Kitabı oku: «A.B.C. of Snap Shooting», sayfa 5

RULES

TO GOVERN COMPETITION IN SHOOTING AT BELL OR GLASS BALLS WITH A RIFLE, WHEN THE BALLS ARE THROWN UP BY HAND PERPENDICULARLY.

1. The standard calibre of the rifle shall be .22, and the standard distance fifteen feet.

2. Rifles of .28 calibre shall be handicapped two feet, those of .32 calibre four feet, those of .38 calibre eight feet, those of .40 calibre ten feet, and those of .44 calibre twelve feet.

3. The Referee, whose decision shall be final, shall take position on a line at right angles to that between the firer and tosser, opposite the tosser, and see that no balls are thrown inside a perpendicular to that line. In case a ball be hit inside the perpendicular, it shall count neither for nor against the firer.

4. The Firer shall shoot at twenty balls and then retire, must keep the stock of his rifle below his right elbow till the ball is thrown, must shoot at each ball he orders or lose it; is responsible for the throwing of his tosser, whom he is at liberty to choose or change at will, and also for any failure to load or cock his rifle; but is entitled to another ball, if there be a misfire on account of a defective cartridge.

5. Ties shall be shot off on time; the contestant hitting the greatest number of balls in five minutes, shooting as he pleases, at balls thrown according to the rules, shall be declared winner of the tie, provided, of course, that rifles of the same class be used by both parties.

TO GOVERN COMPETITION IN SHOOTING AT BELL OR GLASS BALLS THROWN FROM A TRAP.

1. The same trap shall be used by all contestants, and shall be made to throw the balls as nearly horizontal as possible, and so that they shall fall about twenty-five feet distant, all in the same direction.

2. Rifles of .22 calibre are standard, and entitle the firer to stand three feet in rear of the trap. Firers using .28 calibre rifles shall be handicapped to five feet back of the trap; those using .32 calibre, to seven feet back; those using .38 calibre, to eleven feet back; those using .40 calibre, to thirteen feet back; and those using .44 calibre, to fifteen feet back.

3. The Referee's decision shall be final, and he shall judge, among other points, if the trap throw equally for all.

4. The Firer shall shoot at twenty balls and then retire, must keep the stock of his rifle below his right elbow till the trap is sprung; must shoot at each ball he orders or lose it; is responsible for the service of his trap-puller, whom he is at liberty to choose or change at will, and also for any failure to load or cock his rifle; but is entitled to another ball in case there is a misfire on account of a defective cartridge, or on account of the breaking of the trap.

5. Ties shall be shot off on time; the contestant hitting the greatest number of balls in five minutes, shooting as he pleases, at balls thrown according to the rules, shall be declared winner of the tie; provided, of course, that rifles of the same class be used by both parties.

EXHIBITION SHOTS
AT STILL OBJECTS, AND HOW TO MAKE THEM

Shooting at a Bell-Ball, suspended by a wire about five feet in length, at a range of from thirty to fifty feet.

1. Rifle Canted Sideways. Aim at half-past one o'clock, two inches off.

2. Rifle Upside Down over the head. Aim at twelve o'clock, three inches off.

3. Mirror Shot. Stand with back to the target, rest the rifle on the shoulder, hold a small hand mirror back of the sights, and see the reflection of the target in a line with them. Aim at the target. This shot is difficult, because a change of position of the mirror has the same effect as moving the rifle, and steadiness of both is requisite; also, movements are seemingly reversed in the glass.

4. Snuffing a Candle. The wick must be cut by the bullet.

5. Exploding Cartridges. Shoot ten holes in a plank, place a cartridge in each hole, and explode them in ten shots. This shot is very interesting, but dangerous if the cartridges are pushed into the holes so that the shell is inserted, because a resistance is made, and the shells or parts of them are forced back towards the firer. The end only of the bullet should be covered, and then there is no danger.

6. Card Shot. Cut a hole, the size of the barrel, in an ordinary business card, and slide it on as far as the forward sight. In looking along the line of sights with one eye, the target will be obscured; but if both eyes are left open, there will appear to be a hole in the card through which the target can be seen. The reason of this is, that while one eye looks at the sights and card, the other looks past the card at the target, and, of the double impressions conveyed to the brain, the more distinct ones of the target and sights unite in one and displace the card. In this shot aim a little to the left, the more, the nearer the target is to you, because the eyes are not focussed on the object, but are looking in parallel directions, consequently the discrepancy of aim is the distance between the eyes.

7. The Bending Backward or "Athletic Shot" is very difficult for any but gymnasts, or those who have very limber backs. Stand with the back to the target, put the rifle to the shoulder as if aiming horizontally; bend backward till you are aiming at the target with inverted rifle. Aim high, as in any shot where the rifle is turned barrel down.

8. The Hip Shot is made by holding the stock of the rifle on the hip and judging the aim. It is very difficult, but not all chance, for one can observe how his arms are held, and soon learn to feel if the aim be accurate.

9. Bending forward and Shooting Between the Legs, holding the rifle Back of the Neck, and similar unusual shots, are good practice, and teach one to overcome adverse positions.

10. Knocking the Ashes off a Cigar in an attendant's mouth, or apples or potatoes from his head, are fool-hardy shots, which are not brilliant, and only interest because they are dangerous. No man is sure of himself, his cartridges, or his rifle. Nervousness, a dirty rifle, a bullet which does not fill the grooves, the unsteadiness of the attendant, or other causes of inaccuracy are within the range of possibility, and any danger, especially where another is liable to be the sufferer, should be avoided and discouraged by audiences.

AT MOVING OBJECTS

1. Shooting at a Swinging Bell and hitting it in various positions.

2. Shooting at Bells thrown up perpendicularly.

3. Turning Shot. Stand with back to the target and turn and hit the bell after it is thrown.

4. Hit Bells, holding the rifle in One Hand.

5. Toss the Bell up yourself and hit it, using one or both hands.

6. Cross Shot, Drop Shot, Incoming Shot, and Trap Shooting, explained in Rules for Practice.

7. Shooting at coins thrown in the air is interesting, but expensive.

SHOTS WHICH CAN ONLY BE MADE WITH A REPEATING RIFLE

1. Double Shot. Hitting two objects thrown in the air at the same time, reloading the rifle once.

2. Triple or Quadruple Shot. Firing into the air two or three times after an object has been thrown, and hitting it with the third or fourth bullet before it reaches the ground.

3. Jump Shot. Place a light ball, either glass or wood, on the ground three feet in front of you. Shoot three inches under it, which will project it into the air. Reload your rifle, and hit it before it falls.