Besides the grip and balance of the duelling pistol being different from those of the revolver, the pistol has to be raised from pointing to the ground, instead of from the hip level. This has a tendency to make you shoot low, as the time taken in raising the arm has to be hurried.
If your last shot was low, aim higher; if it was high, aim lower.
If you are careful to squeeze, instead of jerking, you are almost sure always to hit the figure, the only misses allowable being a graze of the waist to the left, or under the chin to the right.
Doctor Devilliers has patented a bullet for practising duelling, the competitors shooting at each other. The bullet is useful also for indoor shooting where a leaden bullet would be dangerous.
The composition of the bullet is a secret, but the bullet is light, and, when propelled by a cap with fulminate only, gives a hard rap where it strikes.
When shooting with it at a man the following precautions must be observed, according to the inventor.
1. “Don’t shoot at less than twenty metres.” It is useless to shoot with it at more than twenty metres, as the bullet rapidly loses its accuracy beyond that distance; the blow at twenty metres distance is not severe if one is properly protected against it.
2. “Wear goggles, a fencing mask, and gloves.” The goggles are now made part of the mask, and are of very thick glass, while instead of the shooter’s wearing a glove, a metal shield is affixed to the pistol. The hand must not be lowered before your opponent fires. I once shot against a friend who omitted this precaution, and my bullet cut away the flesh at the lower part of his thumb.
3. “Wear a black linen blouse.” This may be necessary to prevent your clothes being soiled, but it makes you a bigger target for your opponent. Therefore a tight-fitting coat is better. I shoot with no body protection.
4. “In winter be careful that the bullets do not freeze.” I find it best to keep the loaded pistols on ice for some time before shooting—not letting them freeze, however—and not to let the pistol get too hot, for if the barrel gets hot the bullet does not take the rifling.