  THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE REVOLVER. Results of Revolver-firing up to Fifty Yards. It was believed by many of the experts with fire-arms, as well as the author, for a number of years, that the possibilities of the revolver were not generally, if at all, known. Many were aware that the single-shot pistol with a long barrel, suitable sights, and proper charge was capable of doing excellent work at short and long range; but the revolver, on account of its revolving cylinder, permitting an escape of gas, as well as the comparatively short barrel, was capable of shooting accurately only at short range; 25 yards or 100 feet was generally the chosen distance in most revolver contests, and it was thought necessary to have a target as coarse as the Creedmoor 200-yard rifle target to shoot on at these distances. Believing that the revolver was capable of doing much finer work than any previously recorded work it was possible for the author to learn of, he closely watched the results obtained with this arm in various parts of the world; sought and obtained the services of the most skilful marksmen he could find; arranged public and private exhibitions; spent days upon As the author became impressed that the results secured from time to time were beyond what was believed the revolver was capable of doing, he forwarded targets or reports to manufacturers of the arms used, with a request to be informed if the results were equal or superior to what they had obtained, or thought were likely to be secured. In every instance replies indicated that they were surprised at the excellence of the results; and in most cases they frankly acknowledged that the accuracy was beyond what they supposed the arms possessed. These replies have influenced the author to record in this little work the results of pistol and revolver firing which have come under his personal observation, believing that they are much beyond what was generally believed to be possible to do with those arms, more complete than has ever been previously recorded; but at the same time firmly believing that if pistol and revolver shooting becomes a popular sport in America,—if it is indulged in to one-half Eighteen shots with a revolver, by Mr. George Bird, at 12 yards, winner of first prize in revolver match, Conlin’s Gallery, New York. Score, 210; possible, 216. Parties who essay to perform such feats as lighting matches and driving tacks with a bullet usually attempt them at a distance of about 7 yards, as that is about as long a distance as the average person can see such objects. Ten and 12 yards is about the shortest distance at which target-shooting is practised; at this distance the modern revolver, with a barrel from four It is nothing uncommon for experts with pistol or revolver to place a series of shots in a smaller circle than one inch, at 12 yards, especially if a .22-calibre, single-shot, heavy pistol is used; but it should be stated that such shooting is generally done with light charges; but it can and has been done with full, heavy charges. At 20 yards it is not uncommon to place all the shots, when fired at a rest, in or touched by a circle one and one-half inches in diameter. When revolver-shooting was introduced as an adjunct to rifle-shooting it was thought that the Standard American target for 200 yards rifle practice was the proper thing for revolver-shooting at a distance of 25 yards. A match was first announced at the annual meeting at Creedmoor, in 1886, in which there were three scores of 48 out of a possible 50 in five shots secured. There were three scores to count, or possible 150 points. The highest three scores in this match were 143, 140, 134. There were five scores only of five shots Six shots with a Smith & Wesson .32-calibre revolver, at 12 yards, made in Conlin’s Gallery, New York City, February 8, 1887, by Mr. Pierre Lorillard, Jr. The second, third, and fourth prize-winners secured an aggregate of 142, 142, 141. The professional shot was Chevalier Paine, who on his sixth entry secured the possible of 50 in five shots and two scores of 49, making 148 out of a possible 150, or the 15 shots (not consecutive) in a 554/100 inch circle. This gentleman fired 40 shots. Of this number there were 27 in the 10 circle, which is 336/100 inches in diameter. Soon after this meeting revolver-shooting sprung into popularity, and it was shown by the shooting of the members of the Massachusetts Rifle Association that, if revolver-shooting was continued at 25 yards, the possible would be secured so frequently as to make the sport uninteresting. It is worthy of record that Mr. A. L. Brackett of that association made the following 10-shot score at 25 yards on the Standard American target:—
It was decided by this club to change the distance to 50 yards. Chevalier Ira Paine was the first individual known to fire 100 shots on this target at this The 100 shots were as follows:—
Six shots with a Smith & Wesson Frontier-model revolver, at 12 yards, reduced charge, made by Mr. George Bird, at Conlin’s Gallery, New York, April 23, 1887.
It will be observed that 70 of the 100 shots were bull’s-eyes; 29 of the shots were tens, or in the 336/100 circle. The first 10 shots broke all previous 10-shot records; the fifth string counted 90, and was at that time the best 10-shot record at 50 yards. The aggregate of 841 for the 100 shots was 50 points over his previous record, and 59 points more than had ever been secured by any other individual in a 100-shot match. This 100-shot was unbroken until Nov. 4, 1887; but on May 21, 1887, Mr. W. W. Bennett broke the 10-shot 50 yards’ record on the Standard American
On November 4 Mr. F. E Bennett fired 100 shots at 50 yards with a Smith & Wesson Russian-model, .44-calibre army revolver, with factory ammunition, with the declared object of breaking the 100-shot record. He scored the following result:—
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:—
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. 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 December 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-shot Score of 96 out of a possible 100, in 10 consecutive shots, on Standard American target, at 50 yards, made by Chevalier Ira A. Paine, at Narragansett Gun Club grounds, Providence, R.I., Dec. 17, 1887, with Smith & Wesson .44-calibre Russian-model revolver, with factory ammunition of Union Metallic Cartridge Co. make. Reduced one-quarter.
This aggregate raised the record 16 points. It was generally supposed, when Chevalier Ira Paine secured an aggregate of 904 points on the Standard American target at 50 yards with a Smith & Wesson .44-calibre revolver, that the 100-shot record would not be disturbed for some time. Mr. W. W. Bennett repeatedly stated that he would never attempt to break his brother’s record of 886 points, but would contest against the record of any other individual. When it was 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 of 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 the 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 the Position formerly adopted by Mr. F. E. Bennett.
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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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