Pointing Vs Aiming

[Walkabout]

I'm wondering how often percussion revolvers were pointed rather than aimed historically, especially during Civil War battles. I'm guessing after the initial charge, it was largely a point shooting affair. In cavalry engagements too, I'm sure the weapon was simply pointed at the enemy.
Since the Colt revolvers, in particular, point so naturally, I think careful aiming and squeezing for groups is pretty academic. Though I could be wrong, I'm just kinda thinking out loud. What do you think? I might do some experimenting in that area.

 

[user 34486]

Sights aren't design flaws

 

[FishDFly]

I'm wondering how often percussion revolvers were pointed rather than aimed historically, especially during Civil War battles. I'm guessing after the initial charge, it was largely a point shooting affair. In cavalry engagements too, I'm sure the weapon was simply pointed at the enemy.
Since the Colt revolvers, in particular, point so naturally, I think careful aiming and squeezing for groups is pretty academic. Though I could be wrong, I'm just kinda thinking out loud. What do you think? I might do some experimenting in that area.

Probably would depend on the experience of the shooter and the stress level at the time of the shooter.

From reading, the number of rounds fired versus the number of rounds fired which actually hit a person was astronomical.

 

[1950DAVE]

Just my thoughts. Were not handguns issued primarily to cavalry during the CW? I don't really think of a horseman thinking much of sights in the heat of battle. Point/aim. Competition/battle. Two different circumstances I think.

 

[nhmoose]

Handguns no matter the type, remember this mnemonic Front sight, front sight, squeeze, Front sight, front sight, squeeze,

Up close and personal front sight on target will work under pressure

 

[nick_1]

I read every Louie Lamour book when I was a kid and was completely enamored with the idea of shooting from the hip. lots of practice with my 51 Navys and 58 Remington. I got pretty good at it. Decades later i shot a lot of IPSC and we all used our sights no matter how close or fast the targets were . Even revolver guys like jerry used their sights. reading first hand accounts of the old west there are quite a few references to when it really counts use your sights.

 

[thomasgunn]

If you really want to hit (fill in the blank), aim.

 

[Stantheman86]

Just like today, it's situationally dependent.

Lots of Infantry soldiers in the Civil War didn't use the sights on their rifle-muskets either or didn't have the training or skills to do so effectively. Those that were able to properly use the sights often became Sharphooters/Skirmishers as the best shots often ended up in these specialized, attached Regiments.

In the "adrenaline dump" fine motor skills break down and unless you are thoroughly trained or experienced and can use the sights , you will likely just panic fire with your revolver in an effort to survive. Officers and Cavalrymen who had survived a few battles most likely learned to use their sights if they wanted to hit anything past point shooting distance. Or the guy charging at you letting out the Rebel Yell will put a bayonet into your guts.

 

[M. De Land]

Just my thoughts. Were not handguns issued primarily to cavalry during the CW? I don't really think of a horseman thinking much of sights in the heat of battle. Point/aim. Competition/battle. Two different circumstances I think.

Sight alignment from the back of a moving horse would be impossible. Point shooting would have been a necessity and with some practice is amazingly accurate. As Elmer Kieth describes it "It's a sort of poking motion at the target".

 

[SOLANCO]

What you do in a fire fight depends in large part on your training and how well it stuck. And I will say most of my genuine training was OJT.

 

[SOLANCO]

If things are getting messy a handgun, of any sort, would be my last resort,.
As a last resort? .44

 

[M. De Land]

What you do in a fire fight depends in large part on your training and how well it stuck. And I will say most of my genuine training was OJT.

From horse back?

 

[necchi]

I'm wondering,

Well historically, some people could point and hit their intended target, some people needed to aim to hit their target.
Others just pulled the trigger,, and historically, some of them dropped the gun and ran.
It's the same today, some have a natural ability, some can easily learn, some struggle and some never will.

Your query is a good one, and by all means, do experiment,, you could be any of the above,,
Me? I gotta aim,, but with these olde revolvers, as much as I love'm,, lend no natural point of aim for me

 

[Bnewberry]

I used to shoot a lot of cowboy action, including cap and ball revolvers. I ran some “old school” black powder shoots that included very close (as in across a card table) and more difficult targets.

I found the Colts I used (56 Navies and 60 Armies) pointed very well and for a target at arms length and even up to 10 feet away it was easy to make hits on a 12 inch target without using the sights. Past that the sights were needed to score consistent hits.

To be clear, I didn’t ever hip shoot, I always brought the gun up such that I was looking across the gun, along the barrel but focused on the target rather than the sights for a very close shot. I am not sure it was significantly faster than a sighted shot, but I could see how in a tense situation one could shoot these guns fast and accurately enough at close range to get the job done even if the sights were not used.

We also did a number of night shoots. It is tough to use the sights when you can’t see them, yet a lot of hits were made!

 

[Zapadach]

There is an account of Jesse James shooting an innocent young man in the head at full gallop on horse back during his first bank robbery. The young man was crossing the street carrying some library books. I would guess the murderer did not use his sights in that instance. I belive Mr. James belonged to a guerilla outfit during the Civil War.

 

[Red Owl]

I think several different shooting techniques could be used. If the target was far off and you had time- use the sights. There is close range combat shooting where you point and fire. Elmer Keith said that on horseback you use sort of a chopping/tomahawk motion.
I try to get people to shoot at tin cans. When my Dad taught my mother to shoot he put Necco Candy wafers in a crack in a log. You either hit it or you didn't. What's the difference? Wll, now a days you rest the handgun on a sand bag and fire 6 shots at a paper target at 25 yards and it is a 1" group but an inch to the left, but GOOD GROUP!!! Years ago you missed every shot at a Necco Wafer.

 

[Justin.44]

@Red Owl, that's the only good use for those disgusting Necco wafers!

 

[SOLANCO]

From horse back?

No. "Jeepback".

 

[earlwb]

Point and shoot is a viable technique that works. But you have to practice it. Years ago when I was in the Marines we had infantry training using a point and shoot technique with our M16s. We started with BB guns and graduated to our M16s. I thought it was pretty neat actually. You could easily hit a 9 inch paper plate no problem. This was st close ranged such as you would see in dense jungles or urban scenarios.

 

[new2bp]

I think several different shooting techniques could be used. If the target was far off and you had time- use the sights. There is close range combat shooting where you point and fire. Elmer Keith said that on horseback you use sort of a chopping/tomahawk motion.
I try to get people to shoot at tin cans. When my Dad taught my mother to shoot he put Necco Candy wafers in a crack in a log. You either hit it or you didn't. What's the difference? Wll, now a days you rest the handgun on a sand bag and fire 6 shots at a paper target at 25 yards and it is a 1" group but an inch to the left, but GOOD GROUP!!! Years ago you missed every shot at a Necco Wafer.

So a few things ...

1 when shooting for accuracy a small group is all that counts , not where said group is. Very hard to shoot a small group when you have shot out your aiming point

2 once you know a gun can group, adjust the sights