MARKSMANSHIP

CHECK CARD

Every Marine can learn to be an expert shot. To be one,

however, you must first learn thoroughly the principles and
techniques of marksmanship and then apply them in a confi-
dent and relaxed manner. The principles and most important
techniques are contained herein. Of necessity, the descrip-
tions of the various techniques are brief. If some of the items
on this card are not clear to you, ask for further information
from your coach or from one of the instructors. Additional
material is available to you in the following references:

Dept. of the Army Pamphlet 23-2-"HITS COUNT"

FM 23-5-U. S. RIFLE CALIBER .30, M1
FM 23-35-PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS

THE PRINCIPLES
1. Develop comfortable, steady positions.
2. Aim with precision.
3. Squeeze smoothly.
4. Develop rhythm in rapid fire.
5. Learn to make accurate sight adjustments.

NAVMC-2550
 SIGHTING AND AIMING
SIGHT ALINEMENT consists of focusing the eye on the front-
sight blade and centering the top of the blade in the peep
sight.

SIGHT PICTURE consists of the alinement of the sights at six

o'clock on the bull's-eye. Holding exactly at six o'clock is
not nearly so important as retaining perfect sight alinement.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:
1. Focus your eye on the front-sight blade.
2. Concentrate on sight alinement rather than a six o'clock
hold.
3. Do not breathe while aiming.
4. Keep your sights blackened.
5. Develop a good spot weld for each position.

DO NOT BE CONCERNED ABOUT:

1. Fuzzy bull's-eye—this is natural when you focus your eye

on the front-sight blade.

2. Inability to hold at six o'clock. In the standing position

it is almost impossible to hold exactly at six o'clock.
Position exercises will improve your ability to hold in
all positions.

TRIGGER SQUEEZE
The most important single factor in marksmanship is the
trigger squeeze. The mechanics of the trigger squeeze are
simple:
1. Take one or two deep breaths before aiming.
2. Hold a comfortable amount of air while aiming and
squeezing.
3. Take up the trigger slack rapidly and apply a firm initial
pressure.
4. Squeeze straight to the rear.

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 5. Maintain the trigger squeeze briefly after the round has
been fired (follow through).

While the mechanics of the trigger squeeze are simple, the

execution is made difficult by a natural apprehension, or fear,
of the noise, blast, and recoil. These will cause the inexpe-
rienced shooter to anticipate the explosion. He may try to
control the explosion by jerking the trigger, or he may try to
prepare himself by tightening his arm and shoulder muscles;
in other words, by flinching. This is best overcome by expe-
rience. After firing a number of rounds, the shooter should
realize that the explosion will not harm him. He will then
relax and allow the weapon to surprise him.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:
1. Try to squeeze off your shots within 5 or 6 seconds. A
longer period will tire your muscles.
2. Good squeezing can become a habit. Develop the habit
by squeezing well during dry firing.
3. Perfect your squeeze by balancing a coin on your rifle
barrel during dry firing. Then squeeze the trigger
without causing the coin to fall.
4. Do not breathe while squeezing.
5. Do not squeeze with the whole hand.
6. Do not tense your muscles in anticipation of the recoil.

POSITIONS
A good position is one which will allow the shooter to aim
without muscular strain. A good position is built on bone
support only in the standing position should the shooter use
the muscles of his arms. A good position is developed through
good practice. Position exercises will help you to achieve re-
laxed positions, to improve your trigger squeeze, and to make
a habit of precise sight alinement. At first, because the posi-
tions are unfamiliar, they will seem awkward and perhaps
painful. The more you practice, the more natural and com-
fortable your positions will be. Use the list on the next two
pages to help you to perfect your positions.

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 STANDING POSITION
1. Feet spread comfortably apart (10 inches-14 inches).
2. Weight of body rests evenly on both feet.
3. Stomach relaxed.
4. Left elbow under rifle.
5. Left hand at the balance of the rifle.
6. Rifle rests in the "V" (between thumb and index finger)
of left hand.
7. Left wrist is straight.
8. Elbow of the right arm held as high as possible.
9. Weight of the rifle is borne almost entirely by the right
arm. Pull back and up with right hand.
10. Butt of rifle held high in the right shoulder. One-half of
the butt plate should be visible from rear.
11. Cheek rests firmly against the stock in a natural position.
Do not strain the head forward.

SITTING POSITION
1. Spread feet farther apart than knees.
2. Keep toes pointed inboard.
3. Keep knees about one hand span (8 inches-12 inches) off
deck.
4. Upper body bent well forward between the knees.
5. Left elbow under the rifle.
6. Upper part of the left arm rests on and extends over the
left shin.
7. Rifle rests in the "V" and heel of left hand.
8. Left wrist is straight.
9. Right elbow blocked by inside of right knee.
10. The butt of the rifle is held in the pocket of the right
shoulder by the tension of the sling.

KNEELING POSITION
1. Right leg, from knee to toe, rests on deck.
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2. Most of body weight rests on right leg.
3. Left foot is flat on deck and pointed generally toward the
target.
4. Left elbow directly under the rifle.
5. Left elbow rests on, and slightly over, the left knee.
6. Rifle rests in the "V" and heel of the left hand.
7. Left wrist is straight.
8. Right arm is relaxed into a comfortable position.

PRONE POSITION
1. Feet spread to comfortable distance, legs relaxed.
2. Toes pointed outboard.
3. Spine straight, body well behind rifle.
4. Shoulders parallel to deck.
5. Left elbow under the balance of the weapon.
6. Left hand is well forward under rifle (at the stock ferrule
swivel, if possible).
7. Left wrist is straight.
8. Rifle rests in "V" and heel of left hand.
9. Right elbow on the deck, slightly forward of and to the
right of the butt plate.
10. Weight of the upper body relaxed forward into the sling.

POINTS TO REMEMBER
1. Spot weld.—Placing the right cheek against the thumb of
the right hand. This positions the eye at the same dis-
tance from the peep for every shot and helps to insure
uniform aiming.
2. Follow through.—Maintaining position and trigger squeeze
briefly after the shot is fired. This will help you to
detect shooting errors.
3. Calling your shots.—Recording the spot where you think
the round will hit. Call the shot after it is fired but
before it is marked. When you call shots correctly, it

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 will prove that your sight alinement and trigger squeeze
are correct.
4. The sling.—The final adjustments of the sling to find the
most comfortable and steady positions are a responsi-
bility of the shooter. Record in your scorebook the sling
adjustment for each position.
5. The scorebook.—Plot your shots carefully and keep a rec-
ord of wind an light conditions. This is necessary to
determine the true zero of your rifle at each range.
6. Rapid fire.—You must develop a shooting rhythm-
"Breathe, relax, aim, slack, squeeze." Learn to take
positions and reload rapidly. Do not allow the pressure
of the time limit to "shake" you.
7. Sight adjustments.—Move the rear sight in the direction
which you wish to move the bullet. Moving the rear
sight up causes the bullet to strike higher, etc.
8. Elevation and deflection rules.—One click of elevation or
deflection will move the strike of the bullet one inch for
each 100 yards of range. (At 500 yards, 3 clicks will
move the strike of the bullet 15 inches.)
9. True zero.—"The sight setting necessary to hit the center
of the bull on a day when no wind is blowing." You
must have a true zero for 200, 300, and 500 yards.
10. Wind direction.—Use the clock system to describe the
direction of the wind. A 3 or 9 o'clock (full value)
wind will have the most influence on your bullets. A 6
or 12 o'clock (no value) wind will not affect your bul-
lets. A 1, 5, 7, or 11 o'clock (1/2 value) wind will have
only one-half the effect of a full-value wind.
11. Wind velocity.—To determine the effect in deflection, use
the wind formula: "Range in hundreds of yards times
the wind velocity (mph), divided by 10, equals the num-
her of deflection clicks for a full-value wind." Use half
of this answer for a half-value wind.

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1960 O—547214

GPO 961308
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