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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: The Modern Pistol and How to Shoot It - -Author: Walter Winans - -Release Date: December 12, 2012 [EBook #41610] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MODERN PISTOL, HOW TO SHOOT IT *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive.) - - - - - - - - - -By WALTER WINANS - - -The Art of Revolver Shooting. - - Royal 8vo. New Edition, Revised and Enlarged. - Fully Illustrated _net_, $5.00 - -The Sporting Rifle. - - Royal 8vo. Fully Illustrated _net_, $5.00 - -Automatic Pistol Shooting. - - 16mo. Illustrated _net_, $1.00 - -Practical Rifle Shooting. - - 16mo. Illustrated _net_, 50 cents - -Shooting for Ladies. - - 12mo. 50 cents - -Animal Sculpture. - - Crown 8vo. Illustrated _net_, $1.75 - - - G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS - NEW YORK LONDON - - - - -[Illustration: THE AUTHOR - -Photo by London Stereoscopic Co.] - - - - - The Modern Pistol - - And How to Shoot It - - - By Walter Winans - - Commander of the Royal Spanish Order of Isabel la Catolica; Commander - of the Royal Roumanian Order of the Crown; Officer of the Royal - Roumanian Order of the Star; Chevalier of the Russian Order of St. - Stanislaus; The Royal Swedish Medal of the Olympic Games; World's - Championship Gold Medallist, Olympic Games, London, 1908, for Double - Rifle Shooting; Vice-President of the National Rifle Association of - Great Britain; Life Member, National Rifle Association of the United - States of America; Life Member of the United States Revolver - Association; Member of the Association of American International - Riflemen; Revolver Champion for five years of the National Rifle - Association of Great Britain; Ten years Revolver Champion of the North - London Rifle Club; Seven years Revolver Champion of the South London - Rifle Club; Member of Le Pistolet Club, Paris, etc., etc. - - _With Forty-six Illustrations_ - - G. P. Putnam's Sons - New York and London - The Knickerbocker Press - 1919 - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1919 - BY - WALTER WINANS - - The Knickerbocker Press, New York - - - - -PREFACE - - -My first book on pistol shooting (_The Art of Revolver Shooting_) was -published in 1900. Up to that date there existed no book which contained -instruction on pistol shooting, though several books had appeared -describing the different makes of pistols. - -Since that date several books have appeared--some very good ones, by -various revolver experts. Unfortunately (as always happens when something -original appears), others who were not revolver shots took to writing -books on the same subject, largely made up of unacknowledged extracts from -my books. Not understanding their subject, they distorted my teaching, and -so any one trying to learn pistol shooting from them gets hopelessly -confused. - -I therefore give this warning; do not follow the advice of any but an -acknowledged expert in pistol shooting, as books by hack writers, made up -of extracts from other writers, and illustrations from gunmakers' -catalogues, are not to be taken seriously. - -Moreover, the revolver is now obsolete, and there is no use learning to -shoot it. - -My object in writing this book is to give instruction in the modern -substitute for the revolver. That is to say, the automatic pistol, and -incidentally, to instruct in the single shot or duelling pistol. - -For those who wish to study revolver shooting, I would refer them to my -book _The Art of Revolver Shooting_. - -The present work might be called volume ii. of _The Art of Revolver -Shooting_, as it instructs in the form of pistol shooting which has now -taken the place of revolver shooting. - -Though the revolver is now obsolete, my _Art of Revolver Shooting_ is of -interest, as giving details of out-of-date firearms, and the -best-on-record scores made with them. - -These records will be of the greatest importance for future generations. - -There are now no records extant of scores made with the long bow, the -cross-bow, and the various stone-hurling slings and balistæ. All -concerning them is legendary. - -If we depended only on newspaper articles for what was possible in -revolver shooting, we should get legends similar to those of obsolete -arms. - -I was credited with making a World's Record with a revolver at five -hundred yards by a reporter when it should have been fifty yards. He -merely added a nought to the figures. - -As all records are important for historical purposes, and for comparison -with future scores, I give as an appendix in this book those revolver -records which cannot now be beaten, the revolvers and cartridges being now -no longer made. - -It is curious how, even up to the outbreak of the Great War, people did -not understand that shooting was more important than playing games, or -that shooting had to be learned. - -I recently read a "trench anecdote" which relates that a man who had never -fired a shot before he was conscripted was shot in the back, and whilst -dying, "seized his rifle and dropped an enemy who was running past 200 -yards off." - -To do this would require a first-class trained rifle shot who specialized -in shooting at moving objects, and even he, with his back broken, could -not swing, which is the essence of successful shooting at moving objects. - -Another writer, a lieutenant, wrote during the war to one of the daily -papers, advising the purchase of a revolver to be deferred till actually -starting for the Front! - -I have had several men on leave bring me revolvers and automatic pistols, -asking me to test them, as they could not hit anything with them at the -Front. - -With one of these pistols I made the highest possible score at thirty -yards; with another I made ten out of twelve bulls at twenty yards. None -of the pistols was wrong. It was the men's lack of skill. - -Just before the war, several rifle ranges in England were closed, because -they interfered with golf players. - -It is to be hoped that after this war, men will spend their spare time in -learning rifle and pistol shooting instead of wasting it in games, and -will not close rifle ranges because they interfere with their golf links. - -The fallacy that games are the best training for military service is -exposed by a very interesting article in the _Field_ newspaper. - -I maintain that no man who has not the instinct to shoot ingrained in him, -will shoot when under intense excitement and danger. If he is a player of -games he will not shoot, but throw things at his adversary, or use his -rifle as a pike or club. - -Mr. John Lloyd Balderston, writing to the _Field_ newspaper of September -29, 1917, says: - - "An officer showed me his charges going through a mimic - attack--_firing rifle volleys instead of hurling bombs or going in - with the bayonet_; in these attacks reliance was placed too much on - the bayonet and bomb--now we have realized that when the enemy runs - away and you run after him he is likely to get away. Accordingly we - teach the men not to rush wildly along with the sole idea of - bayoneting, but to stop and pump some bullets after him." - -WALTER WINANS. - - January 1, 1919, - 17 AVENUE DE TERONEREN, - BRUXELLES, BELGIQUE. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - PREFACE iii - - CHAPTER - - I.--INTRODUCTION 1 - - II.--SPORT VERSUS SPORTS 6 - - III.--WHY PISTOL SHOOTING IS UNPOPULAR 13 - - IV.--THE WRONG WAY TO LEARN 16 - - V.--PRELIMINARY INFORMATION 20 - - VI.--HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS 26 - - VII.--HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS (_Continued_) 33 - - VIII.--TRIGGER-PULL 38 - - IX.--AMMUNITION 44 - - X.--FIRST LESSONS 46 - - XI.--LEARNING TO SHOOT 53 - - XII.--SIGHTS 62 - - XIII.--TARGETS 71 - - XIV.--PRACTICAL TARGETS 77 - - XV.--HOW TO HOLD THE PISTOL 80 - - XVI.--RUNNING SHOTS 86 - - XVII.--RUNNING SHOTS (_Continued_) 92 - - XVIII.--SHOOTING AN AUTOMATIC PISTOL 97 - - XIX.--TIMING APPARATUS 102 - - XX.--SNAP SHOOTING 104 - - XXI.--LONG RANGE SHOOTING 108 - - XXII.--THE AUTOMATIC PISTOL 113 - - XXIII.--THE MECHANISM OF THE AUTOMATIC PISTOL 118 - - XXIV.--PECULIARITIES AND FAULTS OF AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 125 - - XXV.--FINAL PRACTICE 132 - - XXVI.--EXHIBITION SHOOTING 135 - - XXVII.--CONTROL OF TEMPER 139 - - XXVIII.--THE EFFECT OF ALCOHOL AND NICOTINE ON SHOOTING 145 - - XXIX.--CLEANING AND CARE OF THE PISTOL 152 - - XXX.--PRACTICAL PISTOL SHOOTING 154 - - XXXI.--DANGER OF LEAVING PISTOLS ABOUT 160 - - XXXII.--USING ONE'S BRAINS IN SHOOTING 163 - - XXXIII.--THE PERFECT TARGET 166 - - XXXIV.--IS DUELLING WRONG? 171 - - XXXV.--REMARKS ON DUELLING 176 - - XXXVI.--REMARKS ON DUELLING (_Continued_) 180 - - XXXVII.--DETAILS AS TO DUELLING 185 - - XXXVIII.--OUGHT DUELLING TO BE ABOLISHED? 189 - - XXXIX.--HOW TO PREPARE A NOVICE IN HALF AN HOUR FOR A DUEL 194 - - XL.--PISTOLS FOR SELF-DEFENCE 200 - - XLI.--DRESS 207 - - XLII.--SELF-DEFENCE 212 - - XLIII.--PROTECTING THE EYES AND EARS 215 - - XLIV.--EYESIGHT 222 - - XLV.--THE WEATHER AND SHOOTING 226 - - XLVI.--MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 231 - - XLVII.--RECOIL 239 - - XLVIII.--JUDGING DISTANCE 243 - - XLIX.--GAME SHOOTING 249 - - L.--SHOOTING FROM HORSEBACK 253 - - LI.--GALLERY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 260 - - LII.--SHOOTING GALLERY 266 - - LIII.--THE GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY 270 - - LIV.--OPEN AIR RANGES 276 - - LV.--SHOOTING IN LITERATURE 280 - - LVI.--GRIP 285 - - LVII.--TRICK SHOOTING 291 - - LVIII.--THE DEVILLIERS BULLET 300 - - LIX.--KILLING INJURED ANIMALS 305 - - LX.--COMPETITIONS 313 - - LXI.--POLICE PISTOLS 317 - - LXII.--INVENTORS 320 - - LXIII.--SIMPLIFICATION 326 - - APPENDIX A 333 - - APPENDIX B. THE LAW RELATING TO REVOLVERS AND REVOLVER SHOOTING - IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND 351 - - APPENDIX C. THE LAW OF CARRYING WEAPONS IN THE UNITED STATES 360 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - PAGE - - THE AUTHOR _Frontispiece_ - - BREECH-LOADING PISTOLS 47 - - AUTHOR'S WINNING SCORE FOR GASTINNE-RENETTE COMPETITION, - APRIL 7, 1910 49 - - COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, POCKET MODEL, CALIBRE .32 52 - - COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL .22 TARGET MODEL 54 - - COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, MILITARY MODEL, CALIBRE .38 70 - - COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, MILITARY MODEL, CALIBRE .45 70 - - HOW TO HOLD THE DUELLING PISTOL (1) 82 - - HOW TO HOLD THE DUELLING PISTOL WITH SPUR (2) 83 - - COLT NEW SAFETY DISCONNECTOR AUTOMATIC PISTOL, .25 129 - - THE GASTINNE-RENETTE 16 METRES TARGET 168 - - ORNAMENTAL DUELLING PISTOLS BY GASTINNE-RENETTE 181 - - PISTOLS BY GASTINNE-RENETTE 183 - - COLT DERRINGER 203 - - COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL .25 205 - - UNITED STATES ARMY REGULATION .45 COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL 233 - - UNITED STATES ARMY REGULATION .45 COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL. - SECTIONAL VIEW 237 - - GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY 271 - - GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY--FIRING POINTS 273 - - SHIELD ON DUELLING PISTOL WITH GUARD FOR DEVILLIERS BULLET 301 - - THE GREENER KILLER 310 - - WINANS' REVOLVER FRONT SIGHTS 324 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 334 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 335 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 336 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 337 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 338 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 339 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS DISAPPEARING TARGET 340 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS DISAPPEARING TARGET 341 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS DISAPPEARING TARGET 342 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. SIX SHOTS IN 12 SECONDS 343 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR MILITARY REVOLVER AND SIGHTS 344 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS RAPID-FIRING TARGET 345 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR 3-INCH BULL'S-EYE TRAVERSING - TARGET, 20 YARDS 346 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR 2-INCH BULL'S-EYE TRAVERSING - TARGET, 20 YARDS 347 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE ADVANCING TARGET 348 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE FIFTY YARDS TARGET 349 - - TWELVE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SCORES MADE BY THE AUTHOR IN REVOLVER - COMPETITIONS AT 20 YARDS IN 1895 350 - - - - -The Modern Pistol and How to Shoot it - - - - -CHAPTER I - -INTRODUCTION - - -There is now no use learning revolver shooting. That form of pistol is -obsolete except in the few instances where it survives for target -shooting, or is carried for self-defence; just as flintlock muskets even -now survive in out-of-the-way parts of the world. - -If a man tries to defend himself with a revolver against another armed -with an automatic pistol he is at a great disadvantage. - -The automatic is more accurate than a revolver, as the "blow-back" does -not vary as much as does the escape of gas past the cylinder in a -revolver. - -The bullet in the revolver has to jump into the cylinder, whereas in the -automatic it is already fitted up against the rifling, before being -fired. - -The single-shot pistol is the most accurate of any, there being no escape -of gas. - -The automatic has not only a much longer range than the revolver (although -the popular idea that it can be shot accurately at a thousand yards or -more is nonsense) but it cocks itself instead of having to be cocked by -the thumb, or trigger finger. - -Cocking by trigger-pull is such a strain on, not only the trigger finger, -but the whole hand, that, after a few shots, good shooting cannot be made. - -I won all my rapid-firing revolver competitions using the single action -and cocking with the thumb, as this rested my trigger finger. - -With the automatic, cocking is unnecessary and, with its lighter recoil, -good scores in rapid-firing are very much easier to make. - -The penetration of the nickel-coated automatic bullet propelled by its big -charge of nitro powder is very great. - -A man brought me a "pistol-proof" cuirass to test; I put a bullet at -twelve yards clean through it and then through two "bullet proof" ones, -placed one behind the other. (I used a regulation U. S. .45 Automatic -pistol.) - -This was before the war. The inventor was disappointed. He had -experimented only with revolvers shooting soft leaden bullets and these -his cuirass had stopped. - -Unfortunately, in its present comparatively imperfect development, the -automatic is the most dangerous firearm of all pistols for a novice to -handle. - -The long barrel of a rifle can be struck aside if a beginner swings it -round and points it at the instructor or a nearby spectator, but the short -barrel of a pistol is easily pointed at and with difficulty brushed aside -by the unfortunate person standing near a "brandishing" and "flourishing" -man who is learning to shoot. - -In spite of all warnings even those who ought to know better do this -swinging about. In fact, it is the recognized way of handling a pistol; -according to reporters, they always say So and So "was brandishing a -pistol" if he happens to be armed. - -You can test the truth of the above remark by asking any one to show how -he would shoot a pistol. - -He will raise his hand above his head and then jerk it down. It is very -difficult to get any one to understand the danger and the futility of -doing this. - -Euclid tells us the shortest way from one point to another is a straight -line. Why then, in order to get the muzzle of your pistol on an object, -move it towards the stars first? - -_Never let the muzzle of any firearm, either loaded or unloaded, point in -the direction where it would do harm unintentionally if discharged._ - -I, once only, in all my experience, found a beginner who did _not_ do -this, and the beginner was a lady! - -After a few shots with a duelling pistol the wind blew the target down, -the pistol was loaded and at full-cock in her hands. I had seen enough of -how she handled a pistol, to know she had grasped the necessity of never -pointing where there is danger. - -The target blew down as she was beginning to aim at it; she raised the -muzzle vertically and put the pistol at half-cock, I at the same moment -going forward to put the target back in place. - -With any other beginner I would have taken the pistol with me when I went -up to the target. - -Smoking is one of the greatest enemies to good shooting, even more so than -alcohol. - -A drinking man may, for a time, shoot well, till his nerves are destroyed, -but smoking, long before it kills, makes a man unable to shoot well. He -has too much twitch in his muscles. - -It is curious how heavy smokers deceive themselves, and think it does them -no harm. - -At a dinner, a man told me that smoking could not possibly interfere with -a man's shooting. - -He said: "I can lift a tumbler full of water without spilling a drop." - -There were plenty of tumblers and a decanter before him, but he took very -good care not to demonstrate his contention. - -I looked for his hands; he had one carefully out of sight, behind him; the -other, with the eternal cigarette between the fingers, he was pressing -tightly to his waistcoat, but not tightly enough to prevent my seeing -that his hand was trembling as if with the palsy. - -Then, he added, to clinch his argument: - - It is all nonsense to pretend that smokers cannot stop smoking if they - want to; I stopped for a whole week and the only thing was that I did - not sleep and had no appetite; it was not worth it, so I began smoking - again. - -This is an extreme case, but all smoking, from the first whiff, is -cumulative poison, deteriorating the nerves. - -If a man gives up smoking and takes to pistol shooting in the open air, he -will find his nerves enormously strengthened and, as long as he guards his -ears from the concussion (which I will deal with later), his health much -improved. - -For elderly men also there is not the strain on the heart as in golf or -tennis. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -SPORT VERSUS SPORTS - - -When I wrote my book on revolver shooting, in 1900, I caused indignation -amongst many, by saying that the time wasted over games would be better -employed in learning to shoot. - -I was told that, although pistol shooting might be amusing, it was "such a -waste of time and of no practical use," and this by men who waste most of -their time over golf! - -Later, the Kipling poem on _Flanneled Fools and Muddied Oafs_ came out, -and there was an outcry as if one of the dogmas of the church had been -assailed. - -If games are so good for the health, why does one see so many young men -with round backs and contracted chests, and heads poking forward, in -England? - -Until the war is forgotten, shooting men will be considered as making -better use of their time than players of games, and the latter will not -consider themselves superior to all others, and, figuratively speaking, -carve footballs on the tombs of their heroes (as the feet were crossed on -the tombs of crusaders) to indicate the greatest deed of the deceased. - -A great deal of this worship of "Sports" is the confusion, owing to the -similarity of the sound and spelling, between "_sport_" and "_sports_." - -"_Sport_" is the backbone of all manhood. It is the hunting instinct -inherent in all healthy, normal males; it means the cultivation of skill -in shooting and horsemanship, and men proficient in it are ready to rise -in the defence of their country. - -This is what "_sport_" means. Now, however, the term "_sportsman_" is -employed to mean a man who has never fired a shot or swung his leg over a -horse, but one who is merely a kicker or hitter of balls, or worse, one -who sits sucking at a cigarette watching others playing games. The things -he indulges in are called "_sports_," and it is "_sports_" which, before -the war, were considered to overshadow all else, and were taught at -schools and colleges. - -A feeble old man, past active participation in "_sport_" can be, of -course, excused if he keeps himself in health by playing golf, but a -healthy young man should shoot or ride. - -The general public, not knowing the training necessary before a man can -either shoot or ride, imagines that there is no necessity to learn either. - -They think that the moment a man puts on a military uniform he can ride in -a cavalry charge, break wild horses, or hit a man a thousand yards off -with either pistol or rifle. - -Besides the absence of skill in shooting, there is not in such men the -_instinct_ to shoot. - -A shooting man has in him the instinct of shooting, so innate that he aims -and presses the trigger as instinctively as he lifts his foot when -stepping off the road on to the curb. - -He does not have to think at all. - -If he is crossing a field in which there is a savage bull, when carrying a -gun, rifle, or pistol, his only anxiety is not to be compelled to shoot. -It might get him into trouble with the farmer. Any danger to himself from -the bull he knows does not exist. - -A man who knows nothing about shooting, even if given a loaded pistol, -gun, or rifle, before crossing the field, would be more afraid of the -firearm going off than of the bull, and, if attacked, would club the gun -or rifle to hit the bull with, or would throw the pistol at it. - -Painters of battle pictures depict soldiers using their rifles as clubs or -pikes, not as shooting with them. - -As an artist myself, I know one excuse for this. - -You need a model who is a shooting man, to pose correctly for a soldier -shooting. Such a model is expensive, but you can get any one to pose as a -man clubbing with the butt end of his rifle. - -When I say that every able-bodied man should know how to shoot, and that -it is a disgrace if a man cannot both shoot and ride, I am answered: -"Shooting is a gift, I could not learn to shoot if I tried all my life." -This is nonsense. A man may be more apt for it, which generally means -that he has a liking for it; and this enables him to learn to shoot sooner -and to become a better shot. But any normal man, and with even moderately -good sight, can learn to shoot well enough to make of himself a very -dangerous opponent. - -It is the way shooting competitions are conducted (as I will explain -later), which makes shooting so uninteresting to the average man. - -It is to him like having to take a black draught of medicine. - -I confess the usual shooting gallery has the same effect on me; I always -pass by on the other side when I see the notice "SHOOTING GALLERY." - -The constant paragraphs in the papers announcing a "did not know it was -loaded" accident bear testimony to how ignorant the public are of even the -elementary knowledge (I will not say common sense), not to point a firearm -at another in play. - -The public think that a bullet goes only where the shooter wants it to go, -"You pull the trigger and the bullet does the rest" sort of idea. - -They believe the bullet goes direct of itself to that object and stops -there, when the trigger is pulled. They have no idea that the bullet may -miss that object and hit someone beyond. - -People will stand in the direct line of fire to watch a wounded buck in a -park being shot, and are indignant if asked to move to one side. - -They think it is absolutely safe to fire into the air, even in a crowded -city. They do not think that the falling bullet may do any injury. - -As there is only slight danger from falling shot, this fosters the idea. -They do not know the difference between a shotgun or rifle. Both are -"sporting rifles" to them and a military rifle is a "gun." - -A man does not put a razor to the throat of another in play, but he thinks -it "humour" to take up a firearm, point it at another and pull the -trigger. - -The extraordinary thing is that if the "did not know it was loaded" man -were taken to a range and asked to hit a target, he would miss it every -shot, but he never misses his victim when he is playing at the game of "I -did not know it was loaded." He kills his victim every time. - -The reason is that the fool takes very good care to go up to within a few -inches of his victim before killing him with his "I did not know it was -loaded" joke. - -Some people have no sense of humour. - -They handle horses in the same way, but, fortunately, animals make -allowance for ignorance in human beings but a firearm makes no such -allowance. Therefore there are fewer accidents to human beings from horses -than from firearms, in proportion to the silly things the humans do. - -A dog will allow a small child to poke its fingers in its eyes. If a grown -person attempted it he would get bitten, but a pistol makes no such -distinction. - -I was being shown round a remount depot where the horses were picketed out -with a hind leg tethered to a peg, when a sour-looking, underbred -artillery horse, began kicking at his neighbour. - -The horse kicked himself free and trotted off to the corner of the field, -where he stood, sulkily, with his ears laid back, a piece of rope wedged -between his near hind shoe and the foot. - -A man was ordered to bring the horse back. He was wearing a pince-nez of -very near sighted type. - -Now what he ought to have done was to first catch the horse, taking care -not to get kicked whilst doing so, then to hold up a fore leg (so that the -horse could not kick), whilst someone else removed the bit of rope from -the hind shoe, standing to one side. - -Instead, he walked up straight behind the horse. When he got within a few -yards of him, to my intense horror, he went down on his hands and knees -and began crawling towards the horse's hind legs. - -The horse had been laying back his ears and showing the whites of his eyes -and measuring the distance for a kick at the man. - -This manoeuvre on the man's part, however, so surprised the horse that he -stood quite still, looking at the man enquiringly. - -The man crawled up close to the horse's heels, took out his pocket knife -and, putting his nose within a few inches of the horse's near hind foot, -quietly sawed away at the piece of rope with his blunt pocket knife and -jerked the ends out from between the shoe and hoof. The horse stood like -an angel all the time. - -The man to this day has not the least idea he ran any risk or performed an -act worthy of the V. C. - -The horse evidently thought such a fool was not worth kicking. There is no -fun kicking a man who is not frightened. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -WHY PISTOL SHOOTING IS UNPOPULAR - - -Games, or "_sports_" as they are called, would not be popular if they were -conducted on the same lines that pistol shooting usually is. - -Pistol shooting is made as dull and uninteresting as possible, and then -surprise is expressed that hardly any one takes a pistol in his hand, -except when compelled to do so, and that shooting galleries do not pay. - -Small white squares of cardboard, a minute black spot in the middle of -each, are put up at various distances. You are told to aim at this spot. -If you hit it it counts so much, if you miss it, the further from it you -perforate the paper, the less points you score. - -When you have fired a certain number of shots, the total is added up and -you go on again. - -Occasionally, you have the mild excitement of being allowed to do this in -competition, and a "spoon" is given you if you make top score, paid for -out of your own money less a percentage which the gallery keeps. - -Your skill does not avail you long, as the next time you shoot, by -however many points you have won, by that number of points you are -handicapped, so it is possible that if you get _very_ proficient, you can -have the pleasure, when making all bull's-eyes, of being beaten by a man -who has not made a single bull's-eye, and beats you by handicap, and the -list of spoon winners appears in the papers with his name on top and yours -at the bottom, and people say, "How badly X shoots." - -This is not very encouraging to X or conducive to a desire to gain -proficiency. - -However bad a shot you are, you have an equal chance of winning this -spoon. - -Even the possibility of gaining a spoon applies to only a few shooting -clubs. The shooting galleries in black cellars, do not give prizes. You -are supposed to be fully compensated, after being deafened by a man with a -full charge revolver or automatic pistol blazing away into the darkness -beside you, by paying for your targets, ammunition, and hire of a greasy -revolver with a trigger-pull hard enough to break your finger and a report -like a cannon, whilst you strain your eyes to see a black front sight in -the darkness. - -There is no sport, or comfort, in all this. Under such circumstances -nobody can be blamed if he gives up pistol shooting in disgust. - -I shall describe later, how a gallery should be built (see Plates 15 and -16), or an open range planned and conducted, but I here merely indicate -why pistol shooting in England is deservedly unpopular as at present -conducted. - -There should be no handicapping. Being able to shoot well should be an -incentive, not a handicap. - -Next, there should be the excitement and amusement of a game. - -Who would go to look at a game conducted under the following conditions? - -Sit in a room with all the lights out, with a faint glimmer at the far -end. - -Hear incessant, deafening noises. - -Nothing else but noise for an hour or two, except occasionally a pause -whilst the black spot in the distance disappears and then reappears. - -Finally a man reading from a piece of paper announces: - - X 40 points, First. - Y 39 points, Second. - Z 38 points, Third. - -Then you go home. - -Some drudgery in learning has to be gone through with, but it should be in -a good light out-of-doors, and this drudgery is only while learning. It -should not be continued all through a man's shooting career, and be -considered "pistol shooting." - -As I will show, shooting can be made intensely interesting to both -spectators and participants. - -The present style of shooting competitions leads many sportsmen to say: "I -love shooting, but I hate target shooting." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -THE WRONG WAY TO LEARN - - -Pistol practice varies in different countries. - -As duelling is still general on the Continent, practice with the pistol is -conducted differently to that customary in the United States or England. - -On the Continent most men of the upper classes have at least a rudimentary -acquaintance with the foil and duelling pistol, but in the -English-speaking nations a man has rarely ever handled or even seen a -duelling pistol, or the few who have done pistol shooting have never shot -except at a stationary bull's-eye target. - -At the English National Rifle Association at Bisley, the attempt was made -to induce men to practise at moving, rapid-firing, and disappearing -targets, as well as advancing and retiring ones, but these had reluctantly -one by one to be given up, owing to there being so few men who cared to -shoot in such competitions. - -In the days when I used to compete regularly at Bisley, I do not think -there were more than half a dozen of us who competed at the sliding -target, and even fewer at the rapid-firing one. - -We, in those days, used revolvers and black powder, which made such -shooting very difficult owing to the smoke obscuring the target. - -I give at the end of this book the best targets, full size, made in these -competitions which will now remain permanently the best on record, as the -revolver and ammunition are no longer made. They will rank with the "High -Wheel" trotting records as "Hors Concours." - -Any one who wishes to compete in revolver-shooting competitions in England -must modify my teaching in the preceding chapters, and refer to my _Art of -Revolver Shooting_ for details of competition. - -The duelling pistol is not used in England, but there are many revolvers -still in use there; England is the last country to use the revolver in the -army, and is the last refuge of the revolver, just as Yellowstone Park is -the last refuge of the buffalo. - -For competition in England, practising will have to be done with a -revolver, not an automatic pistol, and a deliberate aim taken at a black -bull's-eye on a white target. - -In the United States, the automatic pistol is the sole weapon now. Several -Challenge Trophies, which I modelled and presented to various -associations, have had to have their conditions altered to "automatic -pistols" from "revolvers," and as the automatic inevitably tends to rapid -shooting, the days of stationary target shooting are numbered. - -Many people defend shooting at a stationary target, on the plea that one -must learn one's alphabet before learning to read. - -This is correct _as far as it goes_, but they carefully omit to add that -after a boy has learned his alphabet, he goes on to reading, and writing. -He does not merely repeat his alphabet all his life. - -Just the same argument is used by those who say that blundering through -Greek and Latin, with the help of a dictionary, teaches modern languages; -that these latter are "so easy after a grounding in Latin and Greek." - -If it is so easy why do they not learn modern languages. They cannot speak -a word of any language but their own, and even the few sentences of Latin -and Greek they can parrot-like repeat, no foreigner can understand, as -they pronounce them with the English vowel sounds. For the same reason -they mispronounce all foreign names. - -A Russian who cannot speak French and German as well as his own language -is considered entirely uneducated. - -A man may be a crack shot at a stationary target and yet be absolutely -useless with his pistol in case of having to use it in a hurry at anything -in motion. - -If you want to learn something, learn it, do not learn another thing, so -as to be prepared to learn something else later on, _if_ you care to. - -If you want to eat a peach do not first drink ten plates of soup, and eat -a leg of mutton, or you may not have the time or desire to eat the peach. - -If you want to learn practical pistol shooting, learn it, do not waste -time learning unpractical shooting. - -You not only waste your _time_, but you spoil your "_timing_," which is -the great thing in pistol shooting, and also your sense of direction. You -get into the habit of putting up your pistol and then searching for the -bull's-eye, instead of having it all come by instinct, like putting your -spoon into your mouth. - -I can tell a man who is not a practical shot, by the way he first finds -his sights, and then hunts round for the target with them. If it were a -live target, it would have made itself scarce while he was searching for -his sights. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -PRELIMINARY INFORMATION - - -In revolver shooting there was the danger of making a bad shot through a -badly fitted or dirty cylinder not turning quite into place, and causing a -shaving of lead to be taken off the bullet as it passed into the barrel. - -I was once trying a new pattern revolver, and made a very bad shot, -although I knew I had let-off well. I opened the revolver, and a thin -shred of lead fell out, showing the bullet had been deformed as it entered -the barrel. - -A bad shot from such a cause cannot happen to an automatic or a -single-shot pistol. - -A near-sighted man is at more disadvantage in pistol shooting than in -rifle shooting. - -With a rifle the hind sight can be fixed to the barrel nearer, or further -from the eye until it is at just the right distance to suit the shooter. - -The pistol must be held at the full stretch of the arm, or else one will -get a blow on the nose, and will not be able to hold steadily. - -A long-sighted man can continue pistol shooting without having to wear -glasses long after he has to use them for reading. - -A near-sighted man finds the hind sight too far for him to see it clearly, -and then makes the fatal mistake of shooting with a bent arm. - -This not only prevents accurate shooting, but he is very apt to get the -hind sight into his eye from the recoil of a kicking automatic. - -The arm should be held straight and extended to full stretch, so as to -point the pistol by sense of direction, just as a well-fitting shotgun -stock enables the shooter to aim without consciously paying any attention -to the sights. - -Use the pistol exactly as you would use a shotgun. It is this want of -knowledge of shotgun shooting which makes men shoot a pistol as if it were -a rifle being used at a stationary target. - -These men only understand lying down with a rifle, and poking about with -the sights to find the target after they have put the rifle to their -shoulder. Some have a lot of incantations first; they aim at the sky, -bring the rifle down slowly, and then make a bull's-eye on the wrong -target as they naturally cannot know which is theirs of a string of -targets, if they only fish about looking through a pin hole for it; they -know nothing of the possibilities of a rifle or pistol, unless they are -shotgun shooters as well. - -The public consider "I did not know it was loaded" as ample and full -excuse when one man shoots another in a so-called "accident." - -Not to know if the firearm you are handling is loaded is _an unpardonable -crime_. It is so simple to open the firearm and see for yourself. I never -take the owner's word for it if he tells me a firearm is not loaded. -Before I handle it, I examine it for myself. - -The public think that no one but an expert can possibly know if a firearm -is loaded; that the only way to know is to pull the trigger, and if any -one happens to be shot, well, that is unavoidable and nobody is to blame. - -It is to try to partly remedy this danger (it is impossible to make any -firearm or instruction in its use "fool-proof") that I ask any one who -takes up this book to read the two following chapters, even if they take -no interest in shooting. It may save a life. - -Everything we do is a compromise, and nothing human can be made perfect in -all particulars. - -I give my ideas of what is wanting in automatics, not from a mechanic's -point of view, but from that of the one who has to shoot them. - -Few mechanics are shooting experts. They make beautiful pistols from a -mechanical point of view, but which are clumsy and unpractical from the -shooter's point of view. - -Early inventors of automatics were not practical shots. - -The inventor of one of the earliest automatics came to me with his -invention. It was utterly impossible to handle or make any good shooting -with it. It was like trying to eat soup with a fork. He kept telling me -that if I "held it like this" and "did this," I should be able to shoot -with it, but it was as if he had told me if I sat with my face to the tail -of the horse and held on by his hocks, I should be able to ride better -than the usual way. Besides being of a most unwieldy shape, to grasp which -you had to spread your fingers in all directions, this pioneer of the -automatic pistol had all sorts of levers which must be moved by your -different fingers in order to shoot it, as if you were playing the cornet. - -Inventors, instead of evolving a pistol from their imagination, should -consult an expert pistol shot, as to what improvements on existing pistols -are required. - -We are told by writers who use the fashionable word "imagination," that to -do anything, from governing a Nation to destroying submarines, "All that -is needed is a man with 'Imagination.'" - -"Imagination" may do many things in legend or story but it will not teach -a man pistol shooting, or enable him to invent an automatic pistol. I put -experience and technical knowledge before "imagination" and theories. - -In rifles there is the same sort of difficulty. It took me years before I -found a gunmaker who would try to make a rifle on the lines I consider -desirable for big-game shooting. - -Big game is shot at short range, so flat trajectory is of no importance. -What is important is to have a rifle which is light and well balanced and -yet will knock down an animal with a terrific blow at close range. One -does not want the sort of rifle so largely advertised as an ideal rifle -for big-game shooting--a rifle which weighs as much as an arm-chair, -balances like a poker, kicks like a horse, and is warranted to shoot into -a two-inch bull's-eye at four hundred yards, but is impossible to align on -a rapidly moving animal at a few yards off, owing to its clumsiness and -weight. - -Inventors of firearms expect their customers to adapt themselves to their -weapons instead of making the weapon to fit their customers, and answer to -their requirements. - -I stopped a man just in time, taking a Lea-Metford to shoot rooks with! - -I was lecturing on the cruelty and uselessness of docking horses, -amputating the bones and nerves of the horse's tail and searing it with a -hot iron, and what for? A man in the audience stood up and said: "If I did -not dock my horse he would be too long to fit between the shafts of my -cart." - -This is just the inventor's attitude: - - You must shorten your trigger finger by cutting off the first joint. I - cannot alter all the blue prints of my invention just because you find - the trigger too far back for your finger. Your finger is too long; my - invention is perfect. - -As a shooting man, not a gunmaker, I may suggest improvements -impracticable to make with present means, but it was not by saying -machines heavier than the air cannot be made to rise that the aeroplane -was evolved. - -It will be found that I have modified and even entirely changed some of my -ideas since I published the _Art of Revolver Shooting_ in 1890. - -This is of course inevitable: one lives and learns, and I have learned -much on the subject since then. Mechanical improvements have altered and -eliminated difficulties which I had to teach how to avoid twenty-eight -years ago. - -On the other hand, new difficulties have arisen which have to be combated. - -Those who cribbed from my former writings made a great mistake, and -instruction which was quite right for revolvers is wrong for automatics. -The position of the thumb, for instance, or the filing of the sights -(which, almost without exception, these compilers of books have taken -without acknowledgment from my _Art of Revolver Shooting_), are not -applicable to modern pistols. - -The best way to learn pistol shooting is to have an expert stand beside -you, but, lacking this, the only way is to read a book by an expert. - -It is very easy to write and to pose as an expert by the use of scissors, -but it is rather hard on those who wish to learn, and also on those whose -ideas are taken and used without acknowledgment. - -I do not think any expert could write a book on pistol shooting using -quotations, as each man has his own system. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS - - -It is no use carrying a pistol in your pocket for self-defence, and to -have it go off and kill yourself, or much worse, shoot the person you are -trying to save. - -The first, foremost, and last thing is never to point the muzzle towards -anywhere you do not want a bullet to go. - -Never mind if the pistol is empty, treat it as if it were loaded. "I did -not think it was loaded" or "he was cleaning the pistol and it exploded" -are the stock excuses when an accident occurs. - -Firearms to the non-expert "explode" at odd moments, and nobody is to -blame; he thinks it is the nature of a pistol to "explode" spontaneously. - -I cannot myself understand how a man can clean a loaded pistol, as by -cleaning I understand getting the fouling, nickel, etc., out of the bore -of the pistol, and the cartridge must first be extracted to do this. But I -suppose a man not used to a pistol would mean by cleaning, polishing the -outside, raising the hammer, and then putting a rag through the trigger -guard and pulling it backwards and forwards against the trigger with the -butt of the pistol resting on his knee and the barrel against his chest. - -He of course does not first open the pistol to see if it is loaded; he -leaves it for the inquest to decide "that he did not know it was loaded." - -I am not writing for such people; they are better shot and out of the way, -else they might hurt others. - -The second thing is never to load the pistol except when necessary. - -Most people buy an automatic, get the gunmaker to load it for them, and -put it in a drawer or their pocket, and keep it like that for years, or -worse, leave it lying about loaded. - -A pistol must be periodically cleaned. If it is kept loaded for years, it -will probably jamb if any one attempts to fire it. - -A pistol kept loaded _is a constant source of danger to everyone, -including the owner_. - -I knew of a case where a revolver was kept loaded by a bedside for twenty -years and thrown into a trunk each time the owner went on a journey. - -After the owner's death, I was asked to see if the pistol was safe. - -It was lying in its case beside the bed, and when I opened the case I -found the barrel was lying so that it pointed at the head of any one -sleeping in the bed. - -I found it loaded in all the chambers, the hammer let down on one of the -caps so that its sharp point, by constant friction, had polished and -nearly worn through the cap. - -I took it into the garden and fired that cartridge. - -The hammer had during all those years rested on this cap and the least tap -on the hammer would have fired it. Each time it was thrown into the trunk -it was a mercy it had not gone off. - -If it had remained on the cap much longer, the sharp nose of the hammer -would have reached the fulminate and fired the revolver. - -Here was a case of a loaded revolver, like the sword of Damocles, -threatening the life of its owner all night long, every night, though it -was put by the bed as a safeguard. - -The hammer should have been put down on an empty chamber. - -However, to repeat, never point a pistol under any circumstances at -anything you do not want to shoot. - -Never have it loaded except when absolutely necessary. - -Now as to when it is necessary to have it loaded. Most people are much -safer if they _never load it_. If you want a pistol to frighten burglars -with or to carry in dark lanes at night, get a _brightly plated nickel_ -one. The larger you can carry the better. _Do not buy any cartridges for -it._ - -If you get the gunmaker to render it impossible to fire it, even if -loaded, so much the better. - -You can stop any but the most desperate man by "brandishing" this at him -in approved theatrical style. - -I know of a jeweller who stopped a highwayman by pointing the nickel -plated pump of his bicycle at him. - -During the war a man took a number of the enemy prisoners by threatening -them with his empty revolver. - -For people who know nothing of firearms it is much the safest plan not to -have any cartridges. - -Never allow "ornaments" shaped like pistols to lie about. - -People get so used to playing with these that they at once point a real -pistol when they can get hold of it. - -Even when a pistol has to be fired it only needs to be loaded just before -being used, as a rule. - -When target shooting, it need only be loaded the moment before getting -into position for shooting. If all the shots are not immediately fired -from this position it should be at once unloaded. - -I saw a most disgraceful neglect of this precaution at a shooting meeting, -which if the Range Officer had also seen, the man would have been expelled -from all meetings. He was an expert revolver shot too! - -Several of us had made very good scores with the revolver at a stationary -target. - -This man came up carrying a hand bag in which his revolver and cartridges -were kept. - -"I have a few minutes to spare before my train goes, and I will have -another try to beat you"; so saying he took out his revolver and -cartridges, handed in his ticket, loaded, and began a score. He made three -bad shots, swore, then without taking out his cartridges, he just opened -his bag, put the revolver in, shut the bag and went off. - -Never touch an automatic pistol until you are expert with a single-shot -pistol. I do not mean expert to make good scores, but _absolutely safe_ -not to point it at any one, and able to take out the cartridge with safety -or to put the pistol at safe or half-cock. - -We will suppose you have the single-shot pistol and cartridges, and the -target in front of you with a sufficiently large background that it does -not matter where your bullet goes if you keep your muzzle always pointed -in that direction. - -It is almost impossible to have a range absolutely safe against an -accidental discharge putting the bullet over the butts. - -A man who swings his pistol over his head is almost sure some day to let -off a bullet high over the butts if he does not blow his own brains out -first. - -If the shooter pays attention all the time to keeping the muzzle of his -pistol pointed towards the butt he will be safe even if his pistol goes -off accidently. - -The barrel must be aligned towards the butt. Most beginners think that, if -they see the muzzle of the pistol against the butt, it is aimed at the -butt. That is not so. You can hold a pistol almost vertical like a candle -in its socket, and think the muzzle covers the centre of the target, but -if it is fired in this position the bullet will go straight in the air. - -To aim a pistol, the breech (the part nearest the butt of the pistol) must -be aligned with the muzzle on the target. - -Keep the pistol lying on a table before you and pointing at the butt, and -when you lift it always keep it thus horizontal or slightly inclining -towards the ground but always pointed at the butt. - -All single-shot breech-loading pistols open by pressing a lever, whether -on top, at the side, or underneath the barrel. - -Press this and open the pistol, look through the barrel to see that there -is no cartridge in it and that the barrel is clear, and then close it. - -Do this constantly for many days, so that you get into the habit the -moment you take the pistol in your hand to look through it to see if it is -unloaded, and no obstruction in it. To fire a pistol which has an -obstruction in the barrel may burst the pistol. - -If any one asks to see the pistol, first open it in his presence, of -course pointing away from him or any one else, and look through the barrel -before handing it to him. If an automatic, first take out the magazine and -open the barrel as well. - -Unless he is a shooting man do not hand him any cartridges. If he wants to -see what your cartridges are like take the pistol back, open it again and -see that it is still empty, put it away safely, and _then_ hand him a -cartridge to examine. - -All this may seem super-caution but it is necessary, especially with an -automatic, and unless you do this by instinct with the safer single-shot -pistol, you may at any moment have a dreadful accident with an automatic -for which you will be sorry all your life. - -Now, standing facing the butt, open the pistol, put a cartridge in it (an -empty cartridge case, not a loaded one). Put the pistol, if it has an -outside hammer, to full-cock, being very careful to keep it pointed at the -butt, lower the hammer to half-cock, open the pistol and extract the -cartridge, and close the pistol again; repeat this many times till you can -cock and half-cock without the hammer slipping or falling by accident. - -If it had a loaded cartridge in it the pistol would go off should you let -the hammer slip down, which is one of the most frequent causes of -accidents with pistols having external hammers. - -Some hammer pistols have a rebound, that is, when the hammer falls it -rebounds to half-cock. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS (_Continued_) - - -Do not forget the hammer has three positions. - -Down on the cartridge, "half-cock," and "full-cock." The latter is when -the pistol is ready to be fired, when at half-cock it cannot be fired by -pulling the trigger and is supposed to be safe against accidental -discharge, but it can be fired accidently if, in raising the hammer to -full-cock it slips, owing to clumsiness or a greasy hammer or thumb, or -the hammer may get caught in something and be raised accidentally. - -For this reason it is best to have the part of the hammer the thumb -presses against in cocking corrugated, roughed like a file. - -Take the barrel in the left hand, holding the pistol horizontally pointing -at the target. - -Take the grip in your right hand, put your right thumb on the projection -of the cock (not from straight behind it but slightly from the right -side); this enables you to get a firm grip of the hammer and at the same -time of the stock with your other fingers. - -Now, do _not_ do what all beginners do. - -_Do not put your first finger on the trigger when cocking._ Keep all your -fingers outside the trigger guard to avoid any chance of your touching the -trigger when cocking. - -There are two causes of accidental falling of the hammer in cocking and so -causing an accidental discharge of the pistol. - -One is the hammer slipping from the thumb, or being released by the thumb -before it is fully at full-cock. - -The other is pulling at the trigger at the same time that the pistol is -being cocked (which learners invariably do). - -The result of pulling the trigger at the same time is that the hammer does -not catch into the bent which holds it, and falls as soon as the thumb is -removed. - -There is a click when the pistol is well at full-cock, which tells you the -pistol is properly cocked, the hammer or cock goes slightly beyond -full-cock and then comes into place by a click. (See quotation from -Byron's _Don Juan_ on a later page.) - -To put to half-cock is the most ticklish of all and is the cause of most -pistol accidents. - -The thing to do is to let the hammer fall to just below half-cock and then -bring it back to half-cock. If it falls too low it fires the pistol, if it -does not click it has not properly got to half-cock. - -Still holding the barrel of the pistol in the left hand and the grip in -your right (keep the pistol carefully pointed at the butt where an -accidental discharge would do no harm), put your right thumb on the -hammer. When you have a firm touch of it so that it cannot escape you as -it falls, put your first finger on the trigger and press, but _only_ for -an instant. - -The hammer will fall but you must keep it from falling fast, by holding -back with your thumb. Lower the hammer down to just below half-cock back -to half-cock and then release your thumb hold. - -If the hammer went its full fall it would explode the cartridge. With a -rebounding hammer, the hammer falls and instantly springs back to -half-cock. Therefore in letting a rebounding lock down from full to -half-cock, if you are able to restrain it well during the first part of -its descent, even if it slips from your thumb before it is quite at -half-cock, the rebound overcomes the downward fall and it rebounds to -half-cock without actually exploding the cartridge because it does not -quite reach it. - -Half-cock is the safest position for a loaded single-shot pistol but not -safe enough to carry in a pocket or holster loaded. For that, it needs a -safety lock to hold it at half-cock. - -As you gain confidence you will find that, with a rebounding lock (such as -all duelling pistols of full-size calibre by the best makers have), it -requires very little holding back at the hammer in letting it down to -half-cock and the hammer remains at half-cock by itself, without any -click. - -With an ordinary hammer which remains down when it is fired (like many -single-shot pistols of American make or the .2 bulleted caps of the -"Flobert Pistol"), the hammer must be kept firmly held until it is below -half-cock, and then brought to half-cock where it will click, as it also -does at full-cock. - -The great advantage of an automatic pistol is that it does not have this -click and so does not give warning to an adversary and is not apt to go -off by accident when being put at safe. - -If the trigger is held back whilst cocking it is as if you were to ask a -man to sit down and pull the chair from under him. He falls just like the -hammer. - -Almost all modern pistols with visible hammers have rebounding locks so -that after the hammer falls, on the trigger being pressed, and explodes -the cartridge, then it jumps back to half-cock of itself. This saves time -as otherwise the hammer resting on the exploded cartridge would have to be -raised by the thumb to half-cock before the exploded cartridge could be -extracted and a fresh one put in. - -Now, practise till you are perfect, using an empty cartridge. - -Open, insert cartridge, close, put to full-cock, lower to half-cock, -extract cartridge, close pistol. - -Do not be satisfied till you can do all this without a hitch or hesitation -and without letting the hammer slip. - -When you do this perfectly you can go on to the next lesson, but not -before. - -When you have the pistol at full-cock, it can be fired by pressing the -trigger, but we have not come to that yet. We are only learning how to -safely handle a pistol. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -TRIGGER-PULL - - -Very few people pay attention to the strength of the trigger-pull of their -pistols. - -They accept whatever trigger-pull it has when they buy it. - -They do not know that trigger-pull can vary from a hair trigger up to many -pounds weight. - -First-class gunmakers make the "weight," as it is called, of their trigger -as light and smooth as possible subject to its being safe to handle. - -The subject of safe trigger-pull is a variable quantity. - -An expert shot can be trusted with a trigger-pull so light that in the -hands of a less skilful or careful shot there would be great danger of the -pistol being discharged accidentally. The automatic pistol is put to -full-cock automatically with violence, by the discharge. Therefore the -trigger-pull has to be made much heavier than the trigger-pull of a -single-shot pistol, where the shooter cocks it gently with his own hand. - -A typical example of how men, even after a lifetime of shooting, pay no -attention to the weight of their trigger-pulls occurs to me. - -An old gentleman, belonging to one of the learned professions, who had -been an enthusiastic but very bad shot all his life, asked me to try his -shotgun at some clay pigeons. - -He was one of those men who always pride themselves on getting things -cheaper than any one else. - -He did not understand that a good gun is expensive; and that a second-hand -gun by a first-class maker is much better value (and safer to use) than a -cheap new gun. - -Acting on his usual principle, he had bought a gun very cheap, "a splendid -bargain which I have used the last ten years. I am not as strong as I once -was so I bought a featherweight one." - -To buy a light, cheap gun is extremely dangerous. Only a very first-class -maker can reduce the weight of a gun to its limit without risk of a burst, -and the materials must be flawless. - -When I saw the gun I was sorry I had offered to shoot it. The barrels -looked fearfully thin at the breech, of inferior metal, and rattled from -bad fitting, when one succeeded in closing the gun. - -The weakness of the gun, however, was made up by the strength of the -cartridges, which were for pigeon shooting, and loaded with a full 1-1/4 -ounces of shot and an enormous charge of nitro powder. - -The gun had the proof mark for black powder only! - -He was delighted with his cartridges and told me he had bought them at a -great bargain from the executors of a celebrated pigeon shot recently -deceased. - -I ventured to suggest that it might be dangerous to shoot such a heavy -charge of nitro powder out of a very light gun proofed only for black -powder. - -He said: "That's nothing, I am not as active as I was and I was told these -cartridges would kill much farther than lighter loaded ones, and how cheap -they are!" - -I, with many misgivings, had a clay pigeon thrown, but the gun refused to -go off. - -I took out the cartridges and tested the trigger-pulls by feel. - -They were like lifting a coal scuttle. - -I said to him: "Do you know what your trigger-pull is?" He did not -understand what I meant. I used a trigger-tester. They were well over nine -pounds each. A shotgun generally has 2-1/4 for front trigger and 2-1/2 for -back trigger. - -I had another pigeon thrown. - -I took a hard tug at the trigger and the gun went off with such a recoil -that the stock nearly jumped off my shoulder. I do not know where the -charge went; the pigeon was almost out of range before I could get the -trigger to act. (I learned the cartridges had been stored near the kitchen -fire!!!) - -This was enough for me and fully explained why the old man, whilst -shooting all his life, had never become expert. - -First-class gunmakers see to the trigger-pull so as to make a compromise -between a nice, light trigger-pull and one safe to use. - -Military rifles are made with a very heavy trigger-pull in order to make -them safe to be handled by men who have rough, hard hands from manual -labour. - -This, in my opinion, is a mistake. A very heavy trigger-pull prevents -accurate shooting, because the rifle is always going off later than you -want it to and encourages hanging on to the trigger. - -The man gets into the habit of pressing on the trigger when he is not -shooting. He knows the rifle will not go off unless he gives a tug at the -trigger. - -With a light trigger, a man knows that he must keep his finger clear of -it, or he will fire his rifle accidentally. - -When learning the handling of the single-shot pistol (the automatic must -not be touched till the learner is familiar with the single-shot), blank -ammunition may be used. - -The learner is very apt to discharge his pistol unintentionally, and the -fright caused by firing a blank cartridge by accident will impress on him -to be more careful in the future, before he had a loaded cartridge in the -pistol, which might cause a fatal accident if discharged unintentionally. - -As the automatic cannot be made with as light a trigger-pull as a -single-shot pistol, it becomes a question as to how light the trigger-pull -of your single-shot pistol should be. - -If you want to make the best possible shooting with it and to make your -lessons as pleasant and as easy as possible, have as light a trigger-pull -as your gunmaker (not an ironmonger who sells firearms) recommends. - -If, however, it is important that you should learn an automatic pistol -well, and the single-shot pistol is only used for getting familiar with -firearms, then have the trigger-pull adjusted to be as near as possible, -not only of the strength, but of the character of the automatic pistol you -intend to use later. - -Two triggers of the same weight may vary greatly in the feel and sweetness -of the pull. - -One may drag or grate. The other seems to go off at your mere wish. - -No automatic can have the delicate touch of a single-shot pistol. It has -to withstand such rough handling by the mechanical loading of the -explosion. - -A thing to be especially remembered is that one who is not expert, trying -to put the pistol to half-cock, ruins the trigger-pull and renders it -unsafe. - -The point of the seer can be broken off or distorted by someone fumbling -with the trigger and hammer. - -Do not let people touch the hammer or trigger of your pistol, any more -than you would let them jerk your horse's mouth. - -In the course of your first trials in cocking, putting to half-cock, etc., -you will probably injure your trigger-pull more or less, and should you -feel the least alteration or grate in it, have it examined by a gunmaker -before worse mischief occurs. - -With a hammerless (_i. e._, pistol with invisible hammer inside the lock) -there is not this danger. Cocking is accomplished by the act of closing or -opening the pistol which at the same time causes the hammer to be locked -at safety. - -What corresponds to cocking and putting to half-cock is accomplished by -sliding the safety bolt to the firing position, or to "safe." - -It is advisable to have the same weight of trigger-pull on all your -pistols. If they vary it makes it difficult to shoot equally well with -all. The heavier trigger-pull of some will hamper you, and the lighter -trigger-pull on others may make you discharge them before you mean to. - -As individual fancy in trigger-pull varies, some makers sell their pistols -with intentionally a very heavy trigger-pull, so that their clients can -have it regulated to their requirements. This probably was the reason my -old man had such a heavy trigger-pull on his "greatest bargain I ever saw" -gun. - -Before practising for or entering a competition, see that your -trigger-pull complies with the regulations, as nothing is more annoying -than, after making a winning score, to find your trigger-pull is too light -and your score in consequence is disqualified. - -It is best to have the trigger-pull well over the minimum so as to allow -for its getting lighter during shooting. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -AMMUNITION - - -Every make of pistol has ammunition which suits it best. In fact, to shoot -what was made for it. In the case of automatic pistols, they will not work -properly unless their own ammunition is used. - -It is very dangerous to shoot the wrong ammunition out of a pistol. It may -burst it. I nearly had such an accident with a revolver when winning a -prize given for the best score with a certain make of powder. - -I found the pistol working very stiff in the revolution of the cylinder, -toward my last shots, and when I had finished I looked and saw that the -cylinders had become egg shape, caused by the pressure of the explosion, -which was greater than the powder-charge the pistol was made to withstand. - -It was only the excellence of the material which caused the cylinder -chambers to expand toward their weakest point (the circumference of the -cylinder), instead of bursting. - -It was this expansion that had caused the friction in turning the -cylinder. - -As my book is not a gunmaker's catalogue there is no use in giving -illustrations of ammunition. - -Such illustrations are neither artistic nor of any interest. Many makes of -cartridges are long since obsolete and only linger in catalogues because -the old blocks happen to still exist and can be used to fill up a -catalogue and make it "fully illustrated." - -Any one conversant with pistols does not even glance at them. When he buys -the pistol, he also buys the cartridge made for it. He does not buy a -pistol and then try which make of cartridge will fit into the chamber. - -A cartridge should fulfil the following conditions: - -First of all, it should be safe against accidental explosion, such as -dropping or when feeding through the magazine of an automatic pistol. -Next, the case should not split or swell when fired, so as to make it -difficult to extract. - -Next (this is a matter also of the construction of the pistol), it should -not blow back fire into the eyes of the shooter. This has several times -happened to me with cheap makes of rifles and pistols and one is very apt -to have such an accident when shooting at bottles at a fair with cheap -worn rifles. - -I asked a woman attending at one of the shooting booths at a fair, if it -was not very dangerous when drunken men came to shoot. - -She answered: "Oh no, when a man looks dangerous I load only blank -ammunition for him." - -The chief requisite is accuracy; and without accuracy a cartridge is -useless. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -FIRST LESSONS - - -As the automatic pistol is a very dangerous one for a novice to handle, it -is best for the beginner to first thoroughly master a single-shot pistol. - -There are several styles of single-shot pistols (see Plates 2, 9, 10, and -17). I will not give a list and description of all makes, like a -gunmaker's catalogue. I will merely describe a few of the typical ones. -Very many are not only obsolete but of no use, and I do not intend to -describe any pistol or ammunition merely to condemn it. - -All that I describe have some merit, and most of them have great merit. -Still if there is any ammunition or pistol left out, you must not at once -jump to the conclusion that I consider it bad or dangerous; it may be that -it was omitted through an oversight. - -It is best to have a pistol light in weight and shooting as small a charge -as possible, so that there may be no great weight to hold up and no -flinching from the noise or recoil. - -[Illustration: PLATE 2. BREECH-LOADING PISTOLS - -(By Gastinne-Renette)] - -With a very small charge it is possible to use a very light pistol, and -though this is advisable for a beginner still, weight in a pistol, even if -it shoots only a very small charge, is an advantage for accurate holding. - -The trigger-pull must not be lighter than 2-1/2 pounds for safety -(especially for a beginner) and if the pistol weighs less than 2-1/2 -pounds, it is very difficult to press the trigger without disturbing the -aim. - -Lightness in weight of the pistol is also often obtained by shortness of -barrel, and to shoot a pistol with only a two or three inch barrel is the -supreme test of skill in pistol shooting and a useless handicap to a -learner. - -At one time I thought it impossible for good shooting to be had out of a -two inch barrel, but a friend and I tested this at twenty-five metres, and -we both, after a few trials, got strings of shots on the chest of a -life-sized figure of a man target. - -But it requires a man who has shot for many years to be able to do this; -even an average shot goes very wide and wild in his shooting with such a -short barrel. - -These very short barrels are therefore useless for the general public for -self-protection, except when the pistol actually touches the opponent. - -Even the short police pistol requires a lot of learning. Most people -imagine it is merely necessary to buy a little pistol "which I can put in -my waistcoat pocket," to become burglar proof. - -[Illustration: PLATE 3. - -Author's winning score for Gastinne-Renette Competition, April 7, 1910.] - -This sort of thing is worse than useless. If you leave a man alone he will -most likely leave you alone, but if you annoy him by banging at him, he -may lose his temper and hurt you. - -A reasonably long barrel is therefore necessary for a beginner, and a -reasonably heavy weight. - -The cartridges may have light loads. Unfortunately the easiest pistol of -all, to shoot, is now impossible to be had except from a dealer in -second-hand firearms. I mean the "Flobert" duelling pistol, formerly made -in France and Belgium, shooting bulleted caps of about .2 calibre. - -The duelling pistol, in all its calibres, is the best balanced and easiest -to shoot of all pistols (see Plates 2 and 5). - -The stock is at just the right curve and angle, is large enough for a big -hand, and yet does not feel clumsy in a small hand. - -By taking the grip of the hand higher or lower, the same effect is -produced as in having a gunstock straighter or more bent; one can, -therefore, by altering the grip of the hand, find a place to hold which -makes the pistol come with the sights aligned on raising it, just as a -well-fitting gun "comes up." - -Next this pistol balances perfectly. The length of the barrel does not -make it top heavy, as the barrel is fluted, to lighten it forward, and the -stock weighted. - -Most pistols, automatics especially, are muzzle heavy. There is really no -pistol except the duelling pistol which balances properly, and the -automatic will have to be altered in this respect before it can become the -ideal weapon for rapid shooting. - -The ideal pistol is the Gastinne-Renette duelling pistol, which is of .44 -calibre muzzle loader or shoots a centre fire cartridge, with French -"Poudre J" and a round bullet (see Plates 2 and 9). - -This is the most accurate pistol in the world and a number of men have -made a score of 12 shots in a bull's-eye the size of a sixpence, in -succession at 16 metres (17 yards 1 foot). - -This pistol has very little recoil. If the beginner cannot get a "bulleted -cap" duelling pistol the ordinary .44 gallery ammunition duelling pistol -will do almost as well. - -Now arises the question of expense, as these pistols are expensive. - -If economy is necessary, then the only way is to get one of the American -single-shot pistols and add wood to the back of the stock, so that the -grip comes further back and the trigger is thereby further from the hand -and allows the trigger finger to be extended. - -Then either cut down the barrel to lighten the pistol forward, or have -flutes made in the barrel to take weight of the metal off, and put lead in -the stock. - -I have described the ideal way of learning to shoot a pistol but of course -any single-shot pistol which does not have too heavy a recoil will do to -learn with, so as to become a fair shot. - -With the long reach to the trigger of the French duelling pistols the -trigger finger can be held outside and along the trigger guard (as with a -shotgun when walking up birds). With the trigger so far back, as it is in -American single-shot pistols, it is difficult to introduce the finger into -the trigger guard whilst holding the pistol with one hand, and one gets -into the dangerous habit of keeping the finger inside the trigger guard. - -I will not describe these various single-shot pistols, as (in my own case) -I find shooting them does not do me any good, but teaches a cramped style. - -The pistol which is no longer made, but can perhaps be picked up, is a -regulation French duelling pistol, full size, which shoots, instead of the -.44 duelling charge, a bulleted cap of .2 calibre, with fulminate only, -and a round bullet, and is exploded by a cross bar on the hammer which has -a flat striking surface. This flat bar strikes across the whole face of -the cap, indents itself into the cap, and having an undercut surface -extracts the empty cap after it is fired, as the pistol is cocked. - -The pistol has no recoil and hardly more noise than an air gun. - -The manufacture would be resumed if there were enough demand for such -pistols, and in my opinion they ought to be made as they are infinitely -preferable to modern .22 calibre pistols. - -[Illustration: COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, POCKET MODEL, CALIBRE .32] - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -LEARNING TO SHOOT - - -Having a pistol and ammunition, the next thing is to find a place to shoot -in with safety and comfort. - -The usual procedure is as follows: - -A says "I want to learn pistol shooting." - -"I know a place," says B. - -They go off and find a shooting gallery. - -When they get there they go down a dark staircase, into a long, dark -cellar with a glimmer of light at the firing point and a glimmer of light -at the far end, illuminating a series of minute white cards with a -microscopic black dot on each. Men lie down on mats, to which they have to -grope their way, shooting miniature rifles at these minute spots. - -Why, when a man wants to learn to shoot, has he to go into a coal cellar -and ruin his eyesight seeing, as one shooter complained, "three front -sights and two back ones"? - -To shoot one needs all the daylight possible. - -One sees fine big public buildings, and is told "They have a Shooting -Range for their employees, is it not nice of them?" - -You go to it. There is a big bar, with plenty of daylight, rooms with -plenty of daylight for games, meals, etc., and then the inevitable dark -staircase into a black cellar called the shooting-gallery. - -If you cannot shoot in daylight do not shoot at all; you will only ruin -your eyesight and never learn to shoot properly. - -[Illustration: PLATE 4. COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL .22 TARGET MODEL - -Capacity of magazine: 10 shots. Length of Barrel: 6-1/2 inches. Length -over all: 10-1/2 inches. Weight: 28 ounces. Finish: full blued; checked -English walnut stocks. Sights: bead front sight, adjustable for elevation; -rear sight with adjusting screw, adjustable for windage. Distance between -sights: 9 inches. Cartridge: .22 long rifle, rim fire (_greased cartridges -only_). We strongly recommend the use of either Lesmok or Semi-Smokeless.] - -All these artificial-light rifle galleries, to teach the public to shoot, -are worse than useless. The Gastinne-Renette Gallery in Paris is an ideal -gallery (see Plates 15 and 16). - -Learning to shoot is surely more worth while than playing bridge or -golf, and who would play bridge or golf in the dark? - -Choose, if possible, a range out of doors, or at least in a well-lighted -room (lighted by daylight, _not_ artificial light), but if there has to be -artificial light, let it be at least as light as in a ball-room. - -Next, there must be a safe butt behind the target; a butt which will not -only stop bullets which hit or go near the target, but which will stop a -bullet which goes wide of the target. - -It should be so arranged that if the pistol goes off by accident the -bullet can do no harm. - -If there is a narrow stall, opening towards the target and high enough at -the sides and narrow enough to prevent the shooter turning with his arm -extended, it would be a great safeguard, as it will make it difficult for -him to turn round and speak to others with his pistol pointing at them. - -A thick ceiling will prevent his doing damage if his pistol goes off -accidentally into the air, and soft deal flooring will stop bullets shot -too low. A hard floor may cause dangerous ricochets. - -The beginner is very apt to look only at his front sight and instead of -getting it down into the V or U of the back sight, fire with his front -sight alone on the target, so great care must be taken to protect against -high shots off the target. - -Out of doors, a butt six feet high is very little protection as the -beginner is almost certain to let off shots over the top. - -With the bulleted caps there is, of course, not much danger if a shot -goes over the top of a butt, especially if there is a wood, or shed -without windows, beyond, to catch the bullet. - -Another point is to have a table or shelf in front of the shooter, so that -he can lay his pistol and cartridges on it, and if it is of thick wood, it -prevents his shooting into his own feet. - -When instructing, it is best to stand at the beginner's left side and be -ready to clutch his pistol if he turns it dangerously. - -The target should be a white bull's-eye of about five inches diameter on a -black ground, and at six to ten yards' distance. - -The target should be of cardboard, so that the bullets will go through and -into the butt--a hard target may make the bullets rebound. - -The duelling pistol has a silver bead front sight, and a big U back sight. - -The black front sight on most pistols is quite wrong. It prevents quick -shooting, and I am in this book teaching quick, practical shooting only. -Practice at hitting minute stationary objects with a long aim died out the -same as the revolver did. - -Formerly, much of the revolver shooting was done at stationary black -bull's-eyes on white targets, just like rifle shooting was done. I always -protested against this, claiming that the revolver was meant for quick -shooting at moving or suddenly appearing objects, and that extreme -accuracy at stationary targets was not its metier. - -The war has proved I was right, and now these deliberate shooting -exhibitions are used only to show what accuracy a pistol is capable of, -like shooting rifles off a gunmaker's rest. A pistol shot out of a vise -can show its capabilities better than any man can hold it. - -It was this shooting at black bull's-eyes on a white target which caused -the front sight to be made black so as to show on the white target, when -sighted at "6 o'clock" under the black bull's-eye. This is all wrong. When -the black front sight is placed on a dark object, as a man's coat, it -cannot be seen. - -The white or silver bead sight on the duelling pistol is instantly seen -and is the only practical sight for a pistol. - -All this goes to show how worse than useless the old method of revolver -shooting was, and I do not intend to revert to it in these instructions on -shooting its successor, the automatic pistol. - -Load the pistol, put it at full-cock, and take it in your right hand -pointing in the direction of the target. - -Put it into the beginner's hand with both yours, the pistol pointed -horizontally at the target. Make him grip it with three fingers, his thumb -horizontal and slightly crooked downwards along the stock, his forefinger -fully stretched along the outside of the trigger guard, and clear of the -trigger. - -Tell him he must not put his finger inside the trigger guard till he has -the pistol pointed enough towards the target to prevent the bullet going -in a dangerous direction in case he fires it accidentally. - -Then show him how to see his front sight, in the middle of the U of the -back sight, and to press the trigger. - -This preliminary stage ought for safety to be learned with an empty -pistol. - -A person who is used to firearms (not necessarily one who is a pistol -shot) should stand beside the pupil till the pupil learns the rudiment of -safety against accidental discharge, and in aiming. - -If there is no such person available then the pupil should be quite alone, -two people ignorant of firearms trying to learn at the same time are very -apt to shoot each other. - -After the beginner can safely load, aim, and press the trigger, then he -can begin to learn to shoot. - -Load the pistol, stand with the arm fully extended, the pistol resting -against the further edge of the table or ledge. - -Fix the eyes on the bull's-eye, slowly raise the pistol, the arm fully -extended (keeping the head quite upright). Raise the pistol till the right -eye looks through the U of the back sight and sees the front sight in the -U at the middle of the bull's-eye and press the trigger. - -Do not stand sideways, stand almost facing, only slightly forward with the -right shoulder, the feet slightly apart, knees straight, arms straight. -Nothing is worse than to shoot with a crooked or flabby right arm. You -will never learn to shoot in this way, and a heavy automatic will hit you -on the nose with the recoil. - -Stand rigid and upright, the swing of the arm upwards should continue and -the shot go off as you come horizontally to the target. - -The idea is to fire the shot, just as you deal cards, raise and let off -when you are horizontal. Do not poke with your head to see the sights, or -find the sights and then hunt for the bull's eye with the muzzle of your -pistol (like the rifle target shots do). - -Never let your pistol move an inch further than necessary. To lift it -above your head and to lower it is not only dangerous but useless. You -ought to raise to the target; not raise above it merely to come down to it -again. - -That sort of "flourish" shooting (which is the hardest thing to stop in a -learner) is as if, when you want to go next door to your neighbour you -went all the way down the street and then turned back to reach him. Open -your door, step to his doorway and go in. The man who swings his pistol -("brandishes it" as reporters say) is at the mercy of the man who draws -and fires in one movement. - -You ought, with practice, to be able after a few shots to shut your eyes -and as the pistol gets level, fire, knowing that your aim is right. - -A fencer raises his foil with a straight arm and lunges. He does not need -to aim along the foil. His sense of direction suffices. In the same way if -your grip is right you ought to see your sights in line on the bull's-eye -without any necessity of correcting your aim as your pistol comes up, and -the whole thing should be done in one movement--raising arm, sighting, and -pressing the trigger. - -The action becomes as mechanical as putting your spoon in your mouth when -taking soup. - -This is the whole art of pistol shooting. Keep on, practise, practise and -again practise, until it becomes mechanical. Once acquired you will never -lose it. - -Only fire a few shots at a time, but several times a day. Do not worry -about cleaning more than once a day if you have not the time. It is worth -while spoiling the pistol if you can just get the knack of chucking your -shots into the bull, instantly, with the minimum of time or movement of -the pistol, like throwing stones into a bowl. - -A good fencer is known by the small circle his point makes when fencing. -In the same way a good pistol shot is known by the small circle his muzzle -makes when raising it and firing. - -I have seen men shoot revolvers at stationary targets, raise their pistol -till it pointed vertically at the sky, aiming all the time, and then -slowly bring the muzzle down till it was horizontal, and then begin to -fish for the bull's-eye, straining their eyes for nothing and not learning -anything of the very essence of pistol shooting which is "lightning speed -with accuracy." - -Others "brandish" or "flourish" their pistols and then let off into their -friend's feet. - -I always leave the ground when I see men doing this. There is style in -every pursuit, and style in pistol shooting consists in economy of -movement and time and especially in timing one's swing, aim, and -trigger-pull so that they go together and _throw_ the bullet on to the -mark. - -At twenty-five metres (a shade over twenty-seven yards) shooting at top -speed of 1-1/2 seconds a shot I won the Duelling Pistol Championship at -Gastinne-Renette's in the year 1910 with two scores, one a full score for -the twelve shots and the other one point short of a full score, at an -invisible bull's-eye of six by four inches (see Plate 3). - -I tell this merely to show what practice will do at this, the Alpha and -Omega of pistol shooting. - -Just keep constantly practising at this, and all other pistol shooting, -with whatever pistol or charge, is merely a variation of it. - -I know an extremely feeble old man who for many years each morning has -half a dozen shots with a duelling pistol rapid-firing, and although he -comes and goes a tottering, feeble old man, he brings up his pistol and -hits the bull's-eye instantly, like a young man, when shooting. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -SIGHTS - - -I put this chapter after the preliminary one on learning to shoot as, -although sights are vital for good, quick, accurate shooting, the beginner -is too occupied with other matters to pay much attention to what the -sights are like. - -Now that the learner can load, fire, put his pistol to half-cock, etc., -with safety to himself and others, he can begin to learn a little about -sights. - -The sights are to enable him to align the barrel of his pistol accurately. - -By constant practice a man can learn to point with enough accuracy to hit -an object of fair size at close quarters without sights, by sense of -direction. - -When it gets up to ranges of twenty-five or more yards, or to hitting a -smaller object at closer range, his sense of direction must be aided by -aim. - -Almost all makers of pistols make the sights of their pistols wrong; the -only proper sights are those on French duelling pistols (see Plates 2 and -10). - -The reason is obvious; for duelling a man has to snap shoot. All other -pistol shooting, with very few exceptions, is very artificial and has -been done in deliberate shooting at small black bull's-eyes just as rifle -shooting was spoilt. - -I used to struggle with these minute sights at moving objects and rapid -fire, and I am sure my record scores would have been much better if I had -in those days known of the French duelling pistol sights and if, which is -very doubtful, these sights had been passed as "military sights" which was -an arbitrary term in England, changing from year to year. - -The ordinary pistol sights, as placed even now on the latest patterns of -automatics, are the worst that one can imagine. - -What one wants is a front sight which shows up instantly against any -object; large so that it is the most prominent object in aiming, and a -back sight with so big a U in it that you instantly get the front sight -centrally in it. - -These conditions are fulfilled only by the French duelling sights. The -front sight is a silver ball without stalk, as large as and similar to the -one on a shotgun. - -Shotgun men found this the best sight and shotgun shooting is snap -shooting like pistol shooting is or ought to be. Now compare this with the -sights on other pistols, especially military ones. They have a high knife -blade, black front sight. The target pistols have a microscopic black bead -on a very thin stalk which gets bent out of position at the least rough -usage. - -For a hind sight there is a minute indentation in the bar of the hind -sight. - -When added to this you are expected to see this microscopic dot, or a -problematic part of the knife edge front sight (this latter worn to an -indistinct grey by friction) into a slight notch which you would need a -magnifying glass to find, and which is much too small to hold the front -sight in, and to do all this in a black cellar so dark that you have to -light a match to look for a cartridge if you drop it you can easily see -that men give up pistol shooting in disgust and want some sport where -there is light and air, and in which they do not have to tire their eyes -out to look for the front sight and a target at the end of a coal cellar. - -Whatever pistol you use, have it fitted with a big silver front bead sight -placed close to the barrel, no matter how large it is, if your eyesight -needs it large to see instantly in a bad light. - -Have the back sight with a big U in it so that you see daylight all round -it when aiming with fully stretched arm. - -This front sight cannot be altered but the back sight can be made higher -or lower to suit your style of aiming. At first you do not know if your -bad shots are due to the sights not being suitable for you, or not being -properly adjusted, or to your wobbly aim. There is no use going further -into the matter now, but later I will show you how you can alter the -sights to your own individual peculiarities. - -What I want to impress is, that from the very beginning, you should not -worry yourself with the sights you find on pistols; get your gunmaker to -put on duelling pistol sights before you begin to learn. Tell him you want -them for taking a full sight in daylight at twenty yards. Let him read -this chapter and he will understand what you require. - -Always press straight back on your trigger, do not push it off to the -left, or jerk at it. - -In rifle shooting the left hand steadies the rifle and prevents this -tendency to push off to one side and also in a measure counteracts the -effects of snatching or jerking at the trigger. - -The pistol has no left hand to steady it. The right hand has not only to -aim the pistol, but also to counteract the effect of any jerk, snatch, or -push to one side from defective trigger pressing. - -It is as well to put in an empty cartridge case and to practise pressing -the trigger and trying to have the pistol still aligned on the object the -moment the hammer has fallen. Aim and press that trigger at your own eye -reflected in a glass and you can see if you pull off your aim. - -By doing this you can detect any jerk to the right or left, or up or down. - -With an automatic there is a tendency to jerk down so that it is very -important not to get into this habit in the preliminary practice with a -single-shot pistol. - -When you get to grouping your shots well together, you can have your back -sight altered so as to put this group into the centre of the object you -want to hit, if it does not already go there. - -The great thing is to make as close a group of shots as you can; if you -group a dozen shots all in a bunch it is good shooting. It does not matter -if they are not on the object you want to hit. That is merely a matter of -having the back sight raised or lowered to cause the group to go higher or -lower accordingly. - -Raising the back sight makes the group higher; lowering the back sight -makes the group lower. - -Putting the back sight over to the right makes the group go to the right; -putting the back sight over to the left makes the group go to the left. - -You should be cautious however about this lateral adjustment. It is better -to correct your tendency to jerk to either side than to make the pistol -conform to your bad trigger pressing. - -When giving instructions on learning to shoot in an early chapter, I took -it for granted that the learner is using a pistol he is reliably informed -shoots where the sights are pointed. - -A beginner cannot know himself whether the fault is his or the pistol's -when he makes a bad shot, so he gets into a hopeless tangle when using a -pistol wrongly sighted. - -An expert after a shot or two to find how the pistol is sighted can make -allowance for the error in the sights. I saw a man make a marvellous score -with a double barrelled rifle. I said to him how well the barrels shot -together and he answered, "I had to aim two inches higher and to the left -with the left barrel than with the right barrel." It was the man who was -marvellous not the rifle. - -When a man begins to become expert he knows when his "let off" has been -correct and that, if the bullet goes wide in such a case, it is not his -fault, but the fault of the pistol. - -The modern single-shot pistol and automatic pistol are almost invariably -very accurate, so if the bullet goes wrong when the pistol is "let off" -correctly, it is the fault of the sights. - -Shots wide to the right or left mean in each case that the sights are not -adjusted centrally to the barrel. - -The front sight, being a fixture, is very unlikely to be at fault, but the -back sight may have got moved to one side. - -The back sight has generally a scratch made from its base onto the barrel, -and if this scratch does not coincide then the sight has shifted and it -must be knocked into place. - -When the back sight is central and the bullets do not group to either side -of the mark, but where you aim, then fix the back sight permanently and -immovable. - -A _movable_ back sight is a constant annoyance and I never understand why -makers put it so. You shoot badly and after wasting a lot of shots, find -your back sight has shifted unobserved to one side. I lost a stag -recently owing to the back sight of my rifle getting knocked off, being -wedged only in a slot instead of being screwed in. - -Have this back sight absolutely central. If you shoot to one side correct -your way of letting off. Do not shift the back sight to avoid the trouble -of learning to let off properly. - -If you do, you will be like a man driving who, instead of straightening -his horse's mouth, puts one rein at the cheek and the other at the bottom -bar and makes the horse go worse and more lopsided every day till the -horse is incurably crooked. - -If you keep on shifting the back sight to counteract your bad let off, you -will end by not being able to let off properly. - -If you shoot too high all you have to do is to file down the U in the hind -sight, a little at a time, until it is right. If you shoot too low, you -will have to get a higher back sight put in and file that down gradually -till you get it right. - -The place to aim at is exactly where you want the ball to hit, seeing the -whole of the ball of the front sight in the U of the back sight. Keep on -working at the back sight till you arrive at this result. - -If in target shooting you aim at the bottom edge of the bull's-eye, you -will require a different adjustment of sights for each size of bull's-eye. - -A two-inch bull's-eye at twenty yards requires the pistol to shoot one -inch higher than the aim so as to put the bullet in the centre of the -two-inch disc when aimed at its bottom edge, and if the bull's-eye is -four inches the pistol would have to be sighted to shoot two inches higher -at the same distance to hit the centre. - -As natural objects are not at all of the same size, and you cannot carry -twenty pistols shooting to various heights to choose from, it is best to -have the pistol sighted to hit the _exact spot_ you aim at, and then it -does not matter if you are shooting at an elephant or a mouse, you can hit -the spot. - -The tendency to "duck" and flinch at the noise and recoil makes beginners -put their shots very low. - -The revolver used to make men shoot high, the automatic shoots low as a -rule from muzzle heaviness, the wrong angle the stock is placed at, and -the uneven blow back (which latter I will explain later). - -Single-shot pistols are generally of American make and it is very curious -what defects they have in comparison with the French duelling pistol. - -To begin with they have a stock too much at right angles to the barrel and -much too small and narrow. - -Next, the trigger is in the wrong place. The proper place for the trigger -is so that you can just reach it with the first joint of the outstretched -first finger. Pressing the trigger with the second finger is a ridiculous -habit and, with an automatic pistol, results in making the pistol jamb -burn the first finger with the ejecting cartridges. - -The American single-shot pistols have the trigger so close to the hand -that the trigger finger has to curl around the trigger beyond the second -joint. - -I never could understand how Chevalier Ira Paine, with his big hand, -managed to shoot American single-shot pistols. - -The trigger being too close not only makes pressing it difficult but makes -it so that, instead of straight back, it has to be pressed to the left and -sends the bullet to the left. - -[Illustration: COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, MILITARY MODEL, CALIBRE .45] - -[Illustration: COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, MILITARY MODEL, CALIBRE .38] - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -TARGETS - - -I began my instruction with a white bull's-eye on a black target, but, as -soon as the pupil becomes a little proficient, this bull's-eye shooting -should be stopped. - -The pupil should then learn to hit the middle of a large object, not a -small object of different colour, superimposed on a larger one. - -The great difficulty beginners have in deer-stalking is that they aim at -the stag as a whole, instead of trying to hit a definite part of him. - -If you aim at even a large object in the former way, you are very apt to -miss it entirely. - -In France there are man targets of iron, the natural size of a man in -profile, which can be stood on the ground in front of the butts. These are -the best I know for shooting at with the small duelling charge. - -There are divisions incised into this target so that the marker, when he -goes up, can see the value of the shot, but these divisions are invisible -from where the shooter stands. He must judge as to where to aim and hit. - -The target is painted over after each series of shots with a mixture of -soot and water. - -Be sure not to use any size or varnish, as this fixes the black so that -the bullet does not knock it off, and so shots are difficult to locate on -the figure from the firing point. - -With soot and water the shots appear almost white on the target at the -spot the soft lead bullet has flattened and dropped down, taking the soot -with it. - -These iron targets are suitable only for soft lead bullets driven at low -velocity. - -With a high-power automatic pistol it would be dangerous, as bullets would -rebound or glance off long distances if the edge of the target were -grazed. - -For shooting with powerful ammunition, the target must be of wood, or -canvas on a wooden stretcher, with black paper pasted over it. The bullets -go through into the butt, which latter must be exceptionally thick or else -the last of several bullets striking in one place will go through it. - -The pattern of target we used at the Olympic Games at Stockholm in 1912, I -do not like. It was much too big and the rings (upright ovals) too -distinct. It was like shooting at an ordinary ring target with visible -bull's-eye. - -It was a good idea, however, having upright ovals instead of circles for a -man target, as a miss right or left is important, whereas a rather high or -low shot would still strike a man. - -For animal targets, on the Continent, these ovals are placed horizontally, -because an animal is longer than it is high; also for running shots a miss -in front or behind the bull's-eye is more excusable than one over or -under. - -The proper distance to practise at is the distance you can hit the -invisible bull's-eye twice in three shots. As soon as you can do better -than this, move the target a few feet further off, or decrease the size of -the bull's-eye. - -The idea is to have a target on which when shooting your very best, you -may just be able to make the highest possible score. - -This is the principle on which the targets are made in all the -Gastinne-Renette competitions in Paris. - -The highest possible score is not beyond the power of the pistols, if held -by a very good shot. - -For the Grande Medal d'Or, the holding has to be nearly as good as if the -pistol were fixed in a vise, but it _is_ possible to make, as several -dozen winning targets made by the crack shots of the world testify. - -A target impossible to make a full score on discourages the shooter. - -It rather adds to the interest if a hit breaks something; if a clay -pigeon, for instance, is put on a nail for a bull's-eye on a man target -painted the same colour, it is practically an invisible bull and it is a -great satisfaction to see the pieces instantly fly at a hit, instead of -having to examine the target to see where your shots are. - -These clay pigeons, or soup plates, or whatever you use, would not do if -put against an iron target, as the splash of the bullet would break them -even if they were not actually hit. - -One can buy an apparatus in Paris which fills rubber balls with water, -which make good targets to shoot at either hung up or thrown in the air. - -To hit them with a pistol with a bullet when thrown in the air is -extremely difficult, and can only be safely tried when shooting out to -sea, or against a high cliff. - -Single barrel pistols of 28 shotgun bore, 10-inch barrels are made to -shoot shot, and these are very good for such shooting and train timing and -swing in snap shooting. - -At eighty live pigeons at twelve yards' rise I have got more than half I -shot at. One has to be quick, as the pigeon is so soon out of range. No. 7 -shot is best for this, but the pistol only shoots half an ounce of shot, -and makes a very small pattern. - -I will explain in the next chapter how to shoot so as to compel quick -shooting without the cumbersome machinery for making a target appear and -disappear. - -If you count seconds for yourself or have them counted for you, the time -varies and one cannot help dwelling on the counting when a fraction more -time is needed for your aim to be correct. - -The utmost care must be taken, if you have an assistant to go to and from -the target, not to point in his direction or to load before he has come -back. Even at otherwise well-managed shooting clubs, there is too much -carelessness in this respect. - -Targets which draw up and down on trolleys are a great nuisance, and yet -almost all shooting galleries are equipped with them, and their presence -is considered the acme of good gallery equipment in England. - -This may be all right for preventing markers being shot, but I prefer an -iron man target, life size, standing on his feet in a green field with a -suitable background. One can shoot so much better than at a figure painted -on a flat background. - -You see a miss by the momentary puff of dust where the bullet hits the -ground, instead of having to look for a bullet hole in the painted -background. - -It would be possible to make a target which drops down and rises again -from the impact of the bullet. - -I have a target in the form of a stag which when you hit his invisible -heart, he half rears, then bends his hocks and plunges down on his knees, -throwing back his head in the most realistic manner. This stag, stood -amongst long bracken and stalked, gives a most lifelike performance. - -He is wound up in various places and the shock of the bullet on a buffer -releases the movements in succession with momentary intervals. - -It was made by a very ingenious target mechanic, who also makes monkeys -which run up a tree when hit, parrots who turn a somersault on the -branch they are sitting on when hit, a man who takes off his hat and bows -to you when you hit him properly, a chamois who tumbles over a precipice. - -The maker, who has a shooting gallery on the Continent, makes a good -profit out of it, as the bull's-eyes are very small and difficult to hit, -and people keep on paying to shoot in order to amuse their companions, and -children beg their parents to try to set the automatons in motion. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -PRACTICAL TARGETS - - -The pistol being, primarily, a man-shooting weapon, the target for -practice should be the shape of a full-sized man. - -The man target we used at the Olympic Games at Stockholm in 1912, was a -coloured paper target of a soldier standing at attention, full face. This -was pasted on a wooden board cut to the same shape. - -The bull's-eye was an upright oval on the breast, surrounded by concentric -upright ovals. - -The divisions could be seen from the firing point. Competition at it was -permitted with .22 pistols, which was ridiculous as they are not duelling -pistols, or suitable for war or self-defence. - -The regulation French Duelling Target is made in several ways, but in all -cases it is the figure of a man painted black, standing in absolute -profile (see Plate 3). - -This can be had, either printed on paper, to paste on a board cut out to -its shape, in cast iron with a base so that it stands up of itself, or of -steel with an electrical device for registering the shots. The figure is -in profile, which is not correct. - -A proficient duellist stands as full face as a man shooting a gun. This -position is easier to shoot in, but it is also easier to hit. - -In the absolute profile target, the places where misses are usually made -are past the small of the waist and under the chin. These would not occur -on a man standing full face, or nearly so. - -The target of paper pasted on wood has the bullet holes covered by white -and black paper pasters. - -The bullet hole is first pasted over with a white paster, so as to show -its place from the firing point. After the next shot a white paster is put -on this fresh shot and the former shot obliterated by a black paster. - -On this target there is no bull's-eye and all hits, anywhere, have an -equal value. - -In competitions, a row of these figures stand in the field and the marker, -after a shot at each has been fired, goes down the line and pastes white -pasters over the bullet holes and black patches over where he finds a -white patch. He need not say anything, when he has finished, it is at once -seen from the firing point which targets have been hit and where, and what -targets have been missed. - -The iron target is divided by incised lines into an oblong bull's-eye with -various subdivisions as shown in the diagram (see Plate 3). - -The bull's-eye counts four, the space on each side three, the space below -two, and the head and the bottom of the frock coat one each. These -divisions are invisible from the firing point. - -When these are painted with soot and water, or distemper black and water, -the bullet knocks off the black and leaves a distinct lead-coloured mark. - -When shot at in the open this is all that is necessary, but if, instead of -a bank behind the figure there is a wall, this wall is painted white and a -second lot of paint (this time whitewash) is kept for whitening the wall, -if a shot hits that, to obliterate it so as to show where misses go. - -An inexperienced marker is apt to put his brush into the wrong pot, so -that the result is a grey colour. - -The electric marking target looks exactly like this last and is painted -after shots in the same way, but the various divisions are separate plates -which stand on rods with springs behind. - -When a shot strikes any plate it drives it back, and the spring returns it -to place. - -The act of driving back makes electric connection, transmitted by wires, -to a small copy of the target, like the indicator inside a hotel lift, and -rings a bell. It shows the value of the shot and approximately the place -it has struck. The actual spot struck is not indicated. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -HOW TO HOLD THE PISTOL - - -As the revolver had a short stock with an acute curve and was muzzle -heavy, the grip I recommend for it is not suitable for the duelling pistol -or automatic. - -I take the duelling pistol first as that has the ideal handle or stock; -the automatic, except in the American Colt Regulation .45, being open to -great improvement. - -The duelling pistol is a survival of the old horse pistol in balance and -form of stock, and this has never been improved on. - -Most things undergo constant improvement, but the pistol stock, on the -contrary, has steadily deteriorated. - -The old horse pistol balanced just right, and the long light barrel was -counterpoised by the heavy stock. - -The angle was right, and the sights fitted close down to the barrel. In -some cases there was no back sight but aim was taken as with a shotgun. - -The perfect balance almost did away with the need of a back sight. - -Then the revolver came with its front overbalance, which often needed, on -its short upright stock, a grip with the little finger under the butt to -steady it. - -As I explained in my _Art of Revolver Shooting_, it was necessary to get -the line of the arm as nearly possible in line with the barrel, -consequently the thumb also had to be extended in line with the barrel. - -This was possible with the old "break down" action revolvers, but when -solid-frame revolvers were made to withstand the stronger pressure of the -nitro powders, the extractor opening lever had to be put in the way of -this thumb extension, so that the thumb was crooked to avoid the nail -being split by the recoil, or the catch opened by the thumb striking it -from the recoil. - -The proper way to hold the duelling pistol is not very high up the grip, -because if the hold is taken so high up as to make the barrel in line with -the arm, the back sight is hidden by the hand. - -This lower hold is not a disadvantage, as the obtuse slope of the handle -and the perfect balance of the pistol have no tendency to drop the muzzle. - -The thumb is curved downwards just enough to get the best grip. - -The duelling pistol has a spur at the near end of the trigger guard, which -some shooters put their second finger round (see Plate 6). I find that -this only gives one a clumsy handful and that it is better to have the -second finger with the others together round the stock, and close under -the back of the trigger guard. - -[Illustration: PLATE 5. HOW TO HOLD THE DUELLING PISTOL (1)] - -I am sorry to find that some still cling to the absurd practice of using -the second finger to press the trigger, holding the first finger along the -pistol. - -There is nothing to recommend this and everything to condemn it, and I -have never seen it used by a good shot. - -It is only a fashion, like the new one of jerking the elbow out at right -angles to look at the wrist watch, or turning up the collar, and the -bottom of the trousers, on a hot dry day. - -[Illustration: PLATE 6. HOW TO HOLD THE DUELLING PISTOL WITH SPUR (2)] - -Using the second finger for the trigger deprives the hand of a third of -its grip on the stock. It employs a less sensitive finger for the trigger, -as the first finger is always used for sensitive work, the second being -only a gripper. Moreover, the first finger, if extended along the barrel -when shooting an automatic, not only gets burnt and cut, as it lies along -where the spent cartridge cases and powder gases escape, but it is apt -to get jammed into this opening and stop the action of the pistol. - -I shot an automatic pistol alternately with another man, which jammed when -my companion shot it but not with me. I found he kept getting his first -finger into the mechanism, as he was using his second for the trigger. - -Now as to holding the stock of an automatic pistol. The United States -Regulation Colt .45 Automatic has the best grip of any, and one can hold -it, as I have advised for the duelling pistol, right up hard against the -projection over which the recoil slide operates. - -The smaller Civilian and Police Colt have not quite as good a stock, -rather more upright; the same applies to the Savage and the Smith & -Wesson. - -The German Military Regulation Automatic has a nice stock but it is rather -too thick. It is well balanced and at the proper angle. - -The "Hammer Head" stock attachment to the barrel of some automatic pistols -I find most awkward to hold, and impossible to get a sense of direction -with. One finds oneself far below the object one wants to hit and the -muzzle has to be canted up with a most wrist-spraining movement. The -recoil comes on the wrist at the same angle as if you put the first joints -of your fingers on a table, and the palm of your hand against a leg of the -table whilst keeping the arm horizontal. - -I can neither hold nor shoot in this position; it is all so awkward. If -a man lowers his head, he can look along the sights, but if he keeps his -head up as he should and does in shooting any other pistol, it is very -difficult to align the sights except by bending the arm and raising the -elbow. In any case I cannot shoot with such a stock, so can give no -instruction in its use. - -In a later chapter I will give my ideas of what should be altered in -automatic pistols from a shooter's point of view; the "Hammer Head" or -"right-angle" stocks being one of these. - -Not knowing how to hold and shoot a pistol, has given rise to all those -inventions of a portable rifle stock to fit on a pistol, so that the -pistol can be shot like a rifle. - -To begin with, such a stock puts the sights too close to the eyes, the -noise is deafening and the accuracy very bad, compared with holding the -same pistol at arm's length as it should be held. It is merely the attempt -to try and hold it steady by men who cannot shoot a pistol. - -A moment's thought will show that, unless a man is as near-sighted as an -owl in daylight, he cannot shoot with the back sight resting on his nose. - -A pistol fitted with a rifle stock must be used with great caution. You -are apt to put the fingers of your left hand over the muzzle, as the end -of the muzzle comes just where one puts one's hand with the fingers round -the fore end, to steady a rifle or shotgun. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -RUNNING SHOTS - - -The pistol being meant for use at close range at objects one sees only for -a moment, or which are in rapid motion, I do not advise getting too much -into the habit of taking long, deliberate aim at stationary targets. - -When you can handle the pistol with safety to others and yourself, it is -better to begin to learn shooting rapidly and at moving objects. - -I think it is well to begin to shoot at moving objects at first, instead -of rapid shooting. You can begin at slowly moving objects, which does not -hurry and flustrate you as shooting against time may do. - -Above all do not attempt to shoot as many people tell you to. - -The greatest bar to shooting at moving objects with the rifle or pistol is -the way most men shoot at them. - -What they do is to aim at a spot and shoot when the object arrives there. -Shotgun men do not make this mistake, but men used only to lying on their -faces like a squashed frog in rifle shooting invariably do. - -Wherever you go to a rifle meeting where there is a competition at a -moving target, "Running Deer," "Running Man" or "Gliding Man," etc., it is -always the same. - -A few men shoot as they ought to, and win all the prizes. The bulk of the -competitors lie on their faces, as they were taught to do at stationary -targets, take a deliberate aim at a spot on the background, and wait till -the target gets opposite their aim. - -Then--boom--the dust flies up where the target _was_ a moment before, but -it is now--elsewhere. - -It is as if you tried to catch a fly by putting a finger on him when he is -on the table-cloth. You will put it where he _was_, not where he _is_. - -The correct principle (the one with which I won the Rifle Running-Deer -World's Championship at the Olympic Games in 1908) is to treat the rifle -or pistol exactly as if it were a shotgun. - -Assuming you are not familiar with shotgun shooting, get a man who is a -good shot with the shotgun to coach you, when practising with the pistol -at moving objects. - -If you are a shotgun man you do not need to be told what follows. - -At a stationary target, however rapidly you are shooting, you try to hit -_that object_. - -In shooting at moving targets you try to make two moving objects (the -target and the bullet) meet. - -The target is moving. The bullet also takes time to get where the target -will be. You have to get the bullet to arrive simultaneously with the -target at the same spot. - -If you aim at the object, the bullet will arrive at the spot after the -object has gone further on. - -To give an illustration: - -An illustrated paper showed an engraving of a man on a motor bicycle going -at fifty miles an hour, at six hundred yards' distance. - -There was a cross made on the man's chest which, it was explained, was the -spot to aim at in order to hit him. - -If the rifle were correctly aimed for this cross, a man could shoot -millions of shots and never hit the motor-cyclist. - -The bullets would reach the spot where the motorist was a moment before, -but he would be yards further on when the bullet arrived. - -Now the way to overcome this missing behind is to "swing" and "time." -These are shotgun men's terms, never used or understood by pistol or rifle -shots, and this is the reason so few riflemen can hit moving targets, and -chase them with the bayonets instead. - -Suppose you have a shotgun in your hands and a pheasant comes flying -across you. The thing is to hit him in the neck with the centre of the -charge so as to make a clean kill without a flutter in midair--"neck him," -as we call it. - -Most men try to shoot without moving their position and so hamper and -cramp themselves unnecessarily by having to twist the body if the bird -is passing them at an awkward angle. - -Turn like a soldier does in "right about face" to either side, so that the -bird gives you the easiest crossing shot. Whilst doing so, follow an -imaginary point in front of his head with your eyes, the distance in front -varying with the bird's speed and distance from you. Whilst doing so bring -up your gun (_not_ looking at the gun), the gun swinging as your body -swings in the direction the bird is travelling. As the gun comes to your -shoulder press the trigger. - -If you look at the bird, you will shoot _at_ the bird, and consequently -shoot behind where he was at the moment the trigger was pulled. If the -bird was forty yards off you will have missed clean behind him. - -If nearer, owing to the shot spreading over a thirty-inch circle, you may -have hit him far back in the body, what is called "tailored him," and he -will go off and die a lingering death. - -If you shoot forward enough, you will either kill him clean or miss him -clean (a miss in front). - -_That_ is the great thing. If it _must_ be a miss let it be a clean miss, -_in front_. Not shooting far enough forward is the chief cruelty in -shooting--wounded animals going off to die in agony. - -Always remember this when shooting at animals and birds. The forward end -is the vital end; hitting it causes sudden, painless death, so _swing far -enough forward_. - -To hit bird after bird, animal after animal, too far back, as one sees -some men do, to an accompaniment of screams of hares and rabbits, and -fluttering birds, is disgusting. - -If you shoot well forward, none of this happens. You may not have so much -game down, but each one of them drops stone dead without a sound. There is -no calling out, "Bring a dog, I have a 'runner.'" - -I think it would be as well, before trying moving shots with a pistol, to -do a little shotgun shooting at clay pigeons, so as to get into the idea -of swing and timing, if you are not a shotgun shot already. - -When you can swing your gun to an imaginary spot, in front of a moving -object and press the trigger at the moment the sights are aligned, without -stopping your swing, you can shoot the pistol with success at moving -objects, provided you treat it exactly as if you were using a shotgun. - -Have a moderately large object which the bullet will either break or leave -a visible hole through, arranged to pass you at a slow speed. - -It can either be dragged by a long string, run on a trolley (the trolley -shielded behind a bank so that a bullet could not strike it) or some other -slowly moving target. - -A swinging object is of no use. It makes a difficult curve to follow, for -the beginner, and its passage lasts too short a time. - -A swinging object also makes the shooter try the objectionable method of -waiting and aiming at the spot the object swings to, which I want to -avoid. - -If your target travels slowly enough, and is large enough, and at only -some twelve yards' distance, there will be no necessity to aim in front of -it. Its forward edge is far enough. - -Fix your eyes on the front part of the target. As it traverses bring your -pistol up without looking at the pistol, as it comes level with your eye -and the sights get aligned. Keep on swinging your body and pistol and -press the trigger, while still swinging. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -RUNNING SHOTS (_Continued_) - - -It is best to stand with the feet slightly apart and facing rather where -the object is going to, than from where it comes, as your shot will go off -towards the end of its run. - -At first bring up the pistol very slowly, and swing with the object for a -moment after your sights get on it. Do not first aim at it and then move -in front of it. - -Gradually come quicker and try to fire the instant your pistol comes up. - -Speed in coming up does not help you. Most men come up in such a hurry -that they wobble all over the place. Save time by firing the instant your -sights are aligned, not in bringing up your arm. - -Start slowly, increasing your speed as you raise your arm, not in abrupt -jerky movements like the English Military salute. - -Do not raise it with a jerk. It spoils your aim. A good engine driver -starts the train so that you do not feel the start. That is the idea for -raising the pistol. The faster the object is moving the faster, as a rule, -the arm has to be raised. - -But if the object is coming from a distance, and will be in sight for some -distance as it passes, this rule does not apply. - -You can take your time raising your arm, only your following swing must be -fast and of course your "allowance" in front of the object greater than at -slower moving objects. - -As you get proficient, increase the distance you stand from your target -and increase its speed. - -It is a mistake to have a small target for practising. When you miss you -cannot see if you have missed behind or in front, and you get to dwelling -on your aim. - -As to the distance to aim in front, that is a matter of experience and, -other things being equal, the man who has this experience can beat another -shot who can hold closer on a stationary object, but does not know how far -to aim in front of a moving one, or how to swing and time. - -The difference between shooting at an upright man moving and an animal is -that, in the former case, the most important thing is to judge the proper -distance to aim in front; in the latter case, to keep one's elevation so -as not to miss over or under. - -When shooting at a running man target, the man being narrow, one is very -apt to miss just behind the back. - -At a running deer one cannot, if at all a decent shot, miss him behind his -tail (though one may miss past his chest in trying to shoot forward -enough), but it is easy to miss over his withers, or under his brisket. - -Keep on practising at moving objects, varying the distance and speed -constantly, and the direction from right to left and left to right, till -you can judge how far in front you must shoot for each case. - -It is best to always use the same pistol and charge. If you use at one -time a .22 pistol and then the .44 duelling pistol, you will get confused, -as the .22 goes up much faster and consequently needs less allowance in -front of the target. - -As long as you keep to the same pistol, you need not mind how slowly the -bullet goes up. You know how much to aim in front but, if at one time you -must aim an inch in front and next time four inches for the same speed, -you can never learn to judge where to aim. - -The various rifles I have used at the Running Deer at Bisley since the -early days vary in allowance in front from four feet down to merely aiming -at the point of the shoulder. - -The faster the bullet goes, the easier it is to judge how far you must aim -in front at moving objects, but here comes in the inevitable "compromise." - -The faster the bullet goes, the more force it needs to propel it, which -means more recoil and shock to the shooter. - -You have to make a compromise. If you are strong and have good nerves, and -don't take alcohol or smoke, you can stand a strong recoil without its -spoiling your shooting. If you are not strong, it is better to have to aim -further in front and save your nerves, by using a lighter load. - -I am not speaking from theory but from experience. I have specialized and -made record scores on the "Running Deer" at the National Rifle Association -of England's Meeting since I was a small boy. - -When I first began, an older man shot a very light charge and kept -winning, although he had to aim an enormous distance in front of the -"deer" to make up for the slow speed of his bullet. But, as there was -little noise and no recoil to worry his nerves, he put up wonderfully good -scores. - -I, knowing no better, tried to get my bullet up quickly by shooting a -tremendously big charge. The bullet went up quickly but the recoil nearly -knocked me down, and in consequence my shooting was very erratic. - -I have since experimented from very small charges up to the heaviest, -having a velocity of over three thousand feet a second. - -The year I won the World's Championship at the Olympic Games, I had -arrived at a "compromise" between speed of bullet and recoil, which -enabled me to win, but since then I have yet a still better compromise, -which enables me to make highest possible scores. - -Formerly, in revolvers and pistols, one had to bear the full recoil. Now, -automatic pistols, which utilize part of the recoil to operate opening, -loading, ejection, and reclosing, have less recoil when shooting heavier -charges than revolvers did. - -The automatic pistol has a softer recoil than a pistol or especially a -revolver, owing to this absorption of recoil. - -It is more of a push, less of a blow. - -Therefore, when you have found the heaviest load you can stand in a -single-shot pistol, you will find you can use a heavier cartridge in an -automatic pistol, without any more discomfort. - -You will therefore not have to aim so far in front with an automatic -pistol when shooting at moving objects, and not have to take so high an -aim at distance objects to allow for the drop of the bullet--as with a -revolver. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -SHOOTING AN AUTOMATIC PISTOL - - -Before everything else, be sure you have the right cartridges for the -pistol you are using. If you have too strong a cartridge you may have a -fatal accident. If too weak a cartridge the mechanism will not operate. A -weaker cartridge than that for which the pistol is made will prevent its -working properly or, in fact, working at all, unless the closing is -assisted by the hand, and then it ceases to be an automatic pistol. - -It is best to begin practising single loading. The best way to do this is -through the magazine so as to get familiar with the magazine. Take out the -magazine, put in only one cartridge, put back the magazine, and operate -the slide. The pistol is now a single loader, ready to shoot. - -Do your shooting a few times like this, till you get used to the pistol. - -You will find the recoil different from that of a single-shot pistol or a -revolver. - -Instead of the recoil coming back directly on you it will be softened and, -even with the best of automatics, the pistol will have a tendency to -wriggle and "tap," not recoil back in one clean kick. - -When practising, make a point of putting the safety bolt on and off, using -this safety bolt as you would in putting a single-shot pistol to -half-cock. - -There is this difference. Whereas, in English makes of guns and sporting -rifles, the safety bolt puts the weapon automatically at safe each time it -is reloaded, having to be taken off before each shot can be fired. -Military firearms are only at safe when the safety bolt is purposely put -on with the thumb. - -The usual automatic pistol is made on the military idea. The safety once -off, it remains off till the user puts it back at safety, no matter how -many shots he has fired in the meantime. - -The Colt automatic pistol, like the Smith & Wesson hammerless safety -pocket revolver, remedies this defect by having a _second_ safety which -makes the pistol safe, even if the first safety slide is not at safe. This -consists of a lever at the back of the stock which is at safe till the -hand presses it in firing and which keeps the weapon safe till the stock -is gripped in actual firing. - -Any one who is a pistol shot grips the stock instinctively when shooting, -but I have known men unused to firearms, unable to shoot a pistol having -this safety grip, as they pull the trigger without squeezing the stock. - -I was asked to give expert opinion as to whether a good revolver-shot had -shot a man accidentally or on purpose. - -The pistol he used was a Smith & Wesson hammerless safety pocket pistol. - -The contention was that a man trying to drag the pistol from his hand had -caused it to go off accidentally. I said that with an ordinary revolver, -if the man had his finger on the trigger at the time, it was very probable -the pistol would be discharged accidentally, but that the man would not be -likely to do so with a Smith & Wesson safety pocket pistol. To test it we -experimented, and besides not being able to make me fire the pistol (empty -of course), when we reversed matters, my questioner, although he tried his -utmost, could not fire the pistol whilst I pulled at it. - -The holder pulls against the _front_ of the stock to avoid its being taken -from his hand, he does not _squeeze the back of it_. The result is that -the pistol cannot be discharged, except by a voluntary effort. He can pull -the trigger as much as he likes, but as long as he does not grip, but -merely uses the front of the stock as a handle to pull against his -adversary, the pistol is safe against accidental discharge. - -When you have got accustomed to the automatic pistol as a single loader, -fill the magazine and use it as an automatic. - -For continual rapid-firing, that is one loaded magazine after another, do -not shoot off the last cartridge of a magazine before inserting a fresh -one. Otherwise it necessitates dragging back the slide with both hands -after each fresh clip is inserted and wastes time. - -Most automatic pistols remain open after the last shot has been fired, a -most necessary thing, as otherwise you never know if your pistol has -another shot available or is empty. - -To do continuous firing shoot all but one cartridge of the clip load, -press the stop, and drop the empty clip. The loaded clip, held in the -other hand, is inserted into the butt and shooting can at once be resumed. -The last cartridge left in the barrel, from the first clip, when fired, -brings up the first cartridge of the new clip and so on, indefinitely. - -You will find slightly different problems to overcome as compared with the -single-shot pistol or revolver. - -Rapid-firing is incomparably easier than with a revolver. There is not -only gain of time and no fatigue of the trigger finger or thumb from -cocking, but also the hold of the stock does not have to be changed. It is -merely a matter of aligning and pressing. The recoil is also deadened and -much less severe. - -You will find a tendency for your shots to be strung out vertically, owing -to varying escape of gas at the breech. - -You will find lateral variation is much less than with a revolver, the -bullet going from the barrel of the automatic, not jumping into it from a -cylinder, thus tending to accuracy. - -The vertical variation is more than from a revolver, and this vertical -deviation is absent from a good single-shot pistol. - -When shooting an automatic pistol do not be discouraged if your shots are -not so good vertically but strung out. It is not your fault but that of -the pistol, and you cannot correct this by your shooting. - -Later I will give special practice for automatic pistols, but if you are a -good shot with the single-shot pistol or revolver, you will have no -difficulty in shooting the automatic pistol well, as soon as you have got -used to its characteristics. - -I used to think the occasional very low shots were due to dropping the -muzzle in pulling, but I find it is not this. It is caused by an -occasional escape of gas greater than normal at the breach of the -automatic pistol, causing the bullet to have a weaker flight and therefore -striking lower. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -TIMING APPARATUS - - -In order to improve our speed in shooting, it is important to have a -mechanical timing apparatus. - -Trying to judge speed by counting or getting someone else to count -half-seconds is very unreliable. Where everything depends upon making your -last shot a good one the counting is bound to become slower, in the -anxiety not to spoil a good score. - -With a mechanical timer there is no relenting, it is Fate, and if you -cannot make a good shot in time, your score is spoiled. This trains you -properly; you are not buoyed up by false ideas of your skill which, when -there is real timing, will prove that your ideas of your skill are vain -delusions. - -In England a clock is used, marking seconds or half-seconds. - -This is very good for the man who works the targets; he sees if he is -working the time right, but it does not assist the shooter as he does not -hear the time being struck. - -For the learner, it is important that he should be able to apportion his -time, take so long for lifting his arm, so long for aiming, etc., so as -to learn how to do the best shooting in the time limit allowed, and judge -accordingly. - -For this purpose there is nothing better than the metronome. - -The metronome is used by music teachers for instructing their pupils in -the right time when playing. - -Music for instruction is marked with the metronome beat proper to it: all -that has to be done is to wind up the metronome, set it to that number, -and start it beating. - -A metronome consists of a pyramidical box with clockwork, which makes an -upright pendulum beat at whatever speed it is set. - -The speed depends on a weight which is moved up and down the rod, to set -marks, which correspond to numbers engraved on the sides. - -It is, in fact, a clock pendulum reversed. - -The more elaborate ones have a bell attachment which strikes after any -desired number of beats of the pendulum. If you want to practise three -minutes' exposure of target, you set the metronome at half-second beats -(120 to the minute) and the ball to strike at every sixth beat. - -Accuracy of course depends for what purpose you are practising, but to be -able to hit an object a foot in diameter, at ten yards' distance -instantly, is ample for self-defence. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -SNAP SHOOTING - - -When you have become fairly proficient at hitting moving objects, you will -be able, with a little practice, to soon pick up the knack of snap -shooting. - -By snap shooting I do not mean the sort of competition where you are given -three-seconds intervals. That is merely "fast deliberate aim," in fact is -as slow as allowable for practical shooting, slower is mere target -shooting. - -Snap shooting is when the pistol is fired the instant it is levelled -without any dwelling on the aim. - -Use a big target, at ten or twelve yards. - -Keep your head up, eyes fixed on the target. - -As you raise your pistol, begin squeezing and let the pistol off as it -comes horizontal. - -With practice you can put all your shots close together. It is the most -mechanical of all pistol shooting. - -You get to putting shot after shot in the same place like throwing marbles -into a hat. - -You can test how mechanical it becomes for yourself. - -After putting a dozen shots close together, try to put a dozen shots a -foot higher on the target. - -You will find yourself all at sea, and will have to begin aiming. Then you -get so mechanical you will find it difficult to hit a foot lower, which -you found so easy before. - -Your arm has got so used to lifting to a certain position, your trigger -finger to squeeze when the arm is raised to exactly the same position, -that the whole thing becomes as mechanical and subconscious as swinging -your arms and legs as you walk. - -Your arms swing to exactly the same spot each time. Try to take longer or -shorter steps, and to swing your arms further or less far, and you will -see how mechanical your ordinary walk is. - -If you want to win a prize for snap shooting, you can, by practising -constantly under identical conditions of distance, shape, colour, height -of target, and lighting, get so mechanical that it takes an effort _not_ -to hit the same spot continually. - -For this reason, to learn snap shooting, not merely forming a habit, it is -best to constantly vary the height of the target you shoot at, or try to -hit various parts alternately. - -Get someone (if you are shooting at a man target) to call out "head" at -the first beat of the metronome (beating at 120 to the minute), and try to -hit the head before the next beat of the metronome. - -Then he will call "feet" and it is ten to one that you will swing too -high; or if it was "feet" first you will not be able to get as high as the -"head" next time. - -You can put in your shots at great speed if it is always to the same spot, -but if you have to vary and do not know where you are to hit, till you get -the word to go, it is impossible to shoot quite so fast accurately. - -For this reason it is well not to think one has mastered snap shooting -when one has got into the knack of putting all one's shots on the same -spot. - -Snap shooting and shooting at moving objects, are the two sorts of -shooting of real use. - -Shooting long shots (which I will treat of next) may be useful at times, -but deliberate shooting at minute bull's-eyes is only useful for winning -prizes and getting a reputation for being a "Crack Revolver-Shot." - -My world's record snap-shooting score was published in the newspapers with -the words under it--"This is the highest at present, but it will, of -course, soon be beaten." - -Naturally, it was not as pretty a group as the target published next to -it, which had been shot with deliberate aim, but this latter score has -been equalled dozens of times. While my rapid-fire score is unbeaten -(Appendix 10 and 11). The value of a score can only be judged if the -conditions it was shot under are known. - -If you want to be thought a good shot by the public, leave rapid, snap, -and moving object shooting alone, otherwise your best scores will look so -bad beside those of the man who aims, lowers his pistol, aims again, wipes -his hands, and after half an hour of these antics, scores a bull's-eye. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -LONG RANGE SHOOTING - - -The moment the bullet leaves the muzzle of the pistol, it begins to fall, -owing to the force of gravity. - -The faster it is going the further it goes before this drop is sufficient -to be noticeable. Gravity acts through time, so if a bullet goes twice as -fast as another, it goes twice as far before it has dropped the same -distance as the slower bullet. - -The big bullet of the duelling pistol has more air resistance than the .22 -bullet of the American pistols, also it has comparatively a much smaller -charge, so it begins to drop more rapidly and at shorter range. - -The duelling pistol is sighted for twenty-five metres as that is the -duelling distance (twenty-seven yards, three inches). - -It hits where you aim, therefore, at that distance, it shoots practically -the same at the nearer distances. - -Beyond the twenty-five metres, however, it begins to drop very rapidly. I -have watched where the bullet strikes when the man target is missed in an -open field. The bullet strikes the ground less than a hundred yards off, -showing that it has dropped the height of a man's shoulder (say over four -feet). - -The .22 hits the ground nearly two hundred yards off under similar -circumstances. - -I had exceptional opportunities to watch this, as my man target stood out -in an open park, where there was no necessity to have a butt behind it. - -As it is not usual to shoot a duelling pistol beyond twenty-five yards, or -a .22 pistol beyond fifty yards, there is no necessity to make any -alteration in the sighting at that distance, but if extreme accuracy is -desired at any one distance the hind sight can be filed for that special -distance. - -The automatic, however, has a very powerful cartridge which shoots -accurately several hundred yards. - -Now the way I use my "big game" rifle is: when at a distance at which the -drop of the bullet would make it fall below the body of the game when I -aim at it, I judge how much I must aim above and shoot accordingly. - -The advantage of this is that you are ready at any moment to shoot. If the -animal is close and therefore dangerous, you can aim straight at him. If -he is far you aim above him. - -If he suddenly comes close you merely have to aim at him. This is the -principle on which the United States Army Automatic is sighted, one -immovable back sight. - -Most rifles and some automatic pistols are sighted differently. - -They have leaves or other adjustments to the back sight, so that if you -want to shoot at long range you estimate the distance, look at the hind -sight which is marked in distances, and either raise the leaf marked for -that distance, or else slide or screw up the back sight for that distance. - -This is all very pretty theoretically, or for deliberate target shooting, -but in practice it is dangerous. - -As an instance, you are out shooting, and see a stag 250 yards off, as you -estimate. - -You fix the back sight of your rifle for that distance, and begin taking a -careful aim. - -At that moment there is a grunt, you look up and there is an old wild boar -(a solitaire, very savage) charging at you from twenty yards off. - -If you fire at him with your 250 yards' sight up, you miss him and he has -you. But if you are shooting on my principle with a fixed sight for close -range, you would be aiming two feet above the stag when the boar started -charging, and all you would have to do is to shoot at the boar's chest, -and he would drop and you could then fire at the stag, as he galloped off. - -A leaf of the back sight may get put up accidentally, and you do not -notice this when firing at short range. - -The chief danger is from an enemy near you. You ought to have your sights -right for him, the distant one is not so important to hit, if you forget -to aim high for him. - -How often soldiers are told to put up their sights for a thousand yards' -range, and then have to start shooting at a close enemy and _forget to -alter their sights_. - -My advice is to have nothing to do with elevating back sights. - -As the duelling pistol has such an extreme drop, it will accustom you, if -you shoot it at various distances, to aim high or low according to the -distance. - -When you come to the automatic you will find, except for very -exceptionally long shots, you need not alter your elevation of aim at all; -it shoots practically straight up to the furthest you are likely ever to -have to use it. - -Less than forty yards and generally at a few feet off is the range for -pistols in actual combat. - -The further the object shot at, the more accurate the aim must be to hit -it. - -It is difficult to do snap shooting with a pistol at one hundred yards, -though one can do very accurate snap shooting with a rifle at that -distance. - -The reason is that the rifle has a longer barrel, so that a slight fault -in the alignment does not so much matter, but with the short barrel of a -pistol a hundredth of an inch wrong in the sighting, at one hundred yards, -makes over twelve inches error where the bullet strikes. - -In other words, an error of a hundredth of an inch in alignment in an -automatic pistol at one hundred yards, would make the pistol miss a target -twelve and a half inches in diameter, whereas a rifle at the same distance -with the same error of alignment would graze the edge of a target two and -a half inches in diameter. - -The pistol is more than four times more difficult to shoot than the rifle -at one hundred yards, owing to its short barrel magnifying the error -nearly four to five times more than the long barrel of the rifle. - -To compare a pistol with a rifle target at one hundred yards, the rifle -target bull's-eye would have to be reduced to a fifth of its diameter, -leaving the bullet holes where they are, or vice versa, the pistol target -bull's-eye would have to be magnified five diameters, leaving the bullet -holes where they are. - -This means that in shooting a match at a hundred yards, the rifle would -have to be given a bull's-eye a fifth the diameter of the pistol target, -the outside rings of the target in proportion, or the pistol must shoot at -twenty yards, against the rifle at one hundred, both having bull's-eyes -the same size. - -This confirms my experience that to hit a foot diameter bull's-eye with a -pistol at a hundred yards, is about as difficult as to hit a two and a -half inch bull's-eye at the same distance with a rifle. Of course standing -position is meant. With the prone position for the rifle it is too great a -handicap on the pistol. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE AUTOMATIC PISTOL - - -Now that the pupil has learned how to handle the single-shot pistol with -safety to himself and others, he can be trusted to learn how to shoot the -automatic pistol. (See Plates 7 and 13.) - -Before giving such instruction, it is necessary to explain what an -automatic pistol is, and in what it differs from a single-shot pistol. - -The first pistol, as the first rifle, was naturally a single-shot one. - -The pistol and rifle both proceeded in development along the same lines. - -First the match-lock, wheel-lock, flint-lock, percussion lock. Then -through muzzle-loader to rim fire, pin fire, to central fire breechloader, -hammer, hammerless, and ejector. - -The double barrel, and multi-barrel, and from smooth-bore to rifled bore, -were evolved at the same time. - -Here the pistol and rifle parted company slightly; though the principle -was the same in each case, it was differently applied. - -The rifle became a magazine loader, and it will next be an automatic -loader (though at present automatic loading is principally used in machine -guns and low-power rifles). - -The pistol, instead of becoming a magazine loader (in the sense of being -loaded by cartridges brought up from a magazine by operating a bolt), -became a revolver--that is, the cartridges were fired out of the magazine -instead of being first inserted into the barrel from a magazine. - -When cartridges are inserted into the barrel, there is no escape of gas at -the breech when they are fired, but when fired out of the cylinder of a -revolver, there is an escape of gas at the juncture of the cylinder and -barrel, which varies, and when such escape of gas occurs it causes weak -and low shots. - -The cylinder cannot be made gas tight, as that would prevent its -revolving, or coincide absolutely with the calibre of the barrel, -consequently a revolver can never be as accurate as a single-shot pistol. - -This defect in the revolver was its weak point in comparison with the -magazine-loading rifle. - -Just before the war, I shot two makes of military full-charge automatic -rifles, which were very good, but the war has put an end to their -development for the present. Undoubtedly the rifle of the future will be -an automatic. - -The principle of an automatic firearm can be best explained by the analogy -of the automobile. - -The revolver, which is a magazine pistol, can be fired only after each -cartridge is placed in position by the action of cocking the hammer with -the thumb, or by double-action trigger pull. - -The internal combustion (the automobile engine) operates by the explosion -operating the various parts. - -The explosion in the cylinder of the engine drives the piston rod forward, -which turns the crank, which, turning the fly-wheel, drives the piston rod -back ready for the next explosion. - -In the automatic pistol, the recoil from the explosion drives the working -part of the pistol back against a strong spring. As soon as the force of -the explosion is spent, this spring forces the working parts back into -place again. These working parts do all the work the shooter does in a -single-shot pistol--that is, it cocks the pistol, opens the breech, -extracts the spent cartridge, inserts a fresh cartridge, and closes the -breech. - -The idea is very simple, and has occurred to almost everyone who has -handled a pistol or a rifle, but there are mechanical difficulties which -are only just beginning to be overcome, and the automatic pistol, and -still more the automatic rifle, are yet far from perfect. - -The chief difficulty is the force of the explosion. In a motor-car engine, -the force of each explosion can be regulated so as to be just sufficient -for the work required. - -In an automatic pistol this cannot be done. The force of the explosion is -that which gives the best shooting, in other words the greatest possible -force, subject to the shooter being able to stand the recoil and the -pistol not to burst, though made light enough to be easily handled. - -If a pistol were made a ton weight, it would fire a very much larger -charge without bursting, but the charge of the explosion has to be limited -to what a pistol of some two and a half pounds' weight can bear without -bursting, or recoiling too severely on the shooter. - -The smaller pocket automatic pistols are lighter (the two-and-a-half pound -ones are military pistols). - -A pistol weighing under two and a half pounds can shoot only a small -charge with light recoil, and so is easier to make. - -The heavy recoil from a military rifle (which gives the bullet a speed of -some thirty thousand feet a second) would shatter the recoil mechanism of -a small pocket pistol, though the latter can quite safely operate under -the slight recoil of its weak cartridge. - -With a magazine rifle or revolver, the shooter uses just sufficient manual -force to operate the mechanism, and even then pistols and rifles may get -damaged by a clumsy man using too much force to wrench the weapon open or -slam it shut. - -If, instead of the intelligently applied strength of a man, using the -minimum force necessary, you substitute the smashing blow (several tons' -weight to the square inch) given by the force of gunpowder, to operate -delicate mechanism, you can realize the difficulty the inventor has to -contend with. - -It is as if you have to invent a firearm which would operate if, after -each shot, you threw it under a passing railway train. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -THE MECHANISM OF THE AUTOMATIC PISTOL - - -What the maker of the automatic pistol has to do is to restrain the sudden -smashing blow of the explosion on his mechanism and have it operate -gently. (See Plates 13 and 14.) - -The safety of the shooter depends greatly on _the breech of the pistol not -being opened till after the force of the explosion is spent_. - -If the breech is opened before the force of the explosion is spent, it -will drive the cartridge out like a bullet, and the pistol will in fact be -shooting from both ends at the same time. - -Now will be seen why a very light-charge rifle or pistol is easier to be -made a practical automatic firearm. - -With a very light charge, the explosive force is so light that, as long as -it does not instantly blow the breech open (but retards it ever so -slightly), there is no harm done. - -Rifles and pistols have long been made to shoot light charges that do not -need the breech securely locked during the discharge, and are perfectly -safe to use. - -The original automatic pistol operated as follows: - -The discharge drives the mechanism back against a spring at the same time -that it blows open the breech, which the recoil spring then closes, -inserting a fresh cartridge. The spent cartridge is blown with some force -sideways out of a slot at the side of the mechanism, so that it may not -hit the shooter in the face. - -In some makes of pistol, the cartridge is not blown out but merely dropped -out. - -With a suitable charge the breech-closing mechanism can be made heavy -enough for its inertia to keep the breech closed sufficiently long after -the discharge. - -When it comes to such heavy charges that it is necessary to keep the -breech closed till the force of the explosion is spent, the difficulty of -making a safe automatic firearm begins. - -With a military full-charge rifle this has hardly yet been arrived at, -hence the delay in its being used for military purposes, but it seems as -if the problem is on the point of being solved. - -For the comparatively weak recoil of a pistol, this does not apply. There -are several perfectly safe pistols in use, and there is no danger in using -any of the well-known makes. - -Some makes of automatic firearms, instead of using the recoil for -operating the mechanism, have a small tube alongside the barrel, which -communicates by a minute hole with the bore of the barrel near its -muzzle. - -The breech does not open till the bullet is just passing out of the -barrel, past the hole into the tube, and therefore the expansion of the -gas of the explosion loses its force. - -A small fraction of this gas rushes through the hole into the tube and -operates the mechanism. - -This has been the principle I have always worked on in trying to solve the -problem of an automatic firearm. - -One system uses the recoil, tempered by a buffer, to modify its force. - -The other consists in diverting enough gas from the big explosion to -operate the mechanism gently. - -It is conceivable that by this latter system it would be possible to -convert the explosion of a siege cannon into a force just strong enough to -break an egg, and that by two such divisions of the explosion, one would -open the breech and the other close it, without the necessity of any -anti-recoil mechanism at all on the principle of the slide valve of a -locomotive steam engine. (My grandfather, Ross Winans, invented the -locomotive slide valve, not Stevenson.) - -I think I am right in saying that this system has not yet been applied to -automatic pistols, and that they all operate on the recoil, driven back by -a compressed spring. - -A fault in every automatic pistol I have yet seen, is the difficulty of -first loading it. - -The cartridges are carried in a clip, which is inserted in the butt of the -pistol and drops out on pressing a button. Most automatic pistols -indicate when this magazine is empty and the pistol unloaded. - -This is very good, but what I complain of is that, after the magazine is -full, you have to bring the first cartridge into the barrel by hand, after -the first shot the cartridges are fed into the barrel and the empty ones -ejected, automatically. - -When getting the first cartridge ready to fire in a revolver you -accomplish it in cocking the pistol, and with a magazine rifle by working -a bolt or lever. - -But with an automatic pistol, if the hands are wet, cold, greasy, or weak -(as a soldier with blood on his hands and weak from a wound), it is -impossible to get the first cartridge into the barrel, or get the pistol -ready to shoot. - -The operation in automatic pistols begins by taking the pistol _in both -hands_. (Compare with cocking the revolver with one hand.) - -Then you hold the stock firmly with one hand, and grip the slippery barrel -of the pistol with the other hand, and use considerable force to draw the -barrel back against the strong compression spring. - -Your only assistance to get a grip is a slight corrugation on the barrel, -only wide enough for your thumb and forefinger to hold. - -Imagine trying to pull hard with only your forefinger and thumb gripping a -smooth and possibly slippery surface, with a cold, wet, or greasy hand. - -Let any one grease the automatic pistol and his hand and see if he can -perform this operation. Sandow, no doubt, could do it, but not the average -man. - -The magazine rifle is purposely made with a bolt like a door bolt, so that -it can be operated easily under all conditions, but the automatic pistol, -evidently to give it a neat external appearance, has no projection to take -hold of to drive back the slide, which, besides, takes more strength than -is required to operate the bolt of a magazine rifle. - -The remedy is simple: have two small projections, one on each side of the -corrugated grip on the barrel, so that the shooter can get two fingers one -over each side of this grip and, holding the stock in one hand, draw back -the slide with his other hand, with a perfect grip under all conditions, -like bending a crossbow. - -As to the shape and angle of the stock, inventors and shooters are at -constant war. - -The inventor is thinking of his mechanism; he makes his stock at the best -angle, shape, and size to suit what he puts inside it. It is much easier -to construct apparatus to feed cartridges into the barrel at right angles -than at an acute angle. - -Therefore, the inventor generally gives the shooter a stock unsuitable to -do good shooting with. - -The inventor should work in combination with the shooter. The shape of the -pistol externally should first be decided on by the shooter, so as to be -the best possible for shooting. In my opinion this should be the shape of -the French duelling pistol of the Gastinne-Renette pattern. (Plates 2 and -9.) - -The inventor should try to design his pistol to fit, as far as possible, -into this external shape. - -Some points, as the distance of the trigger from the finger, and the slope -and form of the butt, cannot be departed from without injury to accurate -shooting and quick handling of the pistol, and yet these are the very -things inventors alter. - -Other points the shooter may give way in, if such modifications are of -vital importance from the inventor's point of view. - -The reverse procedure is, however, the rule. An inventor generally has no -knowledge of shooting, or horses, or whatever else his invention applies -to; he is merely a clever mechanic. He has "imagination" and theories. -Generally, such theories are most grotesque and childish. - -I will instance an invention relating to horse-shoes. - -The inventor showed me a sort of bird-cage of iron and said it was a -horse-shoe. - -He informed me that shoeing horses as at present practised is wrong. "It -is brutal to nail shoes onto horses' feet. How would you like to have an -iron shoe nailed on the sole of your bare foot?" - -I tried to explain to him that the outer horn of a horse's foot has no -feeling, that a horse is hurt only when the farrier is clumsy and drives a -nail into the sensitive inner tissues of the foot, but he was too far -absorbed in his theories to listen to me. - -He then went on to show me that his shoe needs no nailing on, that it has -clamps, fastened by thumbscrews which clasp the horse's foot and grip it -by claws "just below where the hair grows," to use his expression. - -I explained to him that this (the coronet) is the most sensitive part of -the horse's foot, to press there would give him great pain and cause him -to go lame, and finally his foot would die and drop off. - -Also, that these clamps and thumbscrews would strike the horse on the -opposite fetlock and throw it down, and the centrifugal force would cause -the shoes to fly off when the horse was going. - -Finally, that these shoes were hideously ugly and no horseman would care -to be the laughing stock of everyone by taking his horse out with such -things on. - -The inventor merely said: "All you horsemen are the same. You merely -follow each other without any imagination," and he went out, to get the -same reply from every horseman he met. - -He was firmly convinced that people who have to do with horses all their -lives are fools and never think of what is best for the horse, but it -rests with men like himself who have "imagination" to show us horsemen how -to shoe and handle horses. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -PECULIARITIES AND FAULTS OF AUTOMATIC PISTOLS - - -Before purchasing an automatic pistol it would be well to try shooting -several makes. Inventors have not yet arrived at anything like a standard -shape. The grip, angle of stock, distance of trigger, etc., all vary, and -you can decide what suits you best only by actual trial. - -Handling the unloaded pistol is not enough. I was once trying an automatic -military rifle and found it balanced and handled very nicely. - -In order to test it in rapid fire I tried it against a magazine rifle to -which I was accustomed. - -For merely "loosed off" it beat the magazine rifle, but I wished to try it -for accuracy and speed combined. - -The test was to shoot at the "Running Deer" Bisley, to empty the magazine -at one run of the deer. - -The deer runs at a speed of fifteen miles an hour during five and a half -seconds at a distance of 110 yards from the firing point, across the line -of fire. - -With my magazine rifle I got off five shots, making four hits, wasting -much time with the loading. - -With the automatic rifle there was not an instant wasted in the loading; -the difficulty was in getting the shots to go anywhere near the deer--in -fact, I could not hit the deer, except with the first shot. - -At each shot the rifle tried to jump out of my hands, twisted itself round -to the right and then suddenly twisted the other way. The tighter I -gripped the more it wriggled about. - -Instead of the sights coming down back to alignment, after the recoil, I -found they jumped clean off the deer and I had to go hunting about to get -my aim again. - -Instead of, as with a well-balanced double rifle, the muzzle flying up at -the first shot and dropping down into place for the second shot, there was -no possibility of alignment without a fresh aim for each shot. - -It was just as if you have a strong unruly child in your arms trying to -set him down on a chair. - -He wriggles from side to side, stiffens his back, and you cannot seat him -on the chair. - -This is just how the rifle acted. It wriggled and struggled and refused to -let itself be aligned on the target. - -The inventor also tried shooting it and missed even with his first shot. -The fault lay in the way the recoil was taken up. - -To make an automatic rifle which will shoot accurately in rapid shooting, -the recoil must be straight back, not with a twist and wriggle from side -to side. - -When choosing an automatic pistol, shoot it and find out if it lets you -align your sights afresh immediately after you have fired. If you find it -cants over or tries to go home into its holster at each shot, and you have -to alter this cant before you can fire again, do not buy it. - -Get the gunmaker to instruct you thoroughly in the mechanism of any -automatic you buy and especially what parts need special attention to -prevent its jamming. - -Jamming is the constant bugbear to fight against. The automatic pistol -must always be kept in perfect working order and the parts properly -cleaned and oiled. - -The barrel in some is difficult to properly clean internally, unless taken -apart, and it is difficult to re-assemble. - -Unless all the parts work freely, a weak cartridge is apt to prevent the -pistol closing properly. - -When you have learnt the mechanism from the gunmaker you can begin -practising shooting with the pistol. - -The principal thing you have to remember is that, whereas a single-shot -pistol, when you have taken out the cartridge, is unloaded and safe, and a -revolver when you have emptied the cylinder is also unloaded and safe, -when you have taken out the magazine with its cartridges from an automatic -pistol, the pistol _may still remain loaded_. - -With the automatic pistol, when you have drawn back the slide and thereby -loaded a cartridge into the barrel, that cartridge _remains in still when -you withdraw the clip full of cartridges_. - -I give herewith a description of the Colt New Safety which obviates the -danger of leaving a cartridge inadvertently in the automatic pistol. - -"Figure 1 shows the pistol in cocked or firing position, magazine -withdrawn and cartridge in barrel chamber. - -"Figure 2 indicates position of the magazine when inserted in handle of -the pistol, and position of firing mechanism when safety-disconnector is -forced forward by the inserted magazine. - -"When the magazine is _removed_ (see Figure 1), the plunger acted upon by -its spring forces the safety-disconnector to the rear. This movement -forces the rear end of the connector (A) _below_ the nose of the sear (B) -so that should the trigger be pulled, the connection between trigger and -sear being broken, that is, the rear end of the connector (A) being -_below_ the sear nose (B), the trigger cannot operate the sear, -consequently no discharge of the piece can occur. - -"When the magazine is _inserted_ into the handle of the pistol (see Figure -2), the curved top of the forward portion of the magazine forces the -safety-disconnector forward and permits the rear end of the connector (A) -to rise in _front_ of the sear nose (B) in the normal position for firing. -A pull on the trigger causes the sear to turn upon its pivot so that the -firing pin is released and strikes the cartridge." - -[Illustration: PLATE 7. COLT NEW SAFETY DISCONNECTOR AUTOMATIC PISTOL, .25 - -The firing mechanism consists of the trigger with its connector which -releases the sear; the sear which releases the firing pin when the trigger -is pulled; the firing pin (there is no pivoted hammer in this model), and -the safety-disconnector with its plunger and spring. This disconnector is -part of the calibre .25 only.] - -_To unload an automatic pistol, withdraw the clip of cartridges and then -draw back the slide and extract the cartridge remaining in the barrel._ - -Till this latter is done the pistol is still loaded and dangerous. - -The automatic pistol is a very delicate instrument and apt to go wrong at -the most critical time. - -The revolver used to be grumbled at, but (if it did not fit too tightly) -even when it jammed, it could be cocked and worked by using extra -strength, opened by striking it over the thigh, etc. - -But an automatic cannot be forced, it must be operated with knowledge of -exactly just what has gone wrong. - -Any one taking up automatic-pistol shooting seriously should go to a -gunmaker and learn all about its mechanism so that he will know what is -wrong when the pistol refuses to operate. - -Each make of automatic varies, so I cannot give elaborate instructions as -to handling. Each make may have some point where it is simpler and -superior to others though in other respects it may be inferior. - -In the following remarks I mention what I consider best from a shooting, -not a mechanical, point of view. The latter is undergoing constant change, -and the automatic pistol has not yet arrived at a standard type. - -There are some points in which even the best automatic is at present -imperfect, and some in which it is dangerous to spectators--for instance, -the very strong ejection of the fired cartridge in some makes, which may -destroy the eyes of persons standing near enough to be hit by the spent -cartridges as they are ejected. - -I know of an automatic rifle which ejects its spent cartridges with great -force, and another which merely lifts them out, as if they were spilt -over the edge of the ejector slot, no force being used. This is the way -ejecting should be done. - -Such ejection would be very useful on an automatic pistol; now, if near a -man shooting them, they, even the best, hit one quite hard with the spent -cartridges. - -This gentle ejection is a patent and is done by a very weak spring in the -extractor which tips the cartridge out at the right moment; the ejection -is not caused by the back blast of the powder, or the drive forward of the -carrier, as in other automatics. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -FINAL PRACTICE - - -What I am about to describe is very dangerous, even for a good, cool shot, -and should not be attempted by any but an expert. - -It is practice for instantaneous shooting when taken unawares. - -Put up a full-sized man target at fifteen yards. Buckle on your holster, -with the loaded automatic in it, the safety bolt at "safe." Button the -holster. - -Stand with your back to the target, get your pistol out and put all your -shots into the target in the shortest possible time. - -This practice can be made still more difficult if as many man targets as -your magazine holds cartridges are placed at various distances; hit all of -them in the shortest time, taking them, not in rotation, but at random. - -At "go" you turn and in so doing unbutton the holster flap, drawing the -pistol, taking off the safety, and firing--all in one movement. - -Occasionally, instead of firing all the shots, slip in the safety, and -return the pistol to the holster after one shot. - -See how quickly you can draw, shoot, and return to holster "all safe." - -The idea is to make the movement of drawing, taking off the safety, -firing, returning the safety, and putting back in holster, all one -continuous movement, and as nearly instantaneous as possible. - -The safety should be off as the pistol gets clear of the holster; -similarly the safety should be on again the instant the shot is fired. - -If you are using a pistol having the additional safety squeeze in stock, -there is far less danger in this practice, as this pistol squeeze only -occurs as the trigger is pressed. - -This is the only sort of practice I know of where an automatic pistol is -safer than a revolver. - -In drawing a revolver, if it is a single-action one, there is danger of -its being fired by accident in cocking, and especially in putting back to -half cock, if only one hand is available to do this. - -With an automatic the safety can be put on or off without danger of an -accidental explosion, and the Regulation U. S. .45 Army Colt cannot be -fired till the grip is squeezed as well. - -A musician has an advantage in this practice, as he uses his fingers and -thumbs independently of each other. - -In practising this exercise with a .45 Colt U. S. Army Automatic, be sure -to draw the pistol without any pressure on the safety at back of stock, -only push the thumb safety and put the pressure on the other release only -as you fire. - -You can practise this with an empty pistol with a pad of rubber to take -the blow of the falling hammer so as not to break the mainspring. As you -draw, push the safety off with the thumb, pulling the pistol out with the -fingers against the front of the grip, so as not to touch the back safety -lever, and squeeze that with your palm in firing. - -Keep in mind that the pistol is safe so long as you do not press the palm -of your hand against it, even when the slide safety is off. - -In all this practice remember speed is the one object, as long as you can -hit the figure that is all that is necessary. To hit the enemy first is -the all important thing, to hit him _after_ he has hit you, on account of -wasting time in taking a good aim, is a fatal mistake. - -For extreme speed you can fire the moment the pistol is in the direction -of the target even before you have raised your arm, continuing the raising -of the arm as you fire and getting the next shot in as an aimed one. - -Even if the first shot is a miss it disconcerts the opponent and may -prevent his getting in a shot on you before you have time to fire the -second shot. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -EXHIBITION SHOOTING - - -In my _Art of Revolver Shooting_ I did an unintentional wrong to a stage -shot. - -In the book I gave details of how to do legitimate stage shooting, and -also exposed the devices of those who perform conjuring tricks, which the -public mistake for genuine shooting. - -There was a review of my book in one of the daily papers, in which the -reviewer gave extracts of how some of these fake-shooting feats were done. - -The next day I received a most indignant letter from a "Lady Champion -Shot" telling me that when she was giving her exhibition at a music hall, -people in the audience, after each feat, shouted to her "I know how that's -done," and that she had lost her job in consequence. - -I do not know the merits of the case, as I never saw her shoot, but I will -not explain any more stage tricks, as I do not want "Stage Champion Shots" -to lose engagements. Shooting men can see for themselves if any of these -shooting exhibitions are genuine, and if fakes amuse the public, what does -it matter? - -For hitting small objects with extreme accuracy at short range for -exhibition purposes, I find the larger the bullet, providing it is -propelled by a small charge which has no recoil, the easier to make hits -with. - -The big bullet cuts into say the ace of hearts, where a smaller bullet -would just miss it. - -Six well-placed shots with a .44 French duelling pistol shot at five yards -would make one hole, whereas six .22 bullets hitting exactly the same -centres would make six distinct holes, close together, but would not be -the sensational "all the shots in one hole" like the former score, which -audiences talk about afterwards. - -Nowadays, with the wax bullets driven by fulminate out of a duelling -pistol, shooting off the heads of assistants can be done with very little -risk except to the eyes, whereas with a leaden bullet a bad shot means the -death of the assistant unless provided with a steel skull cap under a wig. - -In spite of the advantage of the big bullet, most stage shooters use the -.22 calibre pistol. - -It may be that they have some contract with the makers to use only their -make of pistol, or it is a tradition because Chevalier Ira Paine used it, -but why any one with a free hand uses it in preference to a .44 I do not -understand. - -I cannot do as good shooting with a .22 as with the larger calibres, and I -have, I think, specimens of all makes of pistols and have shot them all. - -I was a pupil of Chevalier Ira Paine, who was an incomparably better shot -than any of us at stationary targets, and unique in that I never saw him -make a bad shot, and he has won (which no other man has succeeded in -doing) _both_ the Duelling Pistol _and_ the Revolver Grand Medal at -Gastinne-Renette's Gallery in Paris. Both are better scores than any ever -made before or since. There is also a seven-shot score with all the -bullets into a shamrock-shaped hole at sixteen metres, made by Ira Paine, -framed at Gastinne-Renette's. - -He was shooting for the Grand Medal d'Or when he made this seven-shot -score. They were such a phenomenal group that he was asked not to continue -on that target for fear of spoiling it. - -As he shot so extremely well with the duelling pistol, and as I know no -score of his with the .22 to equal his work with the duelling pistol, I do -not understand why he did not use the latter for his stage work. - -One of his most sensational feats was for his assistant to hold a playing -card, the three of hearts, horizontally. Paine hit the outside pip first, -then the middle one, and finally the one next the fingers, which were -about a third of an inch from it. - -This, in artificial light and reserving the most dangerous shot for the -last, required nerve, and he did this the night before he died, when he -knew his case was hopeless. - -As I said, he was the only man I ever saw who did what heroes of novels -do. That is, he never missed or made a bad shot during all the years I saw -him shoot. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -CONTROL OF TEMPER - - -Pistol shooting is excellent training for control of the temper. Boiled -down to its essence, pistol shooting is _fighting_ either in earnest or in -competition. - -Whilst therefore self-control is essential in all sport, in pistol -shooting it is vital. When a man loses his temper he is at the mercy of -his opponent. - -Temperaments differ: a word or act which has not the least effect on one -man's temper irritates another till he gets beside himself. - -How often one hears a man say: "I don't know what I have done, but X. -seems offended with me." - -Some take offence at very little, while with others nothing can make them -lose their temper. - -I know a man who never has even a shade of annoyance pass over his face -whatever happens. He is in constant request for shooting in teams, and he -can be depended on always to shoot up to his form. When his team seems -hopelessly beaten he calmly makes a string of bull's-eyes. - -This is the ideal state of mind, the control of one's temper all should -have, and nothing trains for this like pistol shooting. - -In the prone position with a rifle a man may be agitated but his brain -still enables him to shoot well, but when standing up and having to depend -on the muscles and nerves of his right hand and arm alone, self-control is -all he has to rely on. - -Self-control becomes second nature to a pistol-shot. Control of the temper -and nerves is greatly hindered in cases where nicotine, alcohol, or other -drugs are used. These drugs do not give the nerves and brain a fair -chance. - -Loss of temper is considered proper and a sign of authority by some, and -loss of temper has even (most profanely) been considered by some as an -attribute of their deities. - -Formerly masters of hounds, if the Field did anything wrong, flew into an -ungovernable rage and used disgusting language. - -Nothing can be done properly when a man is in this state of mental -unbalance, and many a fox has owed his life to the huntsman having lost -his temper with his Field or his horse. - -I am told certain games are very trying to the temper. Golf, for instance, -has even led to the reprimand of a churchwarden by the committee of his -golf club for using profane language. - -I have seen very amiable people sit down to play bridge and after they -have played for half an hour they exhibited the most vile tempers. - -A pupil and coach after working hard all one morning decided to take a -little relaxation in a game of croquet. The pupil lost his temper and hit -the tutor with his mallet. - -A prize fighter was in the habit of--in doubtful taste (to use a mild -euphemism)--taunting his opponent during his fights in order to make him -lose his temper and consequently his judgment. - -These unpardonable tactics do not, however, always succeed. A man may feel -angry without losing self-control. In fact "cold anger" braces up a man -and his nerves become as iron and he becomes as implacable as Fate. - -Some are extremely nervous and shy. They can shoot very well when by -themselves, but if others are present they cannot do themselves justice, -and they cannot shoot well in a competition. They are too flabby. - -Nervous men should always have people present when practising, and vary -their audiences as often as possible, so that they will not get "stage -fright." - -The fault of others is extreme irritability. They shoot well till -something annoying happens, a shot unexpectedly fired near them, a jamb of -the pistol, the wind blowing the target down, or other trivial matters -which do not trouble any one else. - -This, however, starts them fuming and swearing (an oath is a sure sign of -want of self-control). Everything that happens, the most trivial thing, -adds to their _énervement_, as the French call it. - -Their nerves get all in a jangle and they cannot shoot. Tobacco is often -found to be the cause of the above state of mind. It takes a mere nothing -to get a heavy smoker unbalanced. - -The worst form of nerves, and almost impossible to overcome, is that when -a man fancies people are "slighting" or "insulting" him. - -He begins by shooting well and is in a good temper. Someone unfortunately -makes a perfectly innocent remark or does something which seems quite -innocuous to others. - -But the man at once changes his manner, thinks he has been "purposely -insulted" or "hampered," but he says nothing. The man who flies out at -others is easier to manage, as you know what he complains of. But this man -nurses his wrong and broods over it without letting any one know his -grievance. He sulks, frowns, does not answer when spoken to, and his -shooting goes to pieces, and he ruins the pleasure of the others. After -all we are shooting for mutual pleasure and sport. - -There is the flabby man who can win when he has it all his own way, but -cannot make an effort when tackled. He is what is called a "rogue," not in -the offensive sense but in racing language. - -The man who surprises others is the quiet easy-going good-natured man who -never wishes to hurt or annoy any one, but only wishes to be left in -peace. - -This is the Eastern or Russian temperament: "Nichevo" (never mind); -"Sechas" (presently). - -Some men get into the bad habit of saying what they imagine are "smart" -things, but which are really impertinent and hurt others' feelings. - -This becomes such a habit with them that they do not notice that they are -getting themselves hated as much as if they went about flicking people -over the shins with a whip. - -Some writers of plays which are supposed to be full of wit make their -characters do nothing but say unkind things to each other. This is not wit -but stupid, callous cowardice, which could not occur in countries where -duelling is allowed. - -To resume, the good-natured man who is not understood, whose good nature -is mistaken for softness, sometimes surprises people. - -His opponent, either because he is one of the sort who say "smart" things, -or because he is losing his temper, says something which _at last_ wakes -up the good-natured man. The latter says nothing, does not change his -expression of good nature. He merely begins to shoot like a machine, his -arm rises like a steel rod, each shot goes into the middle of the -bull's-eye, there is no hesitation, dwelling on the aim, or doubtful -bull's-eye. - -He has, in becoming angry, pulled himself together, his whole mind is -concentrated on one sole object, making the best score and beating his -insulter, and he shoots the best score of his life. To compete against him -is like competing against Fate. - -After such an incident, I saw a beaten competitor go up to the winner, and -congratulate him. - -He added, "I thought I had you beaten that time." The other answered, "So -you had, if you had not insulted me." - -If you make a man "see red" whilst still keeping his temper, that is the -most dangerous man in the world to tackle. Sir Henry Irving portrayed this -when acting in the _Corsican Brothers_. I have never seen another actor -succeed in doing so. - -In order not to hamper your adversary in a competition, it is of the -utmost importance to study every one of your words and acts. What does not -worry one man may entirely put another off his shooting. Moving about -whilst he is shooting, leaving the firing point as he is firing, is enough -to put him off his shot, and should be strictly avoided. - -It is best to keep well away from him and only go up for your shot and not -address a word to him or speak to any one within his hearing, until he -beats you, then be the first to congratulate him. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -THE EFFECT OF ALCOHOL AND NICOTINE ON SHOOTING - - -In order to obtain the best results in shooting, a perfect co-ordination -between the brain, nerves, and muscles is necessary. - -A man who drinks heavily may for a time be able to shoot well, but this -does not last. He can never be depended on not to "crack up" and he -collapses at critical moments. - -Very robust health is not necessary as long as the above conditions are -fulfilled, and pistol shooting in the open air may be of benefit to a man -who is in too delicate health to be able to play even a gentle game. - -The old, evil days when a sportsman was not considered acting as a man -unless he drank several bottles of port each evening and had to be carried -home in a wheelbarrow are now, happily, gone for ever. Putting drink -before all else used to be a constant annoyance. A drunkard was not -content till he had reduced every man near him to the same disgusting -mental and physical condition. - -If others would not drink with him, he had the utmost contempt for them. -Called them "milksops," "drinkers of slops," "unsociable," and "too -proud." - -I always refused to go out shooting with such people. Besides being very -dangerous, they never would do anything but drink. Sport was a mere excuse -for going out "on the drink." Every occasion was made the excuse for a -drink. With such people drink was the great event of the day, and if a -stag was shot, there was a ceremony to be gone through of everyone -drinking whiskey neat to "more blood." - -At lunch, after an interminable time spent in drinking--they eat -little--the forester who had been fidgeting to get off, would come up at -last and timidly say, "I'm thinking the sooner we go the best, I am seeing -a verra heavy beast in yon corrie, with the glass." - -The "sportsman" would answer, "Is there? open the other bottle of -champagne and help yourself, it won't hurt you, there is not a headache in -a dozen bottles." - -Drink used to pose as the twin brother and boon companion of sport. - -In these days drink is known as the sportsman's deadliest enemy. - -I consider even minute medicinal doses of alcohol are deleterious to -shooting, entirely apart from drunkenness. Admiral Jellicoe, speaking at -Gibraltar in 1911, quoted with approval a statement of Captain Ogilvy, the -noted gunnery instructor, to the effect that carefully compiled -statistics revealed the fact that the shooting efficiency of the men was -thirty per cent. better before than after the issue of the grog ration ... -one eighth of a pint of rum liberally diluted with water. - -In Bavaria the Minister of War carried out tests as to the effect of -alcohol on marksmanship during twenty days on twenty marksmen (shortly -before the war), 80,000 shots were fired, and the trial showed according -to the report of Professor D. R. Kraeplin, that the consumption of forty -grammes of alcohol, corresponding to the amount contained in one and three -quarters pints of beer, made an average reduction in marksmanship of three -per cent. The effect was most perceptible twenty-five to thirty minutes -after absorbing the alcohol. - -Most of the marksmen shot even worse, some of them from eight to twelve -per cent. worse. - -The Professor continues: "An amusing feature of the tests was that _some -of the riflemen insisted not only that they could, but actually were -shooting better after drinking the spirits, whilst in reality their -marksmanship had fallen off as much as ten per cent_." - -The late Sir Victor Horsley permitted me to quote the following from one -of his lectures. - - The cerebral activity of taking alcohol lasts only a few minutes, then - marked slowing sets in, and for the rest of the time during which - alcohol acts, varying from two to four hours according to the - individual, the cerebral activity is diminished. It took longer for a - person who had imbibed small quantities of alcohol to think, the - evidence was overwhelming that alcohol in small quantities had a most - deleterious effect on voluntary muscular work. - -These facts bear out in every particular my own observations in watching -others. - -I find they are not so active in their movements, especially if they have -to turn round suddenly to shoot, but at the same time they had more -confidence in their ability to shoot. - -Who has not seen (to go to the extreme case) when a large dose of alcohol -has been swallowed and a man is "under the influence of liquor" that the -"patient" is ready to fight all comers, although he cannot stand on his -legs. - -As Professor Kraeplin says, "the subject experimented on cannot judge--he -thinks alcohol makes him shoot better although the actual facts are the -other way about." - -At the Olympic Games which take place each four years, the members of the -United States Rifle and Revolver Teams which compete are water-drinkers -and non-smokers, and they are practically unbeaten to date. - -Major Smith W. Brookhart of the Ordnance Department, United States -National Guard, writing in _Arms and the Man_, May 4, 1918, says: -"Civilization has advanced so much in the past decade, that it is now -almost superfluous to write a caution against the use of stimulants. -Every rifleman will admit that alcohol is an enemy. Total abstinence, -_bone dry_, is the only safe rule. Tobacco or any other stimulants should -also be avoided. They may not be so fatal as alcohol, but they all tend in -the wrong direction. The man who wants to climb into the championship -class and stay there must be a normal man. The proper attitude of mind -will give every man more pleasure in conquering a habit than in submitting -to it. To win over the smoking habit is an achievement of which to be -proud and it improves the scores." - -Those who make a moderate use of alcohol and tobacco are gradually reduced -as to the quantity they use some weeks or even months before the actual -Games, until all the members of the teams are non-smokers and -water-drinkers. - -There is this to be said of the smoker, as long as you do not try to -prevent his stifling you with his smoke he does not pester you to imitate -his example like a drinker does. - -He merely pityingly informs you that "you do not know what you have -missed." - -As the "joy" missed consists of chronic sore throat, palpitating heart, -and shaky nerves, I cannot see that much is missed by the non-smoker. - -The invariable answer to the question "what pleasure do you find in -smoking" is "it soothes the nerves." - -Healthy normal nerves need no soothing. - -When an automatic function of the body is normal and healthy, it does not -indicate its presence. - -A man does not feel his heart when it is healthy, only when it is -diseased. - -In the same way a man who has not injured his nerves by nicotine or -alcohol does not know that he has any nerves, but on the other hand, -nerves being destroyed by narcotics fight back, and make their agony -known. - -A man would fight against his headache being "soothed" by being clubbed -over the head. - -As well might one say a man half insensible from concussion needs -"soothing" by being knocked completely out. If this soothing of the nerves -is persisted in, a man sinks lower mentally than an animal. - -A man in the last stage of nicotine poisoning, when told by his doctor, -"you must either give up smoking or you will die" answered "then I prefer -to die." - -What a glorious death! How true the dictum of Sir Oliver Lodge that the -supreme outcome of 500,000 years of effort by the Universe has been, man! - -The following appeared in the _Daily Mail_ of September 25, 1917. It shows -how men risk not only their own lives but hundreds of other lives rather -than give up smoking. What a blessing if Dr. Furlong's suggestion of -nicotine tablets is adopted. - -We non-smokers will no longer have to walk the streets, eat our meals, -sit in theatres, and travel in railway trains breathing an atmosphere of -tobacco, and burnt paper smoke. - - SHELLWORKERS' CRAVING TO SMOKE. - - _To the Editor of the Daily Mail_: - - SIR: As some men in munition factories will run the risk of smoking in - spite of their liability to fines and as others, even if they do not - smoke during working hours, carry matches in their pockets, it is - necessary to consider what is best to be done to prevent explosions. - - I believe that if tablets of nicotine were manufactured, each one - representing the drug value of say one cigarette, they would - constitute a real safeguard against such accidents. One or two of - these tablets would remove the craving for a smoke and check the - irritability caused by the want of it. - - I do not wish to convey that nicotine tablets would ever take the - place of smoking, but they would have the advantage of safety, and no - disadvantage that I know of except that they are a little slower in - action. - - Early in the war I advocated the introduction of these tablets for use - in special circumstances, but unfortunately up to the present the idea - has not been utilized. - - WM. VERNER FURLONG, M.D. - - 16, Pembroke Road, Dublin. - -The smoker does not see the selfishness of his behaviour. He looks on the -non-smoker as selfish if he protests against being nauseated. - -The nicotine tablets will enable the taker to poison himself without also -poisoning others. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -CLEANING AND CARE OF THE PISTOL - - -In the black powder days cleaning was, comparatively, a simple matter. -Now, with the smokeless powders, especially cordite, incessant care has to -be taken to avoid the pistol spoiling by corrosion, pitting, and rust. - -Even if you have cleaned the bore most carefully after using--the next -morning you may find it in an awful state. - -The only remedy is to go over the pistol at intervals, after use, and even -when it appears perfectly right it should be looked after every few days, -to make sure. - -Practice with a single-shot pistol entails less time spent in cleaning; if -you shoot frequently with an automatic pistol it will keep you busy all -your time taking it to pieces and looking after it. - -A single-shot pistol is easy to clean. There is only the inside of the -barrel to look to, and it is easily got at without taking it to pieces; -whereas the moving parts of an automatic all need seeing to. The big bore -duelling pistol is much easier kept clean than a .22 bore. - -A man practising with an automatic, unless he is very enthusiastic, soon -gets tired of the labour and the time it takes to keep it in working -order. - -I shot with an automatic which had been at the front in the war over two -years. It shot extremely well, the owner having taken great care of it -during all its rough experiences, but it constantly failed to completely -close. - -It did not actually jam, but what came to the same thing, it occasionally -did not quite close and could not be fired unless it had been closed by -hand. - -This shows that in the actual work of war there is a tendency for an -automatic pistol to become weak in the closing spring, and there ought to -be some simple device for increasing the tension of the spring, when -necessary. - -There may have been some such device on the pistol in question, which its -owner and I did not discover. - -To really know your automatic pistol, it is best to have a few hours with -a gunmaker, taking it to pieces, and learning the use of each part, and -how to correct any failure of the pistol to function properly. Otherwise -you may, when in an out-of-the-way place, be rendered helpless by a simple -fault which could be corrected in a few moments without the use of tools -by someone who understands its mechanism. - -I saw a man who actually buried a loaded automatic pistol deep in the -ground, because it had a jam and he was afraid of it. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -PRACTICAL PISTOL SHOOTING - - -In England, rifle and pistol shooting are conducted on lines different to -Continental usage, owing to the entirely different point of view adopted. - -In England big game has been practically exterminated. There are a few -fallow deer left in parks, and a few red deer are wild in Devonshire and -Somersetshire, and Scotland, but these deer are beyond the means of any -but rich men to shoot, and the deer in Devon and Somerset are reserved for -hunting with hounds. - -There are a few roe deer in Scotland, but these are treated as vermin and -killed off with shotguns. - -Rooks and rabbits are shot with miniature rifles but the rooks are shot -when young and unable to fly, sitting on the branches of the trees near -their nests, and the rabbits also when sitting outside their holes. - -In England the general public never shoot rifles in sport, except those -who shoot sitting shots at rooks and rabbits. - -The idea has therefore arisen that the rifle and pistol are not weapons -to use in sport but merely implements at the game of bull's-eye shooting, -and that the shotgun is the sporting firearm. - -The idea is that a rifle or pistol can be used only at a stationary -object. - -When the above is realized, it is very easy to understand why in England -all rifle and pistol clubs shoot only at stationary bull's-eye targets at -known distances. - -The reason they adopted the black front sight probably arose because it is -easier to make a small black spot in the middle of a white sheet of paper -than to paint the whole sheet black and leave out a white bull's-eye. - -It was merely a matter of convenience in target-making. - -Once however a black bull's-eye on white paper was decided on; the colour -of the front sight _had_ to be black. - -To shoot at a minute object, aim must be at the bottom edge of it "at six -o'clock" (so called from the analogy of the face of a watch). - -If the aim is taken in the middle of a small bull's-eye, the front sight -covers most of it and makes seeing the bull's-eye difficult. - -In order to see the front sight best on a white target below a black -bull's-eye, the front sight must be black; black against white being the -strongest contrast. A white front sight on a white target would be lost. - -As a result, all except big game rifles and English pistols are made with -black front sights. - -Shooters of big game abroad found a white front sight best, and hunting -rifles are now made in England with silver or ivory front sights, but no -English pistol has any but a black front sight. - -Military rifles of every nation have this conventional black front sight. - -Professional experts test military rifles but they test them on white -targets with black bull's-eyes, therefore a black front sight is necessary -for this purpose, and as the experts are merely expert target shots and -not big game shots, this black front sight is retained. - -It being customary not to look on a rifle or pistol as of any use except -to hit a stationary target, all English rifle and pistol clubs have been -formed on this supposition. - -At the English National Rifle Association Meetings at Wimbledon and later -at Bisley, the "Running Deer" target has been in use from the beginning, -but only a very few of us shoot at it. - -The bulk of rifle shots have always fought most desperately against any -but stationary targets. This is natural. A man who has worked hard all his -life to become a "crack shot" at a stationary target is not going to risk -his reputation by being beaten by a school boy at a moving target. - -At the revolver ranges, moving, disappearing, and rapid-firing -competitions were instituted but had very little support; a few men shot, -but half a dozen men do not constitute a big enough crowd to warrant the -keeping up of competitions which the bulk of shooters do not want. - -On the Continent, shooting under practical conditions has always marked -the shooting at rifle and pistol clubs. - -Numerous Continental sportsmen, even in humble circumstances, are able to -shoot bears, wolves, lynx, reindeer, elk, moufflon, chamois, wild boar, -etc., and above all _roe deer_. - -It is the roebuck who trains men to be practical rifle shots on the -Continent. - -In Scotland the roe is classed as vermin and exterminated with shotguns. - -The roebuck is, to the middle class Continental sportsman, his highest -sport in rifle shooting. - -Few men in England, even if they have the means, care for deer-stalking as -they know nothing of rifle shooting. They prefer small game shooting with -the shotgun which they are more skilful with. - -On the Continent the roe is strictly preserved and no does or fawns are -ever allowed to be killed. - -The roebuck must be shot only with a rifle and not during the close -season. - -There are societies which have yearly exhibitions of roebuck heads, shot -by their members during the current year, and gold, silver, and bronze -medals given for the best heads. - -A good roe-head in a public place draws crowds who discuss its good and -bad points. - -I doubt if in England one person in a thousand would know what species of -deer they belonged to, but all would know the difference between a -tennis, cricket, or foot ball. - -Rifle clubs are in existence all over the Continent to enable members to -practice for game shooting. - -The club members are sportsmen used to game shooting with the rifle, not -men who have never fired a rifle except at a target or ever expect to -shoot otherwise, and who therefore take no interest in rifle shooting -except in seeing who can make the closest group of shots on a stationary -target and to win spoons and cups. - -The makers of targets on the Continent employ good animal painters to make -the shooting as like the real thing as possible. - -I know of a range where you climb steep rocks amongst bracken, and as you -get near the top, you see a model of a chamois, life-size and colour above -you, half hidden in foliage, which you shoot at. - -At another range, there are stags, roe deer, wild boar, even hares, -life-size and colour which rush past unexpectedly like clay pigeons in an -English shotgun shooting school. - -"Figure" targets in the United States and England are very badly drawn -(the running deer at Wimbledon was an exception, being drawn by Sir Edwin -Landseer). - -The "figure" targets one sees in England and in the United States are -drawn by artists of the cubist, futurist, and vorticist schools. Such -drawings, over which the art critics go into ecstasies, are too difficult -to identify and therefore not suitable for quick rifle shooting practice. - -The shooter does not know when it is safe to shoot. What he thinks is -meant for a wild boar, or possibly a lynx, is really meant to be the -"portrait of Miss X., the beautiful Musical Comedy Actress," put up as a -target owing to the mistake of a workman ignorant of art. - -It will be noticed that the bull's-eye and concentric rings for scoring -bear no relation to the object drawn on it. It is possible to miss what -looks like a bottle stopper and score a bull's-eye, or to hit the bottle -stopper and score a miss. - -I have shown a proof of this last paragraph to a friend who says he -understands cubism, and he tells me the target referred to represents a -soldier and is a very fine example by one of the founders of cubism and it -ought to be purchased for the Chantry Bequest, but I am not sure if my -friend is a reliable art critic. - -I confess I do not understand art criticism as I am merely a sculptor who -exhibits at the London Royal Academy and Paris. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI - -DANGER OF LEAVING PISTOLS ABOUT - - -The brainless have one perennial joke. This is to take up a firearm, aim -it at someone, say "I'll shoot you," and then pull the trigger. - -Even an unloaded pistol should never be left about. Someone is sure to -"snap" it and ruin the lock, lugging at the hammer and pulling at the -trigger at the same time, just as people rip out the teeth of the gear of -an automobile by altering gear without first taking out the clutch. - -If the pistol is loaded, someone is sure to get shot by a fool. Both the -owner who left the loaded pistol about and the man who fired it "not -knowing it was loaded" are equally to blame. - -Aiming firearms in "fun" at people is not empty-headedness solely but a -form of hysteria. - -It is done by the same people who laugh when at a funeral, or commence to -rock a boat in "fun" and cause so many drowning accidents. - -The best thing that can happen to such people is for them to "clean a -pistol not knowing it was loaded" and shoot themselves. - -There is a story of a man who wished to kill a monkey. When he noticed -the monkey was looking at him, he took an empty gun, pointed it at his own -head, and pulled the trigger. This he repeated many times, propping the -butt of the heel plate against a tree and the muzzle against his forehead. - -Then the man loaded the gun, put it to full cock, and laid it on the -ground and went off. - -As soon as he was out of sight, the monkey crept up to the gun and -repeated what he had seen the man do. - -Result--monkey's head blown off. - -This is the exact mentality of the "did not know it was loaded" fool. - -The only difference is that, as soon as such people kill others on the -"did not know it was loaded" principle, there are plenty of others to take -their place. - -As they are always acquitted when they say they "did not know it was -loaded," others imitate, knowing there is no danger of their being hung -for this murder. - -But if you shoot another man, even if you think he is going to murder you, -unless you have let him first have a shot at you, you run the risk of -being hung for it; if he turns to run away you must not shoot him in the -back as he runs away or you get hung for it. - -Parents encourage children in the criminal folly, aiming at people; they -give them toy pistols and play themselves with the children pretending to -be frightened when the child comes round the corner and fires the popgun -or pistol with paper detonator at them. - -When this child grows up, he always thinks that to point a firearm at any -one and pull the trigger is "humour" and takes the first opportunity to -pick up a firearm and point it at people. "Want of the sense of humour" is -the unpardonable sin in the opinion of so-called "Humorous writers," who -consider any one not laughing at their obvious drivel is wanting in a -sense of humour, and if he abuses mothers-in-law or throws bricks at a -starving cat, he considers himself a humorist. - -Surely any one pointing a firearm at others in play should be punished by -two years' hard labour. This would soon teach people that they must curb -their "sense of humour." - -There are plenty of other "jokes" left such as pulling a chair from under -any one about to sit down, or putting tin tacks in his boots; but of -course they have the disadvantage of not actually killing him, and you may -be prosecuted for damages, but the joke of shooting a man on the "did not -know it was loaded" principle entails no unpleasant consequences on the -shooter. He is always acquitted even as when a defendant said "I only -pulled the trigger to frighten her, having forgotten to unload my rifle -when I left the trenches in France to come back to England." Imagine a -soldier not unloading and cleaning his rifle when coming out of the -trenches, but leaving it to rust during his leave home in England!!! - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII - -USING ONE'S BRAINS IN SHOOTING - - -Pistol shooting is not merely the mechanical art most people think it is, -a man who does not use his brains and think out things will go on making -the same mistakes all his life and never improve or become a good shot. - -There is no such thing as luck. A bad shot means a fault somewhere, and -the good shot is he who can diagnose the cause of this fault and correct -it. - -I saw a most ridiculous instance of a man not using his brains. - -A man was practising next me at Gastinne-Renette's. He shot some two -hundred shots, beautifully grouped but all to the left. - -I asked a friend if he had noticed this. He answered that he had seen this -man shooting constantly, that he was a regular attendant and had been for -years. - -He always put his shots to the same side of the target, and had never -discovered that if he only aimed a little to the right, he would hit the -target. - -I saw a man counting stamps at an hotel. He was wetting his finger to -turn them over and got the whole lot into one sticky mass. - -This latter man was perhaps so used to counting paper money by wetting his -finger that he was doing it mechanically with these stamps whilst thinking -of something else. - -The former man looked an intelligent man and was so most probably in his -business, but he cannot ever have used his brains in pistol shooting. - -I put a man right once who was shooting at a black "man" figure in -competition. - -He shot very badly. I asked him what was the matter. Unlike most men who -tell you to mind your own business, and make you chary of helping any one, -this man asked me if I could assist him. - -He said he could not see his front sight on the target and feared -something was wrong with his eyes. - -I showed him it was not his eyes but the black front sight of his pistol -on the black target which was at fault. - -I put a big blob of Chinese white on his front sight squeezed from a water -colour tube. - -He won first prize with a highest possible score. - -Like the conventional man with his doctor who has cured him, he never even -thanked me. - -Getting into bad habits in shooting has constantly to be guarded against. - -A horse is very apt to get carrying his head crooked, tongue lolling, -hitching, etc., unless he is constantly corrected. So must a shooter -watch and correct his own faults. - -It is as well to get a good shot to watch you shooting occasionally and to -point out to you undesirable tricks or habits you may be getting into, -without noticing it. - -Some men, when shotgun shooting, gradually get into the habit of carrying -the muzzle too low so that they sweep others as they walk. This is the -result of shooting much alone, and so getting out of the habit of noticing -when they are swinging their guns across others. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII - -THE PERFECT TARGET - - -Most targets are very imperfect, not only from the bull's-eye being a -wrong size, but the scoring on them is very rudimentary, and does not show -the real value of the hits. For instance, take the usual English five -hundred yards' target. - -If a few hundred men have fired at these, there are a quantity of highest -possible scores made which have to be shot off and much time wasted -thereby. - -Seven lucky shots just touching the extreme edge of the bull's-eye counts -a highest possible. A score consisting of six shots into the very centre -of the bull's-eye and one shot just grazing the edge of the bull's-eye -counts one point less than the former, though a much better score. - -No target except the one I am about to describe enables one to know if a -bullet has hit the absolute centre of the target. In other targets you -have a bull's-eye more or less small, and any shot in the absolute centre -counts no better than one on the edge of the bull's-eye. - -A perfect target should fulfil the following conditions: - -Bull's-eye right size for aiming at. - -Possibility of judging an absolutely central shot. - -Certainty and ease with which the scoring value of a shot can be -ascertained. - -Such a target exists and is illustrated herewith (see Plate 8). - -It is the target in use at Gastinne-Renette's Pistol Gallery, Paris, and -is the invention, I believe, of the Founder of the firm, the grandfather -of the present proprietor. - -A perfectly placed bullet is one in the absolute centre of the bull's-eye. - -Apart from the impossibility of aiming at it, the mathematical "point" -would be of no use as a bull's-eye. If the bullet hits it, or hits a pin's -point (which is the smallest practical substitute for the mathematical -point), the point disappears and there is no means of telling if the -centre of the bullet struck that point or not. - -M. Gastinne-Renette's solution of this problem is extremely simple. It is -to make the bull's-eye of _exactly the diameter of the bullet fired at -it_. - -If a bullet hits a bull's-eye which is exactly of the same diameter as -itself, and no part of the bull's-eye remains visible at an edge of the -bullet hole, then that bullet has hit absolutely central in the -bull's-eye. - -The next difficulty was that such a small bull's-eye is difficult to aim -at with a pistol. - -This was overcome by enclosing this absolute bull's-eye called the -carton, in a larger bull's-eye, called the aiming bull's-eye. - -The carton is left white and the aiming bull's-eye printed black. - -[Illustration: PLATE 8. THE GASTINNE-RENETTE 16 METRES TARGET - -This target has a 1-3/16 black. The ring is to facilitate judging] - -This aiming bull's-eye is of the diameter of three bullet widths. - -The target in question was designed for the .44 bullet. The carton is -therefore .44 of an inch diameter, the black bull's-eye 1.32 in diameter -leaving a ring of black round the carton of exactly a bullet width, _i. -e._, .44. - -The reason for having the black bull's-eye three bullet diameters in width -is because this leaves a space of exactly one bullet width between the -edge of the white carton and the outer edge of the black bull's-eye. - -This gives a black ring, a bullet width, surrounding the bullet diameter -carton. - -Therefore when a bullet strikes the black of the bull's-eye it can do one -of three things. - -It can cut partly into the white of the carton, it can cut partly into the -white of the target outside the black bull's-eye, or cut the black without -touching the white on either side of it. - -To decide if the carton is cut into (which would score one point higher -than if the black of the bull's-eye only was cut) examine first the edge -of the bullet hole nearest the carton. - -If this is uncertain, examine the opposite edge of the bullet hole, next -to the white of the rest of the target. - -If this is cut, then you know the carton cannot be cut, as the bullet hole -is the exact width of the black. - -To make assurance doubly sure, there is a thin line on the target, just -clear of the outer black of the bull's-eye. - -If the bullet hole touches this thin line, then it is an absolute -certainty that it cannot _also_ cut into the carton. - -The rest of the target is divided into concentric rings exactly the width -of a bullet hole. - -The same bullet hole therefore cannot cut into two rings, and if it is -doubtful that a certain ring is cut into, the opposite side of the bullet -hole is examined, and if it cuts into the ring on that side, then the -first ring cannot have been cut into. - -The whole idea is merely having no divisions of the target either further -apart or closer than the exact width of a bullet. - -Then, given a target of thin, good cardboard, in which a bullet makes a -clean cut hole, scoring is an absolutely simple and accurate matter. - -From the above long, but necessary, explanation it will be seen that the -Gastinne-Renette target fulfils all that a perfect target should. - -The highest possible score which can be made on it is absolute perfection, -and as such is not attainable either by man or the pistol (even if it is -shot from a vise) the target never can "get beaten" as is the case in any -other target. - -The man who can make a highest possible on the Gastinne-Renette target, -even when shooting at a range of one yard, does not and cannot ever exist. -The target is made on the .44 calibre measurements because the .44 bullet -is the standard for pistol and revolver at the Gastinne-Renette Gallery in -competing for the Grand Medaille d'Or but this system can be applied to -any size bore, for pistol or rifle or even cannon. I do not know if it was -patented, but if so, the patent must have run out years ago. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV - -IS DUELLING WRONG? - - -Right and wrong are not, as some suppose, clearly defined, as are black -and white. Right and wrong so overlap that it is difficult, except for a -clergyman, to decide which is which. Circumstances may turn the balance, -and what is right under some circumstances is very wrong under others. - -A man may pose as being very good, whereas he is merely a coward; he may -refuse to fight, not because he thinks it wrong to kill, but because he is -too cowardly. - -Wrong often poses as right. - -Right and wrong are chiefly a matter of convention, and vary with -different races of men, and at different periods. - -What is wrong to-day may be right to-morrow. The list of right and wrong I -give below, is only made up to date, and is subject to revision at any -time. - -Probably by the time this book sees the light, this list may be entirely -out-of-date. - -In early times holy men did things which would land them in prison if -they were alive in these days. - -In the cruel ages when men knew no better, St. Francis of Assisi preached -(like Buddha) kindness to every living thing, and called the birds "our -little brothers." - -In the present superior age, St. Francis would spend his life in prison -from inability to pay the fines imposed on him for feeding birds. - -Kindness to animals was never a popular virtue. It is considered "soppy," -"sickly sentimentality." - -Men have always liked to bully horses to show what good riders they are, -and what "control" they have over them. They think it draws forth -admiration to be seen knocking a horse about. It shows their mental -superiority over a mere brute. - -Small men like to be seen lugging a big good-natured dog along by a chain, -threatening him with a whip. It shows their great brain power over mere -matter. - -The feeding of starving birds in a hard winter and kindness to cats has -always been merely tolerated, even before it became a crime to do so. - -In the year 1917, in London, a poor old woman went off crying bitterly, -unable to pay the fine imposed on her for giving a few crumbs out of her -own scanty meal to some birds. But even in less enlightened times, in the -days when birds were pitied, such doubtful conduct was not much approved -of except in the case of old maids or little girls. The former were also -allowed to keep cats and parrots. Such kindness was "too mawkish" for men -and boys to stoop to. Boys should only stoop to pick up stones to throw at -birds and cats. "_Boys_ will be boys" and it is a pity to spoil their -spirit. - -Such boys are in their element now. - -A great wave has arisen against mawkish sentimentality. Formerly societies -were formed to enforce close seasons for birds and animals, to give them a -chance to live in peace during the breeding season, and to prevent the -extinction of fast vanishing species, and the Clergy instructed their -parishioners in kindness to animals and the "mawkish" protection of -defenceless rodents during the breeding season. - -But this is changed in the present superior age. - -Rabbits and hares can now be killed all the year round. A doe rabbit, -dying in a snare or steel trap with a broken leg held by sharp steel -teeth, lies suckling her young which have come to her, and the young die -of starvation when she has died in torture. - -Committees are formed in villages, the Vicar as chairman, which give -prizes to the boys who destroy the most birds' nests and kill the parent -birds and their young. Little girls are given prizes for killing the most -butterflies. - -Those children who are too young yet to be able to kill birds are not -forgotten. They are given prizes, which they take home to their proud -parents, for the greatest number of flies they can kill. - -When I was a boy, in the cruel bad times, I was told I would go to a very -unpleasant place when I died if I was so wicked and cruel as to kill flies -or pull their wings and legs off whilst they were alive. - -I understand this game of pulling wings and legs off is also now played by -boys with young birds taken out of nests. - -How otherwise can two boys fairly divide a nestful of young birds if they -are of an uneven number? - -I was at a village fête where such prizes were given and I expressed -surprise that a boy did not get first prize for a very big heap of dead -flies. I was told that he had collected the dead flies found on the window -ledges the previous autumn, and added them to his heap of kills, so he was -not eligible. - -It is praiseworthy to kill flies, but wrong to collect those already dead. - -I must apologize for this long digression, but it was necessary in order -that my following analysis of what is conventionally right and wrong might -be properly understood. - -As right and wrong at present stand, a man in uniform, if he meets a man -in a different uniform (a man, with whom he has no quarrel, and of whose -existence he was ignorant up to that moment), and he is told to fight that -man, and kills him, he becomes a _hero_. The more he kills, the greater -hero he is. - -If on the other hand, this man in uniform quarrels with a man in the -_same_ uniform as himself, or who is in civilian dress, or if he is -himself in civilian dress, and if, as the result of this quarrel they -fight (even if a fair fight, with friends of each man present to see that -it is a fair fight) and he kills the man, then he is a _murderer_. - -A murderer must be murdered; that is his punishment for murdering a man. - -It might be imagined that if the man who murders another has to be -murdered himself by another man, who thus also becomes a murderer, it -would end by everyone being killed except the last man. - -This is not so. When a civilian has murdered another in fair fight, the -man appointed to murder this murderer does not become a murderer, he is an -executioner, and is paid for murdering the other man, and the incident -closes. - -Whatever wrong a man receives from another, he must not fight him. He must -not even slap his face. That is an assault and wrong. - -He must accept a sum of money considered equivalent to the wrong done him. - -Some men are not satisfied with this. They consider receiving money from -their opponent a degradation, and even the suggestion of such a course, an -insult. - -In countries where duelling is still allowed, they have a solution--the -duel. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV - -REMARKS ON DUELLING - - -The mere word duel raises a smile amongst the empty headed. Hardly any one -thinks for himself; he takes his thoughts ready made, like his tea when he -gets up in the morning. - -He opens his paper; in the paper he reads "So-and-so is the wickedest man -on earth," good; in future, whenever he hears of anything So-and-so's -done, it is wrong; and if he sees So-and-so "on the pictures," he hisses -with all his might. - -Next, he reads that "such a one is the best and cleverest man on earth," -this is enough. "Such a one" can do no wrong, and if he sees "Such a one" -on the cinematograph screen, he stamps and shouts with delight. - -In prehistoric times someone wrote a joke in arrow-head characters about -duelling; as comic subjects are scarce and have to be used over and over -again, duelling became a standard "joke," and therefore the sort of people -I have mentioned grin the moment they hear the word, as they roar with -laughter when they see a "comic" actor. - -It always amuses me when an actor who is a "comedian" attempts a serious -part. - -As he walks in with a despairing air, the audience shriek with laughter -(because he is labelled as "comic" in their brains). The actor says in a -pathetic way "my wife went out starving to beg for bread, and she found -the child had fallen in the fire, and was burnt to death when she returned -at length with food." - -The audience simply roll with laughter, and gasp "is he not killing?" - -I merely make this digression to show how difficult it is to make people -think for themselves, especially on the subject of duelling. - -Duelling is a "comic subject" to them, and that is the end of it. - -Just as war is necessary, so is duelling necessary. Duelling is to the -individual, what war is to the nation. - -The man who laughs at the word duel would not laugh if he were standing -before another's pistol, and knew that within a second of the word "fire," -he would have a bullet in his breast and be dead. - -He does not differentiate between the "advertisement duels" which -sometimes take place on the Continent, where neither combatant intends to -shoot the other, but merely wants to get his name in the papers, and a -real duel by which a wronged man seeks redress. - -In a sword duel a man, if young and active, can avoid being fatally -injured. He can keep all but his right wrist and knee out of danger, and -as soon as he gets a scratch on them, give up the fight on the plea of -being "at a disadvantage." - -But with pistols it is different, provided the seconds have not (in order -to prevent a fatal termination) altered the sights or reduced the powder -charge. In fact, if he has an accurate and properly loaded pistol in his -hands, a good shot can make certain of hitting his opponent. - -When such a one misses his man or hits him in a non-vital part, it is -because he has done so purposely, not wanting to kill the man. - -Sometimes a man who feels he is in the wrong, stands up to be shot at, and -either misses his opponent on purpose, or does not shoot at all. - -On a recent occasion, when a duellist had not fired when the word was -given, someone had the bad taste to ask him why he did not shoot. The -answer was "I forgot." - -This was the occasion for a stream of jokes; the writers of these jokes -did not of course appreciate the chivalry of not shooting, and the -delicacy of the reply. They made all sorts of silly remarks about -"absentmindedness," only exposing their own empty-headedness thereby. - -Having now cleared the ground, I will in the next chapter give details of -how a pistol duel is conducted, and how to train for it. - -In countries where duelling is allowed, the upper classes know how to -fence, and to shoot the duelling pistol; they need no teaching if called -out. Any one who has learnt to shoot from instructions given in this -book needs no further teaching. He only needs to be told the rules. There -are, however, a few points in which duelling differs from the rapid-fire -practice I have given, one being the position the pistol is raised from, -and when it is permissible to raise it. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVI - -REMARKS ON DUELLING (_Continued_) - - -The person considering himself aggrieved sends two of his friends as his -seconds, to see his adversary. The latter if he accepts the challenge -appoints two of his friends to act as his seconds. - -These four seconds meet and agree as to the conditions of the duel. If the -matter is serious, the duel is fought till one of the combatants is either -killed, or is so seriously injured that he cannot continue. - -Otherwise the seconds take the first opportunity to declare that their man -is unable to continue, owing to his injury having placed him at a -disadvantage. This means, practically that first blood drawn ends the -combat. - -If the provocation is a very grave one, the challenger tells his seconds -they must insist on the combat continuing to the end. - -The seconds should be taken into the challenger's confidence, and he -should tell them exactly what he really wants. He cannot interfere after -they and the adversary's seconds have arranged the terms, and he may find -himself bound by his seconds to something quite different from what he -had intended. - -[Illustration: PLATE 9. ORNAMENTAL DUELLING PISTOLS BY GASTINNE-RENETTE - -The property of the Author] - -He may be let into a fight to a finish over some trivial nonsense, and -have to kill a man he does not want to kill, in order to save his own -skin. Or, wishing to kill a man who has done him an unforgivable wrong, -the duel may end with a flick of cloth cut out of his sleeve and his enemy -unscathed. - -Combatants are not allowed to use their own weapons. The pistols of the -regulation pattern (muzzle-loaders shooting a regulation load of smokeless -powder and round lead bullet, see Plate 9) are provided by a gunmaker, are -loaded by the gunmaker in the presence of the seconds, and sealed up in -their case. The seals are only broken and the pistols apportioned by lot -to the combatants when on the duelling ground, by the director of the duel -chosen by the seconds. - -In Paris you are absolutely safe as to your pistols. M. Gastinne-Renette -generally supplies the pistols, but in an out of the way place where you -do not know the gunmaker, and do not trust your opponent or his seconds, -it is advisable to instruct your seconds to be very careful what gunmaker -is chosen, and if they are the least bit dubious to insist on M. -Gastinne-Renette being telegraphed to, asking him to send a representative -with pistols. - -A doctor has to be present at the duel. - -Lots are drawn by the seconds for position. It is very important to have -at least one good practical shooting man as second or your seconds may -give away advantages to your opponent's seconds, and place you facing the -sun. - -The distance is twenty-five metres (26 yards 1 foot 2 inches). The -opponents stand facing each other and holding the pistol with the butt -_touching their right thighs_. - -The director of the duel, after giving the caution _attention_, says -"_feu, un, deux, trois_." After the word "_feu_" the pistol may be raised -and fired, but not fired later than the word "_trois_." - -[Illustration: PLATE 10. PISTOLS BY GASTINNE-RENETTE - -1. Shooting Smith & Wesson, .44 cartridge. 2. Modified Ira Paine to shoot -.44 or .22 ammunition. 3. Saloon pistol, .22 bore, weighing and balancing -like a duelling pistol] - -To lift the pistol from touching the thigh _before_ the word "_feu_" or -to fire after the word "_trois_," is a very grave offence, and if your -opponent is killed, it is murder. - -The seconds draw up a "Proces Verbal" or report, of the proceedings, which -they and the doctor sign, and this is at once submitted to the police. If -there is any irregularity reported in it, such as lifting the arm too soon -or shooting too late, it is a very serious matter indeed to the guilty -one. - -If a duellist is killed, his adversary must stand by the body till the -police arrive, and deliver himself up to them. - -If all is in order, he will probably get off, or at the worst get two -years' imprisonment. - -If he has infringed the regulations----?? - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVII - -DETAILS AS TO DUELLING - - -The following remarks on duelling apply only to countries where duelling -is permitted. - -In duelling the challenged has the right to choose what weapons are to be -used, pistols or swords. - -The pistol is the weapon for any one deeply wronged, provided he is -anything of a pistol shot. - -In a sword duel the duellist can parry; in a pistol one, he cannot parry, -but he can shoot first. If his adversary is a good shot and intends to -kill him, his best chance is to hit him before he can fire. A man who -knows he is in the wrong and also knows he has a man in front of him, -determined to kill him, is very apt to shoot too hurriedly and wildly. - -Suppose A. who is a good pistol shot and an indifferent fencer, wishes to -fight a duel to the death with B., who is a good swordsman but a bad -pistol shot. - -It would be very bad policy for A. to send a challenge to B. It would be -equally bad policy for B. even if he does not want to fight, to refuse -A.'s challenge, if he knows A. wants to kill him. - -The reason A. makes a mistake in challenging is that B. when challenged, -can choose swords as the weapons, which gives him the advantage. - -If B. does not want to fight, having nothing to gain by killing A. and -objecting to have A. try and kill him, refusing to fight avails him -nothing. It puts him in a worse position. A. has merely to take the -opportunity when B. is in a public place to insult B. and compel B. to -challenge him else B. is publicly branded as a coward. A. now being the -challenged can select weapons and chooses pistols, thus signing B.'s -death-warrant. - -The most important thing of all in a pistol duel, is _not to lift the -pistol before the word_ "_feu_." - -There is very little danger of shooting too late, each wishing to hit the -other first prevents that, but there is a very serious risk of lifting the -pistol _before the word_ "_feu_." - -The best way to avoid this risk is to be determined, at whatever cost, -_never_ to lift too soon either in practice or competition, so that in -case of having to fight a duel there is no risk of lifting too soon; it -should become so mechanical to wait an appreciable interval before lifting -the pistol after the word "_feu_," that there can be no shadow of a doubt -that the pistol has not been lifted too soon. - -It is an unpardonable fault to get into the habit of lifting the pistol -too soon in competition. - -The best way to cure this fault if acquired (the most difficult of all -faults to eradicate, it being one of nerves) is to lift _just before the -word_ "_un_," not after the word "_feu_," and get into the habit of -treating the word "_feu_" as you do _attention_, as just an order to get -prepared to lift, not as the order to lift. - -In time you will entirely lose all desire to lift at the word "_feu_." You -may be a shade slower in your shots, but this is counterbalanced by the -absence of the dread of being too soon. - -A man who has been several times disqualified in competition for being too -soon, may get very slow in lifting and wild in his shooting, as his whole -attention is fixed on the words of command instead of on doing good -shooting. - -Some men adapt a slightly forward lean in shooting, like pigeon shots or a -runner on the mark. I do not think there is any advantage in this as there -is no recoil to stand up against in a duelling pistol as in a pigeon gun. - -The objection to this position is that it does not give the appearance of -absolute ease and confidence, so necessary in duelling. It looks like -anxiety. - -Now half the battle, as any one who has boxed knows, is to "get a healthy -funk" in his adversary before the fight begins. - -If you draw yourself up slowly to your full height, plant your feet firmly -and look your opponent well over, it will have much more effect on his -nerves, than if you stand in an eager excited attitude. - -Carpentier has this gift to perfection, better than any other fighter I -have seen. He has such an air of perfect reliance in himself and -confidence and contempt for his adversary, that the latter seemed almost -to quail before him. - -When the pistol is handed to you, you are not allowed to test the -trigger-pull, but you can make a shrewd guess of its strength as you cock -it, if you lift the hammer high and let it drop clean back into the bend. - -A heavy trigger-pull gives a much louder click in cocking than a light -one. I bought Ira Paine's hair trigger Smith & Wesson revolver, which he -used for his dangerous feats on the stage, and I hardly hear any sound in -cocking it,--the trigger-pull is so light. - -Byron, speaking of duelling, in _Don Juan_, says: - - It has a strange quick jar upon the ear, - That cocking of a pistol, when you know - A moment more will bring the sights to bear - Upon your person, twelve yards off or so; - A gentlemanly distance, not too near - If you have got a former friend or foe; - But after being fired at once or twice, - The ear becomes more Irish, and less nice. - Canto IV.: Stanza XLI. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVIII - -OUGHT DUELLING TO BE ABOLISHED? - - -It is a mistake to think that it is to the universal satisfaction that -duelling is no longer allowed in England. - -Probably it was abolished, owing to some agitation by a few cranks, like -that against stag-hunting and Sunday amusements, and even at the time of -the abolition, there were many who thought duelling was a necessity and -its abolition a mistake. - -Even a judge of the present time doubts if his abolition was not a -mistake. - -On May 17, 1911, it is reported that at the dinner of the Union Society of -London, Lord Justice Vaughan Williams said: - - In recent years a statement that man is a liar does not bear the - weight it used to do. - - There were times when if one man called another a liar, that man was - called to account for it, it might be even in a duel. But long since - duels came to an end. - - If a man called an Englishman a liar in a public place, that - Englishman had a habit of knocking that man down; I am afraid that - habit is dying out. - -He said he was sorry he had come to that conclusion, that the "world in -general, as it was accepted in England was coming to think that it did not -matter very much if one's neighbour called one a liar or not. - -"One would smile, meet him in society, go out and play golf with him, and -shake hands with him. - -"He wished people would resent more this imputation of being liars." - -"Vanoc" in the _Referee_ newspaper said: - - For some reasons the abolition of duelling is a mistake. Insolent and - offensive language is now too frequently indulged in with impunity ... - the best rule of all is never to take liberties yourself, and never to - allow liberties to be taken with you, and to remember that - self-defence is still the noble art. - -Over the signature of "Les Armes de Combat," a writer after referring to -"the deplorable" inefficiency of the mass of English officers with the -revolver, says: - - The reason Englishmen take no interest (as a nation) in pistol - shooting, whereas pistol shooting is of national interest in countries - where pistol duelling still exists, is because in those countries - every man of the upper classes, soldier or civilian, has at the back - of his mind the possibility that he may be called out. - - Amongst this class therefore, fencing and pistol-shooting is a - national sport, with a spice of utility behind it. In Great Britain - this incentive has ceased to exist. - -Whilst duelling is allowed in one country and not in another, it puts an -inhabitant of the latter country in a very unenviable position if he is -insulted in the other country. - -He cannot shield himself behind the plea that duelling is not customary in -his own country, without laying himself open to be called a coward, and -yet he must not fight. - -At the actual time I was writing the above, an English officer was having -to submit to the indignity of being tried for murder under circumstances -in which, in a duelling country, he would have had a perfect right to kill -the man. - -As I sat down to resume writing this morning, the morning papers were -brought in. I picked up the nearest, which happened to be the _Daily -Mirror_, and the first words my eyes fell on were: - - With the verdict of "not guilty" the great love drama trial came to an - end at the Old Bailey yesterday. Scarcely had the foreman of the jury - uttered the words which set Lieut. X---- free, than frantic cheers - rose in Court, and were taken up by the enormous crowd, which, - seething with excitement, awaited the result in the street outside. - -Can any one doubt what answer this crowd would have given, if asked if -duelling should be made legal in England? - -How the law at present stands, for citizens of the United States of -America and for British subjects, will be found in the supplement of this -book (reprinted from my _Art of Revolver Shooting_). - -The American law does not apply to the case of a duel fought by a citizen -of the United States outside the geographical limits of that country. - -According to Mr. R. Newton Crane _no offence is committed_ by the fact -that an American citizen has participated in a duel beyond the -jurisdiction of the United States. The citizenship of the combatant, is in -such circumstances, immaterial. - -On the other hand, sending, knowingly bearing, or accepting a challenge in -England or America, renders the sender, bearer, or accepter, liable to -punishment by the laws of England or America, as the case may be, whether -the duel is subsequently fought or not, and whether it is fought in -England or America or abroad, and whether the offending party is an -Englishman, American, or a foreigner. Provoking a man to send a challenge -is also an indictable offence. - -The law applicable to the punishment for actually fighting the duel, is, -on the other hand, the law of the place where the duel is fought, and that -law only, applies to the offence. - -Provocation, however great, is no excuse, although it might weigh with the -court in fixing the punishment. - -Under the English law the punishment for sending, bearing or accepting a -challenge is fine or imprisonment without hard labour, or both. - -Each of the States of the United States has penalties for the offence, -which though differing in detail are practically the same in substance as -those provided by the law of England. - -It seems, therefore, that a citizen of the United States of America, can -safely fight a duel in a country where duelling is permitted with a man of -any nationality, provided he does not challenge, accept a challenge, or -fight him on American _or_ British soil. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIX - -HOW TO PREPARE A NOVICE IN HALF AN HOUR FOR A DUEL - - -A duel takes place only a few hours after the challenge, generally early -next morning, to prevent interruption. - -Suppose a man has never had a pistol in his hand. How should he be trained -in the half-hour at his disposal? - -This is easy--if he is experienced with the shotgun at game or clay -pigeons. - -Show him the hind sight of the pistol; tell him it is merely to assist him -in aligning the pistol. - -Tell him that as there is only one barrel, it would be difficult to align -it without this sight, pointing out to him that his double barrel shotgun -can be aligned without this aid as in that case he looks along the rib. - -Tell him to imagine he is using a shotgun, and to use his pistol exactly -as he would use his gun if shooting at a rabbit which sat up on its hind -legs for a moment, to listen. - -Tell him he must be careful to keep the butt end of his pistol against his -thigh, till he hears the word "_un_," and that he must not fire after the -word "_trois_"; in fact, he must not fire a poking shot. - -On no account, unless he unfortunately knows it already, let him know the -pistol may be raised after the word "_feu_." - -If he is a good snap shot with a gun, he is sure to shoot quickly enough. - -Show him that keeping his arm straight corresponds to keeping the left arm -well out in shotgun shooting. - -Tell him that "_attention, feu!_" will first be said by the master of the -duel, just as "Are you ready? pull!" are said in pigeon shooting, but that -it will be a "no bird" if he lifts his pistol before the word "_un_," or -if he fires after "_trois_," his adversary being considered "out of -bounds" at the word "_trois_." - -Load the pistol and hand it to him, and tell him to cock it. - -See that he is standing with the butt properly against his thigh. - -Say "_attention, feu!_"--with a good interval apart, then sharply "_un, -deux, trois_." - -He is almost certain to hit the figure, and well before the word -"_trois_." - -Say, "I knew you would find it very easy," and take him away at once: _do -not on any account_ let him have _another_ shot. - -This one successful shot is all that is necessary, even for an expert -duellist before a duel. - -If your pupil should miss, explain to him his fault, and chaff him as to -his inability to hit a "sitter." Above all do not let him get to aiming. - -If he hits next shot, his lesson is finished. - -In the very improbable event of his again missing, then you will have to -continue your instruction as for one of the below class of pupil. - -It is of vital importance to give him absolute confidence in his ability -to hit his man. - -He should on no account be allowed to see others pistol shooting. - -The most difficult pupil to instruct in half an hour is the man who is an -expert pistol shot at a stationary target, but who has never attempted to -shoot rapid-firing or at a moving target. - -If he has besides never used a shotgun, his is almost a hopeless case. - -He is certain not to raise his pistol before the word "_feu_," but it must -be drummed into him that if he cannot let off his pistol before the word -"_trois_" _he must not shoot at all_, or he will be hung for murder. - -Then the half hour can be spent in trying to get him to squeeze and let -off in time, but probably the only result will be terribly wild shots, and -he will finish with a feeling of despair as to his ability to hit his -opponent. - -I think it is best with such men not to let them have any practice but -merely to tell them that they must keep the butt of their pistol to their -thigh, till the word "_feu_" and that they will be hung if they fire after -the word "_trois_." - -In the actual duel, they will either miss or, what is more likely, lift -the pistol well up to the sky, begin slowly to lower it, and that will be -all, as they will not have fired before the word "_trois_" is spoken. - -They will be fortunate if they do not let off involuntarily after the word -"_trois_," but if they are of the sort who keep their finger outside the -trigger guard till they have had a ten seconds' aim, there will be no -danger of that. - -I have just been reading a book in which the hero "aimed for well over -thirty seconds before firing straight at the light"; he must have had an -arm of steel to be able to fire "straight at" it after aiming for over -thirty seconds. - -Another type of pupil is one who has shot both shotgun and rifle, but both -on entirely different principles. - -He is a splendid man with a shotgun, quick as lightning in snap-shooting, -or a "tall" bird coming down wind. - -He scorns to take advantage of a cantering hare, or a low bird. But the -moment he has a pistol or rifle in his hands, he alters his method -entirely. - -Unless he is an officer who has had "field firing" practice, and a few -rounds out of a revolver, he has only shot a rifle at a stationary -bull's-eye target, or at a stationary stag in Scotland, and all his -shooting has been done in the prone position. - -There is a convention in Scotland that a rifle shall not be fired at a -deer unless the deer is absolutely stationary. A man shooting driven deer -or deer galloping is according to this convention "not quite a sportsman," -though he may be a deadly shot at galloping deer. - -It is called "not quite cricket." That is not a happy simile; Cricketers -do not, I am told, hit at a ball whilst it is stationary, but when at full -speed. - -"Not quite golf" seems to me more appropriate; in golf the poor little -ball is treacherously hit whilst sitting on its little nest, basely built -for it by the very hand that strikes it. - -A man who is a crack shot with the gun, and who unfortunately is also a -crack shot with the rifle in its restricted conventional sense, at slow -deliberate aim, can perhaps be prepared for a duel by impressing on him to -forget all he knows about rifle-shooting, and to imagine he is using a -shotgun, but the moment he sees the back sight of his pistol in the actual -duel, he will try to use it for deliberate aim and miss. The habit of a -lifetime cannot be altered in half an hour. - -The shotgun man who has never fired a rifle, has no need to be told not to -"poke." - -Dwelling on the aim must be entirely drummed out of the target rifle shot, -and he must be again reminded just before he shoots in his duel. - -The "shotgun man" on the contrary has to be told--"Don't pay any attention -to the director of the duel, if he tells you you can fire after the word -'_feu_.' You fire after the word '_un_'; you do not need all day to hit a -sitter; show them what snap-shooting is." - -It is hopeless to try to instruct in half an hour for a duel, the utter -novice, the man who has never had firearms in his hands. He is either of -those who are frightened at firearms; are sure "it will explode" when -"examined," or "when you do not know if it is loaded," or is of the type -who is "not the least afraid" of it. He cocks it pointing at you, turns to -speak to you whilst familiarly poking you with the muzzle to emphasize the -joke. He is of the type that rides at a five barred gate with spikes on -top of it. - -It is the courage of ignorance, to use the polite term, but to put it -bluntly--it is because he is "a d--d fool." - -All that can be done with such men is to try to prevent their shooting the -seconds or themselves, and "losing off" at unexpected and inopportune -moments. - -They may even in an excess of caution "fire into the air." - -People are very fond of doing this in crowded neighbourhoods "merely to -frighten a man," and are very much surprised when someone gets hit. - - - - -CHAPTER XL - -PISTOLS FOR SELF-DEFENCE - - -These can be divided into two classes. - -Pistols to be carried on the person and pistols to be kept by the bedside -against attacks at night. - -The pistols to be carried on the person can again be subdivided into -pistols carried openly, and those carried concealed. - -For a pistol carried openly, the big army pistols are the best, my choice -being the U. S. .45 Army Colt Automatic (see Plates 13 and 14). - -Such pistols, it must be remembered, have great penetration, and if fired -in a room the bullet can go through a closed door or a thick partition, as -if they did not exist. - -Hiding behind a door or closing and locking the door is no protection -against a bullet from an automatic pistol, even the very smallest calibres -having great penetration. - -The only way in which closing a door _may_ protect those on the other side -is that the one shooting cannot actually aim at them. - -As very few men can hit what they aim at with a pistol, this is not much -advantage. In fact, the person shot at by a bad shot is safer than those -at the sides. It is difficult to hit what is desired but something else is -sure to be hit however badly the pistol is aimed. - -A pistol intended to be carried concealed is more difficult to decide on -than one to be kept by the bed. - -Take the latter first. - -The main object of a bedside pistol is to frighten the intruder, without -having to shoot, the next most important point is, if it has to be fired, -that no innocent person in another room should be hit. - -For the first reason, to frighten the intruder, the pistol should be as -big and formidable looking as possible. A big double-barrelled, -pistol-shooting dust shot would probably answer best, and need not be -loaded; its looks are enough. - -It is more formidable than the largest automatic. It can be fired without -aim; even in darkness it is almost sure to hit what it is intended to -owing to its spread of shot. - -If No. 8 or less size shot is used and a light charge of powder, it would -not go through a door or partition. - -It must be remembered that such a charge is very deadly at close range, -more so than a bullet even, so should be fired only as a last resource, -also it is of no use to fire at one of two people struggling together, it -will hit them both. - -For a burglar escaping, if care is taken to let him get well away, say -thirty yards, before firing, it would mark him for identification. It is -a very ticklish job to shoot at a man running away, as far as the law is -concerned, and had better be avoided. - -The other alternative for a bedside pistol is a .44 Smith and Wesson -Russian model with gallery ammunition, and in the hands of a good shot -this is the best of all, as he need not shoot to kill unless necessary. -They are now no longer made, but can still be picked up occasionally. - -Now as to a pocket pistol to be carried unobstrusively. It must be borne -in mind that if any one is shot with a pistol the shooter may get into -more trouble, and get less sympathy, than if he carried a pistol openly. - -One sees advertisements giving illustrations of vest pocket automatic -pistols of minute size, particular stress being laid on their small size. - -This is not the most important feature to be desired in pocket pistols. - -A smoker does not complain of the size of his cigarette case, therefore a -pocket pistol need not be smaller than a cigarette case. - -Even these smallest automatic pistols are _thicker_ than a cigarette case -and it is thickness which bulges out pockets, not superficial size. - -As a rule, a very small automatic pistol means very small bore; small bore -means inefficiency. - -A pocket pistol of all pistols must have instant stopping power, as the -shooting is done at a few feet or even inches off. - -A pistol which does not instantly render the assailant harmless is worse -than useless. It makes the assailant angry and desperate; he also knows -that now if he kills his man he can claim self-defence, having been shot -at first. - -Very few wish to kill their man. He can be held off with a pistol which -commands respect, but a little toy is only laughed at. - -[Illustration: PLATE 11. COLT DERRINGER .41 calibre, rim fire] - -These modern small size automatic pistols are built on a mistaken idea -that they are the modern prototype of the old Derringer pistol, which was -the most deadly pistol in existence, and the weapon used most frequently -in old-time saloon shooting quarrels. - -The Derringer was a vest pocket pistol smaller and more compact than most -vest pocket automatic pistols, but it was not a small bore pistol. (See -Plate 11). - -It was just the essential parts of a big powerful pistol, shooting a big -powerful cartridge. - -The want it fulfilled was a pistol having great power in a small compass; -one shot was all that was required, as the shot was fired at very close -range. - -Some Derringers had a second barrel below the other, but the typical -Derringer was a one shot pistol. - -Now if you take a big single shot pistol, how would you reduce it in size -to fit the waistcoat pocket? - -First you would cut off the barrel except the actual chamber in which the -cartridge lies. - -Then you would take off as much of the hammer as is compatible with -leaving enough grip for the thumb in cocking. - -Then you would whittle away all the stock till only the lock mechanism -remained; and this was practically what the Derringer was. - -This could be still further improved upon by making it "hammerless"; that -is with an internal hammer. - -The Derringer was a rim-shot fire cartridge. My pistol would shoot a -central fire shot. - -For those who desire to be able to shoot several shots rapidly and who do -not care to carry two Derringers, an automatic pistol built on the -Derringer principle might suit them. - -The difficulty is that the reciprocating mechanism takes up room. It is -attempted to overcome this by making the pistol shaped like a hammer, the -stock coming at right angles out from under the middle of the barrel, but -this is awkward to hold, and to shoot. - -One good shot, well directed, is worth a whole pistol full of shots blazed -away. - -This is not the popular opinion, for, as long as a constant fire is kept -up, and plenty of smoke and noise, people think great things are being -done. It is only after all is over and there is no result that they begin -to wonder what it was all about. - -[Illustration: PLATE 12. COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL .25 - -Capacity of magazine, 6 shots. Length of barrel, 2 inches. Finish, full -blued, with case-hardened trigger, slide lock safety and grip safety, or -full nickel plated; rubber stocks. Weight, 13 ounces. Length over all, -4-1/2 inches. Cartridge, cal. .25, rimless; smokeless; metal patched -bullet.] - -The typical _Air Raid_ newspaper report says, "He fired at least three -tray loads of cartridges, the stream of smoke could be distinctly -noticed"; and the reporter is in ecstasies, and the unimportant detail -that all this "losing off" resulted in nothing does not occur to him. - -It is the noise, not the results of shooting, that impresses and frightens -people. - -If noiseless firearms were invented nobody would pay the least attention -to an air raid except the people actually struck. - -A woman was taken to an asylum a raving lunatic after an air raid. She was -near some anti-aircraft guns which had been firing, no bombs were dropped -near where she was. It was the mere noise of firing that frightened her. - -It is the noise that frightens game; I have shot one bird after another -out of a covey of black game on the ground. The rest did not fly off at -the shots because I was hidden and was using a ".22 short" rifle and the -noise of a waterfall drowned reports. - -If I had fired a shotgun at one, the rest of the covey would have been off -at once. - -For actual protection in a house at night without endangering any one, a -big pistol loaded with blank ammunition (black powder so as to make plenty -of smoke and a little "red fire" powder added to make plenty of flash) -would drive off almost any burglar. - -I think this is the best house protection for a houseful of women to have -by their beds at night. The only thing is to avoid burning peoples eyes or -setting things on fire when "losing off." - -"A stern chaser" of coarse salt is a good man stopper without being fatal -and the pain makes the victim think he is mortally wounded. - - - - -CHAPTER XLI - -DRESS - - -The dress one can wear when pistol shooting is limited to what the company -present is wearing at the time. - -The ideal dress on a warm day would be that of a rowing man with the -addition of a sombrero and nailed shoes, but of course this is -inadmissible. - -The absolute essentials are to have the right arm, shoulder, and neck -free, and a firm grip of the ground with the feet. - -A soft front shirt is not so necessary in pistol shooting as in rifle or -shotgun shooting. - -With the two latter the stock does not get properly imbedded into the -shoulder when wearing a stiff shirt, but in pistol shooting as long as the -neck and right shoulder are not interfered with, a stiff shirt does not -hamper. - -Moderately tight clothes, if the right shoulder is free (sleeves cut well -out underneath), help to keep the body rigid. - -An overcoat is inadvisable. The sleeve not only hampers the movement of -the right arm but its weight on the outstretched arm is a great -handicap. - -An Inverness cape, even if thrown or buttoned back, is also inadmissible; -it hampers the right shoulder. - -As having the body rather tightly buttoned up is an advantage, a tight -fitting frock coat is permissible. It is better buttoned than open as -otherwise the skirts are in the way. - -A lamb's wool vest, or a second waistcoat may be worn when shooting -out-of-doors in cold weather. I prefer a thin leather Swedish sleeveless -waistcoat under my coat instead of the usual waistcoat. - -In wearing the leather waistcoat it need not show. The coat can be -buttoned over it. - -There is a shooting coat, I believe the invention of the late Mr. -Cholmondely Pennell, which has a waistcoat of thick material to wear over, -instead of under, a thin coat. This keeps the body warm whilst the arms -are light and free. - -Boots or shoes with corrugated rubber soles or nailed boots should be worn -if the ground is heavy, wet, or slippery. - -As nailed or rubber soled boots cannot be worn when in formal dress it is -best to make sure of your foothold when wearing ordinary boots or shoes. -The heel can be stamped into the ground a few times to get a firm stand or -the soles rubbed on gritty sand. - -Out-of-doors it is best to wear a hat, as one can see much better when the -eyes are shaded. Have a hat that holds well on your head. - -Do not wear the hats made of hard straw with low crowns and narrow brims. -They fly off at the least provocation and the mere fact of your hat -feeling like a partridge who is on tiptoes about to take wing will upset -you and spoil your shooting. - -I took a man who had never been to a shooting range before to see the -finish for the King's Prize at Bisley. - -There was a puffy breeze blowing up the range. - -He was wearing one of these hard flat straw hats with his college ribbon -on it. - -I told him he had better be careful that his hat did not blow off and -interfere with the shooting. - -We stood behind the two men who had tied for the Gold Medal, and were -shooting off the tie. - -He had just begun to say "my hat never blows off,"--when his hat soared -off his head like a clay pigeon out of a trap, and landed just in front of -the man who was aiming. My companion was a "hat worshipper," one to whom -his hat is everything. They hold it on when on a runaway horse. If it -blows off they will dive under a train in motion after it, or do things to -save their hat which would gain them the Victoria Cross in battle. - -He at once started to jump over the prone shooter after the hat, but I -held him back. All interest in the match was gone, he had eyes only to -watch his hat. - -I finally got him a little calmer by explaining that though the shooters -were most probably wishing the hat in a place where straw would soon -kindle, they would not shoot through his hat (I am not talking thus, only -slightly exaggerating). - -Men who worship their hats do not like trotters because they splash them. - -There was one of the rare winters in England when one could get a few -days' sleigh driving. - -A man had long worried me to let him take some photographs of my trotters -in a sleigh. I telegraphed him to come at once and I would take him out in -a sleigh and he could take snow photos. - -I met him at the station with a pair of trotters, both able to trot below -2:18, hitched to a light two-man cutter sleigh. - -He was delighted, got tucked in beside me with his camera and said he -would take one or two photos of the horses from where he sat. - -I told him not to begin before we got clear of the town, on to the big -open straight road. - -Now some men will go out in a cranky boat, or rush a motor car round a -corner through a crowd of children without a tremor, but are frightened to -death of a trotter, especially a keen one who takes hold. - -Now my mares had often raced against each other and when together as a -pair had racing in their minds. - -They were fresh, the day cold, there had been a thaw and then a frost; the -road was just right and the horses shod with new steel spikes, sharp as -chisels. - -I let them step along, the snow came back in a shower of balls on us, -varied by a sharp sliver of ice, which cut like a knife. The horses and I -were enjoying ourselves, and then I remembered my companion. - -I called out "Take them now," as the mares were squaring away racing -against each other. - -I only heard, "Wow--Oh" as each snowball hit him. Fortunately he was -holding on to his "sacred" hat with one hand and to the side of the sleigh -with the other, so he had no hand to spare to snatch a rein to upset the -sleigh, he was only able to groan, "Stop, Stop!" - -He scrambled out and took the photos from the safety of the side of the -road, and said he preferred to walk back to the station, and the last I -saw of him was with his camera in one hand holding on his sacred (in the -French meaning of the word) hat with the other. - - - - -CHAPTER XLII - -SELF-DEFENCE - - -If a man is found in the house at night, he can be generally captured by -getting the drop on him, that is to say, getting an aim on him before he -aims at you, and make him hold up his hands. - -But there are cases when, in order to save another or yourself, to attempt -this is merely to get killed. - -If a man is rushing on you it is no use calling "hands up." Shoot instead -of talking. - -This especially applies to a man rushing on with a knife. He most probably -will throw it into you if you are not quick. - -With an automatic pistol there is little in a room to hide behind which -gives protection and it only gives the opponent courage and time to take a -deliberate shot through the obstacle, if you try to shelter yourself. If -he tries to take shelter behind something impenetrable, if you fire into -what he is sheltered behind it often brings him out and enables you to get -a shot at him. - -If he is behind a small tree the big bullet of a .45 Army Automatic would -probably go through and hit him and, even if it did not go through, it -would frighten him so that he would show himself and give you the -opportunity to shoot him. - -A big-game shooter knows of many dodges to induce a dangerous animal who -has hidden, to show himself, or charge. - -Calling to an imaginary person behind the attacker as "Look out Tom, he's -coming your way, shoot," will perhaps make a man, expecting an attack from -his rear, expose himself to you in front. Throwing something towards him -may make him move. The great thing is to keep him moving and prevent his -shooting back. - -If attacked by several men at the same time, take a fresh one for every -shot, hit or miss, and then you can begin to take only those not already -hit. - -This is the only way to keep the lot off and prevent being attacked by the -rest while you are fighting one. - -Get your back against a wall or something if possible so that they can -only get at you from in front. - -Taking a fresh one for each shot is my experience in big-game shooting -when you come on a lot which are all shootable. - -If you pick out one and he does not drop to your shot and you pump several -more shots into him till he does drop, you may find afterwards that you -have wasted shots on an already dying animal, and let others within range -escape. - -As an instance of doing everything wrong and being praised for it, the -following quotation from a daily paper is hard to beat. - -The writer of the article evidently approves greatly of a woman firing at -random into the darkness when she hears a suspicious noise. - -Even if the noise was made by burglars outside, she was just in the best -position in the lighted window, to get killed. An innocent man might plead -he was shooting her in self-defence. - -A pleasant neighbourhood to live in when a woman shoots at random into the -night when she hears a noise! - -Below is the article in question omitting names. The passers-by as well as -the lady must have had an "exciting experience." - - SHOTS IN THE DARK - - _Lady's Midnight Encounter with Burglars_ - - Mrs. X. had an exciting experience just after midnight on Saturday. - She was in her bedroom, which is on a level with the lawn, when she - heard noises in the shrubbery. - - As she thought that men were there she procured a revolver, and, - standing in the lighted window, called out, "If you do not leave I'll - shoot." There was no answer, so she fired, and there was a scurrying - of feet to another clump of trees. Again she called out and as there - was no reply she fired a second and a third time, and then the figures - of several men were seen running off as fast as they could. - -And no wonder! - - - - -CHAPTER XLIII - -PROTECTING THE EYES AND EARS - - -There is no direct danger to the eyes in pistol shooting, that is to say, -with a good pistol there is no chance of a blow back of fire into the -eyes, as there is in a cheap, rim fire rifle. The eyes are apt, however, -to get bloodshot and sore from powder smoke blown back into them in a head -wind, especially from the ejecting cartridge of an automatic pistol. - -When doing much shooting daily out-of-doors it is well to wear a pair of -big diameter spectacles fitting well behind the ears so that they do not -shift. The spectacles may be of plain white glass, or else of a colour to -suit the state of the sunlight. - -Blue or grey used to be the usual colours; lately yellow-green seems to be -the colour most recommended by oculists. - -I found such yellow-green glasses a great relief to the eyes when bear -shooting in the glare of sunlight on snow. - -I am referring to men who have normal eyesight, not to those who have -already to wear glasses _to correct vision_. - -It is important to protect the ears, perhaps even more important than the -eyes. There is very little danger to the eyes but the ears are in very -real danger when shooting. - -Even the comparatively slight noise when shooting the gallery .44 -ammunition or the short rifle .22, from constant pounding on the same -note, affects the ears unless they are protected. - -A concert pianist, one would think, by the noise he makes on the piano, -would injure his ears even more than a pistol shot does, as the noise he -makes is much louder. - -Perhaps he does injure his ears and that is the reason he has to pound so -hard and breaks the piano strings in his efforts to hear his own music. - -Be that as it may, playing a variety of notes saves his ears as he does -not have the constant hit on the one note and with the same intensity. - -The ear is the least known of the various organs and is the one least -successfully treated. - -The usual medical man has the following treatment: - -Pour warm oil into the ear, then wash out with warm water (a very -successful way to introduce hurtful microbes into the ear). - -When this fails the Eustachian tubes are blown out with a "Politzer Bag." - -When this also fails some have a little instrument which buzzes like a -bumble bee or sings like a mosquito which the patient has to listen to. - -If even this treatment fails then the patient is bowed out as incurable. - -Prevention is better than non-cure, so protect your ears when shooting. - -A pistol is unlikely to burst the ear drum unless fired with a full charge -in a small room or close to the ear, but pistol-fire seems to have a worse -effect on the ears than the louder report from a rifle or shotgun, owing -probably to the shortness of the pistol barrel bringing the discharge -nearer to the ear. - -The worst of all for the ears is when a man shoots past another's head -from close behind. - -Gout or catarrh aggravates this evil and a man who never shoots may get -"hard of hearing" and have constant singing in his ears from these -diseases alone. - -There is the later stage of attacks of vertigo when the semicircular -canals are involved. Few aurists are successful in curing this. - -There is only one ear protector which I have found of any use and I have -tried all that have come out. - -It is called the Elliott Ear Protector and is made by J. A. R. Elliott, -Box 201, New York City, U. S. A. - -Savory & Moore of 143 New Bond Street, London and Gieve, Mathews & -Seagrove, Portsmouth, England have them in stock. - -Most other ear protectors act on the wrong principle and are painful to -wear and they bring on giddiness. - -To stuff the ears with cotton wool makes the pressure of air on the -outside of the drum differ from the air coming through the Eustachian tube -if this latter is blocked more or less by catarrh (as it is in nine out of -ten persons, especially smokers or residents in damp climates). This -inequality is increased and harm is done to the ear. - -When a cold is supposed to be cured, it often is not but has gone from the -early, through the acute, and on to the chronic stage. It then lies -dormant, to wake up every time a fresh cold is caught, and then takes a -deeper hold in the outer, middle, and inner ear. Often what is put down to -gun deafness is really chronic catarrh and gout. People who have never -fired a shot suffer from gun deafness and noises in the head. - -As soon as a cold has ceased "to run" people think it is cured. They -neglect to drive it entirely out of the system and it lies smouldering to -take the earliest opportunity to flare up again, like a banked-up fire. - -Some recommend wool mixture with modelling wax forced into the outer ear. - -This not only has the defects of plain cotton wool but it is a compound -impossible to fully take out again. The modelling composition sticks and -remains in all the crevices of the ear and if forced repeatedly in -dislocates the outer ear passage. - -I use modelling wax for sculpture, and it is impossible to clean it out of -the nails even with manicure instruments. It has to be dissolved with -turpentine and peroxide which would ruin ears if used for them. - -The Elliott Ear Protector acts on an entirely different principle and it -reduces the noise of a heavy express rifle to a mere thump, like striking -the fist on a wooden table. It takes all the sting out of the shot. - -A man who was a gunner at the front during the war tells me that his ears -are quite right owing to his having used the Elliott Ear Protectors, -whereas a man standing next to him had an ear drum burst after a few -shots. - -The principle of this protector is to let the sound strike the side of the -tube of the outer ear, instead of directly on the ear drum. The protector -closes the ear tube so that only a very minute, hair-like passage remains, -through which a whisper can come, but any big volume of sound is checked, -like a crowd trying to push through a narrow door and allowed only to -dribble in one at a time. - -Even the small amount of sound which does get through is impinged on to -the sides of the outer ear passage. None reaches the drum of the ear -direct, but indirectly by the action of a rubber diaphragm. - -The result is arrived at as follows: - -A short celluloid rod has a hair thin hole running down it, but not quite -reaching the far end. It enters a hole of the same size running across the -tube. - -There is a soft India rubber disc at each end of the rod, the transverse -hole being between the two discs. - -In use this rod is inserted into the ear till the uppermost disc just -closes the passage into the external ear, and the lower disc cuts off -access to the ear drum. - -Any sound reaching the ear can therefore only pass down this hair thin -passage in the rod and into the space between these two rubber diaphragms. - -The sound cannot reach the ear drum. It passes through the transverse hole -into the space between the two discs. - -No sound reaches the ear directly. It only hears the vibration of the -inner rubber diaphragm and the diaphragm receives only a very minute part -of the original sound which reaches the ear. - -The minute hole in the rod allows of the entry and escape of the outer -air. Thus each side of the ear drum receives an equal pressure of the -external atmosphere. - -When very heavy gunfire has to be withstood, care must be taken that the -outer disc fits airtight into the tube of the ear. A little vaseline or -other antiseptic ointment round the edge of this disc makes an airtight -joint, or a third rubber disc is added, but the two discs are ample for -pistol shooting. - -The ear protector is easily kept clean and antiseptic by washing -occasionally in a weak antiseptic solution. - -There is no inconvenience in wearing these ear protectors and they are not -very noticeable. - -With some other forms of protectors, made of hard vulcanite which are -forced in to make an airtight closure, pain and soreness arise if they are -worn for any length of time and this unyielding vulcanite may displace the -anvil and bones of the middle ear, or a sore may be caused and set up -grave inflammation. Any ear plug which requires forcing or stretching the -ear passage is dangerous or painful to wear. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIV - -EYESIGHT - - -The back sight of a revolver is held further from the eye, as compared -with a rifle back sight, and the object to be hit is under fifty yards' -distance. The eyes best suited for pistol shooting therefore are those of -moderately long sight, the normal eye in fact. - -A near-sighted man, without glasses, has difficulty in seeing the back -sight although the range, twenty to fifty yards, would suit his eyes -better than rifle shooting at long ranges of eight hundred and one -thousand yards. - -If a near-sighted man wears glasses the difficulty of seeing equally well -at varying distances comes in. - -Men who have worn glasses all their lives cannot be made to realize that -they cannot adjust their focus. - -They, unfortunately, have never experienced the blessing of being able to -see a thing close and at a distance with equal distinctness. - -Most of them can read without glasses, in fact they take off their glasses -if they want to examine anything minutely which they hold in their hands. - -For seeing anything further off they wear glasses (but glasses are only a -compromise). The glasses are made to enable them to see objects clearly -across the street, or to see a motor car before it runs them down. - -Anything further is more or less blurred, the further it is the more -blurred it looks. - -If their glasses were correct for one thousand yards they would butt their -heads into everything at fifteen yards off. - -It is always best when driving to treat any one wearing glasses very -carefully, to remember he can only see in front of him; sideways of his -direct vision he may be as blind as a bat or a horse with blinkers on. - -It is on account of this that so many people wearing glasses are run over. - -When in addition to this they cross a road holding an umbrella well before -their glasses, it is best to stop the horse and wait till they are across. - -This adjusting of a glass for a fixed distance can be seen with -deer-stalking telescopes and Zeiss glasses. - -When spying for a deer one makes a mark on the draw tube to suit one's -usual spying distance, which is about one thousand yards. - -One can see deer clearly with this adjustment from the one thousand back -to about three hundred yards, but for a closer view you have to readjust -the focus. - -If with the focus correct for the one thousand yards you attempt to look -at an object only as far off as your back sight or even your front sight, -you will see only an indistinct blur. - -A near-sighted man, shooting a pistol full arm stretch, without his -glasses, sees his back sight a blur and his front probably not at all, and -the target like a post impressionist picture. - -If he puts on glasses to see his hind sight properly, his front sight will -not be distinct, and the target still more indistinct. - -I think for a near-sighted man it is best to have glasses made so that he -can see his front sight very clearly. - -Then he would see the man target at twenty-five meters quite well enough -to be able to hit it. It is not necessary for him to see his back sight -distinctly. - -A good pistol-shot does not focus his eyes on his back sight. That comes -in line by itself when he gets into the mechanical lift of his arm. - -As I have already mentioned a long-sighted man can continue pistol -shooting without wearing glasses after he needs them for reading. But a -long-sighted man is apt, when he finds he begins to see the hind sight of -his rifle not as clearly as formerly, to use glasses. Then he has all the -insurmountable imperfections of a glass which cannot accommodate itself to -varying distances like the eye can. - -Instead of wearing glasses all he needs to do is to shift his hind sight -forward on the barrel till he can see it distinctly. - -The long-sighted pistol-shot does not have this difficulty. He holds his -pistol so far from the eye that the back sight is right for his long -sight. - -It is a most extraordinary thing that men who have such bad eyesight that -they have to wear very strong glasses and even then blink and are -half-blind in the sunlight, can shoot very well in those dark coal cellar -shooting galleries. - -A clerk who, when writing, puts his nose right down on the paper, holding -his head on one side, in fact a man semi-blind and suffering with extreme -myopia made extraordinary good scores with a miniature rifle in a coal -cellar shooting gallery, at a minute stationary bull's-eye. - -A cellar in which a normal-eyed man would not be able to shoot or to see -his sights! - -He is longing to get to the open air ranges with a full charge rifle, but -I discourage him all I can as I know he will be painfully disillusioned of -his skill in rifle shooting. - -It is the abnormal conditions of a coal cellar gallery which suits his -abnormal vision. A normal sighted person would only blind himself by -trying to imitate him. - - - - -CHAPTER XLV - -THE WEATHER AND SHOOTING - - -Rain, as far as the actual shooting goes, does no harm to shooting. In -fact, if your adversary has to wear glasses it gives you a great advantage -over him as his glasses get covered with a film of water. - -A dull drizzle is often accompanied by a dead calm and better shooting -light, than a sunshiny day. - -Wind is the great enemy to pistol shooting. - -In rifle shooting, in the prone position, the wind not only lends interest -to the shooting, but brings out the best shot, the one who can calculate -how to aim to compensate for the wind's action on his bullet. - -The pistol-shot, on the other hand has to stand against the wind and hold -his pistol with one hand and wrestle with the wind which blows his arm -about. - -It is not a question of calculating how much of the bull's-eye you must -aim at to compensate for the force of the wind from the side; but it is a -matter of mere physical strength to try and hold the pistol steady whilst -being buffeted by the wind. - -It is as if you were trying to draw a straight line whilst someone -twitches at your sleeve. - -No amount of practice will make you able to draw a straight line or shoot -a pistol under such circumstances. It only discourages you and wastes time -and ammunition. It gets you into timing and letting off wrong. If in a -shooting competition there is a wind and you are shooting at deliberate -aiming, then wait for lulls between gusts, and snap shoot during the lull. - -If you are doing shooting "Au Commandmant," or rapid-firing, you have to -take the wind as it comes. - -Bringing up with a very stiff arm, rapidly, is the best defence against -your arm being blown about. - -In England all open air pistol ranges have the firing points unprotected. -From a financial point of view this is a mistake. It is better to spend -money on making the range usable in all weathers. Otherwise it is often -deserted as nobody cares to shoot in a high wind. - -From the point of view of health it is not wise to shoot in the rain as -there is no walking about to make the blood circulate. - -If you keep moving and get into a perspiration and keep so all the time -and take a hot bath and a change of clothing directly you get home, rain -will not hurt you. - -Getting chilled after perspiring, or sitting about having afternoon tea by -a hot fire before changing your damp things, does the mischief. Even if -there has been no rain it is much better to change your things at once and -have afternoon tea afterwards. If you get wet and cannot change your -things on the spot it is much better to walk home fast than drive home and -feel cold all the way. - -I broke through ice in intense frost when wild boar shooting at Couvain, -Ardennes Belges, and got my boots full of icy cold water (long boots over -the knee). I walked four miles to the lodge and felt all in a glow the -whole way, took a hot bath, had dinner in bed, and felt none the worse for -it. - -The others being dry drove home, but if I had done so, I should most -likely have had a dangerous illness. - -It is a very great mistake, when overtaken in summer by a thunder shower, -to take shelter when you are in a perspiration; you will get chilled for a -certainty. - -Walk home fast, even if you get wet to the skin in so doing. Keep on -walking, or if you are on a horse, keep on trotting and cantering -alternately, till you get home. - -If your horse is tired after a hard day's hunting and it is a cold wet -evening, keep him moving for his own sake as well as your own. - -I had ridden fifty miles during the day (a run with stag hounds which had -taken me twenty-seven miles from home). The mare was getting leg weary, so -I unwisely stopped at an inn, six miles from home, and put her in the -stable to give her warm gruel with beer in it. - -When I started half an hour later to lead her home she was unable to move. -I had to leave her for the night at the inn and after making her as -comfortable as possible and rubbing her legs with brandy I walked home by -myself. - -If I had taken her straight home without stopping to gruel her she would -have reached home all right, and had her gruel there and laid down -comfortably. - -Keep moving when cold and wet, take a hot bath and change the moment you -get home. If you feel at all as if you had a chill, go to bed after the -bath, put a hot bottle to your feet, pile the eider-down on top of you, -drink dried raspberry tea, go to sleep, and perspire. Dried raspberries, a -Russian peasant's remedy, are the best sudorific I know. The raspberries -are dried and then used just as if they were tea leaves, and the tea thus -made drunk very hot, with sugar to taste. - -The leather Swedish waistcoat which I mentioned in my chapter on dress -should always be worn if there is the least wind when pistol shooting. It -can be worn on the hottest day as it keeps the sun out also and as long as -one stands still it does not make one perspire, and wind or rain cannot -get through. - -A thin mackintosh does not hamper much in pistol shooting. - -An umbrella is worse than useless against rain but may be used to keep -the sun off. Of course a hat worshipper invariably carries an umbrella. - -In rain an umbrella protects only the hat and it drops the water on your -shoulders, the worst place you could get wet. People run into others and -drip the water onto other people, in fact there ought to be a tax on -umbrellas like there is on pistols. - -As to snow, I cannot understand any one wanting to hold up an umbrella -when it snows. One never sees people do that in a country where snow lies -half the year any more than does one see people turn up their collars in -really cold countries. - -They have their coats fit properly up to the neck, not with lapels turned -back exposing the chest. - -It always amuses me to see a man with a big fur coat turned far back on -the chest so as to show the rabbit skin, dyed to represent sable. - -A Russian has his fur "Shuba" double-breasted and buttoned up right under -his chin. His deep collar protects his shoulders, but he does not turn up -his collar about his ears at the least zephyr of air. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVI - -MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS - - -It is the military use of pistols which has doomed the revolver. - -During the war, England was the only country which still retained the -revolver as regulation. Every other country had adopted the automatic -pistol in its place. - -There are two opinions as to the proper calibre for a military pistol. -England, having to fight savage tribes, had always preferred a large bore -pistol with stopping power. Fanatics who do not value their lives can do a -lot of mischief, even if wounded fatally, by a small calibre bullet, -before they die. - -On the Continent a much smaller calibre is deemed sufficient; a .32 or .38 -or a 7 millimetre, whereas England and the United States consider .45 or -.455 the best size. - -In my opinion the United States .45 Regulation Colt Automatic pistol is -the best of all army pistols. (See Plates 13 and 14.) The way it was -chosen should guarantee this. - -It was first chosen because it passed all the military tests such as -sand, rust, and freedom from jamming under rough usage. Then it was put -into the hands of all the best pistol shots in the United States and their -reports examined. It has, therefore, not only passed military but expert -shooters' tests, and alterations were made in accordance with their -reports. - -It may seem a great presumption on my part therefore to suggest an -improvement, but I have been a big-game shot all my life and used ivory -front sights, and I think a black front sight is a mistake. - -I am sure a white or silver front sight is the only practical one. - -This morning I went out before daylight after deer. It was very misty and -I saw a stag eighty yards off, hardly distinguishable in the mist and -darkness. My white front sight shone like a star on his shoulder when I -took aim and I had no difficulty in taking the shot. - -A black front sight would have been so indistinct that I should have -missed or rather not fired at all, as I do not like making a mess of a -shot and letting an animal go off wounded. - -It is self-evident that if you want anything to be as visible as possible -you paint it white. - -White reflects light better than any colour. If you distribute twenty -white, thirty yellow, fifty red, and eighty blue spots over a piece of -black paper they look to the eye as being of equal numbers, owing to the -blue being so inconspicuous compared with the red, the red compared with -yellow, and the yellow compared with the white. - -[Illustration: PLATE 13. UNITED STATES ARMY REGULATION .45 COLT AUTOMATIC -PISTOL - -Capacity of magazine, 7 shots. Length of barrel, 5 inches only. Length -over all, 8-1/2 inches. Weight, 39 ounces. Finish, full blued, checked -walnut stocks. - -[Illustration] - -Cartridges. Calibre .45 U. S. Government, 230 grain bullet. Calibre .45 -Colt Automatic, 200 grain bullet. (Both rimless; smokeless powder; full -jacketed bullet.)] - -White being the most conspicuous of all it takes fewer spots of white to -dominate. As these spots are on a black sheet of paper very few spots of -white would draw attention from all the colours. - -As ivory is fragile, a big silver or plated bead front sight is better for -a military automatic pistol or rifle. - -The first thing I did when I got my United States .45 Colt Automatic -pistol was to put on it a white silver bead front sight, first removing -the regulation black knife edge front sight. - -I then made the U in the hind sight very big. This pistol has been carried -through the war by my chauffeur, W. Francis, who entered the Russian Army -as a volunteer and has gained the St. George's cross for bravery and he is -delighted with the sighting of the pistol, and can do very rapid shooting -with it. - -For practical use of the pistol in war, self-defence, or duelling, what is -needed is a strong set of sights which can hardly be injured under the -roughest usage; sights which can be seen instantly in a very dim, as well -as strong light. - -The best sights for such purpose are those which are used on duelling -pistols. - -It is most extraordinary that all pistol sights except the French duelling -ones are so very unsuitable. - -The military front sight consists of an upright narrow rod as seen when -aiming. This is very thin and high and is black, with the top, when it has -been used for any time, polished a dull grey, from use. - -The hind sight has a very minute notch in it. The result in aiming is as -follows: You faintly see a very thin black rod with a hazy top against -the dark object you are trying to shoot. - -By searching for it very carefully you see a microscopic notch in the hind -sight, much too small to enclose this rod when aiming. - -You cannot keep your elevation in shooting. As soon as you try to take the -top of this front sight in your minute notch you lose sight of it -altogether. - -The rod so blocks the notch that you do not know if you have the front -sight centrally in the notch or at one side. - -In fact if I was asked to devise a set of sights to prevent a man being -able to shoot well, the regulation military sights are what I would -choose. - -If strong enough the ivory ball would be the ideal colour for a front -sight, as it is a dull white, instead of the reflection which sometimes -comes from silver highly polished. - -What is called "frosted" silver would be a good surface for the silver -front sight if it did not tarnish. - -The back sight should be just high enough above the barrel to avoid blur -when the barrel gets hot, but otherwise the lower it is the better, having -a big U-shaped notch large enough to enable the white front sight to be -seen in the notch when showing a slight ring of daylight all round it; -both sights as low on the barrel and as far apart as possible. - -This combination of sights is seen instantly without any searching or eye -strain. All you have to do is to look at the object you want to hit, -paying no attention to sights, till your fully-outstretched arm, coming up -by sense of direction, points the pistol at the object, and you see before -your eyes this silver ball in the middle of the U of the back sight. - -Snap-shooting is made more difficult with military sights on a pistol and -accounts for many men being blamed for being bad pistol shots, whereas, it -is really the fault of the sights. I cannot make good shooting even at a -stationary target with such sights and for rapid firing or at moving -targets my shooting is much inferior to that with the same pistol, when -fitted with duelling sights. - -I can understand the English-speaking nations not using duelling sights, -as very few ever shoot a duelling pistol, but that the Continental -nations, with their knowledge of duelling, have not adopted duelling -sights is to me very strange. - -The same remark applies to military rifle sights which are such as no -big-game shooter would dream of using. - - -METHOD OF OPERATION - -A loaded magazine is placed in the handle, and the slide drawn fully back -and released, thus bringing the first cartridge into the chamber, leaving -the hammer cocked and the pistol ready for firing. - -If it is desired to carry the pistol fully cocked, the safety lock may be -pressed upward, thus positively locking hammer and slide. The safety lock -is located within easy reach of the thumb of the hand holding the pistol -and may be instantly pressed down when raising the pistol to the firing -position. - -[Illustration: PLATE 14. UNITED STATES ARMY REGULATION .45 COLT AUTOMATIC -PISTOL. SECTIONAL VIEW] - -To lower the cocked hammer, draw it back with the thumb until it forces -the grip safety in flush with the frame; at the same time pull the -trigger, then lower the hammer with thumb. - - -SAFETY DEVICES - -It is impossible for the firing pin to discharge or even touch the primer, -except on receiving the full blow of the hammer. - -The pistol is provided with two automatic safety devices: - -The automatic disconnector which positively prevents the release of the -hammer unless the slide and barrel are in the forward position and safely -interlocked; this device also controls the firing and prevents more than -one shot from following each pull of the trigger. - -The automatic grip safety which at all times locks the trigger unless the -handle is firmly grasped and the grip safety pressed in. - -The pistol is in addition provided with a safety lock by which the closed -slide and the cocked hammer may be at will positively locked in position. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVII - -RECOIL - - -When buying a pistol the amount of recoil you are able to stand plays an -important part. - -This is not entirely a matter of physique. - -A slight, wiry man, whose hands and muscles are in hard condition, and who -"gives" to the recoil will be able to shoot a pistol having a recoil which -would knock all the shooting out of a man who was in a flabby condition, -or not accustomed to manual work, even if that man were much heavier and -stronger. - -Some men can bear punishment better than others. - -The duelling pistol has not only no appreciable recoil, but the recoil is -distributed by the big stock over the whole of the hand. - -The duelling pistol has the longest stock of any pistol and also has no -projections to hurt the hand. - -The pistol most people would imagine has no recoil is the small .32 pocket -revolver and this is the very one whose recoil hurts more than almost any -other pistol. - -Recoil depends on the proportion between the cartridge charge and the -weight of the pistol. - -A pistol weighing 2-1/2 lbs. would shoot the .32 cartridge with hardly any -appreciable recoil. - -But this same cartridge in a small pocket revolver weighing only a few -ounces kicks very viciously. - -Besides it has a very small stock made the same shape as a full-sized -stock. - -The result is that, whereas in a full-sized stock the top of the comb is -designed to project over the thumb and forefinger, in the little -vest-pocket pistol this comb comes against the tender part of the palm and -the recoil drives it into the hand. - -I have had my hand cut and bleeding after a few rounds with a pistol -intended for ladies' use! - -The surest way to make a beginner flinch is to let him begin with a little -pocket revolver. - -I mention revolver because an automatic pocket pistol generally does not -have a stock with projections which can drive into the hand by the recoil. - -The makers know that if the slide of an automatic pistol _did_ drive back -into the hand it would do very serious damage. They therefore make the -stock so that it cannot be held with the comb against the palm of the -hand. - -Men accustomed to shoot a pistol having a heavy recoil get so used to -bracing against that recoil that they bob forward with an empty pistol to -a recoil which does not come. - -A heavily loaded gun, if it misses fire, makes the shooter bob forward -involuntarily to meet the recoil he expects. - -An automatic pistol can be used with a heavier loaded cartridge than would -be possible with a revolver. - -Not only is some of the recoil taken up in working the mechanism in the -former pistol but the recoil is softer. - -The recoil of a revolver can be likened to a blow with the fist, whereas -the recoil of the automatic pistol is like a hard push with the open hand. -The recoil first having to work the mechanism loses its sudden sharp -stinging blow. - -I find I can shoot a heavily charged military automatic pistol longer than -I can a revolver which has much less recoil. There is none of the jar and -strain on the wrist in an automatic pistol which a revolver with the -English Regulation cartridge gives. - -Cocking the revolver by trigger-pull is tiring to the hand, and a very few -rounds entirely paralyses the trigger finger for the time being. - -It is a very unnatural strain to draw back the weight of the spring to -raise the hammer and revolve the chamber with the trigger finger. It tires -the finger very soon. - -With the automatic pistol there is none of this strain. Therefore a man -can fire a hundred shots rapidly with the automatic pistol, when he could -not fire twenty-four rounds with a double action revolver, using the -double action, without his trigger finger giving out. - -I merely mention this as a matter of interesting ancient history. -Revolvers are obsolete, but it is as interesting to understand how they -were used as it would be if we knew all such lost details concerning the -ancient cross bow, or Bushman's long blow tube. - -When one thinks of the unhappy men who were forced in their training to -shoot heavy military revolvers with alternate hands working the double -action trigger, it is extraordinary more of them did not dislocate their -trigger finger or sprain their wrists. - -Let any one take one of these relics and work its double action for ten -minutes without stopping, and when added to this each shot drives the -wrist upwards with great force, he will no longer wonder why men used to -shirk "revolver practice." - - - - -CHAPTER XLVIII - -JUDGING DISTANCE - - -With the revolver, which was not usually shot at longer range than fifty -yards, judging distance was of little importance. - -With a full charge .45 revolver, sighted for twenty yards, the drop of the -bullet was not more than about 1-1/2 inches at fifty yards. - -With gallery ammunition in a .44 revolver the drop was about 4-1/2 inches. - -I am speaking from memory, not from actual calculations or measurements. - -The duelling pistol, although shooting the same gallery charge, needs -slightly less allowance at fifty yards, as there is none of the escape of -gas the revolver has at the cylinder. - -There was, therefore, no need to judge distance with a revolver but the -automatic pistol with its heavy charge shoots as far as the old time -rifles did and so needs knowledge of distance judging on occasions. - -Owing to the shortness of the barrel it is very difficult to do accurate -shooting at long range, but the pistol itself carries and shoots well up -to rifle "midrange" (_i. e._, five hundred yards). - -As it is so difficult to shoot at long range with a pistol there is all -the more necessity to be able to judge distance so as to avoid another -cause of error. - -A long range revolver match took place in 1911 in Colorado, but many -important details are lacking. - -It was gotten up by the Magazine _Outdoor Life_ of Colorado. - -The conditions were five sighting shots, and then twenty shots to count. - -The target was a brown paper profile of a turkey at three hundred yards' -range. - -This description is very vague, as all reports of shooting by non-experts -are; they always leave out vital details and put in a lot of useless -matter; it may mean a target of fifteen inches in diameter (if it only -included the body of the turkey) or over thirty inches (if it included the -whole of the turkey, head, legs, feathers, and tail). - -Probably it was the latter size as, if it was only fifteen inches in -diameter, that would correspond to an inch bull's-eye at twenty yards, or -a 2-1/2-inch one at fifty yards, much too small for revolver shooting. - -It is extremely difficult to hit a four-inch bull's-eye for a succession -of twenty shots at fifty yards. I have hit it ten times in twelve shots -(see page 349), and the much greater difficulty of hitting a corresponding -sized target at three hundred yards would make a full score impossible -with a revolver. - -The winner, name not given, made three hits for his twenty shots, six men -hit it twice in their twenty shots, six hit it once, and six missed every -shot. - -This is not a very encouraging result of a long range revolver shoot. - -Though the automatic pistol would be much more accurate at that distance, -still I doubt if any one could get more than eight shots on the turkey in -twenty shots at three hundred yards. - -To be of any use for comparison the actual diameter of the turkey would -have to be ascertained. - -Judging distance should be constantly practised, under all conditions of -light, by judging when out walking how far off a man is, and then walking -up to the spot, counting your steps, to see if you have judged right. - -Do not measure distance by yard strides and thus draw attention to your -movements and raise doubt as to your sanity. - -First measure in private, say one hundred yards, and then walk it with -your natural length of step when walking at your usual speed, and see how -many of your steps go to one hundred yards. - -When you know your number of steps for a hundred yards you can measure -distances in ordinary walking and without passers-by noticing what you are -doing. - -My natural walk is 104 steps to the 100 yards at four miles an hour. - -Try, when you think you are fairly accurate, to judge the distance a man -is off also judge how far a small boy is. You will find at first you think -him much further off than he is owing to having got into the habit of -judging the distance by the height of the man. - -When you come back to judging how far off a man is you will underestimate -the distance for the same reason. - -Mist makes an object appear much further off than it really is; a sheep -close by appears as large as a stag one hundred yards off. - -Distance is very deceptive and if one is accustomed to judging the -distance of an object of a certain size and then has to change to a -similar looking object of a different size the difficulty is increased. - -When I have been shooting at stags and judging their distance with fair -accuracy and then change to roe deer shooting, the roe always seems much -further off than the real distance, because a roe at one hundred yards -looks the same size as a stag at two hundred yards off. - -This difficulty is increased if the objects are mistaken for each other. - -Suppose a river with steep banks, fifty yards broad, in a flat meadow, and -you stand in clear atmosphere and full sunshine at a spot twenty yards -from the nearest bank. From where you stand you cannot see the breadth of -the river; the two banks looking like one line on the green of the -meadow. - -A faded, weatherbeaten, red fire bucket, is standing on the edge of the -far bank, and a flower pot on the near bank. - -Both objects look identical in size, shape, and colour because of the -linear and aërial perspective at these distances, and it is impossible, -unless they are studied very carefully with a telescope or field glass, to -know which is which and therefore which is the further off. If you are -accustomed to judging the distances of flower pots you would think the -fire bucket was a flower pot and therefore only twenty yards off instead -of seventy. - -Be sure you know what the object is when using it as a means of judging -distance, it may be something much larger or smaller of a similar -appearance. - -A pony, when seen through a thick haze, mistaken for a horse would -entirely upset your calculations. - -The use of being able to judge distances accurately is to enable you to -decide how much to aim above a distant object to make up for the distance -the bullet drops in going that distance. - -The drop of the bullet increases rapidly as the distance increases. - -Whilst at short range the drop is so slight that it does not signify -except for extremely accurate shooting, the bullet does not drop in -similar proportion at further range. - -At two hundred it may not drop more than double what it does at one -hundred, but the proportion of drop between two hundred and three hundred -is still greater and so on; the flight of the bullet describing, not a -section of the circumference of a circle, but a parabolic curve. - -When shooting at a man standing upright this drop can be ignored up to -four hundred yards with the Military Automatic pistol; as long as the aim -is taken at the top of the chest it will hit him somewhere. - -But if only a man's head shows it may be missed over or under according as -the distance is misjudged, too far or too short. - -If a puff of dust or a splash of water can be seen where the first bullet -strikes it will serve to correct the aim for the next shot. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIX - -GAME SHOOTING - - -The single shot .22 pistol is much used in the United States for small -game shooting for the pot, when camping out after big game. It does not -make much noise and also has the advantage of being very portable. - -Game birds sometimes come close to a camp in the early morning or evening; -and a sitting shot for the pot can be got at them without disturbing the -ground, when a shotgun would clear all the ground for miles round. - -I find a .22 pistol has not enough stopping power to prevent a wounded -rabbit getting to ground and consequently lost. A great proportion of -rabbits hit with this bullet are lost. - -I use a .44 duelling pistol for rabbit stalking when they are sitting -outside their holes. If a rabbit is hit by it he very seldom gets into his -hole. - -The big bullet does not spoil the rabbit as much as might be thought, the -bullet being round and solid it only makes a hole of its own size and goes -straight through the rabbit. - -A .22 hollow pointed bullet makes much more mess and has the -disadvantage often of not stopping the rabbit though it maims it. The -duelling pistol would spoil a game bird if hit in the body but it is all -right for a head shot. - -It makes slightly more noise than a .22 pistol but it is a soft noise and -does not travel far. - -I think when game for the pot has to be shot that a ".22 short" cartridge -out of a rifle with a telescope sight is best. - -After all, hitting the bird at forty or fifty yards off with a pistol -takes some doing, whereas with a telescopic sighted rifle the shot would -be a certainty. - -The pistol is very little used for what seems to me to be a very useful -function. - -When shooting big game there are many occasions when another shot has to -be fired at wounded game unable to get away. - -Say a wild boar for instance is brought to bay by the first shot. - -He cannot be approached with safety to use the knife, he is killing the -dogs, he has to be shot again. - -Now you do not want to fire your rifle, which makes a boom like a cannon, -as that would disturb the rest of the beat. - -If you have a pistol which shoots a big .44 calibre ball with a reduced -charge of powder you can go close up to the boar and kill him without -making much noise. - -If a wounded animal gets you down, a pistol which lies close to your hand -may save your life, and if it shoots a heavy charge and is rapidly fired -several times into his body, it would stop most animals except an elephant -or rhinoceros. - -A rifle can be lost in falling or lain on, the length of barrel prevents -it being used at close quarters. - -The objection to carrying a pistol in big-game shooting is that every -possible ounce in weight has to be saved, especially in a hot climate. The -pistol is so much extra weight and when climbing amongst rocks it is a -great nuisance. To be of any use against dangerous game the pistol must -shoot a big bullet. - -In the instance of the wild boar, I mentioned a reduced charge but my idea -is to carry the two sorts of cartridges and to have the automatic loaded -with full charge cartridges, but if game has to be finished which is not -endangering your life, I recommend putting in a gallery charge cartridge -for this particular finishing shot so as not to make more noise than -absolutely necessary, and not to disturb other game which may be near. - -An automatic pistol built for a big charge will not function with a -reduced charge. Such a charge does not give enough recoil to introduce the -next cartridge and an automatic only works properly with the exact load it -is designed for. With a reduced charge the automatic pistol, after the -shot, remains half open. - -If the magazine and also the cartridge which is in the barrel are first -taken out, the gallery-load cartridge can be put in the barrel and fired. -Afterwards the loaded magazine can be put back again and the pistol is -ready to shoot the heavy charge. - -A single-shot .44 gallery ammunition pistol with very short barrel like -the old-fashioned Derringer, could be carried without taking up any room -or appreciable weight and be used for finishing deer, or other -non-dangerous game. - -The forester who goes with me moufflon shooting carries a 9 Millimetre -Mauser Automatic pistol for self-defence against poachers and he shoots -small game with it when he comes across it. It is, however, a noisy little -pistol. - -Do not take a smaller calibre pistol than a .38 for finishing big game. It -does not kill them clear. - - - - -CHAPTER L - -SHOOTING FROM HORSEBACK - - -This needs an entirely different training to shooting when on foot. - -It needs knowledge of "Horsemanship" above all else. - -Ninety per cent. horsemanship and ten per cent. pistol shooting skill will -beat the finest pistol shot if he has only ten per cent. horsemanship to -his ninety per cent. shooting skill. - -By "horsemanship" I _mean_ "horsemanship," not mere skill in sticking on a -horse's back. - -A man may have ridden all his life and be able to stick on the back of any -horse and yet be no "horseman." - -Merely keeping one's seat, and "horsemanship" are two entirely different -matters. - -The "rider" (_i. e._, sticker-on) turns his horse by pulling a rein. If he -wants to go faster he hits his horse or kicks his heels into it, if he -wants to stop he pulls with both hands. - -If he wants to turn, he pulls his horse's head round and the horse pivots -on his fore legs and his hind legs follow in a wider circle. - -The "horseman" uses the aids, that is, his left hand on the reins and the -calves of his legs against his horse's sides. - -By the pressure of the calf of his leg, feeling the horse's mouth, and the -rein against the horse's neck, he can make the horse obey his every wish, -because the horse understands, without any tugging, hitting, or forcing. - -"Horsemanship" is having the horse under perfect control and obedient to -an indication so slight that it is imperceptible to the onlooker. - -The "rider" tries to compel the horse by main force to obey him, and the -horse, even when it understands and obeys, does it in his own way, not his -rider's way. - -It is the difference between two perfect dancers moving as one, and a man -who has a vague idea of dancing trying to lug round a partner who knows -nothing about dancing. - -The "horseman" and his horse are one. - -The "rider" and his horse are like a policeman taking off an unwilling -prisoner who does not know what he is accused of. - -In the one case the horse is watchful for every wish of his rider and -instantly obeys, in the other the horse is all the time misunderstanding -what his rider wants and being punished for his ignorance. - -Unfortunately very few Americans or Englishmen know even the rudiments of -the "High School." - -That is why so few "riders" can play polo, both man and pony must be of -one mind and understand each other and that can only be learned in the -"High School," which is "Horsemanship." - -The reason foreign officers are so successful in the jumping competitions -at the Olympia Horse Show is that they are horsemen in the "High School" -and their jumping horses are trained to it also. - -Matador, the celebrated Belgian high jumper, can do the Spanish trot like -a circus horse. - -Ladies riding astride generally know nothing of "horsemanship," but -exaggerate the faults of men "riders." - -Their stirrup leathers are so short that the heels are drawn back and the -toes point downwards. To go faster they hit the horse with their whips or -strike their heels into it but immediately back go their legs into the -"heel up toe down" position with their feet almost driven through the -stirrups. - -The legs stop in this position during the whole ride, as if they were -stuffed dummy legs. - -They only know one use of the legs, that is to grip the saddle so as to -keep their seats in it. - -The "High School" rider uses his legs for giving the indications to his -horse of what he wants it to do, supplemented by the reins, which, by more -or less pressure on the mouth and against the horse's neck, indicate the -horseman's wishes to the horse. - -A "horseman" does not pull at one rein to turn the horse any more than an -expert cyclist turns the handle bars when he wants to turn a corner. - -The cyclist leans to the side he wants to turn to and comes round like a -pair of compasses do when you lean them over and let the pencil swing -round. - -If a "horseman" wants to open a gate he does not kick his heels into the -horse and thus force him up to the gate and then lean over the horse's -neck to try and reach the gate, which the horse is backing from. The -"horseman" holding his reins in his left hand, squeezes the horse with the -calves of his legs and this makes the horse go forward. - -As he gets to the gate the "horseman" puts his left calf further back -against the horse's left side, at the same time putting his left hand -slightly to the left so that the right rein presses against the horse's -neck. - -This turns the horse's neck and shoulders to the left whilst the pressure -of the left calf against the horse's left side makes him put his right -hind quarters to the right. The horse now stands broadside up against the -gate and the "horseman" can easily use his right hand on the gate lock, -without having to lean over. - -When he has taken hold of the gate a slightly greater pressure of his -right calf whilst tightening the reins makes the horse's back and quarter -turn, and the gate is opened. He eases his horse's mouth, squeezes with -both calves, and the horse walks through the open gate whilst the gate -closes behind him. - -Suppose two equally good pistol shots, one a good "rider" and the other a -good "horseman" are in a mounted pistol competition. - -They are told to walk their horses past the target and shoot at it one -shot out of their automatic pistol as they pass. Both of the horses have -not seen the target before and are rather shy of it. - -The "rider" having to hold his pistol can use only one hand to his horse -and being accustomed all his life to guide his horse by pulling at the -reins cannot guide the horse properly with only his left hand. - -As the horse comes up to the target he turns his head towards it and his -quarters away from it and begins to sidle away, walking all crooked, the -rider kicks his heels into him to try and get him up to the target and -when he puts out his arm to aim the horse sidles away still more and whips -round away from the target spoiling the shot. - -After the "rider" has fired he needs both hands to turn the horse and -bring it back, and, having the pistol as well as a rein in his right hand, -fires one or two more shots, unintentionally. - -The "horseman" squeezes his horse by pressure of the calves into his -bridle, his horse like the former horse seeing the target tries to turn -his head towards it and to sidle away from it. - -The "horseman" merely moves his left hand slightly to the left, causing -his right rein to press against his horse's neck and thereby turns the -horse's fore part straight again; at the same time he puts his left calf -back along the horse's side and this puts his hind quarters straight into -place. If the horse tries to resist, the left spur touches him and he -gives in. - -When the shot is fired the horse is wheeled round to the left by the -pressure of the left hand and right calf whilst at the same time the right -thumb slips on the safety of the automatic pistol. - -If the reader is not a "horseman" and wants to learn pistol shooting from -horseback, he and his horse should go through the cavalry course first. - -Even when a horse is standing still, he is breathing, so it is difficult -to make good shooting with deliberate aim off horseback. - -All shooting has to be done with swing and snap shooting. Care must be -taken not to shoot too close past a horse's ears; it may be advisable to -put on a hood with closed ear covers, so that he does not get the full -noise into his ears. - -There is not much to teach as to the actual shooting, it is almost -entirely horsemanship, finding out which angle suits you best to shoot -from, at what speed the horse moves smoothest, etc. - -An automatic pistol is safer than a revolver for use on horseback. There -is no putting to half-cock but only slipping the safety on or off. - -If the horse begins to plunge, slip on the safety at once, in fact at any -indication of trouble with the horse put on the safety. - -Do not slip off the safety till the instant before firing and slip it on -the moment you have fired. - -As you cannot shoot blank ammunition out of an automatic pistol you will -have to use a single barrel pistol for teaching a horse to stand fire. - -Be very careful not to scorch him or shoot past his eyes as that will make -him always apt to flinch. - -An underbred horse is better than a blood horse as a rule for shooting -off, but when you do get a thoroughbred who will stand fire, as he has -more courage, he will stand fire better than any other horse, and his -paces are easier, especially the canter and gallop. - -A handy polo pony makes a good shooting pony if it stands fire, as it is -used to starting, stopping, and turning. - - - - -CHAPTER LI - -GALLERY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS - - -Rifles and pistols though greatly improved in some respects are now -progressing too much in one direction. - -The inventor's sole idea seems to be to get the most powerful cartridge -possible. - -They have now reduced the rifle to a small bore with an extremely heavy -charge and therefore the rifle has to be made very heavy to be safe from -bursting. - -This may be very necessary for war but it is a great disadvantage for the -many other purposes a rifle is used for. - -The new rifle is unsuitable for dangerous game shooting. People think that -as such game is shot at very long ranges and that the further off the game -is shot the better the sportsman. - -I am constantly asked, "When deer stalking, how far off do you shoot a -stag?" - -They expect the answer to be, "A thousand yards or so." - -When I say, "as close as I can possibly get, generally from about fifty to -seventy yards, I never shoot at deer beyond two hundred yards" they form -a very low opinion of my skill. - -With bears and wild boar seventy yards is a long shot, from ten to forty -is the usual distance. - -Often these animals are in rapid motion. I stand up to shoot, there is no -lying down on the face and aiming for ten minutes. - -Modern "improved" rifles are quite unsuited for this. - -The long distance they carry is a great drawback and makes them very -dangerous to use in a populous country and for the beaters. - -Their small calibre does not knock down an animal instantly like a big -bullet does. They have too much penetration and are apt to hit two or more -animals with the same bullet. - -A charging animal a few yards off may do a lot of damage after being hit -by a small bore rifle. There have not been fewer, but more, fatal -accidents from wounded lions and buffalo in Africa since these small bore, -high power, rifles have come into use. - -The heavy weight of a double high power rifle is of a prohibitive weight -for snap-shooting. - -The recoil also is so great that aim cannot be instantaneously taken for -the second shot. - -In the black powder days sportsmen's requirements were not subordinated to -military requirements. - -Express rifles were used by deer stalkers in Scotland and the typical U. -S. rifle for grizzly bears was the .44 Winchester repeater which shot a -small charge of powder. - -For big game shooting accuracy is not needed beyond two hundred yards but -a big bullet giving a knock down blow and a rifle capable of firing -several shots in succession with great rapidity. Rifle to be light and -handy as a shotgun. - -Needing a smokeless rifle answering to the above requirements, I first -tried gallery ammunition in a .303 rifle, double rifle. - -I found the weight of the rifle was too great and the calibre too small. - -I then tried a .400 double rifle, lightened very much and shooting a small -charge of smokeless powder, I got the weight down to that of a double -12-bore pigeon gun. - -Then I discovered there was danger of getting a full charge cartridge into -the rifle by mistake and bursting it. The difficulty was solved by having -a special chamber and a straight cartridge of large calibre, and small -powder charge of cordite. No high power cartridge can be got into the -chamber of this rifle, as they are all bottlenecked so there is no danger -of shooting the wrong ammunition. This double rifle is light and handy, -very accurate up to one hundred yards and all it hits it knocks down like -Thor's hammer. - -Unfortunately, the automatic pistol also has been "improved" on modern -rifle lines. - -The utmost possible power has been put into the cartridge and the pistol -has to be heavy and clumsy to stand this and it has a big recoil and a -terribly loud report. - -As it is, at the first shot, all within hearing scuttle underground like -rabbits, under the impression that an air raid is on. - -A full charge automatic pistol is such a nuisance in a pistol gallery, -owing to its deafening noise, that nobody cares to use one there, and if -he did, he would very soon be asked by the other shooters to desist. - -Inventors vie with each other as to who can produce an automatic pistol -having the most powerful cartridge, just as rifle inventors do. - -What is wanted is not a more powerful automatic pistol, the present ones -are far too powerful, but a weak power, large bore one with an extremely -light charge corresponding to the duelling pistol, that is to say, one -shooting a round bullet of .44 calibre with a very small charge of -smokeless powder. - -Such a pistol would be an ideal weapon for shooting galleries and would -popularize pistol practice, _then_ pistol shooting would be a pleasure -instead of a penance, when shooting has to be done indoors. - -The automatic pistol inventors should experiment as follows: - -The external lines should follow the Gastinne-Renette duelling pistol as -nearly as possible. - -The calibre and cartridge the same as it is (_i. e._, .44), the bullet -being of lead, and spherical. - -The magazine of a size to _take only this cartridge_, as otherwise, if a -heavy charge cartridge were introduced by mistake and fired, it would -smash and perhaps burst the pistol. An automatic pistol made for the light -charge would have too weak a recoil spring to withstand a heavy charge. - -The duelling pistol cartridge has the bullet seated far down it, and there -is a lot of spare useless length in the cartridge. - -In the automatic pistol I am advising to be made (the Winans model), the -cartridge should be, though of .44 calibre, very short, the round bullet -crimped in the end of it, like the .22 bulleted cap cartridges. - -The cartridge being so short and the magazine made to fit, the usual high -power cartridges would be too long to go into it by mistake. - -The sights should be those of the duelling pistol. - -I think such an automatic pistol would be much superior to any existing -automatic pistol except for military purposes. - -As there would be no danger of putting in a higher power cartridge the -pistol could be lightened and balance better, all the weight possible -being taken off the barrel and fore end, the barrel fluted, etc., so that -the balance would be even better than in a duelling pistol, owing to its -shorter barrel. - -It may be found that the barrel could be lengthened, so as to be longer -between the sights, without spoiling the balance. - -As the gallery charge is so light, the recoil would be all expended in -operating the mechanism--there would be no recoil left against the hand. - -Most of the difficulties in designing automatic firearms are having to -withstand the enormous pressure of modern cartridges. If you go back to a -light pressure in the cartridge, all these difficulties vanish and all -parts can be made light. - -Such a pistol ought easily to beat all existing rapid-fire revolver -records, as good scores as those under duelling conditions should be made, -in fact I think better scores, as there is no necessity to raise the hand -after the first shot. - -With a Winchester .22 automatic rifle I can put the ten shots in three -seconds into a two-inch bull at twenty yards, the only time spent is in -getting the aim for the first shot, the other shots can be put in as fast -as the trigger can be pressed, as there is no recoil, and therefore no -time spent in getting a fresh aim for each shot. The .22 Colt long barrel -automatic pistol (see Plate 4) fulfills most of these conditions, but a -.44 gallery charge automatic pistol would be better. - - - - -CHAPTER LII - -SHOOTING GALLERY - - -Pistol shooting in competitions or for practice is conducted either under -cover, in the open, or partly under cover. The latter is much the best -way, so I will keep this to the last. - -An open-air range can only be installed in the country, away from -buildings or annoyance to others. Even then it is not immune. Just before -the war several rifle ranges in England were ordered to be closed because -they inconvenienced golf players, and of course golf is much more -important than shooting. - -The present automatic pistol with its heavy charge makes such a noise that -it can only be shot in an open-air range, well away from houses. The -objection to such a range is that it takes so long to get to. - -Instead of being able to fire a few shots at odd moments, as in Paris, a -man who has a few minutes to spare must take a train into the country, -wasting time and money getting there and back, and he can therefore only -shoot if he has a whole afternoon free and "money to burn." - -It requires great keenness in pistol shooting to endure all the discomfort -of waiting for trains, standing in the wet, etc., for the sake of a few -minutes' shooting. - -The usual indoor range practice is even worse. - -It is true it is "only round the corner," and takes only a few minutes to -get to, but when you _do_ get there!!! - -The range is in a part of a building too dark and uncomfortable to be used -for any other purpose. - -If a narrow underground dungeon is too bad for a wine or coal cellar, a -brilliant idea strikes the owner of the property: "Why not turn it into a -public shooting gallery, and make it pay?" - -The gallery is run on the pay, pay, always pay, and receive nothing, -principle. - -The shooter pays for the pleasure of ruining his eyesight and ears, pays -for the target, pays for the cartridges, pays for the hire of a dirty, -greasy, worn out old revolver. - -However good a score he makes he receives no prize or encouragement. - -No wonder, after one such visit, the public gives the place a wide berth. - -The Gastinne-Renette Pistol Gallery at 39, Avenue d'Antin, Paris, is -constructed and run as a pistol gallery should be. - -The first essential is to have it in a building well-lighted by daylight -and airy, and where the neighbours will not object to the sound of -firing. - -The ideal range is, as at Gastinne-Renette's, with the firing point -covered and the range itself open to the air, but this is only possible -under exceptional circumstances, and where gallery ammunition only is -fired. - -I am strongly of the opinion that unless gallery ammunition is used -exclusively, an indoor or semi-indoor range is inadmissible, otherwise the -shooting must, of necessity, be done in the country and in the open, with -all its attendant inconveniences. - -If the range is in an entirely closed gallery it should have plenty of top -light (not artificial light), like a sculptor's studio, or be situated and -lighted on the top floor of the house, like a photographer's studio. - -Or it may be a long shed with windows down both sides. - -A riding school or a gymnasium having plenty of daylight might do. - -By the way, although gymnastics do not need daylight (artificial light is -just as good for them), one never hears of a gymnasium in a coal cellar. - -It is only the shooter, who is a crank anyhow and not worth serious -consideration, who has to put up with a coal cellar. - -It is difficult to get an indoor range large enough for practice at moving -objects. - -So-called moving targets which run for a few feet are not moving targets -at all. - -To learn shooting at moving objects they should go fast and for a -reasonable distance, not less than ten yards, and the further they run, -and the more varying the speed, the better. - - - - -CHAPTER LIII - -THE GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY - - -This gallery has been in existence for some seventy years and is -constantly improved and it is the best gallery I know of in any country. -In describing it I will be describing what an ideal shooting gallery -should be like. - -The entrance is through a well-lighted daylight passage past the -gunmaker's shop of the proprietor. A pistol can be bought or hired, or -alteration made to the sights or trigger-pull of one's own pistol, on the -spot. - -One then comes to a long, well-lighted gallery, with cupboards containing -the pistols of the members and very accurate, well-kept pistols, for -lending to shooters who have not brought their own (see Plates 2 and 10.) - -Several pistol clubs, such as the "Le Pistolet" and the "St. George," -shoot here on certain days, at which times the range is closed to the -outside public. - -The gallery is heated by hot water pipes in winter. - -The secretary sits at a desk and sells the entry tickets, gives the -prizes (gold, silver, and bronze medals and plaques), and also keeps an -accurate record of all winning scores made. - -[Illustration: PLATE 15. GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY] - -The walls are hung with the framed targets which have won the Grand -Medaille d'Or and other prizes. - -Two marble slabs, engraved with the names of the winners of the -championship of each year, are by the mantelpiece where hangs the stuffed -head of a Sika stag I shot with a duelling pistol. - -One of the long sides of the gallery faces a blank wall in the open air -about thirty yards distant. - -Along that side there are cubicles with glass doors facing this wall, and -glass sliding doors opening into the gallery. - -Each cubicle has a loading table with drawers for cartridges, etc. - -These cubicles have transverse walls in pairs leading to this wall, so as -to enable pairs of shooters, if they so desire, to shoot, without being -disturbed by the rest of the shooters. - -The shooter goes with an attendant into one of the cubicles; the door -leading to the gallery is shut and the door on to the range is opened. - -The shooter can be seen from the gallery but he is not disturbed by people -talking or coming near him. - -The assistant loads the pistols, works the metronome, keeps the score, -etc. - -If the score is good enough to win a prize the assistant calls the -secretary to see the target and verify the score and record it in his book -before the shots are painted out. - -Paper targets shot at are brought to the secretary for verification and -signed and kept by him. - -Over the top of these open-air passages down which the shooting takes -place, wires are stretched to break the sound, so as not to annoy the -neighbours. - -There are also sloping boards at intervals above, so that a shot let off -by accident cannot do any harm--the boards catch all wide bullets. - -[Illustration: PLATE 16. GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY--FIRING POINTS] - -The prizes are given on a gradually increasing scale of difficulty, so -that nobody need be discouraged. - -The bronze medal for shooting at plaster figures at sixteen metres is easy -enough for the most moderate pistol shot to win, he is thus encouraged to -try for the silver medal at these figures, which is a little more -difficult, and so on. - -No medal in any of the series can be won more than once. - -If a man wins the gold medal at that series at the first attempt he can -still go in for the silver and bronze medals of that series, but, when he -has won all three medals of a series, he can never compete in that series -again, but of course can shoot for practice at them. - -Some series call for extreme accuracy and some for endurance, as that for -breaking a hundred small plates in succession--rapid-firing--under -duelling conditions. - -In Chapter XXXIII, I described the target used at Gastinne-Renette's -Gallery for the three series for the Grand Medaille d'Or. - -There are no second prizes in these series. - -One gold medal is for twelve shots deliberate shooting with the .44 -calibre duelling pistol. - -A similar one for the .44 calibre revolver, and also a similar one for the -duelling pistol, shot under duelling conditions. - -All are shot at sixteen metres range (seventeen yards one foot). - -To win either of the first two gold medals all the twelve shots must be -inside the first ring round the bull's-eye, that is inside (not cutting a -ring of five bullets' diameter (2-1/5 inches). - -To win the third gold medal all the twelve shots must be inside, not -cutting, the second ring round the bull's-eye, that is to say inside seven -bullets' diameter (3.08 inches). - -This latter appears the most easy competition, but on the contrary whilst -some forty or more have won the first two medals, only five have won the -latter, during the seventy years. - -Chevalier Ira Paine is the only man who won both the first named gold -medals. I do not think he tried for the third. In fact I have not seen or -heard of any score of his shot under duelling conditions. - -I am the only one during the seventy years the competitions have been in -existence who has won both the gold medals for rifle shooting at moving -objects at this gallery, the Running Rabbit and the Running Man, about -five have won either one or the other of these medals. - - - - -CHAPTER LIV - -OPEN AIR RANGES - - -A row of white squares, each with a black bull's-eye on it, and men -aiming, aiming, and finally letting off their pistols at them, is such a -mistaken idea of learning pistol shooting. - -It is all so futile, so useless, except as a sport and a means of getting -fresh air and relaxation. - -To occasionally put a series of shots very close together on a stationary -target is interesting, and shows what a good pistol and men are capable of -when working in harmony. But to consider this the sole object of pistol -shooting is the greatest mistake. - -Rapid fire, the faster the better, is the essence of pistol shooting, the -only practical use of it. - -Deliberate shooting is a game, a sport, and a very good sport, but it is -neither practical pistol shooting or the way to learn it. - -An outdoor range gives the best practice, as figures can be put up at -various distances and shot at in rapid fire, moving and disappearing -targets can run in all directions, and come up unexpectedly like at a -shotgun shooting school. - -A shelter to shoot from under in wet or windy weather has the disadvantage -of the noise from the shooting when full charges are shot, as is -invariably the case in England. - -A corrugated roof gives a terrible echo. It is better to stand in the rain -and wind rather than be deafened. - -Six hits in four seconds is the best I know of with a revolver when -shooting at life size figures taken one after the other at distances -varying from about fifteen to thirty yards. - -This can be beaten with an automatic pistol. With an automatic pistol it -is a matter of finding the right speed to swing across the figures. - -A good open air pistol range can be made behind a rifle butt. - -Behind the big butt for a thousand yards' rifle shooting makes a very big -butt for twenty-five yards' automatic pistol shooting and allows for -swinging and moving targets on an ample scale. - -In an open air range great care must be taken to be very strict as to -rules of safety. - -There becomes a tendency to walk down to the butt to examine a target -without first giving warning; to walk about with some cartridges still in -the pistol, etc. - -Things which would not be done in an indoor range seem to come natural to -some men when in an out-of-doors range. - -Targets that can smash are the best. Plaster heads are much better to -shoot at in rapid firing than to try and hit the six heads of wooden -targets. - -In the former case you see the débris of the smash as you pull the trigger -and do not pause in your swing to the next target. - -If there is no smash to the shot but only a bullet hole, one is apt to -hesitate after each shot to look for the bullet hole. - -It looks so much better and gives such a satisfactory feeling to instantly -see the result of your shot. - -A row of plates or bottles placed at various distances and smashed one -after the other very rapidly is much more of an encouragement than, after -having fired without visible result, to be told ten minutes later that you -have made all hits. - -There are small rubber balloons manufactured in France which can be filled -with water. - -The balloons when empty pack in very little space. A small pump is sold -with them, it can be regulated to deliver a pre-arranged quantity of water -into each balloon, and then a twist at the neck of the balloon closes it. - -If the water is coloured with Condy's Fluid a hit looks very conspicuous -and pretty when the balloon bursts on being struck. - -Have them thrown up to shoot at. Great care must be taken that the bullets -go where they can do no harm. - -A full charge automatic pistol should not be used for this--a duelling -pistol, having a smooth bore barrel, and shooting No. 8 shot is good -practice and can be shot where shooting a bullet would be dangerous. I -have killed 44 out of 80 live pigeons in this way. - -It is dangerous to shoot bullets at hard substances. To shoot at a stone -thrown up, a ginger beer, or a soda water bottle, may cause very dangerous -ricochets. - - - - -CHAPTER LV - -SHOOTING IN LITERATURE - - -Most extraordinary ideas prevail amongst writers as to shooting in general -and especially pistol shooting. - -One novelist makes his hero see "a flame zigzagging in the darkness," he, -not troubling to ascertain who was carrying the light, friend or foe, -without hesitation "drew his pistol, took an aim of a good thirty seconds' -duration and fired straight at the flame." - -To aim "straight at" a moving object is the way to miss it, and if the aim -is taken for thirty seconds the hand gets so shaky that a miss is certain, -but most marvellous thing in literature, the hero _does_ miss. - -Solomon said, "There is nothing new under the sun." He was wrong. The -author who makes his hero miss is absolutely unique; in all other -literature the hero never misses, none of Homer's heroes miss, nor does -David miss Goliath nor William Tell miss the apple nor Robin Hood the -deer. - -This unique hero takes an even longer aim, later. He hears a horse -galloping towards him and _aims for ten minutes_ at a point two inches -above where he expected the horse's head to appear round a rock. I suppose -he aimed two inches high so as to allow for the fatigue to his arm during -the ten minutes' aim, causing it to slightly sag down. - -I expect the next novel I read, the hero, knowing his enemy will arrive in -a month's time, will keep an aim well above the railway station till he -arrives. - -Evidently the idea is the longer the aim the more accurate it is, -forgetting that human muscles and eyesight tire, and that fast moving -objects cannot be hit with a stationary aim. - -I have known a stag turn and go the opposite direction whilst a man was -aiming at a tree he expected it to pass. - -It is amusing how, in a play, the hero after he has made the villain -desist by pointing a revolver at him, contemptuously throws the revolver -on the sofa and walks away. - -It never occurs to the author of the play, or the actor, that the villain -would instantly seize hold of the pistol and turn the tables on the hero. - -After the hero has covered the villain with the pistol and has been -applauded the "situation is over" so he throws away the revolver or puts -it back in his pocket and there the incident ends. - -In one play the hero gives a loaded .44 revolver as a keepsake to a small -child. - -This sort of thing is merely ridiculous and does no harm. - -But harm is done if an actor through ignorance shoots another actor. - -I have twice seen such an accident on the stage. Once a man blinded -another in both eyes, and in the second case in one eye, by firing blank -ammunition right into the other's face at a few feet distance. - -Men have been killed, one only a short time ago, by having the wad of -blank ammunition shot into them. In one case the gun had several wads -crimped hard into the shell so as to make a good loud bang when fired. - -One man in this play was supposed to come across his enemy, and as the -latter fled, to shoot him. The actor, who I believe said he had never shot -a gun before, put the muzzle against the other man's back when he fired -and killed him. - -He had been told that it was blank ammunition and he thought it could do -no harm. This is the cause of all such accidents. Being blank ammunition -it is considered to be harmless. - -Old ladies are laughed at when they scream and hold their ears when a man -begins to "brandish" a revolver on the stage or poke about with a gun, -with his finger on the trigger. But the old ladies are quite right to be -alarmed. - -There is no knowing what may happen when a man ignorant of firearms, has -one in his hands, even if it only has blank ammunition. - -A very favourite attitude with actors is to bang the butt of their rifle -on the ground and then put both hands over the muzzle, but in this case if -the rifle "explodes," it is only their own hands that they injure. - -For the safety of others this is the best thing they can do, before -someone else gets hurt. - -Before being allowed to fire blank ammunition on the stage, a man should -be properly instructed in the safe handling of firearms. - -Shooting blank ammunition on the stage is always a risky job. People are -so huddled up, that it is difficult to appear to shoot at a man without -shooting close enough to him to injure him. - -If the gun is fired over the man's head, it may set the flies on fire, -burn the eyes of someone in a grand tier box, or the limelight man. - -It is a case of "save me from my friends" when a writer who is ignorant of -shooting matters tries to extol someone's marksmanship. - -We read "the anti-aircraft guns at once began to bellow forth defiance. -The shooting was wonderful and it was only the hardest luck that they did -not wing an enemy." - -As the number of shots is not mentioned and the element of luck -introduced, it is not possible to analyse this shooting, but another -writer is clearer. He says "he got within fifty yards, well within point -blank range, and fired 117 shots and the enemy was then observed to be -leaning forward, so it was apparent that he had been winged." - -Now here we have all the facts necessary to work out a simple rule of -three problem. - -As 117 shots are to one shot, so is fifty yards to X (the distance the -adversary must be off to enable him to be winged, with a single shot). - -This makes X equal 15.381 inches. - -As to kill is about three times as difficult as to wing, divide by three, -this gives 5.127 inches as the longest range at which it is possible to -kill a man with a single shot, "which is absurd." Q.E.D. - -Another novel writer made use of one of my books very effectively to -describe the duel, with all details correct, except that he made the -distance between the duellists _five yards_, and they missed each other -twice at this distance! - -Allowing for each duellist three feet from where he stands to the end of -the muzzle of his pistol they would have only three yards between the -muzzles of their pistols. The writer must have either been unacquainted -with French metric measures (I gave twenty-five meters as the duelling -distance) or else he confused it with a sword duel. - - - - -CHAPTER LVI - -GRIP - - -There is a great variety of opinions as to the shape and size a pistol -stock should have so as to give the best grip. - -As I have already mentioned, the grip which suits me best is that on the -French duelling pistol. But what suits one man may not necessarily suit -another. - -A smooth, mother-of-pearl stock is very slippery to me, but some think -this gives the ideal grip. - -Some men have fat flabby perspiring hands, others have cold damp hands, -both of these seem to be able to hold a mother-of-pearl grip comfortably, -but they do not suit a man who has dry warm hands. - -In the revolver days I knew several men who could not grip the Smith & -Wesson Russian model revolver comfortably. They said the stock was too -small for them. Even the Colt stock, according to them, was too small. -They, in consequence, induced the makers to supply Colt revolvers to suit -"The English market" with enormously big stocks. - -Now these very men who found the normal stocks too small did not have -abnormally large hands. It was that they held their pistols with much too -rigid a grip. - -Some men have special stocks made so that they "can get a firm grip." - -Some of them even go to the length of putting India rubber tennis racket -grips over the pistol stocks. I have tried shooting one of their pistols -so ornamented (?) and found it was like trying to shoot with a big potato -held in my fist. - -Others, in order to obtain this "firm grip," smear the stock of their -pistol over with wet modelling clay, take a grip of it and then have a -plaster cast made of their finger prints in this clay and get a stock cast -from this. When they hold this monstrosity with their fingers embedded in -it, they claim to have a perfect hold. - -The idea they are working for is an entirely wrong one. The pistol should -be held as a fencing foil, lying in the palm of the hand. Because the left -hand gets burnt when many shots are fired in rapid succession from a rifle -or gun, a hand guard was invented which slips over to the fore end of the -gun and protects the left hand from contact with the hot barrels. - -It was also claimed that, having to hold this guard made the shooter -always hold his hand in the same place, and that this was a great -advantage. - -The rigid grip on a fixed spot is, as a matter of fact, a disadvantage. -It caused me to give up this hand guard and substitute an asbestos glove -for the left hand. - -In game shooting with a rifle, or gun, one shifts the left hand -constantly, according to the angle of the rifle or gun to your shoulder. -For a high shot the left hand is thrust forward, for a low shot the hand -drawn back. - -To sit down and shoot off the knees, the left hand is much further back on -the rifle than if you stand up to shoot off hand. - -If you find yourself shooting under, you shift the left hand forward for -the next shot so as to shoot higher. - -You cannot do all these niceties (which make all the difference between -first class shooting, and merely good shooting) if your left hand is tied -to one place. The same applies to pistol shooting. - -The pistol should not be held in a "firm grip" as these inventors of -potato-shaped stocks imagine. - -A fencer does not keep a "firm grip," nor does a shotgun man. - -All have their weapons lying in the palms of the hands loosely and easily, -the grip of the foil is only tightened momentarily for parrying or -thrusting and the game shot handles a rifle or shotgun as lightly as a -woman nursing a baby. - -A pistol stock which has all the fingers embedded in it stops all wrist -play. It may answer for a long aim at a stationery target but for any -rapid shooting it is impossible. - -How can a man draw and shoot in one movement if he has to fit his fingers -first into each hollow excavated in the stock? He might as well try to -pull on a glove each time before he draws his pistol. - -If he gets the hold the least wrong he will miss and probably also get his -hand cut. - -How can a man cock or slip on the safety bolt if he first has to take his -thumb out of the "dug out" in which it has taken refuge? He will most -likely fumble the whole thing and drop the pistol. - -Very many pistol inventions are the result of a man who, shooting for the -first time, discovers difficulties merely due to his own clumsiness and -inexperience, and instead of consulting a pistol shot, invents something -to overcome these imaginary difficulties. - -I have actually seen such an inventor shooting in a competition with an -iron rod up his sleeve attached to his pistol "to keep his arm steady." - -An inventor came to me with something he said would stop all runaway -horses, and was very angry with me because I would not try it on one of -mine, although I told him mine were properly broken horses, not runaways. - -The invention consisted of two India rubber bags which, un-inflated, were -to be put inside the nostrils of the horse. - -If there was any difficulty in stopping the horse, a pair of bellows was -worked, attached to a rubber tube connecting these bags to the driver. - -This inflated the bags, and the horse, according to the inventor, "at once -comes to a standstill." - -I told the inventor that a horse thus choked would throw himself about, -and cause a fearful smash before he died. He probably thought, "what lack -of imagination" horsemen have. - -A wooden or vulcanite stock with a small clean-cut file pattern so as to -give a non-slip hold is good. - -A too small grip has the fault of driving the nails into the ball of the -thumb; it should be just thick enough to avoid this, any thicker would be -clumsy. - -An ivory stock is heavy, but this may be an advantage if there is weight -needed in the stock to counterbalance the barrel, otherwise ivory gives a -good grip, if roughed. - -The depth of the roughing depends on the tenderness of the hand of the -shooter. - -A roughing which would make one man's hand sore is hardly enough of a -non-slip hold for a man whose skin is harder. - -Sometimes screw heads and pins are not quite flush with the stock and may -chafe the hand. - -They and any roughness left on screw heads by the unskilful use of the -screw driver should be filed down smooth. - -A sore hand which gets hurt at each shot is very detrimental to good -shooting and the shooter is constantly trying to get a fresh grip in order -to save his hand. - -Automatic pistols have almost universally a projection over the hand -between the thumb and the trigger finger for the slide to work on. - -This turns the stock into a "saw handle" which used to be common on -English duelling pistols. - -I have tried such a stock with very good results on a revolver, but it is -in the way of one-handed cocking. - -An objection to a "saw handle" is that it compels the grip to be always -taken in the same place, and as I said before, the grip should be movable -higher or lower, according as you find you are shooting too low or too -high. - -A little rosin ground fine and rubbed on the stock and hand gives a good -non-slip grip if the stock is greasy or slippery. - -Do not shoot with gloves on. It destroys the sensitiveness of the hand, -especially the trigger finger. I am always afraid of being shot by -accident when a man shooting next me wears gloves, especially the slippery -so-called "chamois skin" ones. - - - - -CHAPTER LVII - -TRICK SHOOTING - - -"Champion Shot" shooting on the stage must not be taken too seriously. - -No one can keep on shooting at small objects on a man's head or held -between his fingers without an occasional bad shot, and if it misses by -only half an inch, such a miss may cause the death of the assistant. - -Unavoidable sources of accident are, a weak cartridge giving a low shot; a -hang fire, or, as in one fatal accident, the rifle blows open, lowering -the muzzle and the bullet entering the assistant's forehead. - -Aiming to graze the top of the ball minimizes this risk but does not -eliminate it. - -A miss too high does not matter, but a miss too low means death to the -assistant. - -Managers of theatres are now very chary, since this accident, of employing -"Artistes" who do real shooting. It is too dangerous and the police will -not allow it. All sorts of ways to minimize risk are employed. When -objects are held to be shot at, steel thimbles over forefinger and thumb -are concealed under a glove. - -A steel skullcap fitting down to the eyebrows with a rod some four inches -long projecting from the top is employed to hold the ball, the steel -skullcap concealed under a wig with low fringe of hair to cover the -forehead. This is worn by a woman assistant, her high piled up head -serving to hide the rod. - -There are several other reasons for employing a woman assistant instead of -a man. - -It looks so much more effective to shoot things off a woman's head or -fingers; and she can wear long gloves in evening dress without exciting -suspicion that she has steel gauntlets concealed under them. - -When well arranged, the ball, two inches in diameter, and the aim taken to -graze the top of the ball, a miss must be fully eight inches too low to do -any damage to the assistant when she wears a steel skullcap down to her -eyebrows under her wig of piled up hair. - -Some do not even risk that, but, by an arrangement of a steel plate -connected with a lever below it, and the whole hidden behind the "back -cloth," the shot is fired at the plate a foot higher than the assistant's -head; this plate forces the bottom of the lever, armed with a spike, -forward. The spike breaks the ball and immediately returns out of sight -through the "back cloth." - -Some natural object is painted on the scene over this hidden target for -the shooter to aim at. - -I give below a few exhibition shoots, ranging from real shooting, -through "assisted" shooting down to "trick" shooting, and simple conjuring -tricks. - -The reader, if asked to shoot for a charity bazaar or to amuse people at a -village fête, can choose from this list, according to the rigidity or -elasticity of his conscience "in the cause of charity." And charity covers -a multitude of sins. - -It is curious how one never can tell what will be a success with the -public. - -A really difficult feat fails to impress the audience and a simple easy -shot "brings down the house." What must be constantly borne in mind is -that you must never make a bad shot, that spoils the whole thing. - -You can cover up your mistakes sometimes. - -If you hit the ace of hearts, have it handed round to the audience and go -on to the next item. If a shot is encored do not repeat, go on with your -programme. - -To do something well and then, trying to repeat it, to make a miss, is a -fatal mistake. - -If your first shot at the ace of hearts just misses the heart by a shade, -this does not matter. - -Keep on shooting and make a good group "all cutting into one hole" and -hand it round to the audience, thus covering up the traces of the bad -first shot. - -Stop shooting as soon as the hole cuts well into the pip. If you try one -shot too many and get it clear of the "all shots into one hole" then you -have made a fearful blunder--a three shot group is ample. - -Never attempt anything which you are not able to do easily. To make a lot -of easy shots without a mistake is far preferable than to try difficult -shots with one or two failures. - -If you can trust your nerve it is as well to keep the most difficult shot -to the last, so as not to have an anticlimax. As a climax (if your -conscience will permit you), give one or two "assisted" shots, so as to -end brilliantly. - -Always practise on the actual stage and with the same lighting as you will -have to shoot under, when giving the exhibition. - -If you do not do this you may find the light different, or so bad that you -will not be able to do yourself justice. - -A stage open to the sky, is, on a calm day, best of all, but there is the -risk of a wind springing up. Always shoot on a stage elevated above the -spectators so that all can see, and have the sun at your back. - -On an open air stage you can finish as follows: - -Have an old-fashioned .44 Winchester, black powder, repeating rifle. These -can still be picked up at second-hand gunmakers' shops. - -Get cartridges for it loaded with No. 10 shot. - -Have a lot of the rubber balls filled with water. - -It looks most effective if the water is of various colours for alternate -balls. - -Get an assistant to throw them straight up as high as he possibly can, -and break them in succession. - -With practice you can break them as fast as he can possibly throw them. - -The higher and straighter up he throws them the easier they are to break -and yet the more effective they look. - -The stop butt should be an iron box with a back sloping downwards, away -from you, at an angle of forty-five degrees, deflecting the bullets into a -tray full of sand. - -Some "numbers" for the programme (range fifteen feet) I give below. - -Put a playing-card up edgewise horizontally and cut it in half. - -Be sure the background is such that you can see the white edge of the card -against it. - -If you get your elevation just right, the card will be cut. - -Use a .44 calibre bullet in all shooting, as that gives you more leeway in -case you are a little wrong in your elevation. - -This is the most difficult shot of all and should not be repeated. - -The same shot with the card vertical. - -This is slightly easier, as one is less apt to miss horizontally than -vertically. - -The "assistance" in this shot is to have the card as much out of dead edge -on to you, as the audience will stand without detecting it. - -Unless a spectator is absolutely behind the shooter and looking over his -right shoulder he cannot see if the card is not absolutely dead edge on. - -The duffer's way of doing this shot is to fire dust shot instead of a -bullet. - -Hitting the ace of hearts I have already described. - -To hit several pips on one card is very difficult. It takes really good -shooting even at the five yards' range to hit the six pips in succession -on the six hearts. - -Also this cannot be "assisted" in any way unless you fluke one pip when -shooting at another with the .22 Colt target automatic pistol (or see -Plate 4). When the "gallery ammunition" automatic pistol is invented air -filled rubber balls can be put in a row and broken in quick succession. In -"assisted" shooting they are made of dark rubber with a minute white -bull's-eye painted on each, and the balls stand in recesses in a screen of -the same colour as themselves, so that all but the white spot is -invisible. - -To the uninitiated it looks as if it is the minute white bull's-eyes which -are hit. - -If the air balls are large, the shooting is very easy. If shot is used -instead of bullets any one can do this trick but the balls must be far -enough apart to avoid breaking two or more balls at one shot. - -To snuff a candle if the wick is aimed at requires quick shooting as more -than a momentary aim at the wick dazzles the eyes. - -It is better to put the candle in a candlestick and cut the candle to a -predetermined length, and have the pistol sighted to shoot that much too -high. - -The aim is then taken at the bottom of the candle in order that the bullet -hits the wick, and therefore there is no glare in the eyes from the flame. - -The "assisted" way of doing this shot is to have a pair of bellows with -nozzle curved at right angles, the side of the bellows towards you made of -steel, the nozzle pointed at the candle wick, behind the candle, of course -concealed so that when the background is struck the bellows blow the -candle out. - -I give a number of other shots and other information on exhibition -shooting in my _Art of Revolver Shooting_ to which I refer the reader if -interested in such shooting. - -A most sensational looking shot is a purely "assisted" one. - -It is to break two air balls simultaneously with a pistol in each hand. -The balls are placed some two inches apart. One pistol is loaded with dust -shot, the other with blank ammunition, or even, if the shot charge makes a -lot of noise and smoke, the second pistol need not be loaded at all. - -Holding the pistol loaded with shot in the right hand, the other in the -left hand, aiming between the balls with the one loaded with shot and -holding the other alongside it, pull both triggers together, breaking -both balls with the pistol loaded with shot. - -Tunes are played on a target so arranged that hitting plates either makes -the plates ring, or else the plates drive back and strike bells. - -These plates are large so as to be easily hit, but the exhibition is -"assisted" by small bull's-eyes on each plate and the audience think these -latter are alone hit. - -The tunes are usually played with several "pump" repeating .22 rifles, the -rifles being changed at each pause in a bar in the tune that the band -plays. - -Winchester .22 Automatic rifles are better, though I have never seen a -professional use them. The automatic needs only trigger pressure and turns -and quick runs can be played with it. - -When the gallery charge, automatic pistol arrives, it will be possible to -use it in the same way for playing tunes. The clips can be dropped out and -a fresh one inserted when the tune gives a pause of a bar, care being -taken not to fire the last shot, but let it carry on the first cartridge -of the new clip, as I have explained earlier. - -The plates should be so arranged as to show the "black notes" like a piano -does, otherwise it is difficult to play tunes having sharps, flats or -accidentals, if all the notes look alike. - -I saw a "bandmaster" (?) at a village horse-show overcome this difficulty -of his drum and fife band by allowing the "band" to ignore the black -notes and to substitute naturals for all sharps and flats; the effect was -very fine and greatly applauded! - - - - -CHAPTER LVIII - -THE DEVILLIERS BULLET - - -Dr. Devilliers has patented a spherical bullet, made of a secret -composition, which is shot out of pistols with only the fulminate of the -cap to propel it. - -It cannot be used in an automatic pistol loaded through the magazine as -there is no recoil to operate the mechanism, but it can be shot from a -magazine pistol if used as a single loader. - -It is primarily intended for a duelling pistol and can be used in -revolvers. - -The idea is to have a bullet which can be used in competitions under real -duelling conditions against live opponents instead of at targets. - -The pistol barrel has to be kept cold. When it gets hot after a few shots, -the bullet will partly melt and get soft and then it does not take the -rifling. - -The usual way is to have a sort of champagne cooler full of ice and to ice -the loaded pistols for a few minutes before shooting them. - -The bullet strikes with considerable force, enough if not protected -against to put out an eye or injure the throat if struck. - -I have had several painful grazes on the arm from these bullets going up -my sleeve and I also shot out a piece of skin between the forefinger and -thumb of the pistol hand of my opponent the first time I fired one of -them. - -[Illustration: PLATE 17. SHIELD ON DUELLING PISTOL WITH GUARD FOR -DEVILLIERS BULLET] - -He fired a shade sooner than I and was lowering his pistol when my bullet -struck his hand, the skin being stretched tight on the stock of his -pistol, the bullet cut a semicircular notch out of his hand. - -Since then a thin steel shield is fixed on the pistol just in front of -the trigger guard so that the hand is entirely protected when aiming (see -Plate 17). I patented similar shield on a soldier's rifle to protect his -usually exposed left hand, and also to partially protect his head, when -shooting. - -Do not shoot at any one at a shorter range than twenty metres (twenty-one -yards two feet); the blow from the bullet at twenty metres is not too -severe if the shooter is properly protected. - -It is useless for practice to shoot at a longer range than twenty metres -as the bullet rapidly loses its accuracy beyond that distance. - -Wear goggles fitted in a fencing mask, the goggles of thick strong pebble -glass or of triplex safety glass (which is lighter). - -The fencing mask fitted with heavy goggles is very cumbersome. I think an -aviator's cap and triplex glass goggles is ample protection except that -the throat must also be well protected by a thick leather stock as strong -as a saddle flap. - -A blow on the throat may do serious damage. - -I had a bullet come through a too thin leather stock and hit my throat. - -I do not think the body need be protected except by a piece of leather low -over the abdomen and this can be worn under the trousers. - -It is as well to wear old clothes or a thin black blouse as the bullets -leave greasy marks. - -The object of having the blouse black is that the bullet marks should be -more easily seen by the umpire, and scored. - -Wear as tight fitting things as you can as long as your right arm is free, -it gives your opponent a smaller target to score on. If he hits some -flapping part of your blouse it scores him a hit even if it did not touch -your body. - -In shooting in a competition it may be as well to stand sideways so as to -give the opponent as small a target as possible, but in a real duel -standing sideways increases the risk of being killed if struck. Always -have a doctor present, as a wound from this bullet may be septic if not -properly dressed at once. - -In a real duel a bullet, if the chest is hit when facing the adversary, -only goes through one lung, whereas if the man struck is standing sideways -the bullet will pierce both his lungs and so make recovery from the wound -much more doubtful. - -In winter be very careful that the bullets do not freeze, if frozen they -penetrate deeply. - -The bullets are loaded into the special cartridges as follows: - -The cartridge must not contain any powder. - -The bullet must not be squeezed into the cartridge, this would distort it -as it is soft. - -The bullet must be very lightly inserted in the cartridge. - -Open the pistol, keeping the muzzle elevated, insert the cartridge in the -breech, lower the muzzle, put on the cap and close the pistol. - -The inventor recommends that only the special cartridges of his invention -be used, these have no cap but only a nipple, and you do not put the cap -on till the cartridge is in the breech of the pistol. - -Competitions take place with this bullet as in an actual duel, the -shooting is in pairs until only one competitor remains, the one of each -pair who hits his opponent first is the winner of that pair. - -The bullets hit too hard for it to be an amusement suitable for ladies. - -Great care must be taken to be sure to shoot Devilliers bullets and not -lead bullets, by mistake. - -They are useful for galloping practice on horseback, shooting at an air -balloon fixed to posts, where lead bullets would be dangerous to use. - -The cartridges can be reloaded and used many times. - -When the cartridge has been fired there may be difficulty in removing the -exploded cap. A wire pushed into the cap through the mouth of the -cartridge dislodges the cap, but care must be taken that the cap is an -exploded one. - -These bullets are very apt to ricochet from walls so spectators must take -care. - -A canvas sheet hung loosely behind each shooter is the best stop-butt, as -it gives to the blow of the bullet and stops ricochets. A bullet once -fired is too distorted to use again. - - - - -CHAPTER LIX - -KILLING INJURED ANIMALS - - -Unless in the hands of a very skilful shot the pistol is most unsuitable -for killing injured animals with. - -They will probably be hit many times before a vital spot is struck and so -be horribly tortured. - -This remark applies especially to small animals like cats and dogs. - -The best weapon for this purpose is a 12-bore shotgun loaded with No. 5 -shot but even as small as No. 7 shot is very deadly if fired at a range of -not more than four or five feet off. - -With the shotgun a shot directed behind the ear into the top of the neck -kills instantly. - -The forehead shot is not suitable for a shotgun on large animals as the -strength of skull prevents the shot penetrating, and the animal is only -stunned. - -With a pistol the spot to hit is between the eyes where the hair curls in -the middle of the forehead in horses. - -It is better to hit too high than too low in the forehead shot as a low -shot misses the brain. - -Load both barrels of the shotgun and be ready to fire the second barrel -instantly if the horse does not collapse at once at the first shot. - -The head shot at a few yards off is the place to shoot a cat or dog with -the shotgun but do not attempt to shoot them with a pistol unless you are -a good shot, able to shoot into the ace of hearts at five yards' distance, -aim at the top of the head, or you may break the jaw instead of killing -the animal. - -People have sometimes been wrongly prosecuted and convicted for torturing -a dog when they were trying to kill it instantly and painlessly, but -lacked the skill and nerve. - -When an animal is in pain, especially if it is crying out and struggling, -a man is very apt to lose his nerve and be unable to kill it properly, but -will strike wildly. - -In killing an animal, in order to do it as painlessly as possible, it is -necessary to treat the matter quite calmly and in what looks to be a -cold-blooded manner, and to know the vital spots. - -Decide the exact spot to shoot at, heart or brain, and hit it in that -exact spot and be ready to repeat the shot, if the animal is not instantly -dead. - -With a horse I find it is best to put some hay or grass down in front of -it, and when it puts its head down, with its forehead vertical, it gives a -good chance to shoot. There is no use trying to pull the horse's head into -position and get struggling with it. To shoot a horse, do not use a pistol -of smaller calibre than .44 with full charge. - -If properly done the horse feels no pain. - -If several horses have to be shot, do not let them see each other shot, or -see the dead bodies or smell them. - -A shotgun cannot be used in a crowd, nor for that matter can a pistol. - -As soon as a horse is injured everyone runs up to enjoy the sight and they -crowd round, so great care must be taken not to shoot until the people are -cleared away from the line of fire. - -If possible get the horse into a yard with a high wall round it before -shooting and be sure boys are not perched on the wall. - -I saw a man kill a small dog instantly as soon as it was run over by a -motor car by picking it up and dislocating its neck by stretching, like -wounded hares and rabbits are killed. - -But this requires great skill, knack, and nerve. - -Otherwise not only would the dog be further tortured but he would bite. - -Nobody can understand his fellow creatures or be judged by them. Each -human being from birth to death is absolutely alone, everyone is -misunderstood as to his motives and thoughts, he is as separated from -others, even when in a crowd, as if the Atlantic Ocean were between them. - -He is praised for what does not deserve praise, and blamed for what he is -not guilty of. - -He cannot understand why another finds pleasure in what he himself hates. - -One man likes to get soaking wet crawling all day to shoot a stag, which -another thinks is folly, as a stag already shot, can so much easier and -cheaper be bought at the poulterer's shop. - -I cannot understand the pleasure of sitting up all night playing cards, -smoking and drinking, when it is much more comfortable to be sleeping in -bed; another man thinks cards, drink, and gambling Heaven on earth. - -To give an instance of how one's motives can be misunderstood: - -A poor old worn-out white horse, after struggling on slippery -cobble-stones to pull a cart load of stones, fell and could not get up -again. - -An eager crowd at once collected watching the owner thrashing the horse -over the head and kicking it. - -The horse was struggling desperately to rise and kept falling and groaning -and was bleeding at the mouth where the man was kicking it. - -I rushed up to remonstrate. A man, a stranger to me, called out "I can't -stand this, let us buy the horse between us." - -The owner of the horse made us pay much more than the horse was worth. - -We got a vet. who said the horse was so injured that it must be killed, so -he killed it. - -Next day a paragraph appeared in the local paper. - - Two well-known visitors to our beautiful town performed a very - graceful act yesterday. - - A poor man lost his horse, his faithful dumb friend who had been his - constant help and companion for years. These kind gentlemen took - compassion on the hard lot of this man in his grief and presented him - with a handsome sum to buy himself a new horse. - -The brute made quite a good thing of it, as the paragraph brought him -various sums from sympathisers, and he was able to buy a heavier whip, and -a stronger pair of boots, and a new horse, to thrash and kick. - -Possibly the historian who wrote that Nero fiddled whilst Rome was burning -was mistaken and poor old Nero was doing his best telephoning for the -County Council Motor fire-escapes to come and save the Christians from the -burning houses. - -I misunderstand others. I did not appreciate a man's piety when he refused -to help me rescue a dying horse because it was Sunday. - -The best instrument of all for killing injured horses is what is -obligatory in all Belgian slaughter houses, not only for cattle but for -sheep and pigs. (See Plate 18.) - -It consists of a short pistol barrel of .38 bore with a bell-shaped muzzle -which is applied to the forehead of the animal to be slaughtered. - -A tap with a mallet fires it and the bullet goes through the brain and -spinal column of the neck causing instant death. Its fault is that it may -go off by accident if dropped on its plunger. - -No Belgian race or horse-show can begin till a veterinary is present with -this instrument, to be used in case of accident. - -One can do very little to alleviate the torture of a horse standing with a -broken leg, or lying with a broken back in the London streets, owing to -the regulations. - -[Illustration: PLATE 18. THE GREENER KILLER - -This illustration clearly shows the position in which the Killer should be -placed. It is advisable to have the barrel in a line with the pith, but so -long as the "medulla" is pierced, instantaneous death is assured.] - -Thrice, within a few months, I have stood by a horse for hours unable to -do anything for it, but to put a rug over it as it was shivering so from -the cold (having been injured when in a profuse sweat), and moisten its -mouth. - -I was not allowed to kill the horse, only a licensed slaughterer is -allowed to do that, and then only if the owner can be found, and gives his -consent for the horse to be killed. - -I have since seen one of the principal horse-slaughterers of London and -got his telephone number, and arranged with him to send immediately to any -part of London, at any time of the day or night, if I telephone to him. - -But even then if we cannot communicate with the owner of the horse we will -have to stand doing nothing, possibly for hours, beside the suffering -animal. - -The poor old worn-out, half-starved horses in London are not only worked -to death, but when injured, they are not even allowed to die, without -further torture. - -There is another form of humane killer which I am not able to endorse, -although the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seem -to think highly of it. - -I refer to the instrument which consists of a pistol fixed at right angles -to a pole called, I believe, the Humane Killer. - -The pistol is fired by pulling a wire which runs down the pole to the -hand. - -I consider this instrument very dangerous to use for slaughtering animals -but it would be very useful in trench warfare. - -An ordinary firearm is dangerous enough if it happens to be pointed in the -direction of the spectators. But what will be thought of a pistol which, -when you carefully keep what corresponds to the barrel (_i. e._, the pole) -from pointing at anyone, you find it shoots at right angles to your aim. - -Several of us stood round a man demonstrating the operation of this weapon -when unloaded. I said to him, "You cannot bring that pistol on to the -forehead of that stuffed ox's head without pointing it at one of us during -the process." - -He was not able to do so. Each time he tried one of us called out, "You -are pointing it at me." - -I will explain by analogy the reason of this difficulty. - -Some men, in defiance of the conventions, cut cheese into small cubes, -stick their knife into them and convey the cheese into their mouths, -without cutting their mouths, and acquire great skill by long practice. - -Take a sharp knife-blade, fasten it firmly at right angles to the handle, -and ask an expert cheese eater to cut cubes of cheese and transfer them to -his mouth with this safety (?) knife. He will cut his mouth before he has -eaten half a dozen pieces of cheese. - - - - -CHAPTER LX - -COMPETITIONS - - -The duelling clubs at Gastinne-Renettes' have very practical and -interesting competitions. - -These clubs exist for duelling practice, there is no shooting with -deliberate aim to make highest possible scores, all is conducted on actual -duelling lines. - -The word duel means _single combat_, so all these competitions are -conducted in pairs, the winners again competing in pairs and so on till -finally only one remains, as in cock-fighting. - -Each participant in such a pool, when putting down his name, pays a -nominal sum which goes to provide a medal for the winner. - -In order that each competitor shall compete against each other competitor, -there are printed scoring-cards on the lines of longitude and latitude in -maps, so that by running the finger down the list of names and then at -right angles down the spaces for results, it can instantly be seen when -any particular pair must compete and at which target each will stand. - -Each competitor alternately stands to the right or to the left of whoever -is his opponent. - -Only the pistols supplied by the range are allowed to be used, and these -are given so that each shooter uses each pistol in turn and as all are -purposely varied as to trigger-pull it requires a really good shot to win. -He never knows if he is going to have a light or heavy trigger-pull. - -This is the chief difficulty in these competitions, as also in actual -duels. When a pair of competitors are each facing a separate man target, -the director of the combat gives the word "Attention, feu, un, deux, -trois." - -If they both hit anywhere on the figure, the one who fired first is the -winner of that pair. - -It is usual to have a timer, to decide who fired first. - -The director cannot fulfil both offices effectually. - -After all have fired in pairs, each with each of the other competitors, -the totals are added up and the one who has won the most combats is the -winner of the medal. - -If two or more have an equal score then these again shoot against each -other to decide the winner of the medal. - -It is not good scoring but quick hitting which wins. - -A good hit counts no more than a bad one; a hit in faster time than the -other shot, wins. - -Winners are not the same men who win at deliberate shooting. Target shots -seldom win, it is the lightning quick shot who wins, even if he cannot hit -a smaller target than one eighteen inches broad by five feet high. - -The whole art of this shooting is to be able to keep from missing by more -than three inches either side of your aim, not caring what your -trigger-pull is, or how it varies for each shot. - -As to elevation, that needs no attention; you cannot miss over or under a -five-foot target. - -Bring up at top speed putting all the attention on not jerking to the side -should your trigger-pull happen to be one of the heavy ones; aim slightly -more to the right than the actual centre of the figure to allow for an -occasional pull to the left with an extra heavy trigger-pull. - -It is the very hard pulling pistols which give almost all the misses. - -Men in constant practice in such competitions are in the best training for -a duel or for self-protection. - -With Clubs which use the Devilliers bullet the competitions are conducted -on exactly similar lines, except that the competitors fire at each other -instead of at iron targets. - -Theoretically this is even better practice. It gets a man used to seeing -his adversary actually before him and being able to study his movements -and note if he is active, and try to be a shade the quicker of the two. - -The inaccuracy of the Devilliers bullet as compared to the lead bullet -(with a powder charge) is a great disadvantage. - -You feel that there is an element of fluke in the shooting. You may make a -very good shot and the bullet being too soft or the barrel too hot that -bullet does not take the rifling properly and gives you an unmerited miss. - -Seeing your adversary raise his arm as you do yours and trying to -anticipate his let-off by hitting him before he can hit you, is the great -advantage of the Devilliers bullet as training for a duel. - -In snapping practice with an empty pistol, it is well to practice facing -your reflection in a mirror to get used to the adversary's arm rising. - -When first trying it this necessity to get used to anticipating your -adversary's movements is very apparent, a man who can shoot very quickly -and coolly at an iron target when standing side by side with his opponent -does not see the other man, he is thinking only of time. - -When facing his opponent and shooting at him he watches his opponent's -hand and tries to time him, that, is to say fire just before the moment -his adversary's arm is absolutely level to shoot, just as you time a -pigeon out of a trap for when he is well clear and yet before he can make -his dart. - -A well-known pigeon shot said, "I do not understand all this talk about -easy and difficult birds, all birds are easy if you time them right." - -The same with duelling, if you take your opponent just _before_ he can get -his swing on to you he is properly "timed" and "an easy bird." - - - - -CHAPTER LXI - -POLICE PISTOLS - - -I modelled a statuette of a mounted cowboy and gave it as a challenge -trophy to be shot for with revolvers, open to all citizens of the United -States. - -It was won first by Dr. Louis Bell, then after two others had won it, it -was finally won in 1894 by Roundsman Petty of the New York Police Force, -who twice successfully defended his title to it, and thus it became his -own property. - -Since then the police in several states have regular police competitions. - -I also gave a statuette modelled by myself as a challenge pistol trophy to -the State of Maryland (my native state). - -For years I tried to induce the police authorities of London, England, to -let me give a challenge cup for the police to shoot for, but without -success, till, by perseverance, I, in 1915, induced them to do so. - -In 1917 an automatic pistol won it, till then it was shot for only with -revolvers. - -I am sure the better the police can shoot, the less apt they will be to -draw a pistol unnecessarily; they are confident in their skill; it is the -man who is given a pistol for the first time who looses off and hits the -wrong man. - -I think it is a mistake to arm police with a .38 or .32 pistol instead of -a full-size .44 or .45 military one. A policeman has often to face great -odds and a mob will not, like enemy soldiers in battle, spare him when -down. A mob will kick him to death. It is wrong therefore to give him a -less powerful weapon than a soldier is given. - -I suppose he is given the smaller pistol, as in some countries the police -do not carry a pistol openly as part of their equipment so when they do -carry pistols they have them concealed. - -I think also this concealment is a mistake; if a pistol is carried openly -and the carrier is known to be a good shot, he can keep order without -shooting, whereas a man with no visible pistol may be ill-treated because -he appears unarmed and therefore harmless; and he has to draw in order to -maintain his authority or in self-defence. - -In the case of my Challenge Trophies given in the United States, the -competitions are changed from revolver into automatic pistol competitions -as the revolver is obsolete. - -If a policeman is unarmed, he cannot be expected to keep as cool and have -as good judgment in an emergency when his own life is in danger as he can -be when armed with a good large calibre pistol that he knows how to shoot -to such good effect that he is in no personal danger. - -If, when a riot starts, he can instantly drop a ring-leader each time the -crowd attempts a rush, or break the arm of any man trying to throw a -stone, he can get the mob under control with much less bloodshed than if -they get out of hand with impunity and the military have finally to be -called out. - -A cool deadly shot can keep a big mob at bay. It is when police shoot and -miss that the crowd begin to jeer and lose all fear of the police. - -It is a great mistake to fire over the head of a man to stop him, it only -makes him think you are a bad shot. - -My servant got me out of a very nasty predicament when we were travelling -one pitch dark night through a forest we had never been in before. We were -being led by a guide who we felt sure was taking us in the wrong direction -in order to lead us into an ambush and rob us. We had been walking away -from where the compass told us was our proper direction for hours. - -My servant without a word loaded my rifle and handed it to me. - -The guide immediately turned and in half an hour we were back at our -lodgings. - -He had seen me kill a galloping bear in thick high cover a few hours -before, and he did not like the look of my double-barrel rifle pointing at -his back. - - - - -CHAPTER LXII - -INVENTORS - - -There are several types of inventors of firearms, including those who -invent real improvements, and those who delay invention by making all -sorts of things which are not only useless but are even dangerous. - -Inventors, to do any good work, must be conversant with their subject, -and, if possible, skilled mechanics as well. - -This is the difficulty when shooting experts, who are not gunmakers, try -to invent anything. - -The shooter knows what is necessary, often far better than the gunmaker. - -The shooter has to use the firearm, and often finds details in them, which -are very beautiful perhaps, from a mechanical point of view, but which are -very awkward or even impossible from the practical shooting point of view. -A noisy bolt action for example. - -The shooter knows what he wants but cannot put it into practical shape; -the gunmaker, if he is not a shooting man as well, does not know of this -want. - -The best way out of the difficulty is for the shooter to collaborate with -the skilled mechanic and then between them they can evolve something -really useful. This is the way most improvements are evolved, the shooter -constantly testing the invention and pointing out its _faults_ to the -gunmaker who alters till the thing works well. - -If an expert mechanic (even if he is a gunmaker), who is not a shooting -man tries to invent a firearm improvement by himself, and he finds it -works in the workshop, he thinks that is all that is necessary, and the -invention is a failure as no shooting man will use it. - -The expert shot who is unmechanical, cannot put his ideas into practical -shape, and if he does not go to a gunmaker and ask his help, the invention -never takes shape; in this way some invaluable inventions never see the -light, for want of a little mechanical knowledge. - -But there is a third type of inventor, who is absolutely hopeless and the -despair of any shooting man he shows his invention to. - -This is the man who knows nothing about shooting but he has his own ideas -as to how shooting is done, and is too conceited ever to try to learn -anything. - -He is the type of man who says "Oh, we will muddle through." - -Such a man has a vague idea that, as he himself cannot shoot, therefore -his own individual difficulties if he tried to handle a firearm are the -difficulties which all shooting experts labour under. - -He does not know that an expert laughs at the difficulties of a beginner, -which never trouble a man when he has become expert. - -As well might a man the first time he is put on a horse imagine that, -because he has to fly up and down off the saddle at each movement of a -cantering horse, that the expert also has to take care not to fall off. - -The expert can sit on a cantering horse without the least lifting from the -saddle, whereas the beginner flops up and down. - -In the same way the expert shot has passed the stage which the inexpert -inventor tries to invent against. - -A horseman would not buy a saddle with straps to tie down the rider, -invented by a man who did not ride. - -The non-rider thinks such things absolutely necessary to keep from falling -off, the expert horseman not only knows such things are unnecessary, but -would be a danger in case the horse fell, as the rider could not fall -clear. - -In the same way inventors of firearms, if they are not shooting men, -invent dangerous things for overcoming dangers which do not exist except -in their own imaginations. - -This would not matter so much if they would listen to experts but they -refuse to learn, and actually try to instruct experts. - -I had a man come in recently to show me a terribly dangerous pistol he had -invented. - -He was pointing it about in all sorts of dangerous directions and finally -put the muzzle against his own body whilst he tried to cock it. - -I suggested to him he had better first see if it was loaded. - -He smiled at me in a pitying superior way, but opened the breech and took -out a loaded cartridge. - -"Why it is loaded," he casually remarked, re-inserting the cartridge and -beginning again to fumble with the lock, whilst he held the muzzle against -his body. - -I said, "Don't you know you can _kill_ yourself if it goes off,"--"that is -the great beauty of my invention," he informed me radiant with delight, "I -have made this thing," pushing the trigger with his left thumb, "so that -it only moves at a pressure of fourteen pounds so it is quite safe." - -These know-alls work up through all the steps man has gone through in -perfecting firearms, instead of taking up the work from the highest it has -come to. - -Most likely the first inventor of firearms found he shot people -accidentally when "pulling at this thing" (as my friend the inventor -called the trigger), then discovered by experience that, however heavy the -trigger-pull is made, it is sure to kill somebody accidentally if pulled -hard enough, and finally came to the conclusion that it is safer to have a -light trigger-pull if the muzzle is not pointed in a dangerous direction, -than to have a half-ton trigger-pull and keep the muzzle pointed against -one's body. - -[Illustration: PLATE 19. WINANS' REVOLVER FRONT SIGHTS] - -In the matter of sights an optician, even if ignorant of firearms, may be -able to give a valuable hint to an inventor, but this usually applies to -sights for accurate aiming at distant stationary objects; for a pistol it -is more often expert shooting knowledge which is useful in designing -sights. - -It was my combination of sculptor and shooter which gave me the idea of my -front sight, any one not a sculptor would not be apt to stumble on the -idea of undercutting the sight so as to give a deep shadow below and so -make the top stand out light against a dark lower portion. (See Plate 19.) - -In the same way some entirely distinct branch of learning may be of use to -the inventor of firearms; but in all cases, this must be subservient to -practical shooting knowledge; the man who tries to force his ideas onto a -shooter, against the shooter's expert knowledge, makes a mistake. - -The highest authority can always learn something new from an expert; but -the man ignorant of a subject who tries to teach an expert merely exposes -his ignorance, like a politician who tells a general how to conduct a -campaign. - - - - -CHAPTER LXIII - -SIMPLIFICATION - - -It is human nature to keep on in the same old groove, to try to avoid -change, even if that change is for the better. This habit is owing to it -being so much easier not to have to think for oneself but merely to do as -you see others do. - -But following convention is not progress. - -Convention is the deadly enemy of progress. Simplification is the twin -sister of progress. All improvements are the result of simplification, not -of elaboration. - -The public when they see some very elaborate invention say "how clever," -but the really clever inventor is the one who can make a simple apparatus -do the work that formerly could be done only by a much more complicated -apparatus, or even took several apparatuses to accomplish. - -The Universe appears to consist of endless variety, but the more it is -studied (whatever else remains a mystery), this one fact becomes plainer -and plainer. - -Everything acts in unison. - -The Universe is One Perfect Whole. - -The Universe can, even with our limited knowledge, be reduced to a few -simple elements, governed by a few simple "laws." - -It is, from a solar system, to a sub-microscopical organism, subject to -the same "laws" and working as one whole. - -Probably, it will be ultimately discovered that there is only one "Law" -and one Element in the Universe. - -All has to obey this "Law," there is no such thing as "luck," "chance," or -destruction. All has always existed through incessant permutation; and -will exist, from all eternity, through all eternity. - -The ancients, and the modern Mahometans knew this. The ancients called it -_Fate_, the Moslems call it _Kismet_. If a man tries to make an automatic -pistol contrary to the Laws of Nature, it naturally will not operate -properly, he loses his temper, says it is just his luck, but he reasons -wrongly. - -If he studies the laws of mechanics, which are one form of the Law of -Nature, and complies with them, his pistol will act properly; if not and -he is ignorant of the laws of mechanics, his pistol will not act properly; -it is not his "hard luck" but simply that he is trying vainly to work -against Nature, and Fate holds him in a steel grip. - -If he obeys the Laws of Nature, which are another name for Fate, he can go -on like a train following its rails, but he can no more make a pistol -constructed on wrong principle function properly than he can stop the sun -in its course. - -Simplification is the goal to be striven for in pistol shooting as it is -in sculpture. - -I saw two men, as I was writing the above, mowing a field. - -One, an elderly man, was working in the conventional manner, cutting short -deep swaths with a half blunt scythe set at the wrong angle to the handle, -working in a cramped position. - -The other, a young man, was examining his scythe. - -He altered the blade at an acuter angle to the handle and gave it a twist -sideways so that the cutting edge should lie horizontal when in use. - -Then he sharpened the blade as carefully as he would strop a razor. - -Putting himself into a firm position so that he could swing from the hips -as an athlete about to throw the discus would, he made long clean sweeps -with his scythe, taking a short depth, but this with a clean cut, and the -cut grass thrown clear to the side, his return being only just clear of -the grass, like a good sculler feathering. - -At the least sign of bad cutting, he re-sharpened the scythe. - -Although I know nothing of mowing, I could see at once that this was an -artist and a workman at his job, and one who used his brains and took a -pride in doing good work. - -I asked if he was not the champion mower of the district. I was answered -"not at all--he is only the carpenter." - -This is the sort of man who invents. - -He diagnoses faults and thinks out how to correct them. He did not, like -the other man who had been mowing all his life, work as his father and -grandfather had done, because it was the conventional manner. He thought -out for himself and improved by simplification. - -It is evident that the cut should come on gradually, not jump into a thick -bunch of grass all at once, so he set the blade at an angle which made its -entry into the grass deeper progressively, and so on with all the rest. - -The inventor who knows his business, when he has made something to -accomplish its object, does not rest there. This is only the "blocking -out" as we sculptors call it. - -Then he begins to simplify. - -Anything not absolutely necessary is eliminated; he sees if some member -cannot be dispensed with by making another fulfil two or even more -functions. - -This is how Nature works, many organs have several functions; the function -of our tongues is not only speech but to help swallowing, to judge if what -we put into our mouths is too hot or too cold to swallow, if it is fit for -food, or corrosive, etc. - -The automatic pistol is still capable of great improvement. - -All the recoil is not made use of, some is wasted and diverts the aim by -jumping the pistol about. - -The noise of the discharge is an evil, it ought to be made to do work, not -deafen. - -To invent a sound-deadener to put on the pistol is working on wrong lines; -it is not simplification but it is complication. - -Instead of first making a noise and then inventing something to destroy -that noise, why not avoid making that noise? - -The idea that ugliness does not matter is also a fallacy. - -I was objecting to a pistol a man was shooting (and of which he asked my -opinion), on the ground that it was so ugly. "What has ugliness to do with -a pistol?" he said. "In my opinion, everything," I answered. - -Nothing correct mechanically is ugly, that is the Law of Nature. - -The early, impractical, automatic pistols were extremely ugly; the best at -present, the U. S. Army Colt, has graceful lines, and the perfect one will -be beautiful. - -The essence of architecture is beauty in utility. - -Look at a first class hand made gun built by an Artist; it has the -graceful lines of a classical piece of sculpture. - -An automatic pistol should be as simple as possible, the simpler the less -likely to go wrong. - -The supposed antagonism between Art and Mechanics, between Science and -Religion are imaginary. - -If we simplify Art to its essential essence and perfection as the Ancient -Greeks did--what do we find? - -Sculpture is proportion and the essential planes. - -What else is mechanics? - -Science reduces all to the ONE UNIVERSAL FIRST CAUSE, and this is also the -foundation of all religion. - -In pistol shooting, all resolves itself into aligning the pistol and -discharging the bullet. - -The shortest distance from one point to another is the straight line. - -Therefore do not "flourish" or "brandish" the pistol up and down before -discharging it. - -Merely bring it to alignment and discharge it in so doing. - -Time is wasted if the trigger is pressed after alignment. Therefore begin -pressing the trigger as the pistol is coming to the level. - -This is the whole art of pistol shooting. - -The way to advance any art, however humble, is for each to help the other -with his experience. - -Nothing is so inimical to success as convention. - -All progress is made on the lines of pruning off all not absolutely -essential, in other words by simplification. - - - - -APPENDIX A - - -I think it advisable to give the following World's Records made by myself -with revolvers and black powder as they are now unbeatable, the weapons -and cartridges being obsolete. - -They stand in the same category as the "high wheel" trotting records. - -If there were similar records, diagrams, and details of scores made with -sling, long bow, crossbow, Persian bow, American Indian bow, blow pipe, -javelin, matchlock, wheellock, etc., available, of what inestimable value -they would be to the historian and archeologist. - -Instead, for want of such records, all knowledge of the capabilities of -these weapons is vague and legendary. - -Under each diagram I give all details. Most of diagrams are the actual -size and all have the position of each bullet-hole accurately shown. - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 1. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Stationary, 20 yards, 10 shots, South London Rifle Club, May 21, 1889; .45 -Colt Cavalry Revolver, Military sights, Eley ammunition. Black powder. -(Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 2. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Stationary, 20 yards, 11 shots, South London Rifle Club, August 21, 1888; -.44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C. gallery ammunition. Black powder. -(Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 3. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Nine shots at 20 yards, North London Rifle Club, May 5, 1897. Black -powder; .44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, gallery ammunition.] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 4. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Twelve shots at 20 yards, at the North London Rifle Club, Sept. 4, 1895. -Black powder; .44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, gallery ammunition.] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 5. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Nine shots at 20 yards, at South London Rifle Club, Sept. 22, 1892. Colt -.45 Target Revolver. English "Mark I" regulation ammunition. Black -powder.] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 6. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Ten shots at 20 yards, at South London Rifle Club, July 3, 1888; Smith & -Wesson .32 break-down model. Black powder.] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 7. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS -DISAPPEARING TARGET. - -"Military" target, Wimbledon, 1888; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver. Eley's -ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 8. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS -DISAPPEARING TARGET. - -North London Rifle Club, May 29, 1895; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. -C. ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 9. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS -DISAPPEARING TARGET. - -"Any" Revolver, Bisley, 1896; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C. -ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 10. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. SIX SHOTS IN 12 -SECONDS. - -"Any" Revolver, Bisley, 1895. Rapid firing; .44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, -U. M. C. gallery ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 11. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE FOR MILITARY -REVOLVER AND SIGHTS. - -Bisley, 1895. Six shots in 12 seconds at 20 yards; .45 Smith & Wesson -Revolver, U. M. C. ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 12. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS -RAPID-FIRING TARGET. - -Bisley, 1895. .45 Smith & Wesson Military Revolver, Winans sights. U. M. -C. smokeless ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 13. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR 3-INCH -BULL'S-EYE TRAVERSING TARGET, 20 YARDS. - -Wimbledon, 1888; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, Eley ammunition. Black -powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 14. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR 2-INCH -BULL'S-EYE TRAVERSING TARGET, 20 YARDS. - -Bisley, 1896. .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C. ammunition. Black -powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 15. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE ADVANCING TARGET. - -"Any" Revolver, Bisley, 1896; .44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C. -gallery ammunition. Black powder. Target advanced from 50 yards to 20 -yards. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 16. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE FIFTY YARDS -TARGET. - -Bisley, 1894. Twelve consecutive shots: Six with .44 Smith & Wesson -Revolver, six with .38 Smith & Wesson Revolver. Smith & Wesson -self-lubricating bullet. Black powder. (Half size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 17. TWELVE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SCORES MADE BY THE -AUTHOR IN REVOLVER COMPETITIONS AT 20 YARDS IN 1895. - -English regulation mark ammunition. Black powder. The diameter of the -original bull's-eye is 2 inches.] - - - - -APPENDIX B - -THE LAW RELATING TO REVOLVERS AND REVOLVER SHOOTING IN GREAT BRITAIN AND -IRELAND - - -It is perhaps advisable to explain something about the right of carrying -revolvers in England, and the using them in cases of necessity, and first -it should be explained that a revolver is a gun so far as the Gun License -Act of 1870 (33 and 34 Vict. c. 57) is concerned, and that a license fee -of 10/ per annum has to be paid for the privilege of carrying or using -one, though a license to kill game includes the lesser gun license. In -fact it has ever been held that a small toy pocket pistol is a firearm for -the purpose of the Act. There are various exceptions to the necessity of -taking out this license, and it may be as well to enumerate them, -especially as many people keep revolvers in their houses and would be -astonished if they thought that a gun license was necessary for the so -doing--but it is not, so long as the revolver is kept or used in a -dwelling house, or the curtilage of a dwelling house. This is one of the -exceptions to the Act, and a very proper and necessary exception it is, -for it would be most unreasonable to enact that the mere keeping a -revolver for the purposes of protection should compel one to take out an -annual license. Moreover the enforcement of such a restriction would be -almost impossible without an inquisitorial search through every house. -Probably because there is very little reason for carrying a revolver about -with one in this country the exception does not apply to the so doing, and -the mere taking a revolver across the street would technically compel the -taking out a license. The curtilage of a house is much the same as its -courtyard, and would no doubt include a yard and garden adjoining the -house, but not a field beyond. - -Further exceptions are that no penalty is to be incurred by any person in -the naval, military, or volunteer service, or in the constabulary or other -police force, but it should be noted that this exception applies only -where the person claiming it is in the performance of a duty or in target -practice, so that the policeman or volunteer off duty would still be -subject to the obligation of having a license. - -Another exception is that of any one carrying a firearm belonging to a -person having a license or certificate to kill game or having a gun -license, if he is carrying it by order of, or for the use of, such -licensed or certificated person, only he is bound to give his name and -address and the name and address of his employer if called upon. - -The occupier of lands using or carrying a firearm for the purpose only of -scaring birds or killing vermin on such lands is exempt too, as also any -one using or carrying a firearm for the same purpose on any lands by order -of the occupier, if the latter has a game license or certificate, or a gun -license. Again, a gunsmith or his servant carrying a firearm in the -ordinary course of trade, or testing it in a special place, need not have -a license. - -Lastly, a common carrier carrying a revolver in the ordinary course of -business is exempt. - -To show how strict the law is, it may be added that the killing of vermin, -which, as above mentioned, is allowed without a license does not include -rabbits. - -As the penalty is £10 for carrying firearms without a license, I have -thought it advisable to enlarge somewhat fully on the above topic. - -There are also various penalties and punishments which may be imposed upon -persons misbehaving while in the possession of loaded firearms, or -wantonly discharging them. Thus any one who is in possession of a loaded -firearm and is found to be drunk, may be apprehended, and is liable to a -penalty not exceeding 40/, or, in the discretion of the Court, to -imprisonment with or without hard labour for not more than one month. - -Then, any person who in the streets of a town wantonly discharges any -firearm to the obstruction, annoyance, or danger of the residents or -passengers, is liable to a penalty not exceeding 40/ for each offence, or, -in the discretion of the justices, to imprisonment for not more than -fourteen days (no hard labour). - -It is hardly necessary to say that the wrongful use of a revolver as an -offensive weapon is very heavily punished, it being provided that any one -who shoots at a person or attempts, by drawing a trigger or in any other -manner, to discharge any kind of loaded arms at a person with intent to -commit murder, is guilty of felony and liable to penal servitude for life, -or any less term, or to imprisonment for not more than two years with or -without hard labour and solitary confinement. - -Again, any one who unlawfully and maliciously wounds, or causes any -grievous bodily harm to any person, or who shoots at any person, or who by -drawing a trigger or in any other manner attempts to discharge any kind of -loaded arms at a person, with intent in any of these cases to maim, -disfigure, or disable any person, or to do some other grievous bodily harm -to any person, or with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension -or detainer of any person, is liable to penal servitude for life or for -not less than three years or to imprisonment for not more than two years -with or without hard labour and solitary confinement. "Loaded arms" are -defined as "any gun, pistol, or other arms which shall be loaded in the -barrel with gunpowder or any other explosive substance, and ball, shot, -slug, or other destructive material, although the attempt to discharge the -same may fail for want of proper priming, or from any other cause." -Finally, any one who unlawfully and maliciously wounds or inflicts any -grievous bodily harm upon any person with or without any weapon or -instrument, is liable to penal servitude for three years, or to -imprisonment for not more than two years with or without hard labour. The -words "unlawfully and maliciously" are difficult to construe, and -therefore it may be well to state that a man who fired in the direction of -a punt, in order to deter the occupant from fowling in a particular -locality, and wounded him in so doing, was convicted of malicious -wounding; and generally that if a wound were to be caused mischievously -and without excuse the person who inflicted it would probably be found -guilty under this enactment. - -So much for the strict offences caused by the improperly carrying or -making use of revolvers. Before, however, leaving this subject it will be -advisable to enter at a little length into the rights which any one has -of using a revolver in self-defence, or in some other analogous manner. -Supposing a man has passed through the ordeal of the Gun License Act and -is properly and legally carrying a loaded revolver, in what cases of -emergency would he be justified in using it? Well, this is a very -difficult question to answer, and one which in each event would depend -entirely on the circumstances of the particular case. It is therefore -impossible for me to lay down any exact principles governing every event -of the kind which might happen, and I will content myself with stating a -few hypothetical instances and what course of conduct might be adopted in -each instance. - -There is no doubt on this point, anyhow,--that one is justified in using a -loaded revolver in self-defence, where an attack of such a murderous -character is made as to threaten one's own existence, or the infliction of -serious bodily harm; and, if the assailant should be killed, yet the using -of the revolver and so disposing of him would be deemed as having been -justifiable. The same rule would apply to shooting an assassin who was -attempting to kill someone else. For instance, if while standing on a -railway platform I were to see a man shooting at someone in a railway -carriage, and at such distance that I could not actively interfere except -by shooting, I should be right in firing at the assailant, and though my -shot should prove fatal, still no blame could be attached to me. - -How far one is justified in using a revolver in beating off or capturing -burglars in one's house is, as already mentioned, a matter which can only -be decided by the facts of the particular case. Assuredly where a man is -awakened in the night by the noise of burglars breaking into or already -in his house, and seizes his revolver and confronts the robbers, he would -be justified in firing if the robbers threatened to attack him, and it is -assumed that he would also be right in firing at a robber making off with -booty who refused to stop when challenged to do so, if there were no -reasonable chance of arresting him in any other way; though in the latter -event he should endeavour so to shoot as to cripple rather than kill. -Indeed it may be said, extraordinary though the statement may seem, that -even in the hurry and skurry of a conflict with burglars the mind should -remain calm and collected, so as to judge whether a mortal shot is -required, rather than one which will only "wing" the opponent. - -In connection with this branch of the subject, the justification of a -fatal shot may to some extent depend upon whether the robber was himself -armed. If he were, then the killing him would be more easily justifiable -than if he were unarmed. This is somewhat instanced by the law regarding -an assault and battery in self-defence, which is that where there is an -assault the person resisting must show that his assault committed in -self-defence was not more violent than he in good faith believed to be -necessary and committed on reasonable grounds, so that it would not be -right to inflict a heavy beating on a person who had only committed a -slight assault upon one. So when all danger is past and a man strikes a -blow not necessary for his defence, he commits an unjustifiable assault -and battery,--and this principle would apply to the preventing of crimes, -so that though one might be acting correctly in firing at and killing a -man who was murderously assaulting a third person, yet, after the assault -had been committed, it might be wrong to kill the murderer if he were -only discovered when running away, unless that was the only means of -arresting him. - -Another point which has sometimes exercised the minds of those in the -habit of carrying revolvers is whether they are justified in using such a -weapon to put an end to pain on the part of dumb animals where recovery is -almost impossible. It may be said generally that no one can with safety -interfere in such cases, even with the most benevolent intentions, so that -if a horse, dog, or other animal has been so injured as to be suffering -extreme agony, yet it would not be legal to put the poor creature out of -its misery, unless with the consent of the owner. - -The exception has been made by the Injured Animals Act, 1894, but that -only empowers a constable to kill a horse, mule, or ass which is so -severely injured that it cannot be led away, when the owner is absent or -refuses to consent to its destruction, after a certificate has been -obtained from a certified veterinary surgeon that the animal is mortally -injured or so severely that it is cruel to keep it alive. - -The exception that has been introduced by the Act of Parliament passed in -1894 and called "The Injured Animals Act, 1894," provides for the -slaughter, without the owner's consent, of horses, mules, or asses, in -cases of injury so serious as to make it cruel to keep them alive. It does -not apply to animals other than those enumerated above, and is hedged -round with such restrictions as to render it of little avail. These in -brief are as follows: A constable must find the animal so severely injured -that it cannot without cruelty be led away, the owner must be absent or -refuse to consent to the destruction of the animal, and the constable -must obtain the certificate of a veterinary surgeon that the animal is -mortally injured, or so severely that it is cruel to keep it alive. After -doing all this the constable may kill the animal. - -The foregoing statements as to the law are not exhaustive, but they are -made with the intention of helping the revolver-carrying section of the -public to know what they may be responsible for and on what occasions or -emergency they may safely use their weapons. To make sure that no legal -error has crept in, these statements have been submitted to Mr. C. -Willoughby Williams, of No. 1 Brick Court, Temple, Barrister at Law, who -is of opinion that the law as set out is correct. - -It will be seen, from what is said above, that if a gun or a game license -is obtained, it is not illegal to carry a loaded revolver, so that if any -one had to go along a lonely road, or had received a threatening letter -which had alarmed him, he would be quite in his right in taking about with -him a loaded revolver. It would even be quite right for any one to carry -about a loaded revolver in his pocket merely as a protection in case he -should be unexpectedly attacked, but any one carrying about with him such -an article should be prepared to use it only in cases of great emergency, -and should keep a clear head on his shoulders. - -Another example of the advantages of carrying a revolver would be if one -were attacked by a mad dog. In such a case, if the dog attacked in a -ferocious manner, it would be permissible to shoot the dog, but it would -not be allowable to shoot a dog on the supposition that he was mad, unless -he was attacking one; though, of course, if there were no doubt about the -dog's being mad, then, for the sake of others, it would be wise to shoot -him. - -Again, if while carrying a revolver any one were passed by a runaway -horse, and such horse were about to run over a child, it might be -permissible to shoot the horse in order to save the child, if one were too -far off to catch hold of the animal. These, however, are all matters of -degree, and what would be right and proper to do in one case might in a -case almost similar be quite wrong. - - * * * * * - -NOTE.--Since the first edition of this book was issued, the Pistols Act of -1903 has come into force. This Act stops the sale, by retail or by -auction, or the letting on hire, of any pistol (which would include a -revolver), unless the purchaser has a gun or game license, or is entitled -to use or carry a gun without such license, or unless the purchaser shows -that he purposes to use the pistol only in his own house or the curtilage -thereof, or that he is about to proceed abroad for a period of not less -than six months. The Act also prevents the sale or hiring out of a pistol -to a person under the age of 18 years, and places a very heavy penalty on -any one knowingly selling a pistol to a person who is intoxicated or not -of sound mind. - - - - -APPENDIX C - -THE LAW OF CARRYING WEAPONS IN THE UNITED STATES - - -The statutes of the various States upon the subject of carrying weapons -are substantially similar, the main differences relating to the persons -exempted from their operation, and to the manner of carrying the weapon, -some making it an offence to carry the weapon at all, whether concealed or -not; others prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons only. - -These statutes have been held to be police regulations, and not to -conflict with the constitutional right of the people to keep and bear -arms. - -Weapons are considered to be concealed, within the intent of the statutes, -when they cannot be readily seen by ordinary observation. - -In some of the States, as in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Missouri, the -carrying of "deadly" or "dangerous" weapons is prohibited. Most of the -States, however, specify the weapons prohibited. Such weapons as pistols, -dirks, butchers' or bowie knives, stilettos, daggers, swords, brass -knuckles, razors, slugs, etc., are usually specified in nearly all of the -statutes. - -Officers of the law are usually exempted from the operation of the -statutes. The officers must, however, be duly appointed, and in the -discharge of their duties at the time of carrying the weapons. - -Persons who are threatened with bodily harm or who have reasonable grounds -to apprehend danger or attack, are usually justified in carrying concealed -weapons. It is not every idle threat, however, which would justify one in -carrying concealed weapons. The threat must be such as to cause a -reasonable apprehension of danger. Examples of this exemption are found in -the statutes of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, Maryland, and West -Virginia. - -Persons on their own premises are frequently exempted from the operation -of the statutes. This is so in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas. - -Some of the statutes exempt persons who are travelling. This is so in -Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas. - -The burden of proving exemption rests usually upon the accused. This has -been expressly decided in Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, -Montana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. In Michigan, however, it -has been held that the prosecution must prove that the defendant does not -fall within one of the exemptions. - - - - -INDEX - - - A - - Accidents, 10; - from loaded weapons, 21, 160; - how to prevent, 26, 33, 58; - on the stage, 282, 291 - - Africa, shooting in, 261 - - Alcohol, danger from use of, 4, 95, 140, 145 - - Allowance, 93, 243 - - Ammunition, 44, 251, 262; - blank, 282; - Eley, 334, 340, 346; - U. M. C., 335, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 347 - - Animals, killing wounded, 305 - - _Art of Revolver Shooting, The_, quoted, iii., 17, 81, 135, 191, 297; - changes made in, 25 - - "Au Commandemant," shooting, 227 - - Author, duelling championship of, 61; - running deer championship of, 87; - snap shooting score of, 106; - member of London Royal Academy, 159; - author's trotting horses, 210; - Sika deer shot by the, 271; - gold medals won by, 275; - trophies modelled by the, 317; - sights designed by the, 324; - world's record scores by the, 333-350 - - Automatic pistol, accuracy of the, 1; - the Colt regulation, 2, 45, 80, 84, 133, 200, 212, 231, 233; - dangerous to handle, 3, 46, 129; - sole weapon in the U. S., 17; - how to hold the, 21, 286; - inventors of the, 22; - danger from recoil, 59; - the civilian, 84; - the police, 84; - the Savage, 84; - the Smith & Wesson, 84; - the German military, 84; - recoil of the, 59, 84, 96, 97; - shooting with the, 97, 113; - the safety bolt of the, 99; - powerful cartridge of the, 109, 251; - the U. S. army, 109; - description of the, 113, 118; - faults of the, 125; - the Colt new safety, 128; - cleaning and care of the, 152; - military automatics, 231, 248; - proper ammunition for, 251; - the Mauser, 252; - use on horseback, 258 - - Automatic gallery pistols, 260; - the Winans model, 263; - .22 long barrel Colt, 265; - .22 target Colt, 296; - capable of improvement, 329; - graceful lines of the Colt, 330 - - - B - - Balance, 50, 80 - - Balderston, John Lloyd, quoted, vi. - - Barrel, length of, 48 - - Bavaria, alcohol tests in, 147 - - Bear, shooting, 261 - - Bell, Dr. Louis, 317 - - Big game shooting, 23, 213, 250; - in England, 154 - - Bisley, shooting at, 16, 94, 156, 209, 342, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349 - - Boar, shooting wild, 228, 250, 261 - - Brains, shooting requires, 163 - - "Brandishing and Flourishing," 3, 29, 59, 282, 330 - - Breech, the, 118 - - Bridge, playing at, 55, 140 - - Brookhart, Major S. W., quoted, 148 - - Bulleted caps, 50, 51, 52, 56 - - Bullets, soft lead, 72; - drop of, 247; - Devilliers, 300, 315 - - Burglars, frightening, 28; - shooting at, 214 - - Butt, the, 55 - - Byron, Lord, quoted, 34, 188 - - - C - - Carpentier, 188 - - Cartridges, obsolete types of, 45; - the proper, 97; - ejection of, 130; - cordite used in, 262; - duelling pistol, 264 - - Chantry Bequest, the, 159 - - Clay pigeons, shooting at, 73, 90 - - Cleaning, 27, 127, 152 - - Clip, cartridges in a, 120 - - Clubs, shooting, 75 - - Cocking, trials at, 42, 241 - - Colds, danger from, 218, 228 - - Colt, the regulation .45, 80, 84, 133, 200, 212, 231, 233; - the civilian, 84; - the police, 84; - new safety, 128; - the Derringer, 203; - .25 cal. automatic, 205; - .22 long-barrelled automatic, 265; - .22 target automatic, 296; - graceful lines of the, 330 - - Competitions, the way they are conducted, 9, 78, 266, 313; - entering for, 43; - Gastinne-Renette, 73, 313; - mounted pistol, 256; - duelling, 303; - police, 317 - - Condy's fluid for colouring, 278 - - Cordite, cartridges of, 262 - - Crane, R. Newton, quoted, 192 - - Cuirass, a bullet-proof, 2 - - - D - - _Daily Mail_, letter to the, 151 - - _Daily Mirror_, the, quoted, 191 - - Deer-stalking, 71, 157, 260 - - Derringer, the Colt, 203, 252 - - Devilliers bullet, the, 300, 315 - - Devonshire, red deer in, 154 - - Disconnector, the, 128, 238 - - Distance, judging, 243 - - _Don Juan_ quoted, 34, 188 - - Dress, 207 - - Drinking, harm done by, 4, 95, 140, 145 - - Duelling, practised on the Continent, 16; - position to stand in, 78; - distance in, 108, 182, 274; - question of, 171; - remarks on, 176, 180, 185, 189; - swords used in, 177; - penalties for, 184; - laws on, 192; - preparations for, 194; - competitions in, 313 - - Duelling pistols, 16, 47; - the Flobert, 49; - the Gastinne-Renette, 50, 123, 263, 274; - the regulation French, 52, 62, 182; - author's championship with, 61; - balance of, 80; - sights on, 234, 264; - recoil of, 239; - .44 used for rabbit stalking, 249; - cartridges for the, 264; - Sika stag shot with a, 271; - use of Devilliers bullet in the, 300 - - - E - - Ears, guarding the, 5, 215; - Elliott's Protector for the, 217, 219 - - Ejection of cartridges, 130 - - Elliott, J. A. R., Ear Protector, 217, 219 - - England, revolver in use in, 17, 231; - shooting in, 154; - duelling in, 191; - open air ranges in, 227, 266; - law regarding firearms in, 360 - - English National Rifle Assn., 16, 156 - - Euclid quoted, 3 - - Exhibition shooting, 135, 291, 297 - - Eyes, protecting the, 215 - - Eyesight, 222 - - - F - - Falling bullets, danger from, 10 - - Faults, correcting, 165 - - Fencing, 59 - - _Field_, the, quoted, vi. - - _Flanneled Fools_, 6 - - Flobert pistol, the, 36, 49 - - Francis, W., chauffeur, 234 - - Furlong, Dr. W. V., letter from, 151 - - - G - - Game shooting, 249; - rifle used in, 260, 287 - - Games, pistol shooting and, 13 - - Gastinne-Renette, duelling pistols by, 50, 123, 182, 263; - gallery of, 54, 267, 270; - competitions, 37, 313; - prizes, 73, 137, 170, 271, 273; - Ira Paine at gallery of, 137; - targets used by, 167 - - Gieve, Mathews & Seagrove, 217 - - Goggles, use of, 302 - - Golf, compared with shooting, 5, 55, 266; - time wasted at, 6; - temper shown at, 140 - - Grande Medaille d'Or, 73, 137, 170, 271 - - Greener Killer, the, 310 - - Grip, how to, 80, 84, 285 - - - H - - Hammer head attachment, 84 - - Hammer, positions of the, 33 - - Hammerless pistols, 43 - - High School of Riding, 254 - - Horse pistols, balance of the, 80 - - Horseback, shooting from, 253 - - Horsemanship, 254, 258 - - Horses, docking, 24; - runaway, 288 - - Horsley, Sir Victor, quoted, 147 - - How to hold the automatic, 21 - - Humane Killer, the, 311 - - - I - - Inventors of firearms, 123, 320 - - Irving, Sir Henry, 144 - - - J - - Jambing, 69, 84, 127, 153, 232 - - Jellicoe, Admiral, quoted, 146 - - - K - - Killers, the Greener, 310; - the Humane, 311 - - Kipling, R., quoted, 6 - - Kraeplin, report of Prof., 147 - - - L - - Landseer, Sir Edwin, 158 - - Languages, learning, 18 - - Law, relating to revolver shooting in Great Britain and Ireland, 351; - relating to carrying weapons in the United States, 360 - - Le Pistolet Club, 70 - - Lee-Metford, the, 24 - - Learning to shoot, 53 - - Literature, shooting in, 280 - - Lodge, Sir Oliver, quoted, 150 - - London Royal Academy, the, 159 - - Long-range shooting, 108 - - Long-sighted shooters, 20 - - - M - - Magazine, the, 97 - - Maryland, trophy given by the author to the State of, 317 - - Matador, 255 - - Mauser automatic pistol, 252 - - Metronome, the, 103, 272 - - Military rifles, trigger-pull of, 41; - pistol sights, 63; - sights of, 156 - - Moufflon shooting, 252 - - Muzzle-heavy weapons, 50, 69 - - - N - - National Rifle Association, 95 - - Near-sighted shooters, 20, 85, 222 - - North London Rifle Club, 336, 337, 341 - - - O - - Ogilvy, Captain, quoted, 136 - - Olympic Games, the, 72, 77, 87, 148, 255 - - _Outdoor Life_, the, 244 - - - P - - Paine, Chevalier Ira, 70, 136, 188, 275 - - Paris, shooting galleries in, 54 - - Pennell, Cholmondely, 208 - - Petty, roundsman, 317 - - Pigeon shooting, 40 - - Pistol shooting, unpopularity of, 13; - the way to learn, 25 - - Pistols, duelling, 16, 17, 49, 50, 52, 62, 80, 123, 182, 239, 249, 263, - 264; - single-shot, 20, 31, 41; - American, 51; - the .22, 77; - shot used in, 73; - how to hold, 80, 286; - the Colt regulation .45, 80, 84, 133, 200, 212, 231, 233; - the civilian, 84; - the police, 84; - the Savage, 84; - the Smith & Wesson, 84; - the German military, 84; - rifle stocks for, 85; - the U. S. Army, 109; - description of, 113; - vest pocket models, 203; - military automatic, 231, 248 - - Police pistols, 49, 317 - - Position, the correct, 58, 92 - - Powder, use of black, 17 - - Practice, value of, 60, 61 - - Prizes, the Grande Médaille d'Or, 73, 137, 170, 271; - given for shooting roebuck, 157; - the King's Prize, 209; - at Gastinne-Renette's, 271, 273, 314 - - Purchasing an automatic, advice on, 125, 127 - - - R - - Rabbit stalking, 249 - - Rain, shooting in the, 226 - - Range, choice of a, 55, 266; - the indoor, 268; - the open-air, 276 - - Rapid firing, 100 - - Recoil, 51; - of automatic, 59, 84, 96, 120, 126, 239, 330; - of rifle, 261 - - _Referee_, the, quoted, 190 - - Revolver, the, 1; - no longer used, 56, 242, 318, 333; - the .32 pocket, 239; - world's records with the, 333; - .45 Colt cavalry, 334; - .44 Smith & Wesson, 335, 343, 348, 349; - .45 Smith & Wesson, 340, 341, 342, 344, 345, 346, 347; - the .38 Smith & Wesson, 349 - - Ricochets, danger of, 279, 304 - - Riding, benefit from, 7; - expert, 322 - - Rifle, right kind of, 23; - pistol compared with, 111; - the military automatic, 119, 125; - shooting clubs, 158; - in game shooting, 260; - modern improved, 261; - the .44 Winchester, 262; - the .22 automatic Winchester, 265; - author's record at shooting the, 275 - - Roebuck, shooting the, 157, 246 - - Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 311 - - Running deer, the, 93, 95, 125, 156 - - Running shots, 86, 92 - - - S - - Safety bolt, the, 98, 133, 238 - - Savage, the, 84 - - Savory & Moore, 217 - - Scotland, shooting in, 154, 198 - - Seer, damage to the, 42 - - Self-defence, shooting for, 132, 212; - pistols for, 200, 206 - - Shooting galleries, 9; - the unpopular, 14, 53, 64, 225, 267; - the Gastinne-Renette, 54, 267, 270; - pistols for, 263; - the ideal, 268 - - Shooting, the instinct of, 8; - unpopularity of pistol, 15; - big game, 23; - exhibition, 135; - brains required in, 163; - dress, 207; - use of spectacles, 215; - near-sighted, 20, 85, 222; - from horseback, 253; - trick, 135, 291 - - Shot, the No. 7, 74, 305; - the No. 8, 201; - the No. 10, 294; - the No. 5, 305 - - Shot gun, trigger-pull of the, 40; - shooting with the, 90; - as sporting firearm, 155 - - Sights, hind, 20, 21; - the U back, 56; - the black front, 56, 155, 232; - the white bead, 57, 232; - learning about, 62; - French duelling, 63; - the telescope, 250; - Winans' front, 324 - - Simplification, 326 - - Single-shot pistols, bad shots from, 20; - how to handle the, 31, 41; - American, 51; - shot from, 73; - description of the, 113; - cleaning the, 152; - .22 used in United States, 249 - - Smith & Wesson, the, 84; - hammerless safety, 98; - Ira Paine's, 188; - Russian model, 202, 285; - the .44, 335, 343, 348; - the .45, 340, 341, 342, 344, 345, 346, 347; - the .38, 349 - - Smoking, harm done by, 4, 95, 140, 142, 145 - - Snap-shooting, 104, 197, 236, 258 - - Somersetshire, red deer in, 154 - - South London Rifle Club, 334, 335, 338, 339 - - Sport, meaning of, 7 - - Spoons given as prizes, 13 - - "Sports," worship of, 7 - - Squeeze, the, 99 - - St. Francis of Assisi, 172 - - St. George, cross of, 234 - - St. George Pistol Club, 270 - - Stock, shape of, 285 - - Stockholm, games at, 72, 77 - - Swing shooting, 88, 258 - - - T - - Targets, moving, 16; - rapid-firing, 16, 345; - disappearing, 16, 340, 341, 342; - stationary, 17, 86, 276, 334, 335; - shooting at, 29; - the man, 48, 71, 75, 77, 93, 132; - construction of, 56; - instruction regarding, 71, 268; - animal, 73; - mechanical stag, 75; - French duelling, 77; - the running deer, 93, 95, 125, 156; - painters of, 157; - the perfect, 166; - the Gastinne-Renette, 167, 274; - military, 340; - traversing, 346, 347; - advancing, 348 - - Temper, control of, 139 - - Tennis, shooting compared with, 5 - - Timing, 19, 88, 316; - apparatus for, 102 - - Tobacco, danger from use of, 4, 95, 140, 142, 145 - - Trajectory, flat, 23 - - Trick shooting, 291 - - Trigger-pull, 38; - for pistol, 48, 65, 188, 241, 314 - - Trophies, challenge, 17 - - Trotting, records, "high wheel," 17, 333; - horses, 210 - - - U - - Union Society of London, 189 - - United States, automatic pistol in the, 17; - revolver and rifle teams in the, 148; - laws on duelling, 192; - .22 single-shot pistol used in, 249; - law regarding firearms in the, 360 - - Unload, how to, 129 - - - V - - "Vanoc" quoted, 190 - - Vise, shooting from a, 57 - - - W - - Waistcoat, leather, 208, 229 - - Walking, steps taken in, 245 - - Weight, pistol, 46, 49, 116, 240 - - Williams, Lord Justice Vaughan, quoted, 189 - - Wimbledon, shooting at, 156, 158, 340, 346 - - Winans, model automatic, 263; - front sights, 324, 345 - - Winans, Ross, 120 - - Winchester, the .44 rifle, 262, 294; - the .22 automatic rifle, 265, 298 - - Wind, shooting in the, 226 - - World's record scores, 333 - - - Z - - Zeiss glasses, 223 - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Modern Pistol and How to Shoot It, by -Walter Winans - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MODERN PISTOL, HOW TO SHOOT IT *** - -***** This file should be named 41610-8.txt or 41610-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/6/1/41610/ - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: The Modern Pistol and How to Shoot It - -Author: Walter Winans - -Release Date: December 12, 2012 [EBook #41610] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MODERN PISTOL, HOW TO SHOOT IT *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive.) - - - - - - - - - -By WALTER WINANS - - -The Art of Revolver Shooting. - - Royal 8vo. New Edition, Revised and Enlarged. - Fully Illustrated _net_, $5.00 - -The Sporting Rifle. - - Royal 8vo. Fully Illustrated _net_, $5.00 - -Automatic Pistol Shooting. - - 16mo. Illustrated _net_, $1.00 - -Practical Rifle Shooting. - - 16mo. Illustrated _net_, 50 cents - -Shooting for Ladies. - - 12mo. 50 cents - -Animal Sculpture. - - Crown 8vo. Illustrated _net_, $1.75 - - - G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS - NEW YORK LONDON - - - - -[Illustration: THE AUTHOR - -Photo by London Stereoscopic Co.] - - - - - The Modern Pistol - - And How to Shoot It - - - By Walter Winans - - Commander of the Royal Spanish Order of Isabel la Catolica; Commander - of the Royal Roumanian Order of the Crown; Officer of the Royal - Roumanian Order of the Star; Chevalier of the Russian Order of St. - Stanislaus; The Royal Swedish Medal of the Olympic Games; World's - Championship Gold Medallist, Olympic Games, London, 1908, for Double - Rifle Shooting; Vice-President of the National Rifle Association of - Great Britain; Life Member, National Rifle Association of the United - States of America; Life Member of the United States Revolver - Association; Member of the Association of American International - Riflemen; Revolver Champion for five years of the National Rifle - Association of Great Britain; Ten years Revolver Champion of the North - London Rifle Club; Seven years Revolver Champion of the South London - Rifle Club; Member of Le Pistolet Club, Paris, etc., etc. - - _With Forty-six Illustrations_ - - G. P. Putnam's Sons - New York and London - The Knickerbocker Press - 1919 - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1919 - BY - WALTER WINANS - - The Knickerbocker Press, New York - - - - -PREFACE - - -My first book on pistol shooting (_The Art of Revolver Shooting_) was -published in 1900. Up to that date there existed no book which contained -instruction on pistol shooting, though several books had appeared -describing the different makes of pistols. - -Since that date several books have appeared--some very good ones, by -various revolver experts. Unfortunately (as always happens when something -original appears), others who were not revolver shots took to writing -books on the same subject, largely made up of unacknowledged extracts from -my books. Not understanding their subject, they distorted my teaching, and -so any one trying to learn pistol shooting from them gets hopelessly -confused. - -I therefore give this warning; do not follow the advice of any but an -acknowledged expert in pistol shooting, as books by hack writers, made up -of extracts from other writers, and illustrations from gunmakers' -catalogues, are not to be taken seriously. - -Moreover, the revolver is now obsolete, and there is no use learning to -shoot it. - -My object in writing this book is to give instruction in the modern -substitute for the revolver. That is to say, the automatic pistol, and -incidentally, to instruct in the single shot or duelling pistol. - -For those who wish to study revolver shooting, I would refer them to my -book _The Art of Revolver Shooting_. - -The present work might be called volume ii. of _The Art of Revolver -Shooting_, as it instructs in the form of pistol shooting which has now -taken the place of revolver shooting. - -Though the revolver is now obsolete, my _Art of Revolver Shooting_ is of -interest, as giving details of out-of-date firearms, and the -best-on-record scores made with them. - -These records will be of the greatest importance for future generations. - -There are now no records extant of scores made with the long bow, the -cross-bow, and the various stone-hurling slings and balistae. All -concerning them is legendary. - -If we depended only on newspaper articles for what was possible in -revolver shooting, we should get legends similar to those of obsolete -arms. - -I was credited with making a World's Record with a revolver at five -hundred yards by a reporter when it should have been fifty yards. He -merely added a nought to the figures. - -As all records are important for historical purposes, and for comparison -with future scores, I give as an appendix in this book those revolver -records which cannot now be beaten, the revolvers and cartridges being now -no longer made. - -It is curious how, even up to the outbreak of the Great War, people did -not understand that shooting was more important than playing games, or -that shooting had to be learned. - -I recently read a "trench anecdote" which relates that a man who had never -fired a shot before he was conscripted was shot in the back, and whilst -dying, "seized his rifle and dropped an enemy who was running past 200 -yards off." - -To do this would require a first-class trained rifle shot who specialized -in shooting at moving objects, and even he, with his back broken, could -not swing, which is the essence of successful shooting at moving objects. - -Another writer, a lieutenant, wrote during the war to one of the daily -papers, advising the purchase of a revolver to be deferred till actually -starting for the Front! - -I have had several men on leave bring me revolvers and automatic pistols, -asking me to test them, as they could not hit anything with them at the -Front. - -With one of these pistols I made the highest possible score at thirty -yards; with another I made ten out of twelve bulls at twenty yards. None -of the pistols was wrong. It was the men's lack of skill. - -Just before the war, several rifle ranges in England were closed, because -they interfered with golf players. - -It is to be hoped that after this war, men will spend their spare time in -learning rifle and pistol shooting instead of wasting it in games, and -will not close rifle ranges because they interfere with their golf links. - -The fallacy that games are the best training for military service is -exposed by a very interesting article in the _Field_ newspaper. - -I maintain that no man who has not the instinct to shoot ingrained in him, -will shoot when under intense excitement and danger. If he is a player of -games he will not shoot, but throw things at his adversary, or use his -rifle as a pike or club. - -Mr. John Lloyd Balderston, writing to the _Field_ newspaper of September -29, 1917, says: - - "An officer showed me his charges going through a mimic - attack--_firing rifle volleys instead of hurling bombs or going in - with the bayonet_; in these attacks reliance was placed too much on - the bayonet and bomb--now we have realized that when the enemy runs - away and you run after him he is likely to get away. Accordingly we - teach the men not to rush wildly along with the sole idea of - bayoneting, but to stop and pump some bullets after him." - -WALTER WINANS. - - January 1, 1919, - 17 AVENUE DE TERONEREN, - BRUXELLES, BELGIQUE. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - PREFACE iii - - CHAPTER - - I.--INTRODUCTION 1 - - II.--SPORT VERSUS SPORTS 6 - - III.--WHY PISTOL SHOOTING IS UNPOPULAR 13 - - IV.--THE WRONG WAY TO LEARN 16 - - V.--PRELIMINARY INFORMATION 20 - - VI.--HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS 26 - - VII.--HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS (_Continued_) 33 - - VIII.--TRIGGER-PULL 38 - - IX.--AMMUNITION 44 - - X.--FIRST LESSONS 46 - - XI.--LEARNING TO SHOOT 53 - - XII.--SIGHTS 62 - - XIII.--TARGETS 71 - - XIV.--PRACTICAL TARGETS 77 - - XV.--HOW TO HOLD THE PISTOL 80 - - XVI.--RUNNING SHOTS 86 - - XVII.--RUNNING SHOTS (_Continued_) 92 - - XVIII.--SHOOTING AN AUTOMATIC PISTOL 97 - - XIX.--TIMING APPARATUS 102 - - XX.--SNAP SHOOTING 104 - - XXI.--LONG RANGE SHOOTING 108 - - XXII.--THE AUTOMATIC PISTOL 113 - - XXIII.--THE MECHANISM OF THE AUTOMATIC PISTOL 118 - - XXIV.--PECULIARITIES AND FAULTS OF AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 125 - - XXV.--FINAL PRACTICE 132 - - XXVI.--EXHIBITION SHOOTING 135 - - XXVII.--CONTROL OF TEMPER 139 - - XXVIII.--THE EFFECT OF ALCOHOL AND NICOTINE ON SHOOTING 145 - - XXIX.--CLEANING AND CARE OF THE PISTOL 152 - - XXX.--PRACTICAL PISTOL SHOOTING 154 - - XXXI.--DANGER OF LEAVING PISTOLS ABOUT 160 - - XXXII.--USING ONE'S BRAINS IN SHOOTING 163 - - XXXIII.--THE PERFECT TARGET 166 - - XXXIV.--IS DUELLING WRONG? 171 - - XXXV.--REMARKS ON DUELLING 176 - - XXXVI.--REMARKS ON DUELLING (_Continued_) 180 - - XXXVII.--DETAILS AS TO DUELLING 185 - - XXXVIII.--OUGHT DUELLING TO BE ABOLISHED? 189 - - XXXIX.--HOW TO PREPARE A NOVICE IN HALF AN HOUR FOR A DUEL 194 - - XL.--PISTOLS FOR SELF-DEFENCE 200 - - XLI.--DRESS 207 - - XLII.--SELF-DEFENCE 212 - - XLIII.--PROTECTING THE EYES AND EARS 215 - - XLIV.--EYESIGHT 222 - - XLV.--THE WEATHER AND SHOOTING 226 - - XLVI.--MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 231 - - XLVII.--RECOIL 239 - - XLVIII.--JUDGING DISTANCE 243 - - XLIX.--GAME SHOOTING 249 - - L.--SHOOTING FROM HORSEBACK 253 - - LI.--GALLERY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 260 - - LII.--SHOOTING GALLERY 266 - - LIII.--THE GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY 270 - - LIV.--OPEN AIR RANGES 276 - - LV.--SHOOTING IN LITERATURE 280 - - LVI.--GRIP 285 - - LVII.--TRICK SHOOTING 291 - - LVIII.--THE DEVILLIERS BULLET 300 - - LIX.--KILLING INJURED ANIMALS 305 - - LX.--COMPETITIONS 313 - - LXI.--POLICE PISTOLS 317 - - LXII.--INVENTORS 320 - - LXIII.--SIMPLIFICATION 326 - - APPENDIX A 333 - - APPENDIX B. THE LAW RELATING TO REVOLVERS AND REVOLVER SHOOTING - IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND 351 - - APPENDIX C. THE LAW OF CARRYING WEAPONS IN THE UNITED STATES 360 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - PAGE - - THE AUTHOR _Frontispiece_ - - BREECH-LOADING PISTOLS 47 - - AUTHOR'S WINNING SCORE FOR GASTINNE-RENETTE COMPETITION, - APRIL 7, 1910 49 - - COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, POCKET MODEL, CALIBRE .32 52 - - COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL .22 TARGET MODEL 54 - - COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, MILITARY MODEL, CALIBRE .38 70 - - COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, MILITARY MODEL, CALIBRE .45 70 - - HOW TO HOLD THE DUELLING PISTOL (1) 82 - - HOW TO HOLD THE DUELLING PISTOL WITH SPUR (2) 83 - - COLT NEW SAFETY DISCONNECTOR AUTOMATIC PISTOL, .25 129 - - THE GASTINNE-RENETTE 16 METRES TARGET 168 - - ORNAMENTAL DUELLING PISTOLS BY GASTINNE-RENETTE 181 - - PISTOLS BY GASTINNE-RENETTE 183 - - COLT DERRINGER 203 - - COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL .25 205 - - UNITED STATES ARMY REGULATION .45 COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL 233 - - UNITED STATES ARMY REGULATION .45 COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL. - SECTIONAL VIEW 237 - - GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY 271 - - GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY--FIRING POINTS 273 - - SHIELD ON DUELLING PISTOL WITH GUARD FOR DEVILLIERS BULLET 301 - - THE GREENER KILLER 310 - - WINANS' REVOLVER FRONT SIGHTS 324 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 334 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 335 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 336 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 337 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 338 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE 339 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS DISAPPEARING TARGET 340 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS DISAPPEARING TARGET 341 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS DISAPPEARING TARGET 342 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. SIX SHOTS IN 12 SECONDS 343 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR MILITARY REVOLVER AND SIGHTS 344 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS RAPID-FIRING TARGET 345 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR 3-INCH BULL'S-EYE TRAVERSING - TARGET, 20 YARDS 346 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR 2-INCH BULL'S-EYE TRAVERSING - TARGET, 20 YARDS 347 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE ADVANCING TARGET 348 - - AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE FIFTY YARDS TARGET 349 - - TWELVE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SCORES MADE BY THE AUTHOR IN REVOLVER - COMPETITIONS AT 20 YARDS IN 1895 350 - - - - -The Modern Pistol and How to Shoot it - - - - -CHAPTER I - -INTRODUCTION - - -There is now no use learning revolver shooting. That form of pistol is -obsolete except in the few instances where it survives for target -shooting, or is carried for self-defence; just as flintlock muskets even -now survive in out-of-the-way parts of the world. - -If a man tries to defend himself with a revolver against another armed -with an automatic pistol he is at a great disadvantage. - -The automatic is more accurate than a revolver, as the "blow-back" does -not vary as much as does the escape of gas past the cylinder in a -revolver. - -The bullet in the revolver has to jump into the cylinder, whereas in the -automatic it is already fitted up against the rifling, before being -fired. - -The single-shot pistol is the most accurate of any, there being no escape -of gas. - -The automatic has not only a much longer range than the revolver (although -the popular idea that it can be shot accurately at a thousand yards or -more is nonsense) but it cocks itself instead of having to be cocked by -the thumb, or trigger finger. - -Cocking by trigger-pull is such a strain on, not only the trigger finger, -but the whole hand, that, after a few shots, good shooting cannot be made. - -I won all my rapid-firing revolver competitions using the single action -and cocking with the thumb, as this rested my trigger finger. - -With the automatic, cocking is unnecessary and, with its lighter recoil, -good scores in rapid-firing are very much easier to make. - -The penetration of the nickel-coated automatic bullet propelled by its big -charge of nitro powder is very great. - -A man brought me a "pistol-proof" cuirass to test; I put a bullet at -twelve yards clean through it and then through two "bullet proof" ones, -placed one behind the other. (I used a regulation U. S. .45 Automatic -pistol.) - -This was before the war. The inventor was disappointed. He had -experimented only with revolvers shooting soft leaden bullets and these -his cuirass had stopped. - -Unfortunately, in its present comparatively imperfect development, the -automatic is the most dangerous firearm of all pistols for a novice to -handle. - -The long barrel of a rifle can be struck aside if a beginner swings it -round and points it at the instructor or a nearby spectator, but the short -barrel of a pistol is easily pointed at and with difficulty brushed aside -by the unfortunate person standing near a "brandishing" and "flourishing" -man who is learning to shoot. - -In spite of all warnings even those who ought to know better do this -swinging about. In fact, it is the recognized way of handling a pistol; -according to reporters, they always say So and So "was brandishing a -pistol" if he happens to be armed. - -You can test the truth of the above remark by asking any one to show how -he would shoot a pistol. - -He will raise his hand above his head and then jerk it down. It is very -difficult to get any one to understand the danger and the futility of -doing this. - -Euclid tells us the shortest way from one point to another is a straight -line. Why then, in order to get the muzzle of your pistol on an object, -move it towards the stars first? - -_Never let the muzzle of any firearm, either loaded or unloaded, point in -the direction where it would do harm unintentionally if discharged._ - -I, once only, in all my experience, found a beginner who did _not_ do -this, and the beginner was a lady! - -After a few shots with a duelling pistol the wind blew the target down, -the pistol was loaded and at full-cock in her hands. I had seen enough of -how she handled a pistol, to know she had grasped the necessity of never -pointing where there is danger. - -The target blew down as she was beginning to aim at it; she raised the -muzzle vertically and put the pistol at half-cock, I at the same moment -going forward to put the target back in place. - -With any other beginner I would have taken the pistol with me when I went -up to the target. - -Smoking is one of the greatest enemies to good shooting, even more so than -alcohol. - -A drinking man may, for a time, shoot well, till his nerves are destroyed, -but smoking, long before it kills, makes a man unable to shoot well. He -has too much twitch in his muscles. - -It is curious how heavy smokers deceive themselves, and think it does them -no harm. - -At a dinner, a man told me that smoking could not possibly interfere with -a man's shooting. - -He said: "I can lift a tumbler full of water without spilling a drop." - -There were plenty of tumblers and a decanter before him, but he took very -good care not to demonstrate his contention. - -I looked for his hands; he had one carefully out of sight, behind him; the -other, with the eternal cigarette between the fingers, he was pressing -tightly to his waistcoat, but not tightly enough to prevent my seeing -that his hand was trembling as if with the palsy. - -Then, he added, to clinch his argument: - - It is all nonsense to pretend that smokers cannot stop smoking if they - want to; I stopped for a whole week and the only thing was that I did - not sleep and had no appetite; it was not worth it, so I began smoking - again. - -This is an extreme case, but all smoking, from the first whiff, is -cumulative poison, deteriorating the nerves. - -If a man gives up smoking and takes to pistol shooting in the open air, he -will find his nerves enormously strengthened and, as long as he guards his -ears from the concussion (which I will deal with later), his health much -improved. - -For elderly men also there is not the strain on the heart as in golf or -tennis. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -SPORT VERSUS SPORTS - - -When I wrote my book on revolver shooting, in 1900, I caused indignation -amongst many, by saying that the time wasted over games would be better -employed in learning to shoot. - -I was told that, although pistol shooting might be amusing, it was "such a -waste of time and of no practical use," and this by men who waste most of -their time over golf! - -Later, the Kipling poem on _Flanneled Fools and Muddied Oafs_ came out, -and there was an outcry as if one of the dogmas of the church had been -assailed. - -If games are so good for the health, why does one see so many young men -with round backs and contracted chests, and heads poking forward, in -England? - -Until the war is forgotten, shooting men will be considered as making -better use of their time than players of games, and the latter will not -consider themselves superior to all others, and, figuratively speaking, -carve footballs on the tombs of their heroes (as the feet were crossed on -the tombs of crusaders) to indicate the greatest deed of the deceased. - -A great deal of this worship of "Sports" is the confusion, owing to the -similarity of the sound and spelling, between "_sport_" and "_sports_." - -"_Sport_" is the backbone of all manhood. It is the hunting instinct -inherent in all healthy, normal males; it means the cultivation of skill -in shooting and horsemanship, and men proficient in it are ready to rise -in the defence of their country. - -This is what "_sport_" means. Now, however, the term "_sportsman_" is -employed to mean a man who has never fired a shot or swung his leg over a -horse, but one who is merely a kicker or hitter of balls, or worse, one -who sits sucking at a cigarette watching others playing games. The things -he indulges in are called "_sports_," and it is "_sports_" which, before -the war, were considered to overshadow all else, and were taught at -schools and colleges. - -A feeble old man, past active participation in "_sport_" can be, of -course, excused if he keeps himself in health by playing golf, but a -healthy young man should shoot or ride. - -The general public, not knowing the training necessary before a man can -either shoot or ride, imagines that there is no necessity to learn either. - -They think that the moment a man puts on a military uniform he can ride in -a cavalry charge, break wild horses, or hit a man a thousand yards off -with either pistol or rifle. - -Besides the absence of skill in shooting, there is not in such men the -_instinct_ to shoot. - -A shooting man has in him the instinct of shooting, so innate that he aims -and presses the trigger as instinctively as he lifts his foot when -stepping off the road on to the curb. - -He does not have to think at all. - -If he is crossing a field in which there is a savage bull, when carrying a -gun, rifle, or pistol, his only anxiety is not to be compelled to shoot. -It might get him into trouble with the farmer. Any danger to himself from -the bull he knows does not exist. - -A man who knows nothing about shooting, even if given a loaded pistol, -gun, or rifle, before crossing the field, would be more afraid of the -firearm going off than of the bull, and, if attacked, would club the gun -or rifle to hit the bull with, or would throw the pistol at it. - -Painters of battle pictures depict soldiers using their rifles as clubs or -pikes, not as shooting with them. - -As an artist myself, I know one excuse for this. - -You need a model who is a shooting man, to pose correctly for a soldier -shooting. Such a model is expensive, but you can get any one to pose as a -man clubbing with the butt end of his rifle. - -When I say that every able-bodied man should know how to shoot, and that -it is a disgrace if a man cannot both shoot and ride, I am answered: -"Shooting is a gift, I could not learn to shoot if I tried all my life." -This is nonsense. A man may be more apt for it, which generally means -that he has a liking for it; and this enables him to learn to shoot sooner -and to become a better shot. But any normal man, and with even moderately -good sight, can learn to shoot well enough to make of himself a very -dangerous opponent. - -It is the way shooting competitions are conducted (as I will explain -later), which makes shooting so uninteresting to the average man. - -It is to him like having to take a black draught of medicine. - -I confess the usual shooting gallery has the same effect on me; I always -pass by on the other side when I see the notice "SHOOTING GALLERY." - -The constant paragraphs in the papers announcing a "did not know it was -loaded" accident bear testimony to how ignorant the public are of even the -elementary knowledge (I will not say common sense), not to point a firearm -at another in play. - -The public think that a bullet goes only where the shooter wants it to go, -"You pull the trigger and the bullet does the rest" sort of idea. - -They believe the bullet goes direct of itself to that object and stops -there, when the trigger is pulled. They have no idea that the bullet may -miss that object and hit someone beyond. - -People will stand in the direct line of fire to watch a wounded buck in a -park being shot, and are indignant if asked to move to one side. - -They think it is absolutely safe to fire into the air, even in a crowded -city. They do not think that the falling bullet may do any injury. - -As there is only slight danger from falling shot, this fosters the idea. -They do not know the difference between a shotgun or rifle. Both are -"sporting rifles" to them and a military rifle is a "gun." - -A man does not put a razor to the throat of another in play, but he thinks -it "humour" to take up a firearm, point it at another and pull the -trigger. - -The extraordinary thing is that if the "did not know it was loaded" man -were taken to a range and asked to hit a target, he would miss it every -shot, but he never misses his victim when he is playing at the game of "I -did not know it was loaded." He kills his victim every time. - -The reason is that the fool takes very good care to go up to within a few -inches of his victim before killing him with his "I did not know it was -loaded" joke. - -Some people have no sense of humour. - -They handle horses in the same way, but, fortunately, animals make -allowance for ignorance in human beings but a firearm makes no such -allowance. Therefore there are fewer accidents to human beings from horses -than from firearms, in proportion to the silly things the humans do. - -A dog will allow a small child to poke its fingers in its eyes. If a grown -person attempted it he would get bitten, but a pistol makes no such -distinction. - -I was being shown round a remount depot where the horses were picketed out -with a hind leg tethered to a peg, when a sour-looking, underbred -artillery horse, began kicking at his neighbour. - -The horse kicked himself free and trotted off to the corner of the field, -where he stood, sulkily, with his ears laid back, a piece of rope wedged -between his near hind shoe and the foot. - -A man was ordered to bring the horse back. He was wearing a pince-nez of -very near sighted type. - -Now what he ought to have done was to first catch the horse, taking care -not to get kicked whilst doing so, then to hold up a fore leg (so that the -horse could not kick), whilst someone else removed the bit of rope from -the hind shoe, standing to one side. - -Instead, he walked up straight behind the horse. When he got within a few -yards of him, to my intense horror, he went down on his hands and knees -and began crawling towards the horse's hind legs. - -The horse had been laying back his ears and showing the whites of his eyes -and measuring the distance for a kick at the man. - -This manoeuvre on the man's part, however, so surprised the horse that he -stood quite still, looking at the man enquiringly. - -The man crawled up close to the horse's heels, took out his pocket knife -and, putting his nose within a few inches of the horse's near hind foot, -quietly sawed away at the piece of rope with his blunt pocket knife and -jerked the ends out from between the shoe and hoof. The horse stood like -an angel all the time. - -The man to this day has not the least idea he ran any risk or performed an -act worthy of the V. C. - -The horse evidently thought such a fool was not worth kicking. There is no -fun kicking a man who is not frightened. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -WHY PISTOL SHOOTING IS UNPOPULAR - - -Games, or "_sports_" as they are called, would not be popular if they were -conducted on the same lines that pistol shooting usually is. - -Pistol shooting is made as dull and uninteresting as possible, and then -surprise is expressed that hardly any one takes a pistol in his hand, -except when compelled to do so, and that shooting galleries do not pay. - -Small white squares of cardboard, a minute black spot in the middle of -each, are put up at various distances. You are told to aim at this spot. -If you hit it it counts so much, if you miss it, the further from it you -perforate the paper, the less points you score. - -When you have fired a certain number of shots, the total is added up and -you go on again. - -Occasionally, you have the mild excitement of being allowed to do this in -competition, and a "spoon" is given you if you make top score, paid for -out of your own money less a percentage which the gallery keeps. - -Your skill does not avail you long, as the next time you shoot, by -however many points you have won, by that number of points you are -handicapped, so it is possible that if you get _very_ proficient, you can -have the pleasure, when making all bull's-eyes, of being beaten by a man -who has not made a single bull's-eye, and beats you by handicap, and the -list of spoon winners appears in the papers with his name on top and yours -at the bottom, and people say, "How badly X shoots." - -This is not very encouraging to X or conducive to a desire to gain -proficiency. - -However bad a shot you are, you have an equal chance of winning this -spoon. - -Even the possibility of gaining a spoon applies to only a few shooting -clubs. The shooting galleries in black cellars, do not give prizes. You -are supposed to be fully compensated, after being deafened by a man with a -full charge revolver or automatic pistol blazing away into the darkness -beside you, by paying for your targets, ammunition, and hire of a greasy -revolver with a trigger-pull hard enough to break your finger and a report -like a cannon, whilst you strain your eyes to see a black front sight in -the darkness. - -There is no sport, or comfort, in all this. Under such circumstances -nobody can be blamed if he gives up pistol shooting in disgust. - -I shall describe later, how a gallery should be built (see Plates 15 and -16), or an open range planned and conducted, but I here merely indicate -why pistol shooting in England is deservedly unpopular as at present -conducted. - -There should be no handicapping. Being able to shoot well should be an -incentive, not a handicap. - -Next, there should be the excitement and amusement of a game. - -Who would go to look at a game conducted under the following conditions? - -Sit in a room with all the lights out, with a faint glimmer at the far -end. - -Hear incessant, deafening noises. - -Nothing else but noise for an hour or two, except occasionally a pause -whilst the black spot in the distance disappears and then reappears. - -Finally a man reading from a piece of paper announces: - - X 40 points, First. - Y 39 points, Second. - Z 38 points, Third. - -Then you go home. - -Some drudgery in learning has to be gone through with, but it should be in -a good light out-of-doors, and this drudgery is only while learning. It -should not be continued all through a man's shooting career, and be -considered "pistol shooting." - -As I will show, shooting can be made intensely interesting to both -spectators and participants. - -The present style of shooting competitions leads many sportsmen to say: "I -love shooting, but I hate target shooting." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -THE WRONG WAY TO LEARN - - -Pistol practice varies in different countries. - -As duelling is still general on the Continent, practice with the pistol is -conducted differently to that customary in the United States or England. - -On the Continent most men of the upper classes have at least a rudimentary -acquaintance with the foil and duelling pistol, but in the -English-speaking nations a man has rarely ever handled or even seen a -duelling pistol, or the few who have done pistol shooting have never shot -except at a stationary bull's-eye target. - -At the English National Rifle Association at Bisley, the attempt was made -to induce men to practise at moving, rapid-firing, and disappearing -targets, as well as advancing and retiring ones, but these had reluctantly -one by one to be given up, owing to there being so few men who cared to -shoot in such competitions. - -In the days when I used to compete regularly at Bisley, I do not think -there were more than half a dozen of us who competed at the sliding -target, and even fewer at the rapid-firing one. - -We, in those days, used revolvers and black powder, which made such -shooting very difficult owing to the smoke obscuring the target. - -I give at the end of this book the best targets, full size, made in these -competitions which will now remain permanently the best on record, as the -revolver and ammunition are no longer made. They will rank with the "High -Wheel" trotting records as "Hors Concours." - -Any one who wishes to compete in revolver-shooting competitions in England -must modify my teaching in the preceding chapters, and refer to my _Art of -Revolver Shooting_ for details of competition. - -The duelling pistol is not used in England, but there are many revolvers -still in use there; England is the last country to use the revolver in the -army, and is the last refuge of the revolver, just as Yellowstone Park is -the last refuge of the buffalo. - -For competition in England, practising will have to be done with a -revolver, not an automatic pistol, and a deliberate aim taken at a black -bull's-eye on a white target. - -In the United States, the automatic pistol is the sole weapon now. Several -Challenge Trophies, which I modelled and presented to various -associations, have had to have their conditions altered to "automatic -pistols" from "revolvers," and as the automatic inevitably tends to rapid -shooting, the days of stationary target shooting are numbered. - -Many people defend shooting at a stationary target, on the plea that one -must learn one's alphabet before learning to read. - -This is correct _as far as it goes_, but they carefully omit to add that -after a boy has learned his alphabet, he goes on to reading, and writing. -He does not merely repeat his alphabet all his life. - -Just the same argument is used by those who say that blundering through -Greek and Latin, with the help of a dictionary, teaches modern languages; -that these latter are "so easy after a grounding in Latin and Greek." - -If it is so easy why do they not learn modern languages. They cannot speak -a word of any language but their own, and even the few sentences of Latin -and Greek they can parrot-like repeat, no foreigner can understand, as -they pronounce them with the English vowel sounds. For the same reason -they mispronounce all foreign names. - -A Russian who cannot speak French and German as well as his own language -is considered entirely uneducated. - -A man may be a crack shot at a stationary target and yet be absolutely -useless with his pistol in case of having to use it in a hurry at anything -in motion. - -If you want to learn something, learn it, do not learn another thing, so -as to be prepared to learn something else later on, _if_ you care to. - -If you want to eat a peach do not first drink ten plates of soup, and eat -a leg of mutton, or you may not have the time or desire to eat the peach. - -If you want to learn practical pistol shooting, learn it, do not waste -time learning unpractical shooting. - -You not only waste your _time_, but you spoil your "_timing_," which is -the great thing in pistol shooting, and also your sense of direction. You -get into the habit of putting up your pistol and then searching for the -bull's-eye, instead of having it all come by instinct, like putting your -spoon into your mouth. - -I can tell a man who is not a practical shot, by the way he first finds -his sights, and then hunts round for the target with them. If it were a -live target, it would have made itself scarce while he was searching for -his sights. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -PRELIMINARY INFORMATION - - -In revolver shooting there was the danger of making a bad shot through a -badly fitted or dirty cylinder not turning quite into place, and causing a -shaving of lead to be taken off the bullet as it passed into the barrel. - -I was once trying a new pattern revolver, and made a very bad shot, -although I knew I had let-off well. I opened the revolver, and a thin -shred of lead fell out, showing the bullet had been deformed as it entered -the barrel. - -A bad shot from such a cause cannot happen to an automatic or a -single-shot pistol. - -A near-sighted man is at more disadvantage in pistol shooting than in -rifle shooting. - -With a rifle the hind sight can be fixed to the barrel nearer, or further -from the eye until it is at just the right distance to suit the shooter. - -The pistol must be held at the full stretch of the arm, or else one will -get a blow on the nose, and will not be able to hold steadily. - -A long-sighted man can continue pistol shooting without having to wear -glasses long after he has to use them for reading. - -A near-sighted man finds the hind sight too far for him to see it clearly, -and then makes the fatal mistake of shooting with a bent arm. - -This not only prevents accurate shooting, but he is very apt to get the -hind sight into his eye from the recoil of a kicking automatic. - -The arm should be held straight and extended to full stretch, so as to -point the pistol by sense of direction, just as a well-fitting shotgun -stock enables the shooter to aim without consciously paying any attention -to the sights. - -Use the pistol exactly as you would use a shotgun. It is this want of -knowledge of shotgun shooting which makes men shoot a pistol as if it were -a rifle being used at a stationary target. - -These men only understand lying down with a rifle, and poking about with -the sights to find the target after they have put the rifle to their -shoulder. Some have a lot of incantations first; they aim at the sky, -bring the rifle down slowly, and then make a bull's-eye on the wrong -target as they naturally cannot know which is theirs of a string of -targets, if they only fish about looking through a pin hole for it; they -know nothing of the possibilities of a rifle or pistol, unless they are -shotgun shooters as well. - -The public consider "I did not know it was loaded" as ample and full -excuse when one man shoots another in a so-called "accident." - -Not to know if the firearm you are handling is loaded is _an unpardonable -crime_. It is so simple to open the firearm and see for yourself. I never -take the owner's word for it if he tells me a firearm is not loaded. -Before I handle it, I examine it for myself. - -The public think that no one but an expert can possibly know if a firearm -is loaded; that the only way to know is to pull the trigger, and if any -one happens to be shot, well, that is unavoidable and nobody is to blame. - -It is to try to partly remedy this danger (it is impossible to make any -firearm or instruction in its use "fool-proof") that I ask any one who -takes up this book to read the two following chapters, even if they take -no interest in shooting. It may save a life. - -Everything we do is a compromise, and nothing human can be made perfect in -all particulars. - -I give my ideas of what is wanting in automatics, not from a mechanic's -point of view, but from that of the one who has to shoot them. - -Few mechanics are shooting experts. They make beautiful pistols from a -mechanical point of view, but which are clumsy and unpractical from the -shooter's point of view. - -Early inventors of automatics were not practical shots. - -The inventor of one of the earliest automatics came to me with his -invention. It was utterly impossible to handle or make any good shooting -with it. It was like trying to eat soup with a fork. He kept telling me -that if I "held it like this" and "did this," I should be able to shoot -with it, but it was as if he had told me if I sat with my face to the tail -of the horse and held on by his hocks, I should be able to ride better -than the usual way. Besides being of a most unwieldy shape, to grasp which -you had to spread your fingers in all directions, this pioneer of the -automatic pistol had all sorts of levers which must be moved by your -different fingers in order to shoot it, as if you were playing the cornet. - -Inventors, instead of evolving a pistol from their imagination, should -consult an expert pistol shot, as to what improvements on existing pistols -are required. - -We are told by writers who use the fashionable word "imagination," that to -do anything, from governing a Nation to destroying submarines, "All that -is needed is a man with 'Imagination.'" - -"Imagination" may do many things in legend or story but it will not teach -a man pistol shooting, or enable him to invent an automatic pistol. I put -experience and technical knowledge before "imagination" and theories. - -In rifles there is the same sort of difficulty. It took me years before I -found a gunmaker who would try to make a rifle on the lines I consider -desirable for big-game shooting. - -Big game is shot at short range, so flat trajectory is of no importance. -What is important is to have a rifle which is light and well balanced and -yet will knock down an animal with a terrific blow at close range. One -does not want the sort of rifle so largely advertised as an ideal rifle -for big-game shooting--a rifle which weighs as much as an arm-chair, -balances like a poker, kicks like a horse, and is warranted to shoot into -a two-inch bull's-eye at four hundred yards, but is impossible to align on -a rapidly moving animal at a few yards off, owing to its clumsiness and -weight. - -Inventors of firearms expect their customers to adapt themselves to their -weapons instead of making the weapon to fit their customers, and answer to -their requirements. - -I stopped a man just in time, taking a Lea-Metford to shoot rooks with! - -I was lecturing on the cruelty and uselessness of docking horses, -amputating the bones and nerves of the horse's tail and searing it with a -hot iron, and what for? A man in the audience stood up and said: "If I did -not dock my horse he would be too long to fit between the shafts of my -cart." - -This is just the inventor's attitude: - - You must shorten your trigger finger by cutting off the first joint. I - cannot alter all the blue prints of my invention just because you find - the trigger too far back for your finger. Your finger is too long; my - invention is perfect. - -As a shooting man, not a gunmaker, I may suggest improvements -impracticable to make with present means, but it was not by saying -machines heavier than the air cannot be made to rise that the aeroplane -was evolved. - -It will be found that I have modified and even entirely changed some of my -ideas since I published the _Art of Revolver Shooting_ in 1890. - -This is of course inevitable: one lives and learns, and I have learned -much on the subject since then. Mechanical improvements have altered and -eliminated difficulties which I had to teach how to avoid twenty-eight -years ago. - -On the other hand, new difficulties have arisen which have to be combated. - -Those who cribbed from my former writings made a great mistake, and -instruction which was quite right for revolvers is wrong for automatics. -The position of the thumb, for instance, or the filing of the sights -(which, almost without exception, these compilers of books have taken -without acknowledgment from my _Art of Revolver Shooting_), are not -applicable to modern pistols. - -The best way to learn pistol shooting is to have an expert stand beside -you, but, lacking this, the only way is to read a book by an expert. - -It is very easy to write and to pose as an expert by the use of scissors, -but it is rather hard on those who wish to learn, and also on those whose -ideas are taken and used without acknowledgment. - -I do not think any expert could write a book on pistol shooting using -quotations, as each man has his own system. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS - - -It is no use carrying a pistol in your pocket for self-defence, and to -have it go off and kill yourself, or much worse, shoot the person you are -trying to save. - -The first, foremost, and last thing is never to point the muzzle towards -anywhere you do not want a bullet to go. - -Never mind if the pistol is empty, treat it as if it were loaded. "I did -not think it was loaded" or "he was cleaning the pistol and it exploded" -are the stock excuses when an accident occurs. - -Firearms to the non-expert "explode" at odd moments, and nobody is to -blame; he thinks it is the nature of a pistol to "explode" spontaneously. - -I cannot myself understand how a man can clean a loaded pistol, as by -cleaning I understand getting the fouling, nickel, etc., out of the bore -of the pistol, and the cartridge must first be extracted to do this. But I -suppose a man not used to a pistol would mean by cleaning, polishing the -outside, raising the hammer, and then putting a rag through the trigger -guard and pulling it backwards and forwards against the trigger with the -butt of the pistol resting on his knee and the barrel against his chest. - -He of course does not first open the pistol to see if it is loaded; he -leaves it for the inquest to decide "that he did not know it was loaded." - -I am not writing for such people; they are better shot and out of the way, -else they might hurt others. - -The second thing is never to load the pistol except when necessary. - -Most people buy an automatic, get the gunmaker to load it for them, and -put it in a drawer or their pocket, and keep it like that for years, or -worse, leave it lying about loaded. - -A pistol must be periodically cleaned. If it is kept loaded for years, it -will probably jamb if any one attempts to fire it. - -A pistol kept loaded _is a constant source of danger to everyone, -including the owner_. - -I knew of a case where a revolver was kept loaded by a bedside for twenty -years and thrown into a trunk each time the owner went on a journey. - -After the owner's death, I was asked to see if the pistol was safe. - -It was lying in its case beside the bed, and when I opened the case I -found the barrel was lying so that it pointed at the head of any one -sleeping in the bed. - -I found it loaded in all the chambers, the hammer let down on one of the -caps so that its sharp point, by constant friction, had polished and -nearly worn through the cap. - -I took it into the garden and fired that cartridge. - -The hammer had during all those years rested on this cap and the least tap -on the hammer would have fired it. Each time it was thrown into the trunk -it was a mercy it had not gone off. - -If it had remained on the cap much longer, the sharp nose of the hammer -would have reached the fulminate and fired the revolver. - -Here was a case of a loaded revolver, like the sword of Damocles, -threatening the life of its owner all night long, every night, though it -was put by the bed as a safeguard. - -The hammer should have been put down on an empty chamber. - -However, to repeat, never point a pistol under any circumstances at -anything you do not want to shoot. - -Never have it loaded except when absolutely necessary. - -Now as to when it is necessary to have it loaded. Most people are much -safer if they _never load it_. If you want a pistol to frighten burglars -with or to carry in dark lanes at night, get a _brightly plated nickel_ -one. The larger you can carry the better. _Do not buy any cartridges for -it._ - -If you get the gunmaker to render it impossible to fire it, even if -loaded, so much the better. - -You can stop any but the most desperate man by "brandishing" this at him -in approved theatrical style. - -I know of a jeweller who stopped a highwayman by pointing the nickel -plated pump of his bicycle at him. - -During the war a man took a number of the enemy prisoners by threatening -them with his empty revolver. - -For people who know nothing of firearms it is much the safest plan not to -have any cartridges. - -Never allow "ornaments" shaped like pistols to lie about. - -People get so used to playing with these that they at once point a real -pistol when they can get hold of it. - -Even when a pistol has to be fired it only needs to be loaded just before -being used, as a rule. - -When target shooting, it need only be loaded the moment before getting -into position for shooting. If all the shots are not immediately fired -from this position it should be at once unloaded. - -I saw a most disgraceful neglect of this precaution at a shooting meeting, -which if the Range Officer had also seen, the man would have been expelled -from all meetings. He was an expert revolver shot too! - -Several of us had made very good scores with the revolver at a stationary -target. - -This man came up carrying a hand bag in which his revolver and cartridges -were kept. - -"I have a few minutes to spare before my train goes, and I will have -another try to beat you"; so saying he took out his revolver and -cartridges, handed in his ticket, loaded, and began a score. He made three -bad shots, swore, then without taking out his cartridges, he just opened -his bag, put the revolver in, shut the bag and went off. - -Never touch an automatic pistol until you are expert with a single-shot -pistol. I do not mean expert to make good scores, but _absolutely safe_ -not to point it at any one, and able to take out the cartridge with safety -or to put the pistol at safe or half-cock. - -We will suppose you have the single-shot pistol and cartridges, and the -target in front of you with a sufficiently large background that it does -not matter where your bullet goes if you keep your muzzle always pointed -in that direction. - -It is almost impossible to have a range absolutely safe against an -accidental discharge putting the bullet over the butts. - -A man who swings his pistol over his head is almost sure some day to let -off a bullet high over the butts if he does not blow his own brains out -first. - -If the shooter pays attention all the time to keeping the muzzle of his -pistol pointed towards the butt he will be safe even if his pistol goes -off accidently. - -The barrel must be aligned towards the butt. Most beginners think that, if -they see the muzzle of the pistol against the butt, it is aimed at the -butt. That is not so. You can hold a pistol almost vertical like a candle -in its socket, and think the muzzle covers the centre of the target, but -if it is fired in this position the bullet will go straight in the air. - -To aim a pistol, the breech (the part nearest the butt of the pistol) must -be aligned with the muzzle on the target. - -Keep the pistol lying on a table before you and pointing at the butt, and -when you lift it always keep it thus horizontal or slightly inclining -towards the ground but always pointed at the butt. - -All single-shot breech-loading pistols open by pressing a lever, whether -on top, at the side, or underneath the barrel. - -Press this and open the pistol, look through the barrel to see that there -is no cartridge in it and that the barrel is clear, and then close it. - -Do this constantly for many days, so that you get into the habit the -moment you take the pistol in your hand to look through it to see if it is -unloaded, and no obstruction in it. To fire a pistol which has an -obstruction in the barrel may burst the pistol. - -If any one asks to see the pistol, first open it in his presence, of -course pointing away from him or any one else, and look through the barrel -before handing it to him. If an automatic, first take out the magazine and -open the barrel as well. - -Unless he is a shooting man do not hand him any cartridges. If he wants to -see what your cartridges are like take the pistol back, open it again and -see that it is still empty, put it away safely, and _then_ hand him a -cartridge to examine. - -All this may seem super-caution but it is necessary, especially with an -automatic, and unless you do this by instinct with the safer single-shot -pistol, you may at any moment have a dreadful accident with an automatic -for which you will be sorry all your life. - -Now, standing facing the butt, open the pistol, put a cartridge in it (an -empty cartridge case, not a loaded one). Put the pistol, if it has an -outside hammer, to full-cock, being very careful to keep it pointed at the -butt, lower the hammer to half-cock, open the pistol and extract the -cartridge, and close the pistol again; repeat this many times till you can -cock and half-cock without the hammer slipping or falling by accident. - -If it had a loaded cartridge in it the pistol would go off should you let -the hammer slip down, which is one of the most frequent causes of -accidents with pistols having external hammers. - -Some hammer pistols have a rebound, that is, when the hammer falls it -rebounds to half-cock. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS (_Continued_) - - -Do not forget the hammer has three positions. - -Down on the cartridge, "half-cock," and "full-cock." The latter is when -the pistol is ready to be fired, when at half-cock it cannot be fired by -pulling the trigger and is supposed to be safe against accidental -discharge, but it can be fired accidently if, in raising the hammer to -full-cock it slips, owing to clumsiness or a greasy hammer or thumb, or -the hammer may get caught in something and be raised accidentally. - -For this reason it is best to have the part of the hammer the thumb -presses against in cocking corrugated, roughed like a file. - -Take the barrel in the left hand, holding the pistol horizontally pointing -at the target. - -Take the grip in your right hand, put your right thumb on the projection -of the cock (not from straight behind it but slightly from the right -side); this enables you to get a firm grip of the hammer and at the same -time of the stock with your other fingers. - -Now, do _not_ do what all beginners do. - -_Do not put your first finger on the trigger when cocking._ Keep all your -fingers outside the trigger guard to avoid any chance of your touching the -trigger when cocking. - -There are two causes of accidental falling of the hammer in cocking and so -causing an accidental discharge of the pistol. - -One is the hammer slipping from the thumb, or being released by the thumb -before it is fully at full-cock. - -The other is pulling at the trigger at the same time that the pistol is -being cocked (which learners invariably do). - -The result of pulling the trigger at the same time is that the hammer does -not catch into the bent which holds it, and falls as soon as the thumb is -removed. - -There is a click when the pistol is well at full-cock, which tells you the -pistol is properly cocked, the hammer or cock goes slightly beyond -full-cock and then comes into place by a click. (See quotation from -Byron's _Don Juan_ on a later page.) - -To put to half-cock is the most ticklish of all and is the cause of most -pistol accidents. - -The thing to do is to let the hammer fall to just below half-cock and then -bring it back to half-cock. If it falls too low it fires the pistol, if it -does not click it has not properly got to half-cock. - -Still holding the barrel of the pistol in the left hand and the grip in -your right (keep the pistol carefully pointed at the butt where an -accidental discharge would do no harm), put your right thumb on the -hammer. When you have a firm touch of it so that it cannot escape you as -it falls, put your first finger on the trigger and press, but _only_ for -an instant. - -The hammer will fall but you must keep it from falling fast, by holding -back with your thumb. Lower the hammer down to just below half-cock back -to half-cock and then release your thumb hold. - -If the hammer went its full fall it would explode the cartridge. With a -rebounding hammer, the hammer falls and instantly springs back to -half-cock. Therefore in letting a rebounding lock down from full to -half-cock, if you are able to restrain it well during the first part of -its descent, even if it slips from your thumb before it is quite at -half-cock, the rebound overcomes the downward fall and it rebounds to -half-cock without actually exploding the cartridge because it does not -quite reach it. - -Half-cock is the safest position for a loaded single-shot pistol but not -safe enough to carry in a pocket or holster loaded. For that, it needs a -safety lock to hold it at half-cock. - -As you gain confidence you will find that, with a rebounding lock (such as -all duelling pistols of full-size calibre by the best makers have), it -requires very little holding back at the hammer in letting it down to -half-cock and the hammer remains at half-cock by itself, without any -click. - -With an ordinary hammer which remains down when it is fired (like many -single-shot pistols of American make or the .2 bulleted caps of the -"Flobert Pistol"), the hammer must be kept firmly held until it is below -half-cock, and then brought to half-cock where it will click, as it also -does at full-cock. - -The great advantage of an automatic pistol is that it does not have this -click and so does not give warning to an adversary and is not apt to go -off by accident when being put at safe. - -If the trigger is held back whilst cocking it is as if you were to ask a -man to sit down and pull the chair from under him. He falls just like the -hammer. - -Almost all modern pistols with visible hammers have rebounding locks so -that after the hammer falls, on the trigger being pressed, and explodes -the cartridge, then it jumps back to half-cock of itself. This saves time -as otherwise the hammer resting on the exploded cartridge would have to be -raised by the thumb to half-cock before the exploded cartridge could be -extracted and a fresh one put in. - -Now, practise till you are perfect, using an empty cartridge. - -Open, insert cartridge, close, put to full-cock, lower to half-cock, -extract cartridge, close pistol. - -Do not be satisfied till you can do all this without a hitch or hesitation -and without letting the hammer slip. - -When you do this perfectly you can go on to the next lesson, but not -before. - -When you have the pistol at full-cock, it can be fired by pressing the -trigger, but we have not come to that yet. We are only learning how to -safely handle a pistol. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -TRIGGER-PULL - - -Very few people pay attention to the strength of the trigger-pull of their -pistols. - -They accept whatever trigger-pull it has when they buy it. - -They do not know that trigger-pull can vary from a hair trigger up to many -pounds weight. - -First-class gunmakers make the "weight," as it is called, of their trigger -as light and smooth as possible subject to its being safe to handle. - -The subject of safe trigger-pull is a variable quantity. - -An expert shot can be trusted with a trigger-pull so light that in the -hands of a less skilful or careful shot there would be great danger of the -pistol being discharged accidentally. The automatic pistol is put to -full-cock automatically with violence, by the discharge. Therefore the -trigger-pull has to be made much heavier than the trigger-pull of a -single-shot pistol, where the shooter cocks it gently with his own hand. - -A typical example of how men, even after a lifetime of shooting, pay no -attention to the weight of their trigger-pulls occurs to me. - -An old gentleman, belonging to one of the learned professions, who had -been an enthusiastic but very bad shot all his life, asked me to try his -shotgun at some clay pigeons. - -He was one of those men who always pride themselves on getting things -cheaper than any one else. - -He did not understand that a good gun is expensive; and that a second-hand -gun by a first-class maker is much better value (and safer to use) than a -cheap new gun. - -Acting on his usual principle, he had bought a gun very cheap, "a splendid -bargain which I have used the last ten years. I am not as strong as I once -was so I bought a featherweight one." - -To buy a light, cheap gun is extremely dangerous. Only a very first-class -maker can reduce the weight of a gun to its limit without risk of a burst, -and the materials must be flawless. - -When I saw the gun I was sorry I had offered to shoot it. The barrels -looked fearfully thin at the breech, of inferior metal, and rattled from -bad fitting, when one succeeded in closing the gun. - -The weakness of the gun, however, was made up by the strength of the -cartridges, which were for pigeon shooting, and loaded with a full 1-1/4 -ounces of shot and an enormous charge of nitro powder. - -The gun had the proof mark for black powder only! - -He was delighted with his cartridges and told me he had bought them at a -great bargain from the executors of a celebrated pigeon shot recently -deceased. - -I ventured to suggest that it might be dangerous to shoot such a heavy -charge of nitro powder out of a very light gun proofed only for black -powder. - -He said: "That's nothing, I am not as active as I was and I was told these -cartridges would kill much farther than lighter loaded ones, and how cheap -they are!" - -I, with many misgivings, had a clay pigeon thrown, but the gun refused to -go off. - -I took out the cartridges and tested the trigger-pulls by feel. - -They were like lifting a coal scuttle. - -I said to him: "Do you know what your trigger-pull is?" He did not -understand what I meant. I used a trigger-tester. They were well over nine -pounds each. A shotgun generally has 2-1/4 for front trigger and 2-1/2 for -back trigger. - -I had another pigeon thrown. - -I took a hard tug at the trigger and the gun went off with such a recoil -that the stock nearly jumped off my shoulder. I do not know where the -charge went; the pigeon was almost out of range before I could get the -trigger to act. (I learned the cartridges had been stored near the kitchen -fire!!!) - -This was enough for me and fully explained why the old man, whilst -shooting all his life, had never become expert. - -First-class gunmakers see to the trigger-pull so as to make a compromise -between a nice, light trigger-pull and one safe to use. - -Military rifles are made with a very heavy trigger-pull in order to make -them safe to be handled by men who have rough, hard hands from manual -labour. - -This, in my opinion, is a mistake. A very heavy trigger-pull prevents -accurate shooting, because the rifle is always going off later than you -want it to and encourages hanging on to the trigger. - -The man gets into the habit of pressing on the trigger when he is not -shooting. He knows the rifle will not go off unless he gives a tug at the -trigger. - -With a light trigger, a man knows that he must keep his finger clear of -it, or he will fire his rifle accidentally. - -When learning the handling of the single-shot pistol (the automatic must -not be touched till the learner is familiar with the single-shot), blank -ammunition may be used. - -The learner is very apt to discharge his pistol unintentionally, and the -fright caused by firing a blank cartridge by accident will impress on him -to be more careful in the future, before he had a loaded cartridge in the -pistol, which might cause a fatal accident if discharged unintentionally. - -As the automatic cannot be made with as light a trigger-pull as a -single-shot pistol, it becomes a question as to how light the trigger-pull -of your single-shot pistol should be. - -If you want to make the best possible shooting with it and to make your -lessons as pleasant and as easy as possible, have as light a trigger-pull -as your gunmaker (not an ironmonger who sells firearms) recommends. - -If, however, it is important that you should learn an automatic pistol -well, and the single-shot pistol is only used for getting familiar with -firearms, then have the trigger-pull adjusted to be as near as possible, -not only of the strength, but of the character of the automatic pistol you -intend to use later. - -Two triggers of the same weight may vary greatly in the feel and sweetness -of the pull. - -One may drag or grate. The other seems to go off at your mere wish. - -No automatic can have the delicate touch of a single-shot pistol. It has -to withstand such rough handling by the mechanical loading of the -explosion. - -A thing to be especially remembered is that one who is not expert, trying -to put the pistol to half-cock, ruins the trigger-pull and renders it -unsafe. - -The point of the seer can be broken off or distorted by someone fumbling -with the trigger and hammer. - -Do not let people touch the hammer or trigger of your pistol, any more -than you would let them jerk your horse's mouth. - -In the course of your first trials in cocking, putting to half-cock, etc., -you will probably injure your trigger-pull more or less, and should you -feel the least alteration or grate in it, have it examined by a gunmaker -before worse mischief occurs. - -With a hammerless (_i. e._, pistol with invisible hammer inside the lock) -there is not this danger. Cocking is accomplished by the act of closing or -opening the pistol which at the same time causes the hammer to be locked -at safety. - -What corresponds to cocking and putting to half-cock is accomplished by -sliding the safety bolt to the firing position, or to "safe." - -It is advisable to have the same weight of trigger-pull on all your -pistols. If they vary it makes it difficult to shoot equally well with -all. The heavier trigger-pull of some will hamper you, and the lighter -trigger-pull on others may make you discharge them before you mean to. - -As individual fancy in trigger-pull varies, some makers sell their pistols -with intentionally a very heavy trigger-pull, so that their clients can -have it regulated to their requirements. This probably was the reason my -old man had such a heavy trigger-pull on his "greatest bargain I ever saw" -gun. - -Before practising for or entering a competition, see that your -trigger-pull complies with the regulations, as nothing is more annoying -than, after making a winning score, to find your trigger-pull is too light -and your score in consequence is disqualified. - -It is best to have the trigger-pull well over the minimum so as to allow -for its getting lighter during shooting. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -AMMUNITION - - -Every make of pistol has ammunition which suits it best. In fact, to shoot -what was made for it. In the case of automatic pistols, they will not work -properly unless their own ammunition is used. - -It is very dangerous to shoot the wrong ammunition out of a pistol. It may -burst it. I nearly had such an accident with a revolver when winning a -prize given for the best score with a certain make of powder. - -I found the pistol working very stiff in the revolution of the cylinder, -toward my last shots, and when I had finished I looked and saw that the -cylinders had become egg shape, caused by the pressure of the explosion, -which was greater than the powder-charge the pistol was made to withstand. - -It was only the excellence of the material which caused the cylinder -chambers to expand toward their weakest point (the circumference of the -cylinder), instead of bursting. - -It was this expansion that had caused the friction in turning the -cylinder. - -As my book is not a gunmaker's catalogue there is no use in giving -illustrations of ammunition. - -Such illustrations are neither artistic nor of any interest. Many makes of -cartridges are long since obsolete and only linger in catalogues because -the old blocks happen to still exist and can be used to fill up a -catalogue and make it "fully illustrated." - -Any one conversant with pistols does not even glance at them. When he buys -the pistol, he also buys the cartridge made for it. He does not buy a -pistol and then try which make of cartridge will fit into the chamber. - -A cartridge should fulfil the following conditions: - -First of all, it should be safe against accidental explosion, such as -dropping or when feeding through the magazine of an automatic pistol. -Next, the case should not split or swell when fired, so as to make it -difficult to extract. - -Next (this is a matter also of the construction of the pistol), it should -not blow back fire into the eyes of the shooter. This has several times -happened to me with cheap makes of rifles and pistols and one is very apt -to have such an accident when shooting at bottles at a fair with cheap -worn rifles. - -I asked a woman attending at one of the shooting booths at a fair, if it -was not very dangerous when drunken men came to shoot. - -She answered: "Oh no, when a man looks dangerous I load only blank -ammunition for him." - -The chief requisite is accuracy; and without accuracy a cartridge is -useless. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -FIRST LESSONS - - -As the automatic pistol is a very dangerous one for a novice to handle, it -is best for the beginner to first thoroughly master a single-shot pistol. - -There are several styles of single-shot pistols (see Plates 2, 9, 10, and -17). I will not give a list and description of all makes, like a -gunmaker's catalogue. I will merely describe a few of the typical ones. -Very many are not only obsolete but of no use, and I do not intend to -describe any pistol or ammunition merely to condemn it. - -All that I describe have some merit, and most of them have great merit. -Still if there is any ammunition or pistol left out, you must not at once -jump to the conclusion that I consider it bad or dangerous; it may be that -it was omitted through an oversight. - -It is best to have a pistol light in weight and shooting as small a charge -as possible, so that there may be no great weight to hold up and no -flinching from the noise or recoil. - -[Illustration: PLATE 2. BREECH-LOADING PISTOLS - -(By Gastinne-Renette)] - -With a very small charge it is possible to use a very light pistol, and -though this is advisable for a beginner still, weight in a pistol, even if -it shoots only a very small charge, is an advantage for accurate holding. - -The trigger-pull must not be lighter than 2-1/2 pounds for safety -(especially for a beginner) and if the pistol weighs less than 2-1/2 -pounds, it is very difficult to press the trigger without disturbing the -aim. - -Lightness in weight of the pistol is also often obtained by shortness of -barrel, and to shoot a pistol with only a two or three inch barrel is the -supreme test of skill in pistol shooting and a useless handicap to a -learner. - -At one time I thought it impossible for good shooting to be had out of a -two inch barrel, but a friend and I tested this at twenty-five metres, and -we both, after a few trials, got strings of shots on the chest of a -life-sized figure of a man target. - -But it requires a man who has shot for many years to be able to do this; -even an average shot goes very wide and wild in his shooting with such a -short barrel. - -These very short barrels are therefore useless for the general public for -self-protection, except when the pistol actually touches the opponent. - -Even the short police pistol requires a lot of learning. Most people -imagine it is merely necessary to buy a little pistol "which I can put in -my waistcoat pocket," to become burglar proof. - -[Illustration: PLATE 3. - -Author's winning score for Gastinne-Renette Competition, April 7, 1910.] - -This sort of thing is worse than useless. If you leave a man alone he will -most likely leave you alone, but if you annoy him by banging at him, he -may lose his temper and hurt you. - -A reasonably long barrel is therefore necessary for a beginner, and a -reasonably heavy weight. - -The cartridges may have light loads. Unfortunately the easiest pistol of -all, to shoot, is now impossible to be had except from a dealer in -second-hand firearms. I mean the "Flobert" duelling pistol, formerly made -in France and Belgium, shooting bulleted caps of about .2 calibre. - -The duelling pistol, in all its calibres, is the best balanced and easiest -to shoot of all pistols (see Plates 2 and 5). - -The stock is at just the right curve and angle, is large enough for a big -hand, and yet does not feel clumsy in a small hand. - -By taking the grip of the hand higher or lower, the same effect is -produced as in having a gunstock straighter or more bent; one can, -therefore, by altering the grip of the hand, find a place to hold which -makes the pistol come with the sights aligned on raising it, just as a -well-fitting gun "comes up." - -Next this pistol balances perfectly. The length of the barrel does not -make it top heavy, as the barrel is fluted, to lighten it forward, and the -stock weighted. - -Most pistols, automatics especially, are muzzle heavy. There is really no -pistol except the duelling pistol which balances properly, and the -automatic will have to be altered in this respect before it can become the -ideal weapon for rapid shooting. - -The ideal pistol is the Gastinne-Renette duelling pistol, which is of .44 -calibre muzzle loader or shoots a centre fire cartridge, with French -"Poudre J" and a round bullet (see Plates 2 and 9). - -This is the most accurate pistol in the world and a number of men have -made a score of 12 shots in a bull's-eye the size of a sixpence, in -succession at 16 metres (17 yards 1 foot). - -This pistol has very little recoil. If the beginner cannot get a "bulleted -cap" duelling pistol the ordinary .44 gallery ammunition duelling pistol -will do almost as well. - -Now arises the question of expense, as these pistols are expensive. - -If economy is necessary, then the only way is to get one of the American -single-shot pistols and add wood to the back of the stock, so that the -grip comes further back and the trigger is thereby further from the hand -and allows the trigger finger to be extended. - -Then either cut down the barrel to lighten the pistol forward, or have -flutes made in the barrel to take weight of the metal off, and put lead in -the stock. - -I have described the ideal way of learning to shoot a pistol but of course -any single-shot pistol which does not have too heavy a recoil will do to -learn with, so as to become a fair shot. - -With the long reach to the trigger of the French duelling pistols the -trigger finger can be held outside and along the trigger guard (as with a -shotgun when walking up birds). With the trigger so far back, as it is in -American single-shot pistols, it is difficult to introduce the finger into -the trigger guard whilst holding the pistol with one hand, and one gets -into the dangerous habit of keeping the finger inside the trigger guard. - -I will not describe these various single-shot pistols, as (in my own case) -I find shooting them does not do me any good, but teaches a cramped style. - -The pistol which is no longer made, but can perhaps be picked up, is a -regulation French duelling pistol, full size, which shoots, instead of the -.44 duelling charge, a bulleted cap of .2 calibre, with fulminate only, -and a round bullet, and is exploded by a cross bar on the hammer which has -a flat striking surface. This flat bar strikes across the whole face of -the cap, indents itself into the cap, and having an undercut surface -extracts the empty cap after it is fired, as the pistol is cocked. - -The pistol has no recoil and hardly more noise than an air gun. - -The manufacture would be resumed if there were enough demand for such -pistols, and in my opinion they ought to be made as they are infinitely -preferable to modern .22 calibre pistols. - -[Illustration: COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, POCKET MODEL, CALIBRE .32] - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -LEARNING TO SHOOT - - -Having a pistol and ammunition, the next thing is to find a place to shoot -in with safety and comfort. - -The usual procedure is as follows: - -A says "I want to learn pistol shooting." - -"I know a place," says B. - -They go off and find a shooting gallery. - -When they get there they go down a dark staircase, into a long, dark -cellar with a glimmer of light at the firing point and a glimmer of light -at the far end, illuminating a series of minute white cards with a -microscopic black dot on each. Men lie down on mats, to which they have to -grope their way, shooting miniature rifles at these minute spots. - -Why, when a man wants to learn to shoot, has he to go into a coal cellar -and ruin his eyesight seeing, as one shooter complained, "three front -sights and two back ones"? - -To shoot one needs all the daylight possible. - -One sees fine big public buildings, and is told "They have a Shooting -Range for their employees, is it not nice of them?" - -You go to it. There is a big bar, with plenty of daylight, rooms with -plenty of daylight for games, meals, etc., and then the inevitable dark -staircase into a black cellar called the shooting-gallery. - -If you cannot shoot in daylight do not shoot at all; you will only ruin -your eyesight and never learn to shoot properly. - -[Illustration: PLATE 4. COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL .22 TARGET MODEL - -Capacity of magazine: 10 shots. Length of Barrel: 6-1/2 inches. Length -over all: 10-1/2 inches. Weight: 28 ounces. Finish: full blued; checked -English walnut stocks. Sights: bead front sight, adjustable for elevation; -rear sight with adjusting screw, adjustable for windage. Distance between -sights: 9 inches. Cartridge: .22 long rifle, rim fire (_greased cartridges -only_). We strongly recommend the use of either Lesmok or Semi-Smokeless.] - -All these artificial-light rifle galleries, to teach the public to shoot, -are worse than useless. The Gastinne-Renette Gallery in Paris is an ideal -gallery (see Plates 15 and 16). - -Learning to shoot is surely more worth while than playing bridge or -golf, and who would play bridge or golf in the dark? - -Choose, if possible, a range out of doors, or at least in a well-lighted -room (lighted by daylight, _not_ artificial light), but if there has to be -artificial light, let it be at least as light as in a ball-room. - -Next, there must be a safe butt behind the target; a butt which will not -only stop bullets which hit or go near the target, but which will stop a -bullet which goes wide of the target. - -It should be so arranged that if the pistol goes off by accident the -bullet can do no harm. - -If there is a narrow stall, opening towards the target and high enough at -the sides and narrow enough to prevent the shooter turning with his arm -extended, it would be a great safeguard, as it will make it difficult for -him to turn round and speak to others with his pistol pointing at them. - -A thick ceiling will prevent his doing damage if his pistol goes off -accidentally into the air, and soft deal flooring will stop bullets shot -too low. A hard floor may cause dangerous ricochets. - -The beginner is very apt to look only at his front sight and instead of -getting it down into the V or U of the back sight, fire with his front -sight alone on the target, so great care must be taken to protect against -high shots off the target. - -Out of doors, a butt six feet high is very little protection as the -beginner is almost certain to let off shots over the top. - -With the bulleted caps there is, of course, not much danger if a shot -goes over the top of a butt, especially if there is a wood, or shed -without windows, beyond, to catch the bullet. - -Another point is to have a table or shelf in front of the shooter, so that -he can lay his pistol and cartridges on it, and if it is of thick wood, it -prevents his shooting into his own feet. - -When instructing, it is best to stand at the beginner's left side and be -ready to clutch his pistol if he turns it dangerously. - -The target should be a white bull's-eye of about five inches diameter on a -black ground, and at six to ten yards' distance. - -The target should be of cardboard, so that the bullets will go through and -into the butt--a hard target may make the bullets rebound. - -The duelling pistol has a silver bead front sight, and a big U back sight. - -The black front sight on most pistols is quite wrong. It prevents quick -shooting, and I am in this book teaching quick, practical shooting only. -Practice at hitting minute stationary objects with a long aim died out the -same as the revolver did. - -Formerly, much of the revolver shooting was done at stationary black -bull's-eyes on white targets, just like rifle shooting was done. I always -protested against this, claiming that the revolver was meant for quick -shooting at moving or suddenly appearing objects, and that extreme -accuracy at stationary targets was not its metier. - -The war has proved I was right, and now these deliberate shooting -exhibitions are used only to show what accuracy a pistol is capable of, -like shooting rifles off a gunmaker's rest. A pistol shot out of a vise -can show its capabilities better than any man can hold it. - -It was this shooting at black bull's-eyes on a white target which caused -the front sight to be made black so as to show on the white target, when -sighted at "6 o'clock" under the black bull's-eye. This is all wrong. When -the black front sight is placed on a dark object, as a man's coat, it -cannot be seen. - -The white or silver bead sight on the duelling pistol is instantly seen -and is the only practical sight for a pistol. - -All this goes to show how worse than useless the old method of revolver -shooting was, and I do not intend to revert to it in these instructions on -shooting its successor, the automatic pistol. - -Load the pistol, put it at full-cock, and take it in your right hand -pointing in the direction of the target. - -Put it into the beginner's hand with both yours, the pistol pointed -horizontally at the target. Make him grip it with three fingers, his thumb -horizontal and slightly crooked downwards along the stock, his forefinger -fully stretched along the outside of the trigger guard, and clear of the -trigger. - -Tell him he must not put his finger inside the trigger guard till he has -the pistol pointed enough towards the target to prevent the bullet going -in a dangerous direction in case he fires it accidentally. - -Then show him how to see his front sight, in the middle of the U of the -back sight, and to press the trigger. - -This preliminary stage ought for safety to be learned with an empty -pistol. - -A person who is used to firearms (not necessarily one who is a pistol -shot) should stand beside the pupil till the pupil learns the rudiment of -safety against accidental discharge, and in aiming. - -If there is no such person available then the pupil should be quite alone, -two people ignorant of firearms trying to learn at the same time are very -apt to shoot each other. - -After the beginner can safely load, aim, and press the trigger, then he -can begin to learn to shoot. - -Load the pistol, stand with the arm fully extended, the pistol resting -against the further edge of the table or ledge. - -Fix the eyes on the bull's-eye, slowly raise the pistol, the arm fully -extended (keeping the head quite upright). Raise the pistol till the right -eye looks through the U of the back sight and sees the front sight in the -U at the middle of the bull's-eye and press the trigger. - -Do not stand sideways, stand almost facing, only slightly forward with the -right shoulder, the feet slightly apart, knees straight, arms straight. -Nothing is worse than to shoot with a crooked or flabby right arm. You -will never learn to shoot in this way, and a heavy automatic will hit you -on the nose with the recoil. - -Stand rigid and upright, the swing of the arm upwards should continue and -the shot go off as you come horizontally to the target. - -The idea is to fire the shot, just as you deal cards, raise and let off -when you are horizontal. Do not poke with your head to see the sights, or -find the sights and then hunt for the bull's eye with the muzzle of your -pistol (like the rifle target shots do). - -Never let your pistol move an inch further than necessary. To lift it -above your head and to lower it is not only dangerous but useless. You -ought to raise to the target; not raise above it merely to come down to it -again. - -That sort of "flourish" shooting (which is the hardest thing to stop in a -learner) is as if, when you want to go next door to your neighbour you -went all the way down the street and then turned back to reach him. Open -your door, step to his doorway and go in. The man who swings his pistol -("brandishes it" as reporters say) is at the mercy of the man who draws -and fires in one movement. - -You ought, with practice, to be able after a few shots to shut your eyes -and as the pistol gets level, fire, knowing that your aim is right. - -A fencer raises his foil with a straight arm and lunges. He does not need -to aim along the foil. His sense of direction suffices. In the same way if -your grip is right you ought to see your sights in line on the bull's-eye -without any necessity of correcting your aim as your pistol comes up, and -the whole thing should be done in one movement--raising arm, sighting, and -pressing the trigger. - -The action becomes as mechanical as putting your spoon in your mouth when -taking soup. - -This is the whole art of pistol shooting. Keep on, practise, practise and -again practise, until it becomes mechanical. Once acquired you will never -lose it. - -Only fire a few shots at a time, but several times a day. Do not worry -about cleaning more than once a day if you have not the time. It is worth -while spoiling the pistol if you can just get the knack of chucking your -shots into the bull, instantly, with the minimum of time or movement of -the pistol, like throwing stones into a bowl. - -A good fencer is known by the small circle his point makes when fencing. -In the same way a good pistol shot is known by the small circle his muzzle -makes when raising it and firing. - -I have seen men shoot revolvers at stationary targets, raise their pistol -till it pointed vertically at the sky, aiming all the time, and then -slowly bring the muzzle down till it was horizontal, and then begin to -fish for the bull's-eye, straining their eyes for nothing and not learning -anything of the very essence of pistol shooting which is "lightning speed -with accuracy." - -Others "brandish" or "flourish" their pistols and then let off into their -friend's feet. - -I always leave the ground when I see men doing this. There is style in -every pursuit, and style in pistol shooting consists in economy of -movement and time and especially in timing one's swing, aim, and -trigger-pull so that they go together and _throw_ the bullet on to the -mark. - -At twenty-five metres (a shade over twenty-seven yards) shooting at top -speed of 1-1/2 seconds a shot I won the Duelling Pistol Championship at -Gastinne-Renette's in the year 1910 with two scores, one a full score for -the twelve shots and the other one point short of a full score, at an -invisible bull's-eye of six by four inches (see Plate 3). - -I tell this merely to show what practice will do at this, the Alpha and -Omega of pistol shooting. - -Just keep constantly practising at this, and all other pistol shooting, -with whatever pistol or charge, is merely a variation of it. - -I know an extremely feeble old man who for many years each morning has -half a dozen shots with a duelling pistol rapid-firing, and although he -comes and goes a tottering, feeble old man, he brings up his pistol and -hits the bull's-eye instantly, like a young man, when shooting. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -SIGHTS - - -I put this chapter after the preliminary one on learning to shoot as, -although sights are vital for good, quick, accurate shooting, the beginner -is too occupied with other matters to pay much attention to what the -sights are like. - -Now that the learner can load, fire, put his pistol to half-cock, etc., -with safety to himself and others, he can begin to learn a little about -sights. - -The sights are to enable him to align the barrel of his pistol accurately. - -By constant practice a man can learn to point with enough accuracy to hit -an object of fair size at close quarters without sights, by sense of -direction. - -When it gets up to ranges of twenty-five or more yards, or to hitting a -smaller object at closer range, his sense of direction must be aided by -aim. - -Almost all makers of pistols make the sights of their pistols wrong; the -only proper sights are those on French duelling pistols (see Plates 2 and -10). - -The reason is obvious; for duelling a man has to snap shoot. All other -pistol shooting, with very few exceptions, is very artificial and has -been done in deliberate shooting at small black bull's-eyes just as rifle -shooting was spoilt. - -I used to struggle with these minute sights at moving objects and rapid -fire, and I am sure my record scores would have been much better if I had -in those days known of the French duelling pistol sights and if, which is -very doubtful, these sights had been passed as "military sights" which was -an arbitrary term in England, changing from year to year. - -The ordinary pistol sights, as placed even now on the latest patterns of -automatics, are the worst that one can imagine. - -What one wants is a front sight which shows up instantly against any -object; large so that it is the most prominent object in aiming, and a -back sight with so big a U in it that you instantly get the front sight -centrally in it. - -These conditions are fulfilled only by the French duelling sights. The -front sight is a silver ball without stalk, as large as and similar to the -one on a shotgun. - -Shotgun men found this the best sight and shotgun shooting is snap -shooting like pistol shooting is or ought to be. Now compare this with the -sights on other pistols, especially military ones. They have a high knife -blade, black front sight. The target pistols have a microscopic black bead -on a very thin stalk which gets bent out of position at the least rough -usage. - -For a hind sight there is a minute indentation in the bar of the hind -sight. - -When added to this you are expected to see this microscopic dot, or a -problematic part of the knife edge front sight (this latter worn to an -indistinct grey by friction) into a slight notch which you would need a -magnifying glass to find, and which is much too small to hold the front -sight in, and to do all this in a black cellar so dark that you have to -light a match to look for a cartridge if you drop it you can easily see -that men give up pistol shooting in disgust and want some sport where -there is light and air, and in which they do not have to tire their eyes -out to look for the front sight and a target at the end of a coal cellar. - -Whatever pistol you use, have it fitted with a big silver front bead sight -placed close to the barrel, no matter how large it is, if your eyesight -needs it large to see instantly in a bad light. - -Have the back sight with a big U in it so that you see daylight all round -it when aiming with fully stretched arm. - -This front sight cannot be altered but the back sight can be made higher -or lower to suit your style of aiming. At first you do not know if your -bad shots are due to the sights not being suitable for you, or not being -properly adjusted, or to your wobbly aim. There is no use going further -into the matter now, but later I will show you how you can alter the -sights to your own individual peculiarities. - -What I want to impress is, that from the very beginning, you should not -worry yourself with the sights you find on pistols; get your gunmaker to -put on duelling pistol sights before you begin to learn. Tell him you want -them for taking a full sight in daylight at twenty yards. Let him read -this chapter and he will understand what you require. - -Always press straight back on your trigger, do not push it off to the -left, or jerk at it. - -In rifle shooting the left hand steadies the rifle and prevents this -tendency to push off to one side and also in a measure counteracts the -effects of snatching or jerking at the trigger. - -The pistol has no left hand to steady it. The right hand has not only to -aim the pistol, but also to counteract the effect of any jerk, snatch, or -push to one side from defective trigger pressing. - -It is as well to put in an empty cartridge case and to practise pressing -the trigger and trying to have the pistol still aligned on the object the -moment the hammer has fallen. Aim and press that trigger at your own eye -reflected in a glass and you can see if you pull off your aim. - -By doing this you can detect any jerk to the right or left, or up or down. - -With an automatic there is a tendency to jerk down so that it is very -important not to get into this habit in the preliminary practice with a -single-shot pistol. - -When you get to grouping your shots well together, you can have your back -sight altered so as to put this group into the centre of the object you -want to hit, if it does not already go there. - -The great thing is to make as close a group of shots as you can; if you -group a dozen shots all in a bunch it is good shooting. It does not matter -if they are not on the object you want to hit. That is merely a matter of -having the back sight raised or lowered to cause the group to go higher or -lower accordingly. - -Raising the back sight makes the group higher; lowering the back sight -makes the group lower. - -Putting the back sight over to the right makes the group go to the right; -putting the back sight over to the left makes the group go to the left. - -You should be cautious however about this lateral adjustment. It is better -to correct your tendency to jerk to either side than to make the pistol -conform to your bad trigger pressing. - -When giving instructions on learning to shoot in an early chapter, I took -it for granted that the learner is using a pistol he is reliably informed -shoots where the sights are pointed. - -A beginner cannot know himself whether the fault is his or the pistol's -when he makes a bad shot, so he gets into a hopeless tangle when using a -pistol wrongly sighted. - -An expert after a shot or two to find how the pistol is sighted can make -allowance for the error in the sights. I saw a man make a marvellous score -with a double barrelled rifle. I said to him how well the barrels shot -together and he answered, "I had to aim two inches higher and to the left -with the left barrel than with the right barrel." It was the man who was -marvellous not the rifle. - -When a man begins to become expert he knows when his "let off" has been -correct and that, if the bullet goes wide in such a case, it is not his -fault, but the fault of the pistol. - -The modern single-shot pistol and automatic pistol are almost invariably -very accurate, so if the bullet goes wrong when the pistol is "let off" -correctly, it is the fault of the sights. - -Shots wide to the right or left mean in each case that the sights are not -adjusted centrally to the barrel. - -The front sight, being a fixture, is very unlikely to be at fault, but the -back sight may have got moved to one side. - -The back sight has generally a scratch made from its base onto the barrel, -and if this scratch does not coincide then the sight has shifted and it -must be knocked into place. - -When the back sight is central and the bullets do not group to either side -of the mark, but where you aim, then fix the back sight permanently and -immovable. - -A _movable_ back sight is a constant annoyance and I never understand why -makers put it so. You shoot badly and after wasting a lot of shots, find -your back sight has shifted unobserved to one side. I lost a stag -recently owing to the back sight of my rifle getting knocked off, being -wedged only in a slot instead of being screwed in. - -Have this back sight absolutely central. If you shoot to one side correct -your way of letting off. Do not shift the back sight to avoid the trouble -of learning to let off properly. - -If you do, you will be like a man driving who, instead of straightening -his horse's mouth, puts one rein at the cheek and the other at the bottom -bar and makes the horse go worse and more lopsided every day till the -horse is incurably crooked. - -If you keep on shifting the back sight to counteract your bad let off, you -will end by not being able to let off properly. - -If you shoot too high all you have to do is to file down the U in the hind -sight, a little at a time, until it is right. If you shoot too low, you -will have to get a higher back sight put in and file that down gradually -till you get it right. - -The place to aim at is exactly where you want the ball to hit, seeing the -whole of the ball of the front sight in the U of the back sight. Keep on -working at the back sight till you arrive at this result. - -If in target shooting you aim at the bottom edge of the bull's-eye, you -will require a different adjustment of sights for each size of bull's-eye. - -A two-inch bull's-eye at twenty yards requires the pistol to shoot one -inch higher than the aim so as to put the bullet in the centre of the -two-inch disc when aimed at its bottom edge, and if the bull's-eye is -four inches the pistol would have to be sighted to shoot two inches higher -at the same distance to hit the centre. - -As natural objects are not at all of the same size, and you cannot carry -twenty pistols shooting to various heights to choose from, it is best to -have the pistol sighted to hit the _exact spot_ you aim at, and then it -does not matter if you are shooting at an elephant or a mouse, you can hit -the spot. - -The tendency to "duck" and flinch at the noise and recoil makes beginners -put their shots very low. - -The revolver used to make men shoot high, the automatic shoots low as a -rule from muzzle heaviness, the wrong angle the stock is placed at, and -the uneven blow back (which latter I will explain later). - -Single-shot pistols are generally of American make and it is very curious -what defects they have in comparison with the French duelling pistol. - -To begin with they have a stock too much at right angles to the barrel and -much too small and narrow. - -Next, the trigger is in the wrong place. The proper place for the trigger -is so that you can just reach it with the first joint of the outstretched -first finger. Pressing the trigger with the second finger is a ridiculous -habit and, with an automatic pistol, results in making the pistol jamb -burn the first finger with the ejecting cartridges. - -The American single-shot pistols have the trigger so close to the hand -that the trigger finger has to curl around the trigger beyond the second -joint. - -I never could understand how Chevalier Ira Paine, with his big hand, -managed to shoot American single-shot pistols. - -The trigger being too close not only makes pressing it difficult but makes -it so that, instead of straight back, it has to be pressed to the left and -sends the bullet to the left. - -[Illustration: COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, MILITARY MODEL, CALIBRE .45] - -[Illustration: COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, MILITARY MODEL, CALIBRE .38] - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -TARGETS - - -I began my instruction with a white bull's-eye on a black target, but, as -soon as the pupil becomes a little proficient, this bull's-eye shooting -should be stopped. - -The pupil should then learn to hit the middle of a large object, not a -small object of different colour, superimposed on a larger one. - -The great difficulty beginners have in deer-stalking is that they aim at -the stag as a whole, instead of trying to hit a definite part of him. - -If you aim at even a large object in the former way, you are very apt to -miss it entirely. - -In France there are man targets of iron, the natural size of a man in -profile, which can be stood on the ground in front of the butts. These are -the best I know for shooting at with the small duelling charge. - -There are divisions incised into this target so that the marker, when he -goes up, can see the value of the shot, but these divisions are invisible -from where the shooter stands. He must judge as to where to aim and hit. - -The target is painted over after each series of shots with a mixture of -soot and water. - -Be sure not to use any size or varnish, as this fixes the black so that -the bullet does not knock it off, and so shots are difficult to locate on -the figure from the firing point. - -With soot and water the shots appear almost white on the target at the -spot the soft lead bullet has flattened and dropped down, taking the soot -with it. - -These iron targets are suitable only for soft lead bullets driven at low -velocity. - -With a high-power automatic pistol it would be dangerous, as bullets would -rebound or glance off long distances if the edge of the target were -grazed. - -For shooting with powerful ammunition, the target must be of wood, or -canvas on a wooden stretcher, with black paper pasted over it. The bullets -go through into the butt, which latter must be exceptionally thick or else -the last of several bullets striking in one place will go through it. - -The pattern of target we used at the Olympic Games at Stockholm in 1912, I -do not like. It was much too big and the rings (upright ovals) too -distinct. It was like shooting at an ordinary ring target with visible -bull's-eye. - -It was a good idea, however, having upright ovals instead of circles for a -man target, as a miss right or left is important, whereas a rather high or -low shot would still strike a man. - -For animal targets, on the Continent, these ovals are placed horizontally, -because an animal is longer than it is high; also for running shots a miss -in front or behind the bull's-eye is more excusable than one over or -under. - -The proper distance to practise at is the distance you can hit the -invisible bull's-eye twice in three shots. As soon as you can do better -than this, move the target a few feet further off, or decrease the size of -the bull's-eye. - -The idea is to have a target on which when shooting your very best, you -may just be able to make the highest possible score. - -This is the principle on which the targets are made in all the -Gastinne-Renette competitions in Paris. - -The highest possible score is not beyond the power of the pistols, if held -by a very good shot. - -For the Grande Medal d'Or, the holding has to be nearly as good as if the -pistol were fixed in a vise, but it _is_ possible to make, as several -dozen winning targets made by the crack shots of the world testify. - -A target impossible to make a full score on discourages the shooter. - -It rather adds to the interest if a hit breaks something; if a clay -pigeon, for instance, is put on a nail for a bull's-eye on a man target -painted the same colour, it is practically an invisible bull and it is a -great satisfaction to see the pieces instantly fly at a hit, instead of -having to examine the target to see where your shots are. - -These clay pigeons, or soup plates, or whatever you use, would not do if -put against an iron target, as the splash of the bullet would break them -even if they were not actually hit. - -One can buy an apparatus in Paris which fills rubber balls with water, -which make good targets to shoot at either hung up or thrown in the air. - -To hit them with a pistol with a bullet when thrown in the air is -extremely difficult, and can only be safely tried when shooting out to -sea, or against a high cliff. - -Single barrel pistols of 28 shotgun bore, 10-inch barrels are made to -shoot shot, and these are very good for such shooting and train timing and -swing in snap shooting. - -At eighty live pigeons at twelve yards' rise I have got more than half I -shot at. One has to be quick, as the pigeon is so soon out of range. No. 7 -shot is best for this, but the pistol only shoots half an ounce of shot, -and makes a very small pattern. - -I will explain in the next chapter how to shoot so as to compel quick -shooting without the cumbersome machinery for making a target appear and -disappear. - -If you count seconds for yourself or have them counted for you, the time -varies and one cannot help dwelling on the counting when a fraction more -time is needed for your aim to be correct. - -The utmost care must be taken, if you have an assistant to go to and from -the target, not to point in his direction or to load before he has come -back. Even at otherwise well-managed shooting clubs, there is too much -carelessness in this respect. - -Targets which draw up and down on trolleys are a great nuisance, and yet -almost all shooting galleries are equipped with them, and their presence -is considered the acme of good gallery equipment in England. - -This may be all right for preventing markers being shot, but I prefer an -iron man target, life size, standing on his feet in a green field with a -suitable background. One can shoot so much better than at a figure painted -on a flat background. - -You see a miss by the momentary puff of dust where the bullet hits the -ground, instead of having to look for a bullet hole in the painted -background. - -It would be possible to make a target which drops down and rises again -from the impact of the bullet. - -I have a target in the form of a stag which when you hit his invisible -heart, he half rears, then bends his hocks and plunges down on his knees, -throwing back his head in the most realistic manner. This stag, stood -amongst long bracken and stalked, gives a most lifelike performance. - -He is wound up in various places and the shock of the bullet on a buffer -releases the movements in succession with momentary intervals. - -It was made by a very ingenious target mechanic, who also makes monkeys -which run up a tree when hit, parrots who turn a somersault on the -branch they are sitting on when hit, a man who takes off his hat and bows -to you when you hit him properly, a chamois who tumbles over a precipice. - -The maker, who has a shooting gallery on the Continent, makes a good -profit out of it, as the bull's-eyes are very small and difficult to hit, -and people keep on paying to shoot in order to amuse their companions, and -children beg their parents to try to set the automatons in motion. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -PRACTICAL TARGETS - - -The pistol being, primarily, a man-shooting weapon, the target for -practice should be the shape of a full-sized man. - -The man target we used at the Olympic Games at Stockholm in 1912, was a -coloured paper target of a soldier standing at attention, full face. This -was pasted on a wooden board cut to the same shape. - -The bull's-eye was an upright oval on the breast, surrounded by concentric -upright ovals. - -The divisions could be seen from the firing point. Competition at it was -permitted with .22 pistols, which was ridiculous as they are not duelling -pistols, or suitable for war or self-defence. - -The regulation French Duelling Target is made in several ways, but in all -cases it is the figure of a man painted black, standing in absolute -profile (see Plate 3). - -This can be had, either printed on paper, to paste on a board cut out to -its shape, in cast iron with a base so that it stands up of itself, or of -steel with an electrical device for registering the shots. The figure is -in profile, which is not correct. - -A proficient duellist stands as full face as a man shooting a gun. This -position is easier to shoot in, but it is also easier to hit. - -In the absolute profile target, the places where misses are usually made -are past the small of the waist and under the chin. These would not occur -on a man standing full face, or nearly so. - -The target of paper pasted on wood has the bullet holes covered by white -and black paper pasters. - -The bullet hole is first pasted over with a white paster, so as to show -its place from the firing point. After the next shot a white paster is put -on this fresh shot and the former shot obliterated by a black paster. - -On this target there is no bull's-eye and all hits, anywhere, have an -equal value. - -In competitions, a row of these figures stand in the field and the marker, -after a shot at each has been fired, goes down the line and pastes white -pasters over the bullet holes and black patches over where he finds a -white patch. He need not say anything, when he has finished, it is at once -seen from the firing point which targets have been hit and where, and what -targets have been missed. - -The iron target is divided by incised lines into an oblong bull's-eye with -various subdivisions as shown in the diagram (see Plate 3). - -The bull's-eye counts four, the space on each side three, the space below -two, and the head and the bottom of the frock coat one each. These -divisions are invisible from the firing point. - -When these are painted with soot and water, or distemper black and water, -the bullet knocks off the black and leaves a distinct lead-coloured mark. - -When shot at in the open this is all that is necessary, but if, instead of -a bank behind the figure there is a wall, this wall is painted white and a -second lot of paint (this time whitewash) is kept for whitening the wall, -if a shot hits that, to obliterate it so as to show where misses go. - -An inexperienced marker is apt to put his brush into the wrong pot, so -that the result is a grey colour. - -The electric marking target looks exactly like this last and is painted -after shots in the same way, but the various divisions are separate plates -which stand on rods with springs behind. - -When a shot strikes any plate it drives it back, and the spring returns it -to place. - -The act of driving back makes electric connection, transmitted by wires, -to a small copy of the target, like the indicator inside a hotel lift, and -rings a bell. It shows the value of the shot and approximately the place -it has struck. The actual spot struck is not indicated. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -HOW TO HOLD THE PISTOL - - -As the revolver had a short stock with an acute curve and was muzzle -heavy, the grip I recommend for it is not suitable for the duelling pistol -or automatic. - -I take the duelling pistol first as that has the ideal handle or stock; -the automatic, except in the American Colt Regulation .45, being open to -great improvement. - -The duelling pistol is a survival of the old horse pistol in balance and -form of stock, and this has never been improved on. - -Most things undergo constant improvement, but the pistol stock, on the -contrary, has steadily deteriorated. - -The old horse pistol balanced just right, and the long light barrel was -counterpoised by the heavy stock. - -The angle was right, and the sights fitted close down to the barrel. In -some cases there was no back sight but aim was taken as with a shotgun. - -The perfect balance almost did away with the need of a back sight. - -Then the revolver came with its front overbalance, which often needed, on -its short upright stock, a grip with the little finger under the butt to -steady it. - -As I explained in my _Art of Revolver Shooting_, it was necessary to get -the line of the arm as nearly possible in line with the barrel, -consequently the thumb also had to be extended in line with the barrel. - -This was possible with the old "break down" action revolvers, but when -solid-frame revolvers were made to withstand the stronger pressure of the -nitro powders, the extractor opening lever had to be put in the way of -this thumb extension, so that the thumb was crooked to avoid the nail -being split by the recoil, or the catch opened by the thumb striking it -from the recoil. - -The proper way to hold the duelling pistol is not very high up the grip, -because if the hold is taken so high up as to make the barrel in line with -the arm, the back sight is hidden by the hand. - -This lower hold is not a disadvantage, as the obtuse slope of the handle -and the perfect balance of the pistol have no tendency to drop the muzzle. - -The thumb is curved downwards just enough to get the best grip. - -The duelling pistol has a spur at the near end of the trigger guard, which -some shooters put their second finger round (see Plate 6). I find that -this only gives one a clumsy handful and that it is better to have the -second finger with the others together round the stock, and close under -the back of the trigger guard. - -[Illustration: PLATE 5. HOW TO HOLD THE DUELLING PISTOL (1)] - -I am sorry to find that some still cling to the absurd practice of using -the second finger to press the trigger, holding the first finger along the -pistol. - -There is nothing to recommend this and everything to condemn it, and I -have never seen it used by a good shot. - -It is only a fashion, like the new one of jerking the elbow out at right -angles to look at the wrist watch, or turning up the collar, and the -bottom of the trousers, on a hot dry day. - -[Illustration: PLATE 6. HOW TO HOLD THE DUELLING PISTOL WITH SPUR (2)] - -Using the second finger for the trigger deprives the hand of a third of -its grip on the stock. It employs a less sensitive finger for the trigger, -as the first finger is always used for sensitive work, the second being -only a gripper. Moreover, the first finger, if extended along the barrel -when shooting an automatic, not only gets burnt and cut, as it lies along -where the spent cartridge cases and powder gases escape, but it is apt -to get jammed into this opening and stop the action of the pistol. - -I shot an automatic pistol alternately with another man, which jammed when -my companion shot it but not with me. I found he kept getting his first -finger into the mechanism, as he was using his second for the trigger. - -Now as to holding the stock of an automatic pistol. The United States -Regulation Colt .45 Automatic has the best grip of any, and one can hold -it, as I have advised for the duelling pistol, right up hard against the -projection over which the recoil slide operates. - -The smaller Civilian and Police Colt have not quite as good a stock, -rather more upright; the same applies to the Savage and the Smith & -Wesson. - -The German Military Regulation Automatic has a nice stock but it is rather -too thick. It is well balanced and at the proper angle. - -The "Hammer Head" stock attachment to the barrel of some automatic pistols -I find most awkward to hold, and impossible to get a sense of direction -with. One finds oneself far below the object one wants to hit and the -muzzle has to be canted up with a most wrist-spraining movement. The -recoil comes on the wrist at the same angle as if you put the first joints -of your fingers on a table, and the palm of your hand against a leg of the -table whilst keeping the arm horizontal. - -I can neither hold nor shoot in this position; it is all so awkward. If -a man lowers his head, he can look along the sights, but if he keeps his -head up as he should and does in shooting any other pistol, it is very -difficult to align the sights except by bending the arm and raising the -elbow. In any case I cannot shoot with such a stock, so can give no -instruction in its use. - -In a later chapter I will give my ideas of what should be altered in -automatic pistols from a shooter's point of view; the "Hammer Head" or -"right-angle" stocks being one of these. - -Not knowing how to hold and shoot a pistol, has given rise to all those -inventions of a portable rifle stock to fit on a pistol, so that the -pistol can be shot like a rifle. - -To begin with, such a stock puts the sights too close to the eyes, the -noise is deafening and the accuracy very bad, compared with holding the -same pistol at arm's length as it should be held. It is merely the attempt -to try and hold it steady by men who cannot shoot a pistol. - -A moment's thought will show that, unless a man is as near-sighted as an -owl in daylight, he cannot shoot with the back sight resting on his nose. - -A pistol fitted with a rifle stock must be used with great caution. You -are apt to put the fingers of your left hand over the muzzle, as the end -of the muzzle comes just where one puts one's hand with the fingers round -the fore end, to steady a rifle or shotgun. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -RUNNING SHOTS - - -The pistol being meant for use at close range at objects one sees only for -a moment, or which are in rapid motion, I do not advise getting too much -into the habit of taking long, deliberate aim at stationary targets. - -When you can handle the pistol with safety to others and yourself, it is -better to begin to learn shooting rapidly and at moving objects. - -I think it is well to begin to shoot at moving objects at first, instead -of rapid shooting. You can begin at slowly moving objects, which does not -hurry and flustrate you as shooting against time may do. - -Above all do not attempt to shoot as many people tell you to. - -The greatest bar to shooting at moving objects with the rifle or pistol is -the way most men shoot at them. - -What they do is to aim at a spot and shoot when the object arrives there. -Shotgun men do not make this mistake, but men used only to lying on their -faces like a squashed frog in rifle shooting invariably do. - -Wherever you go to a rifle meeting where there is a competition at a -moving target, "Running Deer," "Running Man" or "Gliding Man," etc., it is -always the same. - -A few men shoot as they ought to, and win all the prizes. The bulk of the -competitors lie on their faces, as they were taught to do at stationary -targets, take a deliberate aim at a spot on the background, and wait till -the target gets opposite their aim. - -Then--boom--the dust flies up where the target _was_ a moment before, but -it is now--elsewhere. - -It is as if you tried to catch a fly by putting a finger on him when he is -on the table-cloth. You will put it where he _was_, not where he _is_. - -The correct principle (the one with which I won the Rifle Running-Deer -World's Championship at the Olympic Games in 1908) is to treat the rifle -or pistol exactly as if it were a shotgun. - -Assuming you are not familiar with shotgun shooting, get a man who is a -good shot with the shotgun to coach you, when practising with the pistol -at moving objects. - -If you are a shotgun man you do not need to be told what follows. - -At a stationary target, however rapidly you are shooting, you try to hit -_that object_. - -In shooting at moving targets you try to make two moving objects (the -target and the bullet) meet. - -The target is moving. The bullet also takes time to get where the target -will be. You have to get the bullet to arrive simultaneously with the -target at the same spot. - -If you aim at the object, the bullet will arrive at the spot after the -object has gone further on. - -To give an illustration: - -An illustrated paper showed an engraving of a man on a motor bicycle going -at fifty miles an hour, at six hundred yards' distance. - -There was a cross made on the man's chest which, it was explained, was the -spot to aim at in order to hit him. - -If the rifle were correctly aimed for this cross, a man could shoot -millions of shots and never hit the motor-cyclist. - -The bullets would reach the spot where the motorist was a moment before, -but he would be yards further on when the bullet arrived. - -Now the way to overcome this missing behind is to "swing" and "time." -These are shotgun men's terms, never used or understood by pistol or rifle -shots, and this is the reason so few riflemen can hit moving targets, and -chase them with the bayonets instead. - -Suppose you have a shotgun in your hands and a pheasant comes flying -across you. The thing is to hit him in the neck with the centre of the -charge so as to make a clean kill without a flutter in midair--"neck him," -as we call it. - -Most men try to shoot without moving their position and so hamper and -cramp themselves unnecessarily by having to twist the body if the bird -is passing them at an awkward angle. - -Turn like a soldier does in "right about face" to either side, so that the -bird gives you the easiest crossing shot. Whilst doing so, follow an -imaginary point in front of his head with your eyes, the distance in front -varying with the bird's speed and distance from you. Whilst doing so bring -up your gun (_not_ looking at the gun), the gun swinging as your body -swings in the direction the bird is travelling. As the gun comes to your -shoulder press the trigger. - -If you look at the bird, you will shoot _at_ the bird, and consequently -shoot behind where he was at the moment the trigger was pulled. If the -bird was forty yards off you will have missed clean behind him. - -If nearer, owing to the shot spreading over a thirty-inch circle, you may -have hit him far back in the body, what is called "tailored him," and he -will go off and die a lingering death. - -If you shoot forward enough, you will either kill him clean or miss him -clean (a miss in front). - -_That_ is the great thing. If it _must_ be a miss let it be a clean miss, -_in front_. Not shooting far enough forward is the chief cruelty in -shooting--wounded animals going off to die in agony. - -Always remember this when shooting at animals and birds. The forward end -is the vital end; hitting it causes sudden, painless death, so _swing far -enough forward_. - -To hit bird after bird, animal after animal, too far back, as one sees -some men do, to an accompaniment of screams of hares and rabbits, and -fluttering birds, is disgusting. - -If you shoot well forward, none of this happens. You may not have so much -game down, but each one of them drops stone dead without a sound. There is -no calling out, "Bring a dog, I have a 'runner.'" - -I think it would be as well, before trying moving shots with a pistol, to -do a little shotgun shooting at clay pigeons, so as to get into the idea -of swing and timing, if you are not a shotgun shot already. - -When you can swing your gun to an imaginary spot, in front of a moving -object and press the trigger at the moment the sights are aligned, without -stopping your swing, you can shoot the pistol with success at moving -objects, provided you treat it exactly as if you were using a shotgun. - -Have a moderately large object which the bullet will either break or leave -a visible hole through, arranged to pass you at a slow speed. - -It can either be dragged by a long string, run on a trolley (the trolley -shielded behind a bank so that a bullet could not strike it) or some other -slowly moving target. - -A swinging object is of no use. It makes a difficult curve to follow, for -the beginner, and its passage lasts too short a time. - -A swinging object also makes the shooter try the objectionable method of -waiting and aiming at the spot the object swings to, which I want to -avoid. - -If your target travels slowly enough, and is large enough, and at only -some twelve yards' distance, there will be no necessity to aim in front of -it. Its forward edge is far enough. - -Fix your eyes on the front part of the target. As it traverses bring your -pistol up without looking at the pistol, as it comes level with your eye -and the sights get aligned. Keep on swinging your body and pistol and -press the trigger, while still swinging. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -RUNNING SHOTS (_Continued_) - - -It is best to stand with the feet slightly apart and facing rather where -the object is going to, than from where it comes, as your shot will go off -towards the end of its run. - -At first bring up the pistol very slowly, and swing with the object for a -moment after your sights get on it. Do not first aim at it and then move -in front of it. - -Gradually come quicker and try to fire the instant your pistol comes up. - -Speed in coming up does not help you. Most men come up in such a hurry -that they wobble all over the place. Save time by firing the instant your -sights are aligned, not in bringing up your arm. - -Start slowly, increasing your speed as you raise your arm, not in abrupt -jerky movements like the English Military salute. - -Do not raise it with a jerk. It spoils your aim. A good engine driver -starts the train so that you do not feel the start. That is the idea for -raising the pistol. The faster the object is moving the faster, as a rule, -the arm has to be raised. - -But if the object is coming from a distance, and will be in sight for some -distance as it passes, this rule does not apply. - -You can take your time raising your arm, only your following swing must be -fast and of course your "allowance" in front of the object greater than at -slower moving objects. - -As you get proficient, increase the distance you stand from your target -and increase its speed. - -It is a mistake to have a small target for practising. When you miss you -cannot see if you have missed behind or in front, and you get to dwelling -on your aim. - -As to the distance to aim in front, that is a matter of experience and, -other things being equal, the man who has this experience can beat another -shot who can hold closer on a stationary object, but does not know how far -to aim in front of a moving one, or how to swing and time. - -The difference between shooting at an upright man moving and an animal is -that, in the former case, the most important thing is to judge the proper -distance to aim in front; in the latter case, to keep one's elevation so -as not to miss over or under. - -When shooting at a running man target, the man being narrow, one is very -apt to miss just behind the back. - -At a running deer one cannot, if at all a decent shot, miss him behind his -tail (though one may miss past his chest in trying to shoot forward -enough), but it is easy to miss over his withers, or under his brisket. - -Keep on practising at moving objects, varying the distance and speed -constantly, and the direction from right to left and left to right, till -you can judge how far in front you must shoot for each case. - -It is best to always use the same pistol and charge. If you use at one -time a .22 pistol and then the .44 duelling pistol, you will get confused, -as the .22 goes up much faster and consequently needs less allowance in -front of the target. - -As long as you keep to the same pistol, you need not mind how slowly the -bullet goes up. You know how much to aim in front but, if at one time you -must aim an inch in front and next time four inches for the same speed, -you can never learn to judge where to aim. - -The various rifles I have used at the Running Deer at Bisley since the -early days vary in allowance in front from four feet down to merely aiming -at the point of the shoulder. - -The faster the bullet goes, the easier it is to judge how far you must aim -in front at moving objects, but here comes in the inevitable "compromise." - -The faster the bullet goes, the more force it needs to propel it, which -means more recoil and shock to the shooter. - -You have to make a compromise. If you are strong and have good nerves, and -don't take alcohol or smoke, you can stand a strong recoil without its -spoiling your shooting. If you are not strong, it is better to have to aim -further in front and save your nerves, by using a lighter load. - -I am not speaking from theory but from experience. I have specialized and -made record scores on the "Running Deer" at the National Rifle Association -of England's Meeting since I was a small boy. - -When I first began, an older man shot a very light charge and kept -winning, although he had to aim an enormous distance in front of the -"deer" to make up for the slow speed of his bullet. But, as there was -little noise and no recoil to worry his nerves, he put up wonderfully good -scores. - -I, knowing no better, tried to get my bullet up quickly by shooting a -tremendously big charge. The bullet went up quickly but the recoil nearly -knocked me down, and in consequence my shooting was very erratic. - -I have since experimented from very small charges up to the heaviest, -having a velocity of over three thousand feet a second. - -The year I won the World's Championship at the Olympic Games, I had -arrived at a "compromise" between speed of bullet and recoil, which -enabled me to win, but since then I have yet a still better compromise, -which enables me to make highest possible scores. - -Formerly, in revolvers and pistols, one had to bear the full recoil. Now, -automatic pistols, which utilize part of the recoil to operate opening, -loading, ejection, and reclosing, have less recoil when shooting heavier -charges than revolvers did. - -The automatic pistol has a softer recoil than a pistol or especially a -revolver, owing to this absorption of recoil. - -It is more of a push, less of a blow. - -Therefore, when you have found the heaviest load you can stand in a -single-shot pistol, you will find you can use a heavier cartridge in an -automatic pistol, without any more discomfort. - -You will therefore not have to aim so far in front with an automatic -pistol when shooting at moving objects, and not have to take so high an -aim at distance objects to allow for the drop of the bullet--as with a -revolver. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -SHOOTING AN AUTOMATIC PISTOL - - -Before everything else, be sure you have the right cartridges for the -pistol you are using. If you have too strong a cartridge you may have a -fatal accident. If too weak a cartridge the mechanism will not operate. A -weaker cartridge than that for which the pistol is made will prevent its -working properly or, in fact, working at all, unless the closing is -assisted by the hand, and then it ceases to be an automatic pistol. - -It is best to begin practising single loading. The best way to do this is -through the magazine so as to get familiar with the magazine. Take out the -magazine, put in only one cartridge, put back the magazine, and operate -the slide. The pistol is now a single loader, ready to shoot. - -Do your shooting a few times like this, till you get used to the pistol. - -You will find the recoil different from that of a single-shot pistol or a -revolver. - -Instead of the recoil coming back directly on you it will be softened and, -even with the best of automatics, the pistol will have a tendency to -wriggle and "tap," not recoil back in one clean kick. - -When practising, make a point of putting the safety bolt on and off, using -this safety bolt as you would in putting a single-shot pistol to -half-cock. - -There is this difference. Whereas, in English makes of guns and sporting -rifles, the safety bolt puts the weapon automatically at safe each time it -is reloaded, having to be taken off before each shot can be fired. -Military firearms are only at safe when the safety bolt is purposely put -on with the thumb. - -The usual automatic pistol is made on the military idea. The safety once -off, it remains off till the user puts it back at safety, no matter how -many shots he has fired in the meantime. - -The Colt automatic pistol, like the Smith & Wesson hammerless safety -pocket revolver, remedies this defect by having a _second_ safety which -makes the pistol safe, even if the first safety slide is not at safe. This -consists of a lever at the back of the stock which is at safe till the -hand presses it in firing and which keeps the weapon safe till the stock -is gripped in actual firing. - -Any one who is a pistol shot grips the stock instinctively when shooting, -but I have known men unused to firearms, unable to shoot a pistol having -this safety grip, as they pull the trigger without squeezing the stock. - -I was asked to give expert opinion as to whether a good revolver-shot had -shot a man accidentally or on purpose. - -The pistol he used was a Smith & Wesson hammerless safety pocket pistol. - -The contention was that a man trying to drag the pistol from his hand had -caused it to go off accidentally. I said that with an ordinary revolver, -if the man had his finger on the trigger at the time, it was very probable -the pistol would be discharged accidentally, but that the man would not be -likely to do so with a Smith & Wesson safety pocket pistol. To test it we -experimented, and besides not being able to make me fire the pistol (empty -of course), when we reversed matters, my questioner, although he tried his -utmost, could not fire the pistol whilst I pulled at it. - -The holder pulls against the _front_ of the stock to avoid its being taken -from his hand, he does not _squeeze the back of it_. The result is that -the pistol cannot be discharged, except by a voluntary effort. He can pull -the trigger as much as he likes, but as long as he does not grip, but -merely uses the front of the stock as a handle to pull against his -adversary, the pistol is safe against accidental discharge. - -When you have got accustomed to the automatic pistol as a single loader, -fill the magazine and use it as an automatic. - -For continual rapid-firing, that is one loaded magazine after another, do -not shoot off the last cartridge of a magazine before inserting a fresh -one. Otherwise it necessitates dragging back the slide with both hands -after each fresh clip is inserted and wastes time. - -Most automatic pistols remain open after the last shot has been fired, a -most necessary thing, as otherwise you never know if your pistol has -another shot available or is empty. - -To do continuous firing shoot all but one cartridge of the clip load, -press the stop, and drop the empty clip. The loaded clip, held in the -other hand, is inserted into the butt and shooting can at once be resumed. -The last cartridge left in the barrel, from the first clip, when fired, -brings up the first cartridge of the new clip and so on, indefinitely. - -You will find slightly different problems to overcome as compared with the -single-shot pistol or revolver. - -Rapid-firing is incomparably easier than with a revolver. There is not -only gain of time and no fatigue of the trigger finger or thumb from -cocking, but also the hold of the stock does not have to be changed. It is -merely a matter of aligning and pressing. The recoil is also deadened and -much less severe. - -You will find a tendency for your shots to be strung out vertically, owing -to varying escape of gas at the breech. - -You will find lateral variation is much less than with a revolver, the -bullet going from the barrel of the automatic, not jumping into it from a -cylinder, thus tending to accuracy. - -The vertical variation is more than from a revolver, and this vertical -deviation is absent from a good single-shot pistol. - -When shooting an automatic pistol do not be discouraged if your shots are -not so good vertically but strung out. It is not your fault but that of -the pistol, and you cannot correct this by your shooting. - -Later I will give special practice for automatic pistols, but if you are a -good shot with the single-shot pistol or revolver, you will have no -difficulty in shooting the automatic pistol well, as soon as you have got -used to its characteristics. - -I used to think the occasional very low shots were due to dropping the -muzzle in pulling, but I find it is not this. It is caused by an -occasional escape of gas greater than normal at the breach of the -automatic pistol, causing the bullet to have a weaker flight and therefore -striking lower. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -TIMING APPARATUS - - -In order to improve our speed in shooting, it is important to have a -mechanical timing apparatus. - -Trying to judge speed by counting or getting someone else to count -half-seconds is very unreliable. Where everything depends upon making your -last shot a good one the counting is bound to become slower, in the -anxiety not to spoil a good score. - -With a mechanical timer there is no relenting, it is Fate, and if you -cannot make a good shot in time, your score is spoiled. This trains you -properly; you are not buoyed up by false ideas of your skill which, when -there is real timing, will prove that your ideas of your skill are vain -delusions. - -In England a clock is used, marking seconds or half-seconds. - -This is very good for the man who works the targets; he sees if he is -working the time right, but it does not assist the shooter as he does not -hear the time being struck. - -For the learner, it is important that he should be able to apportion his -time, take so long for lifting his arm, so long for aiming, etc., so as -to learn how to do the best shooting in the time limit allowed, and judge -accordingly. - -For this purpose there is nothing better than the metronome. - -The metronome is used by music teachers for instructing their pupils in -the right time when playing. - -Music for instruction is marked with the metronome beat proper to it: all -that has to be done is to wind up the metronome, set it to that number, -and start it beating. - -A metronome consists of a pyramidical box with clockwork, which makes an -upright pendulum beat at whatever speed it is set. - -The speed depends on a weight which is moved up and down the rod, to set -marks, which correspond to numbers engraved on the sides. - -It is, in fact, a clock pendulum reversed. - -The more elaborate ones have a bell attachment which strikes after any -desired number of beats of the pendulum. If you want to practise three -minutes' exposure of target, you set the metronome at half-second beats -(120 to the minute) and the ball to strike at every sixth beat. - -Accuracy of course depends for what purpose you are practising, but to be -able to hit an object a foot in diameter, at ten yards' distance -instantly, is ample for self-defence. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -SNAP SHOOTING - - -When you have become fairly proficient at hitting moving objects, you will -be able, with a little practice, to soon pick up the knack of snap -shooting. - -By snap shooting I do not mean the sort of competition where you are given -three-seconds intervals. That is merely "fast deliberate aim," in fact is -as slow as allowable for practical shooting, slower is mere target -shooting. - -Snap shooting is when the pistol is fired the instant it is levelled -without any dwelling on the aim. - -Use a big target, at ten or twelve yards. - -Keep your head up, eyes fixed on the target. - -As you raise your pistol, begin squeezing and let the pistol off as it -comes horizontal. - -With practice you can put all your shots close together. It is the most -mechanical of all pistol shooting. - -You get to putting shot after shot in the same place like throwing marbles -into a hat. - -You can test how mechanical it becomes for yourself. - -After putting a dozen shots close together, try to put a dozen shots a -foot higher on the target. - -You will find yourself all at sea, and will have to begin aiming. Then you -get so mechanical you will find it difficult to hit a foot lower, which -you found so easy before. - -Your arm has got so used to lifting to a certain position, your trigger -finger to squeeze when the arm is raised to exactly the same position, -that the whole thing becomes as mechanical and subconscious as swinging -your arms and legs as you walk. - -Your arms swing to exactly the same spot each time. Try to take longer or -shorter steps, and to swing your arms further or less far, and you will -see how mechanical your ordinary walk is. - -If you want to win a prize for snap shooting, you can, by practising -constantly under identical conditions of distance, shape, colour, height -of target, and lighting, get so mechanical that it takes an effort _not_ -to hit the same spot continually. - -For this reason, to learn snap shooting, not merely forming a habit, it is -best to constantly vary the height of the target you shoot at, or try to -hit various parts alternately. - -Get someone (if you are shooting at a man target) to call out "head" at -the first beat of the metronome (beating at 120 to the minute), and try to -hit the head before the next beat of the metronome. - -Then he will call "feet" and it is ten to one that you will swing too -high; or if it was "feet" first you will not be able to get as high as the -"head" next time. - -You can put in your shots at great speed if it is always to the same spot, -but if you have to vary and do not know where you are to hit, till you get -the word to go, it is impossible to shoot quite so fast accurately. - -For this reason it is well not to think one has mastered snap shooting -when one has got into the knack of putting all one's shots on the same -spot. - -Snap shooting and shooting at moving objects, are the two sorts of -shooting of real use. - -Shooting long shots (which I will treat of next) may be useful at times, -but deliberate shooting at minute bull's-eyes is only useful for winning -prizes and getting a reputation for being a "Crack Revolver-Shot." - -My world's record snap-shooting score was published in the newspapers with -the words under it--"This is the highest at present, but it will, of -course, soon be beaten." - -Naturally, it was not as pretty a group as the target published next to -it, which had been shot with deliberate aim, but this latter score has -been equalled dozens of times. While my rapid-fire score is unbeaten -(Appendix 10 and 11). The value of a score can only be judged if the -conditions it was shot under are known. - -If you want to be thought a good shot by the public, leave rapid, snap, -and moving object shooting alone, otherwise your best scores will look so -bad beside those of the man who aims, lowers his pistol, aims again, wipes -his hands, and after half an hour of these antics, scores a bull's-eye. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -LONG RANGE SHOOTING - - -The moment the bullet leaves the muzzle of the pistol, it begins to fall, -owing to the force of gravity. - -The faster it is going the further it goes before this drop is sufficient -to be noticeable. Gravity acts through time, so if a bullet goes twice as -fast as another, it goes twice as far before it has dropped the same -distance as the slower bullet. - -The big bullet of the duelling pistol has more air resistance than the .22 -bullet of the American pistols, also it has comparatively a much smaller -charge, so it begins to drop more rapidly and at shorter range. - -The duelling pistol is sighted for twenty-five metres as that is the -duelling distance (twenty-seven yards, three inches). - -It hits where you aim, therefore, at that distance, it shoots practically -the same at the nearer distances. - -Beyond the twenty-five metres, however, it begins to drop very rapidly. I -have watched where the bullet strikes when the man target is missed in an -open field. The bullet strikes the ground less than a hundred yards off, -showing that it has dropped the height of a man's shoulder (say over four -feet). - -The .22 hits the ground nearly two hundred yards off under similar -circumstances. - -I had exceptional opportunities to watch this, as my man target stood out -in an open park, where there was no necessity to have a butt behind it. - -As it is not usual to shoot a duelling pistol beyond twenty-five yards, or -a .22 pistol beyond fifty yards, there is no necessity to make any -alteration in the sighting at that distance, but if extreme accuracy is -desired at any one distance the hind sight can be filed for that special -distance. - -The automatic, however, has a very powerful cartridge which shoots -accurately several hundred yards. - -Now the way I use my "big game" rifle is: when at a distance at which the -drop of the bullet would make it fall below the body of the game when I -aim at it, I judge how much I must aim above and shoot accordingly. - -The advantage of this is that you are ready at any moment to shoot. If the -animal is close and therefore dangerous, you can aim straight at him. If -he is far you aim above him. - -If he suddenly comes close you merely have to aim at him. This is the -principle on which the United States Army Automatic is sighted, one -immovable back sight. - -Most rifles and some automatic pistols are sighted differently. - -They have leaves or other adjustments to the back sight, so that if you -want to shoot at long range you estimate the distance, look at the hind -sight which is marked in distances, and either raise the leaf marked for -that distance, or else slide or screw up the back sight for that distance. - -This is all very pretty theoretically, or for deliberate target shooting, -but in practice it is dangerous. - -As an instance, you are out shooting, and see a stag 250 yards off, as you -estimate. - -You fix the back sight of your rifle for that distance, and begin taking a -careful aim. - -At that moment there is a grunt, you look up and there is an old wild boar -(a solitaire, very savage) charging at you from twenty yards off. - -If you fire at him with your 250 yards' sight up, you miss him and he has -you. But if you are shooting on my principle with a fixed sight for close -range, you would be aiming two feet above the stag when the boar started -charging, and all you would have to do is to shoot at the boar's chest, -and he would drop and you could then fire at the stag, as he galloped off. - -A leaf of the back sight may get put up accidentally, and you do not -notice this when firing at short range. - -The chief danger is from an enemy near you. You ought to have your sights -right for him, the distant one is not so important to hit, if you forget -to aim high for him. - -How often soldiers are told to put up their sights for a thousand yards' -range, and then have to start shooting at a close enemy and _forget to -alter their sights_. - -My advice is to have nothing to do with elevating back sights. - -As the duelling pistol has such an extreme drop, it will accustom you, if -you shoot it at various distances, to aim high or low according to the -distance. - -When you come to the automatic you will find, except for very -exceptionally long shots, you need not alter your elevation of aim at all; -it shoots practically straight up to the furthest you are likely ever to -have to use it. - -Less than forty yards and generally at a few feet off is the range for -pistols in actual combat. - -The further the object shot at, the more accurate the aim must be to hit -it. - -It is difficult to do snap shooting with a pistol at one hundred yards, -though one can do very accurate snap shooting with a rifle at that -distance. - -The reason is that the rifle has a longer barrel, so that a slight fault -in the alignment does not so much matter, but with the short barrel of a -pistol a hundredth of an inch wrong in the sighting, at one hundred yards, -makes over twelve inches error where the bullet strikes. - -In other words, an error of a hundredth of an inch in alignment in an -automatic pistol at one hundred yards, would make the pistol miss a target -twelve and a half inches in diameter, whereas a rifle at the same distance -with the same error of alignment would graze the edge of a target two and -a half inches in diameter. - -The pistol is more than four times more difficult to shoot than the rifle -at one hundred yards, owing to its short barrel magnifying the error -nearly four to five times more than the long barrel of the rifle. - -To compare a pistol with a rifle target at one hundred yards, the rifle -target bull's-eye would have to be reduced to a fifth of its diameter, -leaving the bullet holes where they are, or vice versa, the pistol target -bull's-eye would have to be magnified five diameters, leaving the bullet -holes where they are. - -This means that in shooting a match at a hundred yards, the rifle would -have to be given a bull's-eye a fifth the diameter of the pistol target, -the outside rings of the target in proportion, or the pistol must shoot at -twenty yards, against the rifle at one hundred, both having bull's-eyes -the same size. - -This confirms my experience that to hit a foot diameter bull's-eye with a -pistol at a hundred yards, is about as difficult as to hit a two and a -half inch bull's-eye at the same distance with a rifle. Of course standing -position is meant. With the prone position for the rifle it is too great a -handicap on the pistol. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE AUTOMATIC PISTOL - - -Now that the pupil has learned how to handle the single-shot pistol with -safety to himself and others, he can be trusted to learn how to shoot the -automatic pistol. (See Plates 7 and 13.) - -Before giving such instruction, it is necessary to explain what an -automatic pistol is, and in what it differs from a single-shot pistol. - -The first pistol, as the first rifle, was naturally a single-shot one. - -The pistol and rifle both proceeded in development along the same lines. - -First the match-lock, wheel-lock, flint-lock, percussion lock. Then -through muzzle-loader to rim fire, pin fire, to central fire breechloader, -hammer, hammerless, and ejector. - -The double barrel, and multi-barrel, and from smooth-bore to rifled bore, -were evolved at the same time. - -Here the pistol and rifle parted company slightly; though the principle -was the same in each case, it was differently applied. - -The rifle became a magazine loader, and it will next be an automatic -loader (though at present automatic loading is principally used in machine -guns and low-power rifles). - -The pistol, instead of becoming a magazine loader (in the sense of being -loaded by cartridges brought up from a magazine by operating a bolt), -became a revolver--that is, the cartridges were fired out of the magazine -instead of being first inserted into the barrel from a magazine. - -When cartridges are inserted into the barrel, there is no escape of gas at -the breech when they are fired, but when fired out of the cylinder of a -revolver, there is an escape of gas at the juncture of the cylinder and -barrel, which varies, and when such escape of gas occurs it causes weak -and low shots. - -The cylinder cannot be made gas tight, as that would prevent its -revolving, or coincide absolutely with the calibre of the barrel, -consequently a revolver can never be as accurate as a single-shot pistol. - -This defect in the revolver was its weak point in comparison with the -magazine-loading rifle. - -Just before the war, I shot two makes of military full-charge automatic -rifles, which were very good, but the war has put an end to their -development for the present. Undoubtedly the rifle of the future will be -an automatic. - -The principle of an automatic firearm can be best explained by the analogy -of the automobile. - -The revolver, which is a magazine pistol, can be fired only after each -cartridge is placed in position by the action of cocking the hammer with -the thumb, or by double-action trigger pull. - -The internal combustion (the automobile engine) operates by the explosion -operating the various parts. - -The explosion in the cylinder of the engine drives the piston rod forward, -which turns the crank, which, turning the fly-wheel, drives the piston rod -back ready for the next explosion. - -In the automatic pistol, the recoil from the explosion drives the working -part of the pistol back against a strong spring. As soon as the force of -the explosion is spent, this spring forces the working parts back into -place again. These working parts do all the work the shooter does in a -single-shot pistol--that is, it cocks the pistol, opens the breech, -extracts the spent cartridge, inserts a fresh cartridge, and closes the -breech. - -The idea is very simple, and has occurred to almost everyone who has -handled a pistol or a rifle, but there are mechanical difficulties which -are only just beginning to be overcome, and the automatic pistol, and -still more the automatic rifle, are yet far from perfect. - -The chief difficulty is the force of the explosion. In a motor-car engine, -the force of each explosion can be regulated so as to be just sufficient -for the work required. - -In an automatic pistol this cannot be done. The force of the explosion is -that which gives the best shooting, in other words the greatest possible -force, subject to the shooter being able to stand the recoil and the -pistol not to burst, though made light enough to be easily handled. - -If a pistol were made a ton weight, it would fire a very much larger -charge without bursting, but the charge of the explosion has to be limited -to what a pistol of some two and a half pounds' weight can bear without -bursting, or recoiling too severely on the shooter. - -The smaller pocket automatic pistols are lighter (the two-and-a-half pound -ones are military pistols). - -A pistol weighing under two and a half pounds can shoot only a small -charge with light recoil, and so is easier to make. - -The heavy recoil from a military rifle (which gives the bullet a speed of -some thirty thousand feet a second) would shatter the recoil mechanism of -a small pocket pistol, though the latter can quite safely operate under -the slight recoil of its weak cartridge. - -With a magazine rifle or revolver, the shooter uses just sufficient manual -force to operate the mechanism, and even then pistols and rifles may get -damaged by a clumsy man using too much force to wrench the weapon open or -slam it shut. - -If, instead of the intelligently applied strength of a man, using the -minimum force necessary, you substitute the smashing blow (several tons' -weight to the square inch) given by the force of gunpowder, to operate -delicate mechanism, you can realize the difficulty the inventor has to -contend with. - -It is as if you have to invent a firearm which would operate if, after -each shot, you threw it under a passing railway train. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -THE MECHANISM OF THE AUTOMATIC PISTOL - - -What the maker of the automatic pistol has to do is to restrain the sudden -smashing blow of the explosion on his mechanism and have it operate -gently. (See Plates 13 and 14.) - -The safety of the shooter depends greatly on _the breech of the pistol not -being opened till after the force of the explosion is spent_. - -If the breech is opened before the force of the explosion is spent, it -will drive the cartridge out like a bullet, and the pistol will in fact be -shooting from both ends at the same time. - -Now will be seen why a very light-charge rifle or pistol is easier to be -made a practical automatic firearm. - -With a very light charge, the explosive force is so light that, as long as -it does not instantly blow the breech open (but retards it ever so -slightly), there is no harm done. - -Rifles and pistols have long been made to shoot light charges that do not -need the breech securely locked during the discharge, and are perfectly -safe to use. - -The original automatic pistol operated as follows: - -The discharge drives the mechanism back against a spring at the same time -that it blows open the breech, which the recoil spring then closes, -inserting a fresh cartridge. The spent cartridge is blown with some force -sideways out of a slot at the side of the mechanism, so that it may not -hit the shooter in the face. - -In some makes of pistol, the cartridge is not blown out but merely dropped -out. - -With a suitable charge the breech-closing mechanism can be made heavy -enough for its inertia to keep the breech closed sufficiently long after -the discharge. - -When it comes to such heavy charges that it is necessary to keep the -breech closed till the force of the explosion is spent, the difficulty of -making a safe automatic firearm begins. - -With a military full-charge rifle this has hardly yet been arrived at, -hence the delay in its being used for military purposes, but it seems as -if the problem is on the point of being solved. - -For the comparatively weak recoil of a pistol, this does not apply. There -are several perfectly safe pistols in use, and there is no danger in using -any of the well-known makes. - -Some makes of automatic firearms, instead of using the recoil for -operating the mechanism, have a small tube alongside the barrel, which -communicates by a minute hole with the bore of the barrel near its -muzzle. - -The breech does not open till the bullet is just passing out of the -barrel, past the hole into the tube, and therefore the expansion of the -gas of the explosion loses its force. - -A small fraction of this gas rushes through the hole into the tube and -operates the mechanism. - -This has been the principle I have always worked on in trying to solve the -problem of an automatic firearm. - -One system uses the recoil, tempered by a buffer, to modify its force. - -The other consists in diverting enough gas from the big explosion to -operate the mechanism gently. - -It is conceivable that by this latter system it would be possible to -convert the explosion of a siege cannon into a force just strong enough to -break an egg, and that by two such divisions of the explosion, one would -open the breech and the other close it, without the necessity of any -anti-recoil mechanism at all on the principle of the slide valve of a -locomotive steam engine. (My grandfather, Ross Winans, invented the -locomotive slide valve, not Stevenson.) - -I think I am right in saying that this system has not yet been applied to -automatic pistols, and that they all operate on the recoil, driven back by -a compressed spring. - -A fault in every automatic pistol I have yet seen, is the difficulty of -first loading it. - -The cartridges are carried in a clip, which is inserted in the butt of the -pistol and drops out on pressing a button. Most automatic pistols -indicate when this magazine is empty and the pistol unloaded. - -This is very good, but what I complain of is that, after the magazine is -full, you have to bring the first cartridge into the barrel by hand, after -the first shot the cartridges are fed into the barrel and the empty ones -ejected, automatically. - -When getting the first cartridge ready to fire in a revolver you -accomplish it in cocking the pistol, and with a magazine rifle by working -a bolt or lever. - -But with an automatic pistol, if the hands are wet, cold, greasy, or weak -(as a soldier with blood on his hands and weak from a wound), it is -impossible to get the first cartridge into the barrel, or get the pistol -ready to shoot. - -The operation in automatic pistols begins by taking the pistol _in both -hands_. (Compare with cocking the revolver with one hand.) - -Then you hold the stock firmly with one hand, and grip the slippery barrel -of the pistol with the other hand, and use considerable force to draw the -barrel back against the strong compression spring. - -Your only assistance to get a grip is a slight corrugation on the barrel, -only wide enough for your thumb and forefinger to hold. - -Imagine trying to pull hard with only your forefinger and thumb gripping a -smooth and possibly slippery surface, with a cold, wet, or greasy hand. - -Let any one grease the automatic pistol and his hand and see if he can -perform this operation. Sandow, no doubt, could do it, but not the average -man. - -The magazine rifle is purposely made with a bolt like a door bolt, so that -it can be operated easily under all conditions, but the automatic pistol, -evidently to give it a neat external appearance, has no projection to take -hold of to drive back the slide, which, besides, takes more strength than -is required to operate the bolt of a magazine rifle. - -The remedy is simple: have two small projections, one on each side of the -corrugated grip on the barrel, so that the shooter can get two fingers one -over each side of this grip and, holding the stock in one hand, draw back -the slide with his other hand, with a perfect grip under all conditions, -like bending a crossbow. - -As to the shape and angle of the stock, inventors and shooters are at -constant war. - -The inventor is thinking of his mechanism; he makes his stock at the best -angle, shape, and size to suit what he puts inside it. It is much easier -to construct apparatus to feed cartridges into the barrel at right angles -than at an acute angle. - -Therefore, the inventor generally gives the shooter a stock unsuitable to -do good shooting with. - -The inventor should work in combination with the shooter. The shape of the -pistol externally should first be decided on by the shooter, so as to be -the best possible for shooting. In my opinion this should be the shape of -the French duelling pistol of the Gastinne-Renette pattern. (Plates 2 and -9.) - -The inventor should try to design his pistol to fit, as far as possible, -into this external shape. - -Some points, as the distance of the trigger from the finger, and the slope -and form of the butt, cannot be departed from without injury to accurate -shooting and quick handling of the pistol, and yet these are the very -things inventors alter. - -Other points the shooter may give way in, if such modifications are of -vital importance from the inventor's point of view. - -The reverse procedure is, however, the rule. An inventor generally has no -knowledge of shooting, or horses, or whatever else his invention applies -to; he is merely a clever mechanic. He has "imagination" and theories. -Generally, such theories are most grotesque and childish. - -I will instance an invention relating to horse-shoes. - -The inventor showed me a sort of bird-cage of iron and said it was a -horse-shoe. - -He informed me that shoeing horses as at present practised is wrong. "It -is brutal to nail shoes onto horses' feet. How would you like to have an -iron shoe nailed on the sole of your bare foot?" - -I tried to explain to him that the outer horn of a horse's foot has no -feeling, that a horse is hurt only when the farrier is clumsy and drives a -nail into the sensitive inner tissues of the foot, but he was too far -absorbed in his theories to listen to me. - -He then went on to show me that his shoe needs no nailing on, that it has -clamps, fastened by thumbscrews which clasp the horse's foot and grip it -by claws "just below where the hair grows," to use his expression. - -I explained to him that this (the coronet) is the most sensitive part of -the horse's foot, to press there would give him great pain and cause him -to go lame, and finally his foot would die and drop off. - -Also, that these clamps and thumbscrews would strike the horse on the -opposite fetlock and throw it down, and the centrifugal force would cause -the shoes to fly off when the horse was going. - -Finally, that these shoes were hideously ugly and no horseman would care -to be the laughing stock of everyone by taking his horse out with such -things on. - -The inventor merely said: "All you horsemen are the same. You merely -follow each other without any imagination," and he went out, to get the -same reply from every horseman he met. - -He was firmly convinced that people who have to do with horses all their -lives are fools and never think of what is best for the horse, but it -rests with men like himself who have "imagination" to show us horsemen how -to shoe and handle horses. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -PECULIARITIES AND FAULTS OF AUTOMATIC PISTOLS - - -Before purchasing an automatic pistol it would be well to try shooting -several makes. Inventors have not yet arrived at anything like a standard -shape. The grip, angle of stock, distance of trigger, etc., all vary, and -you can decide what suits you best only by actual trial. - -Handling the unloaded pistol is not enough. I was once trying an automatic -military rifle and found it balanced and handled very nicely. - -In order to test it in rapid fire I tried it against a magazine rifle to -which I was accustomed. - -For merely "loosed off" it beat the magazine rifle, but I wished to try it -for accuracy and speed combined. - -The test was to shoot at the "Running Deer" Bisley, to empty the magazine -at one run of the deer. - -The deer runs at a speed of fifteen miles an hour during five and a half -seconds at a distance of 110 yards from the firing point, across the line -of fire. - -With my magazine rifle I got off five shots, making four hits, wasting -much time with the loading. - -With the automatic rifle there was not an instant wasted in the loading; -the difficulty was in getting the shots to go anywhere near the deer--in -fact, I could not hit the deer, except with the first shot. - -At each shot the rifle tried to jump out of my hands, twisted itself round -to the right and then suddenly twisted the other way. The tighter I -gripped the more it wriggled about. - -Instead of the sights coming down back to alignment, after the recoil, I -found they jumped clean off the deer and I had to go hunting about to get -my aim again. - -Instead of, as with a well-balanced double rifle, the muzzle flying up at -the first shot and dropping down into place for the second shot, there was -no possibility of alignment without a fresh aim for each shot. - -It was just as if you have a strong unruly child in your arms trying to -set him down on a chair. - -He wriggles from side to side, stiffens his back, and you cannot seat him -on the chair. - -This is just how the rifle acted. It wriggled and struggled and refused to -let itself be aligned on the target. - -The inventor also tried shooting it and missed even with his first shot. -The fault lay in the way the recoil was taken up. - -To make an automatic rifle which will shoot accurately in rapid shooting, -the recoil must be straight back, not with a twist and wriggle from side -to side. - -When choosing an automatic pistol, shoot it and find out if it lets you -align your sights afresh immediately after you have fired. If you find it -cants over or tries to go home into its holster at each shot, and you have -to alter this cant before you can fire again, do not buy it. - -Get the gunmaker to instruct you thoroughly in the mechanism of any -automatic you buy and especially what parts need special attention to -prevent its jamming. - -Jamming is the constant bugbear to fight against. The automatic pistol -must always be kept in perfect working order and the parts properly -cleaned and oiled. - -The barrel in some is difficult to properly clean internally, unless taken -apart, and it is difficult to re-assemble. - -Unless all the parts work freely, a weak cartridge is apt to prevent the -pistol closing properly. - -When you have learnt the mechanism from the gunmaker you can begin -practising shooting with the pistol. - -The principal thing you have to remember is that, whereas a single-shot -pistol, when you have taken out the cartridge, is unloaded and safe, and a -revolver when you have emptied the cylinder is also unloaded and safe, -when you have taken out the magazine with its cartridges from an automatic -pistol, the pistol _may still remain loaded_. - -With the automatic pistol, when you have drawn back the slide and thereby -loaded a cartridge into the barrel, that cartridge _remains in still when -you withdraw the clip full of cartridges_. - -I give herewith a description of the Colt New Safety which obviates the -danger of leaving a cartridge inadvertently in the automatic pistol. - -"Figure 1 shows the pistol in cocked or firing position, magazine -withdrawn and cartridge in barrel chamber. - -"Figure 2 indicates position of the magazine when inserted in handle of -the pistol, and position of firing mechanism when safety-disconnector is -forced forward by the inserted magazine. - -"When the magazine is _removed_ (see Figure 1), the plunger acted upon by -its spring forces the safety-disconnector to the rear. This movement -forces the rear end of the connector (A) _below_ the nose of the sear (B) -so that should the trigger be pulled, the connection between trigger and -sear being broken, that is, the rear end of the connector (A) being -_below_ the sear nose (B), the trigger cannot operate the sear, -consequently no discharge of the piece can occur. - -"When the magazine is _inserted_ into the handle of the pistol (see Figure -2), the curved top of the forward portion of the magazine forces the -safety-disconnector forward and permits the rear end of the connector (A) -to rise in _front_ of the sear nose (B) in the normal position for firing. -A pull on the trigger causes the sear to turn upon its pivot so that the -firing pin is released and strikes the cartridge." - -[Illustration: PLATE 7. COLT NEW SAFETY DISCONNECTOR AUTOMATIC PISTOL, .25 - -The firing mechanism consists of the trigger with its connector which -releases the sear; the sear which releases the firing pin when the trigger -is pulled; the firing pin (there is no pivoted hammer in this model), and -the safety-disconnector with its plunger and spring. This disconnector is -part of the calibre .25 only.] - -_To unload an automatic pistol, withdraw the clip of cartridges and then -draw back the slide and extract the cartridge remaining in the barrel._ - -Till this latter is done the pistol is still loaded and dangerous. - -The automatic pistol is a very delicate instrument and apt to go wrong at -the most critical time. - -The revolver used to be grumbled at, but (if it did not fit too tightly) -even when it jammed, it could be cocked and worked by using extra -strength, opened by striking it over the thigh, etc. - -But an automatic cannot be forced, it must be operated with knowledge of -exactly just what has gone wrong. - -Any one taking up automatic-pistol shooting seriously should go to a -gunmaker and learn all about its mechanism so that he will know what is -wrong when the pistol refuses to operate. - -Each make of automatic varies, so I cannot give elaborate instructions as -to handling. Each make may have some point where it is simpler and -superior to others though in other respects it may be inferior. - -In the following remarks I mention what I consider best from a shooting, -not a mechanical, point of view. The latter is undergoing constant change, -and the automatic pistol has not yet arrived at a standard type. - -There are some points in which even the best automatic is at present -imperfect, and some in which it is dangerous to spectators--for instance, -the very strong ejection of the fired cartridge in some makes, which may -destroy the eyes of persons standing near enough to be hit by the spent -cartridges as they are ejected. - -I know of an automatic rifle which ejects its spent cartridges with great -force, and another which merely lifts them out, as if they were spilt -over the edge of the ejector slot, no force being used. This is the way -ejecting should be done. - -Such ejection would be very useful on an automatic pistol; now, if near a -man shooting them, they, even the best, hit one quite hard with the spent -cartridges. - -This gentle ejection is a patent and is done by a very weak spring in the -extractor which tips the cartridge out at the right moment; the ejection -is not caused by the back blast of the powder, or the drive forward of the -carrier, as in other automatics. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -FINAL PRACTICE - - -What I am about to describe is very dangerous, even for a good, cool shot, -and should not be attempted by any but an expert. - -It is practice for instantaneous shooting when taken unawares. - -Put up a full-sized man target at fifteen yards. Buckle on your holster, -with the loaded automatic in it, the safety bolt at "safe." Button the -holster. - -Stand with your back to the target, get your pistol out and put all your -shots into the target in the shortest possible time. - -This practice can be made still more difficult if as many man targets as -your magazine holds cartridges are placed at various distances; hit all of -them in the shortest time, taking them, not in rotation, but at random. - -At "go" you turn and in so doing unbutton the holster flap, drawing the -pistol, taking off the safety, and firing--all in one movement. - -Occasionally, instead of firing all the shots, slip in the safety, and -return the pistol to the holster after one shot. - -See how quickly you can draw, shoot, and return to holster "all safe." - -The idea is to make the movement of drawing, taking off the safety, -firing, returning the safety, and putting back in holster, all one -continuous movement, and as nearly instantaneous as possible. - -The safety should be off as the pistol gets clear of the holster; -similarly the safety should be on again the instant the shot is fired. - -If you are using a pistol having the additional safety squeeze in stock, -there is far less danger in this practice, as this pistol squeeze only -occurs as the trigger is pressed. - -This is the only sort of practice I know of where an automatic pistol is -safer than a revolver. - -In drawing a revolver, if it is a single-action one, there is danger of -its being fired by accident in cocking, and especially in putting back to -half cock, if only one hand is available to do this. - -With an automatic the safety can be put on or off without danger of an -accidental explosion, and the Regulation U. S. .45 Army Colt cannot be -fired till the grip is squeezed as well. - -A musician has an advantage in this practice, as he uses his fingers and -thumbs independently of each other. - -In practising this exercise with a .45 Colt U. S. Army Automatic, be sure -to draw the pistol without any pressure on the safety at back of stock, -only push the thumb safety and put the pressure on the other release only -as you fire. - -You can practise this with an empty pistol with a pad of rubber to take -the blow of the falling hammer so as not to break the mainspring. As you -draw, push the safety off with the thumb, pulling the pistol out with the -fingers against the front of the grip, so as not to touch the back safety -lever, and squeeze that with your palm in firing. - -Keep in mind that the pistol is safe so long as you do not press the palm -of your hand against it, even when the slide safety is off. - -In all this practice remember speed is the one object, as long as you can -hit the figure that is all that is necessary. To hit the enemy first is -the all important thing, to hit him _after_ he has hit you, on account of -wasting time in taking a good aim, is a fatal mistake. - -For extreme speed you can fire the moment the pistol is in the direction -of the target even before you have raised your arm, continuing the raising -of the arm as you fire and getting the next shot in as an aimed one. - -Even if the first shot is a miss it disconcerts the opponent and may -prevent his getting in a shot on you before you have time to fire the -second shot. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -EXHIBITION SHOOTING - - -In my _Art of Revolver Shooting_ I did an unintentional wrong to a stage -shot. - -In the book I gave details of how to do legitimate stage shooting, and -also exposed the devices of those who perform conjuring tricks, which the -public mistake for genuine shooting. - -There was a review of my book in one of the daily papers, in which the -reviewer gave extracts of how some of these fake-shooting feats were done. - -The next day I received a most indignant letter from a "Lady Champion -Shot" telling me that when she was giving her exhibition at a music hall, -people in the audience, after each feat, shouted to her "I know how that's -done," and that she had lost her job in consequence. - -I do not know the merits of the case, as I never saw her shoot, but I will -not explain any more stage tricks, as I do not want "Stage Champion Shots" -to lose engagements. Shooting men can see for themselves if any of these -shooting exhibitions are genuine, and if fakes amuse the public, what does -it matter? - -For hitting small objects with extreme accuracy at short range for -exhibition purposes, I find the larger the bullet, providing it is -propelled by a small charge which has no recoil, the easier to make hits -with. - -The big bullet cuts into say the ace of hearts, where a smaller bullet -would just miss it. - -Six well-placed shots with a .44 French duelling pistol shot at five yards -would make one hole, whereas six .22 bullets hitting exactly the same -centres would make six distinct holes, close together, but would not be -the sensational "all the shots in one hole" like the former score, which -audiences talk about afterwards. - -Nowadays, with the wax bullets driven by fulminate out of a duelling -pistol, shooting off the heads of assistants can be done with very little -risk except to the eyes, whereas with a leaden bullet a bad shot means the -death of the assistant unless provided with a steel skull cap under a wig. - -In spite of the advantage of the big bullet, most stage shooters use the -.22 calibre pistol. - -It may be that they have some contract with the makers to use only their -make of pistol, or it is a tradition because Chevalier Ira Paine used it, -but why any one with a free hand uses it in preference to a .44 I do not -understand. - -I cannot do as good shooting with a .22 as with the larger calibres, and I -have, I think, specimens of all makes of pistols and have shot them all. - -I was a pupil of Chevalier Ira Paine, who was an incomparably better shot -than any of us at stationary targets, and unique in that I never saw him -make a bad shot, and he has won (which no other man has succeeded in -doing) _both_ the Duelling Pistol _and_ the Revolver Grand Medal at -Gastinne-Renette's Gallery in Paris. Both are better scores than any ever -made before or since. There is also a seven-shot score with all the -bullets into a shamrock-shaped hole at sixteen metres, made by Ira Paine, -framed at Gastinne-Renette's. - -He was shooting for the Grand Medal d'Or when he made this seven-shot -score. They were such a phenomenal group that he was asked not to continue -on that target for fear of spoiling it. - -As he shot so extremely well with the duelling pistol, and as I know no -score of his with the .22 to equal his work with the duelling pistol, I do -not understand why he did not use the latter for his stage work. - -One of his most sensational feats was for his assistant to hold a playing -card, the three of hearts, horizontally. Paine hit the outside pip first, -then the middle one, and finally the one next the fingers, which were -about a third of an inch from it. - -This, in artificial light and reserving the most dangerous shot for the -last, required nerve, and he did this the night before he died, when he -knew his case was hopeless. - -As I said, he was the only man I ever saw who did what heroes of novels -do. That is, he never missed or made a bad shot during all the years I saw -him shoot. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -CONTROL OF TEMPER - - -Pistol shooting is excellent training for control of the temper. Boiled -down to its essence, pistol shooting is _fighting_ either in earnest or in -competition. - -Whilst therefore self-control is essential in all sport, in pistol -shooting it is vital. When a man loses his temper he is at the mercy of -his opponent. - -Temperaments differ: a word or act which has not the least effect on one -man's temper irritates another till he gets beside himself. - -How often one hears a man say: "I don't know what I have done, but X. -seems offended with me." - -Some take offence at very little, while with others nothing can make them -lose their temper. - -I know a man who never has even a shade of annoyance pass over his face -whatever happens. He is in constant request for shooting in teams, and he -can be depended on always to shoot up to his form. When his team seems -hopelessly beaten he calmly makes a string of bull's-eyes. - -This is the ideal state of mind, the control of one's temper all should -have, and nothing trains for this like pistol shooting. - -In the prone position with a rifle a man may be agitated but his brain -still enables him to shoot well, but when standing up and having to depend -on the muscles and nerves of his right hand and arm alone, self-control is -all he has to rely on. - -Self-control becomes second nature to a pistol-shot. Control of the temper -and nerves is greatly hindered in cases where nicotine, alcohol, or other -drugs are used. These drugs do not give the nerves and brain a fair -chance. - -Loss of temper is considered proper and a sign of authority by some, and -loss of temper has even (most profanely) been considered by some as an -attribute of their deities. - -Formerly masters of hounds, if the Field did anything wrong, flew into an -ungovernable rage and used disgusting language. - -Nothing can be done properly when a man is in this state of mental -unbalance, and many a fox has owed his life to the huntsman having lost -his temper with his Field or his horse. - -I am told certain games are very trying to the temper. Golf, for instance, -has even led to the reprimand of a churchwarden by the committee of his -golf club for using profane language. - -I have seen very amiable people sit down to play bridge and after they -have played for half an hour they exhibited the most vile tempers. - -A pupil and coach after working hard all one morning decided to take a -little relaxation in a game of croquet. The pupil lost his temper and hit -the tutor with his mallet. - -A prize fighter was in the habit of--in doubtful taste (to use a mild -euphemism)--taunting his opponent during his fights in order to make him -lose his temper and consequently his judgment. - -These unpardonable tactics do not, however, always succeed. A man may feel -angry without losing self-control. In fact "cold anger" braces up a man -and his nerves become as iron and he becomes as implacable as Fate. - -Some are extremely nervous and shy. They can shoot very well when by -themselves, but if others are present they cannot do themselves justice, -and they cannot shoot well in a competition. They are too flabby. - -Nervous men should always have people present when practising, and vary -their audiences as often as possible, so that they will not get "stage -fright." - -The fault of others is extreme irritability. They shoot well till -something annoying happens, a shot unexpectedly fired near them, a jamb of -the pistol, the wind blowing the target down, or other trivial matters -which do not trouble any one else. - -This, however, starts them fuming and swearing (an oath is a sure sign of -want of self-control). Everything that happens, the most trivial thing, -adds to their _enervement_, as the French call it. - -Their nerves get all in a jangle and they cannot shoot. Tobacco is often -found to be the cause of the above state of mind. It takes a mere nothing -to get a heavy smoker unbalanced. - -The worst form of nerves, and almost impossible to overcome, is that when -a man fancies people are "slighting" or "insulting" him. - -He begins by shooting well and is in a good temper. Someone unfortunately -makes a perfectly innocent remark or does something which seems quite -innocuous to others. - -But the man at once changes his manner, thinks he has been "purposely -insulted" or "hampered," but he says nothing. The man who flies out at -others is easier to manage, as you know what he complains of. But this man -nurses his wrong and broods over it without letting any one know his -grievance. He sulks, frowns, does not answer when spoken to, and his -shooting goes to pieces, and he ruins the pleasure of the others. After -all we are shooting for mutual pleasure and sport. - -There is the flabby man who can win when he has it all his own way, but -cannot make an effort when tackled. He is what is called a "rogue," not in -the offensive sense but in racing language. - -The man who surprises others is the quiet easy-going good-natured man who -never wishes to hurt or annoy any one, but only wishes to be left in -peace. - -This is the Eastern or Russian temperament: "Nichevo" (never mind); -"Sechas" (presently). - -Some men get into the bad habit of saying what they imagine are "smart" -things, but which are really impertinent and hurt others' feelings. - -This becomes such a habit with them that they do not notice that they are -getting themselves hated as much as if they went about flicking people -over the shins with a whip. - -Some writers of plays which are supposed to be full of wit make their -characters do nothing but say unkind things to each other. This is not wit -but stupid, callous cowardice, which could not occur in countries where -duelling is allowed. - -To resume, the good-natured man who is not understood, whose good nature -is mistaken for softness, sometimes surprises people. - -His opponent, either because he is one of the sort who say "smart" things, -or because he is losing his temper, says something which _at last_ wakes -up the good-natured man. The latter says nothing, does not change his -expression of good nature. He merely begins to shoot like a machine, his -arm rises like a steel rod, each shot goes into the middle of the -bull's-eye, there is no hesitation, dwelling on the aim, or doubtful -bull's-eye. - -He has, in becoming angry, pulled himself together, his whole mind is -concentrated on one sole object, making the best score and beating his -insulter, and he shoots the best score of his life. To compete against him -is like competing against Fate. - -After such an incident, I saw a beaten competitor go up to the winner, and -congratulate him. - -He added, "I thought I had you beaten that time." The other answered, "So -you had, if you had not insulted me." - -If you make a man "see red" whilst still keeping his temper, that is the -most dangerous man in the world to tackle. Sir Henry Irving portrayed this -when acting in the _Corsican Brothers_. I have never seen another actor -succeed in doing so. - -In order not to hamper your adversary in a competition, it is of the -utmost importance to study every one of your words and acts. What does not -worry one man may entirely put another off his shooting. Moving about -whilst he is shooting, leaving the firing point as he is firing, is enough -to put him off his shot, and should be strictly avoided. - -It is best to keep well away from him and only go up for your shot and not -address a word to him or speak to any one within his hearing, until he -beats you, then be the first to congratulate him. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -THE EFFECT OF ALCOHOL AND NICOTINE ON SHOOTING - - -In order to obtain the best results in shooting, a perfect co-ordination -between the brain, nerves, and muscles is necessary. - -A man who drinks heavily may for a time be able to shoot well, but this -does not last. He can never be depended on not to "crack up" and he -collapses at critical moments. - -Very robust health is not necessary as long as the above conditions are -fulfilled, and pistol shooting in the open air may be of benefit to a man -who is in too delicate health to be able to play even a gentle game. - -The old, evil days when a sportsman was not considered acting as a man -unless he drank several bottles of port each evening and had to be carried -home in a wheelbarrow are now, happily, gone for ever. Putting drink -before all else used to be a constant annoyance. A drunkard was not -content till he had reduced every man near him to the same disgusting -mental and physical condition. - -If others would not drink with him, he had the utmost contempt for them. -Called them "milksops," "drinkers of slops," "unsociable," and "too -proud." - -I always refused to go out shooting with such people. Besides being very -dangerous, they never would do anything but drink. Sport was a mere excuse -for going out "on the drink." Every occasion was made the excuse for a -drink. With such people drink was the great event of the day, and if a -stag was shot, there was a ceremony to be gone through of everyone -drinking whiskey neat to "more blood." - -At lunch, after an interminable time spent in drinking--they eat -little--the forester who had been fidgeting to get off, would come up at -last and timidly say, "I'm thinking the sooner we go the best, I am seeing -a verra heavy beast in yon corrie, with the glass." - -The "sportsman" would answer, "Is there? open the other bottle of -champagne and help yourself, it won't hurt you, there is not a headache in -a dozen bottles." - -Drink used to pose as the twin brother and boon companion of sport. - -In these days drink is known as the sportsman's deadliest enemy. - -I consider even minute medicinal doses of alcohol are deleterious to -shooting, entirely apart from drunkenness. Admiral Jellicoe, speaking at -Gibraltar in 1911, quoted with approval a statement of Captain Ogilvy, the -noted gunnery instructor, to the effect that carefully compiled -statistics revealed the fact that the shooting efficiency of the men was -thirty per cent. better before than after the issue of the grog ration ... -one eighth of a pint of rum liberally diluted with water. - -In Bavaria the Minister of War carried out tests as to the effect of -alcohol on marksmanship during twenty days on twenty marksmen (shortly -before the war), 80,000 shots were fired, and the trial showed according -to the report of Professor D. R. Kraeplin, that the consumption of forty -grammes of alcohol, corresponding to the amount contained in one and three -quarters pints of beer, made an average reduction in marksmanship of three -per cent. The effect was most perceptible twenty-five to thirty minutes -after absorbing the alcohol. - -Most of the marksmen shot even worse, some of them from eight to twelve -per cent. worse. - -The Professor continues: "An amusing feature of the tests was that _some -of the riflemen insisted not only that they could, but actually were -shooting better after drinking the spirits, whilst in reality their -marksmanship had fallen off as much as ten per cent_." - -The late Sir Victor Horsley permitted me to quote the following from one -of his lectures. - - The cerebral activity of taking alcohol lasts only a few minutes, then - marked slowing sets in, and for the rest of the time during which - alcohol acts, varying from two to four hours according to the - individual, the cerebral activity is diminished. It took longer for a - person who had imbibed small quantities of alcohol to think, the - evidence was overwhelming that alcohol in small quantities had a most - deleterious effect on voluntary muscular work. - -These facts bear out in every particular my own observations in watching -others. - -I find they are not so active in their movements, especially if they have -to turn round suddenly to shoot, but at the same time they had more -confidence in their ability to shoot. - -Who has not seen (to go to the extreme case) when a large dose of alcohol -has been swallowed and a man is "under the influence of liquor" that the -"patient" is ready to fight all comers, although he cannot stand on his -legs. - -As Professor Kraeplin says, "the subject experimented on cannot judge--he -thinks alcohol makes him shoot better although the actual facts are the -other way about." - -At the Olympic Games which take place each four years, the members of the -United States Rifle and Revolver Teams which compete are water-drinkers -and non-smokers, and they are practically unbeaten to date. - -Major Smith W. Brookhart of the Ordnance Department, United States -National Guard, writing in _Arms and the Man_, May 4, 1918, says: -"Civilization has advanced so much in the past decade, that it is now -almost superfluous to write a caution against the use of stimulants. -Every rifleman will admit that alcohol is an enemy. Total abstinence, -_bone dry_, is the only safe rule. Tobacco or any other stimulants should -also be avoided. They may not be so fatal as alcohol, but they all tend in -the wrong direction. The man who wants to climb into the championship -class and stay there must be a normal man. The proper attitude of mind -will give every man more pleasure in conquering a habit than in submitting -to it. To win over the smoking habit is an achievement of which to be -proud and it improves the scores." - -Those who make a moderate use of alcohol and tobacco are gradually reduced -as to the quantity they use some weeks or even months before the actual -Games, until all the members of the teams are non-smokers and -water-drinkers. - -There is this to be said of the smoker, as long as you do not try to -prevent his stifling you with his smoke he does not pester you to imitate -his example like a drinker does. - -He merely pityingly informs you that "you do not know what you have -missed." - -As the "joy" missed consists of chronic sore throat, palpitating heart, -and shaky nerves, I cannot see that much is missed by the non-smoker. - -The invariable answer to the question "what pleasure do you find in -smoking" is "it soothes the nerves." - -Healthy normal nerves need no soothing. - -When an automatic function of the body is normal and healthy, it does not -indicate its presence. - -A man does not feel his heart when it is healthy, only when it is -diseased. - -In the same way a man who has not injured his nerves by nicotine or -alcohol does not know that he has any nerves, but on the other hand, -nerves being destroyed by narcotics fight back, and make their agony -known. - -A man would fight against his headache being "soothed" by being clubbed -over the head. - -As well might one say a man half insensible from concussion needs -"soothing" by being knocked completely out. If this soothing of the nerves -is persisted in, a man sinks lower mentally than an animal. - -A man in the last stage of nicotine poisoning, when told by his doctor, -"you must either give up smoking or you will die" answered "then I prefer -to die." - -What a glorious death! How true the dictum of Sir Oliver Lodge that the -supreme outcome of 500,000 years of effort by the Universe has been, man! - -The following appeared in the _Daily Mail_ of September 25, 1917. It shows -how men risk not only their own lives but hundreds of other lives rather -than give up smoking. What a blessing if Dr. Furlong's suggestion of -nicotine tablets is adopted. - -We non-smokers will no longer have to walk the streets, eat our meals, -sit in theatres, and travel in railway trains breathing an atmosphere of -tobacco, and burnt paper smoke. - - SHELLWORKERS' CRAVING TO SMOKE. - - _To the Editor of the Daily Mail_: - - SIR: As some men in munition factories will run the risk of smoking in - spite of their liability to fines and as others, even if they do not - smoke during working hours, carry matches in their pockets, it is - necessary to consider what is best to be done to prevent explosions. - - I believe that if tablets of nicotine were manufactured, each one - representing the drug value of say one cigarette, they would - constitute a real safeguard against such accidents. One or two of - these tablets would remove the craving for a smoke and check the - irritability caused by the want of it. - - I do not wish to convey that nicotine tablets would ever take the - place of smoking, but they would have the advantage of safety, and no - disadvantage that I know of except that they are a little slower in - action. - - Early in the war I advocated the introduction of these tablets for use - in special circumstances, but unfortunately up to the present the idea - has not been utilized. - - WM. VERNER FURLONG, M.D. - - 16, Pembroke Road, Dublin. - -The smoker does not see the selfishness of his behaviour. He looks on the -non-smoker as selfish if he protests against being nauseated. - -The nicotine tablets will enable the taker to poison himself without also -poisoning others. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -CLEANING AND CARE OF THE PISTOL - - -In the black powder days cleaning was, comparatively, a simple matter. -Now, with the smokeless powders, especially cordite, incessant care has to -be taken to avoid the pistol spoiling by corrosion, pitting, and rust. - -Even if you have cleaned the bore most carefully after using--the next -morning you may find it in an awful state. - -The only remedy is to go over the pistol at intervals, after use, and even -when it appears perfectly right it should be looked after every few days, -to make sure. - -Practice with a single-shot pistol entails less time spent in cleaning; if -you shoot frequently with an automatic pistol it will keep you busy all -your time taking it to pieces and looking after it. - -A single-shot pistol is easy to clean. There is only the inside of the -barrel to look to, and it is easily got at without taking it to pieces; -whereas the moving parts of an automatic all need seeing to. The big bore -duelling pistol is much easier kept clean than a .22 bore. - -A man practising with an automatic, unless he is very enthusiastic, soon -gets tired of the labour and the time it takes to keep it in working -order. - -I shot with an automatic which had been at the front in the war over two -years. It shot extremely well, the owner having taken great care of it -during all its rough experiences, but it constantly failed to completely -close. - -It did not actually jam, but what came to the same thing, it occasionally -did not quite close and could not be fired unless it had been closed by -hand. - -This shows that in the actual work of war there is a tendency for an -automatic pistol to become weak in the closing spring, and there ought to -be some simple device for increasing the tension of the spring, when -necessary. - -There may have been some such device on the pistol in question, which its -owner and I did not discover. - -To really know your automatic pistol, it is best to have a few hours with -a gunmaker, taking it to pieces, and learning the use of each part, and -how to correct any failure of the pistol to function properly. Otherwise -you may, when in an out-of-the-way place, be rendered helpless by a simple -fault which could be corrected in a few moments without the use of tools -by someone who understands its mechanism. - -I saw a man who actually buried a loaded automatic pistol deep in the -ground, because it had a jam and he was afraid of it. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -PRACTICAL PISTOL SHOOTING - - -In England, rifle and pistol shooting are conducted on lines different to -Continental usage, owing to the entirely different point of view adopted. - -In England big game has been practically exterminated. There are a few -fallow deer left in parks, and a few red deer are wild in Devonshire and -Somersetshire, and Scotland, but these deer are beyond the means of any -but rich men to shoot, and the deer in Devon and Somerset are reserved for -hunting with hounds. - -There are a few roe deer in Scotland, but these are treated as vermin and -killed off with shotguns. - -Rooks and rabbits are shot with miniature rifles but the rooks are shot -when young and unable to fly, sitting on the branches of the trees near -their nests, and the rabbits also when sitting outside their holes. - -In England the general public never shoot rifles in sport, except those -who shoot sitting shots at rooks and rabbits. - -The idea has therefore arisen that the rifle and pistol are not weapons -to use in sport but merely implements at the game of bull's-eye shooting, -and that the shotgun is the sporting firearm. - -The idea is that a rifle or pistol can be used only at a stationary -object. - -When the above is realized, it is very easy to understand why in England -all rifle and pistol clubs shoot only at stationary bull's-eye targets at -known distances. - -The reason they adopted the black front sight probably arose because it is -easier to make a small black spot in the middle of a white sheet of paper -than to paint the whole sheet black and leave out a white bull's-eye. - -It was merely a matter of convenience in target-making. - -Once however a black bull's-eye on white paper was decided on; the colour -of the front sight _had_ to be black. - -To shoot at a minute object, aim must be at the bottom edge of it "at six -o'clock" (so called from the analogy of the face of a watch). - -If the aim is taken in the middle of a small bull's-eye, the front sight -covers most of it and makes seeing the bull's-eye difficult. - -In order to see the front sight best on a white target below a black -bull's-eye, the front sight must be black; black against white being the -strongest contrast. A white front sight on a white target would be lost. - -As a result, all except big game rifles and English pistols are made with -black front sights. - -Shooters of big game abroad found a white front sight best, and hunting -rifles are now made in England with silver or ivory front sights, but no -English pistol has any but a black front sight. - -Military rifles of every nation have this conventional black front sight. - -Professional experts test military rifles but they test them on white -targets with black bull's-eyes, therefore a black front sight is necessary -for this purpose, and as the experts are merely expert target shots and -not big game shots, this black front sight is retained. - -It being customary not to look on a rifle or pistol as of any use except -to hit a stationary target, all English rifle and pistol clubs have been -formed on this supposition. - -At the English National Rifle Association Meetings at Wimbledon and later -at Bisley, the "Running Deer" target has been in use from the beginning, -but only a very few of us shoot at it. - -The bulk of rifle shots have always fought most desperately against any -but stationary targets. This is natural. A man who has worked hard all his -life to become a "crack shot" at a stationary target is not going to risk -his reputation by being beaten by a school boy at a moving target. - -At the revolver ranges, moving, disappearing, and rapid-firing -competitions were instituted but had very little support; a few men shot, -but half a dozen men do not constitute a big enough crowd to warrant the -keeping up of competitions which the bulk of shooters do not want. - -On the Continent, shooting under practical conditions has always marked -the shooting at rifle and pistol clubs. - -Numerous Continental sportsmen, even in humble circumstances, are able to -shoot bears, wolves, lynx, reindeer, elk, moufflon, chamois, wild boar, -etc., and above all _roe deer_. - -It is the roebuck who trains men to be practical rifle shots on the -Continent. - -In Scotland the roe is classed as vermin and exterminated with shotguns. - -The roebuck is, to the middle class Continental sportsman, his highest -sport in rifle shooting. - -Few men in England, even if they have the means, care for deer-stalking as -they know nothing of rifle shooting. They prefer small game shooting with -the shotgun which they are more skilful with. - -On the Continent the roe is strictly preserved and no does or fawns are -ever allowed to be killed. - -The roebuck must be shot only with a rifle and not during the close -season. - -There are societies which have yearly exhibitions of roebuck heads, shot -by their members during the current year, and gold, silver, and bronze -medals given for the best heads. - -A good roe-head in a public place draws crowds who discuss its good and -bad points. - -I doubt if in England one person in a thousand would know what species of -deer they belonged to, but all would know the difference between a -tennis, cricket, or foot ball. - -Rifle clubs are in existence all over the Continent to enable members to -practice for game shooting. - -The club members are sportsmen used to game shooting with the rifle, not -men who have never fired a rifle except at a target or ever expect to -shoot otherwise, and who therefore take no interest in rifle shooting -except in seeing who can make the closest group of shots on a stationary -target and to win spoons and cups. - -The makers of targets on the Continent employ good animal painters to make -the shooting as like the real thing as possible. - -I know of a range where you climb steep rocks amongst bracken, and as you -get near the top, you see a model of a chamois, life-size and colour above -you, half hidden in foliage, which you shoot at. - -At another range, there are stags, roe deer, wild boar, even hares, -life-size and colour which rush past unexpectedly like clay pigeons in an -English shotgun shooting school. - -"Figure" targets in the United States and England are very badly drawn -(the running deer at Wimbledon was an exception, being drawn by Sir Edwin -Landseer). - -The "figure" targets one sees in England and in the United States are -drawn by artists of the cubist, futurist, and vorticist schools. Such -drawings, over which the art critics go into ecstasies, are too difficult -to identify and therefore not suitable for quick rifle shooting practice. - -The shooter does not know when it is safe to shoot. What he thinks is -meant for a wild boar, or possibly a lynx, is really meant to be the -"portrait of Miss X., the beautiful Musical Comedy Actress," put up as a -target owing to the mistake of a workman ignorant of art. - -It will be noticed that the bull's-eye and concentric rings for scoring -bear no relation to the object drawn on it. It is possible to miss what -looks like a bottle stopper and score a bull's-eye, or to hit the bottle -stopper and score a miss. - -I have shown a proof of this last paragraph to a friend who says he -understands cubism, and he tells me the target referred to represents a -soldier and is a very fine example by one of the founders of cubism and it -ought to be purchased for the Chantry Bequest, but I am not sure if my -friend is a reliable art critic. - -I confess I do not understand art criticism as I am merely a sculptor who -exhibits at the London Royal Academy and Paris. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI - -DANGER OF LEAVING PISTOLS ABOUT - - -The brainless have one perennial joke. This is to take up a firearm, aim -it at someone, say "I'll shoot you," and then pull the trigger. - -Even an unloaded pistol should never be left about. Someone is sure to -"snap" it and ruin the lock, lugging at the hammer and pulling at the -trigger at the same time, just as people rip out the teeth of the gear of -an automobile by altering gear without first taking out the clutch. - -If the pistol is loaded, someone is sure to get shot by a fool. Both the -owner who left the loaded pistol about and the man who fired it "not -knowing it was loaded" are equally to blame. - -Aiming firearms in "fun" at people is not empty-headedness solely but a -form of hysteria. - -It is done by the same people who laugh when at a funeral, or commence to -rock a boat in "fun" and cause so many drowning accidents. - -The best thing that can happen to such people is for them to "clean a -pistol not knowing it was loaded" and shoot themselves. - -There is a story of a man who wished to kill a monkey. When he noticed -the monkey was looking at him, he took an empty gun, pointed it at his own -head, and pulled the trigger. This he repeated many times, propping the -butt of the heel plate against a tree and the muzzle against his forehead. - -Then the man loaded the gun, put it to full cock, and laid it on the -ground and went off. - -As soon as he was out of sight, the monkey crept up to the gun and -repeated what he had seen the man do. - -Result--monkey's head blown off. - -This is the exact mentality of the "did not know it was loaded" fool. - -The only difference is that, as soon as such people kill others on the -"did not know it was loaded" principle, there are plenty of others to take -their place. - -As they are always acquitted when they say they "did not know it was -loaded," others imitate, knowing there is no danger of their being hung -for this murder. - -But if you shoot another man, even if you think he is going to murder you, -unless you have let him first have a shot at you, you run the risk of -being hung for it; if he turns to run away you must not shoot him in the -back as he runs away or you get hung for it. - -Parents encourage children in the criminal folly, aiming at people; they -give them toy pistols and play themselves with the children pretending to -be frightened when the child comes round the corner and fires the popgun -or pistol with paper detonator at them. - -When this child grows up, he always thinks that to point a firearm at any -one and pull the trigger is "humour" and takes the first opportunity to -pick up a firearm and point it at people. "Want of the sense of humour" is -the unpardonable sin in the opinion of so-called "Humorous writers," who -consider any one not laughing at their obvious drivel is wanting in a -sense of humour, and if he abuses mothers-in-law or throws bricks at a -starving cat, he considers himself a humorist. - -Surely any one pointing a firearm at others in play should be punished by -two years' hard labour. This would soon teach people that they must curb -their "sense of humour." - -There are plenty of other "jokes" left such as pulling a chair from under -any one about to sit down, or putting tin tacks in his boots; but of -course they have the disadvantage of not actually killing him, and you may -be prosecuted for damages, but the joke of shooting a man on the "did not -know it was loaded" principle entails no unpleasant consequences on the -shooter. He is always acquitted even as when a defendant said "I only -pulled the trigger to frighten her, having forgotten to unload my rifle -when I left the trenches in France to come back to England." Imagine a -soldier not unloading and cleaning his rifle when coming out of the -trenches, but leaving it to rust during his leave home in England!!! - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII - -USING ONE'S BRAINS IN SHOOTING - - -Pistol shooting is not merely the mechanical art most people think it is, -a man who does not use his brains and think out things will go on making -the same mistakes all his life and never improve or become a good shot. - -There is no such thing as luck. A bad shot means a fault somewhere, and -the good shot is he who can diagnose the cause of this fault and correct -it. - -I saw a most ridiculous instance of a man not using his brains. - -A man was practising next me at Gastinne-Renette's. He shot some two -hundred shots, beautifully grouped but all to the left. - -I asked a friend if he had noticed this. He answered that he had seen this -man shooting constantly, that he was a regular attendant and had been for -years. - -He always put his shots to the same side of the target, and had never -discovered that if he only aimed a little to the right, he would hit the -target. - -I saw a man counting stamps at an hotel. He was wetting his finger to -turn them over and got the whole lot into one sticky mass. - -This latter man was perhaps so used to counting paper money by wetting his -finger that he was doing it mechanically with these stamps whilst thinking -of something else. - -The former man looked an intelligent man and was so most probably in his -business, but he cannot ever have used his brains in pistol shooting. - -I put a man right once who was shooting at a black "man" figure in -competition. - -He shot very badly. I asked him what was the matter. Unlike most men who -tell you to mind your own business, and make you chary of helping any one, -this man asked me if I could assist him. - -He said he could not see his front sight on the target and feared -something was wrong with his eyes. - -I showed him it was not his eyes but the black front sight of his pistol -on the black target which was at fault. - -I put a big blob of Chinese white on his front sight squeezed from a water -colour tube. - -He won first prize with a highest possible score. - -Like the conventional man with his doctor who has cured him, he never even -thanked me. - -Getting into bad habits in shooting has constantly to be guarded against. - -A horse is very apt to get carrying his head crooked, tongue lolling, -hitching, etc., unless he is constantly corrected. So must a shooter -watch and correct his own faults. - -It is as well to get a good shot to watch you shooting occasionally and to -point out to you undesirable tricks or habits you may be getting into, -without noticing it. - -Some men, when shotgun shooting, gradually get into the habit of carrying -the muzzle too low so that they sweep others as they walk. This is the -result of shooting much alone, and so getting out of the habit of noticing -when they are swinging their guns across others. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII - -THE PERFECT TARGET - - -Most targets are very imperfect, not only from the bull's-eye being a -wrong size, but the scoring on them is very rudimentary, and does not show -the real value of the hits. For instance, take the usual English five -hundred yards' target. - -If a few hundred men have fired at these, there are a quantity of highest -possible scores made which have to be shot off and much time wasted -thereby. - -Seven lucky shots just touching the extreme edge of the bull's-eye counts -a highest possible. A score consisting of six shots into the very centre -of the bull's-eye and one shot just grazing the edge of the bull's-eye -counts one point less than the former, though a much better score. - -No target except the one I am about to describe enables one to know if a -bullet has hit the absolute centre of the target. In other targets you -have a bull's-eye more or less small, and any shot in the absolute centre -counts no better than one on the edge of the bull's-eye. - -A perfect target should fulfil the following conditions: - -Bull's-eye right size for aiming at. - -Possibility of judging an absolutely central shot. - -Certainty and ease with which the scoring value of a shot can be -ascertained. - -Such a target exists and is illustrated herewith (see Plate 8). - -It is the target in use at Gastinne-Renette's Pistol Gallery, Paris, and -is the invention, I believe, of the Founder of the firm, the grandfather -of the present proprietor. - -A perfectly placed bullet is one in the absolute centre of the bull's-eye. - -Apart from the impossibility of aiming at it, the mathematical "point" -would be of no use as a bull's-eye. If the bullet hits it, or hits a pin's -point (which is the smallest practical substitute for the mathematical -point), the point disappears and there is no means of telling if the -centre of the bullet struck that point or not. - -M. Gastinne-Renette's solution of this problem is extremely simple. It is -to make the bull's-eye of _exactly the diameter of the bullet fired at -it_. - -If a bullet hits a bull's-eye which is exactly of the same diameter as -itself, and no part of the bull's-eye remains visible at an edge of the -bullet hole, then that bullet has hit absolutely central in the -bull's-eye. - -The next difficulty was that such a small bull's-eye is difficult to aim -at with a pistol. - -This was overcome by enclosing this absolute bull's-eye called the -carton, in a larger bull's-eye, called the aiming bull's-eye. - -The carton is left white and the aiming bull's-eye printed black. - -[Illustration: PLATE 8. THE GASTINNE-RENETTE 16 METRES TARGET - -This target has a 1-3/16 black. The ring is to facilitate judging] - -This aiming bull's-eye is of the diameter of three bullet widths. - -The target in question was designed for the .44 bullet. The carton is -therefore .44 of an inch diameter, the black bull's-eye 1.32 in diameter -leaving a ring of black round the carton of exactly a bullet width, _i. -e._, .44. - -The reason for having the black bull's-eye three bullet diameters in width -is because this leaves a space of exactly one bullet width between the -edge of the white carton and the outer edge of the black bull's-eye. - -This gives a black ring, a bullet width, surrounding the bullet diameter -carton. - -Therefore when a bullet strikes the black of the bull's-eye it can do one -of three things. - -It can cut partly into the white of the carton, it can cut partly into the -white of the target outside the black bull's-eye, or cut the black without -touching the white on either side of it. - -To decide if the carton is cut into (which would score one point higher -than if the black of the bull's-eye only was cut) examine first the edge -of the bullet hole nearest the carton. - -If this is uncertain, examine the opposite edge of the bullet hole, next -to the white of the rest of the target. - -If this is cut, then you know the carton cannot be cut, as the bullet hole -is the exact width of the black. - -To make assurance doubly sure, there is a thin line on the target, just -clear of the outer black of the bull's-eye. - -If the bullet hole touches this thin line, then it is an absolute -certainty that it cannot _also_ cut into the carton. - -The rest of the target is divided into concentric rings exactly the width -of a bullet hole. - -The same bullet hole therefore cannot cut into two rings, and if it is -doubtful that a certain ring is cut into, the opposite side of the bullet -hole is examined, and if it cuts into the ring on that side, then the -first ring cannot have been cut into. - -The whole idea is merely having no divisions of the target either further -apart or closer than the exact width of a bullet. - -Then, given a target of thin, good cardboard, in which a bullet makes a -clean cut hole, scoring is an absolutely simple and accurate matter. - -From the above long, but necessary, explanation it will be seen that the -Gastinne-Renette target fulfils all that a perfect target should. - -The highest possible score which can be made on it is absolute perfection, -and as such is not attainable either by man or the pistol (even if it is -shot from a vise) the target never can "get beaten" as is the case in any -other target. - -The man who can make a highest possible on the Gastinne-Renette target, -even when shooting at a range of one yard, does not and cannot ever exist. -The target is made on the .44 calibre measurements because the .44 bullet -is the standard for pistol and revolver at the Gastinne-Renette Gallery in -competing for the Grand Medaille d'Or but this system can be applied to -any size bore, for pistol or rifle or even cannon. I do not know if it was -patented, but if so, the patent must have run out years ago. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV - -IS DUELLING WRONG? - - -Right and wrong are not, as some suppose, clearly defined, as are black -and white. Right and wrong so overlap that it is difficult, except for a -clergyman, to decide which is which. Circumstances may turn the balance, -and what is right under some circumstances is very wrong under others. - -A man may pose as being very good, whereas he is merely a coward; he may -refuse to fight, not because he thinks it wrong to kill, but because he is -too cowardly. - -Wrong often poses as right. - -Right and wrong are chiefly a matter of convention, and vary with -different races of men, and at different periods. - -What is wrong to-day may be right to-morrow. The list of right and wrong I -give below, is only made up to date, and is subject to revision at any -time. - -Probably by the time this book sees the light, this list may be entirely -out-of-date. - -In early times holy men did things which would land them in prison if -they were alive in these days. - -In the cruel ages when men knew no better, St. Francis of Assisi preached -(like Buddha) kindness to every living thing, and called the birds "our -little brothers." - -In the present superior age, St. Francis would spend his life in prison -from inability to pay the fines imposed on him for feeding birds. - -Kindness to animals was never a popular virtue. It is considered "soppy," -"sickly sentimentality." - -Men have always liked to bully horses to show what good riders they are, -and what "control" they have over them. They think it draws forth -admiration to be seen knocking a horse about. It shows their mental -superiority over a mere brute. - -Small men like to be seen lugging a big good-natured dog along by a chain, -threatening him with a whip. It shows their great brain power over mere -matter. - -The feeding of starving birds in a hard winter and kindness to cats has -always been merely tolerated, even before it became a crime to do so. - -In the year 1917, in London, a poor old woman went off crying bitterly, -unable to pay the fine imposed on her for giving a few crumbs out of her -own scanty meal to some birds. But even in less enlightened times, in the -days when birds were pitied, such doubtful conduct was not much approved -of except in the case of old maids or little girls. The former were also -allowed to keep cats and parrots. Such kindness was "too mawkish" for men -and boys to stoop to. Boys should only stoop to pick up stones to throw at -birds and cats. "_Boys_ will be boys" and it is a pity to spoil their -spirit. - -Such boys are in their element now. - -A great wave has arisen against mawkish sentimentality. Formerly societies -were formed to enforce close seasons for birds and animals, to give them a -chance to live in peace during the breeding season, and to prevent the -extinction of fast vanishing species, and the Clergy instructed their -parishioners in kindness to animals and the "mawkish" protection of -defenceless rodents during the breeding season. - -But this is changed in the present superior age. - -Rabbits and hares can now be killed all the year round. A doe rabbit, -dying in a snare or steel trap with a broken leg held by sharp steel -teeth, lies suckling her young which have come to her, and the young die -of starvation when she has died in torture. - -Committees are formed in villages, the Vicar as chairman, which give -prizes to the boys who destroy the most birds' nests and kill the parent -birds and their young. Little girls are given prizes for killing the most -butterflies. - -Those children who are too young yet to be able to kill birds are not -forgotten. They are given prizes, which they take home to their proud -parents, for the greatest number of flies they can kill. - -When I was a boy, in the cruel bad times, I was told I would go to a very -unpleasant place when I died if I was so wicked and cruel as to kill flies -or pull their wings and legs off whilst they were alive. - -I understand this game of pulling wings and legs off is also now played by -boys with young birds taken out of nests. - -How otherwise can two boys fairly divide a nestful of young birds if they -are of an uneven number? - -I was at a village fete where such prizes were given and I expressed -surprise that a boy did not get first prize for a very big heap of dead -flies. I was told that he had collected the dead flies found on the window -ledges the previous autumn, and added them to his heap of kills, so he was -not eligible. - -It is praiseworthy to kill flies, but wrong to collect those already dead. - -I must apologize for this long digression, but it was necessary in order -that my following analysis of what is conventionally right and wrong might -be properly understood. - -As right and wrong at present stand, a man in uniform, if he meets a man -in a different uniform (a man, with whom he has no quarrel, and of whose -existence he was ignorant up to that moment), and he is told to fight that -man, and kills him, he becomes a _hero_. The more he kills, the greater -hero he is. - -If on the other hand, this man in uniform quarrels with a man in the -_same_ uniform as himself, or who is in civilian dress, or if he is -himself in civilian dress, and if, as the result of this quarrel they -fight (even if a fair fight, with friends of each man present to see that -it is a fair fight) and he kills the man, then he is a _murderer_. - -A murderer must be murdered; that is his punishment for murdering a man. - -It might be imagined that if the man who murders another has to be -murdered himself by another man, who thus also becomes a murderer, it -would end by everyone being killed except the last man. - -This is not so. When a civilian has murdered another in fair fight, the -man appointed to murder this murderer does not become a murderer, he is an -executioner, and is paid for murdering the other man, and the incident -closes. - -Whatever wrong a man receives from another, he must not fight him. He must -not even slap his face. That is an assault and wrong. - -He must accept a sum of money considered equivalent to the wrong done him. - -Some men are not satisfied with this. They consider receiving money from -their opponent a degradation, and even the suggestion of such a course, an -insult. - -In countries where duelling is still allowed, they have a solution--the -duel. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV - -REMARKS ON DUELLING - - -The mere word duel raises a smile amongst the empty headed. Hardly any one -thinks for himself; he takes his thoughts ready made, like his tea when he -gets up in the morning. - -He opens his paper; in the paper he reads "So-and-so is the wickedest man -on earth," good; in future, whenever he hears of anything So-and-so's -done, it is wrong; and if he sees So-and-so "on the pictures," he hisses -with all his might. - -Next, he reads that "such a one is the best and cleverest man on earth," -this is enough. "Such a one" can do no wrong, and if he sees "Such a one" -on the cinematograph screen, he stamps and shouts with delight. - -In prehistoric times someone wrote a joke in arrow-head characters about -duelling; as comic subjects are scarce and have to be used over and over -again, duelling became a standard "joke," and therefore the sort of people -I have mentioned grin the moment they hear the word, as they roar with -laughter when they see a "comic" actor. - -It always amuses me when an actor who is a "comedian" attempts a serious -part. - -As he walks in with a despairing air, the audience shriek with laughter -(because he is labelled as "comic" in their brains). The actor says in a -pathetic way "my wife went out starving to beg for bread, and she found -the child had fallen in the fire, and was burnt to death when she returned -at length with food." - -The audience simply roll with laughter, and gasp "is he not killing?" - -I merely make this digression to show how difficult it is to make people -think for themselves, especially on the subject of duelling. - -Duelling is a "comic subject" to them, and that is the end of it. - -Just as war is necessary, so is duelling necessary. Duelling is to the -individual, what war is to the nation. - -The man who laughs at the word duel would not laugh if he were standing -before another's pistol, and knew that within a second of the word "fire," -he would have a bullet in his breast and be dead. - -He does not differentiate between the "advertisement duels" which -sometimes take place on the Continent, where neither combatant intends to -shoot the other, but merely wants to get his name in the papers, and a -real duel by which a wronged man seeks redress. - -In a sword duel a man, if young and active, can avoid being fatally -injured. He can keep all but his right wrist and knee out of danger, and -as soon as he gets a scratch on them, give up the fight on the plea of -being "at a disadvantage." - -But with pistols it is different, provided the seconds have not (in order -to prevent a fatal termination) altered the sights or reduced the powder -charge. In fact, if he has an accurate and properly loaded pistol in his -hands, a good shot can make certain of hitting his opponent. - -When such a one misses his man or hits him in a non-vital part, it is -because he has done so purposely, not wanting to kill the man. - -Sometimes a man who feels he is in the wrong, stands up to be shot at, and -either misses his opponent on purpose, or does not shoot at all. - -On a recent occasion, when a duellist had not fired when the word was -given, someone had the bad taste to ask him why he did not shoot. The -answer was "I forgot." - -This was the occasion for a stream of jokes; the writers of these jokes -did not of course appreciate the chivalry of not shooting, and the -delicacy of the reply. They made all sorts of silly remarks about -"absentmindedness," only exposing their own empty-headedness thereby. - -Having now cleared the ground, I will in the next chapter give details of -how a pistol duel is conducted, and how to train for it. - -In countries where duelling is allowed, the upper classes know how to -fence, and to shoot the duelling pistol; they need no teaching if called -out. Any one who has learnt to shoot from instructions given in this -book needs no further teaching. He only needs to be told the rules. There -are, however, a few points in which duelling differs from the rapid-fire -practice I have given, one being the position the pistol is raised from, -and when it is permissible to raise it. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVI - -REMARKS ON DUELLING (_Continued_) - - -The person considering himself aggrieved sends two of his friends as his -seconds, to see his adversary. The latter if he accepts the challenge -appoints two of his friends to act as his seconds. - -These four seconds meet and agree as to the conditions of the duel. If the -matter is serious, the duel is fought till one of the combatants is either -killed, or is so seriously injured that he cannot continue. - -Otherwise the seconds take the first opportunity to declare that their man -is unable to continue, owing to his injury having placed him at a -disadvantage. This means, practically that first blood drawn ends the -combat. - -If the provocation is a very grave one, the challenger tells his seconds -they must insist on the combat continuing to the end. - -The seconds should be taken into the challenger's confidence, and he -should tell them exactly what he really wants. He cannot interfere after -they and the adversary's seconds have arranged the terms, and he may find -himself bound by his seconds to something quite different from what he -had intended. - -[Illustration: PLATE 9. ORNAMENTAL DUELLING PISTOLS BY GASTINNE-RENETTE - -The property of the Author] - -He may be let into a fight to a finish over some trivial nonsense, and -have to kill a man he does not want to kill, in order to save his own -skin. Or, wishing to kill a man who has done him an unforgivable wrong, -the duel may end with a flick of cloth cut out of his sleeve and his enemy -unscathed. - -Combatants are not allowed to use their own weapons. The pistols of the -regulation pattern (muzzle-loaders shooting a regulation load of smokeless -powder and round lead bullet, see Plate 9) are provided by a gunmaker, are -loaded by the gunmaker in the presence of the seconds, and sealed up in -their case. The seals are only broken and the pistols apportioned by lot -to the combatants when on the duelling ground, by the director of the duel -chosen by the seconds. - -In Paris you are absolutely safe as to your pistols. M. Gastinne-Renette -generally supplies the pistols, but in an out of the way place where you -do not know the gunmaker, and do not trust your opponent or his seconds, -it is advisable to instruct your seconds to be very careful what gunmaker -is chosen, and if they are the least bit dubious to insist on M. -Gastinne-Renette being telegraphed to, asking him to send a representative -with pistols. - -A doctor has to be present at the duel. - -Lots are drawn by the seconds for position. It is very important to have -at least one good practical shooting man as second or your seconds may -give away advantages to your opponent's seconds, and place you facing the -sun. - -The distance is twenty-five metres (26 yards 1 foot 2 inches). The -opponents stand facing each other and holding the pistol with the butt -_touching their right thighs_. - -The director of the duel, after giving the caution _attention_, says -"_feu, un, deux, trois_." After the word "_feu_" the pistol may be raised -and fired, but not fired later than the word "_trois_." - -[Illustration: PLATE 10. PISTOLS BY GASTINNE-RENETTE - -1. Shooting Smith & Wesson, .44 cartridge. 2. Modified Ira Paine to shoot -.44 or .22 ammunition. 3. Saloon pistol, .22 bore, weighing and balancing -like a duelling pistol] - -To lift the pistol from touching the thigh _before_ the word "_feu_" or -to fire after the word "_trois_," is a very grave offence, and if your -opponent is killed, it is murder. - -The seconds draw up a "Proces Verbal" or report, of the proceedings, which -they and the doctor sign, and this is at once submitted to the police. If -there is any irregularity reported in it, such as lifting the arm too soon -or shooting too late, it is a very serious matter indeed to the guilty -one. - -If a duellist is killed, his adversary must stand by the body till the -police arrive, and deliver himself up to them. - -If all is in order, he will probably get off, or at the worst get two -years' imprisonment. - -If he has infringed the regulations----?? - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVII - -DETAILS AS TO DUELLING - - -The following remarks on duelling apply only to countries where duelling -is permitted. - -In duelling the challenged has the right to choose what weapons are to be -used, pistols or swords. - -The pistol is the weapon for any one deeply wronged, provided he is -anything of a pistol shot. - -In a sword duel the duellist can parry; in a pistol one, he cannot parry, -but he can shoot first. If his adversary is a good shot and intends to -kill him, his best chance is to hit him before he can fire. A man who -knows he is in the wrong and also knows he has a man in front of him, -determined to kill him, is very apt to shoot too hurriedly and wildly. - -Suppose A. who is a good pistol shot and an indifferent fencer, wishes to -fight a duel to the death with B., who is a good swordsman but a bad -pistol shot. - -It would be very bad policy for A. to send a challenge to B. It would be -equally bad policy for B. even if he does not want to fight, to refuse -A.'s challenge, if he knows A. wants to kill him. - -The reason A. makes a mistake in challenging is that B. when challenged, -can choose swords as the weapons, which gives him the advantage. - -If B. does not want to fight, having nothing to gain by killing A. and -objecting to have A. try and kill him, refusing to fight avails him -nothing. It puts him in a worse position. A. has merely to take the -opportunity when B. is in a public place to insult B. and compel B. to -challenge him else B. is publicly branded as a coward. A. now being the -challenged can select weapons and chooses pistols, thus signing B.'s -death-warrant. - -The most important thing of all in a pistol duel, is _not to lift the -pistol before the word_ "_feu_." - -There is very little danger of shooting too late, each wishing to hit the -other first prevents that, but there is a very serious risk of lifting the -pistol _before the word_ "_feu_." - -The best way to avoid this risk is to be determined, at whatever cost, -_never_ to lift too soon either in practice or competition, so that in -case of having to fight a duel there is no risk of lifting too soon; it -should become so mechanical to wait an appreciable interval before lifting -the pistol after the word "_feu_," that there can be no shadow of a doubt -that the pistol has not been lifted too soon. - -It is an unpardonable fault to get into the habit of lifting the pistol -too soon in competition. - -The best way to cure this fault if acquired (the most difficult of all -faults to eradicate, it being one of nerves) is to lift _just before the -word_ "_un_," not after the word "_feu_," and get into the habit of -treating the word "_feu_" as you do _attention_, as just an order to get -prepared to lift, not as the order to lift. - -In time you will entirely lose all desire to lift at the word "_feu_." You -may be a shade slower in your shots, but this is counterbalanced by the -absence of the dread of being too soon. - -A man who has been several times disqualified in competition for being too -soon, may get very slow in lifting and wild in his shooting, as his whole -attention is fixed on the words of command instead of on doing good -shooting. - -Some men adapt a slightly forward lean in shooting, like pigeon shots or a -runner on the mark. I do not think there is any advantage in this as there -is no recoil to stand up against in a duelling pistol as in a pigeon gun. - -The objection to this position is that it does not give the appearance of -absolute ease and confidence, so necessary in duelling. It looks like -anxiety. - -Now half the battle, as any one who has boxed knows, is to "get a healthy -funk" in his adversary before the fight begins. - -If you draw yourself up slowly to your full height, plant your feet firmly -and look your opponent well over, it will have much more effect on his -nerves, than if you stand in an eager excited attitude. - -Carpentier has this gift to perfection, better than any other fighter I -have seen. He has such an air of perfect reliance in himself and -confidence and contempt for his adversary, that the latter seemed almost -to quail before him. - -When the pistol is handed to you, you are not allowed to test the -trigger-pull, but you can make a shrewd guess of its strength as you cock -it, if you lift the hammer high and let it drop clean back into the bend. - -A heavy trigger-pull gives a much louder click in cocking than a light -one. I bought Ira Paine's hair trigger Smith & Wesson revolver, which he -used for his dangerous feats on the stage, and I hardly hear any sound in -cocking it,--the trigger-pull is so light. - -Byron, speaking of duelling, in _Don Juan_, says: - - It has a strange quick jar upon the ear, - That cocking of a pistol, when you know - A moment more will bring the sights to bear - Upon your person, twelve yards off or so; - A gentlemanly distance, not too near - If you have got a former friend or foe; - But after being fired at once or twice, - The ear becomes more Irish, and less nice. - Canto IV.: Stanza XLI. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVIII - -OUGHT DUELLING TO BE ABOLISHED? - - -It is a mistake to think that it is to the universal satisfaction that -duelling is no longer allowed in England. - -Probably it was abolished, owing to some agitation by a few cranks, like -that against stag-hunting and Sunday amusements, and even at the time of -the abolition, there were many who thought duelling was a necessity and -its abolition a mistake. - -Even a judge of the present time doubts if his abolition was not a -mistake. - -On May 17, 1911, it is reported that at the dinner of the Union Society of -London, Lord Justice Vaughan Williams said: - - In recent years a statement that man is a liar does not bear the - weight it used to do. - - There were times when if one man called another a liar, that man was - called to account for it, it might be even in a duel. But long since - duels came to an end. - - If a man called an Englishman a liar in a public place, that - Englishman had a habit of knocking that man down; I am afraid that - habit is dying out. - -He said he was sorry he had come to that conclusion, that the "world in -general, as it was accepted in England was coming to think that it did not -matter very much if one's neighbour called one a liar or not. - -"One would smile, meet him in society, go out and play golf with him, and -shake hands with him. - -"He wished people would resent more this imputation of being liars." - -"Vanoc" in the _Referee_ newspaper said: - - For some reasons the abolition of duelling is a mistake. Insolent and - offensive language is now too frequently indulged in with impunity ... - the best rule of all is never to take liberties yourself, and never to - allow liberties to be taken with you, and to remember that - self-defence is still the noble art. - -Over the signature of "Les Armes de Combat," a writer after referring to -"the deplorable" inefficiency of the mass of English officers with the -revolver, says: - - The reason Englishmen take no interest (as a nation) in pistol - shooting, whereas pistol shooting is of national interest in countries - where pistol duelling still exists, is because in those countries - every man of the upper classes, soldier or civilian, has at the back - of his mind the possibility that he may be called out. - - Amongst this class therefore, fencing and pistol-shooting is a - national sport, with a spice of utility behind it. In Great Britain - this incentive has ceased to exist. - -Whilst duelling is allowed in one country and not in another, it puts an -inhabitant of the latter country in a very unenviable position if he is -insulted in the other country. - -He cannot shield himself behind the plea that duelling is not customary in -his own country, without laying himself open to be called a coward, and -yet he must not fight. - -At the actual time I was writing the above, an English officer was having -to submit to the indignity of being tried for murder under circumstances -in which, in a duelling country, he would have had a perfect right to kill -the man. - -As I sat down to resume writing this morning, the morning papers were -brought in. I picked up the nearest, which happened to be the _Daily -Mirror_, and the first words my eyes fell on were: - - With the verdict of "not guilty" the great love drama trial came to an - end at the Old Bailey yesterday. Scarcely had the foreman of the jury - uttered the words which set Lieut. X---- free, than frantic cheers - rose in Court, and were taken up by the enormous crowd, which, - seething with excitement, awaited the result in the street outside. - -Can any one doubt what answer this crowd would have given, if asked if -duelling should be made legal in England? - -How the law at present stands, for citizens of the United States of -America and for British subjects, will be found in the supplement of this -book (reprinted from my _Art of Revolver Shooting_). - -The American law does not apply to the case of a duel fought by a citizen -of the United States outside the geographical limits of that country. - -According to Mr. R. Newton Crane _no offence is committed_ by the fact -that an American citizen has participated in a duel beyond the -jurisdiction of the United States. The citizenship of the combatant, is in -such circumstances, immaterial. - -On the other hand, sending, knowingly bearing, or accepting a challenge in -England or America, renders the sender, bearer, or accepter, liable to -punishment by the laws of England or America, as the case may be, whether -the duel is subsequently fought or not, and whether it is fought in -England or America or abroad, and whether the offending party is an -Englishman, American, or a foreigner. Provoking a man to send a challenge -is also an indictable offence. - -The law applicable to the punishment for actually fighting the duel, is, -on the other hand, the law of the place where the duel is fought, and that -law only, applies to the offence. - -Provocation, however great, is no excuse, although it might weigh with the -court in fixing the punishment. - -Under the English law the punishment for sending, bearing or accepting a -challenge is fine or imprisonment without hard labour, or both. - -Each of the States of the United States has penalties for the offence, -which though differing in detail are practically the same in substance as -those provided by the law of England. - -It seems, therefore, that a citizen of the United States of America, can -safely fight a duel in a country where duelling is permitted with a man of -any nationality, provided he does not challenge, accept a challenge, or -fight him on American _or_ British soil. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIX - -HOW TO PREPARE A NOVICE IN HALF AN HOUR FOR A DUEL - - -A duel takes place only a few hours after the challenge, generally early -next morning, to prevent interruption. - -Suppose a man has never had a pistol in his hand. How should he be trained -in the half-hour at his disposal? - -This is easy--if he is experienced with the shotgun at game or clay -pigeons. - -Show him the hind sight of the pistol; tell him it is merely to assist him -in aligning the pistol. - -Tell him that as there is only one barrel, it would be difficult to align -it without this sight, pointing out to him that his double barrel shotgun -can be aligned without this aid as in that case he looks along the rib. - -Tell him to imagine he is using a shotgun, and to use his pistol exactly -as he would use his gun if shooting at a rabbit which sat up on its hind -legs for a moment, to listen. - -Tell him he must be careful to keep the butt end of his pistol against his -thigh, till he hears the word "_un_," and that he must not fire after the -word "_trois_"; in fact, he must not fire a poking shot. - -On no account, unless he unfortunately knows it already, let him know the -pistol may be raised after the word "_feu_." - -If he is a good snap shot with a gun, he is sure to shoot quickly enough. - -Show him that keeping his arm straight corresponds to keeping the left arm -well out in shotgun shooting. - -Tell him that "_attention, feu!_" will first be said by the master of the -duel, just as "Are you ready? pull!" are said in pigeon shooting, but that -it will be a "no bird" if he lifts his pistol before the word "_un_," or -if he fires after "_trois_," his adversary being considered "out of -bounds" at the word "_trois_." - -Load the pistol and hand it to him, and tell him to cock it. - -See that he is standing with the butt properly against his thigh. - -Say "_attention, feu!_"--with a good interval apart, then sharply "_un, -deux, trois_." - -He is almost certain to hit the figure, and well before the word -"_trois_." - -Say, "I knew you would find it very easy," and take him away at once: _do -not on any account_ let him have _another_ shot. - -This one successful shot is all that is necessary, even for an expert -duellist before a duel. - -If your pupil should miss, explain to him his fault, and chaff him as to -his inability to hit a "sitter." Above all do not let him get to aiming. - -If he hits next shot, his lesson is finished. - -In the very improbable event of his again missing, then you will have to -continue your instruction as for one of the below class of pupil. - -It is of vital importance to give him absolute confidence in his ability -to hit his man. - -He should on no account be allowed to see others pistol shooting. - -The most difficult pupil to instruct in half an hour is the man who is an -expert pistol shot at a stationary target, but who has never attempted to -shoot rapid-firing or at a moving target. - -If he has besides never used a shotgun, his is almost a hopeless case. - -He is certain not to raise his pistol before the word "_feu_," but it must -be drummed into him that if he cannot let off his pistol before the word -"_trois_" _he must not shoot at all_, or he will be hung for murder. - -Then the half hour can be spent in trying to get him to squeeze and let -off in time, but probably the only result will be terribly wild shots, and -he will finish with a feeling of despair as to his ability to hit his -opponent. - -I think it is best with such men not to let them have any practice but -merely to tell them that they must keep the butt of their pistol to their -thigh, till the word "_feu_" and that they will be hung if they fire after -the word "_trois_." - -In the actual duel, they will either miss or, what is more likely, lift -the pistol well up to the sky, begin slowly to lower it, and that will be -all, as they will not have fired before the word "_trois_" is spoken. - -They will be fortunate if they do not let off involuntarily after the word -"_trois_," but if they are of the sort who keep their finger outside the -trigger guard till they have had a ten seconds' aim, there will be no -danger of that. - -I have just been reading a book in which the hero "aimed for well over -thirty seconds before firing straight at the light"; he must have had an -arm of steel to be able to fire "straight at" it after aiming for over -thirty seconds. - -Another type of pupil is one who has shot both shotgun and rifle, but both -on entirely different principles. - -He is a splendid man with a shotgun, quick as lightning in snap-shooting, -or a "tall" bird coming down wind. - -He scorns to take advantage of a cantering hare, or a low bird. But the -moment he has a pistol or rifle in his hands, he alters his method -entirely. - -Unless he is an officer who has had "field firing" practice, and a few -rounds out of a revolver, he has only shot a rifle at a stationary -bull's-eye target, or at a stationary stag in Scotland, and all his -shooting has been done in the prone position. - -There is a convention in Scotland that a rifle shall not be fired at a -deer unless the deer is absolutely stationary. A man shooting driven deer -or deer galloping is according to this convention "not quite a sportsman," -though he may be a deadly shot at galloping deer. - -It is called "not quite cricket." That is not a happy simile; Cricketers -do not, I am told, hit at a ball whilst it is stationary, but when at full -speed. - -"Not quite golf" seems to me more appropriate; in golf the poor little -ball is treacherously hit whilst sitting on its little nest, basely built -for it by the very hand that strikes it. - -A man who is a crack shot with the gun, and who unfortunately is also a -crack shot with the rifle in its restricted conventional sense, at slow -deliberate aim, can perhaps be prepared for a duel by impressing on him to -forget all he knows about rifle-shooting, and to imagine he is using a -shotgun, but the moment he sees the back sight of his pistol in the actual -duel, he will try to use it for deliberate aim and miss. The habit of a -lifetime cannot be altered in half an hour. - -The shotgun man who has never fired a rifle, has no need to be told not to -"poke." - -Dwelling on the aim must be entirely drummed out of the target rifle shot, -and he must be again reminded just before he shoots in his duel. - -The "shotgun man" on the contrary has to be told--"Don't pay any attention -to the director of the duel, if he tells you you can fire after the word -'_feu_.' You fire after the word '_un_'; you do not need all day to hit a -sitter; show them what snap-shooting is." - -It is hopeless to try to instruct in half an hour for a duel, the utter -novice, the man who has never had firearms in his hands. He is either of -those who are frightened at firearms; are sure "it will explode" when -"examined," or "when you do not know if it is loaded," or is of the type -who is "not the least afraid" of it. He cocks it pointing at you, turns to -speak to you whilst familiarly poking you with the muzzle to emphasize the -joke. He is of the type that rides at a five barred gate with spikes on -top of it. - -It is the courage of ignorance, to use the polite term, but to put it -bluntly--it is because he is "a d--d fool." - -All that can be done with such men is to try to prevent their shooting the -seconds or themselves, and "losing off" at unexpected and inopportune -moments. - -They may even in an excess of caution "fire into the air." - -People are very fond of doing this in crowded neighbourhoods "merely to -frighten a man," and are very much surprised when someone gets hit. - - - - -CHAPTER XL - -PISTOLS FOR SELF-DEFENCE - - -These can be divided into two classes. - -Pistols to be carried on the person and pistols to be kept by the bedside -against attacks at night. - -The pistols to be carried on the person can again be subdivided into -pistols carried openly, and those carried concealed. - -For a pistol carried openly, the big army pistols are the best, my choice -being the U. S. .45 Army Colt Automatic (see Plates 13 and 14). - -Such pistols, it must be remembered, have great penetration, and if fired -in a room the bullet can go through a closed door or a thick partition, as -if they did not exist. - -Hiding behind a door or closing and locking the door is no protection -against a bullet from an automatic pistol, even the very smallest calibres -having great penetration. - -The only way in which closing a door _may_ protect those on the other side -is that the one shooting cannot actually aim at them. - -As very few men can hit what they aim at with a pistol, this is not much -advantage. In fact, the person shot at by a bad shot is safer than those -at the sides. It is difficult to hit what is desired but something else is -sure to be hit however badly the pistol is aimed. - -A pistol intended to be carried concealed is more difficult to decide on -than one to be kept by the bed. - -Take the latter first. - -The main object of a bedside pistol is to frighten the intruder, without -having to shoot, the next most important point is, if it has to be fired, -that no innocent person in another room should be hit. - -For the first reason, to frighten the intruder, the pistol should be as -big and formidable looking as possible. A big double-barrelled, -pistol-shooting dust shot would probably answer best, and need not be -loaded; its looks are enough. - -It is more formidable than the largest automatic. It can be fired without -aim; even in darkness it is almost sure to hit what it is intended to -owing to its spread of shot. - -If No. 8 or less size shot is used and a light charge of powder, it would -not go through a door or partition. - -It must be remembered that such a charge is very deadly at close range, -more so than a bullet even, so should be fired only as a last resource, -also it is of no use to fire at one of two people struggling together, it -will hit them both. - -For a burglar escaping, if care is taken to let him get well away, say -thirty yards, before firing, it would mark him for identification. It is -a very ticklish job to shoot at a man running away, as far as the law is -concerned, and had better be avoided. - -The other alternative for a bedside pistol is a .44 Smith and Wesson -Russian model with gallery ammunition, and in the hands of a good shot -this is the best of all, as he need not shoot to kill unless necessary. -They are now no longer made, but can still be picked up occasionally. - -Now as to a pocket pistol to be carried unobstrusively. It must be borne -in mind that if any one is shot with a pistol the shooter may get into -more trouble, and get less sympathy, than if he carried a pistol openly. - -One sees advertisements giving illustrations of vest pocket automatic -pistols of minute size, particular stress being laid on their small size. - -This is not the most important feature to be desired in pocket pistols. - -A smoker does not complain of the size of his cigarette case, therefore a -pocket pistol need not be smaller than a cigarette case. - -Even these smallest automatic pistols are _thicker_ than a cigarette case -and it is thickness which bulges out pockets, not superficial size. - -As a rule, a very small automatic pistol means very small bore; small bore -means inefficiency. - -A pocket pistol of all pistols must have instant stopping power, as the -shooting is done at a few feet or even inches off. - -A pistol which does not instantly render the assailant harmless is worse -than useless. It makes the assailant angry and desperate; he also knows -that now if he kills his man he can claim self-defence, having been shot -at first. - -Very few wish to kill their man. He can be held off with a pistol which -commands respect, but a little toy is only laughed at. - -[Illustration: PLATE 11. COLT DERRINGER .41 calibre, rim fire] - -These modern small size automatic pistols are built on a mistaken idea -that they are the modern prototype of the old Derringer pistol, which was -the most deadly pistol in existence, and the weapon used most frequently -in old-time saloon shooting quarrels. - -The Derringer was a vest pocket pistol smaller and more compact than most -vest pocket automatic pistols, but it was not a small bore pistol. (See -Plate 11). - -It was just the essential parts of a big powerful pistol, shooting a big -powerful cartridge. - -The want it fulfilled was a pistol having great power in a small compass; -one shot was all that was required, as the shot was fired at very close -range. - -Some Derringers had a second barrel below the other, but the typical -Derringer was a one shot pistol. - -Now if you take a big single shot pistol, how would you reduce it in size -to fit the waistcoat pocket? - -First you would cut off the barrel except the actual chamber in which the -cartridge lies. - -Then you would take off as much of the hammer as is compatible with -leaving enough grip for the thumb in cocking. - -Then you would whittle away all the stock till only the lock mechanism -remained; and this was practically what the Derringer was. - -This could be still further improved upon by making it "hammerless"; that -is with an internal hammer. - -The Derringer was a rim-shot fire cartridge. My pistol would shoot a -central fire shot. - -For those who desire to be able to shoot several shots rapidly and who do -not care to carry two Derringers, an automatic pistol built on the -Derringer principle might suit them. - -The difficulty is that the reciprocating mechanism takes up room. It is -attempted to overcome this by making the pistol shaped like a hammer, the -stock coming at right angles out from under the middle of the barrel, but -this is awkward to hold, and to shoot. - -One good shot, well directed, is worth a whole pistol full of shots blazed -away. - -This is not the popular opinion, for, as long as a constant fire is kept -up, and plenty of smoke and noise, people think great things are being -done. It is only after all is over and there is no result that they begin -to wonder what it was all about. - -[Illustration: PLATE 12. COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL .25 - -Capacity of magazine, 6 shots. Length of barrel, 2 inches. Finish, full -blued, with case-hardened trigger, slide lock safety and grip safety, or -full nickel plated; rubber stocks. Weight, 13 ounces. Length over all, -4-1/2 inches. Cartridge, cal. .25, rimless; smokeless; metal patched -bullet.] - -The typical _Air Raid_ newspaper report says, "He fired at least three -tray loads of cartridges, the stream of smoke could be distinctly -noticed"; and the reporter is in ecstasies, and the unimportant detail -that all this "losing off" resulted in nothing does not occur to him. - -It is the noise, not the results of shooting, that impresses and frightens -people. - -If noiseless firearms were invented nobody would pay the least attention -to an air raid except the people actually struck. - -A woman was taken to an asylum a raving lunatic after an air raid. She was -near some anti-aircraft guns which had been firing, no bombs were dropped -near where she was. It was the mere noise of firing that frightened her. - -It is the noise that frightens game; I have shot one bird after another -out of a covey of black game on the ground. The rest did not fly off at -the shots because I was hidden and was using a ".22 short" rifle and the -noise of a waterfall drowned reports. - -If I had fired a shotgun at one, the rest of the covey would have been off -at once. - -For actual protection in a house at night without endangering any one, a -big pistol loaded with blank ammunition (black powder so as to make plenty -of smoke and a little "red fire" powder added to make plenty of flash) -would drive off almost any burglar. - -I think this is the best house protection for a houseful of women to have -by their beds at night. The only thing is to avoid burning peoples eyes or -setting things on fire when "losing off." - -"A stern chaser" of coarse salt is a good man stopper without being fatal -and the pain makes the victim think he is mortally wounded. - - - - -CHAPTER XLI - -DRESS - - -The dress one can wear when pistol shooting is limited to what the company -present is wearing at the time. - -The ideal dress on a warm day would be that of a rowing man with the -addition of a sombrero and nailed shoes, but of course this is -inadmissible. - -The absolute essentials are to have the right arm, shoulder, and neck -free, and a firm grip of the ground with the feet. - -A soft front shirt is not so necessary in pistol shooting as in rifle or -shotgun shooting. - -With the two latter the stock does not get properly imbedded into the -shoulder when wearing a stiff shirt, but in pistol shooting as long as the -neck and right shoulder are not interfered with, a stiff shirt does not -hamper. - -Moderately tight clothes, if the right shoulder is free (sleeves cut well -out underneath), help to keep the body rigid. - -An overcoat is inadvisable. The sleeve not only hampers the movement of -the right arm but its weight on the outstretched arm is a great -handicap. - -An Inverness cape, even if thrown or buttoned back, is also inadmissible; -it hampers the right shoulder. - -As having the body rather tightly buttoned up is an advantage, a tight -fitting frock coat is permissible. It is better buttoned than open as -otherwise the skirts are in the way. - -A lamb's wool vest, or a second waistcoat may be worn when shooting -out-of-doors in cold weather. I prefer a thin leather Swedish sleeveless -waistcoat under my coat instead of the usual waistcoat. - -In wearing the leather waistcoat it need not show. The coat can be -buttoned over it. - -There is a shooting coat, I believe the invention of the late Mr. -Cholmondely Pennell, which has a waistcoat of thick material to wear over, -instead of under, a thin coat. This keeps the body warm whilst the arms -are light and free. - -Boots or shoes with corrugated rubber soles or nailed boots should be worn -if the ground is heavy, wet, or slippery. - -As nailed or rubber soled boots cannot be worn when in formal dress it is -best to make sure of your foothold when wearing ordinary boots or shoes. -The heel can be stamped into the ground a few times to get a firm stand or -the soles rubbed on gritty sand. - -Out-of-doors it is best to wear a hat, as one can see much better when the -eyes are shaded. Have a hat that holds well on your head. - -Do not wear the hats made of hard straw with low crowns and narrow brims. -They fly off at the least provocation and the mere fact of your hat -feeling like a partridge who is on tiptoes about to take wing will upset -you and spoil your shooting. - -I took a man who had never been to a shooting range before to see the -finish for the King's Prize at Bisley. - -There was a puffy breeze blowing up the range. - -He was wearing one of these hard flat straw hats with his college ribbon -on it. - -I told him he had better be careful that his hat did not blow off and -interfere with the shooting. - -We stood behind the two men who had tied for the Gold Medal, and were -shooting off the tie. - -He had just begun to say "my hat never blows off,"--when his hat soared -off his head like a clay pigeon out of a trap, and landed just in front of -the man who was aiming. My companion was a "hat worshipper," one to whom -his hat is everything. They hold it on when on a runaway horse. If it -blows off they will dive under a train in motion after it, or do things to -save their hat which would gain them the Victoria Cross in battle. - -He at once started to jump over the prone shooter after the hat, but I -held him back. All interest in the match was gone, he had eyes only to -watch his hat. - -I finally got him a little calmer by explaining that though the shooters -were most probably wishing the hat in a place where straw would soon -kindle, they would not shoot through his hat (I am not talking thus, only -slightly exaggerating). - -Men who worship their hats do not like trotters because they splash them. - -There was one of the rare winters in England when one could get a few -days' sleigh driving. - -A man had long worried me to let him take some photographs of my trotters -in a sleigh. I telegraphed him to come at once and I would take him out in -a sleigh and he could take snow photos. - -I met him at the station with a pair of trotters, both able to trot below -2:18, hitched to a light two-man cutter sleigh. - -He was delighted, got tucked in beside me with his camera and said he -would take one or two photos of the horses from where he sat. - -I told him not to begin before we got clear of the town, on to the big -open straight road. - -Now some men will go out in a cranky boat, or rush a motor car round a -corner through a crowd of children without a tremor, but are frightened to -death of a trotter, especially a keen one who takes hold. - -Now my mares had often raced against each other and when together as a -pair had racing in their minds. - -They were fresh, the day cold, there had been a thaw and then a frost; the -road was just right and the horses shod with new steel spikes, sharp as -chisels. - -I let them step along, the snow came back in a shower of balls on us, -varied by a sharp sliver of ice, which cut like a knife. The horses and I -were enjoying ourselves, and then I remembered my companion. - -I called out "Take them now," as the mares were squaring away racing -against each other. - -I only heard, "Wow--Oh" as each snowball hit him. Fortunately he was -holding on to his "sacred" hat with one hand and to the side of the sleigh -with the other, so he had no hand to spare to snatch a rein to upset the -sleigh, he was only able to groan, "Stop, Stop!" - -He scrambled out and took the photos from the safety of the side of the -road, and said he preferred to walk back to the station, and the last I -saw of him was with his camera in one hand holding on his sacred (in the -French meaning of the word) hat with the other. - - - - -CHAPTER XLII - -SELF-DEFENCE - - -If a man is found in the house at night, he can be generally captured by -getting the drop on him, that is to say, getting an aim on him before he -aims at you, and make him hold up his hands. - -But there are cases when, in order to save another or yourself, to attempt -this is merely to get killed. - -If a man is rushing on you it is no use calling "hands up." Shoot instead -of talking. - -This especially applies to a man rushing on with a knife. He most probably -will throw it into you if you are not quick. - -With an automatic pistol there is little in a room to hide behind which -gives protection and it only gives the opponent courage and time to take a -deliberate shot through the obstacle, if you try to shelter yourself. If -he tries to take shelter behind something impenetrable, if you fire into -what he is sheltered behind it often brings him out and enables you to get -a shot at him. - -If he is behind a small tree the big bullet of a .45 Army Automatic would -probably go through and hit him and, even if it did not go through, it -would frighten him so that he would show himself and give you the -opportunity to shoot him. - -A big-game shooter knows of many dodges to induce a dangerous animal who -has hidden, to show himself, or charge. - -Calling to an imaginary person behind the attacker as "Look out Tom, he's -coming your way, shoot," will perhaps make a man, expecting an attack from -his rear, expose himself to you in front. Throwing something towards him -may make him move. The great thing is to keep him moving and prevent his -shooting back. - -If attacked by several men at the same time, take a fresh one for every -shot, hit or miss, and then you can begin to take only those not already -hit. - -This is the only way to keep the lot off and prevent being attacked by the -rest while you are fighting one. - -Get your back against a wall or something if possible so that they can -only get at you from in front. - -Taking a fresh one for each shot is my experience in big-game shooting -when you come on a lot which are all shootable. - -If you pick out one and he does not drop to your shot and you pump several -more shots into him till he does drop, you may find afterwards that you -have wasted shots on an already dying animal, and let others within range -escape. - -As an instance of doing everything wrong and being praised for it, the -following quotation from a daily paper is hard to beat. - -The writer of the article evidently approves greatly of a woman firing at -random into the darkness when she hears a suspicious noise. - -Even if the noise was made by burglars outside, she was just in the best -position in the lighted window, to get killed. An innocent man might plead -he was shooting her in self-defence. - -A pleasant neighbourhood to live in when a woman shoots at random into the -night when she hears a noise! - -Below is the article in question omitting names. The passers-by as well as -the lady must have had an "exciting experience." - - SHOTS IN THE DARK - - _Lady's Midnight Encounter with Burglars_ - - Mrs. X. had an exciting experience just after midnight on Saturday. - She was in her bedroom, which is on a level with the lawn, when she - heard noises in the shrubbery. - - As she thought that men were there she procured a revolver, and, - standing in the lighted window, called out, "If you do not leave I'll - shoot." There was no answer, so she fired, and there was a scurrying - of feet to another clump of trees. Again she called out and as there - was no reply she fired a second and a third time, and then the figures - of several men were seen running off as fast as they could. - -And no wonder! - - - - -CHAPTER XLIII - -PROTECTING THE EYES AND EARS - - -There is no direct danger to the eyes in pistol shooting, that is to say, -with a good pistol there is no chance of a blow back of fire into the -eyes, as there is in a cheap, rim fire rifle. The eyes are apt, however, -to get bloodshot and sore from powder smoke blown back into them in a head -wind, especially from the ejecting cartridge of an automatic pistol. - -When doing much shooting daily out-of-doors it is well to wear a pair of -big diameter spectacles fitting well behind the ears so that they do not -shift. The spectacles may be of plain white glass, or else of a colour to -suit the state of the sunlight. - -Blue or grey used to be the usual colours; lately yellow-green seems to be -the colour most recommended by oculists. - -I found such yellow-green glasses a great relief to the eyes when bear -shooting in the glare of sunlight on snow. - -I am referring to men who have normal eyesight, not to those who have -already to wear glasses _to correct vision_. - -It is important to protect the ears, perhaps even more important than the -eyes. There is very little danger to the eyes but the ears are in very -real danger when shooting. - -Even the comparatively slight noise when shooting the gallery .44 -ammunition or the short rifle .22, from constant pounding on the same -note, affects the ears unless they are protected. - -A concert pianist, one would think, by the noise he makes on the piano, -would injure his ears even more than a pistol shot does, as the noise he -makes is much louder. - -Perhaps he does injure his ears and that is the reason he has to pound so -hard and breaks the piano strings in his efforts to hear his own music. - -Be that as it may, playing a variety of notes saves his ears as he does -not have the constant hit on the one note and with the same intensity. - -The ear is the least known of the various organs and is the one least -successfully treated. - -The usual medical man has the following treatment: - -Pour warm oil into the ear, then wash out with warm water (a very -successful way to introduce hurtful microbes into the ear). - -When this fails the Eustachian tubes are blown out with a "Politzer Bag." - -When this also fails some have a little instrument which buzzes like a -bumble bee or sings like a mosquito which the patient has to listen to. - -If even this treatment fails then the patient is bowed out as incurable. - -Prevention is better than non-cure, so protect your ears when shooting. - -A pistol is unlikely to burst the ear drum unless fired with a full charge -in a small room or close to the ear, but pistol-fire seems to have a worse -effect on the ears than the louder report from a rifle or shotgun, owing -probably to the shortness of the pistol barrel bringing the discharge -nearer to the ear. - -The worst of all for the ears is when a man shoots past another's head -from close behind. - -Gout or catarrh aggravates this evil and a man who never shoots may get -"hard of hearing" and have constant singing in his ears from these -diseases alone. - -There is the later stage of attacks of vertigo when the semicircular -canals are involved. Few aurists are successful in curing this. - -There is only one ear protector which I have found of any use and I have -tried all that have come out. - -It is called the Elliott Ear Protector and is made by J. A. R. Elliott, -Box 201, New York City, U. S. A. - -Savory & Moore of 143 New Bond Street, London and Gieve, Mathews & -Seagrove, Portsmouth, England have them in stock. - -Most other ear protectors act on the wrong principle and are painful to -wear and they bring on giddiness. - -To stuff the ears with cotton wool makes the pressure of air on the -outside of the drum differ from the air coming through the Eustachian tube -if this latter is blocked more or less by catarrh (as it is in nine out of -ten persons, especially smokers or residents in damp climates). This -inequality is increased and harm is done to the ear. - -When a cold is supposed to be cured, it often is not but has gone from the -early, through the acute, and on to the chronic stage. It then lies -dormant, to wake up every time a fresh cold is caught, and then takes a -deeper hold in the outer, middle, and inner ear. Often what is put down to -gun deafness is really chronic catarrh and gout. People who have never -fired a shot suffer from gun deafness and noises in the head. - -As soon as a cold has ceased "to run" people think it is cured. They -neglect to drive it entirely out of the system and it lies smouldering to -take the earliest opportunity to flare up again, like a banked-up fire. - -Some recommend wool mixture with modelling wax forced into the outer ear. - -This not only has the defects of plain cotton wool but it is a compound -impossible to fully take out again. The modelling composition sticks and -remains in all the crevices of the ear and if forced repeatedly in -dislocates the outer ear passage. - -I use modelling wax for sculpture, and it is impossible to clean it out of -the nails even with manicure instruments. It has to be dissolved with -turpentine and peroxide which would ruin ears if used for them. - -The Elliott Ear Protector acts on an entirely different principle and it -reduces the noise of a heavy express rifle to a mere thump, like striking -the fist on a wooden table. It takes all the sting out of the shot. - -A man who was a gunner at the front during the war tells me that his ears -are quite right owing to his having used the Elliott Ear Protectors, -whereas a man standing next to him had an ear drum burst after a few -shots. - -The principle of this protector is to let the sound strike the side of the -tube of the outer ear, instead of directly on the ear drum. The protector -closes the ear tube so that only a very minute, hair-like passage remains, -through which a whisper can come, but any big volume of sound is checked, -like a crowd trying to push through a narrow door and allowed only to -dribble in one at a time. - -Even the small amount of sound which does get through is impinged on to -the sides of the outer ear passage. None reaches the drum of the ear -direct, but indirectly by the action of a rubber diaphragm. - -The result is arrived at as follows: - -A short celluloid rod has a hair thin hole running down it, but not quite -reaching the far end. It enters a hole of the same size running across the -tube. - -There is a soft India rubber disc at each end of the rod, the transverse -hole being between the two discs. - -In use this rod is inserted into the ear till the uppermost disc just -closes the passage into the external ear, and the lower disc cuts off -access to the ear drum. - -Any sound reaching the ear can therefore only pass down this hair thin -passage in the rod and into the space between these two rubber diaphragms. - -The sound cannot reach the ear drum. It passes through the transverse hole -into the space between the two discs. - -No sound reaches the ear directly. It only hears the vibration of the -inner rubber diaphragm and the diaphragm receives only a very minute part -of the original sound which reaches the ear. - -The minute hole in the rod allows of the entry and escape of the outer -air. Thus each side of the ear drum receives an equal pressure of the -external atmosphere. - -When very heavy gunfire has to be withstood, care must be taken that the -outer disc fits airtight into the tube of the ear. A little vaseline or -other antiseptic ointment round the edge of this disc makes an airtight -joint, or a third rubber disc is added, but the two discs are ample for -pistol shooting. - -The ear protector is easily kept clean and antiseptic by washing -occasionally in a weak antiseptic solution. - -There is no inconvenience in wearing these ear protectors and they are not -very noticeable. - -With some other forms of protectors, made of hard vulcanite which are -forced in to make an airtight closure, pain and soreness arise if they are -worn for any length of time and this unyielding vulcanite may displace the -anvil and bones of the middle ear, or a sore may be caused and set up -grave inflammation. Any ear plug which requires forcing or stretching the -ear passage is dangerous or painful to wear. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIV - -EYESIGHT - - -The back sight of a revolver is held further from the eye, as compared -with a rifle back sight, and the object to be hit is under fifty yards' -distance. The eyes best suited for pistol shooting therefore are those of -moderately long sight, the normal eye in fact. - -A near-sighted man, without glasses, has difficulty in seeing the back -sight although the range, twenty to fifty yards, would suit his eyes -better than rifle shooting at long ranges of eight hundred and one -thousand yards. - -If a near-sighted man wears glasses the difficulty of seeing equally well -at varying distances comes in. - -Men who have worn glasses all their lives cannot be made to realize that -they cannot adjust their focus. - -They, unfortunately, have never experienced the blessing of being able to -see a thing close and at a distance with equal distinctness. - -Most of them can read without glasses, in fact they take off their glasses -if they want to examine anything minutely which they hold in their hands. - -For seeing anything further off they wear glasses (but glasses are only a -compromise). The glasses are made to enable them to see objects clearly -across the street, or to see a motor car before it runs them down. - -Anything further is more or less blurred, the further it is the more -blurred it looks. - -If their glasses were correct for one thousand yards they would butt their -heads into everything at fifteen yards off. - -It is always best when driving to treat any one wearing glasses very -carefully, to remember he can only see in front of him; sideways of his -direct vision he may be as blind as a bat or a horse with blinkers on. - -It is on account of this that so many people wearing glasses are run over. - -When in addition to this they cross a road holding an umbrella well before -their glasses, it is best to stop the horse and wait till they are across. - -This adjusting of a glass for a fixed distance can be seen with -deer-stalking telescopes and Zeiss glasses. - -When spying for a deer one makes a mark on the draw tube to suit one's -usual spying distance, which is about one thousand yards. - -One can see deer clearly with this adjustment from the one thousand back -to about three hundred yards, but for a closer view you have to readjust -the focus. - -If with the focus correct for the one thousand yards you attempt to look -at an object only as far off as your back sight or even your front sight, -you will see only an indistinct blur. - -A near-sighted man, shooting a pistol full arm stretch, without his -glasses, sees his back sight a blur and his front probably not at all, and -the target like a post impressionist picture. - -If he puts on glasses to see his hind sight properly, his front sight will -not be distinct, and the target still more indistinct. - -I think for a near-sighted man it is best to have glasses made so that he -can see his front sight very clearly. - -Then he would see the man target at twenty-five meters quite well enough -to be able to hit it. It is not necessary for him to see his back sight -distinctly. - -A good pistol-shot does not focus his eyes on his back sight. That comes -in line by itself when he gets into the mechanical lift of his arm. - -As I have already mentioned a long-sighted man can continue pistol -shooting without wearing glasses after he needs them for reading. But a -long-sighted man is apt, when he finds he begins to see the hind sight of -his rifle not as clearly as formerly, to use glasses. Then he has all the -insurmountable imperfections of a glass which cannot accommodate itself to -varying distances like the eye can. - -Instead of wearing glasses all he needs to do is to shift his hind sight -forward on the barrel till he can see it distinctly. - -The long-sighted pistol-shot does not have this difficulty. He holds his -pistol so far from the eye that the back sight is right for his long -sight. - -It is a most extraordinary thing that men who have such bad eyesight that -they have to wear very strong glasses and even then blink and are -half-blind in the sunlight, can shoot very well in those dark coal cellar -shooting galleries. - -A clerk who, when writing, puts his nose right down on the paper, holding -his head on one side, in fact a man semi-blind and suffering with extreme -myopia made extraordinary good scores with a miniature rifle in a coal -cellar shooting gallery, at a minute stationary bull's-eye. - -A cellar in which a normal-eyed man would not be able to shoot or to see -his sights! - -He is longing to get to the open air ranges with a full charge rifle, but -I discourage him all I can as I know he will be painfully disillusioned of -his skill in rifle shooting. - -It is the abnormal conditions of a coal cellar gallery which suits his -abnormal vision. A normal sighted person would only blind himself by -trying to imitate him. - - - - -CHAPTER XLV - -THE WEATHER AND SHOOTING - - -Rain, as far as the actual shooting goes, does no harm to shooting. In -fact, if your adversary has to wear glasses it gives you a great advantage -over him as his glasses get covered with a film of water. - -A dull drizzle is often accompanied by a dead calm and better shooting -light, than a sunshiny day. - -Wind is the great enemy to pistol shooting. - -In rifle shooting, in the prone position, the wind not only lends interest -to the shooting, but brings out the best shot, the one who can calculate -how to aim to compensate for the wind's action on his bullet. - -The pistol-shot, on the other hand has to stand against the wind and hold -his pistol with one hand and wrestle with the wind which blows his arm -about. - -It is not a question of calculating how much of the bull's-eye you must -aim at to compensate for the force of the wind from the side; but it is a -matter of mere physical strength to try and hold the pistol steady whilst -being buffeted by the wind. - -It is as if you were trying to draw a straight line whilst someone -twitches at your sleeve. - -No amount of practice will make you able to draw a straight line or shoot -a pistol under such circumstances. It only discourages you and wastes time -and ammunition. It gets you into timing and letting off wrong. If in a -shooting competition there is a wind and you are shooting at deliberate -aiming, then wait for lulls between gusts, and snap shoot during the lull. - -If you are doing shooting "Au Commandmant," or rapid-firing, you have to -take the wind as it comes. - -Bringing up with a very stiff arm, rapidly, is the best defence against -your arm being blown about. - -In England all open air pistol ranges have the firing points unprotected. -From a financial point of view this is a mistake. It is better to spend -money on making the range usable in all weathers. Otherwise it is often -deserted as nobody cares to shoot in a high wind. - -From the point of view of health it is not wise to shoot in the rain as -there is no walking about to make the blood circulate. - -If you keep moving and get into a perspiration and keep so all the time -and take a hot bath and a change of clothing directly you get home, rain -will not hurt you. - -Getting chilled after perspiring, or sitting about having afternoon tea by -a hot fire before changing your damp things, does the mischief. Even if -there has been no rain it is much better to change your things at once and -have afternoon tea afterwards. If you get wet and cannot change your -things on the spot it is much better to walk home fast than drive home and -feel cold all the way. - -I broke through ice in intense frost when wild boar shooting at Couvain, -Ardennes Belges, and got my boots full of icy cold water (long boots over -the knee). I walked four miles to the lodge and felt all in a glow the -whole way, took a hot bath, had dinner in bed, and felt none the worse for -it. - -The others being dry drove home, but if I had done so, I should most -likely have had a dangerous illness. - -It is a very great mistake, when overtaken in summer by a thunder shower, -to take shelter when you are in a perspiration; you will get chilled for a -certainty. - -Walk home fast, even if you get wet to the skin in so doing. Keep on -walking, or if you are on a horse, keep on trotting and cantering -alternately, till you get home. - -If your horse is tired after a hard day's hunting and it is a cold wet -evening, keep him moving for his own sake as well as your own. - -I had ridden fifty miles during the day (a run with stag hounds which had -taken me twenty-seven miles from home). The mare was getting leg weary, so -I unwisely stopped at an inn, six miles from home, and put her in the -stable to give her warm gruel with beer in it. - -When I started half an hour later to lead her home she was unable to move. -I had to leave her for the night at the inn and after making her as -comfortable as possible and rubbing her legs with brandy I walked home by -myself. - -If I had taken her straight home without stopping to gruel her she would -have reached home all right, and had her gruel there and laid down -comfortably. - -Keep moving when cold and wet, take a hot bath and change the moment you -get home. If you feel at all as if you had a chill, go to bed after the -bath, put a hot bottle to your feet, pile the eider-down on top of you, -drink dried raspberry tea, go to sleep, and perspire. Dried raspberries, a -Russian peasant's remedy, are the best sudorific I know. The raspberries -are dried and then used just as if they were tea leaves, and the tea thus -made drunk very hot, with sugar to taste. - -The leather Swedish waistcoat which I mentioned in my chapter on dress -should always be worn if there is the least wind when pistol shooting. It -can be worn on the hottest day as it keeps the sun out also and as long as -one stands still it does not make one perspire, and wind or rain cannot -get through. - -A thin mackintosh does not hamper much in pistol shooting. - -An umbrella is worse than useless against rain but may be used to keep -the sun off. Of course a hat worshipper invariably carries an umbrella. - -In rain an umbrella protects only the hat and it drops the water on your -shoulders, the worst place you could get wet. People run into others and -drip the water onto other people, in fact there ought to be a tax on -umbrellas like there is on pistols. - -As to snow, I cannot understand any one wanting to hold up an umbrella -when it snows. One never sees people do that in a country where snow lies -half the year any more than does one see people turn up their collars in -really cold countries. - -They have their coats fit properly up to the neck, not with lapels turned -back exposing the chest. - -It always amuses me to see a man with a big fur coat turned far back on -the chest so as to show the rabbit skin, dyed to represent sable. - -A Russian has his fur "Shuba" double-breasted and buttoned up right under -his chin. His deep collar protects his shoulders, but he does not turn up -his collar about his ears at the least zephyr of air. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVI - -MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS - - -It is the military use of pistols which has doomed the revolver. - -During the war, England was the only country which still retained the -revolver as regulation. Every other country had adopted the automatic -pistol in its place. - -There are two opinions as to the proper calibre for a military pistol. -England, having to fight savage tribes, had always preferred a large bore -pistol with stopping power. Fanatics who do not value their lives can do a -lot of mischief, even if wounded fatally, by a small calibre bullet, -before they die. - -On the Continent a much smaller calibre is deemed sufficient; a .32 or .38 -or a 7 millimetre, whereas England and the United States consider .45 or -.455 the best size. - -In my opinion the United States .45 Regulation Colt Automatic pistol is -the best of all army pistols. (See Plates 13 and 14.) The way it was -chosen should guarantee this. - -It was first chosen because it passed all the military tests such as -sand, rust, and freedom from jamming under rough usage. Then it was put -into the hands of all the best pistol shots in the United States and their -reports examined. It has, therefore, not only passed military but expert -shooters' tests, and alterations were made in accordance with their -reports. - -It may seem a great presumption on my part therefore to suggest an -improvement, but I have been a big-game shot all my life and used ivory -front sights, and I think a black front sight is a mistake. - -I am sure a white or silver front sight is the only practical one. - -This morning I went out before daylight after deer. It was very misty and -I saw a stag eighty yards off, hardly distinguishable in the mist and -darkness. My white front sight shone like a star on his shoulder when I -took aim and I had no difficulty in taking the shot. - -A black front sight would have been so indistinct that I should have -missed or rather not fired at all, as I do not like making a mess of a -shot and letting an animal go off wounded. - -It is self-evident that if you want anything to be as visible as possible -you paint it white. - -White reflects light better than any colour. If you distribute twenty -white, thirty yellow, fifty red, and eighty blue spots over a piece of -black paper they look to the eye as being of equal numbers, owing to the -blue being so inconspicuous compared with the red, the red compared with -yellow, and the yellow compared with the white. - -[Illustration: PLATE 13. UNITED STATES ARMY REGULATION .45 COLT AUTOMATIC -PISTOL - -Capacity of magazine, 7 shots. Length of barrel, 5 inches only. Length -over all, 8-1/2 inches. Weight, 39 ounces. Finish, full blued, checked -walnut stocks. - -[Illustration] - -Cartridges. Calibre .45 U. S. Government, 230 grain bullet. Calibre .45 -Colt Automatic, 200 grain bullet. (Both rimless; smokeless powder; full -jacketed bullet.)] - -White being the most conspicuous of all it takes fewer spots of white to -dominate. As these spots are on a black sheet of paper very few spots of -white would draw attention from all the colours. - -As ivory is fragile, a big silver or plated bead front sight is better for -a military automatic pistol or rifle. - -The first thing I did when I got my United States .45 Colt Automatic -pistol was to put on it a white silver bead front sight, first removing -the regulation black knife edge front sight. - -I then made the U in the hind sight very big. This pistol has been carried -through the war by my chauffeur, W. Francis, who entered the Russian Army -as a volunteer and has gained the St. George's cross for bravery and he is -delighted with the sighting of the pistol, and can do very rapid shooting -with it. - -For practical use of the pistol in war, self-defence, or duelling, what is -needed is a strong set of sights which can hardly be injured under the -roughest usage; sights which can be seen instantly in a very dim, as well -as strong light. - -The best sights for such purpose are those which are used on duelling -pistols. - -It is most extraordinary that all pistol sights except the French duelling -ones are so very unsuitable. - -The military front sight consists of an upright narrow rod as seen when -aiming. This is very thin and high and is black, with the top, when it has -been used for any time, polished a dull grey, from use. - -The hind sight has a very minute notch in it. The result in aiming is as -follows: You faintly see a very thin black rod with a hazy top against -the dark object you are trying to shoot. - -By searching for it very carefully you see a microscopic notch in the hind -sight, much too small to enclose this rod when aiming. - -You cannot keep your elevation in shooting. As soon as you try to take the -top of this front sight in your minute notch you lose sight of it -altogether. - -The rod so blocks the notch that you do not know if you have the front -sight centrally in the notch or at one side. - -In fact if I was asked to devise a set of sights to prevent a man being -able to shoot well, the regulation military sights are what I would -choose. - -If strong enough the ivory ball would be the ideal colour for a front -sight, as it is a dull white, instead of the reflection which sometimes -comes from silver highly polished. - -What is called "frosted" silver would be a good surface for the silver -front sight if it did not tarnish. - -The back sight should be just high enough above the barrel to avoid blur -when the barrel gets hot, but otherwise the lower it is the better, having -a big U-shaped notch large enough to enable the white front sight to be -seen in the notch when showing a slight ring of daylight all round it; -both sights as low on the barrel and as far apart as possible. - -This combination of sights is seen instantly without any searching or eye -strain. All you have to do is to look at the object you want to hit, -paying no attention to sights, till your fully-outstretched arm, coming up -by sense of direction, points the pistol at the object, and you see before -your eyes this silver ball in the middle of the U of the back sight. - -Snap-shooting is made more difficult with military sights on a pistol and -accounts for many men being blamed for being bad pistol shots, whereas, it -is really the fault of the sights. I cannot make good shooting even at a -stationary target with such sights and for rapid firing or at moving -targets my shooting is much inferior to that with the same pistol, when -fitted with duelling sights. - -I can understand the English-speaking nations not using duelling sights, -as very few ever shoot a duelling pistol, but that the Continental -nations, with their knowledge of duelling, have not adopted duelling -sights is to me very strange. - -The same remark applies to military rifle sights which are such as no -big-game shooter would dream of using. - - -METHOD OF OPERATION - -A loaded magazine is placed in the handle, and the slide drawn fully back -and released, thus bringing the first cartridge into the chamber, leaving -the hammer cocked and the pistol ready for firing. - -If it is desired to carry the pistol fully cocked, the safety lock may be -pressed upward, thus positively locking hammer and slide. The safety lock -is located within easy reach of the thumb of the hand holding the pistol -and may be instantly pressed down when raising the pistol to the firing -position. - -[Illustration: PLATE 14. UNITED STATES ARMY REGULATION .45 COLT AUTOMATIC -PISTOL. SECTIONAL VIEW] - -To lower the cocked hammer, draw it back with the thumb until it forces -the grip safety in flush with the frame; at the same time pull the -trigger, then lower the hammer with thumb. - - -SAFETY DEVICES - -It is impossible for the firing pin to discharge or even touch the primer, -except on receiving the full blow of the hammer. - -The pistol is provided with two automatic safety devices: - -The automatic disconnector which positively prevents the release of the -hammer unless the slide and barrel are in the forward position and safely -interlocked; this device also controls the firing and prevents more than -one shot from following each pull of the trigger. - -The automatic grip safety which at all times locks the trigger unless the -handle is firmly grasped and the grip safety pressed in. - -The pistol is in addition provided with a safety lock by which the closed -slide and the cocked hammer may be at will positively locked in position. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVII - -RECOIL - - -When buying a pistol the amount of recoil you are able to stand plays an -important part. - -This is not entirely a matter of physique. - -A slight, wiry man, whose hands and muscles are in hard condition, and who -"gives" to the recoil will be able to shoot a pistol having a recoil which -would knock all the shooting out of a man who was in a flabby condition, -or not accustomed to manual work, even if that man were much heavier and -stronger. - -Some men can bear punishment better than others. - -The duelling pistol has not only no appreciable recoil, but the recoil is -distributed by the big stock over the whole of the hand. - -The duelling pistol has the longest stock of any pistol and also has no -projections to hurt the hand. - -The pistol most people would imagine has no recoil is the small .32 pocket -revolver and this is the very one whose recoil hurts more than almost any -other pistol. - -Recoil depends on the proportion between the cartridge charge and the -weight of the pistol. - -A pistol weighing 2-1/2 lbs. would shoot the .32 cartridge with hardly any -appreciable recoil. - -But this same cartridge in a small pocket revolver weighing only a few -ounces kicks very viciously. - -Besides it has a very small stock made the same shape as a full-sized -stock. - -The result is that, whereas in a full-sized stock the top of the comb is -designed to project over the thumb and forefinger, in the little -vest-pocket pistol this comb comes against the tender part of the palm and -the recoil drives it into the hand. - -I have had my hand cut and bleeding after a few rounds with a pistol -intended for ladies' use! - -The surest way to make a beginner flinch is to let him begin with a little -pocket revolver. - -I mention revolver because an automatic pocket pistol generally does not -have a stock with projections which can drive into the hand by the recoil. - -The makers know that if the slide of an automatic pistol _did_ drive back -into the hand it would do very serious damage. They therefore make the -stock so that it cannot be held with the comb against the palm of the -hand. - -Men accustomed to shoot a pistol having a heavy recoil get so used to -bracing against that recoil that they bob forward with an empty pistol to -a recoil which does not come. - -A heavily loaded gun, if it misses fire, makes the shooter bob forward -involuntarily to meet the recoil he expects. - -An automatic pistol can be used with a heavier loaded cartridge than would -be possible with a revolver. - -Not only is some of the recoil taken up in working the mechanism in the -former pistol but the recoil is softer. - -The recoil of a revolver can be likened to a blow with the fist, whereas -the recoil of the automatic pistol is like a hard push with the open hand. -The recoil first having to work the mechanism loses its sudden sharp -stinging blow. - -I find I can shoot a heavily charged military automatic pistol longer than -I can a revolver which has much less recoil. There is none of the jar and -strain on the wrist in an automatic pistol which a revolver with the -English Regulation cartridge gives. - -Cocking the revolver by trigger-pull is tiring to the hand, and a very few -rounds entirely paralyses the trigger finger for the time being. - -It is a very unnatural strain to draw back the weight of the spring to -raise the hammer and revolve the chamber with the trigger finger. It tires -the finger very soon. - -With the automatic pistol there is none of this strain. Therefore a man -can fire a hundred shots rapidly with the automatic pistol, when he could -not fire twenty-four rounds with a double action revolver, using the -double action, without his trigger finger giving out. - -I merely mention this as a matter of interesting ancient history. -Revolvers are obsolete, but it is as interesting to understand how they -were used as it would be if we knew all such lost details concerning the -ancient cross bow, or Bushman's long blow tube. - -When one thinks of the unhappy men who were forced in their training to -shoot heavy military revolvers with alternate hands working the double -action trigger, it is extraordinary more of them did not dislocate their -trigger finger or sprain their wrists. - -Let any one take one of these relics and work its double action for ten -minutes without stopping, and when added to this each shot drives the -wrist upwards with great force, he will no longer wonder why men used to -shirk "revolver practice." - - - - -CHAPTER XLVIII - -JUDGING DISTANCE - - -With the revolver, which was not usually shot at longer range than fifty -yards, judging distance was of little importance. - -With a full charge .45 revolver, sighted for twenty yards, the drop of the -bullet was not more than about 1-1/2 inches at fifty yards. - -With gallery ammunition in a .44 revolver the drop was about 4-1/2 inches. - -I am speaking from memory, not from actual calculations or measurements. - -The duelling pistol, although shooting the same gallery charge, needs -slightly less allowance at fifty yards, as there is none of the escape of -gas the revolver has at the cylinder. - -There was, therefore, no need to judge distance with a revolver but the -automatic pistol with its heavy charge shoots as far as the old time -rifles did and so needs knowledge of distance judging on occasions. - -Owing to the shortness of the barrel it is very difficult to do accurate -shooting at long range, but the pistol itself carries and shoots well up -to rifle "midrange" (_i. e._, five hundred yards). - -As it is so difficult to shoot at long range with a pistol there is all -the more necessity to be able to judge distance so as to avoid another -cause of error. - -A long range revolver match took place in 1911 in Colorado, but many -important details are lacking. - -It was gotten up by the Magazine _Outdoor Life_ of Colorado. - -The conditions were five sighting shots, and then twenty shots to count. - -The target was a brown paper profile of a turkey at three hundred yards' -range. - -This description is very vague, as all reports of shooting by non-experts -are; they always leave out vital details and put in a lot of useless -matter; it may mean a target of fifteen inches in diameter (if it only -included the body of the turkey) or over thirty inches (if it included the -whole of the turkey, head, legs, feathers, and tail). - -Probably it was the latter size as, if it was only fifteen inches in -diameter, that would correspond to an inch bull's-eye at twenty yards, or -a 2-1/2-inch one at fifty yards, much too small for revolver shooting. - -It is extremely difficult to hit a four-inch bull's-eye for a succession -of twenty shots at fifty yards. I have hit it ten times in twelve shots -(see page 349), and the much greater difficulty of hitting a corresponding -sized target at three hundred yards would make a full score impossible -with a revolver. - -The winner, name not given, made three hits for his twenty shots, six men -hit it twice in their twenty shots, six hit it once, and six missed every -shot. - -This is not a very encouraging result of a long range revolver shoot. - -Though the automatic pistol would be much more accurate at that distance, -still I doubt if any one could get more than eight shots on the turkey in -twenty shots at three hundred yards. - -To be of any use for comparison the actual diameter of the turkey would -have to be ascertained. - -Judging distance should be constantly practised, under all conditions of -light, by judging when out walking how far off a man is, and then walking -up to the spot, counting your steps, to see if you have judged right. - -Do not measure distance by yard strides and thus draw attention to your -movements and raise doubt as to your sanity. - -First measure in private, say one hundred yards, and then walk it with -your natural length of step when walking at your usual speed, and see how -many of your steps go to one hundred yards. - -When you know your number of steps for a hundred yards you can measure -distances in ordinary walking and without passers-by noticing what you are -doing. - -My natural walk is 104 steps to the 100 yards at four miles an hour. - -Try, when you think you are fairly accurate, to judge the distance a man -is off also judge how far a small boy is. You will find at first you think -him much further off than he is owing to having got into the habit of -judging the distance by the height of the man. - -When you come back to judging how far off a man is you will underestimate -the distance for the same reason. - -Mist makes an object appear much further off than it really is; a sheep -close by appears as large as a stag one hundred yards off. - -Distance is very deceptive and if one is accustomed to judging the -distance of an object of a certain size and then has to change to a -similar looking object of a different size the difficulty is increased. - -When I have been shooting at stags and judging their distance with fair -accuracy and then change to roe deer shooting, the roe always seems much -further off than the real distance, because a roe at one hundred yards -looks the same size as a stag at two hundred yards off. - -This difficulty is increased if the objects are mistaken for each other. - -Suppose a river with steep banks, fifty yards broad, in a flat meadow, and -you stand in clear atmosphere and full sunshine at a spot twenty yards -from the nearest bank. From where you stand you cannot see the breadth of -the river; the two banks looking like one line on the green of the -meadow. - -A faded, weatherbeaten, red fire bucket, is standing on the edge of the -far bank, and a flower pot on the near bank. - -Both objects look identical in size, shape, and colour because of the -linear and aerial perspective at these distances, and it is impossible, -unless they are studied very carefully with a telescope or field glass, to -know which is which and therefore which is the further off. If you are -accustomed to judging the distances of flower pots you would think the -fire bucket was a flower pot and therefore only twenty yards off instead -of seventy. - -Be sure you know what the object is when using it as a means of judging -distance, it may be something much larger or smaller of a similar -appearance. - -A pony, when seen through a thick haze, mistaken for a horse would -entirely upset your calculations. - -The use of being able to judge distances accurately is to enable you to -decide how much to aim above a distant object to make up for the distance -the bullet drops in going that distance. - -The drop of the bullet increases rapidly as the distance increases. - -Whilst at short range the drop is so slight that it does not signify -except for extremely accurate shooting, the bullet does not drop in -similar proportion at further range. - -At two hundred it may not drop more than double what it does at one -hundred, but the proportion of drop between two hundred and three hundred -is still greater and so on; the flight of the bullet describing, not a -section of the circumference of a circle, but a parabolic curve. - -When shooting at a man standing upright this drop can be ignored up to -four hundred yards with the Military Automatic pistol; as long as the aim -is taken at the top of the chest it will hit him somewhere. - -But if only a man's head shows it may be missed over or under according as -the distance is misjudged, too far or too short. - -If a puff of dust or a splash of water can be seen where the first bullet -strikes it will serve to correct the aim for the next shot. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIX - -GAME SHOOTING - - -The single shot .22 pistol is much used in the United States for small -game shooting for the pot, when camping out after big game. It does not -make much noise and also has the advantage of being very portable. - -Game birds sometimes come close to a camp in the early morning or evening; -and a sitting shot for the pot can be got at them without disturbing the -ground, when a shotgun would clear all the ground for miles round. - -I find a .22 pistol has not enough stopping power to prevent a wounded -rabbit getting to ground and consequently lost. A great proportion of -rabbits hit with this bullet are lost. - -I use a .44 duelling pistol for rabbit stalking when they are sitting -outside their holes. If a rabbit is hit by it he very seldom gets into his -hole. - -The big bullet does not spoil the rabbit as much as might be thought, the -bullet being round and solid it only makes a hole of its own size and goes -straight through the rabbit. - -A .22 hollow pointed bullet makes much more mess and has the -disadvantage often of not stopping the rabbit though it maims it. The -duelling pistol would spoil a game bird if hit in the body but it is all -right for a head shot. - -It makes slightly more noise than a .22 pistol but it is a soft noise and -does not travel far. - -I think when game for the pot has to be shot that a ".22 short" cartridge -out of a rifle with a telescope sight is best. - -After all, hitting the bird at forty or fifty yards off with a pistol -takes some doing, whereas with a telescopic sighted rifle the shot would -be a certainty. - -The pistol is very little used for what seems to me to be a very useful -function. - -When shooting big game there are many occasions when another shot has to -be fired at wounded game unable to get away. - -Say a wild boar for instance is brought to bay by the first shot. - -He cannot be approached with safety to use the knife, he is killing the -dogs, he has to be shot again. - -Now you do not want to fire your rifle, which makes a boom like a cannon, -as that would disturb the rest of the beat. - -If you have a pistol which shoots a big .44 calibre ball with a reduced -charge of powder you can go close up to the boar and kill him without -making much noise. - -If a wounded animal gets you down, a pistol which lies close to your hand -may save your life, and if it shoots a heavy charge and is rapidly fired -several times into his body, it would stop most animals except an elephant -or rhinoceros. - -A rifle can be lost in falling or lain on, the length of barrel prevents -it being used at close quarters. - -The objection to carrying a pistol in big-game shooting is that every -possible ounce in weight has to be saved, especially in a hot climate. The -pistol is so much extra weight and when climbing amongst rocks it is a -great nuisance. To be of any use against dangerous game the pistol must -shoot a big bullet. - -In the instance of the wild boar, I mentioned a reduced charge but my idea -is to carry the two sorts of cartridges and to have the automatic loaded -with full charge cartridges, but if game has to be finished which is not -endangering your life, I recommend putting in a gallery charge cartridge -for this particular finishing shot so as not to make more noise than -absolutely necessary, and not to disturb other game which may be near. - -An automatic pistol built for a big charge will not function with a -reduced charge. Such a charge does not give enough recoil to introduce the -next cartridge and an automatic only works properly with the exact load it -is designed for. With a reduced charge the automatic pistol, after the -shot, remains half open. - -If the magazine and also the cartridge which is in the barrel are first -taken out, the gallery-load cartridge can be put in the barrel and fired. -Afterwards the loaded magazine can be put back again and the pistol is -ready to shoot the heavy charge. - -A single-shot .44 gallery ammunition pistol with very short barrel like -the old-fashioned Derringer, could be carried without taking up any room -or appreciable weight and be used for finishing deer, or other -non-dangerous game. - -The forester who goes with me moufflon shooting carries a 9 Millimetre -Mauser Automatic pistol for self-defence against poachers and he shoots -small game with it when he comes across it. It is, however, a noisy little -pistol. - -Do not take a smaller calibre pistol than a .38 for finishing big game. It -does not kill them clear. - - - - -CHAPTER L - -SHOOTING FROM HORSEBACK - - -This needs an entirely different training to shooting when on foot. - -It needs knowledge of "Horsemanship" above all else. - -Ninety per cent. horsemanship and ten per cent. pistol shooting skill will -beat the finest pistol shot if he has only ten per cent. horsemanship to -his ninety per cent. shooting skill. - -By "horsemanship" I _mean_ "horsemanship," not mere skill in sticking on a -horse's back. - -A man may have ridden all his life and be able to stick on the back of any -horse and yet be no "horseman." - -Merely keeping one's seat, and "horsemanship" are two entirely different -matters. - -The "rider" (_i. e._, sticker-on) turns his horse by pulling a rein. If he -wants to go faster he hits his horse or kicks his heels into it, if he -wants to stop he pulls with both hands. - -If he wants to turn, he pulls his horse's head round and the horse pivots -on his fore legs and his hind legs follow in a wider circle. - -The "horseman" uses the aids, that is, his left hand on the reins and the -calves of his legs against his horse's sides. - -By the pressure of the calf of his leg, feeling the horse's mouth, and the -rein against the horse's neck, he can make the horse obey his every wish, -because the horse understands, without any tugging, hitting, or forcing. - -"Horsemanship" is having the horse under perfect control and obedient to -an indication so slight that it is imperceptible to the onlooker. - -The "rider" tries to compel the horse by main force to obey him, and the -horse, even when it understands and obeys, does it in his own way, not his -rider's way. - -It is the difference between two perfect dancers moving as one, and a man -who has a vague idea of dancing trying to lug round a partner who knows -nothing about dancing. - -The "horseman" and his horse are one. - -The "rider" and his horse are like a policeman taking off an unwilling -prisoner who does not know what he is accused of. - -In the one case the horse is watchful for every wish of his rider and -instantly obeys, in the other the horse is all the time misunderstanding -what his rider wants and being punished for his ignorance. - -Unfortunately very few Americans or Englishmen know even the rudiments of -the "High School." - -That is why so few "riders" can play polo, both man and pony must be of -one mind and understand each other and that can only be learned in the -"High School," which is "Horsemanship." - -The reason foreign officers are so successful in the jumping competitions -at the Olympia Horse Show is that they are horsemen in the "High School" -and their jumping horses are trained to it also. - -Matador, the celebrated Belgian high jumper, can do the Spanish trot like -a circus horse. - -Ladies riding astride generally know nothing of "horsemanship," but -exaggerate the faults of men "riders." - -Their stirrup leathers are so short that the heels are drawn back and the -toes point downwards. To go faster they hit the horse with their whips or -strike their heels into it but immediately back go their legs into the -"heel up toe down" position with their feet almost driven through the -stirrups. - -The legs stop in this position during the whole ride, as if they were -stuffed dummy legs. - -They only know one use of the legs, that is to grip the saddle so as to -keep their seats in it. - -The "High School" rider uses his legs for giving the indications to his -horse of what he wants it to do, supplemented by the reins, which, by more -or less pressure on the mouth and against the horse's neck, indicate the -horseman's wishes to the horse. - -A "horseman" does not pull at one rein to turn the horse any more than an -expert cyclist turns the handle bars when he wants to turn a corner. - -The cyclist leans to the side he wants to turn to and comes round like a -pair of compasses do when you lean them over and let the pencil swing -round. - -If a "horseman" wants to open a gate he does not kick his heels into the -horse and thus force him up to the gate and then lean over the horse's -neck to try and reach the gate, which the horse is backing from. The -"horseman" holding his reins in his left hand, squeezes the horse with the -calves of his legs and this makes the horse go forward. - -As he gets to the gate the "horseman" puts his left calf further back -against the horse's left side, at the same time putting his left hand -slightly to the left so that the right rein presses against the horse's -neck. - -This turns the horse's neck and shoulders to the left whilst the pressure -of the left calf against the horse's left side makes him put his right -hind quarters to the right. The horse now stands broadside up against the -gate and the "horseman" can easily use his right hand on the gate lock, -without having to lean over. - -When he has taken hold of the gate a slightly greater pressure of his -right calf whilst tightening the reins makes the horse's back and quarter -turn, and the gate is opened. He eases his horse's mouth, squeezes with -both calves, and the horse walks through the open gate whilst the gate -closes behind him. - -Suppose two equally good pistol shots, one a good "rider" and the other a -good "horseman" are in a mounted pistol competition. - -They are told to walk their horses past the target and shoot at it one -shot out of their automatic pistol as they pass. Both of the horses have -not seen the target before and are rather shy of it. - -The "rider" having to hold his pistol can use only one hand to his horse -and being accustomed all his life to guide his horse by pulling at the -reins cannot guide the horse properly with only his left hand. - -As the horse comes up to the target he turns his head towards it and his -quarters away from it and begins to sidle away, walking all crooked, the -rider kicks his heels into him to try and get him up to the target and -when he puts out his arm to aim the horse sidles away still more and whips -round away from the target spoiling the shot. - -After the "rider" has fired he needs both hands to turn the horse and -bring it back, and, having the pistol as well as a rein in his right hand, -fires one or two more shots, unintentionally. - -The "horseman" squeezes his horse by pressure of the calves into his -bridle, his horse like the former horse seeing the target tries to turn -his head towards it and to sidle away from it. - -The "horseman" merely moves his left hand slightly to the left, causing -his right rein to press against his horse's neck and thereby turns the -horse's fore part straight again; at the same time he puts his left calf -back along the horse's side and this puts his hind quarters straight into -place. If the horse tries to resist, the left spur touches him and he -gives in. - -When the shot is fired the horse is wheeled round to the left by the -pressure of the left hand and right calf whilst at the same time the right -thumb slips on the safety of the automatic pistol. - -If the reader is not a "horseman" and wants to learn pistol shooting from -horseback, he and his horse should go through the cavalry course first. - -Even when a horse is standing still, he is breathing, so it is difficult -to make good shooting with deliberate aim off horseback. - -All shooting has to be done with swing and snap shooting. Care must be -taken not to shoot too close past a horse's ears; it may be advisable to -put on a hood with closed ear covers, so that he does not get the full -noise into his ears. - -There is not much to teach as to the actual shooting, it is almost -entirely horsemanship, finding out which angle suits you best to shoot -from, at what speed the horse moves smoothest, etc. - -An automatic pistol is safer than a revolver for use on horseback. There -is no putting to half-cock but only slipping the safety on or off. - -If the horse begins to plunge, slip on the safety at once, in fact at any -indication of trouble with the horse put on the safety. - -Do not slip off the safety till the instant before firing and slip it on -the moment you have fired. - -As you cannot shoot blank ammunition out of an automatic pistol you will -have to use a single barrel pistol for teaching a horse to stand fire. - -Be very careful not to scorch him or shoot past his eyes as that will make -him always apt to flinch. - -An underbred horse is better than a blood horse as a rule for shooting -off, but when you do get a thoroughbred who will stand fire, as he has -more courage, he will stand fire better than any other horse, and his -paces are easier, especially the canter and gallop. - -A handy polo pony makes a good shooting pony if it stands fire, as it is -used to starting, stopping, and turning. - - - - -CHAPTER LI - -GALLERY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS - - -Rifles and pistols though greatly improved in some respects are now -progressing too much in one direction. - -The inventor's sole idea seems to be to get the most powerful cartridge -possible. - -They have now reduced the rifle to a small bore with an extremely heavy -charge and therefore the rifle has to be made very heavy to be safe from -bursting. - -This may be very necessary for war but it is a great disadvantage for the -many other purposes a rifle is used for. - -The new rifle is unsuitable for dangerous game shooting. People think that -as such game is shot at very long ranges and that the further off the game -is shot the better the sportsman. - -I am constantly asked, "When deer stalking, how far off do you shoot a -stag?" - -They expect the answer to be, "A thousand yards or so." - -When I say, "as close as I can possibly get, generally from about fifty to -seventy yards, I never shoot at deer beyond two hundred yards" they form -a very low opinion of my skill. - -With bears and wild boar seventy yards is a long shot, from ten to forty -is the usual distance. - -Often these animals are in rapid motion. I stand up to shoot, there is no -lying down on the face and aiming for ten minutes. - -Modern "improved" rifles are quite unsuited for this. - -The long distance they carry is a great drawback and makes them very -dangerous to use in a populous country and for the beaters. - -Their small calibre does not knock down an animal instantly like a big -bullet does. They have too much penetration and are apt to hit two or more -animals with the same bullet. - -A charging animal a few yards off may do a lot of damage after being hit -by a small bore rifle. There have not been fewer, but more, fatal -accidents from wounded lions and buffalo in Africa since these small bore, -high power, rifles have come into use. - -The heavy weight of a double high power rifle is of a prohibitive weight -for snap-shooting. - -The recoil also is so great that aim cannot be instantaneously taken for -the second shot. - -In the black powder days sportsmen's requirements were not subordinated to -military requirements. - -Express rifles were used by deer stalkers in Scotland and the typical U. -S. rifle for grizzly bears was the .44 Winchester repeater which shot a -small charge of powder. - -For big game shooting accuracy is not needed beyond two hundred yards but -a big bullet giving a knock down blow and a rifle capable of firing -several shots in succession with great rapidity. Rifle to be light and -handy as a shotgun. - -Needing a smokeless rifle answering to the above requirements, I first -tried gallery ammunition in a .303 rifle, double rifle. - -I found the weight of the rifle was too great and the calibre too small. - -I then tried a .400 double rifle, lightened very much and shooting a small -charge of smokeless powder, I got the weight down to that of a double -12-bore pigeon gun. - -Then I discovered there was danger of getting a full charge cartridge into -the rifle by mistake and bursting it. The difficulty was solved by having -a special chamber and a straight cartridge of large calibre, and small -powder charge of cordite. No high power cartridge can be got into the -chamber of this rifle, as they are all bottlenecked so there is no danger -of shooting the wrong ammunition. This double rifle is light and handy, -very accurate up to one hundred yards and all it hits it knocks down like -Thor's hammer. - -Unfortunately, the automatic pistol also has been "improved" on modern -rifle lines. - -The utmost possible power has been put into the cartridge and the pistol -has to be heavy and clumsy to stand this and it has a big recoil and a -terribly loud report. - -As it is, at the first shot, all within hearing scuttle underground like -rabbits, under the impression that an air raid is on. - -A full charge automatic pistol is such a nuisance in a pistol gallery, -owing to its deafening noise, that nobody cares to use one there, and if -he did, he would very soon be asked by the other shooters to desist. - -Inventors vie with each other as to who can produce an automatic pistol -having the most powerful cartridge, just as rifle inventors do. - -What is wanted is not a more powerful automatic pistol, the present ones -are far too powerful, but a weak power, large bore one with an extremely -light charge corresponding to the duelling pistol, that is to say, one -shooting a round bullet of .44 calibre with a very small charge of -smokeless powder. - -Such a pistol would be an ideal weapon for shooting galleries and would -popularize pistol practice, _then_ pistol shooting would be a pleasure -instead of a penance, when shooting has to be done indoors. - -The automatic pistol inventors should experiment as follows: - -The external lines should follow the Gastinne-Renette duelling pistol as -nearly as possible. - -The calibre and cartridge the same as it is (_i. e._, .44), the bullet -being of lead, and spherical. - -The magazine of a size to _take only this cartridge_, as otherwise, if a -heavy charge cartridge were introduced by mistake and fired, it would -smash and perhaps burst the pistol. An automatic pistol made for the light -charge would have too weak a recoil spring to withstand a heavy charge. - -The duelling pistol cartridge has the bullet seated far down it, and there -is a lot of spare useless length in the cartridge. - -In the automatic pistol I am advising to be made (the Winans model), the -cartridge should be, though of .44 calibre, very short, the round bullet -crimped in the end of it, like the .22 bulleted cap cartridges. - -The cartridge being so short and the magazine made to fit, the usual high -power cartridges would be too long to go into it by mistake. - -The sights should be those of the duelling pistol. - -I think such an automatic pistol would be much superior to any existing -automatic pistol except for military purposes. - -As there would be no danger of putting in a higher power cartridge the -pistol could be lightened and balance better, all the weight possible -being taken off the barrel and fore end, the barrel fluted, etc., so that -the balance would be even better than in a duelling pistol, owing to its -shorter barrel. - -It may be found that the barrel could be lengthened, so as to be longer -between the sights, without spoiling the balance. - -As the gallery charge is so light, the recoil would be all expended in -operating the mechanism--there would be no recoil left against the hand. - -Most of the difficulties in designing automatic firearms are having to -withstand the enormous pressure of modern cartridges. If you go back to a -light pressure in the cartridge, all these difficulties vanish and all -parts can be made light. - -Such a pistol ought easily to beat all existing rapid-fire revolver -records, as good scores as those under duelling conditions should be made, -in fact I think better scores, as there is no necessity to raise the hand -after the first shot. - -With a Winchester .22 automatic rifle I can put the ten shots in three -seconds into a two-inch bull at twenty yards, the only time spent is in -getting the aim for the first shot, the other shots can be put in as fast -as the trigger can be pressed, as there is no recoil, and therefore no -time spent in getting a fresh aim for each shot. The .22 Colt long barrel -automatic pistol (see Plate 4) fulfills most of these conditions, but a -.44 gallery charge automatic pistol would be better. - - - - -CHAPTER LII - -SHOOTING GALLERY - - -Pistol shooting in competitions or for practice is conducted either under -cover, in the open, or partly under cover. The latter is much the best -way, so I will keep this to the last. - -An open-air range can only be installed in the country, away from -buildings or annoyance to others. Even then it is not immune. Just before -the war several rifle ranges in England were ordered to be closed because -they inconvenienced golf players, and of course golf is much more -important than shooting. - -The present automatic pistol with its heavy charge makes such a noise that -it can only be shot in an open-air range, well away from houses. The -objection to such a range is that it takes so long to get to. - -Instead of being able to fire a few shots at odd moments, as in Paris, a -man who has a few minutes to spare must take a train into the country, -wasting time and money getting there and back, and he can therefore only -shoot if he has a whole afternoon free and "money to burn." - -It requires great keenness in pistol shooting to endure all the discomfort -of waiting for trains, standing in the wet, etc., for the sake of a few -minutes' shooting. - -The usual indoor range practice is even worse. - -It is true it is "only round the corner," and takes only a few minutes to -get to, but when you _do_ get there!!! - -The range is in a part of a building too dark and uncomfortable to be used -for any other purpose. - -If a narrow underground dungeon is too bad for a wine or coal cellar, a -brilliant idea strikes the owner of the property: "Why not turn it into a -public shooting gallery, and make it pay?" - -The gallery is run on the pay, pay, always pay, and receive nothing, -principle. - -The shooter pays for the pleasure of ruining his eyesight and ears, pays -for the target, pays for the cartridges, pays for the hire of a dirty, -greasy, worn out old revolver. - -However good a score he makes he receives no prize or encouragement. - -No wonder, after one such visit, the public gives the place a wide berth. - -The Gastinne-Renette Pistol Gallery at 39, Avenue d'Antin, Paris, is -constructed and run as a pistol gallery should be. - -The first essential is to have it in a building well-lighted by daylight -and airy, and where the neighbours will not object to the sound of -firing. - -The ideal range is, as at Gastinne-Renette's, with the firing point -covered and the range itself open to the air, but this is only possible -under exceptional circumstances, and where gallery ammunition only is -fired. - -I am strongly of the opinion that unless gallery ammunition is used -exclusively, an indoor or semi-indoor range is inadmissible, otherwise the -shooting must, of necessity, be done in the country and in the open, with -all its attendant inconveniences. - -If the range is in an entirely closed gallery it should have plenty of top -light (not artificial light), like a sculptor's studio, or be situated and -lighted on the top floor of the house, like a photographer's studio. - -Or it may be a long shed with windows down both sides. - -A riding school or a gymnasium having plenty of daylight might do. - -By the way, although gymnastics do not need daylight (artificial light is -just as good for them), one never hears of a gymnasium in a coal cellar. - -It is only the shooter, who is a crank anyhow and not worth serious -consideration, who has to put up with a coal cellar. - -It is difficult to get an indoor range large enough for practice at moving -objects. - -So-called moving targets which run for a few feet are not moving targets -at all. - -To learn shooting at moving objects they should go fast and for a -reasonable distance, not less than ten yards, and the further they run, -and the more varying the speed, the better. - - - - -CHAPTER LIII - -THE GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY - - -This gallery has been in existence for some seventy years and is -constantly improved and it is the best gallery I know of in any country. -In describing it I will be describing what an ideal shooting gallery -should be like. - -The entrance is through a well-lighted daylight passage past the -gunmaker's shop of the proprietor. A pistol can be bought or hired, or -alteration made to the sights or trigger-pull of one's own pistol, on the -spot. - -One then comes to a long, well-lighted gallery, with cupboards containing -the pistols of the members and very accurate, well-kept pistols, for -lending to shooters who have not brought their own (see Plates 2 and 10.) - -Several pistol clubs, such as the "Le Pistolet" and the "St. George," -shoot here on certain days, at which times the range is closed to the -outside public. - -The gallery is heated by hot water pipes in winter. - -The secretary sits at a desk and sells the entry tickets, gives the -prizes (gold, silver, and bronze medals and plaques), and also keeps an -accurate record of all winning scores made. - -[Illustration: PLATE 15. GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY] - -The walls are hung with the framed targets which have won the Grand -Medaille d'Or and other prizes. - -Two marble slabs, engraved with the names of the winners of the -championship of each year, are by the mantelpiece where hangs the stuffed -head of a Sika stag I shot with a duelling pistol. - -One of the long sides of the gallery faces a blank wall in the open air -about thirty yards distant. - -Along that side there are cubicles with glass doors facing this wall, and -glass sliding doors opening into the gallery. - -Each cubicle has a loading table with drawers for cartridges, etc. - -These cubicles have transverse walls in pairs leading to this wall, so as -to enable pairs of shooters, if they so desire, to shoot, without being -disturbed by the rest of the shooters. - -The shooter goes with an attendant into one of the cubicles; the door -leading to the gallery is shut and the door on to the range is opened. - -The shooter can be seen from the gallery but he is not disturbed by people -talking or coming near him. - -The assistant loads the pistols, works the metronome, keeps the score, -etc. - -If the score is good enough to win a prize the assistant calls the -secretary to see the target and verify the score and record it in his book -before the shots are painted out. - -Paper targets shot at are brought to the secretary for verification and -signed and kept by him. - -Over the top of these open-air passages down which the shooting takes -place, wires are stretched to break the sound, so as not to annoy the -neighbours. - -There are also sloping boards at intervals above, so that a shot let off -by accident cannot do any harm--the boards catch all wide bullets. - -[Illustration: PLATE 16. GASTINNE-RENETTE GALLERY--FIRING POINTS] - -The prizes are given on a gradually increasing scale of difficulty, so -that nobody need be discouraged. - -The bronze medal for shooting at plaster figures at sixteen metres is easy -enough for the most moderate pistol shot to win, he is thus encouraged to -try for the silver medal at these figures, which is a little more -difficult, and so on. - -No medal in any of the series can be won more than once. - -If a man wins the gold medal at that series at the first attempt he can -still go in for the silver and bronze medals of that series, but, when he -has won all three medals of a series, he can never compete in that series -again, but of course can shoot for practice at them. - -Some series call for extreme accuracy and some for endurance, as that for -breaking a hundred small plates in succession--rapid-firing--under -duelling conditions. - -In Chapter XXXIII, I described the target used at Gastinne-Renette's -Gallery for the three series for the Grand Medaille d'Or. - -There are no second prizes in these series. - -One gold medal is for twelve shots deliberate shooting with the .44 -calibre duelling pistol. - -A similar one for the .44 calibre revolver, and also a similar one for the -duelling pistol, shot under duelling conditions. - -All are shot at sixteen metres range (seventeen yards one foot). - -To win either of the first two gold medals all the twelve shots must be -inside the first ring round the bull's-eye, that is inside (not cutting a -ring of five bullets' diameter (2-1/5 inches). - -To win the third gold medal all the twelve shots must be inside, not -cutting, the second ring round the bull's-eye, that is to say inside seven -bullets' diameter (3.08 inches). - -This latter appears the most easy competition, but on the contrary whilst -some forty or more have won the first two medals, only five have won the -latter, during the seventy years. - -Chevalier Ira Paine is the only man who won both the first named gold -medals. I do not think he tried for the third. In fact I have not seen or -heard of any score of his shot under duelling conditions. - -I am the only one during the seventy years the competitions have been in -existence who has won both the gold medals for rifle shooting at moving -objects at this gallery, the Running Rabbit and the Running Man, about -five have won either one or the other of these medals. - - - - -CHAPTER LIV - -OPEN AIR RANGES - - -A row of white squares, each with a black bull's-eye on it, and men -aiming, aiming, and finally letting off their pistols at them, is such a -mistaken idea of learning pistol shooting. - -It is all so futile, so useless, except as a sport and a means of getting -fresh air and relaxation. - -To occasionally put a series of shots very close together on a stationary -target is interesting, and shows what a good pistol and men are capable of -when working in harmony. But to consider this the sole object of pistol -shooting is the greatest mistake. - -Rapid fire, the faster the better, is the essence of pistol shooting, the -only practical use of it. - -Deliberate shooting is a game, a sport, and a very good sport, but it is -neither practical pistol shooting or the way to learn it. - -An outdoor range gives the best practice, as figures can be put up at -various distances and shot at in rapid fire, moving and disappearing -targets can run in all directions, and come up unexpectedly like at a -shotgun shooting school. - -A shelter to shoot from under in wet or windy weather has the disadvantage -of the noise from the shooting when full charges are shot, as is -invariably the case in England. - -A corrugated roof gives a terrible echo. It is better to stand in the rain -and wind rather than be deafened. - -Six hits in four seconds is the best I know of with a revolver when -shooting at life size figures taken one after the other at distances -varying from about fifteen to thirty yards. - -This can be beaten with an automatic pistol. With an automatic pistol it -is a matter of finding the right speed to swing across the figures. - -A good open air pistol range can be made behind a rifle butt. - -Behind the big butt for a thousand yards' rifle shooting makes a very big -butt for twenty-five yards' automatic pistol shooting and allows for -swinging and moving targets on an ample scale. - -In an open air range great care must be taken to be very strict as to -rules of safety. - -There becomes a tendency to walk down to the butt to examine a target -without first giving warning; to walk about with some cartridges still in -the pistol, etc. - -Things which would not be done in an indoor range seem to come natural to -some men when in an out-of-doors range. - -Targets that can smash are the best. Plaster heads are much better to -shoot at in rapid firing than to try and hit the six heads of wooden -targets. - -In the former case you see the debris of the smash as you pull the trigger -and do not pause in your swing to the next target. - -If there is no smash to the shot but only a bullet hole, one is apt to -hesitate after each shot to look for the bullet hole. - -It looks so much better and gives such a satisfactory feeling to instantly -see the result of your shot. - -A row of plates or bottles placed at various distances and smashed one -after the other very rapidly is much more of an encouragement than, after -having fired without visible result, to be told ten minutes later that you -have made all hits. - -There are small rubber balloons manufactured in France which can be filled -with water. - -The balloons when empty pack in very little space. A small pump is sold -with them, it can be regulated to deliver a pre-arranged quantity of water -into each balloon, and then a twist at the neck of the balloon closes it. - -If the water is coloured with Condy's Fluid a hit looks very conspicuous -and pretty when the balloon bursts on being struck. - -Have them thrown up to shoot at. Great care must be taken that the bullets -go where they can do no harm. - -A full charge automatic pistol should not be used for this--a duelling -pistol, having a smooth bore barrel, and shooting No. 8 shot is good -practice and can be shot where shooting a bullet would be dangerous. I -have killed 44 out of 80 live pigeons in this way. - -It is dangerous to shoot bullets at hard substances. To shoot at a stone -thrown up, a ginger beer, or a soda water bottle, may cause very dangerous -ricochets. - - - - -CHAPTER LV - -SHOOTING IN LITERATURE - - -Most extraordinary ideas prevail amongst writers as to shooting in general -and especially pistol shooting. - -One novelist makes his hero see "a flame zigzagging in the darkness," he, -not troubling to ascertain who was carrying the light, friend or foe, -without hesitation "drew his pistol, took an aim of a good thirty seconds' -duration and fired straight at the flame." - -To aim "straight at" a moving object is the way to miss it, and if the aim -is taken for thirty seconds the hand gets so shaky that a miss is certain, -but most marvellous thing in literature, the hero _does_ miss. - -Solomon said, "There is nothing new under the sun." He was wrong. The -author who makes his hero miss is absolutely unique; in all other -literature the hero never misses, none of Homer's heroes miss, nor does -David miss Goliath nor William Tell miss the apple nor Robin Hood the -deer. - -This unique hero takes an even longer aim, later. He hears a horse -galloping towards him and _aims for ten minutes_ at a point two inches -above where he expected the horse's head to appear round a rock. I suppose -he aimed two inches high so as to allow for the fatigue to his arm during -the ten minutes' aim, causing it to slightly sag down. - -I expect the next novel I read, the hero, knowing his enemy will arrive in -a month's time, will keep an aim well above the railway station till he -arrives. - -Evidently the idea is the longer the aim the more accurate it is, -forgetting that human muscles and eyesight tire, and that fast moving -objects cannot be hit with a stationary aim. - -I have known a stag turn and go the opposite direction whilst a man was -aiming at a tree he expected it to pass. - -It is amusing how, in a play, the hero after he has made the villain -desist by pointing a revolver at him, contemptuously throws the revolver -on the sofa and walks away. - -It never occurs to the author of the play, or the actor, that the villain -would instantly seize hold of the pistol and turn the tables on the hero. - -After the hero has covered the villain with the pistol and has been -applauded the "situation is over" so he throws away the revolver or puts -it back in his pocket and there the incident ends. - -In one play the hero gives a loaded .44 revolver as a keepsake to a small -child. - -This sort of thing is merely ridiculous and does no harm. - -But harm is done if an actor through ignorance shoots another actor. - -I have twice seen such an accident on the stage. Once a man blinded -another in both eyes, and in the second case in one eye, by firing blank -ammunition right into the other's face at a few feet distance. - -Men have been killed, one only a short time ago, by having the wad of -blank ammunition shot into them. In one case the gun had several wads -crimped hard into the shell so as to make a good loud bang when fired. - -One man in this play was supposed to come across his enemy, and as the -latter fled, to shoot him. The actor, who I believe said he had never shot -a gun before, put the muzzle against the other man's back when he fired -and killed him. - -He had been told that it was blank ammunition and he thought it could do -no harm. This is the cause of all such accidents. Being blank ammunition -it is considered to be harmless. - -Old ladies are laughed at when they scream and hold their ears when a man -begins to "brandish" a revolver on the stage or poke about with a gun, -with his finger on the trigger. But the old ladies are quite right to be -alarmed. - -There is no knowing what may happen when a man ignorant of firearms, has -one in his hands, even if it only has blank ammunition. - -A very favourite attitude with actors is to bang the butt of their rifle -on the ground and then put both hands over the muzzle, but in this case if -the rifle "explodes," it is only their own hands that they injure. - -For the safety of others this is the best thing they can do, before -someone else gets hurt. - -Before being allowed to fire blank ammunition on the stage, a man should -be properly instructed in the safe handling of firearms. - -Shooting blank ammunition on the stage is always a risky job. People are -so huddled up, that it is difficult to appear to shoot at a man without -shooting close enough to him to injure him. - -If the gun is fired over the man's head, it may set the flies on fire, -burn the eyes of someone in a grand tier box, or the limelight man. - -It is a case of "save me from my friends" when a writer who is ignorant of -shooting matters tries to extol someone's marksmanship. - -We read "the anti-aircraft guns at once began to bellow forth defiance. -The shooting was wonderful and it was only the hardest luck that they did -not wing an enemy." - -As the number of shots is not mentioned and the element of luck -introduced, it is not possible to analyse this shooting, but another -writer is clearer. He says "he got within fifty yards, well within point -blank range, and fired 117 shots and the enemy was then observed to be -leaning forward, so it was apparent that he had been winged." - -Now here we have all the facts necessary to work out a simple rule of -three problem. - -As 117 shots are to one shot, so is fifty yards to X (the distance the -adversary must be off to enable him to be winged, with a single shot). - -This makes X equal 15.381 inches. - -As to kill is about three times as difficult as to wing, divide by three, -this gives 5.127 inches as the longest range at which it is possible to -kill a man with a single shot, "which is absurd." Q.E.D. - -Another novel writer made use of one of my books very effectively to -describe the duel, with all details correct, except that he made the -distance between the duellists _five yards_, and they missed each other -twice at this distance! - -Allowing for each duellist three feet from where he stands to the end of -the muzzle of his pistol they would have only three yards between the -muzzles of their pistols. The writer must have either been unacquainted -with French metric measures (I gave twenty-five meters as the duelling -distance) or else he confused it with a sword duel. - - - - -CHAPTER LVI - -GRIP - - -There is a great variety of opinions as to the shape and size a pistol -stock should have so as to give the best grip. - -As I have already mentioned, the grip which suits me best is that on the -French duelling pistol. But what suits one man may not necessarily suit -another. - -A smooth, mother-of-pearl stock is very slippery to me, but some think -this gives the ideal grip. - -Some men have fat flabby perspiring hands, others have cold damp hands, -both of these seem to be able to hold a mother-of-pearl grip comfortably, -but they do not suit a man who has dry warm hands. - -In the revolver days I knew several men who could not grip the Smith & -Wesson Russian model revolver comfortably. They said the stock was too -small for them. Even the Colt stock, according to them, was too small. -They, in consequence, induced the makers to supply Colt revolvers to suit -"The English market" with enormously big stocks. - -Now these very men who found the normal stocks too small did not have -abnormally large hands. It was that they held their pistols with much too -rigid a grip. - -Some men have special stocks made so that they "can get a firm grip." - -Some of them even go to the length of putting India rubber tennis racket -grips over the pistol stocks. I have tried shooting one of their pistols -so ornamented (?) and found it was like trying to shoot with a big potato -held in my fist. - -Others, in order to obtain this "firm grip," smear the stock of their -pistol over with wet modelling clay, take a grip of it and then have a -plaster cast made of their finger prints in this clay and get a stock cast -from this. When they hold this monstrosity with their fingers embedded in -it, they claim to have a perfect hold. - -The idea they are working for is an entirely wrong one. The pistol should -be held as a fencing foil, lying in the palm of the hand. Because the left -hand gets burnt when many shots are fired in rapid succession from a rifle -or gun, a hand guard was invented which slips over to the fore end of the -gun and protects the left hand from contact with the hot barrels. - -It was also claimed that, having to hold this guard made the shooter -always hold his hand in the same place, and that this was a great -advantage. - -The rigid grip on a fixed spot is, as a matter of fact, a disadvantage. -It caused me to give up this hand guard and substitute an asbestos glove -for the left hand. - -In game shooting with a rifle, or gun, one shifts the left hand -constantly, according to the angle of the rifle or gun to your shoulder. -For a high shot the left hand is thrust forward, for a low shot the hand -drawn back. - -To sit down and shoot off the knees, the left hand is much further back on -the rifle than if you stand up to shoot off hand. - -If you find yourself shooting under, you shift the left hand forward for -the next shot so as to shoot higher. - -You cannot do all these niceties (which make all the difference between -first class shooting, and merely good shooting) if your left hand is tied -to one place. The same applies to pistol shooting. - -The pistol should not be held in a "firm grip" as these inventors of -potato-shaped stocks imagine. - -A fencer does not keep a "firm grip," nor does a shotgun man. - -All have their weapons lying in the palms of the hands loosely and easily, -the grip of the foil is only tightened momentarily for parrying or -thrusting and the game shot handles a rifle or shotgun as lightly as a -woman nursing a baby. - -A pistol stock which has all the fingers embedded in it stops all wrist -play. It may answer for a long aim at a stationery target but for any -rapid shooting it is impossible. - -How can a man draw and shoot in one movement if he has to fit his fingers -first into each hollow excavated in the stock? He might as well try to -pull on a glove each time before he draws his pistol. - -If he gets the hold the least wrong he will miss and probably also get his -hand cut. - -How can a man cock or slip on the safety bolt if he first has to take his -thumb out of the "dug out" in which it has taken refuge? He will most -likely fumble the whole thing and drop the pistol. - -Very many pistol inventions are the result of a man who, shooting for the -first time, discovers difficulties merely due to his own clumsiness and -inexperience, and instead of consulting a pistol shot, invents something -to overcome these imaginary difficulties. - -I have actually seen such an inventor shooting in a competition with an -iron rod up his sleeve attached to his pistol "to keep his arm steady." - -An inventor came to me with something he said would stop all runaway -horses, and was very angry with me because I would not try it on one of -mine, although I told him mine were properly broken horses, not runaways. - -The invention consisted of two India rubber bags which, un-inflated, were -to be put inside the nostrils of the horse. - -If there was any difficulty in stopping the horse, a pair of bellows was -worked, attached to a rubber tube connecting these bags to the driver. - -This inflated the bags, and the horse, according to the inventor, "at once -comes to a standstill." - -I told the inventor that a horse thus choked would throw himself about, -and cause a fearful smash before he died. He probably thought, "what lack -of imagination" horsemen have. - -A wooden or vulcanite stock with a small clean-cut file pattern so as to -give a non-slip hold is good. - -A too small grip has the fault of driving the nails into the ball of the -thumb; it should be just thick enough to avoid this, any thicker would be -clumsy. - -An ivory stock is heavy, but this may be an advantage if there is weight -needed in the stock to counterbalance the barrel, otherwise ivory gives a -good grip, if roughed. - -The depth of the roughing depends on the tenderness of the hand of the -shooter. - -A roughing which would make one man's hand sore is hardly enough of a -non-slip hold for a man whose skin is harder. - -Sometimes screw heads and pins are not quite flush with the stock and may -chafe the hand. - -They and any roughness left on screw heads by the unskilful use of the -screw driver should be filed down smooth. - -A sore hand which gets hurt at each shot is very detrimental to good -shooting and the shooter is constantly trying to get a fresh grip in order -to save his hand. - -Automatic pistols have almost universally a projection over the hand -between the thumb and the trigger finger for the slide to work on. - -This turns the stock into a "saw handle" which used to be common on -English duelling pistols. - -I have tried such a stock with very good results on a revolver, but it is -in the way of one-handed cocking. - -An objection to a "saw handle" is that it compels the grip to be always -taken in the same place, and as I said before, the grip should be movable -higher or lower, according as you find you are shooting too low or too -high. - -A little rosin ground fine and rubbed on the stock and hand gives a good -non-slip grip if the stock is greasy or slippery. - -Do not shoot with gloves on. It destroys the sensitiveness of the hand, -especially the trigger finger. I am always afraid of being shot by -accident when a man shooting next me wears gloves, especially the slippery -so-called "chamois skin" ones. - - - - -CHAPTER LVII - -TRICK SHOOTING - - -"Champion Shot" shooting on the stage must not be taken too seriously. - -No one can keep on shooting at small objects on a man's head or held -between his fingers without an occasional bad shot, and if it misses by -only half an inch, such a miss may cause the death of the assistant. - -Unavoidable sources of accident are, a weak cartridge giving a low shot; a -hang fire, or, as in one fatal accident, the rifle blows open, lowering -the muzzle and the bullet entering the assistant's forehead. - -Aiming to graze the top of the ball minimizes this risk but does not -eliminate it. - -A miss too high does not matter, but a miss too low means death to the -assistant. - -Managers of theatres are now very chary, since this accident, of employing -"Artistes" who do real shooting. It is too dangerous and the police will -not allow it. All sorts of ways to minimize risk are employed. When -objects are held to be shot at, steel thimbles over forefinger and thumb -are concealed under a glove. - -A steel skullcap fitting down to the eyebrows with a rod some four inches -long projecting from the top is employed to hold the ball, the steel -skullcap concealed under a wig with low fringe of hair to cover the -forehead. This is worn by a woman assistant, her high piled up head -serving to hide the rod. - -There are several other reasons for employing a woman assistant instead of -a man. - -It looks so much more effective to shoot things off a woman's head or -fingers; and she can wear long gloves in evening dress without exciting -suspicion that she has steel gauntlets concealed under them. - -When well arranged, the ball, two inches in diameter, and the aim taken to -graze the top of the ball, a miss must be fully eight inches too low to do -any damage to the assistant when she wears a steel skullcap down to her -eyebrows under her wig of piled up hair. - -Some do not even risk that, but, by an arrangement of a steel plate -connected with a lever below it, and the whole hidden behind the "back -cloth," the shot is fired at the plate a foot higher than the assistant's -head; this plate forces the bottom of the lever, armed with a spike, -forward. The spike breaks the ball and immediately returns out of sight -through the "back cloth." - -Some natural object is painted on the scene over this hidden target for -the shooter to aim at. - -I give below a few exhibition shoots, ranging from real shooting, -through "assisted" shooting down to "trick" shooting, and simple conjuring -tricks. - -The reader, if asked to shoot for a charity bazaar or to amuse people at a -village fete, can choose from this list, according to the rigidity or -elasticity of his conscience "in the cause of charity." And charity covers -a multitude of sins. - -It is curious how one never can tell what will be a success with the -public. - -A really difficult feat fails to impress the audience and a simple easy -shot "brings down the house." What must be constantly borne in mind is -that you must never make a bad shot, that spoils the whole thing. - -You can cover up your mistakes sometimes. - -If you hit the ace of hearts, have it handed round to the audience and go -on to the next item. If a shot is encored do not repeat, go on with your -programme. - -To do something well and then, trying to repeat it, to make a miss, is a -fatal mistake. - -If your first shot at the ace of hearts just misses the heart by a shade, -this does not matter. - -Keep on shooting and make a good group "all cutting into one hole" and -hand it round to the audience, thus covering up the traces of the bad -first shot. - -Stop shooting as soon as the hole cuts well into the pip. If you try one -shot too many and get it clear of the "all shots into one hole" then you -have made a fearful blunder--a three shot group is ample. - -Never attempt anything which you are not able to do easily. To make a lot -of easy shots without a mistake is far preferable than to try difficult -shots with one or two failures. - -If you can trust your nerve it is as well to keep the most difficult shot -to the last, so as not to have an anticlimax. As a climax (if your -conscience will permit you), give one or two "assisted" shots, so as to -end brilliantly. - -Always practise on the actual stage and with the same lighting as you will -have to shoot under, when giving the exhibition. - -If you do not do this you may find the light different, or so bad that you -will not be able to do yourself justice. - -A stage open to the sky, is, on a calm day, best of all, but there is the -risk of a wind springing up. Always shoot on a stage elevated above the -spectators so that all can see, and have the sun at your back. - -On an open air stage you can finish as follows: - -Have an old-fashioned .44 Winchester, black powder, repeating rifle. These -can still be picked up at second-hand gunmakers' shops. - -Get cartridges for it loaded with No. 10 shot. - -Have a lot of the rubber balls filled with water. - -It looks most effective if the water is of various colours for alternate -balls. - -Get an assistant to throw them straight up as high as he possibly can, -and break them in succession. - -With practice you can break them as fast as he can possibly throw them. - -The higher and straighter up he throws them the easier they are to break -and yet the more effective they look. - -The stop butt should be an iron box with a back sloping downwards, away -from you, at an angle of forty-five degrees, deflecting the bullets into a -tray full of sand. - -Some "numbers" for the programme (range fifteen feet) I give below. - -Put a playing-card up edgewise horizontally and cut it in half. - -Be sure the background is such that you can see the white edge of the card -against it. - -If you get your elevation just right, the card will be cut. - -Use a .44 calibre bullet in all shooting, as that gives you more leeway in -case you are a little wrong in your elevation. - -This is the most difficult shot of all and should not be repeated. - -The same shot with the card vertical. - -This is slightly easier, as one is less apt to miss horizontally than -vertically. - -The "assistance" in this shot is to have the card as much out of dead edge -on to you, as the audience will stand without detecting it. - -Unless a spectator is absolutely behind the shooter and looking over his -right shoulder he cannot see if the card is not absolutely dead edge on. - -The duffer's way of doing this shot is to fire dust shot instead of a -bullet. - -Hitting the ace of hearts I have already described. - -To hit several pips on one card is very difficult. It takes really good -shooting even at the five yards' range to hit the six pips in succession -on the six hearts. - -Also this cannot be "assisted" in any way unless you fluke one pip when -shooting at another with the .22 Colt target automatic pistol (or see -Plate 4). When the "gallery ammunition" automatic pistol is invented air -filled rubber balls can be put in a row and broken in quick succession. In -"assisted" shooting they are made of dark rubber with a minute white -bull's-eye painted on each, and the balls stand in recesses in a screen of -the same colour as themselves, so that all but the white spot is -invisible. - -To the uninitiated it looks as if it is the minute white bull's-eyes which -are hit. - -If the air balls are large, the shooting is very easy. If shot is used -instead of bullets any one can do this trick but the balls must be far -enough apart to avoid breaking two or more balls at one shot. - -To snuff a candle if the wick is aimed at requires quick shooting as more -than a momentary aim at the wick dazzles the eyes. - -It is better to put the candle in a candlestick and cut the candle to a -predetermined length, and have the pistol sighted to shoot that much too -high. - -The aim is then taken at the bottom of the candle in order that the bullet -hits the wick, and therefore there is no glare in the eyes from the flame. - -The "assisted" way of doing this shot is to have a pair of bellows with -nozzle curved at right angles, the side of the bellows towards you made of -steel, the nozzle pointed at the candle wick, behind the candle, of course -concealed so that when the background is struck the bellows blow the -candle out. - -I give a number of other shots and other information on exhibition -shooting in my _Art of Revolver Shooting_ to which I refer the reader if -interested in such shooting. - -A most sensational looking shot is a purely "assisted" one. - -It is to break two air balls simultaneously with a pistol in each hand. -The balls are placed some two inches apart. One pistol is loaded with dust -shot, the other with blank ammunition, or even, if the shot charge makes a -lot of noise and smoke, the second pistol need not be loaded at all. - -Holding the pistol loaded with shot in the right hand, the other in the -left hand, aiming between the balls with the one loaded with shot and -holding the other alongside it, pull both triggers together, breaking -both balls with the pistol loaded with shot. - -Tunes are played on a target so arranged that hitting plates either makes -the plates ring, or else the plates drive back and strike bells. - -These plates are large so as to be easily hit, but the exhibition is -"assisted" by small bull's-eyes on each plate and the audience think these -latter are alone hit. - -The tunes are usually played with several "pump" repeating .22 rifles, the -rifles being changed at each pause in a bar in the tune that the band -plays. - -Winchester .22 Automatic rifles are better, though I have never seen a -professional use them. The automatic needs only trigger pressure and turns -and quick runs can be played with it. - -When the gallery charge, automatic pistol arrives, it will be possible to -use it in the same way for playing tunes. The clips can be dropped out and -a fresh one inserted when the tune gives a pause of a bar, care being -taken not to fire the last shot, but let it carry on the first cartridge -of the new clip, as I have explained earlier. - -The plates should be so arranged as to show the "black notes" like a piano -does, otherwise it is difficult to play tunes having sharps, flats or -accidentals, if all the notes look alike. - -I saw a "bandmaster" (?) at a village horse-show overcome this difficulty -of his drum and fife band by allowing the "band" to ignore the black -notes and to substitute naturals for all sharps and flats; the effect was -very fine and greatly applauded! - - - - -CHAPTER LVIII - -THE DEVILLIERS BULLET - - -Dr. Devilliers has patented a spherical bullet, made of a secret -composition, which is shot out of pistols with only the fulminate of the -cap to propel it. - -It cannot be used in an automatic pistol loaded through the magazine as -there is no recoil to operate the mechanism, but it can be shot from a -magazine pistol if used as a single loader. - -It is primarily intended for a duelling pistol and can be used in -revolvers. - -The idea is to have a bullet which can be used in competitions under real -duelling conditions against live opponents instead of at targets. - -The pistol barrel has to be kept cold. When it gets hot after a few shots, -the bullet will partly melt and get soft and then it does not take the -rifling. - -The usual way is to have a sort of champagne cooler full of ice and to ice -the loaded pistols for a few minutes before shooting them. - -The bullet strikes with considerable force, enough if not protected -against to put out an eye or injure the throat if struck. - -I have had several painful grazes on the arm from these bullets going up -my sleeve and I also shot out a piece of skin between the forefinger and -thumb of the pistol hand of my opponent the first time I fired one of -them. - -[Illustration: PLATE 17. SHIELD ON DUELLING PISTOL WITH GUARD FOR -DEVILLIERS BULLET] - -He fired a shade sooner than I and was lowering his pistol when my bullet -struck his hand, the skin being stretched tight on the stock of his -pistol, the bullet cut a semicircular notch out of his hand. - -Since then a thin steel shield is fixed on the pistol just in front of -the trigger guard so that the hand is entirely protected when aiming (see -Plate 17). I patented similar shield on a soldier's rifle to protect his -usually exposed left hand, and also to partially protect his head, when -shooting. - -Do not shoot at any one at a shorter range than twenty metres (twenty-one -yards two feet); the blow from the bullet at twenty metres is not too -severe if the shooter is properly protected. - -It is useless for practice to shoot at a longer range than twenty metres -as the bullet rapidly loses its accuracy beyond that distance. - -Wear goggles fitted in a fencing mask, the goggles of thick strong pebble -glass or of triplex safety glass (which is lighter). - -The fencing mask fitted with heavy goggles is very cumbersome. I think an -aviator's cap and triplex glass goggles is ample protection except that -the throat must also be well protected by a thick leather stock as strong -as a saddle flap. - -A blow on the throat may do serious damage. - -I had a bullet come through a too thin leather stock and hit my throat. - -I do not think the body need be protected except by a piece of leather low -over the abdomen and this can be worn under the trousers. - -It is as well to wear old clothes or a thin black blouse as the bullets -leave greasy marks. - -The object of having the blouse black is that the bullet marks should be -more easily seen by the umpire, and scored. - -Wear as tight fitting things as you can as long as your right arm is free, -it gives your opponent a smaller target to score on. If he hits some -flapping part of your blouse it scores him a hit even if it did not touch -your body. - -In shooting in a competition it may be as well to stand sideways so as to -give the opponent as small a target as possible, but in a real duel -standing sideways increases the risk of being killed if struck. Always -have a doctor present, as a wound from this bullet may be septic if not -properly dressed at once. - -In a real duel a bullet, if the chest is hit when facing the adversary, -only goes through one lung, whereas if the man struck is standing sideways -the bullet will pierce both his lungs and so make recovery from the wound -much more doubtful. - -In winter be very careful that the bullets do not freeze, if frozen they -penetrate deeply. - -The bullets are loaded into the special cartridges as follows: - -The cartridge must not contain any powder. - -The bullet must not be squeezed into the cartridge, this would distort it -as it is soft. - -The bullet must be very lightly inserted in the cartridge. - -Open the pistol, keeping the muzzle elevated, insert the cartridge in the -breech, lower the muzzle, put on the cap and close the pistol. - -The inventor recommends that only the special cartridges of his invention -be used, these have no cap but only a nipple, and you do not put the cap -on till the cartridge is in the breech of the pistol. - -Competitions take place with this bullet as in an actual duel, the -shooting is in pairs until only one competitor remains, the one of each -pair who hits his opponent first is the winner of that pair. - -The bullets hit too hard for it to be an amusement suitable for ladies. - -Great care must be taken to be sure to shoot Devilliers bullets and not -lead bullets, by mistake. - -They are useful for galloping practice on horseback, shooting at an air -balloon fixed to posts, where lead bullets would be dangerous to use. - -The cartridges can be reloaded and used many times. - -When the cartridge has been fired there may be difficulty in removing the -exploded cap. A wire pushed into the cap through the mouth of the -cartridge dislodges the cap, but care must be taken that the cap is an -exploded one. - -These bullets are very apt to ricochet from walls so spectators must take -care. - -A canvas sheet hung loosely behind each shooter is the best stop-butt, as -it gives to the blow of the bullet and stops ricochets. A bullet once -fired is too distorted to use again. - - - - -CHAPTER LIX - -KILLING INJURED ANIMALS - - -Unless in the hands of a very skilful shot the pistol is most unsuitable -for killing injured animals with. - -They will probably be hit many times before a vital spot is struck and so -be horribly tortured. - -This remark applies especially to small animals like cats and dogs. - -The best weapon for this purpose is a 12-bore shotgun loaded with No. 5 -shot but even as small as No. 7 shot is very deadly if fired at a range of -not more than four or five feet off. - -With the shotgun a shot directed behind the ear into the top of the neck -kills instantly. - -The forehead shot is not suitable for a shotgun on large animals as the -strength of skull prevents the shot penetrating, and the animal is only -stunned. - -With a pistol the spot to hit is between the eyes where the hair curls in -the middle of the forehead in horses. - -It is better to hit too high than too low in the forehead shot as a low -shot misses the brain. - -Load both barrels of the shotgun and be ready to fire the second barrel -instantly if the horse does not collapse at once at the first shot. - -The head shot at a few yards off is the place to shoot a cat or dog with -the shotgun but do not attempt to shoot them with a pistol unless you are -a good shot, able to shoot into the ace of hearts at five yards' distance, -aim at the top of the head, or you may break the jaw instead of killing -the animal. - -People have sometimes been wrongly prosecuted and convicted for torturing -a dog when they were trying to kill it instantly and painlessly, but -lacked the skill and nerve. - -When an animal is in pain, especially if it is crying out and struggling, -a man is very apt to lose his nerve and be unable to kill it properly, but -will strike wildly. - -In killing an animal, in order to do it as painlessly as possible, it is -necessary to treat the matter quite calmly and in what looks to be a -cold-blooded manner, and to know the vital spots. - -Decide the exact spot to shoot at, heart or brain, and hit it in that -exact spot and be ready to repeat the shot, if the animal is not instantly -dead. - -With a horse I find it is best to put some hay or grass down in front of -it, and when it puts its head down, with its forehead vertical, it gives a -good chance to shoot. There is no use trying to pull the horse's head into -position and get struggling with it. To shoot a horse, do not use a pistol -of smaller calibre than .44 with full charge. - -If properly done the horse feels no pain. - -If several horses have to be shot, do not let them see each other shot, or -see the dead bodies or smell them. - -A shotgun cannot be used in a crowd, nor for that matter can a pistol. - -As soon as a horse is injured everyone runs up to enjoy the sight and they -crowd round, so great care must be taken not to shoot until the people are -cleared away from the line of fire. - -If possible get the horse into a yard with a high wall round it before -shooting and be sure boys are not perched on the wall. - -I saw a man kill a small dog instantly as soon as it was run over by a -motor car by picking it up and dislocating its neck by stretching, like -wounded hares and rabbits are killed. - -But this requires great skill, knack, and nerve. - -Otherwise not only would the dog be further tortured but he would bite. - -Nobody can understand his fellow creatures or be judged by them. Each -human being from birth to death is absolutely alone, everyone is -misunderstood as to his motives and thoughts, he is as separated from -others, even when in a crowd, as if the Atlantic Ocean were between them. - -He is praised for what does not deserve praise, and blamed for what he is -not guilty of. - -He cannot understand why another finds pleasure in what he himself hates. - -One man likes to get soaking wet crawling all day to shoot a stag, which -another thinks is folly, as a stag already shot, can so much easier and -cheaper be bought at the poulterer's shop. - -I cannot understand the pleasure of sitting up all night playing cards, -smoking and drinking, when it is much more comfortable to be sleeping in -bed; another man thinks cards, drink, and gambling Heaven on earth. - -To give an instance of how one's motives can be misunderstood: - -A poor old worn-out white horse, after struggling on slippery -cobble-stones to pull a cart load of stones, fell and could not get up -again. - -An eager crowd at once collected watching the owner thrashing the horse -over the head and kicking it. - -The horse was struggling desperately to rise and kept falling and groaning -and was bleeding at the mouth where the man was kicking it. - -I rushed up to remonstrate. A man, a stranger to me, called out "I can't -stand this, let us buy the horse between us." - -The owner of the horse made us pay much more than the horse was worth. - -We got a vet. who said the horse was so injured that it must be killed, so -he killed it. - -Next day a paragraph appeared in the local paper. - - Two well-known visitors to our beautiful town performed a very - graceful act yesterday. - - A poor man lost his horse, his faithful dumb friend who had been his - constant help and companion for years. These kind gentlemen took - compassion on the hard lot of this man in his grief and presented him - with a handsome sum to buy himself a new horse. - -The brute made quite a good thing of it, as the paragraph brought him -various sums from sympathisers, and he was able to buy a heavier whip, and -a stronger pair of boots, and a new horse, to thrash and kick. - -Possibly the historian who wrote that Nero fiddled whilst Rome was burning -was mistaken and poor old Nero was doing his best telephoning for the -County Council Motor fire-escapes to come and save the Christians from the -burning houses. - -I misunderstand others. I did not appreciate a man's piety when he refused -to help me rescue a dying horse because it was Sunday. - -The best instrument of all for killing injured horses is what is -obligatory in all Belgian slaughter houses, not only for cattle but for -sheep and pigs. (See Plate 18.) - -It consists of a short pistol barrel of .38 bore with a bell-shaped muzzle -which is applied to the forehead of the animal to be slaughtered. - -A tap with a mallet fires it and the bullet goes through the brain and -spinal column of the neck causing instant death. Its fault is that it may -go off by accident if dropped on its plunger. - -No Belgian race or horse-show can begin till a veterinary is present with -this instrument, to be used in case of accident. - -One can do very little to alleviate the torture of a horse standing with a -broken leg, or lying with a broken back in the London streets, owing to -the regulations. - -[Illustration: PLATE 18. THE GREENER KILLER - -This illustration clearly shows the position in which the Killer should be -placed. It is advisable to have the barrel in a line with the pith, but so -long as the "medulla" is pierced, instantaneous death is assured.] - -Thrice, within a few months, I have stood by a horse for hours unable to -do anything for it, but to put a rug over it as it was shivering so from -the cold (having been injured when in a profuse sweat), and moisten its -mouth. - -I was not allowed to kill the horse, only a licensed slaughterer is -allowed to do that, and then only if the owner can be found, and gives his -consent for the horse to be killed. - -I have since seen one of the principal horse-slaughterers of London and -got his telephone number, and arranged with him to send immediately to any -part of London, at any time of the day or night, if I telephone to him. - -But even then if we cannot communicate with the owner of the horse we will -have to stand doing nothing, possibly for hours, beside the suffering -animal. - -The poor old worn-out, half-starved horses in London are not only worked -to death, but when injured, they are not even allowed to die, without -further torture. - -There is another form of humane killer which I am not able to endorse, -although the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seem -to think highly of it. - -I refer to the instrument which consists of a pistol fixed at right angles -to a pole called, I believe, the Humane Killer. - -The pistol is fired by pulling a wire which runs down the pole to the -hand. - -I consider this instrument very dangerous to use for slaughtering animals -but it would be very useful in trench warfare. - -An ordinary firearm is dangerous enough if it happens to be pointed in the -direction of the spectators. But what will be thought of a pistol which, -when you carefully keep what corresponds to the barrel (_i. e._, the pole) -from pointing at anyone, you find it shoots at right angles to your aim. - -Several of us stood round a man demonstrating the operation of this weapon -when unloaded. I said to him, "You cannot bring that pistol on to the -forehead of that stuffed ox's head without pointing it at one of us during -the process." - -He was not able to do so. Each time he tried one of us called out, "You -are pointing it at me." - -I will explain by analogy the reason of this difficulty. - -Some men, in defiance of the conventions, cut cheese into small cubes, -stick their knife into them and convey the cheese into their mouths, -without cutting their mouths, and acquire great skill by long practice. - -Take a sharp knife-blade, fasten it firmly at right angles to the handle, -and ask an expert cheese eater to cut cubes of cheese and transfer them to -his mouth with this safety (?) knife. He will cut his mouth before he has -eaten half a dozen pieces of cheese. - - - - -CHAPTER LX - -COMPETITIONS - - -The duelling clubs at Gastinne-Renettes' have very practical and -interesting competitions. - -These clubs exist for duelling practice, there is no shooting with -deliberate aim to make highest possible scores, all is conducted on actual -duelling lines. - -The word duel means _single combat_, so all these competitions are -conducted in pairs, the winners again competing in pairs and so on till -finally only one remains, as in cock-fighting. - -Each participant in such a pool, when putting down his name, pays a -nominal sum which goes to provide a medal for the winner. - -In order that each competitor shall compete against each other competitor, -there are printed scoring-cards on the lines of longitude and latitude in -maps, so that by running the finger down the list of names and then at -right angles down the spaces for results, it can instantly be seen when -any particular pair must compete and at which target each will stand. - -Each competitor alternately stands to the right or to the left of whoever -is his opponent. - -Only the pistols supplied by the range are allowed to be used, and these -are given so that each shooter uses each pistol in turn and as all are -purposely varied as to trigger-pull it requires a really good shot to win. -He never knows if he is going to have a light or heavy trigger-pull. - -This is the chief difficulty in these competitions, as also in actual -duels. When a pair of competitors are each facing a separate man target, -the director of the combat gives the word "Attention, feu, un, deux, -trois." - -If they both hit anywhere on the figure, the one who fired first is the -winner of that pair. - -It is usual to have a timer, to decide who fired first. - -The director cannot fulfil both offices effectually. - -After all have fired in pairs, each with each of the other competitors, -the totals are added up and the one who has won the most combats is the -winner of the medal. - -If two or more have an equal score then these again shoot against each -other to decide the winner of the medal. - -It is not good scoring but quick hitting which wins. - -A good hit counts no more than a bad one; a hit in faster time than the -other shot, wins. - -Winners are not the same men who win at deliberate shooting. Target shots -seldom win, it is the lightning quick shot who wins, even if he cannot hit -a smaller target than one eighteen inches broad by five feet high. - -The whole art of this shooting is to be able to keep from missing by more -than three inches either side of your aim, not caring what your -trigger-pull is, or how it varies for each shot. - -As to elevation, that needs no attention; you cannot miss over or under a -five-foot target. - -Bring up at top speed putting all the attention on not jerking to the side -should your trigger-pull happen to be one of the heavy ones; aim slightly -more to the right than the actual centre of the figure to allow for an -occasional pull to the left with an extra heavy trigger-pull. - -It is the very hard pulling pistols which give almost all the misses. - -Men in constant practice in such competitions are in the best training for -a duel or for self-protection. - -With Clubs which use the Devilliers bullet the competitions are conducted -on exactly similar lines, except that the competitors fire at each other -instead of at iron targets. - -Theoretically this is even better practice. It gets a man used to seeing -his adversary actually before him and being able to study his movements -and note if he is active, and try to be a shade the quicker of the two. - -The inaccuracy of the Devilliers bullet as compared to the lead bullet -(with a powder charge) is a great disadvantage. - -You feel that there is an element of fluke in the shooting. You may make a -very good shot and the bullet being too soft or the barrel too hot that -bullet does not take the rifling properly and gives you an unmerited miss. - -Seeing your adversary raise his arm as you do yours and trying to -anticipate his let-off by hitting him before he can hit you, is the great -advantage of the Devilliers bullet as training for a duel. - -In snapping practice with an empty pistol, it is well to practice facing -your reflection in a mirror to get used to the adversary's arm rising. - -When first trying it this necessity to get used to anticipating your -adversary's movements is very apparent, a man who can shoot very quickly -and coolly at an iron target when standing side by side with his opponent -does not see the other man, he is thinking only of time. - -When facing his opponent and shooting at him he watches his opponent's -hand and tries to time him, that, is to say fire just before the moment -his adversary's arm is absolutely level to shoot, just as you time a -pigeon out of a trap for when he is well clear and yet before he can make -his dart. - -A well-known pigeon shot said, "I do not understand all this talk about -easy and difficult birds, all birds are easy if you time them right." - -The same with duelling, if you take your opponent just _before_ he can get -his swing on to you he is properly "timed" and "an easy bird." - - - - -CHAPTER LXI - -POLICE PISTOLS - - -I modelled a statuette of a mounted cowboy and gave it as a challenge -trophy to be shot for with revolvers, open to all citizens of the United -States. - -It was won first by Dr. Louis Bell, then after two others had won it, it -was finally won in 1894 by Roundsman Petty of the New York Police Force, -who twice successfully defended his title to it, and thus it became his -own property. - -Since then the police in several states have regular police competitions. - -I also gave a statuette modelled by myself as a challenge pistol trophy to -the State of Maryland (my native state). - -For years I tried to induce the police authorities of London, England, to -let me give a challenge cup for the police to shoot for, but without -success, till, by perseverance, I, in 1915, induced them to do so. - -In 1917 an automatic pistol won it, till then it was shot for only with -revolvers. - -I am sure the better the police can shoot, the less apt they will be to -draw a pistol unnecessarily; they are confident in their skill; it is the -man who is given a pistol for the first time who looses off and hits the -wrong man. - -I think it is a mistake to arm police with a .38 or .32 pistol instead of -a full-size .44 or .45 military one. A policeman has often to face great -odds and a mob will not, like enemy soldiers in battle, spare him when -down. A mob will kick him to death. It is wrong therefore to give him a -less powerful weapon than a soldier is given. - -I suppose he is given the smaller pistol, as in some countries the police -do not carry a pistol openly as part of their equipment so when they do -carry pistols they have them concealed. - -I think also this concealment is a mistake; if a pistol is carried openly -and the carrier is known to be a good shot, he can keep order without -shooting, whereas a man with no visible pistol may be ill-treated because -he appears unarmed and therefore harmless; and he has to draw in order to -maintain his authority or in self-defence. - -In the case of my Challenge Trophies given in the United States, the -competitions are changed from revolver into automatic pistol competitions -as the revolver is obsolete. - -If a policeman is unarmed, he cannot be expected to keep as cool and have -as good judgment in an emergency when his own life is in danger as he can -be when armed with a good large calibre pistol that he knows how to shoot -to such good effect that he is in no personal danger. - -If, when a riot starts, he can instantly drop a ring-leader each time the -crowd attempts a rush, or break the arm of any man trying to throw a -stone, he can get the mob under control with much less bloodshed than if -they get out of hand with impunity and the military have finally to be -called out. - -A cool deadly shot can keep a big mob at bay. It is when police shoot and -miss that the crowd begin to jeer and lose all fear of the police. - -It is a great mistake to fire over the head of a man to stop him, it only -makes him think you are a bad shot. - -My servant got me out of a very nasty predicament when we were travelling -one pitch dark night through a forest we had never been in before. We were -being led by a guide who we felt sure was taking us in the wrong direction -in order to lead us into an ambush and rob us. We had been walking away -from where the compass told us was our proper direction for hours. - -My servant without a word loaded my rifle and handed it to me. - -The guide immediately turned and in half an hour we were back at our -lodgings. - -He had seen me kill a galloping bear in thick high cover a few hours -before, and he did not like the look of my double-barrel rifle pointing at -his back. - - - - -CHAPTER LXII - -INVENTORS - - -There are several types of inventors of firearms, including those who -invent real improvements, and those who delay invention by making all -sorts of things which are not only useless but are even dangerous. - -Inventors, to do any good work, must be conversant with their subject, -and, if possible, skilled mechanics as well. - -This is the difficulty when shooting experts, who are not gunmakers, try -to invent anything. - -The shooter knows what is necessary, often far better than the gunmaker. - -The shooter has to use the firearm, and often finds details in them, which -are very beautiful perhaps, from a mechanical point of view, but which are -very awkward or even impossible from the practical shooting point of view. -A noisy bolt action for example. - -The shooter knows what he wants but cannot put it into practical shape; -the gunmaker, if he is not a shooting man as well, does not know of this -want. - -The best way out of the difficulty is for the shooter to collaborate with -the skilled mechanic and then between them they can evolve something -really useful. This is the way most improvements are evolved, the shooter -constantly testing the invention and pointing out its _faults_ to the -gunmaker who alters till the thing works well. - -If an expert mechanic (even if he is a gunmaker), who is not a shooting -man tries to invent a firearm improvement by himself, and he finds it -works in the workshop, he thinks that is all that is necessary, and the -invention is a failure as no shooting man will use it. - -The expert shot who is unmechanical, cannot put his ideas into practical -shape, and if he does not go to a gunmaker and ask his help, the invention -never takes shape; in this way some invaluable inventions never see the -light, for want of a little mechanical knowledge. - -But there is a third type of inventor, who is absolutely hopeless and the -despair of any shooting man he shows his invention to. - -This is the man who knows nothing about shooting but he has his own ideas -as to how shooting is done, and is too conceited ever to try to learn -anything. - -He is the type of man who says "Oh, we will muddle through." - -Such a man has a vague idea that, as he himself cannot shoot, therefore -his own individual difficulties if he tried to handle a firearm are the -difficulties which all shooting experts labour under. - -He does not know that an expert laughs at the difficulties of a beginner, -which never trouble a man when he has become expert. - -As well might a man the first time he is put on a horse imagine that, -because he has to fly up and down off the saddle at each movement of a -cantering horse, that the expert also has to take care not to fall off. - -The expert can sit on a cantering horse without the least lifting from the -saddle, whereas the beginner flops up and down. - -In the same way the expert shot has passed the stage which the inexpert -inventor tries to invent against. - -A horseman would not buy a saddle with straps to tie down the rider, -invented by a man who did not ride. - -The non-rider thinks such things absolutely necessary to keep from falling -off, the expert horseman not only knows such things are unnecessary, but -would be a danger in case the horse fell, as the rider could not fall -clear. - -In the same way inventors of firearms, if they are not shooting men, -invent dangerous things for overcoming dangers which do not exist except -in their own imaginations. - -This would not matter so much if they would listen to experts but they -refuse to learn, and actually try to instruct experts. - -I had a man come in recently to show me a terribly dangerous pistol he had -invented. - -He was pointing it about in all sorts of dangerous directions and finally -put the muzzle against his own body whilst he tried to cock it. - -I suggested to him he had better first see if it was loaded. - -He smiled at me in a pitying superior way, but opened the breech and took -out a loaded cartridge. - -"Why it is loaded," he casually remarked, re-inserting the cartridge and -beginning again to fumble with the lock, whilst he held the muzzle against -his body. - -I said, "Don't you know you can _kill_ yourself if it goes off,"--"that is -the great beauty of my invention," he informed me radiant with delight, "I -have made this thing," pushing the trigger with his left thumb, "so that -it only moves at a pressure of fourteen pounds so it is quite safe." - -These know-alls work up through all the steps man has gone through in -perfecting firearms, instead of taking up the work from the highest it has -come to. - -Most likely the first inventor of firearms found he shot people -accidentally when "pulling at this thing" (as my friend the inventor -called the trigger), then discovered by experience that, however heavy the -trigger-pull is made, it is sure to kill somebody accidentally if pulled -hard enough, and finally came to the conclusion that it is safer to have a -light trigger-pull if the muzzle is not pointed in a dangerous direction, -than to have a half-ton trigger-pull and keep the muzzle pointed against -one's body. - -[Illustration: PLATE 19. WINANS' REVOLVER FRONT SIGHTS] - -In the matter of sights an optician, even if ignorant of firearms, may be -able to give a valuable hint to an inventor, but this usually applies to -sights for accurate aiming at distant stationary objects; for a pistol it -is more often expert shooting knowledge which is useful in designing -sights. - -It was my combination of sculptor and shooter which gave me the idea of my -front sight, any one not a sculptor would not be apt to stumble on the -idea of undercutting the sight so as to give a deep shadow below and so -make the top stand out light against a dark lower portion. (See Plate 19.) - -In the same way some entirely distinct branch of learning may be of use to -the inventor of firearms; but in all cases, this must be subservient to -practical shooting knowledge; the man who tries to force his ideas onto a -shooter, against the shooter's expert knowledge, makes a mistake. - -The highest authority can always learn something new from an expert; but -the man ignorant of a subject who tries to teach an expert merely exposes -his ignorance, like a politician who tells a general how to conduct a -campaign. - - - - -CHAPTER LXIII - -SIMPLIFICATION - - -It is human nature to keep on in the same old groove, to try to avoid -change, even if that change is for the better. This habit is owing to it -being so much easier not to have to think for oneself but merely to do as -you see others do. - -But following convention is not progress. - -Convention is the deadly enemy of progress. Simplification is the twin -sister of progress. All improvements are the result of simplification, not -of elaboration. - -The public when they see some very elaborate invention say "how clever," -but the really clever inventor is the one who can make a simple apparatus -do the work that formerly could be done only by a much more complicated -apparatus, or even took several apparatuses to accomplish. - -The Universe appears to consist of endless variety, but the more it is -studied (whatever else remains a mystery), this one fact becomes plainer -and plainer. - -Everything acts in unison. - -The Universe is One Perfect Whole. - -The Universe can, even with our limited knowledge, be reduced to a few -simple elements, governed by a few simple "laws." - -It is, from a solar system, to a sub-microscopical organism, subject to -the same "laws" and working as one whole. - -Probably, it will be ultimately discovered that there is only one "Law" -and one Element in the Universe. - -All has to obey this "Law," there is no such thing as "luck," "chance," or -destruction. All has always existed through incessant permutation; and -will exist, from all eternity, through all eternity. - -The ancients, and the modern Mahometans knew this. The ancients called it -_Fate_, the Moslems call it _Kismet_. If a man tries to make an automatic -pistol contrary to the Laws of Nature, it naturally will not operate -properly, he loses his temper, says it is just his luck, but he reasons -wrongly. - -If he studies the laws of mechanics, which are one form of the Law of -Nature, and complies with them, his pistol will act properly; if not and -he is ignorant of the laws of mechanics, his pistol will not act properly; -it is not his "hard luck" but simply that he is trying vainly to work -against Nature, and Fate holds him in a steel grip. - -If he obeys the Laws of Nature, which are another name for Fate, he can go -on like a train following its rails, but he can no more make a pistol -constructed on wrong principle function properly than he can stop the sun -in its course. - -Simplification is the goal to be striven for in pistol shooting as it is -in sculpture. - -I saw two men, as I was writing the above, mowing a field. - -One, an elderly man, was working in the conventional manner, cutting short -deep swaths with a half blunt scythe set at the wrong angle to the handle, -working in a cramped position. - -The other, a young man, was examining his scythe. - -He altered the blade at an acuter angle to the handle and gave it a twist -sideways so that the cutting edge should lie horizontal when in use. - -Then he sharpened the blade as carefully as he would strop a razor. - -Putting himself into a firm position so that he could swing from the hips -as an athlete about to throw the discus would, he made long clean sweeps -with his scythe, taking a short depth, but this with a clean cut, and the -cut grass thrown clear to the side, his return being only just clear of -the grass, like a good sculler feathering. - -At the least sign of bad cutting, he re-sharpened the scythe. - -Although I know nothing of mowing, I could see at once that this was an -artist and a workman at his job, and one who used his brains and took a -pride in doing good work. - -I asked if he was not the champion mower of the district. I was answered -"not at all--he is only the carpenter." - -This is the sort of man who invents. - -He diagnoses faults and thinks out how to correct them. He did not, like -the other man who had been mowing all his life, work as his father and -grandfather had done, because it was the conventional manner. He thought -out for himself and improved by simplification. - -It is evident that the cut should come on gradually, not jump into a thick -bunch of grass all at once, so he set the blade at an angle which made its -entry into the grass deeper progressively, and so on with all the rest. - -The inventor who knows his business, when he has made something to -accomplish its object, does not rest there. This is only the "blocking -out" as we sculptors call it. - -Then he begins to simplify. - -Anything not absolutely necessary is eliminated; he sees if some member -cannot be dispensed with by making another fulfil two or even more -functions. - -This is how Nature works, many organs have several functions; the function -of our tongues is not only speech but to help swallowing, to judge if what -we put into our mouths is too hot or too cold to swallow, if it is fit for -food, or corrosive, etc. - -The automatic pistol is still capable of great improvement. - -All the recoil is not made use of, some is wasted and diverts the aim by -jumping the pistol about. - -The noise of the discharge is an evil, it ought to be made to do work, not -deafen. - -To invent a sound-deadener to put on the pistol is working on wrong lines; -it is not simplification but it is complication. - -Instead of first making a noise and then inventing something to destroy -that noise, why not avoid making that noise? - -The idea that ugliness does not matter is also a fallacy. - -I was objecting to a pistol a man was shooting (and of which he asked my -opinion), on the ground that it was so ugly. "What has ugliness to do with -a pistol?" he said. "In my opinion, everything," I answered. - -Nothing correct mechanically is ugly, that is the Law of Nature. - -The early, impractical, automatic pistols were extremely ugly; the best at -present, the U. S. Army Colt, has graceful lines, and the perfect one will -be beautiful. - -The essence of architecture is beauty in utility. - -Look at a first class hand made gun built by an Artist; it has the -graceful lines of a classical piece of sculpture. - -An automatic pistol should be as simple as possible, the simpler the less -likely to go wrong. - -The supposed antagonism between Art and Mechanics, between Science and -Religion are imaginary. - -If we simplify Art to its essential essence and perfection as the Ancient -Greeks did--what do we find? - -Sculpture is proportion and the essential planes. - -What else is mechanics? - -Science reduces all to the ONE UNIVERSAL FIRST CAUSE, and this is also the -foundation of all religion. - -In pistol shooting, all resolves itself into aligning the pistol and -discharging the bullet. - -The shortest distance from one point to another is the straight line. - -Therefore do not "flourish" or "brandish" the pistol up and down before -discharging it. - -Merely bring it to alignment and discharge it in so doing. - -Time is wasted if the trigger is pressed after alignment. Therefore begin -pressing the trigger as the pistol is coming to the level. - -This is the whole art of pistol shooting. - -The way to advance any art, however humble, is for each to help the other -with his experience. - -Nothing is so inimical to success as convention. - -All progress is made on the lines of pruning off all not absolutely -essential, in other words by simplification. - - - - -APPENDIX A - - -I think it advisable to give the following World's Records made by myself -with revolvers and black powder as they are now unbeatable, the weapons -and cartridges being obsolete. - -They stand in the same category as the "high wheel" trotting records. - -If there were similar records, diagrams, and details of scores made with -sling, long bow, crossbow, Persian bow, American Indian bow, blow pipe, -javelin, matchlock, wheellock, etc., available, of what inestimable value -they would be to the historian and archeologist. - -Instead, for want of such records, all knowledge of the capabilities of -these weapons is vague and legendary. - -Under each diagram I give all details. Most of diagrams are the actual -size and all have the position of each bullet-hole accurately shown. - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 1. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Stationary, 20 yards, 10 shots, South London Rifle Club, May 21, 1889; .45 -Colt Cavalry Revolver, Military sights, Eley ammunition. Black powder. -(Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 2. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Stationary, 20 yards, 11 shots, South London Rifle Club, August 21, 1888; -.44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C. gallery ammunition. Black powder. -(Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 3. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Nine shots at 20 yards, North London Rifle Club, May 5, 1897. Black -powder; .44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, gallery ammunition.] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 4. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Twelve shots at 20 yards, at the North London Rifle Club, Sept. 4, 1895. -Black powder; .44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, gallery ammunition.] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 5. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Nine shots at 20 yards, at South London Rifle Club, Sept. 22, 1892. Colt -.45 Target Revolver. English "Mark I" regulation ammunition. Black -powder.] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 6. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. - -Ten shots at 20 yards, at South London Rifle Club, July 3, 1888; Smith & -Wesson .32 break-down model. Black powder.] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 7. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS -DISAPPEARING TARGET. - -"Military" target, Wimbledon, 1888; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver. Eley's -ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 8. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS -DISAPPEARING TARGET. - -North London Rifle Club, May 29, 1895; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. -C. ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 9. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS -DISAPPEARING TARGET. - -"Any" Revolver, Bisley, 1896; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C. -ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 10. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. SIX SHOTS IN 12 -SECONDS. - -"Any" Revolver, Bisley, 1895. Rapid firing; .44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, -U. M. C. gallery ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 11. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE FOR MILITARY -REVOLVER AND SIGHTS. - -Bisley, 1895. Six shots in 12 seconds at 20 yards; .45 Smith & Wesson -Revolver, U. M. C. ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 12. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS -RAPID-FIRING TARGET. - -Bisley, 1895. .45 Smith & Wesson Military Revolver, Winans sights. U. M. -C. smokeless ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 13. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR 3-INCH -BULL'S-EYE TRAVERSING TARGET, 20 YARDS. - -Wimbledon, 1888; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, Eley ammunition. Black -powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 14. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR 2-INCH -BULL'S-EYE TRAVERSING TARGET, 20 YARDS. - -Bisley, 1896. .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C. ammunition. Black -powder. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 15. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE ADVANCING TARGET. - -"Any" Revolver, Bisley, 1896; .44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C. -gallery ammunition. Black powder. Target advanced from 50 yards to 20 -yards. (Full size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 16. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE FIFTY YARDS -TARGET. - -Bisley, 1894. Twelve consecutive shots: Six with .44 Smith & Wesson -Revolver, six with .38 Smith & Wesson Revolver. Smith & Wesson -self-lubricating bullet. Black powder. (Half size.)] - - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM 17. TWELVE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SCORES MADE BY THE -AUTHOR IN REVOLVER COMPETITIONS AT 20 YARDS IN 1895. - -English regulation mark ammunition. Black powder. The diameter of the -original bull's-eye is 2 inches.] - - - - -APPENDIX B - -THE LAW RELATING TO REVOLVERS AND REVOLVER SHOOTING IN GREAT BRITAIN AND -IRELAND - - -It is perhaps advisable to explain something about the right of carrying -revolvers in England, and the using them in cases of necessity, and first -it should be explained that a revolver is a gun so far as the Gun License -Act of 1870 (33 and 34 Vict. c. 57) is concerned, and that a license fee -of 10/ per annum has to be paid for the privilege of carrying or using -one, though a license to kill game includes the lesser gun license. In -fact it has ever been held that a small toy pocket pistol is a firearm for -the purpose of the Act. There are various exceptions to the necessity of -taking out this license, and it may be as well to enumerate them, -especially as many people keep revolvers in their houses and would be -astonished if they thought that a gun license was necessary for the so -doing--but it is not, so long as the revolver is kept or used in a -dwelling house, or the curtilage of a dwelling house. This is one of the -exceptions to the Act, and a very proper and necessary exception it is, -for it would be most unreasonable to enact that the mere keeping a -revolver for the purposes of protection should compel one to take out an -annual license. Moreover the enforcement of such a restriction would be -almost impossible without an inquisitorial search through every house. -Probably because there is very little reason for carrying a revolver about -with one in this country the exception does not apply to the so doing, and -the mere taking a revolver across the street would technically compel the -taking out a license. The curtilage of a house is much the same as its -courtyard, and would no doubt include a yard and garden adjoining the -house, but not a field beyond. - -Further exceptions are that no penalty is to be incurred by any person in -the naval, military, or volunteer service, or in the constabulary or other -police force, but it should be noted that this exception applies only -where the person claiming it is in the performance of a duty or in target -practice, so that the policeman or volunteer off duty would still be -subject to the obligation of having a license. - -Another exception is that of any one carrying a firearm belonging to a -person having a license or certificate to kill game or having a gun -license, if he is carrying it by order of, or for the use of, such -licensed or certificated person, only he is bound to give his name and -address and the name and address of his employer if called upon. - -The occupier of lands using or carrying a firearm for the purpose only of -scaring birds or killing vermin on such lands is exempt too, as also any -one using or carrying a firearm for the same purpose on any lands by order -of the occupier, if the latter has a game license or certificate, or a gun -license. Again, a gunsmith or his servant carrying a firearm in the -ordinary course of trade, or testing it in a special place, need not have -a license. - -Lastly, a common carrier carrying a revolver in the ordinary course of -business is exempt. - -To show how strict the law is, it may be added that the killing of vermin, -which, as above mentioned, is allowed without a license does not include -rabbits. - -As the penalty is L10 for carrying firearms without a license, I have -thought it advisable to enlarge somewhat fully on the above topic. - -There are also various penalties and punishments which may be imposed upon -persons misbehaving while in the possession of loaded firearms, or -wantonly discharging them. Thus any one who is in possession of a loaded -firearm and is found to be drunk, may be apprehended, and is liable to a -penalty not exceeding 40/, or, in the discretion of the Court, to -imprisonment with or without hard labour for not more than one month. - -Then, any person who in the streets of a town wantonly discharges any -firearm to the obstruction, annoyance, or danger of the residents or -passengers, is liable to a penalty not exceeding 40/ for each offence, or, -in the discretion of the justices, to imprisonment for not more than -fourteen days (no hard labour). - -It is hardly necessary to say that the wrongful use of a revolver as an -offensive weapon is very heavily punished, it being provided that any one -who shoots at a person or attempts, by drawing a trigger or in any other -manner, to discharge any kind of loaded arms at a person with intent to -commit murder, is guilty of felony and liable to penal servitude for life, -or any less term, or to imprisonment for not more than two years with or -without hard labour and solitary confinement. - -Again, any one who unlawfully and maliciously wounds, or causes any -grievous bodily harm to any person, or who shoots at any person, or who by -drawing a trigger or in any other manner attempts to discharge any kind of -loaded arms at a person, with intent in any of these cases to maim, -disfigure, or disable any person, or to do some other grievous bodily harm -to any person, or with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension -or detainer of any person, is liable to penal servitude for life or for -not less than three years or to imprisonment for not more than two years -with or without hard labour and solitary confinement. "Loaded arms" are -defined as "any gun, pistol, or other arms which shall be loaded in the -barrel with gunpowder or any other explosive substance, and ball, shot, -slug, or other destructive material, although the attempt to discharge the -same may fail for want of proper priming, or from any other cause." -Finally, any one who unlawfully and maliciously wounds or inflicts any -grievous bodily harm upon any person with or without any weapon or -instrument, is liable to penal servitude for three years, or to -imprisonment for not more than two years with or without hard labour. The -words "unlawfully and maliciously" are difficult to construe, and -therefore it may be well to state that a man who fired in the direction of -a punt, in order to deter the occupant from fowling in a particular -locality, and wounded him in so doing, was convicted of malicious -wounding; and generally that if a wound were to be caused mischievously -and without excuse the person who inflicted it would probably be found -guilty under this enactment. - -So much for the strict offences caused by the improperly carrying or -making use of revolvers. Before, however, leaving this subject it will be -advisable to enter at a little length into the rights which any one has -of using a revolver in self-defence, or in some other analogous manner. -Supposing a man has passed through the ordeal of the Gun License Act and -is properly and legally carrying a loaded revolver, in what cases of -emergency would he be justified in using it? Well, this is a very -difficult question to answer, and one which in each event would depend -entirely on the circumstances of the particular case. It is therefore -impossible for me to lay down any exact principles governing every event -of the kind which might happen, and I will content myself with stating a -few hypothetical instances and what course of conduct might be adopted in -each instance. - -There is no doubt on this point, anyhow,--that one is justified in using a -loaded revolver in self-defence, where an attack of such a murderous -character is made as to threaten one's own existence, or the infliction of -serious bodily harm; and, if the assailant should be killed, yet the using -of the revolver and so disposing of him would be deemed as having been -justifiable. The same rule would apply to shooting an assassin who was -attempting to kill someone else. For instance, if while standing on a -railway platform I were to see a man shooting at someone in a railway -carriage, and at such distance that I could not actively interfere except -by shooting, I should be right in firing at the assailant, and though my -shot should prove fatal, still no blame could be attached to me. - -How far one is justified in using a revolver in beating off or capturing -burglars in one's house is, as already mentioned, a matter which can only -be decided by the facts of the particular case. Assuredly where a man is -awakened in the night by the noise of burglars breaking into or already -in his house, and seizes his revolver and confronts the robbers, he would -be justified in firing if the robbers threatened to attack him, and it is -assumed that he would also be right in firing at a robber making off with -booty who refused to stop when challenged to do so, if there were no -reasonable chance of arresting him in any other way; though in the latter -event he should endeavour so to shoot as to cripple rather than kill. -Indeed it may be said, extraordinary though the statement may seem, that -even in the hurry and skurry of a conflict with burglars the mind should -remain calm and collected, so as to judge whether a mortal shot is -required, rather than one which will only "wing" the opponent. - -In connection with this branch of the subject, the justification of a -fatal shot may to some extent depend upon whether the robber was himself -armed. If he were, then the killing him would be more easily justifiable -than if he were unarmed. This is somewhat instanced by the law regarding -an assault and battery in self-defence, which is that where there is an -assault the person resisting must show that his assault committed in -self-defence was not more violent than he in good faith believed to be -necessary and committed on reasonable grounds, so that it would not be -right to inflict a heavy beating on a person who had only committed a -slight assault upon one. So when all danger is past and a man strikes a -blow not necessary for his defence, he commits an unjustifiable assault -and battery,--and this principle would apply to the preventing of crimes, -so that though one might be acting correctly in firing at and killing a -man who was murderously assaulting a third person, yet, after the assault -had been committed, it might be wrong to kill the murderer if he were -only discovered when running away, unless that was the only means of -arresting him. - -Another point which has sometimes exercised the minds of those in the -habit of carrying revolvers is whether they are justified in using such a -weapon to put an end to pain on the part of dumb animals where recovery is -almost impossible. It may be said generally that no one can with safety -interfere in such cases, even with the most benevolent intentions, so that -if a horse, dog, or other animal has been so injured as to be suffering -extreme agony, yet it would not be legal to put the poor creature out of -its misery, unless with the consent of the owner. - -The exception has been made by the Injured Animals Act, 1894, but that -only empowers a constable to kill a horse, mule, or ass which is so -severely injured that it cannot be led away, when the owner is absent or -refuses to consent to its destruction, after a certificate has been -obtained from a certified veterinary surgeon that the animal is mortally -injured or so severely that it is cruel to keep it alive. - -The exception that has been introduced by the Act of Parliament passed in -1894 and called "The Injured Animals Act, 1894," provides for the -slaughter, without the owner's consent, of horses, mules, or asses, in -cases of injury so serious as to make it cruel to keep them alive. It does -not apply to animals other than those enumerated above, and is hedged -round with such restrictions as to render it of little avail. These in -brief are as follows: A constable must find the animal so severely injured -that it cannot without cruelty be led away, the owner must be absent or -refuse to consent to the destruction of the animal, and the constable -must obtain the certificate of a veterinary surgeon that the animal is -mortally injured, or so severely that it is cruel to keep it alive. After -doing all this the constable may kill the animal. - -The foregoing statements as to the law are not exhaustive, but they are -made with the intention of helping the revolver-carrying section of the -public to know what they may be responsible for and on what occasions or -emergency they may safely use their weapons. To make sure that no legal -error has crept in, these statements have been submitted to Mr. C. -Willoughby Williams, of No. 1 Brick Court, Temple, Barrister at Law, who -is of opinion that the law as set out is correct. - -It will be seen, from what is said above, that if a gun or a game license -is obtained, it is not illegal to carry a loaded revolver, so that if any -one had to go along a lonely road, or had received a threatening letter -which had alarmed him, he would be quite in his right in taking about with -him a loaded revolver. It would even be quite right for any one to carry -about a loaded revolver in his pocket merely as a protection in case he -should be unexpectedly attacked, but any one carrying about with him such -an article should be prepared to use it only in cases of great emergency, -and should keep a clear head on his shoulders. - -Another example of the advantages of carrying a revolver would be if one -were attacked by a mad dog. In such a case, if the dog attacked in a -ferocious manner, it would be permissible to shoot the dog, but it would -not be allowable to shoot a dog on the supposition that he was mad, unless -he was attacking one; though, of course, if there were no doubt about the -dog's being mad, then, for the sake of others, it would be wise to shoot -him. - -Again, if while carrying a revolver any one were passed by a runaway -horse, and such horse were about to run over a child, it might be -permissible to shoot the horse in order to save the child, if one were too -far off to catch hold of the animal. These, however, are all matters of -degree, and what would be right and proper to do in one case might in a -case almost similar be quite wrong. - - * * * * * - -NOTE.--Since the first edition of this book was issued, the Pistols Act of -1903 has come into force. This Act stops the sale, by retail or by -auction, or the letting on hire, of any pistol (which would include a -revolver), unless the purchaser has a gun or game license, or is entitled -to use or carry a gun without such license, or unless the purchaser shows -that he purposes to use the pistol only in his own house or the curtilage -thereof, or that he is about to proceed abroad for a period of not less -than six months. The Act also prevents the sale or hiring out of a pistol -to a person under the age of 18 years, and places a very heavy penalty on -any one knowingly selling a pistol to a person who is intoxicated or not -of sound mind. - - - - -APPENDIX C - -THE LAW OF CARRYING WEAPONS IN THE UNITED STATES - - -The statutes of the various States upon the subject of carrying weapons -are substantially similar, the main differences relating to the persons -exempted from their operation, and to the manner of carrying the weapon, -some making it an offence to carry the weapon at all, whether concealed or -not; others prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons only. - -These statutes have been held to be police regulations, and not to -conflict with the constitutional right of the people to keep and bear -arms. - -Weapons are considered to be concealed, within the intent of the statutes, -when they cannot be readily seen by ordinary observation. - -In some of the States, as in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Missouri, the -carrying of "deadly" or "dangerous" weapons is prohibited. Most of the -States, however, specify the weapons prohibited. Such weapons as pistols, -dirks, butchers' or bowie knives, stilettos, daggers, swords, brass -knuckles, razors, slugs, etc., are usually specified in nearly all of the -statutes. - -Officers of the law are usually exempted from the operation of the -statutes. The officers must, however, be duly appointed, and in the -discharge of their duties at the time of carrying the weapons. - -Persons who are threatened with bodily harm or who have reasonable grounds -to apprehend danger or attack, are usually justified in carrying concealed -weapons. It is not every idle threat, however, which would justify one in -carrying concealed weapons. The threat must be such as to cause a -reasonable apprehension of danger. Examples of this exemption are found in -the statutes of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, Maryland, and West -Virginia. - -Persons on their own premises are frequently exempted from the operation -of the statutes. This is so in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas. - -Some of the statutes exempt persons who are travelling. This is so in -Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas. - -The burden of proving exemption rests usually upon the accused. This has -been expressly decided in Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, -Montana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. In Michigan, however, it -has been held that the prosecution must prove that the defendant does not -fall within one of the exemptions. - - - - -INDEX - - - A - - Accidents, 10; - from loaded weapons, 21, 160; - how to prevent, 26, 33, 58; - on the stage, 282, 291 - - Africa, shooting in, 261 - - Alcohol, danger from use of, 4, 95, 140, 145 - - Allowance, 93, 243 - - Ammunition, 44, 251, 262; - blank, 282; - Eley, 334, 340, 346; - U. M. C., 335, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 347 - - Animals, killing wounded, 305 - - _Art of Revolver Shooting, The_, quoted, iii., 17, 81, 135, 191, 297; - changes made in, 25 - - "Au Commandemant," shooting, 227 - - Author, duelling championship of, 61; - running deer championship of, 87; - snap shooting score of, 106; - member of London Royal Academy, 159; - author's trotting horses, 210; - Sika deer shot by the, 271; - gold medals won by, 275; - trophies modelled by the, 317; - sights designed by the, 324; - world's record scores by the, 333-350 - - Automatic pistol, accuracy of the, 1; - the Colt regulation, 2, 45, 80, 84, 133, 200, 212, 231, 233; - dangerous to handle, 3, 46, 129; - sole weapon in the U. S., 17; - how to hold the, 21, 286; - inventors of the, 22; - danger from recoil, 59; - the civilian, 84; - the police, 84; - the Savage, 84; - the Smith & Wesson, 84; - the German military, 84; - recoil of the, 59, 84, 96, 97; - shooting with the, 97, 113; - the safety bolt of the, 99; - powerful cartridge of the, 109, 251; - the U. S. army, 109; - description of the, 113, 118; - faults of the, 125; - the Colt new safety, 128; - cleaning and care of the, 152; - military automatics, 231, 248; - proper ammunition for, 251; - the Mauser, 252; - use on horseback, 258 - - Automatic gallery pistols, 260; - the Winans model, 263; - .22 long barrel Colt, 265; - .22 target Colt, 296; - capable of improvement, 329; - graceful lines of the Colt, 330 - - - B - - Balance, 50, 80 - - Balderston, John Lloyd, quoted, vi. - - Barrel, length of, 48 - - Bavaria, alcohol tests in, 147 - - Bear, shooting, 261 - - Bell, Dr. Louis, 317 - - Big game shooting, 23, 213, 250; - in England, 154 - - Bisley, shooting at, 16, 94, 156, 209, 342, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349 - - Boar, shooting wild, 228, 250, 261 - - Brains, shooting requires, 163 - - "Brandishing and Flourishing," 3, 29, 59, 282, 330 - - Breech, the, 118 - - Bridge, playing at, 55, 140 - - Brookhart, Major S. W., quoted, 148 - - Bulleted caps, 50, 51, 52, 56 - - Bullets, soft lead, 72; - drop of, 247; - Devilliers, 300, 315 - - Burglars, frightening, 28; - shooting at, 214 - - Butt, the, 55 - - Byron, Lord, quoted, 34, 188 - - - C - - Carpentier, 188 - - Cartridges, obsolete types of, 45; - the proper, 97; - ejection of, 130; - cordite used in, 262; - duelling pistol, 264 - - Chantry Bequest, the, 159 - - Clay pigeons, shooting at, 73, 90 - - Cleaning, 27, 127, 152 - - Clip, cartridges in a, 120 - - Clubs, shooting, 75 - - Cocking, trials at, 42, 241 - - Colds, danger from, 218, 228 - - Colt, the regulation .45, 80, 84, 133, 200, 212, 231, 233; - the civilian, 84; - the police, 84; - new safety, 128; - the Derringer, 203; - .25 cal. automatic, 205; - .22 long-barrelled automatic, 265; - .22 target automatic, 296; - graceful lines of the, 330 - - Competitions, the way they are conducted, 9, 78, 266, 313; - entering for, 43; - Gastinne-Renette, 73, 313; - mounted pistol, 256; - duelling, 303; - police, 317 - - Condy's fluid for colouring, 278 - - Cordite, cartridges of, 262 - - Crane, R. Newton, quoted, 192 - - Cuirass, a bullet-proof, 2 - - - D - - _Daily Mail_, letter to the, 151 - - _Daily Mirror_, the, quoted, 191 - - Deer-stalking, 71, 157, 260 - - Derringer, the Colt, 203, 252 - - Devilliers bullet, the, 300, 315 - - Devonshire, red deer in, 154 - - Disconnector, the, 128, 238 - - Distance, judging, 243 - - _Don Juan_ quoted, 34, 188 - - Dress, 207 - - Drinking, harm done by, 4, 95, 140, 145 - - Duelling, practised on the Continent, 16; - position to stand in, 78; - distance in, 108, 182, 274; - question of, 171; - remarks on, 176, 180, 185, 189; - swords used in, 177; - penalties for, 184; - laws on, 192; - preparations for, 194; - competitions in, 313 - - Duelling pistols, 16, 47; - the Flobert, 49; - the Gastinne-Renette, 50, 123, 263, 274; - the regulation French, 52, 62, 182; - author's championship with, 61; - balance of, 80; - sights on, 234, 264; - recoil of, 239; - .44 used for rabbit stalking, 249; - cartridges for the, 264; - Sika stag shot with a, 271; - use of Devilliers bullet in the, 300 - - - E - - Ears, guarding the, 5, 215; - Elliott's Protector for the, 217, 219 - - Ejection of cartridges, 130 - - Elliott, J. A. R., Ear Protector, 217, 219 - - England, revolver in use in, 17, 231; - shooting in, 154; - duelling in, 191; - open air ranges in, 227, 266; - law regarding firearms in, 360 - - English National Rifle Assn., 16, 156 - - Euclid quoted, 3 - - Exhibition shooting, 135, 291, 297 - - Eyes, protecting the, 215 - - Eyesight, 222 - - - F - - Falling bullets, danger from, 10 - - Faults, correcting, 165 - - Fencing, 59 - - _Field_, the, quoted, vi. - - _Flanneled Fools_, 6 - - Flobert pistol, the, 36, 49 - - Francis, W., chauffeur, 234 - - Furlong, Dr. W. V., letter from, 151 - - - G - - Game shooting, 249; - rifle used in, 260, 287 - - Games, pistol shooting and, 13 - - Gastinne-Renette, duelling pistols by, 50, 123, 182, 263; - gallery of, 54, 267, 270; - competitions, 37, 313; - prizes, 73, 137, 170, 271, 273; - Ira Paine at gallery of, 137; - targets used by, 167 - - Gieve, Mathews & Seagrove, 217 - - Goggles, use of, 302 - - Golf, compared with shooting, 5, 55, 266; - time wasted at, 6; - temper shown at, 140 - - Grande Medaille d'Or, 73, 137, 170, 271 - - Greener Killer, the, 310 - - Grip, how to, 80, 84, 285 - - - H - - Hammer head attachment, 84 - - Hammer, positions of the, 33 - - Hammerless pistols, 43 - - High School of Riding, 254 - - Horse pistols, balance of the, 80 - - Horseback, shooting from, 253 - - Horsemanship, 254, 258 - - Horses, docking, 24; - runaway, 288 - - Horsley, Sir Victor, quoted, 147 - - How to hold the automatic, 21 - - Humane Killer, the, 311 - - - I - - Inventors of firearms, 123, 320 - - Irving, Sir Henry, 144 - - - J - - Jambing, 69, 84, 127, 153, 232 - - Jellicoe, Admiral, quoted, 146 - - - K - - Killers, the Greener, 310; - the Humane, 311 - - Kipling, R., quoted, 6 - - Kraeplin, report of Prof., 147 - - - L - - Landseer, Sir Edwin, 158 - - Languages, learning, 18 - - Law, relating to revolver shooting in Great Britain and Ireland, 351; - relating to carrying weapons in the United States, 360 - - Le Pistolet Club, 70 - - Lee-Metford, the, 24 - - Learning to shoot, 53 - - Literature, shooting in, 280 - - Lodge, Sir Oliver, quoted, 150 - - London Royal Academy, the, 159 - - Long-range shooting, 108 - - Long-sighted shooters, 20 - - - M - - Magazine, the, 97 - - Maryland, trophy given by the author to the State of, 317 - - Matador, 255 - - Mauser automatic pistol, 252 - - Metronome, the, 103, 272 - - Military rifles, trigger-pull of, 41; - pistol sights, 63; - sights of, 156 - - Moufflon shooting, 252 - - Muzzle-heavy weapons, 50, 69 - - - N - - National Rifle Association, 95 - - Near-sighted shooters, 20, 85, 222 - - North London Rifle Club, 336, 337, 341 - - - O - - Ogilvy, Captain, quoted, 136 - - Olympic Games, the, 72, 77, 87, 148, 255 - - _Outdoor Life_, the, 244 - - - P - - Paine, Chevalier Ira, 70, 136, 188, 275 - - Paris, shooting galleries in, 54 - - Pennell, Cholmondely, 208 - - Petty, roundsman, 317 - - Pigeon shooting, 40 - - Pistol shooting, unpopularity of, 13; - the way to learn, 25 - - Pistols, duelling, 16, 17, 49, 50, 52, 62, 80, 123, 182, 239, 249, 263, - 264; - single-shot, 20, 31, 41; - American, 51; - the .22, 77; - shot used in, 73; - how to hold, 80, 286; - the Colt regulation .45, 80, 84, 133, 200, 212, 231, 233; - the civilian, 84; - the police, 84; - the Savage, 84; - the Smith & Wesson, 84; - the German military, 84; - rifle stocks for, 85; - the U. S. Army, 109; - description of, 113; - vest pocket models, 203; - military automatic, 231, 248 - - Police pistols, 49, 317 - - Position, the correct, 58, 92 - - Powder, use of black, 17 - - Practice, value of, 60, 61 - - Prizes, the Grande Medaille d'Or, 73, 137, 170, 271; - given for shooting roebuck, 157; - the King's Prize, 209; - at Gastinne-Renette's, 271, 273, 314 - - Purchasing an automatic, advice on, 125, 127 - - - R - - Rabbit stalking, 249 - - Rain, shooting in the, 226 - - Range, choice of a, 55, 266; - the indoor, 268; - the open-air, 276 - - Rapid firing, 100 - - Recoil, 51; - of automatic, 59, 84, 96, 120, 126, 239, 330; - of rifle, 261 - - _Referee_, the, quoted, 190 - - Revolver, the, 1; - no longer used, 56, 242, 318, 333; - the .32 pocket, 239; - world's records with the, 333; - .45 Colt cavalry, 334; - .44 Smith & Wesson, 335, 343, 348, 349; - .45 Smith & Wesson, 340, 341, 342, 344, 345, 346, 347; - the .38 Smith & Wesson, 349 - - Ricochets, danger of, 279, 304 - - Riding, benefit from, 7; - expert, 322 - - Rifle, right kind of, 23; - pistol compared with, 111; - the military automatic, 119, 125; - shooting clubs, 158; - in game shooting, 260; - modern improved, 261; - the .44 Winchester, 262; - the .22 automatic Winchester, 265; - author's record at shooting the, 275 - - Roebuck, shooting the, 157, 246 - - Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 311 - - Running deer, the, 93, 95, 125, 156 - - Running shots, 86, 92 - - - S - - Safety bolt, the, 98, 133, 238 - - Savage, the, 84 - - Savory & Moore, 217 - - Scotland, shooting in, 154, 198 - - Seer, damage to the, 42 - - Self-defence, shooting for, 132, 212; - pistols for, 200, 206 - - Shooting galleries, 9; - the unpopular, 14, 53, 64, 225, 267; - the Gastinne-Renette, 54, 267, 270; - pistols for, 263; - the ideal, 268 - - Shooting, the instinct of, 8; - unpopularity of pistol, 15; - big game, 23; - exhibition, 135; - brains required in, 163; - dress, 207; - use of spectacles, 215; - near-sighted, 20, 85, 222; - from horseback, 253; - trick, 135, 291 - - Shot, the No. 7, 74, 305; - the No. 8, 201; - the No. 10, 294; - the No. 5, 305 - - Shot gun, trigger-pull of the, 40; - shooting with the, 90; - as sporting firearm, 155 - - Sights, hind, 20, 21; - the U back, 56; - the black front, 56, 155, 232; - the white bead, 57, 232; - learning about, 62; - French duelling, 63; - the telescope, 250; - Winans' front, 324 - - Simplification, 326 - - Single-shot pistols, bad shots from, 20; - how to handle the, 31, 41; - American, 51; - shot from, 73; - description of the, 113; - cleaning the, 152; - .22 used in United States, 249 - - Smith & Wesson, the, 84; - hammerless safety, 98; - Ira Paine's, 188; - Russian model, 202, 285; - the .44, 335, 343, 348; - the .45, 340, 341, 342, 344, 345, 346, 347; - the .38, 349 - - Smoking, harm done by, 4, 95, 140, 142, 145 - - Snap-shooting, 104, 197, 236, 258 - - Somersetshire, red deer in, 154 - - South London Rifle Club, 334, 335, 338, 339 - - Sport, meaning of, 7 - - Spoons given as prizes, 13 - - "Sports," worship of, 7 - - Squeeze, the, 99 - - St. Francis of Assisi, 172 - - St. George, cross of, 234 - - St. George Pistol Club, 270 - - Stock, shape of, 285 - - Stockholm, games at, 72, 77 - - Swing shooting, 88, 258 - - - T - - Targets, moving, 16; - rapid-firing, 16, 345; - disappearing, 16, 340, 341, 342; - stationary, 17, 86, 276, 334, 335; - shooting at, 29; - the man, 48, 71, 75, 77, 93, 132; - construction of, 56; - instruction regarding, 71, 268; - animal, 73; - mechanical stag, 75; - French duelling, 77; - the running deer, 93, 95, 125, 156; - painters of, 157; - the perfect, 166; - the Gastinne-Renette, 167, 274; - military, 340; - traversing, 346, 347; - advancing, 348 - - Temper, control of, 139 - - Tennis, shooting compared with, 5 - - Timing, 19, 88, 316; - apparatus for, 102 - - Tobacco, danger from use of, 4, 95, 140, 142, 145 - - Trajectory, flat, 23 - - Trick shooting, 291 - - Trigger-pull, 38; - for pistol, 48, 65, 188, 241, 314 - - Trophies, challenge, 17 - - Trotting, records, "high wheel," 17, 333; - horses, 210 - - - U - - Union Society of London, 189 - - United States, automatic pistol in the, 17; - revolver and rifle teams in the, 148; - laws on duelling, 192; - .22 single-shot pistol used in, 249; - law regarding firearms in the, 360 - - Unload, how to, 129 - - - V - - "Vanoc" quoted, 190 - - Vise, shooting from a, 57 - - - W - - Waistcoat, leather, 208, 229 - - Walking, steps taken in, 245 - - Weight, pistol, 46, 49, 116, 240 - - Williams, Lord Justice Vaughan, quoted, 189 - - Wimbledon, shooting at, 156, 158, 340, 346 - - Winans, model automatic, 263; - front sights, 324, 345 - - Winans, Ross, 120 - - Winchester, the .44 rifle, 262, 294; - the .22 automatic rifle, 265, 298 - - Wind, shooting in the, 226 - - World's record scores, 333 - - - Z - - Zeiss glasses, 223 - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Modern Pistol and How to Shoot It, by -Walter Winans - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MODERN PISTOL, HOW TO SHOOT IT *** - -***** This file should be named 41610.txt or 41610.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/6/1/41610/ - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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