Pistol Marksmanship and Training

8/7/2019 Pistol Marksmanship and Training

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CHAPTER 2MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING

Sect ion I . BASIC MARKSMANSHIP

2-1. PHASES OF TRAINING

Marksmanship training is divided into two phases:preparatory marksmanship training and range firing.Each phase may be divided into separate instructional

s teps . All marksmanship training must be progressive.Combat marksmanship techniques should be practicedafter the basics have been mastered.

2-2. FUNDAMENTALS

The main use of the pistol or revolver is toengage an enemy at close range with quick, accuratef i r e . Accurate shooting results from knowing andcorrectly applying the elements of marksmanship. T h eelements of combat pistol or revolver marksmanship

are:o Grip.o Aiming .o Breath control.o Trigger squeeze.o Target engagement.o Posi t ions .

2-3. GRIP

The weapon must become an extension of the handand arm. It should replace the finger in pointing atan object . A firm, uniform grip must be applied tothe weapon. A proper grip is one of the mostimportant fundamentals of quick fire.

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WARNING

IF THE NONFIRING THUMB IS PLACED IN THE REAROF THE WEAPON THE RECOIL FROM THE WEAPONCOULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

(1 ) F i s t g r ip . Grip the weapon as described inparagraph a above. Firmly close the fingers of the nonfiring hand over the fingers of the firinghand, ensuring that the index finger from thenonfiring hand is between the middle finger of thefiring hand and the trigger guard. Place thenonfiring thumb alongside the firing thumb. (SeeFigure 2-2.)

NOTE: Depending upon the individual firer, he maychoose to place his index finger of thenonfiring hand on the front of the triggerguard of the M9 pistol since this weapon has arecurved trigger guard designed for thispurpose.

(2) Palm-supported grip. This grip is commonly calledthe cup and saucer grip. Grip the firing hand asdescribed in paragraph a above. Place thenonfiring hand under the firing hand, wrapping the

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nonfiring fingers around the back of the firinghand. Place the nonfiring thumb over the middlefinger of the firing hand. (See Figure 2-3.)

(3) Weaver grip. Apply this grip the same as thef i s t g r i p . The only exception is that thenonfiring thumb is wrapped over the firing thumb.(See Figure 2-4.)

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c . Isometric Tension. The firer raises his arms to afiring position and applies isometric tension.This is commonly known as the push-pull method formaintaining weapon stability Isometric tensionis when the firer applies forward pressure withthe firing hand and pulls rearward with thenonfiring hand with equal pressure. This createsan isometric force but never so much to cause thefirer to tremble. This steadies the weapon and

reduces barrel r ise from recoil . The supportingarm is bent with the elbow pulled downward. Thefiring arm is fully extended with the elbow andwrist locked. The firer must experiment to findthe right amount of isometric tension to apply.

NOTE: The firing hand should exert the same pressureas the nonfiring hand. If i t does not , amissed target could result.

d. Natural Point of Aim. The firer should check hisgrip for use of his natural point of aim. Hegrips the weapon and sights properly on a distantt a rg e t . While maintaining his grip and stance, hecloses his eyes for three to f ive seconds. Hethen opens his eyes and checks for proper sightpic ture . If the point of aim is disturbed, thefirer adjusts his stance to compensate. If thesight al ignment is disturbed, the f irer adjustshis grip to compensate by removing the weapon fromhis hand and reapplying the grip. The firerrepeats this process until the sight alignment andsight placement remain almost the same when heopens his eyes. This enables the firer todetermine and use his natural point of aim once hehas suff ic ient ly pract iced. This is the mostrelaxed position for holding and firing theweapon.

2-4. AIMING

a. Aiming is sight alignment and sight placement (seeFigure 2-5 ) . S ight al ignment i s the center ing of the front blade in the rear sight notch. The topof the front sight is level with the top of therear sight and is in correct alignment with theeye. For correct sight alignment, the firer mustcenter the front sight in the rear sight . Heraises or lowers the top of the front sight so itis level with the top of the rear sight.

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b. Sight placement is the positioning of the weaponssights in relation to the target as seen by thefirer when he aims the weapon (see Figure 2-5). Acorrect sight picture consists of correct sightalignment with the front sight placed center massof the target . The eye can focus on only oneobject at a t ime at different distances. There-fore the last focus of the eye is always on thefront s ight . When the front sight is seenclearly, the rear sight and target will appearhazy. Correct sight alignment can only bemaintained through focusing on the front sight.The firer s bullet wil l hi t the target even if thesight picture is part ly off center but st i l lremains on the target. Therefore, sight alignmentis more important than sight placement. Since i tis impossible to hold the weapon completely still,the firer must apply trigger squeeze and maintaincorrect sight alignment while the weapon is movingin and around the center of the target. Thisnatural movement of the weapon is referred to as

wobble area. The firer must strive to control thelimits of the wobble area through proper breathcontrol , t r igger squeeze, posit ioning, and grip.

c . Sight alignment is essential for accuracy becauseof the short sight radius of the pistols andrevolvers. For example, if a 1/10-inch error ismade in aligning the front sight in the rearsight , the f irer 's bullet wil l miss the point of aim by about 15 inches at a range of 25 meters.The 1/10-inch error in sight alignment magnifiesas the range increases--at 25 meters it ismagnified 150 times.

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d. Focusing on the front sight while applying propertr igger squeeze will help the f irer resist theurge to jerk the trigger and anticipate the actualmoment the weapon will fire. Mastery of triggersqueeze and sight alignment requires practice.Trainers should use concurrent training stationsor have fire ranges to enhance proficiency of marksmanship skills.

2-5 . BREATH CONTROL

The firer must learn to hold his breath properlyat any time during the breathing cycle if he wishes toattain accuracy that will serve him in combat. Thismust be done while aiming and squeezing the trigger.While the procedure is simple, it requires explana-tion, demonstration, and supervised practice. To holdthe breath properly the f i re r t akes a b rea th , l e t s i tout , then inhales normally, lets a l i t t le out unti lcomfortable, holds, and then fires. I t i s d i f f i -cult to maintain a steady position keeping the frontsight at a precise aiming point while breathing.Therefore, the firer should be taught to inhale, thenexhale normally, and hold his breath at the moment of the natural respiratory pause (see Figure 2-6). T h eshot must then be fired before he feels any discomfortfrom not breathing. When multiple targets arepresented, the firer must learn to hold his breath at

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any part of the breathing cycle (see Figure 2-7).Breath control must be practiced during dry-fireexercises until it becomes a natural part of thef i r ing process .

2-6 . TRIGGER SQUEEZE

a . Improper trigger squeeze causes more misses thanany other step of preparatory marksmanship. Poorshooting is caused by the aim being disturbed

before the bullet leaves the barrel of the weapon.This is usually the result of the firer jerkingthe trigger or flinching. A slight off-centerpressure of the trigger finger on the trigger cancause the weapon to move and disturb the firerssight alignment. Flinching is an automatic humanreflex caused by anticipating the recoil of the

weapon. Jerking is an effort to fire the weaponat the precise time the sights align with thet a rge t .

NOTE: See problems in target engagement, paragraph2-7.

b. Trigger squeeze is the independent movement of thetrigger finger in applying increasing pressure onthe trigger straight to the rear, withoutdisturbing the sight alignment until the weaponf i r e s . The trigger slack, or free play, is taken

up first, and the squeeze is continued steadilyuntil the hammer falls. If the trigger is squeezedproperly, the firer will not know exactly when thehammer will fall; thus, he does not tend to flinchor heel, resulting in a bad shot. Novice firers

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must be trained to overcome the urge to anticipater e c o i l . Proper application of the fundamentalswill lower this tendency.

c . To apply correct trigger squeeze, the triggerfinger should contact the trigger between the tipof the finger to the second joint (withouttouching the weapon anywhere else). Where contactis made depends on the length of the firerst r igger f inger. If pressure from the triggerfinger is applied to the right side of the triggeror weapon, the strike of the bullet will be to thel e f t . This is due to the normal hinge action of the f ingers. When the fingers on the right handare closed, as in gripping, they hinge or pivot toth e le ft , thereby applying pressure to the left .(With left-handed firers, this action is to theright.) The firer must not apply pressure left orright but increase finger pressure straight to therear Only the trigger finger must perform thisact ion. Dry-fire training improves a f irer sability to move the trigger finger straight to the

rear without cramping or increasing pressure onthe hand grip.

(1) The firer who is a good shot holds the sights of the weapon as nearly on the target center aspossible and continues to squeeze the trigger withincreasing pressure until the weapon fires.

(2) The soldier who is a bad shot tries to catch histarget as his sight alignment moves past thetarget and fires the weapon at that instant. Thisis called ambushing, which causes trigger jerk.

d. Fol low-through is the continued effor t of thefirer to maintain sight alignment before, during,and after the round has fired. The firer mustcontinue the rearward movement of the finger evenafter the round has been fired. Releasing thetrigger too soon after the round has been firedresults in an uncontrolled shot, causing a missedt a rge t .

NOTE: The trigger squeeze of the M9 pistol, whenfired in the single-action mode, is 5.50pounds; when fired in double-action mode, it is

12.33 pounds. The firer must be aware of themode he is firing in. He must also practicesqueezing the trigger in each mode to developexpertise in single-action and double-actiontarget engagements.

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2-7. TARGET ENGAGEMENT

To engage a sin gle target, t he firer applies themethod discussed in paragraph 2-6 when multipletargets are engaged. The closest and most dangerousmultiple target in combat is engaged first and should be fired at with two rounds. This is commonlyreferred to as a double tap. The firer then traversesand acquires the next target, aligns the sights in thecenter of mass, focuses on the front sight, appliestrigger squeeze, and fires. The firer ensures hisfiring arm elbow and wrist are locked during allengagements. If the firer has missed the first targetand has fired upon the second target, he shifts backto the first - and engages i t . Some problems in targetengagement are as follows:

a .

b.

c .

Recoil Anticipation. When a soldier first learnsto shoot, he may begin to anticipate recoil. Thisreaction may cause him to tighten his musclesduring or just before the hammer falls. He mayfight the recoil by pushing the weapon downward inant ic ipat ing or react ing to i t s f i r ing. In eithercase, the rounds will not hit the point of aim. Agood method to show the firer that he is antici-pating the recoil is the ball-and-dummy method(see paragraph 2-16 ).

Trigger Jerk. Trigger jerk occurs when thesoldier sees that he has acquired a good sightpicture at center mass and snaps off a round before the good sight picture is lost. This may become a problem, especial ly when the soldier islearning to use a flash sight picture (see

paragraph 2-9 ).Heeling. Heeling is caused by a firer tighteningthe large muscle in the heel of the hand to keepfrom jerking the trigger. A firer who has hadproblems with jerking the trigger tries to correctthe fault by tightening the bottom of the hand,which results in a heeled shot. Heeling causesthe strike of the bullet to hit high on the firinghand side of the target. The firer can correctshooting errors by knowing and applying correcttrigger squeeze.

2-8. POSITIONS

The qualification course is fired from astanding kneeling, or crouch position. All of the

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firing positions described below must be practiced sothey become natural movements, during qualificationand combat firing. Though these positions seemnatural, practice sessions must be conducted to ensurethe habitual at tainment of correct f ir ing posit ions.Assuming correct firing positions ensures thatsoldiers can quickly assume these positions without aconscious effor t . Pistol marksmanship requires asoldier to rapidly apply all the fundamentals at

dangerously close targets while under stress.Assuming a proper position to allow for a steady aimis c r i t i ca l to surv iva l .

a . Pistol-Ready Position. In the pistol-readyposition, hold the weapon in the one-hand grip.Hold the upper arm close to the body, and theforearm at about a 45 angle . point the weapontoward target center as you move forward (seeFigure 2-8).

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b. Standing Posit ion Without Support. Face thetarget (see Figure 2-9). Place feet a comfortabledistance apart, about shoulder width. Extend thefiring arm and attain a two-hand grip. The wristand elbow of the firing arm are locked and pointedtoward target center. Keep the body straight withthe shoulders slightly forward of the buttocks.

NOTE: During combat, there may not be time for asoldier to assume a position that will allowhim to establish his natural point of aim.Firing from a covered position may require thesoldier to adapt his shooting stance toavailable cover.

c . Kneeling Position. In the kneeling position,ground only the firing side knee as the mainsupport (see Figure 2-10 ).

Vert ical ly place thefoot, used as the main support, under the buttocks. Rest the body weight on the heel andt o e s . Rest the nonfiring arm just above the elbowon the knee not used as the main body support.

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Use the two-handed grip for firing. Extend thefiring arm, and lock the firing arm elbow andwrist to ensure solid arm control.

d. Crouch Position. Use the crouch position whensurprise targets are engaged at close range (seeFigure 2-11). Place the body in a forward crouch(boxers stance) with the knees bent slightly and

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trunk bent forward from the hips to give fasterrecovery from recoil. Place the feet naturally ina position that allows another step toward thet a rge t . Extend the weapon straight toward thetarget, and lock the wrist and elbow of the firingarm. It is important to consistently train withthis posi t ion, since the body will automaticallycrouch under conditions of stress such as combat.It is also a faster position from which to changedirect ion of f i re .

e . Prone Posit ion. Lie f la t on the ground, facingthe target (see Figure 2-12). Extend arms infront with the firing arm locked. The arms mayhave to be slightly unlocked for firing at hight a rge t s . Rest the butt of the weapon on the groundfor single, well-aimed shots. Wrap the nonfiringhand (fingers) around the fingers of the firinghand. Face forward. Keep the head down betweenarms as much as possible and behind the weapon.

f . Standing Position With Support. Use availablecover for support-- for example, a tree or wall tostand behind (see Figure 2-13 ). Stand behind a

barricade with the firing side on line with theedge of the barricade. Place the knuckles of thethe nonfiring fist at eye level against the edgeof the barricade. Lock the elbow and wrist of thefiring arm. Move the foot on the nonfiring sideforward until the toe of the boot touches the

bottom of the barricade.

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g. Kneeling Supported Position. Use available coverfor support--for example, use a low wall, rocks,or vehicle (see Figure 2-14). Place thefiring-side knee on the ground. Bend the other.knee and place the foot (nonfiring side) flat on

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the ground, pointing toward the target. Extendarms alongside and brace them against availablecover. Lock the wrist and elbow of the firingarm. Place the nonfiring hand around the fist tosupport the firing arm. Rest the nonfiring arm just above the elbow on the nonf ir ing-side knee.

Sect ion I I . COMBAT MARKSMANSHIP

After a soldier becomes proficient in the funda-mentals of marksmanship, he progresses to advancedtechniques of combat marksmanship. The main use of the pistol or revolver is to engage the enemy at closerange with quick, accurate fire. In shootingencounters, it is not the first round fired that winsthe engagement, but the first accurately fired round.The soldier should use his sights when engaging theenemy, the only exception being if this would placethe weapon within arms reach of the enemy.

2-9. TECHNIQUES OF FIRING

a . Hand-and-Eye Coordination.

(1) Hand-and-eye coordination is not a natural,ins t inc t ive ab i l i ty fo r a l l so ld ie r s . I t i susually a learned skill obtained by practicing theuse of a flash sight picture (see paragraph b

below). The more a soldier practices raising theweapon to eye level and obtaining a flash sightpicture, the more natural the relationship betweensoldier, sights, and target becomes. Eventually,

proficiency elevates to a point so that thesoldier can accurately engage targets in the dark.Each soldier must be aware of this trait and learnhow to best use it. Poorly coordinated soldierscan achieve proficiency by being closely super-vised. Everyone has the ability to point at ano b j e c t . Since pointing the forefinger at anobject and extending the weapon toward a targetare much the same, the combination of the two arenatural . Making the soldier aware of this abilityand teaching him how to apply it when firingresults in success when engaging enemy targets incombat.

(2) The eyes focus instinctively on the center of anyobject observed. After the object is sighted, thefirer aligns his sights on the center of mass,focuses on the front sight, and applies proper

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t rigger squeeze. Most crippling or k il ling hi tsresult from maintaining the focus on the center of mass . The eyes must remain fixed on some part of the target throughout firing.

(3) When a soldier points, he inst inctively points atthe feature on the object on which his eyes arefocused. An impulse from the brain causes the armand hand to stop when the finger reaches theproper position. When the eyes are shifted to anew object or feature, the finger, hand, and armalso shif t to th is point . I t i s th is inherenttrait that can be used by the soldier to rapidlyand accurately engage targets. This ins t inct i scalled hand-and-eye coordination.

b. Flash Sight Picture. Usually when engaging anenemy at pistol/revolver ranges, the firer hasli t t le t ime to ensure a correct sight picutre.The quick-kill (or natural point of aim) methoddoes not always ensure a first-round hit. Acompromise between a correct sight picture and thequick-kill method is known as a flash sightpic ture . As the soldier raises the weapon to eyel e v e l , his point of focus switches from the enemyto the front sight, ensuring that the front andrear sights are in proper alignment left andright, but not necessarily up and down. Pressureis applied to the tr igger as the front sight is

being acquired, and the hammer fa lls as the flashsight picture is confirmed. I n i t i a l l y, t h i smethod should be practiced slowly, gaining speedas proficiency increases.

c . Quick-Fire Point Shooting. This is for engagingan enemy at less than 5 yards. I t is also usefulfor n ight f i r ing. The weapon should be held in atwo-hand grip. It is brought up close to the bodyuntil it reaches chin level and is then thrustforward until both arms are straight. The-arms and

body form a triangle, which can be aimed as au n i t . In thrusting the weapon forward, the firercan imagine that there is a box between him andthe enemy, and he is thrusting the weapon into the

box. The trigger is smoothly squeezed to the rearas the elbows straighten out.

d. Quick-Fire S ighting. This is used when engagingan enemy at 5 to 10 yards away. It is used onlywhen there is no time available to get a full

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picture . The firing position is the same as forquick-fire point shooting. The sights are alignedleft and right to save time, but not up and down.The firer must determine in practice what thesight picture will look like and where the frontsight must be aimed to hit the enemy in thechest .

2-10. TARGET ENGAGEMENTIn close combat, there is seldom time to precisely

apply all of the fundamentals of marksmanship. When asoldier fires a round at the enemy, many times he willnot know if he hit his target. Therefore, two roundsshould be fired at the target. This is called adouble tap. If the enemy continues to attack, twomore shots should be placed in the pelvic area to break the bodys support st ructure, causing the enemyt o f a l l .

2-11. TRAVERSINGa . Traversing 360. In close combat, the enemy may

be attacking from all sides. The soldier may nothave time to constantly change his position toadapt to new situations. The purpose of thecrouching or kneeling traverse 360 is to fire inany direction without moving the feet. The firerremains in the crouch position with feet almostparallel to each other. The following instruc-tions are for a right-handed firer. The two-handgrip is used at all times except for over theright shoulder. Turning will be natural on the

bal ls o f the feet .(1) Over the left shoulder (see Figure 2-15 ): The

upper body is turned to the left, the weaponpoints to the left rear with the elbows of botharms bent. The left elbow will naturally be bentmore than the right elbow.

(2) Traversing to the left (see Figure 2-16 ): Theupper body turns to the right, and the rightfiring arm straightens out. The left arm will besl ightly bent.

(3) Traversing to the front (see Figure 2-17 ): Theupper body turns to the front as the left armstraightens out . Both arms will be straightforward.

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(4) Traversing to the r ight (see Figure 2-18): Theupper body will turn to the right as both elbows

bend. The right elbow will naturally bend morethan the left .

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(5) Traversing to the right rear (see Figure 2-19):The upper body continues to turn to the rightuntil it reaches a point that it cannot go furthercomfortably. Eventually the left hand will have torelease i tself from the f ist grip and the f irerwill be shooting to the right rear with the righthand.

b. Kneeling 360 Traverse. The followinginstructions are for r ight-handed firers . Thehands are in a two-hand grip at all times. T h eunsupported kneeling position is used. The rearfoot must be positioned to the left of the front

foo t .(1) Traversing to the left side (see Figure 2-20 ):

The upper body turns to a comfortable positiontoward the left. The weapon is aimed to the left.Both elbows are bent with the left elbow naturally bent more than the right elbow.

(2) Traversing to the front (see Figure 2-21 ): Theupper body is turned to the front, and a standardunsupported kneeling position is assumed. Theright firing arm is straight, and the left elbowis s l igh t ly ben t .

(3) Traversing to the right side (see Figure 2-22 ):The upper body turns to the right as both armsstraighten out .

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(4) Traversing to the rear (see Figure 2-23): Theupper body continues to turn to the right as theleft knee is turned to the right and placed on theground. The right knee is lifted off the groundand becomes the forward knee. The right arm isstraight , while the left arm is bent. Thedirection of the kneeling position has beenreversed.

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(5) Traversing to the new right side (see Figure2-24) : The upper body continues to the right.Both elbows are straight until it reaches a pointthat it cannot comfortably to further. Event-ually, the left hand must be released from thefist grip, and the f irer wil l be f ir ing to theright with the one-hand grip.

c . Training Method. This method can be taught

anywhere without a weapon by the firer simulatinga two-hand grip. The firer should be familiarwith f ir ing in al l f ive directions.

2-12. COMBAT RELOADING TECHNIQUES

Reloading was an overlooked problem for many yearsuntil it was discovered that soldiers were beingkilled due to dropping of magazines, shaking hands,placing magazines in backward, and placing empty

magazines back into the weapon. The stress stateinduced by a life-threatening situation causessoldiers to do things they would not otherwise do.Consistent , repeated training is needed to avoid suchmistakes.

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NOTE: These procedures should only be used in comb at ,not on firing ranges.

STEP 1: Develop a consistent method for carryingmagazines in the ammunition pouches. Al lmagazines should face down with the bulletsfacing forward and to the center of the body.

STEP 2: Know when to reload. When possible,count the number of rounds fired. However, it ispossible to lose count in close combat. I f t h i shappens, there is a dist inct difference in recoilof the pistol when the last round has been fired.Change magazines when two rounds may be left--onein the magazine and one in the chamber. Thisprevents being caught with an empty weapon at acrucial t ime. Reloading is faster with a roundin the chamber since time is not needed torelease the sl ide.

STEP 3: Obtain a firm grip on the magazine.This precludes the magazine being dropped ordifficulty in getting the magazine into theweapon. Ensure the knuckles of the hand aretoward the body while gripping as much of themagazine as possible. Place the index finger highon the front-of the magazine when withdrawingfrom the pouch. Use the index finger to guidethe magazine into the magazine well.

STEP 4: Know which reloading procedure to usefor the t ac t i ca l s i tua t ion . There are threesystems of reloading: rapid, t ac ti ca l, a nd

one-handed. Rapid reloading is used when thesoldier s life is in immediate danger, and thereload must be accomplished quickly. Tact ical.reloading is used when there is more time, and itis desirable to keep the replaced magazine

because there are rounds st i ll in it or it wil l be needed again. One-handed reloading is usedwhen there is an arm injury.

a . Rapid Reloading.

Place your hand on the next magazine in theammunition pouch to ensure there is another

magazine.Withdraw the magazine from the pouch whilereleasing the other magazine from the weapon.Let the replaced magazine drop to the ground.

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b .

c .

(1)

Insert the replacement magazine, guiding it intothe magazine well with the index finger.

Release the slide, if necessary.

Pick up the dropped magazine if time allows.Place it in your pocket, not back into theammunition pouch where it may become mixed withfull magazines.

Tactical Reloading.

Place your hand on the next magazine in theammunition pouch to ensure there is a remainingmagazine.

Withdraw the magazine from the pouch.

Drop the used magazine into the palm of thenonfiring hand, which is the same hand holdingthe replacement magazine.

Insert the replacement magazine, guiding it intothe magazine well with the index finger.

Release the sl ide, i f necessary.

Place the used magazine into a pocket. Do notmix it with full magazines.

One-Hand Reloading.

With the right hand.

Push the magazine release button with thethumb.

Place the safety ON with the thumb if the slideis forward.

Place the weapon backwards into the holster.

NOTE: If placing the weapon in the holster backwardsis a problem, place the weapon between the calf and thigh to hold the weapon.

Insert the replacement magazine.Withdraw the weapon from the holster.Remove the safety with the thumb if the slide isforward, or push the slide release if the slideis back.

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(2) With the left hand.

Push the magazine release button with the middlef inger.

Place the safety ON with the thumb if the slideis forward. With the .45-cal iber p is tol , thethumb must be switched to the left side of the

weapon.Place the weapon backwards into the holster.

NOTE: If placing the weapon in the holster backwardsis a problem, place the weapon between the calf and thigh to hold the weapon.

Insert the replacement magazine.Remove the weapon from the holster.Remove the safety with the thumb if the slide isforward, or push the slide release lever with themiddle finger if the slide is back.

a .

b .

c .

2-13. POOR VISIBILITY FIRING

Poor visibility firing with any weapon is diffi-cult since shadows can be misleading to the soldier.This is mainly true during EENT and EMNT (a half hour

before dark and a half hour before dawn). Even thoughthe weapon is a short-range weapon, the hours of dark-ness and poor visibility further decrease its effect.To compensate, the soldier must use the three princi-ples of night vision.

Dark Adaptation. This process conditions the eyesto see during poor visibility conditions. Theeyes usually need about 30 minutes to become 98-percent dark adapted in a totally darkened area.

Off-Center Vision. When looking at an object indaylight, a person looks directly at it . However,at night he would see the object only for a fewseconds. To see an object in darkness, he mustconcentrate on it while looking 6 to 10 awayfrom it.

Scanning. This i s the shor t , abrup t, i r regula rmovement of the firers eyes around an object orarea every 4 to 10 seconds. When artificialillumination is used, the firer uses night firetechniques to engage targets, since targets seemto shift without moving.

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NOTE: For more detailed information on the threeprinciples of night vision, see FM 21-75.

2-14. NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL FIRING

When firing under NBC conditions with a pistol orrevolver, the f irer should use optical inserts , i f

applicable. Firing in MOPP1 through MOPP3 levelsshould not be a problem for the firer. Unlike wearinga protective mask while f ir ing a r if le, the f irer ssight picture will be acquired the same as with orwithout a protective mask. MOPP4 is the only levelthat may present a problem for a firer since glovesare worn. Gloves may require the firer to adjust hisgrip to attain a proper grip and proper triggersqueeze. Firers should practice firing in MOPP4 to become prof icient in NBC fi ring.

Section III. COACHING AND TRAINING AIDS2-15. COACHING

a . Throughout preparatory marksmanship training, thecoach-and-pupil method of training should be used.The proficiency of a pupil depends on how well hiscoach performs his duties. The coach assists thefirer by correcting errors, ensuring he takesproper firing positions, and ensuring he observesall safety precautions. The cr i ter ia for se lect -ing coaches are a command responsibility; coachesmust have experience in pistol marksmanship abovethat of the student f irer.

b . Duties of the coach during instruction practiceand record firing include:

(1) Checking that the--

(a) Weapon is cleared.

(b) Ammunition is clean.

(c) Magazines are clean and operational.

(2) Observing the firer to see that he--(a) Takes the correct firing position.

(b) Loads the weapon properly and only on command.

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(c) Takes up the trigger slack correctly.

(d) Squeezes the trigger correctly (see paragraph2-7).

(e) Calls the shot each time he fires (except forquick fire and rapid fire).

(f) Holds his breath correctly (see paragraph 2-5 ).

(g) Lowers his weapon and rests his arm when he doesnot fire a round within five to six seconds.

(3) Having the firer breathe deeply several times torelax if he is tense.

2 -16 . BALL-AND-DUMMY METHOD

In this method the coach loads the weapon for thef i r e r . He may hand the firer a loaded weapon or anempty one. When firing the empty weapon, the firerobserves that in anticipating recoil he is forcing theweapon downward as the hammer falls. Repetition of the ball -and-dummy method helps to al leviate reco ilant ic ipat ion.

2-17. CALLING THE SHOT

To call the shot is to state where the bulletshould strike the target according to the sightpicture at the instant the weapon fires--for example:

high, a l i t t le low, to the left , to the r ight ,or bul l s -eye . If the firer does not call his shotcorrectly in range fir ing, he is not concentrating onsight alignment. Consequently, he does not know whathis sight picture is as he f ires. Another method of calling the shot is the clock system--for example. Athree-ring hit at 8 oclock, a four-ring hit at 3o c lock . Another method is to provide the firer witha target center (placed beside him on the firingl i n e ) . As soon as the shot is fired, the firer mustplace a finger on the target face or center where heexpected the round to hit on the target. This methodavoids guessing and computing for the firer. T h eimmediate placing of the finger on the target facegives an accurate call . If the f irer does not callhis shot correctly, he is not concentrating on sightalignment and trigger squeeze. Thus, he does not knowwhat his sight picture is as the weapon fires.

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2-18. PENCIL TRIANGULATION EXERCISE

The pencil triangulation exercise (see Figure2-25) is conducted only with an unloaded and properlycleared M1911A1 caliber .45 pistol. It will not workwith an M9 pistol; however, coaches may have studentsdry fire the M9 while he observes the firers to see if the front sight dips or jumps when the hammer falls.The pencil triangulation exercise consists of firing apencil or pointed dowel point-blank at a miniaturet a rge t . It combines position, grip, sight alignment breathing, and trigger squeeze into a single practicalwork exercise. At the same time, it measures thefirer s performance without the effects of recoil.This practical work is designed to teach and developcorrect shooting habits. It can be conducted indoorsor out, which makes an ideal exercise where rangefacilities are limited or when weather is poor.

a . Equipment.

(1) One dowel or lead pencil for every two students.This pencil should be at least 6 inches long andwrapped with masking or cellophane tape. Thetape wrappings form two bushings that fit theinside diameter of the weapons barrel.

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(2)

b.

(1)

(2)

(3)

a .

One miniature bulls-eye sheet for every twostudents. The bulls-eye sheet can be copied,drawn, or stamped by using the eraser of a penciland ink pad. The bulls-eyes should not be largerthan 1/8 inch and at least 1 inch apart.

Conduct of the Exercise. The instructor explainsand demonstrates the details of the exercise

before practical work by the students. The f irershould begin by using a two-hand grip, progressingto the one-hand grip as his skills increase.

The firer faces the target and takes up a goodshooting position. This position is close enoughto the miniature bulls-eye so when the pencil isinserted into the barrel , with the f irer s armextended and the sights aimed at the miniature b u l l s - e ye , the point of the pencil is within 1inch of the target . The bulls-eye sheet should

be affixed to a ta rget , or any type suppor t, andshould be shoulder-high to the firer.

The firer inserts the pencil into the muzzle of the ba r re l , eraser end first, and cocks thehammer. He grips the weapon properly, extends theshooting arm, aims the weapon at the miniature

b u l l s - ey e , squeezes the trigger, and the hammerf a l l s . The hammer strikes the firing pin, whichin turn strikes the rubber eraser of the pencil,driving it out of the barrel and causing it tomake a pencil dot 1/2 inch below the bulls-eye(if the firer had the correct sight alignment andtrigger squeeze).

The firer continues this exercise until he hasfired a group of five pencil marks below eacht a rg e t . The object of the exercise is to keep thefive pencil marks in a group as small as the1/8-inch bulls-eye, 1/2 inch directly below the

b u l l s - e ye . With practice, many firers can hitthe same mark with the pencil. This indicatesthat the firer is properly performing the funda-mentals of marksmanship each time.

2-19. SLOW-FIRE EXERCISE

This is a dry-fire exercise. The slow-fireexercise is one of the most important exercisesfor both amateur and competitive marksmen. Coachesshould ensure soldiers practice this exercise as

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much as possible. To perform the slow-fire exer-c i s e , the firer assumes the standing position withthe weapon pointed at the target. The firershould begin by using a two-hand grip, progressingto the one-hand grip as his skill increases. Hetakes in a normal breath and lets part of it out,locking the remainder in his lungs by closing histhroat . He then relaxes, aims at the target,takes the correct sight alignment and sightpicture, takes up the trigger slack, and squeezesthe trigger straight to the rear with steady,increasing pressure until the hammer falls,simulating fir ing.

b. If the firer does not cause the hammer to fall in5 or 6 seconds, he should come to the pistol readyposition, and rest his arm and hand. He thenstarts the procedure again. The action sequencethat makes up this process can be summed up by thekey word BRASS. It is a word the firer shouldthink of each time he fires his weapon:

Breathe-- Take a normal breath, let part of itout, and lock the remainder in the lungs by closing the throat.

Re la x- - Relax the body muscles.

Aim--Take correct sight alignment and sightpicture, and focus the eye at the top of the front sight .

Slack--Take up the trigger slack.

Squeeze --Squeeze the trigger straight to the rearwith steadily increasing pressure withoutdisturbing sight alignment until thehammer falls.

c . Coaches should observe the front sight for erraticmovements during the application of triggersqueeze. Proper application of trigger squeezeallows the hammer to fall without the front sightmoving . A small bouncing movement of the frontsight is acceptable. Firer s should call the shot

by the direction of movement of the front sight(high, low, l e f t , o r r i g h t ) .

2-20. AIR-OPERATED PISTOL, .177 MM

The air-operated pistol is used as a trainingdevice to teach the soldier the method of quick fire,

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to increase confidence in his ability, and to affordhim more practice firing. A range can be set upalmost anywhere with a minimum of effort and coordi-nation, which is ideal for USAR and NG. If conductedon a standard range, l ive f ir ing of pistols andrevolvers can be conducted along with the firing of the .177-mm air-operated pistol. Due to the light recoiland l i t t le noise of the pistol , the soldier canconcentrate on fundamentals. This helps buildconfidence, because the soldier can hit a targetfaster and accurately. The air-operated pistol shouldreceive the same respect as any firearm. A thoroughexplanation of the weapon and a safety briefing aregiven to each soldier.

2-21. QUICK-FIRE TARGET TRAINING DEVICE

The QTTD (see Figures 2-26 and 2-27) is used withthe .177-mm air-operated pistol.

PHASE I. From 10 feet, five shots at a 20-footminiature E-type silhouette. After f ir ing eachshot, the firer and coach discuss the results andmake corrections.

PHASE II. From 15 feet , f ive shots at a 20-footminiature E-type silhouette. The same instruc-tions apply to this exercise as for PHASE I.

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PHASE III. From 20 feet, five shots at a 20-footminiature E-type silhouette. The sameinstructions apply to this exercise as for PHASESI and II.

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PHASE IV. From 15 feet, six shots, at two 20-footminiature E-type silhouettes.

(1) This exercise is conducted the same as theprevious one, except that the firer is introducedto f i re d i s t r ibu t i on . The targets on the QTTD areheld in the up position so they cannot be knockeddown when hit.

(2) The firer first engages the 20-foot miniatureE-type silhouette on the extreme right of theQTTD (see Figure 2-28). He then traverses betweentargets and engages the same type target on theextreme left of the QTTD. The firer again shifts

back to reengage the first target. The procedureis used to teach the f irer to inst inctively returnto the f irst target if he misses i t with his f irstshot.

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(3) The firer performs this exercise twice, firingthree shots each t ime. Before f ir ing the second t ime,the coach and firer should discuss the errors madeduring the f irst exercise.

PHASE V. Seven shots fired from 20, 15, and 10feet at miniature E-type si lhouettes.

(1) The firer starts this exercise 30 feet from theQTTD . The command, MOVE OUT, is given, and thefirer steps out at a normal pace with the weaponheld in the ready position. Upon the command,FIRE (given at the 20-foot l ine), the f irerassumes the crouch position and engages the20-foot miniature E-type silhouette on the extreme

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right of the QTTD. He then traverses betweentargets, engages the same type target on theextreme left of the QTTD, and shifts back to thef i r s t t a r g e t . I f the target i s s t i l l up, heengages it . The firer then assumes the standingposition and returns the weapon to the readyposi t ion. Upon completion of each exercise, thecoach makes corrections as the firer returns tothe standing position.

(2) On the command, MOVE OUT, the firer again stepsoff at a normal pace. Upon the command, FIRE(given at the 15-foot line), he engages the15-foot targets on the QTTD. The same sequence of fire distribution is followed as with the previousexercise .

(3) During this exercise, the firer moves forward oncommand, until he reaches the 10-foot line. Atthe command, FIRE, the firer engages the 10-footminiature E-type silhouette in the center of theQTTD.

2-22. RANGE FIRING COURSES

Range firing is conducted after the firers havesatisfactorily completed preparatory marksmanshiptra ining. The range firing courses are:

a . Instructional firing is practice firing on arange, using the assistance of a coach.

(1) All personnel authorized or required to fire the

pistol or revolver receive 12 hours of preliminaryinstruction that includes the following:

Disassembly and assembly (does not apply torevolver) .Loading, firing, unloading, and immediate action.Preparatory marksmanship.Care and cleaning.

(2) The tables fired for instructional practice areprescribed in the co mbat pistol qualificationcourse in Appen dix A and i n the revolver qualifi-cation course in Appendix C . During the instruc-t i ona l f i r i ng , the CPQC or RQC is fired with acoach or instructor.

NOTE: The RQC is fired on the same range as the CPQC;for a picture of the CPQC see FM 25-7.

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b. The CPQC stresses the fundamentals of quick fire.I t i s the f inal tes t of a soldier s prof ic iencyand the basis for his marksmanship classification.After the soldier has completed the instructionalpractice firing he will shoot the CPQC for record.A detailed description of the CPQC tables,standards, and conduct of fire is in Appendix A .

NOTE: The alternate pistol qualification course(APQC) or alternate revolver qualificationcourse (ARQC) can be used for sustainment/qualification if the CPQC is not available(see Appendix B and Appendix D ).

c . The military police firearms qualificationcourse is a practical course of instruction forpolice firearms training (see FM 19-10).

Section IV. SAFETY

Safety must be observed during all marksmanship

t ra ining. Listed below are the precautions for eachphase of training. It is not intended to replace AR385-63 or local range regulations. Range safetyrequirements vary according to the requirements of thec o u r s e o f f i r e . It is mandatory that the latest rangesafety directives, and local range regulations beconsulted to determine current safety requirements.

2-23. REQUIREMENTS

a . A red flag is displayed prominently on the rangedur ing a l l f i r ing.

b. Weapons must be handled carefully and are neverpointed at anyone except the enemy in actualcombat.

c . A weapon is always assumed loaded until it has been thoroughly examined and found to contain noammunition.

d. Fir ing limi ts are indicated by red-and-whi te-s t r iped poles v is ib le to a l l f i rers .

e . Obstructions should never be placed in the muzzleof any weapon about to be fired.

f . Weapons aresafeguards.

kept in a prescribed area with proper

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g . Smoking is not allowed on the range nearammunition, explosives or flammables.

2-24. BEFORE FIRING

a .

b.

c .

d.

e .

f .

g .

h.

i .

All prescribed roadblocks and barriers are closed,and guards are posted.

All weapons are checked to ensure they are clearof ammunition and obstructions, and slides arelocked to the rear.

All f irers are briefed on the f ir ing l imits of therange and firing lanes. They must keep theirf ires within prescribed l imits .

All firers are instructed on how to load andunload the weapon, and on safety features.

All personnel are briefed on all safety aspects of fire and range pertaining to the conduct of the

courses.No one moves forward of the firing line withoutpermission of the tower operator, safety officer,or OIC.

Weapons are loaded and unlocked only on commandfrom the tower operator except during the conductof the courses requiring automatic magazinechanges.

Weapons are not handled except on command from thetower operator.

Firers must keep their weapons pointed downrangewhen loading, preparing to fire, or firing.

2-25. DURING FIRING

a . A firer does not move from his position until hisweapon has been cleared by safety personnel, andit has been placed in its proper safety position.An exception is the assault phase.

b. During Table 5 of the CPQC, firers remain on linewith other f irers on their r ight or left .

c . F ir er s a re ca re fu l t o f ir e i n t he ir own f ir inglane and not to point the weapon into an adjacentlane , mainly during the assault phase.

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d. The air-operated pistol is treated as a loadedweapon. Firers observe the same safetyprecautions as with other weapons.

e . All personnel wear helmets during live-fireexerc i ses .

f . The weapon is held in the raised position except

when preparing to fire. It is then held in theready position, pointed downrange.

2-26. AFTER FIRING

a . Safety personnel inspect all weapons to ensurethey are clear. A check is conducted to determineif any brass or live ammunition is in possessionof soldiers .

b . Once cleared, pistols are secured with the slideslocked to the rear, and revolvers with cylindersopen.

2-27. INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE AND RECORD QUALIFICATIONFIRING

During these phases of firing, safety personnelensure that the--

a . Firer unders tands the conduct of the exercise .

b . Firer has the required ammunition, and understandsthe commands for loading and unloading.

c . Firer complies with all commands from the toweroperator.

d. Proper alignment is maintained with other firerswhile moving downrange.

e . Weapon is always pointed downrange.

f . Firer f ires within the prescribed range l imits .

g . Weapon is cleared after each phase of firing, andthe tower-operator is aware of the clearance.

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h. Malfunction or failure to fire, due to no fault of the f i r er, i s repor ted immediately. On command of the tower operator, the weapon is cleared andaction is taken to allow the firer to continuewith the exercise.

NOTE: For training and qualification standards seeAppendixes A through E.

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Documents

Pistol Marksmanship and Training