This score was 16 points higher than any previous record.
On November 14 a second match was shot by him, under similar conditions as the first, resulting as follows:—
This aggregate being 20 points higher than any previous record.
On Nov. 25, 1887, Mr. F. E. Bennett fired 100 shots, under similar conditions, the 10-shot aggregate being:—
He fell short of the 100-shot record, but broke the 10-shot record by the following score:—
Six shots with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver, reduced charge, made in Conlin’s Gallery, New York, Feb. 12, 1887, by Mr.J. T. B. Collins.
A diagram of this target is shown on page 100, in an illustration reduced one-quarter.
95 out of a possible 100, on Standard American target, in 10 consecutive shots, at 50 yards, with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver, with Union Metallic Cartridge Co. ammunition, made at Walnut Hill, Mass., Nov. 25, 1887, by Mr.F. E. Bennett. Reduced one-quarter.
In November, 1887, a wager was made that Mr. F. E. Bennett would equal or surpass 841 points or better for six consecutive days, firing 100 shots a day, at 50 yards, on the Standard American target, using factory ammunition. He commenced his task December 5, and following is the score in detail:—
December 5.
December 6.
December 7.
December 8.
December 9.
December 10.
Eighteen consecutive shots, made by Mr.Allen P. Kelly, in Conlin’s Gallery, New York City, in revolver match, Massachusetts Rifle Association target.
The shooting of Mr. F. E. Bennett attracted the attention of Chevalier Paine, who, on December9, fired 100 shots, using a .38/44-calibre Smith & Wesson revolver, this arm being the same as the .44 calibre in exterior, but is bored .38 calibre instead of.44. It has a straight shell, which extends entirely through the cylinder, coming flush with the end of cylinder. This was a special arm, made to order, and took specially-prepared ammunition. Only the aggregate for 100 shots was preserved, which was 878 points. This was one point higher than had previously been scored.
On December 13 Chevalier Paine fired 190 shots with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre revolver, but as 100-shot records were being compared, we take the first 100 shots which made the most favorable showing, and the 10-shot strings aggregated as follows:—
The next trial was on Thursday, December 15, using same revolver and ammunition, with the following result:—
On December 17 he again faced the target, firing 210 shots, the first and second 100 shots showing the following results:—
The last 100-shot score of 888 being two points more than any previous record. The 10-shotrecord was also broken by two strings, which aggregated 96 points; higher by one point than any previously known record.
Score of 96 out of a possible 100, in 10 consecutive shots, on Standard American target, at 50 yards, made byChevalier Ira A. Paine, at Narragansett Gun Club grounds, Providence, R.I., Dec. 17, 1887, with Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver, with factory ammunition of Union Metallic Cartridge Co. make. Reduced one-quarter.
On December 22 Chevalier Paine fired 100 consecutive shots in the presence of the author, attempting to beat all previous records. The shooting was done at the Narragansett Gun Club grounds, at Providence, R.I. The revolver used was the Smith & Wesson Russian-model .44 calibre, with factory ammunition. The score was as follows:—
This aggregate raised the record 16 points.
It was generally supposed, when Chevalier Ira Paine secured an aggregate of 904 points on the Standard American target at 50 yards with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre revolver, that the 100-shot record would not be disturbed for some time. Mr. W. W. Bennett repeatedly stated that he would never attempt to break his brother’s record of 886 points, but would contest against the record of any other individual. When it wasannounced that Chevalier Paine had secured 904 points Mr. W. W. Bennett quietly announced his intention of surpassing this record, earnestly went to work, and, in the presence of reliable witnesses, rolled up the unprecedented record of 914 points,—10 points higher than had ever been previously secured, and twice during the shooting equalled the best 10-shot record of 96 points.
He shot at Walnut Hill range December 23, using a .44-calibre, single-action Smith & Wesson Russian-model army revolver, loaded with factory ammunition of Union Metallic Cartridge Co. make. The scores in detail are as follows:—
It should here be recorded that Chevalier Paine on his first and second trial cleaned his revolver between every 10 shots. Mr. F. E. Bennett in all of his shooting cleaned only between each 10 shots. In the balance of Chevalier Paine’s shooting he insisted on cleaning his revolver between every 5 or 6 shots; and Mr. W. W. Bennett, after Chevalier Paine departed from the custom ofcleaning between each 10 shots, run a brush through the inside of his barrel after every shot. There being no established rules for pistol and revolver shooting in regard to cleaning, the results were accepted as records of performances with revolvers. It is also believed that Chevalier Paine’s shooting, as well as Mr. W. W. Bennett’s, and a portion of Mr. F. E. Bennett’s shooting, was done with a trigger-pull of less than 3 pounds.
96 out of a possible 100, on Standard American target, at 50 yards, in 10 consecutive shots, with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver, with Union Metallic Cartridge Co. ammunition, made at Walnut Hill, Mass., Dec. 23, 1887, by Mr.W. W. Bennett. Reduced one-quarter.
Six shots with a Smith & Wesson .38-calibre revolver, at 12 yards, made in Conlin’s Gallery, New York City, April 1, 1887, by Mr.D. D. Davis.
It will be found that within a period of two years the possibilities of the revolver have been proven to be considerably beyond what the manufacturers of the arms, the makers of theammunition, and the experts using the weapons supposed were its capabilities.
The first 100-shot record was 791 points, the last 914 points, or an increase of 123 points.
Six shots with a .44-calibre revolver, at 12 yards, reduced charge, by Mr.George Bird, New York. Score, 71; possible, 72.
In order to carry the shooting at 50 yards from its commencement on the Standard American target to latest known record with no diversion, the author now finds it necessary to go back several months to chronicle an event worthy of note.
It has been stated that the first revolver competition on the Standard American target was shot at 25 yards, and it has been shown that the distance was too short for that target. When theprogramme of the 1886 annual meeting at Creedmoor was being arranged, it was proposed to use the 200-yard Standard American target at 30 yards, the author urged the gentlemen in charge of this tournament to use the 100-yard Rifle target at this distance, and by showing what had been accomplished on the 200-yard target, it convinced them that a 100-yard Rifle target with a 4-inch bull’s eye was better for revolver or pistol shooting at 30 yards; and that target and distance were selected for the revolver match at Creedmoor in 1887, and many of the rifle and pistol clubs throughout the country arranged similar matches. The first record established on the 30-yard pistol target was in a 5-shot reëntry match at the spring meeting of the Massachusetts Rifle Association, in June, 1887. The score of 43 out of a possible 50 was made by Mr. W. W. Bennett, and was the highest score made during the three-days’ tournament. It was the opinion of a majority of revolver-shooters at that time that this target at 30 yards was a difficult one to roll up a high score on, and that 40 for 5-shots and 80 for 10-shots was good shooting. At the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association at Creedmoor in September, 1887, the highest scores recorded at 30 yards were by Mr. J. T. B. Collins, who secured three aggregates of 44, and Mr. G. L. Garrigues, who also secured one score of 44, this being the highest aggregate secured in five shots at that time.
Position formerly adopted by Mr. F. E. Bennett.(From a photograph taken while shooting.)
At the fall meeting of the Massachusetts Rifle Association Mr. F. E. Bennett won the first prize in the revolver competition, with the following scores:—
This made 48 the best 5-shot record.
The next event at this range was the recording of the following 10-shot score at Walnut Hill on Oct. 12, 1887, by Mr. F. E. Bennett:—
This being the best 10-shot record. This shooting was followed by Chevalier Ira Paine, who, in November, 1887, recorded the same aggregate at Walnut Hill.
A week later Mr. F. E. Bennett recorded in a regular match at Walnut Hill an aggregate of 91, which, at the time of closing this chapter, is the best known 10-shot record.
Score of 48 out of a possible 50, in 5 consecutive shots, on Standard American target, at 30 yards, made by Mr.F. E. Bennett, in a match at Walnut Hill, Mass., Oct. 6, with a Smith & Wesson Russian-model .44-calibre revolver, and factory ammunition, Union Metallic Cartridge Co. make. Reduced one-half.
Chevalier Ira A. Paine’s Position.(From a photograph taken while shooting.)
PISTOL AND REVOLVER SHOOTING AT LONG RANGE.
Pistol and revolver shooting has been almost wholly confined to short range, both in America and Europe. Occasional reports have reached this country of shooting in Austria to a distance of about 400 yards. This shooting was done with heavy single-shot pistols, weighing from three to five pounds, of about .40 calibre, fitted with sights capable of very fine adjustment, with set triggers and appliances to aid in securing good results.
To learn the capabilities of an American-made single-shot pistol, the author ordered a pair of the Remingtons, with 12-inch barrels, .32 calibre, and chambered for the cartridge made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. for the .32-calibre repeating rifle; the charge being 20 grains of powder and 115 grains of lead. The sights fitted to these pistols were very crude, and not suitable for the work attempted. With better sights, doubtless much finer results would be chronicled. The first attempt at long-range shooting with these pistols was made by Mr. W. W. Bennett, at Walnut Hill. He shot on the 50-yard StandardAmerican revolver target, at a distance of 75 yards, scoring as follows:—
Mr. W. W. Bennett, Expert Pistol and Revolver Shot.(Shooting a Stevens Pistol.)
Falling back to 100 yards and using the same target, he made the following scores:—
Nineteen of the twenty shots being in a circle of 1968⁄100inches. He then proceeded to the 200-yard firing-point, where military marksmen were practising, and several times scored in ten shots 36 points out of 50.
Considerable difficulty was experienced in sighting on the eight-inch bull’s eye at a distance of 200 yards, and a trial was given on the second-class target, which has the following dimensions:—
The first trial was at a distance of 150 yards, where the following scores were made:—
Six shots, possible 30.
200 yards.
Mr. B. J.Robertson, Expert Revolver Shot.(Champion of Kentucky, 1887.)
250 yards.
300 yards.
350 yards.
All of the above shooting was done off-hand, with the right arm fully extended.
It was generally believed among the expert pistol-shots the author has met, that the modern American revolver could not be depended on much beyond 75 yards, and it was thought useless to try to accomplish good work beyond.
On Oct. 27, 1887, Chevalier Paine devoted the entire day, in company with a representative ofThe Rifle, in experimenting with the revolver at Walnut Hill. Among the numerous experiments tried was shooting with Smith & Wesson revolvers, at long range. It was decided to shoot on the second-class target, commencing at 125 yards and falling back until it was thought the limit of accuracy with the revolver was found. It was agreed that each one should take sighting-shots at the several distances until the target was hit, the first shot striking the target and the following five to count.
Mr.Walter Winans, Expert Revolver Shot.
The result was as follows:—
In some cases the first sighting-shot struck the target. At 300 yards it took three shots from one party to find the target; at all other times one or two shots were sufficient. The scores given above are not intended to show excellence in marksmanship, but to record the results obtained at the first trial by persons unacquainted with the range of the revolver and the sights. The ammunition used was a condemned lot sent to the range by mistake, but which, doubtless, was better than supposed to be. It had been loaded several years, and the lubricant was hard, and in many cases partially detached from the bullet. After the first score had been secured at the several distances, Chevalier Paine shot at 200 yards, and secured 29 out of a possible 30, making five bull’s-eyes and one centre.
Two weeks later Mr. F. E. Bennett, with a .44-calibre Russian-model Smith & Wesson revolver,shot over about the same distances, with the following results:—
2d class target.—150 yards.
200 yards.
250 yards.
300 yards.
If the revolver is properly sighted, there is little doubt that good shooting with this arm can be done up to about 300 yards, under favorable weather conditions. With a single-shot pistol it has been shown that good work can be done at 400 yards. The revolver being a more practical weapon than the pistol, it is likely that the single-shot pistol will in future be confined almost wholly to indoor target practice, and the revolver will be used exclusively in many clubs who shoot their matches out of doors. It has been proven that the revolver is a powerful and accurate weapon from 10 to 250 yards. The results of experiments which have been recorded in this chapter were made with the object of showing that a marksman, or soldier with ordinary skill, ought to hit every time, with a shot from an army revolver, a standing object the size of a mounted cavalryman, from 50 to 250 yards off.As stated, the results given in this chapter were the first attempts with no previous knowledge of the range of the weapon, and if practice is carried on it will not surprise the writer to hear that perfect six-shot scores have been made on the second-class target at distances from 100 to 250 yards. With the sights used on a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver at 30 and 50 yards one can shoot up to 250 yards without aiming off the target.
Standard American Target, reduced from 50-yard target, one-sixteenth; from 30-yard, one-eighth. Designed by Major C. W.Hinman. Adopted and used by American Pistol and Revolver Clubs.
RULES FOR PISTOL AND REVOLVER SHOOTING.
The need of rules governing pistol and revolver competitions has been apparent during the past three years. The distance, trigger-pull, and some general rules were briefly laid down by the clubs where matches were shot. For a time it has been generally believed that the arms used in these competitions should be classed; that a decision arrived at in regard to trigger-pull, the sights permitted clearly defined, ammunition described, and rules determining the amount of cleaning permitted, manner of loading and firing, positions permitted, and other rules explicitly stated. The Massachusetts Rifle Association, after a long and careful consideration, adopted the following rules:—
All meetings for competitions will be conducted by an executive officer, aided by assistants.
The executive officer shall have control of the range for the conduct of matches, and shall give such directions to the employés of the club as in his judgment are necessary for the proper management of the same, and for the preservation of order.
The executive officer and his assistants are required to see that the regulations, and suchdirections as the executive officer may give, are rigidly complied with by competitors and all other persons upon the range.
Miss Annie Oakley, Expert Lady Pistol Shot.
They will see that the squads of competitors are stationed in rear of firing-points, and that each competitor remains there until called by the score-keeper to take his position at the firing-point. The score-keepers will be seated in rear of the firing-points.
Score-keepers shall, as each shot is signalled, call in a loud voice the name of the competitor and the value of the shot, and, at the conclusion of the score of each competitor, announce in like manner his name and total score.
All competitors shall be allowed to examine the records of the score-keeper during the progress of the match, but in such a manner as not to interfere with or inconvenience the score-keeper.
Any competitor feeling himself aggrieved by the ruling of the executive officer, may make to the secretary a statement of his grievance in writing, which shall be handed at once to the executive committee for its consideration. The decision of the executive committee shall be final, subject, however, to the discretion of said committee, or any two members of it, to refer the matter to the board of directors for its decision.
Challenges will only be permitted at the discretion of the executive officer. The executive officer may, in his discretion, challenge the markingof any shot the allowance of which would be unjust to other competitors, and correct the score accordingly.
Holsters for Revolvers.1. Leather. 2. Rubber. 3. Leather.
Any objection to the scoring of a shot as signalled, or to one not signalled, must be made before another shot shall have been fired on the same target.
It shall be the right of the shooter to challenge the scoring, and the executive officer may decide upon the evidence the actual value of the shot.
Any alteration of a scoring-ticket must be witnessed by an officer in charge of the firing-point, and indorsed with his initials.
Double entries are prohibited, no shot being allowed to count in more than one match.
No sighting-shots shall be allowed except on targets specially designated for that purpose by the executive officer, and in no case on targets on which a match is in progress, unless in an emergency, to be decided by the executive officer.
Unfinished scores shall be considered worthless after having been withdrawn from the scorer, and no shots can be claimed under or by virtue of the same after having been so withdrawn.
No scorer is allowed to have at one time more than one score-card for each shooter, and no shooter is allowed to shoot without having an unfinished score-card deposited with the scorer.
Ties shall be decided as follows, viz.: each competitor shooting three shots, until decided.