,illustration     ,,hints ,,on ,,the    
,,use ,,and ,,handling ,,of ,,firearms  
,,generally1 ,,and ,,the ,,revolver ,,in
 ,,particular4  ,,by ,,lieut4 ,h4       
,,onslow ,,curling1 ,c4 ,l4 ,a4 ,b4     
',nunquam non paratus4'                 
,,london3           ,,dulau  ,,co41 #cg 
,,soho ,,square4           ,all ,rights 
,reserved4            #ahhe4            
,,london3           ,,printed ,,by      
,,strangeways ,,and ,,sons1             
,tower ,street1 ,upper ,st4 ,martin's   
,lane4     ,,hints ,,on ,,the ,,use     
,,and ,,handling ,,of ,,firearms1 c4 c4 
',he1 that rides at high speed1 and with
            ,his pistol kills a sparrow 
flying4'                                
,,shakespeare3 ,henry ,,iv4   ,,the     
,national ,rifle ,association may fairly
 claim the honour of introducing1 at    
their meeting in ,july #ahhe1 the       
subject of ,military ,revolver practice 
in this country4 ,for years past the    
want of such a movement has been felt1  
but the many obstacles to be overcome   

have been so vast that no one seems to  
have cared to venture upon the matter1  
and so it has slept4  ,the great        
drawback has been1 and is now1 to find  
suitable ranges anywhere near ,london4  
,such ranges1 the use of which is       
enjoyed by our ,citizen ,army1 are      
insufficient1 and the expense of keeping
 them up is considerable1 falling       
heavily upon the corps to whom they     
belong4  ,the ,national ,rifle          
,association1 although they offered some
 #djl4 in prizes1 and provided not only 
revolvers but ammunition1 for a small   
consideration1 or entrance fee1 met with
 but poor support2 but it should be     
borne in mind that this was the first   
year of such a competition1 and it was  
in consequence not generally known of4  
,very little was known of the movement  
till it actually took place1 and then   
only when noticed by the press the day  
after its introduction4  ,again1 it     
should be remembered that the entries   
were restricted to officers1 warrant    

officers1 and petty officers1 of her    
,majesty's land and sea forces1 and     
doubtless this restriction accounted for
 the spare attendance4 ,every           
,englishman belonging to the auxiliary  
forces should hail with pleasure the    
opportunity offered of making himself   
master of this useful weapon2 one that  
in skilled hands is most deadly at long 
or short ranges1 and a thorough         
knowledge of the use of which might at  
any moment be the means of saving       
another's life from an opposing force   
when no other weapon was at hand4  ,the 
difficulty in using even an ordinary    
pistol with accuracy is1 and always has 
been1 an acknowledged fact1 as it       
requires great practice to enable a man 
to make his mark as a crack shot4 ,some 
men would perhaps miss a haystack at    
twenty yards1 while others1 with little 
practice1 soon become excellent shots at
 very small objects4 ,it is marvellous  
the accuracy with which the professional
 burglar has of late years used his     

revolver against the police and others2 
but it may be accounted for by the fact 
that these men use a small1 light       
weapon1 easily carried and much easier  
wielded than the military regulation    
revolver1 which weighs #b lbs4 #h oz42  
that they invariably take what may be   
termed flying shots--and it should be   
remembered that a full-sized man at     
comparatively close quarters presents a 
very large target4 ,i venture to affirm 
that if these burglarious minions of the
 moon1 who make night hideous1 were     
compelled to stand before a             
,martini-,smith target 7a foot square7  
at twenty yards1 with a military        
regulation revolver1 they would make but
 sorry marksmen4  ,the use of the       
military revolver is acknowledged to be 
a question of great importance1 as one  
not only affecting those who embrace the
 profession of arms1 but those who      
travel2 and as no one knows when he may 
be called upon1 or where he may be1 it  
is imperative that he should gain a     

thorough knowledge of every minor       
detail1 most useful in the hour of need1
 and which will enable him not only to  
protect himself with confidence1 but to 
come to the assistance of the weak      
should occasion require4  ,it is to be  
deplored that what once formed part of  
the education of a gentleman--i4e4 the  
use of the small sword and              
broadsword--should have been so         
thoroughly neglected of late years in   
this country4 ,that part of the         
education of youth seems to have become 
quite a secondary consideration4        
,general ,sir ,charles ,napier has truly
 said1 ',young men have all the         
temptations in the world to pleasure1   
none to study2 consequently1 they some  
day find themselves conspicuous for want
 of knowledge1 not of talent4'  ,the    
introduction of the ,breech-loader has  
revolutionised firearms4 ,when we look  
back upon the extraordinary achievements
 of arms during the present century1    
with the comparatively crude weapons    

then in use as compared with the        
marvellous inventions of the present    
moment1 it is simply astounding what    
results were obtained4  ,the terrible   
work done by the old ,brown ,bess1 with 
its unique flint-and-steel lock of its  
day1 at ,waterloo and elsewhere1 is now 
matter of history4 ,in those days       
artillery and cavalry had a chance of   
existence in the field1 they have       
scarcely any now4 ,the old flint lock1  
although it has had its day1 has done   
its work well1 and is entitled to       
veneration4 ,many a noble fellow has bit
 the dust from its spark1 and ,england's
 first and greatest battles were fought 
and won by its aid4 ,the ,nipple and    
,percussion ,cap came next into use1 and
 subsequently the ,breech-loader2 but   
since ,rifles have superseded military  
smooth-bore weapons1 the old spherical  
ball has been condemned4  ,the          
breech-loading rifled arm of the present
 day may be looked upon as a marvel of  
modern ingenuity2 as combining exquisite

 manufacture1 extraordinary precision1  
and unequalled range4 ,the latter may be
 accounted for by the conical shape of  
the bullet1 and the rotary motion given 
thereto by the grooving of the barrel2  
and lastly1 from the full force of the  
evolution of gas consequent upon the    
powder being enclosed in a copper tube  
which is inserted in the breech when    
loading the piece4  ,the barrel of the  
,breech-loading ,rifle is by its own    
action of firing kept comparatively     
clean1 as compared with the old         
,muzzle-loader2 for with the            
breech-loader any fouling of the barrel 
is driven out by the discharge1 and the 
powder in the cartridge is kept         
perfectly free from any contamination   
with the moisture adhering to the barrel
 by its copper case and being inserted  
in the breech2 whereas in the old       
muzzle-loading weapon the barrel1 after 
the first discharge1 becomes lubricated1
 and consequently a portion of the      
powder poured down the barrel adhered to

 its moist sides1 thereby becoming      
deteriorated and decreasing the         
explosive force4 ,as a weapon of        
precision the ,snider is perhaps        
preferable to the ,martini-,henry2 but1 
of course1 this is matter of opinion4   
,the sportsman of the good old school   
would be somewhat astonished1 and would 
perhaps feel uncomfortable1 upon finding
 himself armed with a breech-loading    
fowling-piece of the present day1       
particularly as prejudices are strong   
and obstinacy very prevalent among some 
people1 and the keen eye of the old     
sportsman would view the modern         
innovation upon his rights--as he would 
probably call them--with dread1         
suspicion1 and distrust4  ,it is a fact1
 even at the present time1 that there   
are many old farmers in ,england who use
 their ancient flint-and-steel          
fowling-pieces from choice in preference
 to modern weapons4  ,the cool old      
sportsman of days gone by would sally   
forth in quest of game1 having          

previously overhauled his lock1 and1 if 
necessary1 adjusted a new flint1 with as
 much care as an angler would examine   
his tackle previous to a day's sport1 as
 he well knew that success depended upon
 vigilance and care4 ,there was no      
blustering and banging away in those    
days1 as soon as a bird rose1 as is     
unhappily too often the case now-a-days1
 resulting in either blowing the bird   
all to pieces or probably missing it    
altogether4 ,no1 the keen eye of the old
 school would coolly watch his bird     
rise1 take a pinch of snuff1 cock his   
piece1 cover his bird1 and then bring it
 down1 allowing it to get well away     
before drawing the trigger4  ,many a    
young gentleman calling himself a       
sportsman knows little of the           
capabilities of the weapon he wields1   
and cares less2 his whole aim is to see 
how many head of game he can bag1 and to
 blaze away is the order of the day1 to 
the astonishment of poor ,ponto1 who1 if
 he chance to run within range1         

sometimes gets a charge of shot in his  
tail4  ,in the ,royal ,navy the use and 
practice of the pistol1 and latterly of 
the revolver1 has always been kept up4  
,consequently the ,jack ,tar knows more 
about the pistol and the military       
revolver than most men give him credit  
for4 ,in boarding vessels1 for instance1
 the pistol was one of the arms used4   
,the importance of the revolver movement
 as inaugurated by the ,national ,rifle 
,association has resulted in the        
formation of a club called ',the        
,metropolitan ,revolver ,club4' ,this   
,club1 which is in its infancy1 has many
 obstacles to surmount1 but it is to be 
hoped that the ,provisional ,committee  
will be able to carry out the object in 
view1 which is1 according to the        
programme1 as follows3--        ',that  
this ,club be formed1 having for its    
object           the provision of       
facilities for acquiring a              
thorough knowledge of and proficiency in
 the use           of the ,military     

,revolver4'  ,,dudley ,,wilson1 ,esq41  
#b ,pall ,mall1 is the ,honorary        
,secretary1 and may success attend him4 
,to the inexperienced1 the revolver is1 
perhaps1 as deadly a weapon as can well 
be handled2 and to no class is this fact
 so well known as to naval and military 
men4 ,the many deplorable accidents     
resulting from the incautious handling  
of firearms is terrible to contemplate2 
and sportsmen and military men have     
frequently fallen victims to            
carelessness1 to say nothing of novices4
 ,the unfortunate part is1 that foolish 
and inexperienced people often inflict  
misery upon innocent persons2           
unintentionally1 it is true3 but they   
are none the less guilty4 ,firearms     
should be looked upon as a kind of      
machinery1 which no one in his senses   
would attempt to handle unless he knew  
the use of them4  ,the abominable       
practice of those to whom firearms      
belong1 or those in the charge or care  
thereof1 of keeping or leaving such     

weapons loaded1 so that they may at any 
moment fall into the hands of children1 
or perhaps1 what is worse still1        
inexperienced adults1 is most seriously 
to be condemned1 and may be designated  
really as a criminal act1 which ought to
 be summarily punished4  ,it is an act  
which has no real motive1 no real bona  
fide object1 and is lawless and idle in 
the extreme1--an act which has resulted 
in the death of its thousands1 and the  
maiming of even more4  ,a weapon should 
never be brought within the portals of a
 man's house loaded2 the breech-loading 
cartridge can be easily withdrawn4 ,if  
the piece is a muzzle-loader it should  
be discharged after the day's sport is  
over2 ammunition is really not so very  
costly as to require to be husbanded at 
the probable cost of a serious accident1
 or perhaps a fellow-creature's life4   
,this rule cannot be too strictly       
adhered to4 ,some years ago it was my   
lot to be staying with a gentleman of   
eccentric habits1 a man of violent      

temper1 and when in one of these fits   
really not answerable for his actions4  
,i was aware that he kept a full-sized  
revolver loaded with ball1 and capped1  
in his dressing-room4 ,i confess ,i was 
coward enough to let this matter trouble
 me4 ,i felt ,i could stand up and face 
death with any one in the field1        
fighting in a good cause and armed as   
others2 but to be taken advantage of at 
any moment1 and perhaps shot down like a
 dog1 was rather too much4 ,i therefore 
resolved in my own mind1 not only to    
disarm my friend but to render his      
weapon useless2 but how to accomplish   
this was the question1 as to raise any  
suspicion would perhaps bring down wrath
 upon my own head4 ,i therefore resolved
 to leave everything precisely intact   
till an opportunity should present      
itself4 ,the very next day the time     
arrived1 and during this ,grand ,turk's 
absence ,i hastily removed the caps from
 off the nipples of the revolver1 and   
having exploded them upon the nipples of

 his double-barrelled gun1 ,i pinched   
them back into their original shape and 
replaced them on the revolver4 ,i then  
put the box of caps into my pocket and  
felt perfectly secure1 and could have   
sat and been fired at without the       
slightest fear4 ,this gentleman shortly 
afterwards was seized with paralysis of 
the brain1 and ended his days in a      
madhouse4 ,no one1 ,i believe1 ever     
suffered any inconvenience from the     
revolver1 and what became of it ,i know 
not4  ,if leaving weapons about is      
necessary 7which ,i do not for a moment 
admit71 then most assuredly they should 
be rendered harmless by being left      
unloaded1 and thus the means of         
rendering them destructive would be kept
 out of the way of meddlers4 ,all       
ammunition should1 as a rule1 be kept in
 some secret and safe place1 and always 
under lock and key4 ,every man knows    
that edged tools are dangerous1         
consequently that the leaving loaded    
firearms within the reach of anybody who

 may chance to come across them is      
simply leaving means of destruction     
unprotected1 and he should bear in mind 
that this mischief of his own neglect   
might accidentally at any moment be     
wielded against himself4                
',how oft the sight of means to do ill  
deeds1            ,makes deeds ill done4
                                        
,,shakespeare3 ,king ,john4  ,the       
responsibility of those possessing      
firearms is great1 and proper           
precautions and proper care cannot be   
too strictly enforced4 ,care costs      
nothing1 and may be the means of        
preventing loss of life and many a      
deplorable accident4 ,the precautions   
necessary to be borne in mind in the    
safe use of firearms for one's own      
protection1 as well as the protection of
 others1 are voluminous1 and so varied  
are they that it is with difficulty they
 can be all dealt with in this little   
treatise2 it is only therefore proposed 
to mention some of them1 and detail a   

few important hints for the guidance of 
the unwary4 ,generally speaking1 if a   
man will not exercise a little gumption1
 care1 and discretion1 when in the      
society of a shooting-party similarly   
armed as he is himself1 he must put up  
with the consequences4 ,accidents in    
properly regulated families should never
 happen4 ,since the introduction of the 
breech-loader there is no excuse for any
 man carrying a loaded weapon and       
swinging the muzzle of it about when    
carrying it on his shoulder 7which is   
often done71 bringing every one in his  
rear in the line of fire of the piece4  
,a man can load his piece now when he   
arrives upon the ground in a moment2 and
 should a bird rise1 with the present   
facilities given by the breech-loader1  
there is ample time to load and bring   
the bird down without the slightest     
difficulty4 ,for any man therefore1 when
 not in the field1 to strut about with a
 loaded weapon in his possession        
now-a-days is simply bombastic          

tomfoolery4  ,to carry a gun gracefully 
and properly is an art4 ,it should never
 be so carried or wielded as to be a    
risk to the possessor1 or any one4 ,the 
following are a few ways how a gun      
should be carried3--,for safety1 when   
commencing sport1 the right hand        
grasping the piece at the small of the  
butt1 the butt resting on the right hip 
or thigh1 muzzle up4 ,the weapon can    
then1 on the rising of game1 be at once 
safely presented4  ,when carried on the 
shoulder it should be always with lock  
down3 this mode will so elevate the     
barrels that the muzzles are far above  
the heads of any one2 even when at close
 quarters1 on the march1 or when        
approaching or returning from cover1    
this way will be found easiest and with 
the least possible fatigue1 as the      
weight of the weapon is centered in the 
stock held in the right hand4 ,to       
relieve the shoulder pass the hand up to
 the small1 or neck of the butt2 at the 
same time seize the butt with the left  

hand1 then raise your gun to a          
perpendicular position1 carry it across 
the body1 and place it on the left      
shoulder4 ,the left shoulder can be     
relieved in a similar manner1 i4e41 pass
 the left hand to the small or neck of  
the butt1 at the same time seize the    
butt with the right hand1 raise the gun 
to a perpendicular position1 and carry  
it across the body and place it on the  
right shoulder4 ,never present1 much    
less fire1 when any person1 whether     
keeper or beater1 intervenes or is near 
the bird4 ,never fire over any one1 even
 if he what is called 'ducks1' or stoops
 to allow of your doing so4 ,a keeper or
 beater should never be encouraged in1  
or allowed to 'duck' or stoop2 the      
practice is a bad one1 and should be for
 ever discountenanced4 ,if no one fired 
over a ducked body the habit would soon 
fall into disuse4 ,sportsmen and others 
would do well to bear in mind that an   
accident deprives the injured man from  
earning his livelihood1 and the poor    

wife and children suffer3 better to     
forego taking a shot for safety sake and
 let the bird escape for another day    
than run any risk4 ,this should be made 
a hard-and-fast rule among sportsmen1   
and a law of sport4  ,the left hand     
should never be placed upon the gun till
 the bird has risen and all is clear    
ahead4 ,coolness in the field is        
everything2 there should be no          
blundering1 no hurry2 a man who knows   
the capabilities of his gun can afford  
to be cool4 ,he knows but too well there
 is no occasion for haste2 the cool hand
 would pause after the bird rose1 and   
give it time to get fairly away before  
presenting4  ,a gun should never be so  
wielded as to bring its barrels in line 
with any one1 or the barrels athwart any
 one4 ,when quite a youth ,i remember   
being in the field1 when one of the     
party becoming fatigued from the effects
 of a tight boot handed me his gun2 the 
friend1 who evidently did not appreciate
 the confidence placed in the youngster1

 kept aloof--well to the right2         
presently a bird rose1 ,i hesitated2    
looking at the bird4 ',fire6 ,fire6 why 
don't you fire1 sir8' exclaimed the old 
gentleman with some warmth4 ',how can   
,i1' cried ,i1 'with those peasants at  
work right in front8' ,the effect was   
marvellous4 ,the old gentleman1         
thoroughly appreciating the caution1 at 
once joined me1 and ,i had the benefit  
of my full share of the sport4  ,firing 
when in thick cover and from behind     
hedges should be conducted with caution1
 and with a knowledge that all is clear 
on the other side4  ,little observation 
will show whether your companion has    
been accustomed to the use of firearms4 
,a man of reckless temperament1 one who 
would blaze away blindly1 a             
devil-may-care sort of fellow1 should be
 avoided2 give him a very wide berth1   
and keep the gentleman well on your     
extreme left4 ,if you can shunt him     
altogether so much the better4 ,a gun   
should never be carried in the field at 

the trail2 should never be carried under
 the arm1 hugging the lock2 should never
 be carried muzzle down1 so that by an  
accidental slip1 or stumble1 or fall1   
the barrels may become choked with earth
 7which would burst the muzzle if not   
removed before firing72 should never be 
carried transversely across the body    
with barrels pointing left4 ,when       
shooting1 a man should be as much upon  
his etiquette as he would be in my      
lady's drawing-room2 should mind his    
,p's and ,q's1 and remember that when in
 a china-shop he should refrain from    
carrying his umbrella under his arm4    
,as a fact1 the closing of one eye in   
taking aim is unnecessary4 ,the complete
 angle of sight upon a given object can 
only be obtained by the use of both     
eyes4 ,consequently two objects cannot  
be seen distinctly or clearly at the    
same instant1 one is clear while the    
others are blurred or misty2 hence it   
stands to reason1 that in laying a gun  
the top of the notch of the hindsight1  

the apex of the foresight1 and the      
object1 can be brought into line as     
accurately with both eyes open as with  
one closed4  ,an artilleryman can lay a 
gun perfectly without closing one eye4  
,the eyes should not be less than #ab   
inches from the hindsight1 if from #b to
 #c feet so much the better1 and a more 
accurate aim will be the result4  ,upon 
the principle that the hand follows the 
eye1 a sportsman fixing both eyes upon  
his bird can take as perfect an aim as  
he could with one eye closed4  ,this    
rule applies equally to all arms4  ,a   
man when in the field or at practice    
should keep his eyes about him2 he      
should remember whom he is with2 that he
 may be covered by a friend's gun or    
rifle at any moment1 and that as the    
abominable and unnecessary proceeding of
 carrying weapons loaded1 when not      
actually in the field1 is the rule      
rather than the exception1 he may       
perhaps find himself accidentally pinked
 at any moment1 and when he little      

expects it4  ,i remember some years ago 
the magnificent solemnity of a military 
funeral was brought to a somewhat       
ludicrous termination by one of the     
firing party shooting his comrade in the
 stern4 ,how the accident really        
occurred ,i never could learn2 but it   
was a fact that the rear-rank man       
managed somehow to discharge his rifle1 
and pretty nearly blow off the tail of  
his comrade's tunic4  ,the wounded man1 
who was more frightened than hurt1      
seemed not at all to relish the joke4   
,an old lady came to the rescue4  ,this 
good old soul seems to have been in the 
habit of carrying a flask1 and1         
graciously offering the 'pocket pistol1'
 suggested a drop of the creature4 ,the 
offer was most readily accepted1 but1 ,i
 regret to say1 the terror of the       
injured man was so great that he emptied
 the flask4 ,he had evidently had enough
 of soldiering and 'villainous          
saltpetre1' for the very next day he    
sent in his resignation4  ,at ball      

practice men should refrain from        
talking1 joking1 and that ungentlemanly 
pastime known as horse-play4 ,their     
attention should be directed to what    
they are about to do and what others are
 doing1 and they should leave           
frivolities for some other time4  ,many 
accidents in the field have occurred    
when getting over stiles1 gates1        
hurdles1 stone walls1 and even through  
hedges4  ,within the beautiful glades of
 ,kensington ,gardens stands a lasting  
memorial4            ,,in ,,memory ,,of 
,,speke4           ,,victoria1 ,,nyanza1
           ,,and ,,the ,,nile4          
#ahfd4  ,here is a terrible record of an
 awful death through carelessness4 ,a   
noble life lost1 sacrificed in a moment4
 ,poor ,speke1 who had faced death often
 in many forms1 met it at last by his   
own hand4  ,while out shooting1 in      
getting through a hedge he dragged his  
fowling-piece after him1 the muzzle     
towards his own body1 when1 the lock    
becoming entangled in the brambles1 his 

immediate death was the result4 ,such a 
piece of foolhardiness on the part of a 
man accustomed to the use of firearms is
 astounding4  ,use dulls the edge of    
caution1 and some men1 unhappily1 who   
are accustomed to deal constantly with  
weapons and ingredients of destruction1 
become not only careless but indifferent
 and callous4  ,there is a class of men 
who1 if not kept under surveillance1    
would probably be found smoking their   
pipes in a powder-magazine1 or while    
sitting upon a barrel of gunpowder4     
,men are too prone to carry their       
weapons at full-cock4 ,this should never
 be done4 ,if alone1 when getting       
through a hedge or over any impedimenta 
the weapon should be laid on the ground1
 parallel with the hedge1 if possible4  
,after getting upon the other side1 the 
weapon should be drawn through with the 
butt end towards the person4  ,if you   
have a comrade or keeper with you1 hand 
him the weapon1 muzzle up2 get through  
yourself1 and then take the weapons from

 him1 muzzle up1 and he can follow you  
with safety4 ,always place your weapon  
upon half-cock 7it should never be at   
full-cock7 before attempting to go      
through a hedge or over a stile4  ,when 
two or more gentlemen take the field    
together1 it is advantageous to work the
 ground in the formation of echelon4    
,the whole field will by this means be  
thoroughly searched for game1 and each  
man can fire clear of the other1        
commanding his own ground and the whole 
field within the range of the respective
 guns4  ,when about to commence practice
 with the rifle or revolver the firing  
party should be placed well to the      
front1 and should never load1 or be     
allowed to load1 until all preliminaries
 are arranged1 and the words1 ',ready6  
go on6' are given4  ,this command or    
caution will1 of necessity1 place every 
one upon his guard4  ,when the piece is 
loaded1 the finger with which the       
trigger is drawn should on no account be
 placed within the trigger-guard till   

the weapon is raised and the aim about  
to be taken2 and with the rifle until   
the weapon is presented1 after being put
 upon full-cock4  ,in firing with a     
pistol1 or revolver1 the proper finger  
with which to draw the trigger is the   
second finger1 not the index finger1 as 
generally used4 ,the index finger should
 be placed horizontally along the       
barrel1 on the side of the weapon1 which
 is most important--which1 as a means of
 securing steadiness and leverage1 tends
 not only to reduce the difficulty of   
the pull1 but also tends to prevent     
depression of the muzzle1 which is sure 
to take place if the forefinger is used1
 particularly when the trigger has the  
minimum five-pounds' pull4  ,when a gun1
 rifle1 pistol1 or revolver1 is at      
full-cock1 and it is desired to place it
 upon half-cock1 as is often done1 it   
should be so altered1 with great care1  
as follows3--  ,the hammer should be    
lowered gently to the full extent of the
 spring1 and should then be carefully   

drawn back till the distinct click of   
the half-cock is heard2 then the weapon 
is as safe as an arm can be when loaded1
 and cannot be accidentally discharged4 
,to place a weapon from full to         
half-cock1 by not lowering the hammer to
 the full extent of the spring1 and then
 drawing it back to half-cock as before 
described1 is a most dangerous practice1
 as the hammer may not be properly      
inserted in the clip1 and an accident   
might be the result4 ,a man once having 
taken up his position at the            
firing-point1 and having loaded his     
piece1 should never return into the     
company of his comrades till his piece  
7particularly if a pistol or revolver7  
is discharged1 or till all its chambers 
have been expended4 ,if it is necessary 
for him to rejoin his comrades after his
 piece is loaded1 or after any of the   
chambers have been expended1 he should  
leave the weapon behind him at the      
firing-point1 and should place it1      
muzzle down1 in a hole or slot purposely

 made in the table before him to receive
 it1 which hole in the table should have
 the word ',,loaded' written legibly    
near it4  ,if there is no table1 then   
the weapon should1 if at full-cock1 be  
placed upon half-cock1 as before        
described1 and then laid carefully upon 
the ground1 muzzle pointing towards the 
target1 and slightly inclined to the    
left thereof1 so as to be clear of it1  
which will allow of the target being    
examined1 if necessary1 without the     
examiner coming within the direct line  
of fire of the weapon2 but the table    
with a hole in it is the safest method1 
and is recommended4  ,a couple of stakes
 with a rope from the firing-point to   
the target should be used1 as a         
precaution to keep back idle            
curiosity-seekers from placing          
themselves within danger on the firing  
party's left4  ,no one should1 upon any 
pretence whatever1 place himself1 or be 
allowed to place himself1 on1 or even   
near1 the firing party's left side4 ,the

 reason is obvious1 as it will be found 
invariably in practice that a man1 when 
loading with a breech-loader1 will      
naturally incline the muzzle of his     
piece1 and so innocently place those    
immediately upon his left within its    
range4  ,if it is necessary to address a
 man when at the firing-point all       
interlocution should be addressed to him
 on his right2 so the ,instructor should
 place himself on the right and rather  
behind the practitioner1 and as close to
 him as convenient1 so as not to        
incommode his freedom4  ,some men are   
naturally nervous1 particularly when at 
ball practice1 and for this reason all  
but novices should be left alone1 as    
they will perhaps make better scoring if
 not interfered with4  ,all spectators  
should take ground well in rear of the  
alignment of the firing-point1 and on   
its right flank4 ,the practice of taking
 up weapons and going through the       
pantomime of pointing them at the       
target1 or pointing a weapon at anything

 when not at actual practice1 is idle1  
and is to be condemned4  ,weapons set   
aside for practice should never be      
meddled with4  ,the party who takes his 
turn 7if firing with revolvers7 should  
receive his weapon unloaded1 muzzle up1 
with the necessary amount of ammunition1
 from the ,instructor or ,superintendent
 in charge2 he should then step to the  
front or firing-point1 load his piece   
himself1 and get rid of his cartridges  
as quickly as a due regard to careful   
aim1 c41 will admit2 then return his    
piece1 muzzle up1 to the ,instructor1   
who will carefully examine it and       
satisfy himself that all the chambers   
have been expended4  ,should a revolver 
miss fire1 it is most important that    
great caution should be used1 as it will
 sometimes 'hang fire1' which the       
cartridges of all weapons are liable to 
do at times4,a ,when a cartridge does   
not explode the revolver should be held 
in the same position as much as         
possible1 muzzle to the front1 or       

downwards1 for a few seconds2 should it 
not then explode it may be examined1 the
 non-exploded cartridge removed and     
condemned1 and a new cartridge put in   
its place4 ,on no account should the    
condemned cartridge be placed with or   
near live cartridges4  ,firearms should 
never1 under any pretence1 be pointed at
 anybody2 even if unloaded1 such a      
practice is foolish and unpardonable4   
,no soldier except in action would ever 
think of doing so1 and no gentleman     
could4  ,the thoughtless practice of    
relinquishing one's weapon into the     
hands of a friend1 or1 even worse1 a    
stranger1 is against all military rules1
 and in any case is strongly to be      
condemned1 and no excuse will palliate  
such an offence2 not even the assurance 
that the piece is unloaded4 ,a          
brother-comrade in the same regiment is1
 perhaps1 the only exception2 but even  
this is objectionable1 except in extreme
 cases4 ,as a rule1 a soldier should    
never relinquish his piece1 even to a   

,general or a ,field ,officer4          
,firearms generally1 and particularly   
revolvers1 when loaded or unloaded1     
should never be laid upon a table so    
that the muzzle can accidentally cover  
any one4 ,if they must be relinquished  
by the owner they should be placed in a 
corner of the room farthest from the    
door1 leaning against the wall1 muzzle  
down1 so that they cannot fall4 ,if     
loaded they may1 when practicable1 be   
laid upon a side-table1 muzzle towards  
the wall4 ,guns or rifles should be     
stood muzzle up in their place in the   
rack1 or1 if there is no rack1 then in a
 corner of the room farthest from the   
door1 to prevent surprise4 ,no weapon of
 any kind should be carried or put down1
 or left at full-cock1 and no loaded    
weapon should be left unprotected4 ,they
 should1 if loaded1 be in the charge of 
some trustworthy and responsible person2
 but in the time of war no man would be 
so foolish as to relinquish his piece1  
either by night or by day4  ,to         

sportsmen and others1 with the great    
facilities for loading and unloading    
afforded by the breech-loading system1  
there can be no excuse for leaving a    
weapon charged when it can so easily be 
rendered harmless4  ,there are many     
theories as to the proper way to present
 a pistol or revolver4  ,every man has  
some idea upon the subject1 and perhaps 
it would be well to leave every one to  
his own devices2 but at the same time a 
suggestion here1 as we are upon the     
subject1 may not be out of place4  ,the 
,french carry the weapon muzzle up1 the 
lock of the piece in line with the ear4 
,upon taking aim1 the muzzle is         
gradually depressed till the object it  
is desired to hit is covered4 ,this is  
no doubt a very good way2 but when      
firing at any distance beyond a         
point-blank range it necessitates1      
firstly1 the depression of the muzzle to
 cover the object1 and secondly1 the    
necessary elevation must be taken so    
that the ball may be carried the        

required distance1 and so hit the       
object4  ,this position of holding the  
weapon when at practice commends itself 
on the ground of safety4  ,the          
preferable way1 perhaps1 is the old     
duelling style2 that is1 to hold the    
weapon muzzle down at the full extent of
 the right arm1 standing sideways or    
three-quarters left1 showing as small a 
front as possible1 the eye to be fixed  
steadily upon the bull's eye or centre  
of the target or object1 then gradually 
raising the arm to the required         
elevation4 ,should the distance be      
beyond the point-blank range1 after     
covering the bull's eye continue to     
elevate till the required elevation is  
reached3 by then steadily and firmly    
increasing the pressure of the second   
finger on the trigger the desired result
 will be obtained4 ,suddenly drawing or 
jerking the trigger should be avoided4  
,by the latter means the object is      
covered at the same time as the foot of 
the target is covered1 so that in the   

event of the trigger being drawn before 
the bull's eye is reached the target    
will be hit1 and assuming the target to 
be a man he would be disabled and the   
object gained4 ,another important reason
 for advocating the use of the second   
finger in drawing the trigger is the    
fact that the weight of the military    
revolver 7#b lbs4 #h oz471 together with
 the power required to draw the trigger 
7#e lbs4 pull71 by the long tension of  
the muscles of the arm1 in aiming1      
causes a vibration1 so that the farther 
the bullet has to travel the farther it 
is thrown off the centre of the         
objective4 ,the first finger1 therefore1
 placed along the barrel or side of the 
pistol1 acting as a lever1 tends to     
reduce almost to a minimum the spasmodic
 muscular vibration2 again1 in drawing  
the trigger with the forefinger the     
hardness of the pull tends to depress   
the muzzle1 while with using the second 
finger as before described this         
depression is almost impossible4  ,in   

rifle-shooting1 as also in that of the  
pistol and revolver1 the ordinary method
 should be reversed2 that is1 instead of
 commencing at #ajj yards from the      
target1 the practice should commence at 
the longest range1 and the target should
 be gradually approached as if it were  
an actual enemy4  ,in revolver practice 
,i would recommend all who desire to    
become thoroughly efficient to commence 
at say #ajj yards from the target1 and  
to gradually reduce the range to not    
less than #bj yards4 ,this would        
accustom the practitioner to get a      
thorough knowledge of the capabilities  
of the weapon1 and to learn the required
 amount of elevation necessary4 ,it must
 be remembered that the ,military       
,regulation ,revolver will kill at #cjj 
yards4  ,i have myself shot with a      
#cbj-;bore revolver1 eight grains of    
powder1 bullet eighty grains1 at a      
regulation target at #bjj yards1 and    
have made very fair practice3 in fact1  
the long range is far preferable for    

practice1 as being not only beneficial1 
but a more exciting pastime than the    
ordinary range4  ,to those who do not   
possess a regulation iron target1 ,i    
would recommend one similar to that     
which ,i have sometimes used4 7,vide    
diagram47 ,this target is made of a     
simple framework of wood1 covered with  
canvas and layers of paper pasted       
thereon4 ,it has the double advantage of
 having the ,martini-,smith target in   
the centre1 and the remaining portion1  
having the exact size of a man traced   
thereon1 has one other advantage in at  
once showing the result of the practice4
 ,this target can be used over and over 
again1 as1 after use1 the perforations  
can be pasted over with small pieces of 
paper1 and when well riddled1 it can be 
re-covered2 and the thicker it becomes  
the better4  ,no one should attempt to  
fire ball-cartridge anywhere but at a   
proper range4 ,firing in small          
back-gardens1 against brick or stone    
walls and trunks of trees1 should never 

be allowed4 ,bullets will rebound or go 
off at a tangent1 and do serious        
mischief4  ,when a bullet once leaves   
the muzzle of a rifle1 pistol1 or       
revolver1 by the evolution of           
gunpowder-gas1 there is no dependence   
upon it as to where it may stop1 or what
 damage it may do1 and bullets upon     
hitting hard ground will ricochet2      
therefore1 to those who wish to enjoy   
security at practice1 ,i would advise   
the selection of ground free from       
habitation1 or where no people are at   
work--some secluded spot where there is 
ample range1 and1 if possible1 a natural
 hill or mound to receive the bullets4  
,the military revolver will kill at #cjj
 yards1 the ,snider artillery carbine at
 #ahjj yards1 and the ,martini-,henry   
rifle at #cjjj yards4,b ,too much       
dependence upon the use of the slide of 
the back-sight for elevation in rifle   
practice should be deprecated for more  
than one reason3 e4g41 assuming that a  
man has been firing at #cjj yards with  

his back-sight adjusted to that range1  
and he is suddenly ordered to advance at
 the double2 if1 at the spur of the     
moment1 he neglects to reduce his sight1
 the result will follow that every shot 
will go over the enemy4 ,it is simply   
idle to suppose for one moment that in  
the heat of action a soldier could      
afford to fritter away valuable time1 or
 even be allowed to do so1 in adjusting 
back-sights4 ,he would1 if he were      
properly instructed1 when within #cjj   
yards place his back-sight level1 and   
rely upon his own skill in judging what 
elevation he should use4  ,it is better 
to fire low than high4 ,a low shot will 
usually ricochet1 particularly upon     
striking hard ground1 greensward1 or a  
wet clay soil1 and1 consequently1 will  
do damage4 ,very nearly two thirds of   
the bullets in action are lost by going 
over the heads of the enemy4  ,in the   
instruction of men in the use of the    
rifle valuable time is wasted1 and too  
much importance is attached to useless  

detail4 ,let a man be placed before the 
ordinary regimental target1 at an       
unknown distance1 with the figure of a  
man traced thereon1 assuming the target 
to be an enemy similarly armed with     
himself2 let him understand that he must
 take his chance of hitting his man or  
being hit himself2 and let him fire at  
this target with the back-sight level1  
judging his own distance and the        
necessary elevation required3 this      
calculation 7not a very difficult one1  
after a little practice7 could easily be
 come to while in the act of loading4   
,the result of the first shot would     
determine the required elevation1 and by
 taking pains1 bull's eyes and centres  
would soon be obtained4  ,it is         
submitted that this mode of procedure   
would create an interest in the practice
 of the soldier1 tending to cause a     
healthy reaction2 men would take more   
pains1 and try to beat their comrades1  
as there would be a greater stimulus to 
do so than by the present system4 ,men1 

as it is1 go to their practice without  
the slightest interest therein1 and get 
rid of the ammunition as soon as        
possible1 in order to get off duty4 ,the
 real reason why we have such excellent 
shots in the ,volunteers is accounted   
for by the fact that they not only take 
an interest in the work1 but take pains 
in everything they do1 the result being 
success4  ,much significance is attached
 to the bull's-eye mania4 ,it should be 
borne in mind that a man is a large     
object at which to aim2 that so long as 
he can be crippled there is no necessity
 to kill4 ,to disable a man so that he  
can do no more mischief is sufficient4  
,any man can make a scale of elevation  
in his own mind1 and1 with practice1    
fire at any range without putting up the
 sight1 and can fire standing4 ,my      
theory is as follows3--  ,up to #ajj    
yards the range is point-blank1 that is1
 aim direct on the bull's eye2 for #bjj 
yards1 raise the muzzle1 say one foot   
above the bull's eye2 for #cjj yards1   

two feet above the bull's eye1 and so   
on4 ,a few trial-shots will soon settle 
the question1 and practice makes        
perfect4 ,a man will thus be independent
 of the back-sight of his rifle4 ,this  
refers to shooting in the open4 ,of     
course1 under cover1 when time and      
circumstances admit1 the back-sight can 
be used with great advantage4  ,a man in
 shooting with a pistol or revolver has 
to judge his own distance and the       
necessary elevation4 ,why should not the
 same rule apply directly to the rifle8 
,i have seen excellent practice at #djj 
yards with a ,snider carbine1 back-sight
 level1 the man judging his own         
elevation1 and have been very successful
 myself1 and have found the above rule  
apply1 with slight variations4  ,in     
rifle contests all artificial nonsense1 
such as coloured glasses1 eye-shades1   
kneeling upon eider-down quilts1 firing 
from shaded tents1 blackening sights1   
c41 should be discouraged4 ,let a man   
leave all such effeminacy and tomfoolery

 at home1 and shoot like a man1 taking  
circumstances as he would find them in  
the open field with an enemy before him1
 using such cover only as nature and    
circumstances provide4  ,there is       
infinite satisfaction attached to the   
winning of an honour1 when that honour  
has to be obtained under difficulties   
which must be surmounted4 ,the more     
difficult the task is1 the more merit in
 overcoming it4  ,lastly4 ,all firearms 
require constant attention1 and should  
be kept clean4 ,after use they should be
 immediately attended to1 and never put 
away dirty2 should be kept in some dry  
corner where rust cannot destroy1 and   
they should be occasionally overhauled  
and oiled when necessary4 ,really       
valuable weapons are sometimes ruined by
 neglect4 ,the man who takes no pride in
 his gun is no sportsman4   ,,footnotes3
  ,a ,i have known instances of pistols 
and fowling-pieces hanging fire for two 
or three seconds after the hammer has   
fallen1 and then suddenly go off4   ,b  

,vide ,minor ,tactics1 by               
,lieut4-,colonel ,clery1 #ahhc4         
99       99       99       99       99  
,,london3   ,printed by ,,strangeways   
,,and ,,sons1 ,tower ,street1 ,upper    
,st4 ,martin's ,lane         99       99
       99       99       99             
,transcriber's ,notes3  ,page #ch1 ,the 
changed to the 7the ,snider artillery   
carbine7