediate death was the result. +Such a piece of foolhardiness on the part of a man accustomed to the use +of firearms is astounding. + +Use dulls the edge of caution, and some men, unhappily, who are +accustomed to deal constantly with weapons and ingredients of +destruction, become not only careless but indifferent and callous. + +There is a class of men who, if not kept under surveillance, would +probably be found smoking their pipes in a powder-magazine, or while +sitting upon a barrel of gunpowder. + +Men are too prone to carry their weapons at full-cock. This should never +be done. If alone, when getting through a hedge or over any +_impedimenta_ the weapon should be laid on the ground, parallel with the +hedge, if possible. After getting upon the other side, the weapon should +be drawn through with the butt end towards the person. + +If you have a comrade or keeper with you, hand him the weapon, muzzle +up; get through yourself, and then take the weapons from him, _muzzle +up_, and he can follow you with safety. Always place your weapon upon +half-cock (it should never be at full-cock) before attempting to go +through a hedge or over a stile. + +When two or more gentlemen take the field together, it is advantageous +to work the ground in the formation of échelon. + +The whole field will by this means be thoroughly searched for game, and +each man can fire clear of the other, commanding his own ground and the +whole field within the range of the respective guns. + +When about to commence practice with the rifle or revolver the firing +party should be placed well to the front, and should never load, or be +allowed to load, until all preliminaries are arranged, and the words, +'Ready! go on!' are given. + +This command or caution will, of necessity, place every one upon his +guard. + +When the piece is loaded, the finger with which the trigger is drawn +should on no account be placed within the trigger-guard till the weapon +is raised and the aim about to be taken; and with the rifle until the +weapon is presented, after being put upon full-cock. + +In firing with a pistol, or revolver, the proper finger with which to +draw the trigger is the second finger, not the index finger, as +generally used. The index finger should be placed horizontally along the +barrel, on the side of the weapon, which is most important--which, as a +means of securing steadiness and leverage, tends not only to reduce the +difficulty of the pull, but also tends to prevent depression of the +muzzle, which is sure to take place if the forefinger is used, +particularly when the trigger has the minimum five-pounds' pull. + +When a gun, rifle, pistol, or revolver, is at full-cock, and it is +desired to place it upon half-cock, as is often done, it should be so +altered, with great care, as follows:-- + +The hammer should be lowered gently to the full extent of the spring, +and should then be carefully drawn back till the distinct _click_ of the +half-cock is heard; then the weapon is as safe as an arm can be when +loaded, and cannot be accidentally discharged. + +To place a weapon from full to half-cock, by not lowering the hammer to +the full extent of the spring, and then drawing it back to half-cock as +before described, is a most dangerous practice, as the hammer may not be +properly inserted in the clip, and an accident might be the result. A +man once having taken up his position at the firing-point, and having +loaded his piece, should never return into the company of his comrades +till his piece (particularly if a pistol or revolver) is discharged, or +till all its chambers have been expended. If it is necessary for him to +rejoin his comrades after his piece is loaded, or after any of the +chambers have been expended, he should leave the weapon behind him at +the firing-point, and should place it, _muzzle down_, in a hole or slot +purposely made in the table before him to receive it, which hole in the +table should have the word 'LOADED' written legibly near it. + +If there is no table, then the weapon should, if at full-cock, be placed +upon half-cock, as before described, and then laid carefully upon the +ground, muzzle pointing towards the target, and slightly inclined to the +left thereof, so as to be clear of it, which will allow of the target +being examined, if necessary, without the examiner coming within the +direct line of fire of the weapon; but the table with a hole in it is +the safest method, and is recommended. + +A couple of stakes with a rope from the firing-point to the target +should be used, as a precaution to keep back idle curiosity-seekers from +placing themselves within danger on the firing party's left. + +No one should, upon any pretence whatever, place himself, or be allowed +to place himself, on, or even near, the firing party's left side. The +reason is obvious, as it will be found invariably in practice that a +man, when loading with a breech-loader, will naturally incline the +muzzle of his piece, and so innocently place those immediately upon his +left within its range. + +If it is necessary to address a man when at the firing-point all +interlocution should be addressed to him on his right; so the Instructor +should place himself on the right and rather behind the practitioner, +and as close to him as convenient, so as not to incommode his freedom. + +Some men are naturally nervous, particularly when at ball practice, and +for this reason all but novices should be left alone, as they will +perhaps make better scoring if not interfered with. + +All spectators should take ground well in rear of the alignment of the +firing-point, and on its right flank. The practice of taking up weapons +and going through the pantomime of pointing them at the target, or +pointing a weapon at anything when not at actual practice, is idle, and +is to be condemned. + +Weapons set aside for practice should never be meddled with. + +The party who takes his turn (if firing with revolvers) should receive +his weapon unloaded, _muzzle up_, with the necessary amount of +ammunition, from the Instructor or Superintendent in charge; he should +then step to the front or firing-point, load his piece himself, and get +rid of his cartridges as quickly as a due regard to careful aim, &c., +will admit; then return his piece, _muzzle up_, to the Instructor, who +will carefully examine it and satisfy himself that all the chambers have +been expended. + +Should a revolver miss fire, it is most important that great caution +should be used, as it will sometimes '_hang fire_,' which the cartridges +of all weapons are liable to do at times.[A] When a cartridge does not +explode the revolver should be held in the same position as much as +possible, muzzle to the front, or downwards, for a few seconds; should +it not then explode it may be examined, the non-exploded cartridge +removed and condemned, and a new cartridge put in its place. On no +account should the condemned cartridge be placed with or near live +cartridges. + +Firearms should never, under any pretence, be pointed at anybody; even +if unloaded, such a practice is foolish and unpardonable. No soldier +except in action would ever think of doing so, and no gentleman could. + +The thoughtless practice of relinquishing one's weapon into the hands of +a friend, or, even worse, a stranger, is against all military rules, and +in any case is strongly to be condemned, and no excuse will palliate +such an offence; not even the assurance that the piece is unloaded. A +brother-comrade in the same regiment is, perhaps, the only exception; +but even this is objectionable, except in extreme cases. As a rule, a +soldier should never _relinquish_ his piece, even to a General or a +Field Officer. + +Firearms generally, and particularly revolvers, when loaded or unloaded, +should never be laid upon a table so that the muzzle can accidentally +cover any one. If they must be relinquished by the owner they should be +placed in a corner of the room farthest from the door, leaning against +the wall, muzzle down, so that they cannot fall. If loaded they may, +when practicable, be laid upon a side-table, muzzle towards the wall. +Guns or rifles should be stood muzzle up in their place in the rack, or, +if there is no rack, then in a corner of the room farthest from the +door, to prevent surprise. No weapon of any kind should be carried or +put down, or left at full-cock, and no loaded weapon should be left +unprotected. They should, if loaded, be in the charge of some +trustworthy and responsible person; but in the time of war no man would +be so foolish as to relinquish his piece, either by night or by day. + +To sportsmen and others, with the great facilities for loading and +unloading afforded by the breech-loading system, there can be no excuse +for leaving a weapon charged when it can so easily be rendered harmless. + +There are many theories as to the proper way to present a pistol or +revolver. + +Every man has some idea upon the subject, and perhaps it would be well +to leave every one to his own devices; but at the same time a suggestion +here, as we are upon the subject, may not be out of place. + +The French carry the weapon muzzle up, the lock of the piece in line +with the ear. Upon taking aim, the muzzle is gradually depressed till +the object it is desired to hit is covered. This is no doubt a very good +way; but when firing at any distance beyond a point-blank range it +necessitates, firstly, the depression of the muzzle to cover the object, +and secondly, the necessary elevation must be taken so that the ball may +be carried the required distance, and so _hit_ the object. + +This position of holding the weapon when at practice commends itself on +the ground of safety. + +The preferable way, perhaps, is the old duelling style; that is, to hold +the weapon muzzle down at the full extent of the right arm, standing +sideways or three-quarters left, showing as small a front as possible, +the eye to be fixed steadily upon the bull's eye or centre of the target +or object, then gradually raising the arm to the required elevation. +Should the distance be beyond the point-blank range, after covering the +bull's eye continue to elevate till the required elevation is reached: +by then steadily and firmly increasing the pressure of the second finger +on the trigger the desired result will be obtained. Suddenly drawing or +jerking the trigger should be avoided. + +By the latter means the object is covered at the same time as the foot +of the target is covered, so that in the event of the trigger being +drawn before the bull's eye is reached the target will be hit, and +assuming the target to be a man he would be disabled and the object +gained. Another important reason for advocating the use of the second +finger in drawing the trigger is the fact that the weight of the +military revolver (2 lbs. 8 oz.), together with the power required to +draw the trigger (5 lbs. pull), by the long tension of the muscles of +the arm, in aiming, causes a vibration, so that the farther the bullet +has to travel the farther it is thrown off the centre of the objective. +The first finger, therefore, placed along the barrel or side of the +pistol, acting as a lever, tends to reduce almost to a minimum the +spasmodic muscular vibration; again, in drawing the trigger with the +forefinger the hardness of the pull tends to depress the muzzle, while +with using the second finger as before described this depression is +almost impossible. + +In rifle-shooting, as also in that of the pistol and revolver, the +ordinary method should be reversed; that is, instead of commencing at +100 yards from the target, the practice should commence at the longest +range, and the target should be gradually approached as if it were an +actual enemy. + +In revolver practice I would recommend all who desire to become +thoroughly efficient to commence at say 100 yards from the target, and +to gradually reduce the range to not less than 20 yards. This would +accustom the practitioner to get a thorough knowledge of the +capabilities of the weapon, and to learn the required amount of +elevation necessary. It must be remembered that the Military Regulation +Revolver will kill at 300 yards. + +I have myself shot with a 320-bore revolver, eight grains of powder, +bullet eighty grains, at a regulation target at 200 yards, and have made +very fair practice: in fact, the long range is far preferable for +practice, as being not only beneficial, but a more exciting pastime than +the ordinary range. + +To those who do not possess a regulation iron target, I would recommend +one similar to that which I have sometimes used. (_Vide_ diagram.) This +target is made of a simple framework of wood, covered with canvas and +layers of paper pasted thereon. It has the double advantage of having +the Martini-Smith target in the centre, and the remaining portion, +having the exact size of a man traced thereon, has one other advantage +in at once showing the result of the practice. This target can be used +over and over again, as, after use, the perforations can be pasted over +with small pieces of paper, and when well riddled, it can be re-covered; +and the thicker it becomes the better. + +No one should attempt to fire ball-cartridge anywhere but at a proper +range. Firing in small back-gardens, against brick or stone walls and +trunks of trees, should never be allowed. Bullets will rebound or go off +at a tangent, and do serious mischief. + +When a bullet once leaves the muzzle of a rifle, pistol, or revolver, by +the evolution of gunpowder-gas, there is no dependence upon it as to +where it may stop, or what damage it may do, and bullets upon hitting +hard ground will ricochet; therefore, to those who wish to enjoy +security at practice, I would advise the selection of ground free from +habitation, or where no people are at work--some secluded spot where +there is ample range, and, if possible, a natural hill or mound to +receive the bullets. + +The military revolver will kill at 300 yards, the Snider artillery +carbine at 1800 yards, and the Martini-Henry rifle at 3000 yards.[B] Too +much dependence upon the use of the slide of the back-sight for +elevation in rifle practice should be deprecated for more than one +reason: _e.g._, assuming that a man has been firing at 300 yards with +his back-sight adjusted to that range, and he is suddenly ordered to +advance at the double; if, at the spur of the moment, he neglects to +reduce his sight, the result will follow that every shot will go over +the enemy. It is simply idle to suppose for one moment that in the heat +of action a soldier could afford to fritter away valuable time, or even +be allowed to do so, in adjusting back-sights. He would, if he were +properly instructed, when within 300 yards place his back-sight level, +and rely upon his own skill in judging what elevation he should use. + +It is better to fire low than high. A low shot will usually ricochet, +particularly upon striking hard ground, greensward, or a wet clay soil, +and, consequently, will do damage. Very nearly two thirds of the bullets +in action are lost by going over the heads of the enemy. + +In the instruction of men in the use of the rifle valuable time is +wasted, and too much importance is attached to useless detail. Let a man +be placed before the ordinary regimental target, at an unknown distance, +with the figure of a man traced thereon, assuming the target to be an +enemy similarly armed with himself; let him understand that he must take +his chance of hitting his man or being hit himself; and let him fire at +this target with the back-sight level, judging his own distance and the +necessary elevation required: this calculation (not a very difficult +one, after a little practice) could easily be come to while in the act +of loading. The result of the first shot would determine the required +elevation, and by taking pains, bull's eyes and centres would soon be +obtained. + +It is submitted that this mode of procedure would create an interest in +the practice of the soldier, tending to cause a healthy reaction; men +would take more pains, and try to beat their comrades, as there would be +a greater stimulus to do so than by the present system. Men, as it is, +go to their practice without the slightest interest therein, and get rid +of the ammunition as soon as possible, in order to get off duty. The +real reason why we have such excellent shots in the Volunteers is +accounted for by the fact that they not only take an interest in the +work, but take pains in everything they do, the result being success. + +Much significance is attached to the bull's-eye mania. It should be +borne in mind that a man is a large object at which to aim; that so long +as he can be crippled there is no necessity to kill. To disable a man so +that he can do no more mischief is sufficient. + +Any man can make a scale of elevation in his own mind, and, with +practice, fire at any range without putting up the sight, and can fire +standing. My theory is as follows:-- + +Up to 100 yards the range is point-blank, that is, aim direct on the +bull's eye; for 200 yards, raise the muzzle, say one foot above the +bull's eye; for 300 yards, two feet above the bull's eye, and so on. A +few trial-shots will soon settle the question, and practice makes +perfect. A man will thus be independent of the back-sight of his rifle. +This refers to shooting in the open. Of course, under cover, when time +and circumstances admit, the back-sight can be used with great +advantage. + +A man in shooting with a pistol or revolver has to judge his own +distance and the necessary elevation. Why should not the same rule apply +directly to the rifle? I have seen excellent practice at 400 yards with +a Snider carbine, back-sight level, the man judging his own elevation, +and have been very successful myself, and have found the above rule +apply, with slight variations. + +In rifle contests all artificial nonsense, such as coloured glasses, +eye-shades, kneeling upon eider-down quilts, firing from shaded tents, +blackening sights, &c., should be discouraged. Let a man leave all such +effeminacy and tomfoolery at home, and shoot like a man, taking +circumstances as he would find them in the open field _with an enemy_ +before him, using such cover only as nature and circumstances provide. + +There is infinite satisfaction attached to the winning of an honour, +when that honour has to be obtained under difficulties which must be +surmounted. The more difficult the task is, the more merit in overcoming +it. + +Lastly. All firearms require constant attention, and should be kept +clean. After use they should be immediately attended to, and never put +away dirty; should be kept in some dry corner where rust cannot destroy, +and they should be occasionally overhauled and oiled when necessary. +Really valuable weapons are sometimes ruined by neglect. The man who +takes no pride in his gun is no sportsman. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[A] I have known instances of pistols and fowling-pieces hanging fire +for two or three seconds after the hammer has fallen, and then suddenly +go off. + + +[B] Vide _Minor Tactics_, by Lieut.-Colonel Clery, 1883. + + + * * * * * + + LONDON: + Printed by STRANGEWAYS AND SONS, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's Lane + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Page 38, "The" changed to "the" (the Snider artillery carbine) + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hints on the Use and Handling of +Firearms Generally, and the Revolver in Particular, by Lieut. H. 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H. Onslow Curling + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hints on the Use and Handling of Firearms Generally, and the Revolver in Particular + +Author: Lieut. H. Onslow Curling + +Release Date: July 29, 2010 [EBook #33287] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HINTS OF THE USE AND HANDLING OF FIREARMS *** + + + + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet +Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 304px;"> +<a href="images/i002-big.png"><img src="images/i002.png" width="304" height="500" alt="Targets" title="" /></a> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h1>HINTS ON THE USE<br /> +<small>AND</small><br /> +HANDLING OF FIREARMS<br /> +<small>GENERALLY, AND</small><br /> +THE REVOLVER<br /> +<small>IN PARTICULAR.</small></h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>LIEUT. H. ONSLOW CURLING,<br /> +<small>C. L. A. B.</small></h2> + +<div class='center'><br /><i>'Nunquam non paratus.'</i><br /> + +<br /><br /><br /> +LONDON:<br /> +DULAU & CO., 37 SOHO SQUARE.<br /> +<i><small>All Rights Reserved.</small></i><br /> +————<br /> +1885.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='copyright'> +LONDON:<br /> +PRINTED BY STRANGEWAYS AND SONS,<br /> +Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's Lane.<br /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + +<h2><small>HINTS ON THE USE AND</small><br /> +HANDLING OF FIREARMS,<br /> +<i>&c.</i> <i>&c.</i></h2> + +<div class='poem'> +'He, that rides at high speed, and with<br /> +His pistol kills a sparrow flying.'<br /> +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">Shakespeare</span>: <i>Henry IV.</i><br /><br /><br /> +</div></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE National Rifle Association may +fairly claim the honour of introducing, +at their meeting in July 1885, the subject of +Military Revolver practice in this country. +For years past the want of such a movement +has been felt, but the many obstacles to be +overcome have been so vast that no one +seems to have cared to venture upon the +matter, and so it has slept.</div> + +<p>The great drawback has been, and is +now, to find suitable ranges anywhere near +London. Such ranges, the use of which is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +enjoyed by our Citizen Army, are insufficient, +and the expense of keeping them up is considerable, +falling heavily upon the corps to +whom they belong.</p> + +<p>The National Rifle Association, although +they offered some 40<i>l.</i> in prizes, and provided +not only revolvers but ammunition, for a +small consideration, or entrance fee, met with +but poor support; but it should be borne in +mind that this was the first year of such a +competition, and it was in consequence not +generally known of. Very little was known +of the movement till it actually took place, +and then only when noticed by the press the +day after its introduction.</p> + +<p>Again, it should be remembered that the +entries were restricted to officers, warrant +officers, and petty officers, of her Majesty's +land and sea forces, and doubtless this restriction +accounted for the spare attendance. +Every Englishman belonging to the auxiliary +forces should hail with pleasure the opportunity +offered of making himself master of +this useful weapon; one that in skilled hands +is most deadly at long or short ranges, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +a thorough knowledge of the use of which +might at any moment be the means of saving +another's life from an opposing force when no +other weapon was at hand.</p> + +<p>The difficulty in using even an ordinary +pistol with accuracy is, and always has been, +an acknowledged fact, as it requires great +practice to enable a man to make his mark as +a crack shot. Some men would perhaps miss +a haystack at twenty yards, while others, with +little practice, soon become excellent shots at +very small objects. It is marvellous the +accuracy with which the professional burglar +has of late years used his revolver against +the police and others; but it may be accounted +for by the fact that these men use +a small, light weapon, easily carried and +much easier wielded than the military regulation +revolver, which weighs 2 lbs. 8 oz.; +that they invariably take what may be termed +flying shots—and it should be remembered +that a full-sized man at comparatively close +quarters presents a very large target. I venture +to affirm that if these burglarious minions +of the moon, who make night hideous, were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +compelled to stand before a Martini-Smith +target (a foot square) at twenty yards, with a +military regulation revolver, they would make +but sorry marksmen.</p> + +<p>The use of the military revolver is acknowledged +to be a question of great importance, +as one not only affecting those who embrace +the profession of arms, but those who travel; +and as no one knows when he may be called +upon, or where he may be, it is imperative +that he should gain a thorough knowledge of +every minor detail, most useful in the hour of +need, and which will enable him not only to +protect himself with confidence, but to come +to the assistance of the weak should occasion +require.</p> + +<p>It is to be deplored that what once formed +part of the education of a gentleman—<i>i.e.</i> the +use of the small sword and broadsword—should +have been so thoroughly neglected +of late years in this country. That part of +the education of youth seems to have become +quite a secondary consideration.</p> + +<p>General Sir Charles Napier has truly said, +'Young men have all the temptations in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +world to pleasure, none to study; consequently, +they some day find themselves conspicuous +for want of knowledge, not of talent.'</p> + +<p>The introduction of the Breech-loader has +revolutionised firearms. When we look back +upon the extraordinary achievements of arms +during the present century, with the comparatively +crude weapons then in use as +compared with the marvellous inventions of +the present moment, it is simply astounding +what results were obtained.</p> + +<p>The terrible work done by the old Brown +Bess, with its unique flint-and-steel lock of +its day, at Waterloo and elsewhere, is now +matter of history. In those days artillery +and cavalry had a chance of existence in the +field, they have scarcely any now. The old +flint lock, although it has had its day, has +done its work well, and is entitled to veneration. +Many a noble fellow has bit the dust +from its spark, and England's first and +greatest battles were fought and won by its +aid. The Nipple and Percussion Cap came +next into use, and subsequently the Breech-loader; +but since Rifles have superseded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +military smooth-bore weapons, the old +spherical ball has been condemned.</p> + +<p>The breech-loading rifled arm of the +present day may be looked upon as a marvel +of modern ingenuity; as combining exquisite +manufacture, extraordinary precision, and unequalled +range. The latter may be accounted +for by the conical shape of the bullet, and the +rotary motion given thereto by the grooving +of the barrel; and lastly, from the full force +of the evolution of gas consequent upon the +powder being enclosed in a copper tube +which is inserted in the breech when loading +the piece.</p> + +<p>The barrel of the Breech-loading Rifle is +by its own action of firing kept comparatively +clean, as compared with the old Muzzle-loader; +for with the breech-loader any fouling +of the barrel is driven out by the discharge, +and the powder in the cartridge is kept perfectly +free from any contamination with the +moisture adhering to the barrel by its copper +case and being inserted in the breech; whereas +in the old muzzle-loading weapon the barrel, +after the first discharge, becomes lubricated,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +and consequently a portion of the powder +poured down the barrel adhered to its moist +sides, thereby becoming deteriorated and decreasing +the explosive force. As a weapon +of precision the Snider is perhaps preferable +to the Martini-Henry; but, of course, this is +matter of opinion.</p> + +<p>The sportsman of the good old school +would be somewhat astonished, and would +perhaps feel uncomfortable, upon finding +himself armed with a breech-loading fowling-piece +of the present day, particularly as +prejudices are strong and obstinacy very +prevalent among some people, and the keen +eye of the old sportsman would view the +modern innovation upon his rights—as he +would probably call them—with dread, suspicion, +and distrust.</p> + +<p>It is a fact, even at the present time, that +there are many old farmers in England who +use their ancient flint-and-steel fowling-pieces +from choice in preference to modern +weapons.</p> + +<p>The cool old sportsman of days gone by +would sally forth in quest of game, having<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +previously overhauled his lock, and, if necessary, +adjusted a new flint, with as much care +as an angler would examine his tackle previous +to a day's sport, as he well knew that +success depended upon vigilance and care. +There was no blustering and banging away +in those days, as soon as a bird rose, as is +unhappily too often the case now-a-days, +resulting in either blowing the bird all to +pieces or probably missing it altogether. +No, the keen eye of the old school would +coolly watch his bird rise, take a pinch of +snuff, cock his piece, cover his bird, and +then bring it down, allowing it to get well +away before drawing the trigger.</p> + +<p>Many a young gentleman calling himself a +sportsman knows little of the capabilities of +the weapon he wields, and cares less; his +whole aim is to see how many head of +game he can bag, and to blaze away is +the order of the day, to the astonishment +of poor Ponto, who, if he chance to run +within range, sometimes gets a charge of +shot in his tail.</p> + +<p>In the Royal Navy the use and practice of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +the pistol, and latterly of the revolver, has +always been kept up. Consequently the +Jack Tar knows more about the pistol and +the military revolver than most men give +him credit for. In boarding vessels, for instance, +the pistol was one of the arms used. +The importance of the revolver movement as +inaugurated by the National Rifle Association +has resulted in the formation of a club called +'The Metropolitan Revolver Club.' This +Club, which is in its infancy, has many +obstacles to surmount, but it is to be hoped +that the Provisional Committee will be able +to carry out the object in view, which is, +according to the programme, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="hang1">'That this Club be formed, having for its +object the provision of facilities for acquiring +a thorough knowledge of and +proficiency in the use of the Military +Revolver.'</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dudley Wilson</span>, Esq., 2 Pall Mall, is the +Honorary Secretary, and may success attend +him.</p> + +<p>To the inexperienced, the revolver is,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +perhaps, as deadly a weapon as can well be +handled; and to no class is this fact so well +known as to naval and military men. The +many deplorable accidents resulting from the +incautious handling of firearms is terrible to +contemplate; and sportsmen and military +men have frequently fallen victims to carelessness, +to say nothing of novices. The unfortunate +part is, that foolish and inexperienced +people often inflict misery upon innocent +persons; unintentionally, it is true: but +they are none the less guilty. Firearms +should be looked upon as a kind of machinery, +which no one in his senses would +attempt to handle unless he knew the use +of them.</p> + +<p>The abominable practice of those to whom +firearms belong, or those in the charge or +care thereof, of keeping or leaving such +weapons loaded, so that they may at any +moment fall into the hands of children, or +perhaps, what is worse still, inexperienced +adults, is most seriously to be condemned, and +may be designated really as a criminal act, +which ought to be summarily punished.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is an act which has no real motive, no +real <i>bonâ fide</i> object, and is lawless and idle +in the extreme,—an act which has resulted in +the death of its thousands, and the maiming +of even more.</p> + +<p>A weapon should never be brought within +the portals of a man's house loaded; the +breech-loading cartridge can be easily withdrawn. +If the piece is a muzzle-loader it +should be discharged after the day's sport is +over; ammunition is really not so very costly +as to require to be husbanded at the probable +cost of a serious accident, or perhaps a fellow-creature's +life. This rule cannot be too strictly +adhered to. Some years ago it was my lot +to be staying with a gentleman of eccentric +habits, a man of violent temper, and when in +one of these fits really not answerable for his +actions. I was aware that he kept a full-sized +revolver loaded with ball, and capped, +in his dressing-room. I confess I was coward +enough to let this matter trouble me. I felt +I could stand up and face death with any one +in the field, fighting in a good cause and +armed as others; but to be taken advantage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +of at any moment, and perhaps shot down +like a dog, was rather too much. I therefore +resolved in my own mind, not only to disarm +my friend but to render his weapon useless; +but how to accomplish this was the question, +as to raise any suspicion would perhaps bring +down wrath upon my own head. I therefore +resolved to leave everything precisely intact +till an opportunity should present itself. The +very next day the time arrived, and during +this Grand Turk's absence I hastily removed +the caps from off the nipples of the revolver, +and having exploded them upon the nipples +of his double-barrelled gun, I pinched them +back into their original shape and replaced +them on the revolver. I then put the box of +caps into my pocket and felt perfectly secure, +and could have sat and been fired at without +the slightest fear. This gentleman shortly +afterwards was seized with paralysis of the +brain, and ended his days in a madhouse. +No one, I believe, ever suffered any inconvenience +from the revolver, and what became +of it I know not.</p> + +<p>If leaving weapons about is necessary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +(which I do not for a moment admit), then +most assuredly they should be rendered +harmless by being left unloaded, and thus +the means of rendering them destructive +would be kept out of the way of meddlers. +All ammunition should, as a rule, be kept in +some secret and safe place, and always under +lock and key. Every man knows that edged +tools are dangerous, consequently that the +leaving loaded firearms within the reach of +anybody who may chance to come across +them is simply leaving means of destruction +unprotected, and he should bear in mind +that this mischief of his own neglect might +accidentally at any moment be wielded +against himself.</p> + +<div class='poem'> +'How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds,<br /> +Makes deeds ill done.<br /> +<div class='sig'> +<span class="smcap">Shakespeare</span>: <i>King John.</i><br /> +</div></div> + +<p>The responsibility of those possessing firearms +is great, and proper precautions and +proper care cannot be too strictly enforced. +Care costs nothing, and may be the means of +preventing loss of life and many a deplorable +accident. The precautions necessary to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +borne in mind in the safe use of firearms for +one's own protection, as well as the protection +of others, are voluminous, and so varied are +they that it is with difficulty they can be all +dealt with in this little treatise; it is only +therefore proposed to mention some of them, +and detail a few important hints for the +guidance of the unwary. Generally speaking, +if a man will not exercise a little gumption, +care, and discretion, when in the society of a +shooting-party similarly armed as he is himself, +he must put up with the consequences. +Accidents in properly regulated families +should never happen. Since the introduction +of the breech-loader there is no excuse for +any man carrying a loaded weapon and +swinging the muzzle of it about when carrying +it on his shoulder (which is often done), +bringing every one in his rear in the line of +fire of the piece. A man can load his piece +now when he arrives upon the ground in a +moment; and should a bird rise, with the +present facilities given by the breech-loader, +there is ample time to load and bring the +bird down without the slightest difficulty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +For any man therefore, when not in the field, +to strut about with a loaded weapon in his +possession now-a-days is simply bombastic +tomfoolery.</p> + +<p>To carry a gun gracefully and properly is +an art. It should never be so carried or +wielded as to be a risk to the possessor, +or any one. The following are a few +ways how a gun should be carried:—For +safety, when commencing sport, the right +hand grasping the piece at the small of the +butt, the butt resting on the right hip or +thigh, muzzle up. The weapon can then, on +the rising of game, be at once safely presented.</p> + +<p>When carried on the shoulder it should +be always with <i>lock down</i>: this mode will so +elevate the barrels that the muzzles are far +above the heads of any one; even when at +close quarters, on the march, or when approaching +or returning from cover, this way +will be found easiest and with the least +possible fatigue, as the weight of the weapon +is centered in the stock held in the right +hand. To relieve the shoulder pass the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +hand up to the small, or neck of the butt; +at the same time seize the butt with the left +hand, then raise your gun to a perpendicular +position, carry it across the body, and place +it on the left shoulder. The left shoulder +can be relieved in a similar manner, <i>i.e.</i>, +pass the left hand to the small or neck of +the butt, at the same time seize the butt +with the right hand, raise the gun to a +perpendicular position, and carry it across +the body and place it on the right shoulder. +Never present, much less fire, when any +person, whether keeper or beater, intervenes +or is near the bird. Never fire over any +one, even if he what is called 'ducks,' or +stoops to allow of your doing so. A keeper +or beater should never be encouraged in, or +allowed to 'duck' or stoop; the practice is +a bad one, and should be for ever discountenanced. +If no one fired over a ducked +body the habit would soon fall into disuse. +Sportsmen and others would do well to bear +in mind that an accident deprives the injured +man from earning his livelihood, and the poor +wife and children suffer: better to forego taking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +a shot for safety sake and let the bird escape +for another day than run any risk. This +should be made a hard-and-fast rule among +sportsmen, and a law of sport.</p> + +<p>The left hand should never be placed upon +the gun till the bird has risen and <i>all is clear</i> +ahead. Coolness in the field is everything; +there should be no blundering, no hurry; a +man who knows the capabilities of his gun +can afford to be cool. He knows but too +well there is no occasion for haste; the cool +hand would pause after the bird rose, and +give it time to get fairly away before presenting.</p> + +<p>A gun should never be so wielded as to +bring its barrels in line with any one, or +the barrels athwart any one. When quite a +youth I remember being in the field, when +one of the party becoming fatigued from +the effects of a tight boot handed me his +gun; the friend, who evidently did not +appreciate the confidence placed in the +youngster, kept aloof—well to the right; +presently a bird rose, I hesitated; looking +at the bird. 'Fire! Fire! why don't you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +fire, sir?' exclaimed the old gentleman with +some warmth. 'How can I,' cried I, 'with +those peasants at work right in front?' The +effect was marvellous. The old gentleman, +thoroughly appreciating the caution, at once +joined me, and I had the benefit of my full +share of the sport.</p> + +<p>Firing when in thick cover and from behind +hedges should be conducted with caution, and +with a knowledge that all is clear on the +other side.</p> + +<p>Little observation will show whether your +companion has been accustomed to the use +of firearms. A man of reckless temperament, +one who would blaze away blindly, a devil-may-care +sort of fellow, should be avoided; +give him a very wide berth, and keep the +gentleman well on your extreme left. If +you can shunt him altogether so much the +better. A gun should never be carried in +the field at the trail; should never be carried +under the arm, hugging the lock; should +never be carried muzzle down, so that by +an accidental slip, or stumble, or fall, the +barrels may become choked with earth (which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +would burst the muzzle if not removed before +firing); should never be carried transversely +across the body with barrels pointing left. +When shooting, a man should be as much +upon his etiquette as he would be in my +lady's drawing-room; should mind his P's and +Q's, and remember that when in a china-shop +he should refrain from carrying his +umbrella under his arm.</p> + +<p>As a fact, the closing of one eye in taking +aim is unnecessary. The complete angle +of sight upon a given object can only be +obtained by the use of both eyes. Consequently +two objects cannot be seen distinctly +or clearly at the same instant, one +is clear while the others are blurred or misty; +hence it stands to reason, that in laying a gun +the top of the notch of the hindsight, the +apex of the foresight, and the object, can +be brought into line as accurately with both +eyes open as with one closed.</p> + +<p>An artilleryman can lay a gun perfectly +without closing one eye. The eyes should +not be less than 12 inches from the hindsight, +if from 2 to 3 feet so much the better,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +and a more accurate aim will be the +result.</p> + +<p>Upon the principle that the hand follows +the eye, a sportsman fixing both eyes upon +his bird can take as perfect an aim as he +could with one eye closed.</p> + +<p>This rule applies equally to all arms.</p> + +<p>A man when in the field or at practice +should keep his eyes about him; he should +remember whom he is with; that he may +be covered by a friend's gun or rifle at +any moment, and that as the abominable +and unnecessary proceeding of carrying +weapons loaded, when not actually in the +field, is the rule rather than the exception, +he may perhaps find himself accidentally +pinked at any moment, and when he little +expects it.</p> + +<p>I remember some years ago the magnificent +solemnity of a military funeral was brought +to a somewhat ludicrous termination by one +of the firing party shooting his comrade in +the stern. How the accident really occurred +I never could learn; but it was a fact that +the rear-rank man managed somehow to discharge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +his rifle, and pretty nearly blow off +the tail of his comrade's tunic.</p> + +<p>The wounded man, who was more frightened +than hurt, seemed not at all to relish +the joke. An old lady came to the rescue.</p> + +<p>This good old soul seems to have been in +the habit of carrying a flask, and, graciously +offering the 'pocket pistol,' suggested a drop +of the creature. The offer was most readily +accepted, but, I regret to say, the terror +of the injured man was so great that he +emptied the flask. He had evidently had +enough of soldiering and 'villainous saltpetre,' +for the very next day he sent in his +resignation.</p> + +<p>At ball practice men should refrain from +talking, joking, and that ungentlemanly pastime +known as <i>horse-play</i>. Their attention +should be directed to what they are about +to do and what others are doing, and +they should leave frivolities for some other +time.</p> + +<p>Many accidents in the field have occurred +when getting over stiles, gates, hurdles, stone +walls, and even through hedges.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>Within the beautiful glades of Kensington +Gardens stands a lasting memorial.</p> + +<div class='bbox'> +IN MEMORY OF<br /> +<big>SPEKE.</big><br /> +VICTORIA, NYANZA,<br /> +<small>AND THE NILE.</small><br /> +1864.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Here is a terrible record of an awful death +through carelessness. A noble life lost, sacrificed +in a moment. Poor Speke, who had +faced death often in many forms, met it at +last by his own hand.</p> + +<p>While out shooting, in getting through a +hedge he dragged his fowling-piece after him, +the muzzle towards his own body, when, the +lock becoming entangled in the brambles, his +immediate death was the result. Such a piece +of foolhardiness on the part of a man accustomed +to the use of firearms is astounding.</p> + +<p>Use dulls the edge of caution, and some +men, unhappily, who are accustomed to deal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +constantly with weapons and ingredients of +destruction, become not only careless but +indifferent and callous.</p> + +<p>There is a class of men who, if not kept +under surveillance, would probably be found +smoking their pipes in a powder-magazine, or +while sitting upon a barrel of gunpowder.</p> + +<p>Men are too prone to carry their weapons +at full-cock. This should never be done. If +alone, when getting through a hedge or over +any <i>impedimenta</i> the weapon should be laid +on the ground, parallel with the hedge, if +possible. After getting upon the other side, +the weapon should be drawn through with +the butt end towards the person.</p> + +<p>If you have a comrade or keeper with you, +hand him the weapon, muzzle up; get through +yourself, and then take the weapons from him, +<i>muzzle up</i>, and he can follow you with safety. +Always place your weapon upon half-cock (it +should never be at full-cock) before attempting +to go through a hedge or over a stile.</p> + +<p>When two or more gentlemen take the +field together, it is advantageous to work the +ground in the formation of échelon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>The whole field will by this means be +thoroughly searched for game, and each man +can fire clear of the other, commanding his +own ground and the whole field within the +range of the respective guns.</p> + +<p>When about to commence practice with +the rifle or revolver the firing party should +be placed well to the front, and should never +load, or be allowed to load, until all preliminaries +are arranged, and the words, +'Ready! go on!' are given.</p> + +<p>This command or caution will, of necessity, +place every one upon his guard.</p> + +<p>When the piece is loaded, the finger with +which the trigger is drawn should on no +account be placed within the trigger-guard till +the weapon is raised and the aim about to be +taken; and with the rifle until the weapon is +presented, after being put upon full-cock.</p> + +<p>In firing with a pistol, or revolver, the +proper finger with which to draw the trigger +is the second finger, not the index finger, as +generally used. The index finger should be +placed horizontally along the barrel, on the +side of the weapon, which is most important—which,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +as a means of securing steadiness +and leverage, tends not only to reduce the +difficulty of the pull, but also tends to prevent +depression of the muzzle, which is sure +to take place if the forefinger is used, particularly +when the trigger has the minimum +five-pounds' pull.</p> + +<p>When a gun, rifle, pistol, or revolver, is at +full-cock, and it is desired to place it upon +half-cock, as is often done, it should be +so altered, with great care, as follows:—</p> + +<p>The hammer should be lowered gently to +the full extent of the spring, and should then +be carefully drawn back till the distinct <i>click</i> +of the half-cock is heard; then the weapon is +as safe as an arm can be when loaded, and +cannot be accidentally discharged.</p> + +<p>To place a weapon from full to half-cock, +by not lowering the hammer to the full extent +of the spring, and then drawing it back +to half-cock as before described, is a most +dangerous practice, as the hammer may not +be properly inserted in the clip, and an accident +might be the result. A man once having +taken up his position at the firing-point, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +having loaded his piece, should never return +into the company of his comrades till his +piece (particularly if a pistol or revolver) is +discharged, or till all its chambers have been +expended. If it is necessary for him to +rejoin his comrades after his piece is loaded, +or after any of the chambers have been expended, +he should leave the weapon behind +him at the firing-point, and should place it, +<i>muzzle down</i>, in a hole or slot purposely made +in the table before him to receive it, which +hole in the table should have the word +'<span class="smcap">Loaded</span>' written legibly near it.</p> + +<p>If there is no table, then the weapon should, +if at full-cock, be placed upon half-cock, as +before described, and then laid carefully upon +the ground, muzzle pointing towards the target, +and slightly inclined to the left thereof, +so as to be clear of it, which will allow of +the target being examined, if necessary, without +the examiner coming within the direct +line of fire of the weapon; but the table with +a hole in it is the safest method, and is +recommended.</p> + +<p>A couple of stakes with a rope from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +firing-point to the target should be used, as a +precaution to keep back idle curiosity-seekers +from placing themselves within danger on the +firing party's left.</p> + +<p>No one should, upon any pretence whatever, +place himself, or be allowed to place +himself, on, or even near, the firing party's +left side. The reason is obvious, as it will be +found invariably in practice that a man, when +loading with a breech-loader, will naturally +incline the muzzle of his piece, and so innocently +place those immediately upon his left +within its range.</p> + +<p>If it is necessary to address a man when at +the firing-point all interlocution should be +addressed to him on his right; so the +Instructor should place himself on the right +and rather behind the practitioner, and as +close to him as convenient, so as not to incommode +his freedom.</p> + +<p>Some men are naturally nervous, particularly +when at ball practice, and for this reason +all but novices should be left alone, as they +will perhaps make better scoring if not interfered +with.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>All spectators should take ground well in +rear of the alignment of the firing-point, and +on its right flank. The practice of taking up +weapons and going through the pantomime +of pointing them at the target, or pointing a +weapon at anything when not at actual +practice, is idle, and is to be condemned.</p> + +<p>Weapons set aside for practice should never +be meddled with.</p> + +<p>The party who takes his turn (if firing with +revolvers) should receive his weapon unloaded, +<i>muzzle up</i>, with the necessary amount of ammunition, +from the Instructor or Superintendent +in charge; he should then step to the front +or firing-point, load his piece himself, and get +rid of his cartridges as quickly as a due +regard to careful aim, &c., will admit; then +return his piece, <i>muzzle up</i>, to the Instructor, +who will carefully examine it and satisfy +himself that all the chambers have been +expended.</p> + +<p>Should a revolver miss fire, it is most +important that great caution should be used, +as it will sometimes '<i>hang fire</i>,' which the +cartridges of all weapons are liable to do at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +times.<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> When a cartridge does not explode +the revolver should be held in the same +position as much as possible, muzzle to the +front, or downwards, for a few seconds; +should it not then explode it may be examined, +the non-exploded cartridge removed +and condemned, and a new cartridge put in +its place. On no account should the condemned +cartridge be placed with or near live +cartridges.</p> + +<p>Firearms should never, under any pretence, +be pointed at anybody; even if +unloaded, such a practice is foolish and +unpardonable. No soldier except in action +would ever think of doing so, and no gentleman +could.</p> + +<p>The thoughtless practice of relinquishing +one's weapon into the hands of a friend, or, +even worse, a stranger, is against all military +rules, and in any case is strongly to be condemned, +and no excuse will palliate such an +offence; not even the assurance that the piece<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +is unloaded. A brother-comrade in the same +regiment is, perhaps, the only exception; but +even this is objectionable, except in extreme +cases. As a rule, a soldier should never +<i>relinquish</i> his piece, even to a General or +a Field Officer.</p> + +<p>Firearms generally, and particularly revolvers, +when loaded or unloaded, should +never be laid upon a table so that the muzzle +can accidentally cover any one. If they must +be relinquished by the owner they should be +placed in a corner of the room farthest from +the door, leaning against the wall, muzzle +down, so that they cannot fall. If loaded +they may, when practicable, be laid upon a +side-table, muzzle towards the wall. Guns or +rifles should be stood muzzle up in their +place in the rack, or, if there is no rack, then +in a corner of the room farthest from the +door, to prevent surprise. No weapon of any +kind should be carried or put down, or left at +full-cock, and no loaded weapon should be +left unprotected. They should, if loaded, be +in the charge of some trustworthy and responsible +person; but in the time of war no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +man would be so foolish as to relinquish his +piece, either by night or by day.</p> + +<p>To sportsmen and others, with the great +facilities for loading and unloading afforded +by the breech-loading system, there can be +no excuse for leaving a weapon charged +when it can so easily be rendered harmless.</p> + +<p>There are many theories as to the proper +way to present a pistol or revolver.</p> + +<p>Every man has some idea upon the subject, +and perhaps it would be well to leave every +one to his own devices; but at the same time +a suggestion here, as we are upon the subject, +may not be out of place.</p> + +<p>The French carry the weapon muzzle up, +the lock of the piece in line with the ear. +Upon taking aim, the muzzle is gradually +depressed till the object it is desired to hit is +covered. This is no doubt a very good way; +but when firing at any distance beyond a +point-blank range it necessitates, firstly, the +depression of the muzzle to cover the object, +and secondly, the necessary elevation must be +taken so that the ball may be carried the +required distance, and so <i>hit</i> the object.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>This position of holding the weapon when +at practice commends itself on the ground of +safety.</p> + +<p>The preferable way, perhaps, is the old +duelling style; that is, to hold the weapon +muzzle down at the full extent of the right +arm, standing sideways or three-quarters left, +showing as small a front as possible, the eye +to be fixed steadily upon the bull's eye or +centre of the target or object, then gradually +raising the arm to the required elevation. +Should the distance be beyond the point-blank +range, after covering the bull's eye +continue to elevate till the required elevation +is reached: by then steadily and firmly increasing +the pressure of the second finger on +the trigger the desired result will be obtained. +Suddenly drawing or jerking the trigger +should be avoided.</p> + +<p>By the latter means the object is covered +at the same time as the foot of the target is +covered, so that in the event of the trigger +being drawn before the bull's eye is reached +the target will be hit, and assuming the +target to be a man he would be disabled and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +the object gained. Another important reason +for advocating the use of the second finger +in drawing the trigger is the fact that the +weight of the military revolver (2 lbs. 8 oz.), +together with the power required to draw +the trigger (5 lbs. pull), by the long tension +of the muscles of the arm, in aiming, +causes a vibration, so that the farther the +bullet has to travel the farther it is thrown +off the centre of the objective. The first +finger, therefore, placed along the barrel or +side of the pistol, acting as a lever, tends to +reduce almost to a minimum the spasmodic +muscular vibration; again, in drawing the +trigger with the forefinger the hardness of +the pull tends to depress the muzzle, while +with using the second finger as before described +this depression is almost impossible.</p> + +<p>In rifle-shooting, as also in that of the +pistol and revolver, the ordinary method +should be reversed; that is, instead of commencing +at 100 yards from the target, the +practice should commence at the longest +range, and the target should be gradually +approached as if it were an actual enemy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>In revolver practice I would recommend +all who desire to become thoroughly efficient +to commence at say 100 yards from the +target, and to gradually reduce the range +to not less than 20 yards. This would +accustom the practitioner to get a thorough +knowledge of the capabilities of the weapon, +and to learn the required amount of elevation +necessary. It must be remembered that the +Military Regulation Revolver will kill at +300 yards.</p> + +<p>I have myself shot with a 320-bore revolver, +eight grains of powder, bullet eighty grains, +at a regulation target at 200 yards, and have +made very fair practice: in fact, the long +range is far preferable for practice, as being +not only beneficial, but a more exciting pastime +than the ordinary range.</p> + +<p>To those who do not possess a regulation +iron target, I would recommend one similar +to that which I have sometimes used. (<i>Vide</i> +diagram.) This target is made of a simple +framework of wood, covered with canvas and +layers of paper pasted thereon. It has the +double advantage of having the Martini-Smith<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +target in the centre, and the remaining +portion, having the exact size of +a man traced thereon, has one other advantage +in at once showing the result of the +practice. This target can be used over and +over again, as, after use, the perforations can +be pasted over with small pieces of paper, +and when well riddled, it can be re-covered; +and the thicker it becomes the better.</p> + +<p>No one should attempt to fire ball-cartridge +anywhere but at a proper range. Firing +in small back-gardens, against brick or stone +walls and trunks of trees, should never be +allowed. Bullets will rebound or go off at a +tangent, and do serious mischief.</p> + +<p>When a bullet once leaves the muzzle of a +rifle, pistol, or revolver, by the evolution of +gunpowder-gas, there is no dependence upon +it as to where it may stop, or what damage +it may do, and bullets upon hitting hard +ground will ricochet; therefore, to those who +wish to enjoy security at practice, I would +advise the selection of ground free from habitation, +or where no people are at work—some +secluded spot where there is ample range, and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +if possible, a natural hill or mound to receive +the bullets.</p> + +<p>The military revolver will kill at 300 yards, +the Snider artillery carbine at 1800 yards, +and the Martini-Henry rifle at 3000 yards.<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a> +Too much dependence upon the use of the +slide of the back-sight for elevation in rifle +practice should be deprecated for more than +one reason: <i>e.g.</i>, assuming that a man has +been firing at 300 yards with his back-sight +adjusted to that range, and he is suddenly +ordered to advance at the double; if, at the +spur of the moment, he neglects to reduce his +sight, the result will follow that every shot +will go over the enemy. It is simply idle to +suppose for one moment that in the heat of +action a soldier could afford to fritter away +valuable time, or even be allowed to do so, in +adjusting back-sights. He would, if he were +properly instructed, when within 300 yards +place his back-sight level, and rely upon +his own skill in judging what elevation he +should use.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> +<p>It is better to fire low than high. A low shot +will usually ricochet, particularly upon +striking hard ground, greensward, or a wet +clay soil, and, consequently, will do damage. +Very nearly two thirds of the bullets in +action are lost by going over the heads of +the enemy.</p> + +<p>In the instruction of men in the use of the +rifle valuable time is wasted, and too much +importance is attached to useless detail. Let +a man be placed before the ordinary regimental +target, at an unknown distance, with +the figure of a man traced thereon, assuming +the target to be an enemy similarly armed +with himself; let him understand that he +must take his chance of hitting his man or +being hit himself; and let him fire at this +target with the back-sight level, judging his +own distance and the necessary elevation required: +this calculation (not a very difficult +one, after a little practice) could easily be +come to while in the act of loading. The +result of the first shot would determine the +required elevation, and by taking pains, bull's +eyes and centres would soon be obtained.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is submitted that this mode of procedure +would create an interest in the practice of the +soldier, tending to cause a healthy reaction; +men would take more pains, and try to beat +their comrades, as there would be a greater +stimulus to do so than by the present system. +Men, as it is, go to their practice without +the slightest interest therein, and get rid of +the ammunition as soon as possible, in order +to get off duty. The real reason why we +have such excellent shots in the Volunteers +is accounted for by the fact that they not +only take an interest in the work, but take +pains in everything they do, the result being +success.</p> + +<p>Much significance is attached to the bull's-eye +mania. It should be borne in mind that +a man is a large object at which to aim; that +so long as he can be crippled there is no necessity +to kill. To disable a man so that he +can do no more mischief is sufficient.</p> + +<p>Any man can make a scale of elevation in +his own mind, and, with practice, fire at any +range without putting up the sight, and can +fire standing. My theory is as follows:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>Up to 100 yards the range is point-blank, +that is, aim direct on the bull's eye; for 200 +yards, raise the muzzle, say one foot above +the bull's eye; for 300 yards, two feet above +the bull's eye, and so on. A few trial-shots +will soon settle the question, and practice +makes perfect. A man will thus be independent +of the back-sight of his rifle. This +refers to shooting in the open. Of course, +under cover, when time and circumstances +admit, the back-sight can be used with great +advantage.</p> + +<p>A man in shooting with a pistol or revolver +has to judge his own distance and the necessary +elevation. Why should not the same +rule apply directly to the rifle? I have seen +excellent practice at 400 yards with a Snider +carbine, back-sight level, the man judging his +own elevation, and have been very successful +myself, and have found the above rule apply, +with slight variations.</p> + +<p>In rifle contests all artificial nonsense, such +as coloured glasses, eye-shades, kneeling upon +eider-down quilts, firing from shaded tents, +blackening sights, &c., should be discouraged.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +Let a man leave all such effeminacy and tomfoolery +at home, and shoot like a man, taking +circumstances as he would find them in the +open field <i>with an enemy</i> before him, using +such cover only as nature and circumstances +provide.</p> + +<p>There is infinite satisfaction attached to the +winning of an honour, when that honour has +to be obtained under difficulties which must +be surmounted. The more difficult the task +is, the more merit in overcoming it.</p> + +<p>Lastly. All firearms require constant attention, +and should be kept clean. After use they +should be immediately attended to, and never +put away dirty; should be kept in some dry +corner where rust cannot destroy, and they +should be occasionally overhauled and oiled +when necessary. Really valuable weapons +are sometimes ruined by neglect. The man +who takes no pride in his gun is no sportsman.<br /><br /><br /></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> I have known instances of pistols and fowling-pieces +hanging fire for two or three seconds after the +hammer has fallen, and then suddenly go off.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> Vide <i>Minor Tactics</i>, by Lieut.-Colonel Clery, 1883.</p></div> +</div> + + +<div class='copyright'><br /><br /><br />——————<br /> +LONDON:<br /> +Printed by <span class="smcap">Strangeways and Sons</span>, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's Lane<br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class='tnote'> +<h4>Transcriber's Notes:</h4> +<p>Clicking on the image at the front will provide the reader with a larger +version.</p> +<p><a href="#Page_38">Page 38</a>, "The" changed to "the" (the Snider artillery carbine)</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hints on the Use and Handling of +Firearms Generally, and the Revolver in Particular, by Lieut. 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H. Onslow Curling + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hints on the Use and Handling of Firearms Generally, and the Revolver in Particular + +Author: Lieut. H. Onslow Curling + +Release Date: July 29, 2010 [EBook #33287] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HINTS OF THE USE AND HANDLING OF FIREARMS *** + + + + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet +Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +HINTS ON THE USE AND HANDLING OF FIREARMS GENERALLY, AND THE REVOLVER IN +PARTICULAR. + +BY LIEUT. H. ONSLOW CURLING, C. L. A. B. + +_'Nunquam non paratus.'_ + + LONDON: + DULAU & CO., 37 SOHO SQUARE. + _All Rights Reserved._ + + 1885. + + + + + LONDON: + PRINTED BY STRANGEWAYS AND SONS, + Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's Lane. + + + + +HINTS ON THE USE AND HANDLING OF FIREARMS, _&c._ _&c._ + + 'He, that rides at high speed, and with + His pistol kills a sparrow flying.' + SHAKESPEARE: _Henry IV._ + + +THE National Rifle Association may fairly claim the honour of +introducing, at their meeting in July 1885, the subject of Military +Revolver practice in this country. For years past the want of such a +movement has been felt, but the many obstacles to be overcome have been +so vast that no one seems to have cared to venture upon the matter, and +so it has slept. + +The great drawback has been, and is now, to find suitable ranges +anywhere near London. Such ranges, the use of which is enjoyed by our +Citizen Army, are insufficient, and the expense of keeping them up is +considerable, falling heavily upon the corps to whom they belong. + +The National Rifle Association, although they offered some 40_l._ in +prizes, and provided not only revolvers but ammunition, for a small +consideration, or entrance fee, met with but poor support; but it should +be borne in mind that this was the first year of such a competition, and +it was in consequence not generally known of. Very little was known of +the movement till it actually took place, and then only when noticed by +the press the day after its introduction. + +Again, it should be remembered that the entries were restricted to +officers, warrant officers, and petty officers, of her Majesty's land +and sea forces, and doubtless this restriction accounted for the spare +attendance. Every Englishman belonging to the auxiliary forces should +hail with pleasure the opportunity offered of making himself master of +this useful weapon; one that in skilled hands is most deadly at long or +short ranges, and a thorough knowledge of the use of which might at any +moment be the means of saving another's life from an opposing force when +no other weapon was at hand. + +The difficulty in using even an ordinary pistol with accuracy is, and +always has been, an acknowledged fact, as it requires great practice to +enable a man to make his mark as a crack shot. Some men would perhaps +miss a haystack at twenty yards, while others, with little practice, +soon become excellent shots at very small objects. It is marvellous the +accuracy with which the professional burglar has of late years used his +revolver against the police and others; but it may be accounted for by +the fact that these men use a small, light weapon, easily carried and +much easier wielded than the military regulation revolver, which weighs +2 lbs. 8 oz.; that they invariably take what may be termed flying +shots--and it should be remembered that a full-sized man at +comparatively close quarters presents a very large target. I venture to +affirm that if these burglarious minions of the moon, who make night +hideous, were compelled to stand before a Martini-Smith target (a foot +square) at twenty yards, with a military regulation revolver, they would +make but sorry marksmen. + +The use of the military revolver is acknowledged to be a question of +great importance, as one not only affecting those who embrace the +profession of arms, but those who travel; and as no one knows when he +may be called upon, or where he may be, it is imperative that he should +gain a thorough knowledge of every minor detail, most useful in the hour +of need, and which will enable him not only to protect himself with +confidence, but to come to the assistance of the weak should occasion +require. + +It is to be deplored that what once formed part of the education of a +gentleman--_i.e._ the use of the small sword and broadsword--should have +been so thoroughly neglected of late years in this country. That part of +the education of youth seems to have become quite a secondary +consideration. + +General Sir Charles Napier has truly said, 'Young men have all the +temptations in the world to pleasure, none to study; consequently, they +some day find themselves conspicuous for want of knowledge, not of +talent.' + +The introduction of the Breech-loader has revolutionised firearms. When +we look back upon the extraordinary achievements of arms during the +present century, with the comparatively crude weapons then in use as +compared with the marvellous inventions of the present moment, it is +simply astounding what results were obtained. + +The terrible work done by the old Brown Bess, with its unique +flint-and-steel lock of its day, at Waterloo and elsewhere, is now +matter of history. In those days artillery and cavalry had a chance of +existence in the field, they have scarcely any now. The old flint lock, +although it has had its day, has done its work well, and is entitled to +veneration. Many a noble fellow has bit the dust from its spark, and +England's first and greatest battles were fought and won by its aid. The +Nipple and Percussion Cap came next into use, and subsequently the +Breech-loader; but since Rifles have superseded military smooth-bore +weapons, the old spherical ball has been condemned. + +The breech-loading rifled arm of the present day may be looked upon as a +marvel of modern ingenuity; as combining exquisite manufacture, +extraordinary precision, and unequalled range. The latter may be +accounted for by the conical shape of the bullet, and the rotary motion +given thereto by the grooving of the barrel; and lastly, from the full +force of the evolution of gas consequent upon the powder being enclosed +in a copper tube which is inserted in the breech when loading the piece. + +The barrel of the Breech-loading Rifle is by its own action of firing +kept comparatively clean, as compared with the old Muzzle-loader; for +with the breech-loader any fouling of the barrel is driven out by the +discharge, and the powder in the cartridge is kept perfectly free from +any contamination with the moisture adhering to the barrel by its copper +case and being inserted in the breech; whereas in the old muzzle-loading +weapon the barrel, after the first discharge, becomes lubricated, and +consequently a portion of the powder poured down the barrel adhered to +its moist sides, thereby becoming deteriorated and decreasing the +explosive force. As a weapon of precision the Snider is perhaps +preferable to the Martini-Henry; but, of course, this is matter of +opinion. + +The sportsman of the good old school would be somewhat astonished, and +would perhaps feel uncomfortable, upon finding himself armed with a +breech-loading fowling-piece of the present day, particularly as +prejudices are strong and obstinacy very prevalent among some people, +and the keen eye of the old sportsman would view the modern innovation +upon his rights--as he would probably call them--with dread, suspicion, +and distrust. + +It is a fact, even at the present time, that there are many old farmers +in England who use their ancient flint-and-steel fowling-pieces from +choice in preference to modern weapons. + +The cool old sportsman of days gone by would sally forth in quest of +game, having previously overhauled his lock, and, if necessary, +adjusted a new flint, with as much care as an angler would examine his +tackle previous to a day's sport, as he well knew that success depended +upon vigilance and care. There was no blustering and banging away in +those days, as soon as a bird rose, as is unhappily too often the case +now-a-days, resulting in either blowing the bird all to pieces or +probably missing it altogether. No, the keen eye of the old school would +coolly watch his bird rise, take a pinch of snuff, cock his piece, cover +his bird, and then bring it down, allowing it to get well away before +drawing the trigger. + +Many a young gentleman calling himself a sportsman knows little of the +capabilities of the weapon he wields, and cares less; his whole aim is +to see how many head of game he can bag, and to blaze away is the order +of the day, to the astonishment of poor Ponto, who, if he chance to run +within range, sometimes gets a charge of shot in his tail. + +In the Royal Navy the use and practice of the pistol, and latterly of +the revolver, has always been kept up. Consequently the Jack Tar knows +more about the pistol and the military revolver than most men give him +credit for. In boarding vessels, for instance, the pistol was one of the +arms used. The importance of the revolver movement as inaugurated by the +National Rifle Association has resulted in the formation of a club +called 'The Metropolitan Revolver Club.' This Club, which is in its +infancy, has many obstacles to surmount, but it is to be hoped that the +Provisional Committee will be able to carry out the object in view, +which is, according to the programme, as follows:-- + + 'That this Club be formed, having for its object + the provision of facilities for acquiring a + thorough knowledge of and proficiency in the use + of the Military Revolver.' + +DUDLEY WILSON, Esq., 2 Pall Mall, is the Honorary Secretary, and may +success attend him. + +To the inexperienced, the revolver is, perhaps, as deadly a weapon as +can well be handled; and to no class is this fact so well known as to +naval and military men. The many deplorable accidents resulting from the +incautious handling of firearms is terrible to contemplate; and +sportsmen and military men have frequently fallen victims to +carelessness, to say nothing of novices. The unfortunate part is, that +foolish and inexperienced people often inflict misery upon innocent +persons; unintentionally, it is true: but they are none the less guilty. +Firearms should be looked upon as a kind of machinery, which no one in +his senses would attempt to handle unless he knew the use of them. + +The abominable practice of those to whom firearms belong, or those in +the charge or care thereof, of keeping or leaving such weapons loaded, +so that they may at any moment fall into the hands of children, or +perhaps, what is worse still, inexperienced adults, is most seriously to +be condemned, and may be designated really as a criminal act, which +ought to be summarily punished. + +It is an act which has no real motive, no real _bona fide_ object, and +is lawless and idle in the extreme,--an act which has resulted in the +death of its thousands, and the maiming of even more. + +A weapon should never be brought within the portals of a man's house +loaded; the breech-loading cartridge can be easily withdrawn. If the +piece is a muzzle-loader it should be discharged after the day's sport +is over; ammunition is really not so very costly as to require to be +husbanded at the probable cost of a serious accident, or perhaps a +fellow-creature's life. This rule cannot be too strictly adhered to. +Some years ago it was my lot to be staying with a gentleman of eccentric +habits, a man of violent temper, and when in one of these fits really +not answerable for his actions. I was aware that he kept a full-sized +revolver loaded with ball, and capped, in his dressing-room. I confess I +was coward enough to let this matter trouble me. I felt I could stand up +and face death with any one in the field, fighting in a good cause and +armed as others; but to be taken advantage of at any moment, and +perhaps shot down like a dog, was rather too much. I therefore resolved +in my own mind, not only to disarm my friend but to render his weapon +useless; but how to accomplish this was the question, as to raise any +suspicion would perhaps bring down wrath upon my own head. I therefore +resolved to leave everything precisely intact till an opportunity should +present itself. The very next day the time arrived, and during this +Grand Turk's absence I hastily removed the caps from off the nipples of +the revolver, and having exploded them upon the nipples of his +double-barrelled gun, I pinched them back into their original shape and +replaced them on the revolver. I then put the box of caps into my pocket +and felt perfectly secure, and could have sat and been fired at without +the slightest fear. This gentleman shortly afterwards was seized with +paralysis of the brain, and ended his days in a madhouse. No one, I +believe, ever suffered any inconvenience from the revolver, and what +became of it I know not. + +If leaving weapons about is necessary (which I do not for a moment +admit), then most assuredly they should be rendered harmless by being +left unloaded, and thus the means of rendering them destructive would be +kept out of the way of meddlers. All ammunition should, as a rule, be +kept in some secret and safe place, and always under lock and key. Every +man knows that edged tools are dangerous, consequently that the leaving +loaded firearms within the reach of anybody who may chance to come +across them is simply leaving means of destruction unprotected, and he +should bear in mind that this mischief of his own neglect might +accidentally at any moment be wielded against himself. + + 'How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds, + Makes deeds ill done. + SHAKESPEARE: _King John._ + +The responsibility of those possessing firearms is great, and proper +precautions and proper care cannot be too strictly enforced. Care costs +nothing, and may be the means of preventing loss of life and many a +deplorable accident. The precautions necessary to be borne in mind in +the safe use of firearms for one's own protection, as well as the +protection of others, are voluminous, and so varied are they that it is +with difficulty they can be all dealt with in this little treatise; it +is only therefore proposed to mention some of them, and detail a few +important hints for the guidance of the unwary. Generally speaking, if a +man will not exercise a little gumption, care, and discretion, when in +the society of a shooting-party similarly armed as he is himself, he +must put up with the consequences. Accidents in properly regulated +families should never happen. Since the introduction of the +breech-loader there is no excuse for any man carrying a loaded weapon +and swinging the muzzle of it about when carrying it on his shoulder +(which is often done), bringing every one in his rear in the line of +fire of the piece. A man can load his piece now when he arrives upon the +ground in a moment; and should a bird rise, with the present facilities +given by the breech-loader, there is ample time to load and bring the +bird down without the slightest difficulty. For any man therefore, when +not in the field, to strut about with a loaded weapon in his possession +now-a-days is simply bombastic tomfoolery. + +To carry a gun gracefully and properly is an art. It should never be so +carried or wielded as to be a risk to the possessor, or any one. The +following are a few ways how a gun should be carried:--For safety, when +commencing sport, the right hand grasping the piece at the small of the +butt, the butt resting on the right hip or thigh, muzzle up. The weapon +can then, on the rising of game, be at once safely presented. + +When carried on the shoulder it should be always with _lock down_: this +mode will so elevate the barrels that the muzzles are far above the +heads of any one; even when at close quarters, on the march, or when +approaching or returning from cover, this way will be found easiest and +with the least possible fatigue, as the weight of the weapon is centered +in the stock held in the right hand. To relieve the shoulder pass the +hand up to the small, or neck of the butt; at the same time seize the +butt with the left hand, then raise your gun to a perpendicular +position, carry it across the body, and place it on the left shoulder. +The left shoulder can be relieved in a similar manner, _i.e._, pass the +left hand to the small or neck of the butt, at the same time seize the +butt with the right hand, raise the gun to a perpendicular position, and +carry it across the body and place it on the right shoulder. Never +present, much less fire, when any person, whether keeper or beater, +intervenes or is near the bird. Never fire over any one, even if he what +is called 'ducks,' or stoops to allow of your doing so. A keeper or +beater should never be encouraged in, or allowed to 'duck' or stoop; the +practice is a bad one, and should be for ever discountenanced. If no one +fired over a ducked body the habit would soon fall into disuse. +Sportsmen and others would do well to bear in mind that an accident +deprives the injured man from earning his livelihood, and the poor wife +and children suffer: better to forego taking a shot for safety sake and +let the bird escape for another day than run any risk. This should be +made a hard-and-fast rule among sportsmen, and a law of sport. + +The left hand should never be placed upon the gun till the bird has +risen and _all is clear_ ahead. Coolness in the field is everything; +there should be no blundering, no hurry; a man who knows the +capabilities of his gun can afford to be cool. He knows but too well +there is no occasion for haste; the cool hand would pause after the bird +rose, and give it time to get fairly away before presenting. + +A gun should never be so wielded as to bring its barrels in line with +any one, or the barrels athwart any one. When quite a youth I remember +being in the field, when one of the party becoming fatigued from the +effects of a tight boot handed me his gun; the friend, who evidently did +not appreciate the confidence placed in the youngster, kept aloof--well +to the right; presently a bird rose, I hesitated; looking at the bird. +'Fire! Fire! why don't you fire, sir?' exclaimed the old gentleman with +some warmth. 'How can I,' cried I, 'with those peasants at work right in +front?' The effect was marvellous. The old gentleman, thoroughly +appreciating the caution, at once joined me, and I had the benefit of my +full share of the sport. + +Firing when in thick cover and from behind hedges should be conducted +with caution, and with a knowledge that all is clear on the other side. + +Little observation will show whether your companion has been accustomed +to the use of firearms. A man of reckless temperament, one who would +blaze away blindly, a devil-may-care sort of fellow, should be avoided; +give him a very wide berth, and keep the gentleman well on your extreme +left. If you can shunt him altogether so much the better. A gun should +never be carried in the field at the trail; should never be carried +under the arm, hugging the lock; should never be carried muzzle down, so +that by an accidental slip, or stumble, or fall, the barrels may become +choked with earth (which would burst the muzzle if not removed before +firing); should never be carried transversely across the body with +barrels pointing left. When shooting, a man should be as much upon his +etiquette as he would be in my lady's drawing-room; should mind his P's +and Q's, and remember that when in a china-shop he should refrain from +carrying his umbrella under his arm. + +As a fact, the closing of one eye in taking aim is unnecessary. The +complete angle of sight upon a given object can only be obtained by the +use of both eyes. Consequently two objects cannot be seen distinctly or +clearly at the same instant, one is clear while the others are blurred +or misty; hence it stands to reason, that in laying a gun the top of the +notch of the hindsight, the apex of the foresight, and the object, can +be brought into line as accurately with both eyes open as with one +closed. + +An artilleryman can lay a gun perfectly without closing one eye. The +eyes should not be less than 12 inches from the hindsight, if from 2 to +3 feet so much the better, and a more accurate aim will be the result. + +Upon the principle that the hand follows the eye, a sportsman fixing +both eyes upon his bird can take as perfect an aim as he could with one +eye closed. + +This rule applies equally to all arms. + +A man when in the field or at practice should keep his eyes about him; +he should remember whom he is with; that he may be covered by a friend's +gun or rifle at any moment, and that as the abominable and unnecessary +proceeding of carrying weapons loaded, when not actually in the field, +is the rule rather than the exception, he may perhaps find himself +accidentally pinked at any moment, and when he little expects it. + +I remember some years ago the magnificent solemnity of a military +funeral was brought to a somewhat ludicrous termination by one of the +firing party shooting his comrade in the stern. How the accident really +occurred I never could learn; but it was a fact that the rear-rank man +managed somehow to discharge his rifle, and pretty nearly blow off the +tail of his comrade's tunic. + +The wounded man, who was more frightened than hurt, seemed not at all to +relish the joke. An old lady came to the rescue. + +This good old soul seems to have been in the habit of carrying a flask, +and, graciously offering the 'pocket pistol,' suggested a drop of the +creature. The offer was most readily accepted, but, I regret to say, the +terror of the injured man was so great that he emptied the flask. He had +evidently had enough of soldiering and 'villainous saltpetre,' for the +very next day he sent in his resignation. + +At ball practice men should refrain from talking, joking, and that +ungentlemanly pastime known as _horse-play_. Their attention should be +directed to what they are about to do and what others are doing, and +they should leave frivolities for some other time. + +Many accidents in the field have occurred when getting over stiles, +gates, hurdles, stone walls, and even through hedges. + +Within the beautiful glades of Kensington Gardens stands a lasting +memorial. + + IN MEMORY OF + SPEKE. + VICTORIA, NYANZA, + AND THE NILE. + 1864. + +Here is a terrible record of an awful death through carelessness. A +noble life lost, sacrificed in a moment. Poor Speke, who had faced death +often in many forms, met it at last by his own hand. + +While out shooting, in getting through a hedge he dragged his +fowling-piece after him, the muzzle towards his own body, when, the lock +becoming entangled in the brambles, his immediate death was the result. +Such a piece of foolhardiness on the part of a man accustomed to the use +of firearms is astounding. + +Use dulls the edge of caution, and some men, unhappily, who are +accustomed to deal constantly with weapons and ingredients of +destruction, become not only careless but indifferent and callous. + +There is a class of men who, if not kept under surveillance, would +probably be found smoking their pipes in a powder-magazine, or while +sitting upon a barrel of gunpowder. + +Men are too prone to carry their weapons at full-cock. This should never +be done. If alone, when getting through a hedge or over any +_impedimenta_ the weapon should be laid on the ground, parallel with the +hedge, if possible. After getting upon the other side, the weapon should +be drawn through with the butt end towards the person. + +If you have a comrade or keeper with you, hand him the weapon, muzzle +up; get through yourself, and then take the weapons from him, _muzzle +up_, and he can follow you with safety. Always place your weapon upon +half-cock (it should never be at full-cock) before attempting to go +through a hedge or over a stile. + +When two or more gentlemen take the field together, it is advantageous +to work the ground in the formation of echelon. + +The whole field will by this means be thoroughly searched for game, and +each man can fire clear of the other, commanding his own ground and the +whole field within the range of the respective guns. + +When about to commence practice with the rifle or revolver the firing +party should be placed well to the front, and should never load, or be +allowed to load, until all preliminaries are arranged, and the words, +'Ready! go on!' are given. + +This command or caution will, of necessity, place every one upon his +guard. + +When the piece is loaded, the finger with which the trigger is drawn +should on no account be placed within the trigger-guard till the weapon +is raised and the aim about to be taken; and with the rifle until the +weapon is presented, after being put upon full-cock. + +In firing with a pistol, or revolver, the proper finger with which to +draw the trigger is the second finger, not the index finger, as +generally used. The index finger should be placed horizontally along the +barrel, on the side of the weapon, which is most important--which, as a +means of securing steadiness and leverage, tends not only to reduce the +difficulty of the pull, but also tends to prevent depression of the +muzzle, which is sure to take place if the forefinger is used, +particularly when the trigger has the minimum five-pounds' pull. + +When a gun, rifle, pistol, or revolver, is at full-cock, and it is +desired to place it upon half-cock, as is often done, it should be so +altered, with great care, as follows:-- + +The hammer should be lowered gently to the full extent of the spring, +and should then be carefully drawn back till the distinct _click_ of the +half-cock is heard; then the weapon is as safe as an arm can be when +loaded, and cannot be accidentally discharged. + +To place a weapon from full to half-cock, by not lowering the hammer to +the full extent of the spring, and then drawing it back to half-cock as +before described, is a most dangerous practice, as the hammer may not be +properly inserted in the clip, and an accident might be the result. A +man once having taken up his position at the firing-point, and having +loaded his piece, should never return into the company of his comrades +till his piece (particularly if a pistol or revolver) is discharged, or +till all its chambers have been expended. If it is necessary for him to +rejoin his comrades after his piece is loaded, or after any of the +chambers have been expended, he should leave the weapon behind him at +the firing-point, and should place it, _muzzle down_, in a hole or slot +purposely made in the table before him to receive it, which hole in the +table should have the word 'LOADED' written legibly near it. + +If there is no table, then the weapon should, if at full-cock, be placed +upon half-cock, as before described, and then laid carefully upon the +ground, muzzle pointing towards the target, and slightly inclined to the +left thereof, so as to be clear of it, which will allow of the target +being examined, if necessary, without the examiner coming within the +direct line of fire of the weapon; but the table with a hole in it is +the safest method, and is recommended. + +A couple of stakes with a rope from the firing-point to the target +should be used, as a precaution to keep back idle curiosity-seekers from +placing themselves within danger on the firing party's left. + +No one should, upon any pretence whatever, place himself, or be allowed +to place himself, on, or even near, the firing party's left side. The +reason is obvious, as it will be found invariably in practice that a +man, when loading with a breech-loader, will naturally incline the +muzzle of his piece, and so innocently place those immediately upon his +left within its range. + +If it is necessary to address a man when at the firing-point all +interlocution should be addressed to him on his right; so the Instructor +should place himself on the right and rather behind the practitioner, +and as close to him as convenient, so as not to incommode his freedom. + +Some men are naturally nervous, particularly when at ball practice, and +for this reason all but novices should be left alone, as they will +perhaps make better scoring if not interfered with. + +All spectators should take ground well in rear of the alignment of the +firing-point, and on its right flank. The practice of taking up weapons +and going through the pantomime of pointing them at the target, or +pointing a weapon at anything when not at actual practice, is idle, and +is to be condemned. + +Weapons set aside for practice should never be meddled with. + +The party who takes his turn (if firing with revolvers) should receive +his weapon unloaded, _muzzle up_, with the necessary amount of +ammunition, from the Instructor or Superintendent in charge; he should +then step to the front or firing-point, load his piece himself, and get +rid of his cartridges as quickly as a due regard to careful aim, &c., +will admit; then return his piece, _muzzle up_, to the Instructor, who +will carefully examine it and satisfy himself that all the chambers have +been expended. + +Should a revolver miss fire, it is most important that great caution +should be used, as it will sometimes '_hang fire_,' which the cartridges +of all weapons are liable to do at times.[A] When a cartridge does not +explode the revolver should be held in the same position as much as +possible, muzzle to the front, or downwards, for a few seconds; should +it not then explode it may be examined, the non-exploded cartridge +removed and condemned, and a new cartridge put in its place. On no +account should the condemned cartridge be placed with or near live +cartridges. + +Firearms should never, under any pretence, be pointed at anybody; even +if unloaded, such a practice is foolish and unpardonable. No soldier +except in action would ever think of doing so, and no gentleman could. + +The thoughtless practice of relinquishing one's weapon into the hands of +a friend, or, even worse, a stranger, is against all military rules, and +in any case is strongly to be condemned, and no excuse will palliate +such an offence; not even the assurance that the piece is unloaded. A +brother-comrade in the same regiment is, perhaps, the only exception; +but even this is objectionable, except in extreme cases. As a rule, a +soldier should never _relinquish_ his piece, even to a General or a +Field Officer. + +Firearms generally, and particularly revolvers, when loaded or unloaded, +should never be laid upon a table so that the muzzle can accidentally +cover any one. If they must be relinquished by the owner they should be +placed in a corner of the room farthest from the door, leaning against +the wall, muzzle down, so that they cannot fall. If loaded they may, +when practicable, be laid upon a side-table, muzzle towards the wall. +Guns or rifles should be stood muzzle up in their place in the rack, or, +if there is no rack, then in a corner of the room farthest from the +door, to prevent surprise. No weapon of any kind should be carried or +put down, or left at full-cock, and no loaded weapon should be left +unprotected. They should, if loaded, be in the charge of some +trustworthy and responsible person; but in the time of war no man would +be so foolish as to relinquish his piece, either by night or by day. + +To sportsmen and others, with the great facilities for loading and +unloading afforded by the breech-loading system, there can be no excuse +for leaving a weapon charged when it can so easily be rendered harmless. + +There are many theories as to the proper way to present a pistol or +revolver. + +Every man has some idea upon the subject, and perhaps it would be well +to leave every one to his own devices; but at the same time a suggestion +here, as we are upon the subject, may not be out of place. + +The French carry the weapon muzzle up, the lock of the piece in line +with the ear. Upon taking aim, the muzzle is gradually depressed till +the object it is desired to hit is covered. This is no doubt a very good +way; but when firing at any distance beyond a point-blank range it +necessitates, firstly, the depression of the muzzle to cover the object, +and secondly, the necessary elevation must be taken so that the ball may +be carried the required distance, and so _hit_ the object. + +This position of holding the weapon when at practice commends itself on +the ground of safety. + +The preferable way, perhaps, is the old duelling style; that is, to hold +the weapon muzzle down at the full extent of the right arm, standing +sideways or three-quarters left, showing as small a front as possible, +the eye to be fixed steadily upon the bull's eye or centre of the target +or object, then gradually raising the arm to the required elevation. +Should the distance be beyond the point-blank range, after covering the +bull's eye continue to elevate till the required elevation is reached: +by then steadily and firmly increasing the pressure of the second finger +on the trigger the desired result will be obtained. Suddenly drawing or +jerking the trigger should be avoided. + +By the latter means the object is covered at the same time as the foot +of the target is covered, so that in the event of the trigger being +drawn before the bull's eye is reached the target will be hit, and +assuming the target to be a man he would be disabled and the object +gained. Another important reason for advocating the use of the second +finger in drawing the trigger is the fact that the weight of the +military revolver (2 lbs. 8 oz.), together with the power required to +draw the trigger (5 lbs. pull), by the long tension of the muscles of +the arm, in aiming, causes a vibration, so that the farther the bullet +has to travel the farther it is thrown off the centre of the objective. +The first finger, therefore, placed along the barrel or side of the +pistol, acting as a lever, tends to reduce almost to a minimum the +spasmodic muscular vibration; again, in drawing the trigger with the +forefinger the hardness of the pull tends to depress the muzzle, while +with using the second finger as before described this depression is +almost impossible. + +In rifle-shooting, as also in that of the pistol and revolver, the +ordinary method should be reversed; that is, instead of commencing at +100 yards from the target, the practice should commence at the longest +range, and the target should be gradually approached as if it were an +actual enemy. + +In revolver practice I would recommend all who desire to become +thoroughly efficient to commence at say 100 yards from the target, and +to gradually reduce the range to not less than 20 yards. This would +accustom the practitioner to get a thorough knowledge of the +capabilities of the weapon, and to learn the required amount of +elevation necessary. It must be remembered that the Military Regulation +Revolver will kill at 300 yards. + +I have myself shot with a 320-bore revolver, eight grains of powder, +bullet eighty grains, at a regulation target at 200 yards, and have made +very fair practice: in fact, the long range is far preferable for +practice, as being not only beneficial, but a more exciting pastime than +the ordinary range. + +To those who do not possess a regulation iron target, I would recommend +one similar to that which I have sometimes used. (_Vide_ diagram.) This +target is made of a simple framework of wood, covered with canvas and +layers of paper pasted thereon. It has the double advantage of having +the Martini-Smith target in the centre, and the remaining portion, +having the exact size of a man traced thereon, has one other advantage +in at once showing the result of the practice. This target can be used +over and over again, as, after use, the perforations can be pasted over +with small pieces of paper, and when well riddled, it can be re-covered; +and the thicker it becomes the better. + +No one should attempt to fire ball-cartridge anywhere but at a proper +range. Firing in small back-gardens, against brick or stone walls and +trunks of trees, should never be allowed. Bullets will rebound or go off +at a tangent, and do serious mischief. + +When a bullet once leaves the muzzle of a rifle, pistol, or revolver, by +the evolution of gunpowder-gas, there is no dependence upon it as to +where it may stop, or what damage it may do, and bullets upon hitting +hard ground will ricochet; therefore, to those who wish to enjoy +security at practice, I would advise the selection of ground free from +habitation, or where no people are at work--some secluded spot where +there is ample range, and, if possible, a natural hill or mound to +receive the bullets. + +The military revolver will kill at 300 yards, the Snider artillery +carbine at 1800 yards, and the Martini-Henry rifle at 3000 yards.[B] Too +much dependence upon the use of the slide of the back-sight for +elevation in rifle practice should be deprecated for more than one +reason: _e.g._, assuming that a man has been firing at 300 yards with +his back-sight adjusted to that range, and he is suddenly ordered to +advance at the double; if, at the spur of the moment, he neglects to +reduce his sight, the result will follow that every shot will go over +the enemy. It is simply idle to suppose for one moment that in the heat +of action a soldier could afford to fritter away valuable time, or even +be allowed to do so, in adjusting back-sights. He would, if he were +properly instructed, when within 300 yards place his back-sight level, +and rely upon his own skill in judging what elevation he should use. + +It is better to fire low than high. A low shot will usually ricochet, +particularly upon striking hard ground, greensward, or a wet clay soil, +and, consequently, will do damage. Very nearly two thirds of the bullets +in action are lost by going over the heads of the enemy. + +In the instruction of men in the use of the rifle valuable time is +wasted, and too much importance is attached to useless detail. Let a man +be placed before the ordinary regimental target, at an unknown distance, +with the figure of a man traced thereon, assuming the target to be an +enemy similarly armed with himself; let him understand that he must take +his chance of hitting his man or being hit himself; and let him fire at +this target with the back-sight level, judging his own distance and the +necessary elevation required: this calculation (not a very difficult +one, after a little practice) could easily be come to while in the act +of loading. The result of the first shot would determine the required +elevation, and by taking pains, bull's eyes and centres would soon be +obtained. + +It is submitted that this mode of procedure would create an interest in +the practice of the soldier, tending to cause a healthy reaction; men +would take more pains, and try to beat their comrades, as there would be +a greater stimulus to do so than by the present system. Men, as it is, +go to their practice without the slightest interest therein, and get rid +of the ammunition as soon as possible, in order to get off duty. The +real reason why we have such excellent shots in the Volunteers is +accounted for by the fact that they not only take an interest in the +work, but take pains in everything they do, the result being success. + +Much significance is attached to the bull's-eye mania. It should be +borne in mind that a man is a large object at which to aim; that so long +as he can be crippled there is no necessity to kill. To disable a man so +that he can do no more mischief is sufficient. + +Any man can make a scale of elevation in his own mind, and, with +practice, fire at any range without putting up the sight, and can fire +standing. My theory is as follows:-- + +Up to 100 yards the range is point-blank, that is, aim direct on the +bull's eye; for 200 yards, raise the muzzle, say one foot above the +bull's eye; for 300 yards, two feet above the bull's eye, and so on. A +few trial-shots will soon settle the question, and practice makes +perfect. A man will thus be independent of the back-sight of his rifle. +This refers to shooting in the open. Of course, under cover, when time +and circumstances admit, the back-sight can be used with great +advantage. + +A man in shooting with a pistol or revolver has to judge his own +distance and the necessary elevation. Why should not the same rule apply +directly to the rifle? I have seen excellent practice at 400 yards with +a Snider carbine, back-sight level, the man judging his own elevation, +and have been very successful myself, and have found the above rule +apply, with slight variations. + +In rifle contests all artificial nonsense, such as coloured glasses, +eye-shades, kneeling upon eider-down quilts, firing from shaded tents, +blackening sights, &c., should be discouraged. Let a man leave all such +effeminacy and tomfoolery at home, and shoot like a man, taking +circumstances as he would find them in the open field _with an enemy_ +before him, using such cover only as nature and circumstances provide. + +There is infinite satisfaction attached to the winning of an honour, +when that honour has to be obtained under difficulties which must be +surmounted. The more difficult the task is, the more merit in overcoming +it. + +Lastly. All firearms require constant attention, and should be kept +clean. After use they should be immediately attended to, and never put +away dirty; should be kept in some dry corner where rust cannot destroy, +and they should be occasionally overhauled and oiled when necessary. +Really valuable weapons are sometimes ruined by neglect. The man who +takes no pride in his gun is no sportsman. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[A] I have known instances of pistols and fowling-pieces hanging fire +for two or three seconds after the hammer has fallen, and then suddenly +go off. + + +[B] Vide _Minor Tactics_, by Lieut.-Colonel Clery, 1883. + + + * * * * * + + LONDON: + Printed by STRANGEWAYS AND SONS, Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's Lane + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Page 38, "The" changed to "the" (the Snider artillery carbine) + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hints on the Use and Handling of +Firearms Generally, and the Revolver in Particular, by Lieut. H. 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