Automatic Pistol Shooting

target, appears and disappears at intervals of three seconds-three seconds in s

he firing-table before the target appears; and

an at stationary targets; so I shall go very fully into the way of becoming pro

the disappearing mechanism used at Bisley; and also (and this is very important), the

es. By having the points of the compass the same as at Bisley, you will soon find out which sort of light suits you best, and at what hour of the day it comes. Personally, I find the light from 9 to about 11 A.M. (during whi

not interfere with your view. Large round goggles, with plain window-glass, are a great protection against particles of burnt-powder, especially in a head wind; and after a hard morning's shooting, the surface of the glass will be found covered with adhesive black spots. It is as well to have one pair of plain white glass (i. e., ordinary window-glass), and to wear either these or one of the smoked or yellow pairs whenever shooting, or even looking on at shooting, as the powder blowing back constantly into the eyes irritates them; and a sudden dab in the eye may even spoil a score by making on

red, affects it more than one's own. This is particularly noticeable if your neighbour stands slightly behind you. Some use cotton-wool in the ears. I find it apt to mix with the natural wax in the ears, a small amount of the cotton-wool remaining behind each time the wool is removed; and, what is more, it does not sufficiently deaden the sound. For practising in private, a pair of small down pillows tied over the ears deaden the s

is to have the target hinge over and be brought up again by some mechanical means. If this

e men operating it are very jerky), and the target "wobbles" for a fraction of a second, both just a

ct), and set the bell to ring at every sixth beat. You have now intervals of three seconds marked with a "ring" at the end of

f burning his eyes with the side flash from the chambers of the revolver). Let him, at the stroke of the bell, bring up the target sharply, so that it comes with a b

same height as at Bisley, or else your practice will be useless for Bisley, as quite a different way of working the muscles and resting them between shots is in use in the two styles of shooting, and it takes less time to "come up" from a ledge than when the arm i

wer part of your body against the ledge; or even if you stand close to it and your coat happens to hang in front

the rod which works the target is best kept between the feet, and these have to be a littl

of the barrel adjacent to the chamber is the part to rest on the ledge, as it is less likely to slip. There is a notch between the barrel and lower part of the

loser until you are comfortable; if your arm is bent, move backward

ll's-eye when it is vertical to you; do not follow it down with your eyes, but keep a mental picture of it, while it is away, on the background. You will gradually be able to know exactly where it will be, and w

your right thumb, and not shifting your l

cock the pistol first, and th

k) bring your arm up, quite straight, till the revolver is

ll, begin to squeeze the trigger slightly while the pistol is resting against the ledge. With practice you will be able to regulate the squeeze so that it will require only half a pound more pressure to fire the pistol. Then as you lift the pistol, gradually tighten the squeeze, and keep gradually tightening it, never diminishing the pressure, but not increasing it if your aim is getting wrong, and beginning to increase it again as you correct your aim. If you are increasing the squeeze properly, you will find, just as your aim is perfect, and a fraction of time before the word "six," the hammer will have fallen and you will not have jerked or moved off your aim. With an automatic pistol there is no need to cock it after the first shot, but with a revolver th

ual "let-off," with the result that you will get a "bull," or close to it. The following shot, in consequence of your being too eager, will almost certainly be a very wild one, most likely below the target. This is caused by jerking the trigger, which results in bobbing the muzzle down. It is curious t

pears; the next too late-after the target has begun to go down; and whenever a shot goes wide, they dance about, stamp, or swear, and shift their position constantly, half raise the pistol and lower it again, and more

nome to indicate the time. Your hand "comes up" simultaneously with the target; you fire just before it disappears (some of my highest possibles were made with the target j

re is a misfire (you are allowed another shot for a misfire), keep on just as though nothing had happened; pay no attention to the number of shots you have fired in the sco

target "comes up." In this way you will perhaps "come up" ten times for your six shots; but you will have good shots for those that you have fi

it up for a short time. One gradually gets into the swing of it, till one can "throw" each shot right into the "bull's" centre. This keeps up for

im quickly. My favourite revolver has very coarse sights,-a fr

u can then at once see the hit on the target and can correct it, if necessary, at the next shot. At a stationary tar

mmence at any time. If you have a three, for instance, as your second shot of a score, you may have four sevens to finish up with; then your next score may begin with two sevens and then a two. There are thus two scores spoilt, whereas, if you had retired at the shot counting three in your first score, and started another score, you would have had a

s at home; there is no economy in paying half-a-crown for every six shots at Bisley, when you can shoot as much as you like at home for nothing. The rapid-firing and fifty-

u do not find yourself "letting loose" at the sound of his firing,-he most likely, timing himse

is things," or "bringing up his target" n

as thirty-six in the rapid-firing is equal to forty-one at the stationary twenty-yards) and beat that score. The moment you have beaten that sufficiently for one of your scores in

time." At Bisley, you must not "wipe out" during the shots of an entry. Where, however, there is no rule against it, "wipe out" after every shot at stationary targets, and use only one of the chambers if using a revolver. When you open the revolver after

to have your pistol passed, the trigger-pull tested, and ammunition examined before shooting, by the official appointed for the purpose by the National Rifle Association, whose office is at

scouraged. Moreover, as above explained, you secure a better "aggregate" by shifting from one series to another, though such changing would easily confuse a beginner. For the beginner, therefore, it m