Target L is the Regulation Pistol Target used in the prescribed target practice of the War Department. It is used also in the National Pistol Match.
For gallery shooting at 20 yards the Standard American Target is reduced so that the bull's-eye is 2-72/100 inches in diameter, and for 10-yard shooting 1 inch in diameter.
[Illustration: Fig. 79--Target L. (U. S. Army.) Diameter of Bull's-eye Counting 10==5 Ins. Concentric Rings Around It, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4, are 1¾ Ins. Apart. Diameter of 4 ring==26 Ins. Diameter of 3 ring==46 Ins. Rest of Target, 4ft. x 6ft. Counts 2.]
An arm of large caliber has a decided advantage over one of small caliber in short-range shooting, on account of the larger hole made by the bullet, and, for this reason the large calibers are preferred for gallery shooting. For distances less than 25 yards not more than five shots should be fired on a paper or cardboard target. In case a close group is made, the scoring will be much easier and more accurate than when ten shots are fired at a single target.
The best grades of target arms are capable of making "possibles" or perfect scores on the Standard American Target, using regulation ammunition. To make high scores is therefore simply a question of skill on the part of the shooter.
A great many other targets designed principally for rifle-shooting have been recommended at different times by well-known and scientific marksmen. Some of these targets possess much merit and have become popular in certain localities. It is unquestionably a mistake to introduce new targets in this manner as long as satisfactory targets are in general use, and on which all the important matches and records have been shot. The merit of a score on a new target cannot be judged by those unfamiliar with it, and frequently a highly meritorious score fails to receive the recognition it deserves on account of having been shot on a comparatively unknown target.
In selecting a target for longer ranges than 50 yards it is always preferable to have the bull's-eye sufficiently large so as to be seen with ease and comfort when sighting. Small bull's-eyes strain and tire the eyes and have no advantage whatever.
In England and France the targets generally have smaller bull's-eyes than here. At Bisley, the shooting is principally at a distance of 20 yards on a bull's-eye 2 inches in diameter. At 50 yards the bull's-eye is 4 inches in diameter. The English targets have no circles of count within the bull's-eye. The regulation targets of the United Shooting Societies of France have bull's-eyes 5 and 6 centimeters in diameter for the pistol and revolver, respectively, at 20 meters, and 20 centimeters in diameter for 50-meter shooting. All these targets have two or more circles of count within the bull's-eye.