NATIONAL PISTOL MATCH

This match is an annual contest, authorized by the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and is conducted under the auspices of the National Rifle Association of America. In alternate years the match is held at a National shooting tournament, at a State or Federal range having sufficient facilities. These National shooting tournaments have been held at Camp Perry, Ohio, and Sea Girt, New Jersey. At these tournaments, in addition to the National Pistol Matches, there are a number of other pistol and revolver matches with extensive prize lists.

Every other year the National Pistol Match is conducted in connection with the National Divisional Matches, which in 1914 were held at Sea Girt, New Jersey; Jacksonville, Florida; Sparta, Wisconsin; Fort Reily, Kansas; and Portland, Oregon.

The following are the conditions of this match:

(a) Open to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, cadets United States Military Academy, midshipmen United States Naval Academy, the Organized Militia, the Naval Militia, members of the National Rifle Association of America and affiliated clubs, members of the United States Revolver Association, universities, colleges, and military schools and colleges.

(b) Distances and classes of fire:

Slow Fire (30 Seconds per Shot)

Rapid Fire, (30 Seconds per Score)

Rapid Fire (15 Seconds per Score)

(c) Targets: Target L will be used for all firing.

(d) Position: Without body or artificial rest; one hand only to be used.

(e) Arm: Colt’s automatic pistol, caliber .45, government model; trigger-pull not less than six pounds.

(f) Ammunition: The Ordnance Department shall manufacture and issue ammunition for use in preliminary practice and in the National divisional pistol matches; all such ammunition to be as nearly as practicable of the same date of manufacture and of the same quality.

(g) Sights: No alteration of sights will be allowed. The front or rear sights may be blackened according to the judgment of the competitor.

(h) Cleaning: Pieces can be cleaned upon the completion of the score. In competitions at more than one distance, cleaning will be permitted between distances. While such cleaning will be permitted, it will not be required.

(i) Procedure, Rapid Fire; Pistol: The officer in charge of the line will command “Load.” The magazine will be inserted in the pistol, the pistol loaded with one cartridge therefrom, and the safety lock engaged with the thumb of the right hand. When all is ready in the pit, the targets to be fired will be drawn fully down (the rear targets being blank or targets of another class than those being fired upon) and a red flag hoisted at the center target. When the red flag is displayed, the officer in charge of the firing line will command “Ready,” when the safety lock will be disengaged and the position of “Raise pistol” assumed.

The firing line being ready, the pit is signaled or telephoned “Ready on the firing line.” When this signal is received in the pit, the red flag is waved and lowered, and five seconds thereafter the targets appear. At exactly the proper number of seconds after the target is in position the range officer commands or signals “Down,” having preceded this command two or three seconds by the warning command or signal “Ready.” The target must be fully exposed and stationary for the number of seconds called for in the match and then must be withdrawn as quickly as possible. The number and value of the hits and the number of misses will be signaled in the usual manner after the score has been fired.

In case of a defective cartridge or a disabled pistol, or when more than seven hits are made on the target, the score will be repeated. In case a competitor fires on the wrong target only such shots as he may have fired on his own target will be counted on his score. He will be given misses for the remainder of his score.

Rules: As laid down in the Small Arms Firing Manual, 1913, except as herein modified.

Prizes: One gold medal to the competitor making the highest aggregate score, one silver medal to the competitor making the second highest score, and one bronze medal to the competitor making the third highest score in each National divisional competition. To be eligible to win a prize in any National divisional pistol match, a competitor must be a resident or a member of an organization located within the division in which the competition occurs. No competitor shall be eligible to win prizes in more than one National divisional competition.