The following information on the United States Revolver Association records and rules comes from Burning Powder by Lt. Col. Douglas B. Wesson. Burning Powder is also available to purchase in print.
Individual Indoor Championships
Usually fired in April. All at 20 yards and by artificial light.
SLOW FIRE GROUP
Match M. Any Revolver.
50 shots in one hour on 5 targets. Any ammunition.
Record held by E. S. Winn, 1937—487
Match N. Pistol.
50 shots in one hour on 5 targets. Any ammunition.
Record—E. G. Hardesty, 1934—489
Match R. Free Pistol.
60 shots in 2 hours on 6 reduced “International” targets. Any ammunition.
Record—Dr. I. R. Calkins, 1925—570
Indoor Slow Fire Grand Aggregate.
The total scores of the above three matches constitute the Indoor Slow Fire Grand Aggregate Match.
Record—E. S. Winn, 1937—1532
SPEED FIRE GROUP
Match O. Pocket Revolver or Automatic.
25 shots on 5 targets at rate of 5 shots in 30 seconds. Any ammunition.
Record—Dr. I. R. Calkins, 1931—226
Match S-22. Revolver.
30 shots on 5 targets, 10 shots on one target in ten minutes; 10 timed fire shots at rate of 5 in 20 seconds and 10 Rapid Fire shots at rate of 5 shots in 10 seconds.
Record—B. B. Berrie, 1937—283
Match S-38. Revolver .32 or Larger.
Same as Match S-22 except for larger calibers. Any ammunition.
Record—P. B. Stiner, 1937—282
Indoor Rapid Fire Grand Aggregate
The total score of the above three matches constitute the Match score.
Record—P. B. Stiner, 1937—763
INTERMEDIATE MATCHES
Match K. Intermediate Revolver.
Same as Match M, except that it is open only to members who have never won a National medal in Matches A, M, or 1st, 2nd or 3rd in T or this match. One re-entry allowed. Any ammunition.
Record—B. B. Berrie, 1937—476
Match L. Intermediate Pistol.
Same as Match N, except that it is open only to members who have never won a National medal in Matches B, N, or 1st, 2nd or 3rd in U or this match. One re-entry is allowed. Any ammunition.
Record—E. G. Hardesty, 1934—480
Match W. .32 or Larger Intermediate Fast Fire.
Same as Novice match Q, except as to arms and timing. 25 shots on one target at 20 yards in strings of five shots in 15 seconds. Arms—.32 or larger. Target—the new Indoor R.F. as in Match Q. Unlimited re-entries. Any ammunition.
Record—C. L. Herb, 1937—233
NOVICE MATCHES
Match P. Slow Fire.
25 shots fired within 30 minutes on 5 targets, indoors with artificial light. Arms, any except Free pistol. Any ammunition. Open to all members who have never won an important prize in pistol or revolver contests. Four re-entries are allowed.
Record held by C. V. Bassett, 1924 and F. W. Wilbur, 1926—244
Match Q. Novice Fast Fire.
25 shots fired at one target at 20 yards. Target to be the indoor Rapid Fire new standard. Shot in 5 strings of 5 shots each in 20 seconds per string. Arm, any. Caliber, any. Ammunition, any. Open to all who have never won a National or 1st or 2nd State medal in a Rapid Fire match. Unlimited re-entries.
Record—J. F. Dodson, 1937—242
CAMP PERRY MATCHES
During the week preceding the shooting of the NATIONAL Matches (late August or early September) the regular program of U.S.R.A. single and re-entry matches will be shot on the NEW range next to the Smallbore at the western part of the line.
The Outdoor Championships
These matches may be shot at Camp Perry or during the following month, on the home ranges of any of the clubs. All shot at 50 yards and Standard American Target unless otherwise specified.
SLOW FIRE GROUP
Match A. Any Revolver.
50 shots in one hour on 5 targets at 50 yards. Any ammunition.
Record—E. S. Winn, 1936—483
Match B. Pistol.
50 shots fired within one hour on 5 targets at 50 yards. Any ammunition.
Record—George Armstrong, 1918—478
Match I. Free Pistol.
60 shots in 2 hours on 6 International targets at 50 meters (54.68 yards). Any ammunition.
Record—E. S. Winn, 1936—553
Outdoor Slow-Fire Grand Aggregate.
The total of these three matches constitute the Outdoor Slow-Fire Grand Aggregate.
Record—E. S. Winn, 1936—1503
RAPID FIRE GROUP
Match F. Pocket Revolver. .32 or Larger.
25 shots fired on 5 targets at 50 yards. Each target fired 5 shots in 30 seconds. Ammunition any.
Record—Dr. C. W. Wahrer, 1921—227
Tied—Dr. G. R. Price, 1937.
Match S-38. .32 or Larger Revolver.
30 shots fired on 5 targets, in 3 stages. 10 shots at 50 yards on one target within 10 minutes. S.A. 50-yard target. 10 shots, TIMED FIRE on 2 targets at the rate of 5 shots in 20 seconds; and 10 shots, on 2 targets at 25 yards at the rate of 5 shots in 10 seconds. The last two stages fired on S.A. 25-yard targets with the 9 and 10 rings black. Any ammunition.
Record—Dr. G. R. Price—282
Match S-45. Service Arms.
Same as the S-38 except that the only arms permitted are the .45 Government Automatic Pistol or the Model ’17 Colt or Smith & Wesson revolvers. Any ammunition.
Record—Dr. G. R. Price, 1937—277
Outdoor Rapid-Fire Grand Aggregate.
The above three matches constitute the Outdoor Rapid-Fire Grand Aggregate match.
Record—Dr. G. R. Price, 1937—786
Match S-22. Any .22 caliber revolver.
This match is the same as the S-38 except that .22 revolvers are used. It takes the place of the S-45 in the Indoor Grand Aggregate. It is a Championship Match Outdoors, but not part of the Grand Aggregate.
Record—P. B. Stiner, 1936—284
INTERMEDIATE MATCHES
Match T. Any Revolver.
Same as Match A, but open only to members who have never won a NATIONAL medal in Matches A, M, or a 1st, 2nd or 3rd in K or T. ONE re·entry. Any ammunition.
Record—Hale Giffen, 1937—463
Match U. Pistol.
Same as Match B, but open only to members who have never won a National medal in Matches B, N, or 1st, 2nd or 3rd in L, or U. ONE re-entry. These Intermediate matches are for members who have graduated from the Novice class, but are not yet seasoned for the Senior classes, hence one re-entry is allowed and the highest of the two scores is accepted as the match. Any ammunition.
Record—M. C. Engel, 1930—467
Match J. Intermediate Fast Fire.
Same as Novice Match H except as to arms and timing. 25 shots fired on one target at 25 yards in strings of 5 shots in 15 seconds. Arms, any of .32 or larger caliber. Unlimited re-entry.
Record—Dr. G. R. Price, 1937—243
NOVICE MATCHES
Match G. Novice. Slow-Fire.
25 shots in 30 minutes on 5 targets at 50 yards. Any arm excepting free pistol. Any ammunition. Open to all members who have never won an important prize in pistol or revolver shooting. Four re-entries will be allowed. The highest score to count.
Record—Mrs. L. S. Chase, 1933—237
Match H. Novice Fast Fire.
25 shots fired at one target (S.A. Rapid Fire) in 5 shot strings, at rate of 5 shots in 20 seconds, at 25 yards. Arm, any. Ammunition, any. Caliber, any. Open to all who have never won a National or 1st or 2nd State medal in a Rapid Fire Match.
Record—R. C. Ridenour, 1937—246
General Rules and Conditions
Protection from the wind is permitted in all matches. All indoor shooting is strictly by ARTIFICIAL light only and all daylight MUST be excluded, at 20 yards distance and on the proper targets for that distance. At 50 yards, shooting is out-of-doors and any light is permitted.
After target is in position and a MATCH or RECORD score has begun, if a bullet comes out of the barrel it will be scored a shot.
In revolver or automatic pistol matches the arm must not be used as a single loader or loaded so as to use a limited number of chambers in the cylinder. If scores are shot in 10-shot strings the cylinder or magazine shall be charged twice with 5 rounds and these fired consecutively.
The position shall be standing, free from any support, the pistol or revolver being held in one hand, with the arm extended so as to be free from the body.
Ties shall be decided as follows:
In slow-fire matches, by (l) the fewest shots of lowest value; (2) by the lowest string; or (3) by firing 5 shots each until one of these rules applies to break the tie.
In mixed matches, ties are decided (l) by the scores at rapid fire; (2) by the scores at timed fire; or, in the slow-fire stage, as above, if the tie cannot he broken in rapid or timed fire by this rule.
The trigger pull, as specified in the various events, shall be determined by a test weight equal to the minimum pull applied to the trigger with the barrel held in a VERTICAL position.
TIMING: The time in slow fire matches shall be taken from the firing of the first shot. The timing in all other matches shall be as follows—After the competitor has taken his place at the firing point and has loaded his arm and is ready to fire, he shall announce to the range official in charge, “Ready”, and said official shall give the command “Fire” (or a SHORT blast on a whistle) within ONE SECOND and shall start his stop-watch as the competitor’s arm shall have reached a horizontal position. Before the competitor may give “Ready” he shall assume the following position: If a revolver, the hammer shall be down and the arm pointing up or down at not less than an angle of 45° from the target; if an automatic pistol, the safety shall be on and the balance of the position the same as for a revolver. At the command “FIRE” (or the short whistle blast) the competitor may cock the weapon (or remove the safety) and extend his arm toward the target, and fire the string. At the expiration of the time limit the range official will announce “TIME” (or give a short blast on a whistle). With mechanically operated targets and several shooters on the line the Army commands may be used and the gun cocked and aimed at the “Ready on the firing line” and the watch should start at the same time that the target faces the shooter and the gun arrives at the aiming point.
Misfires and shots lost on account of the arm becoming disabled while firing any string will be scored zero, if a shot is fired after the time limit has elapsed, the shot of highest value shall be deducted from that string.
All scores must be witnessed by the Governor and one other member of this Association, who are willing if demanded to take oath in due form of law that all rules of this Association were scrupulously obeyed, and that they saw every shot fired within the rules.
Fillers of the Pachmayr or Smith & Wesson type may be used in all matches but special stocks which increase the thickness of the gun or butt may not be used in S-45 or pocket revolver matches.
Classification of Arms
“Any” Revolver.
A revolver of any caliber, maximum length of barrel, including cylinder, 10 inches; minimum trigger pull, 2 1/2 lbs. Sights may be adjustable and not more than 10 inches apart.
“Any” Pistol.
A pistol of any caliber; maximum length of barrel, 10 inches; minimum trigger pull, 2 lbs.; sights may be adjustable and not more than 10 inches apart.
“Free” Pistol.
A pistol of any caliber with not over a 20-inch barrel. Any sights not containing glass. Any trigger pull.
“Pocket” Revolver or Auto Pistol.
A revolver or automatic pistol of not less than .32 caliber; maximum length of barrel 4 1/2 inches; maximum weight of gun (empty), 32 ounces; minimum trigger pull, 3 1/2 lbs.; sights may be adjustable, but must be rounded so as not to interfere with quick drawing.
“Service” Arms.
Government Model .45 Automatic Pistol and Model 1917 Colt and Smith & Wesson revolvers chambered for the regulation .45 ACP service cartridge, “as issued”, except that a grip filler may be used in the ’17 revolvers. Minimum trigger pull 3 1/2 lbs.
“38 Revolver League” Revolver.
Any revolver of not less than .32 caliber and with not more than a 6 1/2 inch barrel and not less than a 2 1/2 lb. trigger pull. Adjustable sights are permitted.
“22 Revolver League” Revolver.
Any .22 caliber revolver otherwise meeting “any” revolver requirements.
The records as shown are as listed in the U.S.R.A. booklet, 1937 edition. We are indebted to them for their permission to make use of the data herewith.
In addition to the Individual Matches the U.S.R.A. conducts League Pistol and Revolver Matches and offers many Rating Medals for both indoor and outdoor shooting. The association will be glad to give full information on request: Sec.-Treas. Col. R. D. Jones, Oak St., Springfield, Mass.
