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 announced 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:—
| 1 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | = | 96 |
| 2 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | = | 90 |
| 3 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | = | 92 |
| 4 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | = | 90 |
| 5 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | = | 96 |
| 6 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | = | 92 |
| 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | = | 89 |
| 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | = | 86 |
| 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | = | 93 |
| 10 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | = | 90 |
| Total | 914 | |||||||||||
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 cleaning 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 the ammunition, and the experts using the weapons supposed were its capabilities.