SHOOTING IN THE DARK

There are occasions on which it is necessary to shoot at night, as for a night-watchman; or in the case of a wild animal’s jumping into camp and carrying off someone; or in night attacks. For this work, an exceptionally large dead white front sight (either a fixed one or an adjustable one on a hinge) is needful. This sort of sight, though, can only be seen if there is moonlight, or at least some glimmer of light.

In pitch-darkness, a large front sight with both itself and the rib of the barrel coated with luminous paint is useful, provided the pistol is, for several hours previous to being used, exposed to strong sunlight. If it is kept all day in a case or holster, the paint will not shine at night. Also, in cleaning the pistol, the paint may be spoilt and may require renewing. I would not advise painting any pistol you care about.

The most satisfactory way is to learn to shoot in the dark by the sense of direction, by pointing your pistol in the direction in which you conjecture the object to be, not attempting to see your sights or to “draw a bead.”

One can often see an animal on a very dark night by crouching down and getting it against the sky-line; and yet, on looking through the sights, you cannot discern anything.

One form of practice is to have a target made of tissue paper, with a candle behind it to illuminate it. The sights are consequently seen in silhouette against it. This was the principle of the “Owl” series of prizes shot for in the early days of Wimbledon in the evenings. What I think better, so as to teach shooting by sense of direction, is to have one or more metal targets about a foot square hung by wires (these will give out a ringing sound when struck, and the rest of the butt should be of sand, or sods, or wood, so as to make a different sound). Have a small sleigh-bell hung behind the middle of each target, operated by strings held by an assistant standing behind you.

Now, let him ring the bells at random, you firing by sense of direction towards where you hear each bell ring.

This practice can also be done in a shooting-gallery at night with all the lights turned down, and it is perhaps safer there than out-of-doors.

You can even have targets behind you, and swing round and “snap” at them; but this, and in fact all night shooting, is very dangerous, unless you can be absolutely certain that the bullets will do no damage, however wildly they may fly.

A man with a good ear can do surprisingly accurate work in this style of shooting.

Such practice can be done in daylight by being blindfolded; and then your assistant can notice where your misses go, and help you to improve your shooting.

THE ART OF REVOLVER SHOOTING

By WALTER WINANS

Chevalier of the Imperial Order of St. Stanislas of Russia
Vice-President of the National Rifle Association of Great Britain

With nearly 200 Illustrations from Original Drawings by the author, and from Photographs specially taken for the book. Royal 8vo, handsomely printed, and bound in cloth extra, gilt top, uncut edges. Price, $5.00 net.

Mr. Walter Winans, the well-known champion revolver-shot, has been for many years working out the theory and practice of revolver-shooting, and this is the first occasion of his publishing the collected results of his close study of the weapon.

Although several chapters of the book give minute instructions as to how to shoot in order to win prizes at the Bisley meeting, the author has not neglected the more general and practical side of the subject, and even such matters (hitherto regarded in the light of professional secrets) as trick- and stage-shooting, shooting in the dark, etc., are treated in detail not previously attempted, while a chapter on how to use the revolver (as distinct from target shooting) in warfare, has a present interest that must appeal to many.

By Walter Winans

Hints on Revolver Shooting

With 20 Illustrations specially prepared for the book.
12º. Cloth. $1.00 net. By mail, $1.15

“A thoroughly practical and helpful book, apparently written with the idea of imparting to those who aspire to excel with the revolver the knowledge that the author has gained with long experience. A perusal of its pages convinces one that he has succeeded in his endeavors and has produced a book of standard value.”—Shooting and Fishing.

Practical Rifle Shooting

With Frontispiece. 12º. Cloth. 50 cents net. By mail, 60 cents

“Mr. Winans is one of the world’s most expert marksmen, and he tells in the most concise and lucid way how the veriest tyro may make himself proficient as a rifle shot.”—Lloyd’s Weekly News.

“It is short and well to the point; for the soundness of the advice offered the author’s name is ample warrant.”—Oxford Magazine.

Shooting for Ladies

With 15 Illustrations. 12º. Cloth. 50 cents. By mail, 60 cents

Mr. Winans, who is the world’s champion double-rifle shot, believes that with light modern rifles and revolvers ladies can make excellent scores in target shooting without fatigue or danger of injury. This volume is addressed to beginners as well as to expert shots.

The Art of Revolver Shooting

Together with all Information Concerning the Automatic and the
Single-Shot Pistol and How to Handle them to the Best Advantage

New Edition Revised and Enlarged

Very fully Illustrated from Original Photographs by Rouch, Fry, Purdey, Penfold and Others, and Head- and Tail-pieces from Drawings by the author.

Royal 8º, handsomely printed, and bound in cloth extra, gilt top, uncut edges. $5.00 net. Carriage 40 cents.

“It is impossible to speak too highly of this admirably written and beautifully illustrated work. The author explains everything that there is to tell about revolvers and revolver shooting, and the artistic as well as the instructional merits of the full-page and other illustrations are quite exceptional. The volume has only to be seen in order to be desired by all who are interested in the subject with which it deals.”—United Service Magazine.

The Sporting Rifle

The Shooting of Big and Little Game

Together with a Description of the Principal Classes of Sporting Weapons

With about 125 Illustrations from Original Drawings by the Author, and from Photographs specially taken for the book.

Royal 8º, handsomely printed, and bound in cloth extra, gilt top, uncut edges. $5.00 net. Carriage, 40 cents.

Mr. Winans has earned for himself an international reputation on the art of rifle- and revolver-shooting, and his earlier works on the subject have been accepted as standards. The present work is profusely illustrated, both by the author, T. Blinks, and other well-known artists, and gives the fullest details with diagrams as to how to handle the rifle for all sorts of game shooting, and also for winning prizes in shooting competitions at moving targets. Besides illustrating the various makes of rifles, there is a unique set of working drawings showing in minute detail how to construct “Running Deer” and disappearing targets. Maps and plans giving directions how to post the guns for Deer Driving, and how to manoeuvre the beaters is also featured in this important work. The natural history is illustrated by a series of photographs taken from life by H. Penfold.

Animal Sculpture

Suggestions for Greater Realism in Modeling

By Walter Winans

Gold Medallist for Sculpture, Fifth Olympiad, Stockholm, 1912. Grand Prix for Sculpture, Milan, 1912. Grand Prix for Sculpture, Barcelona, 1912. Silver Medal for Sculpture, Paris, 1900.

8º. 26 Illustrations. $1.75 net

Although perhaps better known as a rifle and revolver shot and as the author of many informing books on different kinds of shooting, Mr. Winans is a sculptor of distinction, having been awarded gold and silver medals for his statues of horses. In the present volume Mr. Winans reproduces illustrations of many familiar masterpieces of animal sculpture, showing that many of them, although superficially effective, are marred by serious faults of conception and execution.

G. P. Putnam’s Sons
New YorkLondon