A

Accidents, 100, 107, 126, 133, 135

Accuracy of Cartridges, 39

Accuracy of Revolvers, 23, 46, 50

Accuracy of Pistols, 29

Accuracy Muzzle loading Pistols, 14

Adjusting sights, 132-133

Aiming, 127-128

Air space for dense powders, 157

Annual Matches, 97, 171-180, 197-205

Ammunition, 37-61, 182

“Any” Pistol defined, 180

“Any” Revolver defined, 180

Arms, 18-36, 182

Arguments and Controversies, 139

Artificial Light, 66, 118

Automatic Pistol, 18, 25, 26, 34, 35

Automatic Pistol defined, 19

Automatic Pistol Tests, 206

Automatic Revolver, 24


B

Balance of Arms, 125

Ballistical Table, 60-61

BB Caps, 135

Bisley, 93

Blacking Sights, 141

“Blazing away” ammunition, 138

Bore, to measure, 153-154

Bullet holes, clean cut, 50

Bullets, exact diameter of, 60, 61

Bullets, 44, 149-155

Bullets, flat pointed, 41

Bullets, hollow pointed, 42

Bullets, mantled, 44

Bullets, soft nosed or “dum-dum,” 55

Bullets, self-lubricating, 52

Bullets, weight of, 60, 61

Bullets stuck in barrels, 134


C

Care in handling arms, 107, 126, 127, 135

Carlin-Reynolds tests, 74-75

Carrying arms, 105

Cartridges, automatic pistol, 54-58

Cartridges, center fire, 43-61

Cartridges, rim fire, 39, 43, 60

Championship matches, 171-180, 197-205

Charges, 60-61

Cheap arms to be avoided, 122

Classification of arms, 180

Cleaning and care of arms, 143-146, 181

Cleaning fluids, 144

Clubs and Ranges, 111-121

Coaching, 132

Colt, Colonel, 14

Competing in matches, 138-143

Confinement of powder, 158

Corrosion, 145-146

Cowboy shooting, 137

Crimping shells, 39


D

Disputes, 139

Disqualification, 139

Double actions, 126

Drawing arms, 136

Duelling, 14

“Dum-dum” bullets, 55


E

Equipment and paraphernalia, 140-146

Exhibition shooting, 18, 31

Exact diameter of bullets, 60-61


F

Finish of arms, 124

Firing, 128-132, 181

First Pistols, 13

First Revolver, 14

Fit of arms, 121

Fit of bullets, 155

“Flinching,” 26, 110, 125

Fluids, cleaning, 144

Fluxing lead, 150

Fouling, 37, 52, 54

Franco-American matches, 79-83

“Freak arms,” 31


G

Gallery charges, 47-51

Gallery ranges, 116-121

“Gas cutting,” 153

Gould, A. C., 72

“Grained gunpowder,” 13

Grand aggregate medals, 171

“Gun men,” 137

Gunsmithing, 213


H

Handles or stocks, 123-124

Hardening bullets, 154

Hat for shooting, 141

Hints for beginners, 122-146

Holding position, 131

Holster weapons, 23

Hunting charges, 42, 55


I

International matches, 79-85

Indoor Revolver championship, 178

Indoor Pistol championship, 179

Indoor Pocket Revolver championship, 179

Indoor Novice match, 180

Instructions to Officers in charge of U. S. R. A. championship contests, 187


K

Keeping records, 138


L

Ladies’ clubs, 109

Ladies, pistol shooting for, 107-110

Large calibers, 32, 35, 90, 92

Leading of barrel, 134

League, U. S. R. A., 97

Lesmok Powder, 156

Long range shooting, 94-95

Lubricant, 155

Lubricating bullets, 154, 155


M

Manipulation, 126-128

Mantled bullets, 44

Marking, 114-116, 183

Match shooting, 139

Matches and Competitions, 96-98, 138-143, 171-180

Measuring powder, 161, 162

Metal cased bullets, 44

Methods and Customs in conducting U. S. Revolver Association competitions, 184

Military arms, 20-26

Military arms, requirements of, 20, 21, 55, 56, 181

Military championship match, 175

Military record match, 174

Military revolver team match, 175

Misfires, .22-cal., 134

Moulding bullets, 149-155

Muzzle loading Pistol, 13

Muzzle velocities, 58, 60, 61

Muzzle energy, 60, 61


N

National Guard revolver practice, 204

National organizations, 31

National pistol match, 107-199

National Rifle Association, 97

Night shooting, 65-66

Novice Re-entry match, 180


O

Oils, 145

Olympic Games Matches, 83-85

Opening mouth of shells, 161

Organized Militia target practice, 204

Outside lubrication, 41


P

Paine-Bennett match, 73

Paine sights, 63

Patridge sight, 63

Penetration, 60-61

Physical condition important, 143

Pistol championship match, 172, 179

Pistols, 27-29

Pistol, definition of, 18-19

Pistol muzzle loading, 13

Pistol shooting for ladies, 107-110

Pocket arms, 31-35, 181

Pocket Revolver championship match, 176, 179

Police, Revolver practice for, 99-106

Position, 127-128, 182

Possibles, 92

Powders, 37, 155-159

Powder charges, 60-61

Powder measures, 161

Practice shooting, 94-98

Practical shooting, 136-137

Primer difficulty, 42

Primers, 147

Proportion of charges, 38

Protection from rust, 145-146

Protests, 139, 183

Pulling the trigger, 129-130

Pull of trigger, 133


Q

Qualifications for shooting, 16

Quick drawing of weapons, 135


R

Rapidity of fire in automatic pistols, 25

Rapid fire shooting, 126, 142

Ranges, 111-121

Range officers, 139

Records, 77, 184, 191-196

Record, definition of, 76

Reduced charges, 60, 61, 163, 165

Reloading ammunition, 147-166, 213

Repairs, 215

Revolver championship match, 170, 178

Revolver practice, 94-98

Revolver practice for the police, 99-106, 132-138

Revolver, definition of, 18

Rim fire cartridges, 39-43, 60

Round bullets, 164

Rule to correct sights, 132

Rules, shooting, 106, 120, 121, 127

Rules and Regulations of the U. S. Revolver Association, 180-191

Rust, 42, 145, 146


S

Score, defined, 86

Scoring, 92, 183

Second-hand arms, 122

Selecting arms, 122-123

Self-lubricating bullets, 52

Shells, 148, 149, 160

Shelter for contestants, 112

Shooting matches, 139, 171-180

Shooting equipment and paraphernalia, 140-146

Shooting position, 67-69

Shooting rules, 106, 120, 121

Sights, 21, 59, 62, 67, 132, 133, 141, 182

Sizing bullets, 154-155

Small bullseyes undesirable, 93

Smokeless charges, 60-61

Smokeless powder, 156-159

Spectacles, 141

Splatter of bullets, 118

Sport of pistol shooting, 15

Spotting, 115

Squadded competitions, 141

Standard American target, 86

Stopping power, 20, 57

Strain in match shooting, 139

Supervision, 183

Supplies, 213


T

Targets, 86-93, 183

Target arms, 26-31

Target, definition of, 86

Target practice, 94-98, 102-104, 132-138

Target shooting, 70-85

Tests, 74-75, 206-212

Ties, 183

Timing, 181

Tin for bullets, 150

Training, 143

Trick shooting, 18

Trigger pull, 124-125, 182

“Trolleys,” 116


U

United States Army Medals, 199

United States Army regulation practice, 200-203

United States Army Pistol target, 91

United States Navy regulation practice, 204

United States Revolver Association, 78-79, 167-191

U. S. R. A. Bulletin, 167

""Constitution, 168

""League Contest, 167, 189-191


V

Ventilation, 120


W

War Department Tests of Automatic Pistols, 206-212

Weather conditions, 141-142

Winan’s trophy, 76

Wind, 141, 142

Winners and scores in past championship matches, 171-180

Wrong ammunition, 133

 

 


Footnotes:

[1] The first pistols of which there is any authentic information were made about 1540 by one Caminelleo Vitelli at Pistoia, Italy, from which place the arm took its name.

[2] For a detailed history of the evolution of the pistol and revolver, the reader is referred to “Text-book for Officers at Schools of Musketry,” Longman & Co., London; “Kriegstechnische Zeitschrift,” Heft I and II, 1901, Mittler & Sohn, Berlin; “The Modern American Pistol and Revolver,” Bradlee Whidden, Boston. Many interesting specimens of ancient and modern pistols and revolvers are owned and exhibited by the United States Cartridge Company of Lowell, Mass.

[3] See Ordnance Reports, Department of War, Washington, D. C., for complete details of tests, etc.

[4] See Appendix for digest of these tests.

[5] The United States Revolver Association, The National Rifle Association of Great Britain, and the United Shooting Societies of France. For programmes and details, address the secretaries of the respective organizations.

[6] For descriptions and illustrations of this style of shooting, see “The Art of Revolver Shooting,” by Walter Winans (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York and London). This elaborate work contains also much detailed information, valuable suggestions, and many interesting personal experiences in relation to revolver shooting.

[7] The difficulty is probably caused by the priming composition used at the present time in smokeless rim-fire ammunition. These compositions vary with different manufacturers, but most of them contain fulminate of mercury, chlorate of potash, powdered glass, etc. The trouble is probably caused principally by the chlorate of potash and perhaps by the fulminate of mercury. At any rate, a corrosive residue is left which attacks the barrel and causes it to rust. A priming composition free from deleterious substances, and which will not leave a corrosive residue, is urgently needed for both rim-fire and center-fire ammunition.

[8] So named after its adoption as the service ammunition of the Russian cavalry.

[9] California Powder Works. This brand of powder is not retailed to small consumers.

[10] Sold by American Specialty Co., 198 Fifth Avenue, New York City.

[11] See “The Modern American Pistol and Revolver,” by A. C. Gould (Bradlee Whidden, Publisher, Boston, Mass.).

[12] See Appendix for Constitution, Annual Matches, Rules and Regulations, etc.

[13] The position of a shot accurately indicated by a marker from a pit or safe place near the target. A disc of sufficient size to be seen easily from the firing point attached to the end of a pole is used for this purpose, the marker placing the disc over the shot hole for a few seconds immediately after each shot is fired.

[14] For a complete detailed description of range construction, including illustrations, practical working drawings, etc., the reader is referred to “Rifle Range Construction,” published by the E. I. du Pont Powder Company, Rifle Smokeless Division, Wilmington, Del.

[15] See Appendix.

[16] Under this subject the author aims to give helpful practical information and advice for the benefit of all who wish to acquire skill in pistol and revolver shooting.

[17] The Ideal Manufacturing Company (Marlin Firearms Co., successors) of New Haven, Conn., publishes a handbook containing full information in regard to moulding bullets, reloading ammunition, tables, and other useful information relating to shooting.

[18] See Gunsmithing, Repairs, etc., in the Appendix.

[19] In 1900 and 1901 the military target with a 4x5-inch elliptical bull’s-eye was used. The bull’s-eye counted 5 and the possible was 375. Since then the Standard American target with the 8-inch bull’s-eye has been used. Prior to 1904 twenty-five shots were fired at each of three ranges—25, 50, and 75 yards. That year the other ranges were discontinued and the 75 shots have since been fired at 50 yards only.

[20] Penalized best shot in this string for over time.

[21] The tests for revolvers were similar, with suitable slight modifications.

[22] Reproduced from “Small Arms Firing Regulation U. S. Navy, 1917.”