CHAPTER XXVI
EXHIBITION SHOOTING
In my Art of Revolver Shooting I did an unintentional wrong to a stage shot.
In the book I gave details of how to do legitimate stage shooting, and also exposed the devices of those who perform conjuring tricks, which the public mistake for genuine shooting.
There was a review of my book in one of the daily papers, in which the reviewer gave extracts of how some of these fake-shooting feats were done.
The next day I received a most indignant letter from a “Lady Champion Shot” telling me that when she was giving her exhibition at a music hall, people in the audience, after each feat, shouted to her “I know how that’s done,” and that she had lost her job in consequence.
I do not know the merits of the case, as I never saw her shoot, but I will not explain any more stage tricks, as I do not want “Stage Champion Shots” to lose engagements. Shooting men can see for themselves if any of these shooting exhibitions are genuine, and if fakes amuse the public, what does it matter?
For hitting small objects with extreme accuracy at short range for exhibition purposes, I find the larger the bullet, providing it is propelled by a small charge which has no recoil, the easier to make hits with.
The big bullet cuts into say the ace of hearts, where a smaller bullet would just miss it.