PISTOL SHOOTING IN AMERICA.
For many- years pistol shooting in America was regarded as a lost art. A great many years ago some very fine single shot muzzle loading pistols of the duelling- type were manufactured in this country. These arms produced great accuracy. With the introduction of the breech loading pistol and metallic cart ridges pistol shooting lost its popularity, but about t885 pistol shooting was re vived. The reawakening of this sport was mainly due to great improvement in metallic cartridges. It soon became apparent that with modern metallic cartridges the work of the old duelling pistol could not only be equalled but surpassed, and the facility of loading and firing was so great that pistol shooting as a sport could be indulged in with little or no fatigue.
As pistol shooting increased in popularity the leading- shooting clubs of America decided that for out-door shooting- 5o yards was the proper range, and the Standard American target, as used at 200 yards for ritle shooting, was almost universally adopted throughout the United States. Most of the rifle clubs in the United States made pistol shooting- an auxiliary to their sport and built ranges for this department of shooting.
After the revival of pistol shooting, it was followed in a desultory- manner. but about 1887 it became very popular, and g-reat efforts were made to establish and maintain records. The records of pistol shooting in America are from 5 shots to too shots, and mainly at a distance of so yards on the Standard American target.
Five-shot scores are usually fired in large tournaments. In the usual club competitions it is customary to issue tickets in matches of ten shots each. It was several years before the score of 99 out of a possible too was secured, the first being made by E. J. Darlington, of Wilmington, Del., on July 5, 189o. On Doc. 3o, 1893, H. S. Harris, of the Massachusetts Rifle Association, at Walnut Hill, tied this aggregate, and on Jan. 6, 1894, be duplicated that aggregate.
The pistol shooters of America continued to shoot against this record of 99 out of a possible Too, and it was not until Nov. 8, t898, that C. II. Taylor, of the Philadelphia Rifle Association, secured the tirst too out of a possible too, to shots at so yards on the Standard American target. This score produced a great sensation among the postal marksmen of the United States, although Mr. Taylor had made enough fine scores before this titne to prepare expert shots for his re markable score.
On Nray 13. 1899, Thomas Anderton, of the Massachusetts Rifle Association, secured the second perfect score of too out of a possible too on the same targ,et.
On April 20, toot, E. E. Patridge, of the -Afassachusetts Rifle Association, made with a pistol TO ShOTS on the Columbia target at so yards, at Walnut Hill, Mass., a score of 24, which is the record score under the foregoing conditions.