In the prone position the right elbow has excellent support on the ground. In the kneeling position the firer may kneel on either knee. Kneeling on the left knee affords an excellent rest on the right knee for the elbow. In the squatting position both elbows rest on the knees. In the standing position face the target squarely, or nearly so. Stand upright, not craning the head forward, and extend the arm to its full stretch.
A coach should be at each firing point. In addition to the general duties of a coach, his specific duties in pistol practice are: (1) to stand slightly behind the right side of the firer in order to prevent the pistol being pointed away from the front, (2) to see that the pistol is not loaded until the proper time, (3) to require the firer to explain the line of sight, (4) to see that the firer takes the proper position and holds the pistol properly, (5) to require the firer to snap several times and to call the hold, (6) to see that the firer loads properly, and (7) to see that the pistol is unloaded before it leaves the firer's hands.
Care in handling arms, 107, 126, 127, 135
Instructions to Officers in charge of U. S. R. A. championship contests, 187
Matches and Competitions, 96-98, 138-143, 171-180
Methods and Customs in conducting U. S. Revolver Association competitions, 184
Military arms, requirements of, 20, 21, 55, 56, 181
Pocket Revolver championship match, 176, 179
Rapidity of fire in automatic pistols, 25
Revolver practice for the police, 99-106, 132-138
Rules and Regulations of the U. S. Revolver Association, 180-191
Shooting equipment and paraphernalia, 140-146
Sights, 21, 59, 62, 67, 132, 133, 141, 182
United States Army regulation practice, 200-203
United States Navy regulation practice, 204
United States Revolver Association, 78-79, 167-191
War Department Tests of Automatic Pistols, 206-212
Winners and scores in past championship matches, 171-180
[1] The first pistols of which there is any authentic information were made about 1540 by one Caminelleo Vitelli at Pistoia, Italy, from which place the arm took its name.
[2] For a detailed history of the evolution of the pistol and revolver, the reader is referred to "Text-book for Officers at Schools of Musketry," Longman & Co., London; "Kriegstechnische Zeitschrift," Heft I and II, 1901, Mittler & Sohn, Berlin; "The Modern American Pistol and Revolver," Bradlee Whidden, Boston. Many interesting specimens of ancient and modern pistols and revolvers are owned and exhibited by the United States Cartridge Company of Lowell, Mass.
