Pistol and Revolver Shooting

by A. L. A. Himmelwright

INSTRUCTIONS TO U. S. R. A. OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTESTS

Supplies consisting of numbered and certified targets, score cards, record blanks, a copy of the rules and regulations, etc., will be furnished by the secretary-treasurer on the requisition of the local U. S. R. A. representative. Such supplies shall be used only in the matches, and all used and unused supplies shall be returned to the secretary-treasurer at the close of the contests. The target and supply account of the club must balance.

A governor or other officer of the U. S. R. A. will be appointed in each locality where the matches are to be held to act as range officer, represent the association, and have charge of the contests. This governor or officer shall personally measure the range to verify the distance and see that all the conditions of the matches are strictly complied with. He will also see that at least one other person familiar with the rules is present to witness all the shooting and he shall certify to the correctness of each score and the conditions, by signing the score card when the score is completed, and all the targets of each competitor shall be signed by both witnesses.

The other duties in detail of the governor or officer in charge of the matches are as follows: When a competitor expresses his intention of entering a match, a score card is made out in his name and delivered to him on the payment of the higher entrance fee (unless the competitor exhibits a membership card bearing the date of the current year, in which case he is entitled to the lower entrance fee). These score cards are to be issued in numerical order, and when more than one contestant wishes to shoot at the same time, the man holding the score card first issued is entitled to the preference of position and time. When the contestant is ready to shoot, he hands his score card to the governor or other officer of the association, who thereupon issues the required targets numbered consecutively, with the name of the competitor and the number of his score card written on each target for identification. The arm of the competitor is then inspected to make sure that it complies with the rules and regulations. The sights must be carefully inspected and the trigger-pull tested by weighing in just before the score is begun.

The records for which blanks are provided on the score card with reference to the arm, ammunition, etc., must all be filled in. The competitor’s first target may then be placed in position. As soon as the contestant begins his score, the time is taken from the firing of the first shot in Matches A and B and in the Corresponding Indoor Championships, and the entire score must be completed within one hour from this time. Scores in Match G must be completed within 30 minutes after firing the first shot. In Matches C, D, E, and F the time is taken from the command “Fire,” and the five shots must be fired within the specified time limit in each case and a record is made of the actual elapsed time of each string which must be written on the corresponding targets later when they are brought to the firing point. The announcing of intermediate times or seconds is not allowed.

Ten shots are to be fired at each target in Matches A and B, and five shots at each target in Matches C, D, E, F, and G, and in all the Indoor Matches. After the score is completed, the separate targets are scored in regular order as shot and the value of the shots as filled in the score card are checked from the targets, making corrections from the targets, if mistakes have been made by the markers. After filling in and signing the score cards, the duplicate is handed to the competitor and the original preserved for record. The targets are then signed by the governor and preserved until the expiration of the period during which the matches are held, when all targets, original score cards, and all other supplies, used and unused, are to be sent to the United States Revolver Association, addressed to the secretary-treasurer.

It is recommended that all scores after being shot, verified, etc., be wrapped in paper in separate packages, marked with the competitor’s name, and that no one be permitted to handle and examine these targets after they have been scored and certified to.

THE U. S. R. A. LEAGUE

The League is an alliance or compact between the clubs participating, the details and conditions of which vary slightly from year to year, being embodied in a signed contract.

Any locality having six or more paid-up members in the Association may apply for the appointment of an official U. S. R. A. representative and by accepting the conditions and signing the contract, enter a team.