Chevalier Ira A. Paine’s Position.
(From a photograph taken while shooting.)
CHAPTER X.
PISTOL AND REVOLVER SHOOTING AT LONG RANGE.
Pistol and revolver shooting has been almost wholly confined to short range, both in America and Europe. Occasional reports have reached this country of shooting in Austria to a distance of about 400 yards. This shooting was done with heavy single-shot pistols, weighing from three to five pounds, of about .40 calibre, fitted with sights capable of very fine adjustment, with set triggers and appliances to aid in securing good results.
To learn the capabilities of an American-made single-shot pistol, the author ordered a pair of the Remingtons, with 12-inch barrels, .32 calibre, and chambered for the cartridge made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. for the .32-calibre repeating rifle; the charge being 20 grains of powder and 115 grains of lead. The sights fitted to these pistols were very crude, and not suitable for the work attempted. With better sights, doubtless much finer results would be chronicled. The first attempt at long-range shooting with these pistols was made by Mr. W. W. Bennett, at Walnut Hill. He shot on the 50-yard Standard American revolver target, at a distance of 75 yards, scoring as follows:—
| 8 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | = | 85 |
Mr. W. W. Bennett, Expert Pistol and Revolver Shot.
(Shooting a Stevens Pistol.)