This article first appeared in the 1987 issues of Muzzle Blasts.

Pistol Marksmanship

Robert J. Reiber

Georgia

Part I: An Introduction

There is nothing so disturbing,  when shooting a hand­ gun, as missing the object one is aiming at. In contrast it is quite gratifying to hit the intended mark. This isn't just luck. It signifies an application of at least a few of the ba­ sic  fundamentals of pistol marksmanship . The  average shooter,  the "plinker" or  the novice will generally  shy away from formal instruction.  Both frequently  remark that they're not interested  in punching holes in paper or in becoming a target shooter. They do,  however, express an inq!rest in hitting a  distant  silhouette, shooting  at a squirrel, or puncturing a beer can at 25 yards. Too often, the plinker fails to realize that to accomplish these feats, with  any degree of regularity, requires all   the  handgun fundamentals and skill that one can muster. To some, target shooting is regarded as a  meaningless endeavor and of little practical application  (So are a lot of other pastimes we engage in). The skills acquired in the so-called   valueless  activity, will enhance  one's handgun ability, thus adding to the enjoyment of all phases of pis­ tol  activity. Target shooting  is not only a challenging sport, but it is relaxing as well. A short time at the range is excellent therapy  fo_r unwinding after a few daysor  a week of on-the-job harassment.

Handgunning  is not only a  rewarding sport,  but one that can be tailored to  meet one's desire or  predilection. Paper  punching is but one  that may be extended to  en­ compass handgun bunting, silhouette shooting, load and caliber  experimentation or building your own speciality hardware. The extent to which one becomes involved can range from a limited to an   extensive budget. Irrespective of the use made of pistoleering, a fair knowledge of basic marksmanship  fundamentals will  be a must before any degree of skill can be acquired. Quite often one will encounter those who are reluctant to  start handgunning not for the   reason  of equipment cost  or impracticality, but  because there is the feeling they are not endowed with the required attributes for suc­ cess. I'm  sure everyone has heard the saying, "born with the ability", or  that those skilled in target shooting are " naturals" . Actually  there can be nothing further from the truth, for in fact good shooters are "made" notborn. Skill is acquired by persistent practice. Other than the re­ quirements  of normal muscular coordination,  an intact nervous system and   fair to good eyesight  nothing else is required. Pistol shooting is no different than other sports - it is based upon development of motor skills along with the refinement of nerve coordination. Some may develop faster than others, but only because the desire to achieve is greater in some than in others. Be assured that the skills required for good pistol shooting are acquired by way of hard work and determination and not as an inherited at­ tribute. If one is a newcomer to this sport and unsure of what is best in  the way of a shooting iron, a single shot percus­ sion caplock is a good base from which to start. This is the  easiest of  pistol  types to  master. Over  the counter selection may be limited. Some examples are; theThomp­ son/Center  "Patriot, The Lyman "Plains Pistol", The Dixie Gun Works "Tornado" target pistol, the Numrich Arms  "Boot Pistol" or one of  the many plow-handle Kentucky  style   models.  In most cases  the grip or the sights leave something to be desired.

One may select  a revolver as the  first choice. In this style  handgun there is a   relatively  wide variety  from which to make a choice. Most black powder shops carry a complete line of both Remington and  Colt replicas. The Ruger "Old Army" is probably the best bet for it will re­ quire less in the way of tune-up and has better sights than any other over-the-counter revolver. However, don't sell the   Remington or Rogers and Spencer replicas  short. With proper sights and a tune-up these side-arms will per­ form  along with the best. The various   Colt replicas do not  have the potential as  target pistols. Although  accu­ rate enough the sighting equipment leaves a lot to  be de­ sired, barrel attachment is  insecure, lacking the   added rigidity of  the top strapped frame of the Remington and disassembly for cleaning is cumbersome. If  you'd like to try building your own and don't have the expertise to start from scratch one might turn to any of  the many kits handled  by such firms as Dixie Gun Works, Navy Arms, Euroarms of America, C.V.A., and  others. The only other avenue open is to start from begin­ ning and  build your own percussion caplock  or straight pull incorporating your own design. There may  be those among you who would like to start with a flint pistol. This course of action is not recommended. To  be sure, the flintlock is a traditional ignition system and too often a first choice made by the beginner only to become a  "wall hanger".

Learning to shoot the flint, with its many intricacies, can be intimidating and traumatic experience. If one  is determined  to  follow  this course  then an over-the­ counter flint is the best course of action. There is only one custom flintlock pistol available as a tar­get model. This is the "Yazel" Flint and is produced by Har­old Yazel. A few years back Alex Blain of  IO-Ring Precision, Inc., 1449 Blue Crest Lane, Santonio, TX 78232, also  produced a quality target flint pis­tol. If one of these can be found it is also an excellent choice. Both of  the above currently  produce a fine custom straight pull single shot percussion in .45 cal.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Neither of these builders are still building. As of March, 2020, Matt McGraw of Indiana has been producing the Yazel Pistol.

Whatever the route taken, in the selection of a first tar­ get gun, select the  best equipment you can afford. Qual­ ity  products will most always  operate flawlessly, thus insuring that the shooter will not  be penalized by compo nents that fail to function or that perform poorly. Goo equipment that operates  properly will go a long way to ward building shooter confidence in himself and his gun.

Before venturing to  the range be sure that all accessori are at hand. A kit box of some sort is required to house tha paraphernalia which seems so essential to the muzzleloade Anyway, as any shooter can attest, the evolution of gadg accumulation is part of the fun associated with black powd shooting. Irrespective of what is dumped into the kit box b sure to have on hand those items that make the shooter sel sufficient while at  the range. There is nothing so provokin as setting up on the firing line only to discover you've le powder, balls or some necessary accouterment at home. Put ting everything under one roof will go a long wayin avoidin this typeepisode. One  major and most essential piece of equipment, tha will add pleasure to shooting, is a spotting scope. A scop will serve as a means of  quickly and accurately determin ing shot placement. It  will prove an indispensable aid t analyzing each shot or to quickly make sight adjustmen for   misplaced  groups. If  you belong to  the "Plinkin Set" and shoot  by yourself in the back   pasture  or in rock quarry then you'll not need a scope for you can wal down  range at leisure. This practice, however, can so become burdensome for a frequent walk of 25 yards wi soon add  up to several hundred, to say nothing of lost time. When one is firing on a formal range, in company with  other participants,  shooters in general simply  will not tolerate frequent cease fire commands for a walk forward  to check shots. In such an instance spotting equipment is essential.

When considering  the purchase of a spotting scope do not invest in an  inexpensive draw-tube telescope  just for the sake of  economy. The magnification  may be sufficient, but resolving power will be inadequate. Poor resolution  results in an indistinct and hazy target  picture Hand held binoculars may also be a poor substitute. The are  difficult to hold still and are not generally designed for spotting holes out to 50 yards.

The recommended  type optical equipment  is the color corrected prismatic scope with a  40 to 60mm. objectivelens. A 20x eyepiece will be more than  enough to spot shots out to 100 yards. Such equipment will find use o the rifle range as well. Avoid purchase of  an ocular len of 40x or 60x power. This much magnification will prov to be useless on a warm day when a mirage is apt  to be running or boiling. A 20 power ocular will be more than adequate. Any of the scopes produced by the better known manufacturers are excellent choices.

There are two items of equipment yet to  be considered minor to be sure yet essential, and should  be mandatory items as part of the kit box inventory; ear protectors an shooting glasses. All too often we fail to consider our special senses of hearing and sight until it's too late.

Thirty years ago most shooters used little in the way of ear  protection other than cotton, rolled cleaning patched pencil erasers  or empty .38 cal. hulls. Of recent year there have been many articles documenting the  correlation between hearing loss and shooting. Ear muffs or earplugs have now become standard equipment for a trip the range. Yet, when paying the  range a visit, one might be surprised at the number of shooters and spectators alike who do not avail themselves of some sort of ear protection. Without  this aid aII will experience, to some de­ gree, the classic symptoms of  noise trauma. This may be indicated as ringing of  the ears, pain with report of a gun and even a degree of  hearing loss for several hours following the shooting . This  sort   of  hearing  impairment may only  be temporary. But, for the more sensitive ear this could result in far greater damage - even partial loss of   hearing. Some of the sensory cells and their  neural portions,  in the inner ear,  are physically damaged  by sharp or intense vibrations   that impinge on  the external ear. Each encounter  with such noise, without benefit of ear    protection,   results in the  destruction of yet  a few more auditory units.

This damage to hearing need not  occur for there are several effective and  simple means of ear sponge rubber perimeter and  inner noise absorbing foam liner seem to be the most popular and are in reality the most effective protection. The muff  covers the entire external ear thus creating an enclosed space around the entrance to the ear canal. The other device, soft plastic plugs effectively seal the  ear canal and are the most convenient to use and the cheapest. When used in conjunction with muffs the protection offered is superb. A variation of the ear plug is the per­ sonalized soft rubber or  plastic ear mold. This device when properly fitted, is  very  effective in  preventing traumatizing noise from reaching the inner ear. There is another  reason that justifies  the wearing of ear protectors. Intense noise is painful and this pain, or its antici­ pation, will cause tenseness and  the tendency to flinch or to jerkthe  trigger. Reduction in the intensity of  noise will alleviate these errors and proficiency will improve.

There is one safety measure that is most often overlooked by the shooter - eye protection. The use of shooting glasses, while  on the firing line, is continually being urged by all quarters of the shooting fraternity. Still, many totally disregard the warning of  what could happen to one or both eyes by a single ignition malfunction. The rifle shooter is probably  more conscious of  this problem.  With a cheek against the stock the eye is not more than six inches from the lock. This  is close enough  to sustain eye injury  from ruptured caps, flint fragments or gas escapes under high pressure. The pistol  shooter, with gun extended at arm's length,   doesn't face the same chance of injury. Yet, on the pistol line, one is frequently the  recipient  of  ruptured cap or  flint fragments on  either the arm or face. Almost all revolvers spit lead or cap  fragments from one or  both sides of the cylinder. Seldom  does one find a flint pistol that contains its flint fragments near the confines of the pan. Occasionally this flying debris is  delivered  with force enough  to lacerate the skin. What about the eye?

Glasses fulfill at  least three primary functions: protec­tion of the eye against accidental injury from flying fragments,  provide optical correction  for  seeing  the sights clearly and  for modification of light. What  should one look for in the selection of glasses for  shooting? First let's consider the frames. Since they'll probably last through a number of prescription changes they should be durable. Because  frames are  subject to contact with salty pres­ piratio n select a gold fiIIed metal or  a  plastic frame that will not  be susceptible to corrosion. A sweat-bar between the lenses will hold the frames off the face serving to  re­ duce moisture condensation with changes in temperature and humidity. Select frames that permit the use of wide lenses  providing good peripheral vision as well as side protection from flying fragments. Soft flexible ear grips are a must. They will better hold the frames in place well up on  the bridge of the nose.

Leading optical manufacturers have developed glasses re­engineered colors designed for use in different light conditions. The yellow lenses accen­ tuate visibility, on  dull days, by cutting through haze. The darker tints, in amber to gray, tend to reduce eye strain in in­ tense brightness. These same tints are available in optical grade plastic lenses and provide excellent eye protection as well. The modern plastics are  highly impact resistant, with­ stand  shattering and offer  considerable  resistance to  high temperature. However, like the coated lenses of the camera, their surface can bescratched. Acquiring  glasses that provide proper optical correc­ tion, with the addition of tints that enhance visual acuity or  protect from glare is certainly a worthwhile expendi­ture. However, first priority should be given to protection from flying fragments.