I knew England was bad but...

[DEB]

England wasn't always the way they are now. I found these two books in the Military Library and took an excerpt out of each to show what England was like prior. Try the competition listed for a revolver...

THE ART OF THE REVOLVER, ENGLAND 1898
By Walter Winans

One of the forms of competition described in the book:

1. Six shots at an India rubber ball swinging from a string, at twelve paces distance; hits
to count so many points; every half-second saved from twelve seconds for the six shots to
count two points additional. For every half-second over twelve seconds, three points to be
deducted.

2. Six gray targets, six inches in diameter, without any bull’s eye, placed in a semi-circle
at twenty yards distance; these to lie flat on the ground and be elevated by strings as traps
are pulled for clay pigeon shooting. Traps to come up and remain up for one second at a
time in unknown order.

3. A target at twenty yards distance; a minute allowed for the competitor to load and
fire as many rounds as he can during the time.

4. A target twelve yards distant from a table on which the loaded revolver is placed.
The shooter is to stand 150 yards from this table; a time limit of forty-five seconds allowed;
at the word the shooter to run to the table, pick up the revolver and fire the six shots.

5. The shooter to stand 200 yards from the target; time limit twenty-five seconds. At the word he can get as near as he likes to the target before beginning firing, and can run forward between each shot.

Need to see this individuals shooting stance, one handed shooting of a revolver, left hand on hip, dressed in a suit, and etc. One had to be a gentleman even while shooting.

Rifle Shooting Made Easy
England 1903
Introduction to the book reads:

The formation of Rifle Clubs in this country on a large scale owes its origin to the wave of patriotism which swept over the Nation at the outbreak of the war in South Africa in 1899. The reason for their existence will always be present so long as Englishmen have hearths and homes to defend from foreign attack. But Rifle Clubs, however excellently they may be conducted, will be more or less useless so long as one or more members cannot shoot well and as paid instructors will for most clubs be impossible the instructions given have been specially compiled for those who know little or nothing of shooting in the hope that the rules for using the Service rifle may be plainly and simply taught. They are not intended for those who are already masters of the subject.

Musketry Instructor. June, 1903