40 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 14, 1892. 



WALTER WINANS, THE REVOLVER CHAMPION. 



A View of the Expert as he Appears before the 

 Bisley Butts. 



TJVROM a well-taken photograph Forest and StrkAjm to-day 

 -* presents a capital picture of Mr. Walter Winans as he 

 appears In the act of making one of his star targets during the 

 recent Bisley meeting. The view lets the reader right, into the 

 midst of the great English shooting gathering. There is the line 

 of shooters crowded along in not very convenient fashion, with 

 the smoke of one revolver blowing down the line to bother the 

 other marksmen. There are the members of the regular army 

 who are employed by the National Rifle Association from year to 

 year to act as score keepers, markers, and in clerical work gener- 

 ally. The system of the great range during a big meet is of the 

 most exact sort. There are so many targets, so many minutes in 

 the shooting hours of the day, and so many men down ou the 

 entry lists. It is then merely a matter of figures to make the men 

 fit into the hours and to have the hours fully occupied at all the 

 butts. The schedule of shooting assignment is made up weeks 

 in advance and an entry is 

 required to present himself 

 at a certain target firing 

 point ou a certain line of 

 butts at a certain moment 

 in a certain hour of a cer- 

 tain day during one or the 

 other week of the fort- 

 night's meeting. He may 

 catch a roaring morning 

 wind with rain accompani- 

 ment, or he may hit the 

 calm gray light of an after- 

 noon. Hardships apparently 

 are worked under the sys- 

 tem, but a lack of some such 

 method would knock the 

 whole meeting into hope- 

 less confusion. This exact 

 method is particularly oper- 

 ative in the rifle end of the 

 work. The revolver shooters 

 have a much more free and 

 easy go-as-you-please sys- 

 tem. Entries may be made 

 at the firing point, and the 

 competitors in this way have 

 a choice of weather condi- 

 tions. This is simply because 

 the shooters are few and the 

 butt facilities ample. In 

 time, when the revolver shots 

 grow in number, entries long 

 preliminary to the meeting 

 will be the rule, and the 

 same schedule as now holds 

 for the riflemen will prevail. 



As the ranges were ar- 

 ranged for the recent meet- 

 ing, tbe revolver range was 

 on the extreme left, near the 

 'running deer" (which range 

 is also used for the "running 

 man 1 '), next the stationary 

 range far hunting rifles and 

 next to that the 1,000yds. 

 range. The volunteer ranges 

 were further off to the right. 

 By this arrangement the civ- 

 ilian members of the English 

 National Rifle Association 

 have all their ranges to- 

 gether, separate, in a meas- 

 ure from the great throng of 

 volunteer militia shooters. 



The revolver range is about 

 as perfect as it weilcan be. 

 There are two disappearing 

 'targets and two sliding tar- 

 gets, which move sideways, 

 all at 20yds. .the firiDg points 

 heing on a line with about 

 6£t. between each competi- 

 tor, except at the slidicg 

 targets, where the space is 

 some 12ft., there is no par- 

 tition between competitors, 

 which is a great comfort to 

 competitors, as the old 

 wooden partitions used to 

 almost deafen one by con- 

 fining the noise of the explosion, even the boards behind the 

 target and down the side (which used to add to the echo and 

 noise) have been done away with, the boards at the Bide being 

 unnecessary for safety, as the firing point is in line with the 

 "running deer" and other firing points, so that nobody gets for- 

 ward in a dangerous position. The objections to the range is 

 that it faces the setting sun, making it unpleasant in afternoon 

 work, and the exposure of the site when the wind is high. 



The bullets are stopped after they go through the cardboard 

 targets by an earth butt, covered with grass, some 13yds. behind 

 the targets, not close up to them, as the boards used to be. This 

 will still further deaden the noise. The tickets for entries are 

 sold at a little wooden house between thisrange and the "running 

 deer," and the ranee is roped off to prevent spectators getting too 

 close to the competitors. 



In the course of a meeting about a thousand entries are made 

 in the revolver shoots. The majority are civilians or militia and 

 volunteer officers who have little personal interest as competitors 

 in the rifle matches. 



Before the year 1885 there was no revolver shooting of any 

 account done in Eugland, there being no clubs for that purpose, 

 and the English National Rifle Association not giving any prizes 

 for that arm, so there was no inducement for men to practice. 



In tbe year 1885 the English National Rifle Association gave a 

 series of prizes for revolvers at their annual meeting at Wimble- 

 don, but they were so afraid of accidents that it was confined to 

 officers of tho army, The scores made were very poor, the top one 

 being 34 out of a possible -38, on a 31in. hullseye (counting 6), at 

 20yds. 



Tho nest year, Je»6, the Scores were still very poor, 35 points 

 winning the first prize. An Am6ricau, Mr. Walter Wlnans, was 

 allowed, as a favor, to shoot a few shots, but not for competition, 



as the prizes were still confined to English officers. In this year 

 several revolver clubs were started in London, the principal one 

 being in connection with the South London Rifle Club; at this 

 club Mr. Walter Winans won the championship for the year with 

 a score of 04 out of a possible 72, at a 3in. bullseye, at 25yds. (which 

 still stands as the English revolver record at this distance), and 

 took the gold jewel of the club (using a Colt's revolver). Both he 

 and Mr. C. F. Lowe beat the scores (it 20yds.) made at: Wimbledon 

 by the officers, so they would most likely have won first and sec- 

 ond prizes there if they had been allowed to compete. 



In 1887 for the first time the revolver competition a f Wimbledon 

 was thrown open to others than officers, as members of the 

 English National Rifle Association were allowed to compete. As 

 Mr. Walter Winans is a member he was allowed to shoot. 



The target and rules were different this year. Tho targels con- 

 sisted of the head and shoulders of a miniature man cut out 

 of a wood board, with a bullseye 4x5in. marked in the center in 

 outline. The prizes were divided into t wo series, one at targets 

 moving across the line of fire (very slowly), and the second at a 

 target rising and disappearing at intervals of five seconds. Dis- 

 tance as usual 20yds. 



As may be imagined there was no difficulty in making highest 



WALTER WINANS, THE REVOLVER CHAMPION, AT THE BISLEY BUTTS, JULY, 1891. 



possibles at these for any one who could shoot worth a cent (espe- 

 cially as after a few shots at the disappearing target the partition 

 behind it got marked with the bullet holes so that competitors 

 could aim at a spot on it and tire, when the target appeared be- 

 tween them and it). Mr. Walter Winans made a highest possible 

 score at both targets, dividing the prizes with several others who 

 also made highest possibles (the rules not permitting shooting off 

 ties). 



There was also a prize given by Kyuoch, tbe maker of a patent 

 revolver, for the best score made by a pistol of his make at the 

 sliding target. Mr. Walter Winans won it with a score of 33 out 

 of a possible Si (the next competitor being two points behind), 

 which is the best-on-record score to this date with this make of 

 revolver. In 1888, at Wimbledon, in the two revolver series the 

 bullseye was reduced to 3in. (counting 6 points) on a circular 

 target divided into rings, and the disappearing target came up at 

 intervals of three seconds (which is its speed to the present date)_ 

 Mr. Walter Winans' possible scores, using a .SBoal. Smith and 

 Wesson, gallery ammunition (the rules said "any ammunition'' 

 and Mr. Winans submitted his cartridges and had them passed 

 before competing;. He also won every competition he shot for at 

 the South London Rifle Club that year (two shoots a week all the 

 summer), and the championship and gold medal of the club with 

 the same revolver. 



In 1889 the Wimbledon target was altered by having a 2in. ring 

 made in the 3in. bullseye (counting 7), and revolvers had to be not 

 less than .15cal, and to take the English service ammunition. 

 Mr. Waiter Winans won both priaen again, the disappearing one 

 with a Smith and Wesson altered to take the English ammunition 

 (making a score within one point of the highest possible), which 

 is the record score up to date; and winning the other with a Colt 

 (which he used to show that he would shoot with any good make 



of revolver, a competitor having declared that it was the revolver 

 and not the shooter that won). This score was 40 out of a possible 

 43, and is the record for that style of shooting. 



He also won the revolver championship of the South London 

 Rifle Club and all its competitions (some dozen) he shot in, using a 

 Colt, revolver. 



In 1889 the English National Association removed to their pres- 

 ent shooting ground at Bisley. 



The revolver prizes were the same conditions as the year before. 

 Mr.C. Haig, a very fine English shot, won both with a Colt revolver, 

 makiogSfl points in both (Mr. Walter Winans, though present, 

 was not permitted by his doctor to shoot, having only just re- 

 covered from a severe attack of typhoid fever). Mr. Haig is the 

 gentleman who came next to Mr. Winans in 1837 and 1888. 



The year 1891 brought no diminution in the interest. There 

 were several thousand entries, and as usual Mr. Walter Winans, 

 Chough suffering somewhat from the effect of a powder flash 

 which had reached bis eye, led iu all of the three matches and 

 also in the revolver aggregate. As showing the- close competi- 

 tion in the scoring the leaders in each of the competitions are 

 given: first series. 



Six shots at a target about 30yds. distance, and moving across 

 the line of Are at about the 

 rate of the "quick march." 

 No sighting shot allowed: 

 Mr Winans, N R A (Smith 

 & Wesson), first prize.. .39 



Mr Haig, N R A (Colt) 39 



Pvt. Green, 3d Gloucester 



(Green) 37 



Pvt Martin, 10th Lanark 



(Colt) 36 



W W C Dixon (Webley) . . .35 

 Capt Barchard, Inspector 



of Musketry (Colt) 35 



Ma j McKerrell, 1st V B R 



Scots (Colt) 34 



Lieut Tryon, 1st Battery 



Grenadier Guards (Colt).34 

 Capt G Hamilton, 14th 



Hussars (Colt) 34 



Pvt Ellicott, 2d Cornwall 



(Colt) 33 



D Wilson (Weblej) 33 



Capt Lamb (Colt) 32 



Maj Williamson (Colt) ... .33 

 Mr Breton (Colt) 32 



SECOND SERIES. 



Six shots at a target ap- 

 pearing and disappearing at 

 intervals of three seconds at 

 a distance of about 20yds. 

 The following are the best 

 scores: 



Mr Winans, N R A (Smith 



& Wesson) 40 



Mr Haig, NBA (Colt) 39 



Dudley Wilson (Webley). ..38 



M Breton (Colt) 36 



Mr Dixon, N R A (Webley )3t> 

 Maj McKerrell, 1st V B R 



Scots (Colt) 36 



Mr Green (Green) 36 



Capt Cowan (Colt) 36 



Pvt Carter, 1st Stafford 



(Webley) 36 



Capt Lamb, Cheshire Regt 



(Colt) 35 



Surgeon Warren, NSW 



MI (Webley) 34 



C M Hall, Canada (Colt).. .34 

 Capt Lamb, Cheshire Regt 

 (Colt) ....33 



THIRD SERIES. 



The best scores made in 

 this series are given below. 

 Six shots are fired at a tar- 

 get about 20yds. distance, 

 which is shown for twelve 

 seconds only. No concession 

 is (riven for miss-lires or any 

 failures of the revolvers or 

 ammunition: 



Mr Winans, N R A (Smith 



& Wesson) 39 



Mr Haig, NR A (Colt) 38 



Dudley Wilson (Webley). .36 

 Maj McKerrell, 1st V B R 



S Fus (Colt) 35 



Pvt Carter, 1st S Staff 



(Webley) ..S3 



Mr Breton, N R A (Colt). .33 

 Capt Millner (Webley). .. 31 

 A Smith & Wesson engraved gold-plated .38cal. target revolver, 

 pearl stock, to the highest scores in the above three competitions, 

 constituted the revolver championship of England: 



Walter Winans 39 40 39-118 



C E Haig 39 39 38-116 



Dudley Wilson (professional) 33 38 35-106 



Maj McKerrell 34 36 35-105 



Mr Breton 33 36 33—101 



The revolver shots held a sort of fraternal advice meeting at 

 tbe conclusion of the competitions, acting as an advisory com- 

 mittee of experts to make suggestions to the council of the N. R. 

 A. for next year's and subsequent meetings of the N. R. A. The 

 schedule of suggestions which was adopted is particulary interest- 

 ing as showing the trend of revolver shooting in Great Britain. 

 It stands as follows: 



L That the revolver 20yds. target should have a 3in. instead of a 

 Sin. bullseye, also that this 3in. should not have any subdivision, 

 as these latter give advantages to "fluking" shots, also that the 

 value of the bullseye should not be indicated by a figure printed 

 in white in it, aa that spoils the blackness of the bullseye* 



3. That the rings louud the bullseye should be "hair line*," in- 

 visible from firing point, and that these lines should be very close 

 to the bullseye for the first lines and gradually get further on the 

 principle of the American pistol target, not at regular intervals 

 like the English target. 



Every one agreed to thiB except one, who said that he did not 

 approve of imitating America, bnt that. Bisley ought to keep to its 

 own way of scoring, 



3. That there should be wore target accommodation and that 

 "pool shooters" should be put by themselves so as not to interfere 

 with the serious competitors. 



4. That there should be competitions at 5Qyde, at a 6in. bullseye. 



