By Horace Fletcher . SPORTING, EXHIBITION, AND MILITARY. PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. San Francisco, 1880....

My object in publishing this little book is to explain a method of teaching Snap Shooting, by using the rifle in practice, which, by its economy, ease, quickness, and fascination, will recommend itself to any who are desirous of becoming skillful in the use of firearms. It is true that by this method almost any one can make himself a good snap shot in a few weeks or months, according to the amount of practice indulged in, and that too at very small cost. I make no claim for it, except that havin

In snap shooting, the eye catches the target, and the attention is riveted on it, while the piece comes into line instinctively. In other shooting, the attention is turned from the target to the gun and sights, and after getting them in line, is returned to the target. The practice of snap shooting does not interfere with aiming at leisure, but aiming at leisure unfits one for snap shooting. When the face is in danger, the hand comes before it instinctively to protect it; and in the same manner

The following rules of safety should never be disregarded: 1. On taking a firearm in your hands, see for yourself if it be loaded or not, and never take any one's word for it. 2. Keep the muzzle of a loaded gun above the level of the eye, and hold a pistol at a corresponding angle. 3. Handle all firearms as if loaded. Note. — The Numbers scattered through "The Outfit," and "Rules of Practice," refer to paragraphs further on, correspondingly numbered, which are explanatory of terms used, and give

Three [1] persons purchase a .22 [3] calibre rifle, [2] having a shot-gun [4] stock, and buck-horn [5] or clover-leaf rear sight, a supply of short cartridges, [6] and a Fletcher bell-ball. [7] The place for practice should be open [8] ground, or in front of a bulkhead, [9] at least twenty-five feet in height, and three soft pine boards in thickness....

1. Each should take his turn in the positions of Firer , Tosser , and Scorer . [10] 2. The Tosser should stand ten [11] feet distant from the Firer , with his side [12] to him, and toss the bell-ball about fifteen [13] feet high, and so that it will fall on soft ground, [15] two or three [14] feet in front of where he (the Tosser) is standing. 3. The Firer should disencumber his shoulders of anything that in any way interferes with their free action, by removing his coat, vest and suspenders, an

1. Economy facilitates practice by removing the dread of expense which takes the keen edge off of any sport and discourages it. The expense of an outfit, consisting of a rifle, one thousand cartridges, and a bell-ball is less than twenty-five dollars, which divided between three persons is very light. Three persons can work together to advantage by taking the positions of firer, tosser and scorer, and benefit by friendly competition. 2. The rifle should be the elementary arm used in practice, an

Without attempting to treat the subject exhaustively, I will give some hints on aiming, which being taken by a beginner, will save him much time. Long practice teaches one to hold in certain positions, under certain circumstances, but the majority of gunners cannot give reasons for their doing so. Point Blank means aiming directly at the object without making visible allowance for depression or windage. When a rifle is sighted to shoot point blank a given distance, the front sight is filed off,

The shooting at still targets, either off-hand or from a rest, judging windage and the elevation required, nice cleaning, regular loading, etc., are very scientific and good practice for sharp shooting, but unfit one for snap shooting. To be able to judge distance, windage, the height above or depression below the level, the speed and direction the object is moving, while you count one, two, three, is the skill which this system endeavors to teach, and which is solidly practical. To stand for on

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

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....

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. 4. Shoot as ma

The records given below have not been made in matches but in exhibitions, but are well authenticated, and will serve as Standards of Excellence. Dr. William F. Carver , the originator of ball shooting with a rifle, to whom great credit is due on that account, has performed many remarkable feats in his exhibitions, and one of both skill and endurance which will stand for them all. At Brooklyn Driving Park, on Saturday July 13, 1878, he attempted to break 5500 glass balls in 8 hours, with the foll

During this shoot, he used five Winchester Repeating Rifles, weighing about ten pounds each, the aggregated weight of which, raised 6212 times, was about thirty-one tons. Before the first thousand had been broken, the balls of his eyes became sunburned, and being further irritated by rubbing them with his powder-stained gloves, the pain became excruciating, but he hung to his self-imposed task and accomplished it, and left the field in company with the writer, physically unstrained. It is true t

A range of 100 feet and a bulkhead 25 feet square is all that is required to make perfect facilities for shooting at reduced still, or running targets, or at balls thrown in any direction; and for ball shooting only, a range of 30 feet is sufficient. A club of ten or twenty can build and run such a range anywhere, even within city limits, at a very light expense; or it is exceedingly profitable to run one and charge for the shots or ammunition, as a private enterprise. In this manner unlimited p

It may be offered, simply as a suggestion, that the method of practice recommended in the preceding pages, might be of service in teaching recruits to handle firearms. Practice in hitting moving objects inspires a confidence which can not be obtained in any other way, and the repetition of the three motions of loading, extracting, and aiming and firing, habituates the learner to a free use of the arms and a confidence in pulling the trigger. In the German army they aim and snap an unloaded piece