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HOW
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(Including
Care
By
SHOOT
Preservation
and
Major
Jas.
United
Introduction
President,
States
National
Rifle
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cts.,
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Moss
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Colonel
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9
C. Z.
H.
T.
INTRODUCTION
By
Colonel
President, National
There
of
was
a
RifleAssociation
time when
rifle shots.
Libbey
William
could
we
in the
Early
be considered
developed by
It
skill at short
the
nation
a
tain
Revolutionary period,cer-
taken
were
prisonersof war
the reallydangerous
demonstrate
of the wonderful
of America
the
across
foes
we
because
were,
which
ranges,
to
ocean
had
been
of the rifle.
dailyuse
the faithful friend in times of peace or war.
It
provided the main articles of food for the household, and
was
protected the
another
fireside
friend,when
from
intrusion.
few
shootingas
devoted
Then
came
today
a
of
somewhat
it was
those
it
scarce,
was
placed above
for what
it had
the
done
in
alive
by
past.
Rifle
a
like many
safetyand plenty surrounded
became
early homes, and game
forgotten,and when remembered
family hearth, and there revered
the
But
a
an
a
lovers
this
later
king
of
which
kept
on
outdoor
of conditions
far greater
even
than
it
can
sports.
the rifle of
made
scientific instrument.
skillful student
"
of
was
of invention
era
remarkable
wonders,
diversion
In
the hands
be made
driving a
tack
to
at
do
fifty
vards.
All
this is of
beginsto
fascinated
These
course
a
mystery
to the
novice, but
realize the
of the game,
possibilities
reallyscientific problems
by the
problems are
complex enough
as
he
he becomes
of ballistics.
at times
to
puzzle
the most
even
mastered
they
and
satisfyingin their results,both objectively
most
are
observer, but when
acute
subjectively.
revival of the American
Since the recent
turning back
different
the
range
fathers,now
long and heavy
Aside
its value
from
a
very
rifle of
heard
of these
little volume
This
the
and
as
should
to
a
and
lineage,
should
defense
should
our
by
own
reason
our
There
eyes,
good
strong muscles, and
who
the result of
and
at
is
the
be
clean
a
efficient aid in
an
sport with
new
the
time
same
citizens in the successful
by
trainingit is a
It
difficulties involved.
technical
the way
We
of
means
a
to master
life?
honest
open
as
except
weapon
the trouble taken
of its votaries keen
sport,as it demands
judgment, steady nerves
ever
formidable
most
a
It is well worth
clean
as
are
men
younger
A
rifle has become
modern
of defense.
our
the
parednes
pre-
sand
piecewhich can be trusted at a thouyards as fullyas their ancestor's could be depended
for less than a hundred
yards. With this greater
and
and accuracy
have come
greater penetration,
upon
it.
from
looking gun
our
of their
to the old friend
earlydays.
our
of
thousands
many
of
spirit
and
ancient
it will
help to
of their chief
use
safetyof
an
our
country
ever
coming
over-
should
able
honorprepare
means
be
of
dangered.
en-
always be, judged by our ancestry as well
dent
configood sense, a race of citizen-soldiers,
of
our
skill at arms,
full share to defend
ultimatelyno
our
that
we
can
each
tribute
con-
institutions if needed.
greater guarantee of confidence
this
than
that
can
we
of
nation
our
it
use
this
When
a
in
trust
to
period
rifle
of
arm
the
service,
and
the
knowledge
uttermost.
arrives
we
will
be
again
respected
shots.
President,
National
Princeton,
N.
J.,
September
20,
1916.
Rifle
Association
of
America.
as
PREFATORY
This
booklet
is based
MANUAL,"
"PRIVATES'
merely
corresponding chapters in
is
and
by the Author,
presentationof the general method
in teaching soldiers in
is followed
a
that
how
Army
the
on
to
of
tion
instruc-
the
Regular
shoot.
That, unlike
longer
would
be
the
of
prepared
people
our
by
nation
a
forefathers,
our
defend
learn
must
to
significantfact
National
that
Guardsmen
no
we
Country,
our
shoot, is shown
of the
the
on
are
that, if
shots, and
to
we
119,874
rolls at
the
Then
time
with
the
mobilization
border, 56,813,
fired
a
ratings
If
to
Camp
November
the
about
of
than
our
shoot, it will have
Gaillard, Canal
Mexican
had
14,000
less than
of
26, 1916.
the
47%
more
call in connection
President's
on
this little book
number
how
or
rifle,and
received
of
never
had
first classman.
helps
any
people
to
siderable
con-
learn
filled its mission.
Zone,
Now
INDEX
G
A
of
of
Adjustment
Advantages
sights
sight
peep
35
13 ;
Aiming
drills.
position
drills."
aiming
and
Aiming
"Position
65
Gallery
practice
17
Getting
out
of
Half-masting
71
objects
and
Bearings
Bore
with
fixed, firing
of
care
cams,
effect
of
Holding
body:
76
Sitting
Standing
56
55
53
Target
Nitro
Hoppe's
Rod
Powder
89
Solvent
94
98
clean
oil
to
of
position
53
Hollifield
and
75
and
Prone
95
to
piece
Kneeling
101
of
84
targets
of
Heat,
21
:
Care
How
How
Brush
12
.
H
B
Bayonet
it
.
See,
sight
Battle
is in
89
;
and
Appearance
66
of rifle all there
'
I
99
92
thong
for
Implements
Importance
of
cleaning
shooting
rifle
straight
91
11
....
C
Calling
Cams
of
care
101
30
piece
Canting
Care
of:
Bore
Rifle
position, hold
Kneeling
position of body
95
Chamber,
91
99
of
care
rod
Cleaning
of
designation
Clock
K
73
shots
and
bearings,
winds
93
63
Line
Deflection
drills
Magazine,
Marking
elevation
and
of
kinds
Designation
Disadvantages
of
75
15
Materials
62
Mechanism,
Metal
winds
of sights
of peep
sight
care
moisture,
Moisture,
and
75
light
deflection
Elevation
drills
and
Equipment
and
Estimating^
distance
effect
correction
59
78
dress
69
into
the
Finding
target
Fine
sight
Firing in pairs
Firing
point
bayonet
Firing with
Flinching
Fouling:
How
Kinds
Front
Full
to
remove
sight
sight
94
solvent
Nitro
Normal
20
sight
of
Objects, appearance
Oil, "3-In-One"
to
apply
Oil, how
and
Oiler
thong
95
"5
91
case
99
Oiling a barrel
Sight
Open
15
P
shooting
78
fixed
;
12
Padding
73
77
Parapet
78
20
Peep
77
Pit
Point
81
72
97
65
21
Points
16
sight
78
of
76
96
cover
75
of
N
F
entering
100
irage
O
cold,
heat,
100
of
of
care
76
59
63
78
equipment
82
91
rifle
cleaning
parts,
M
15
17
78
100
E
Factors
71
objects
on
of
care
for
83
correction
Disks
Effect
of
effect
effect of,
of sight
75
Deflection
and
53
M
of
signals
Dress
and
L
Light,
Light,
D
Different
rifle
77
Coaching
effect
Cold,
Danger
of
to
all
At
Before
While
to
Points
rifle
25
aim
be
remembered:
times
87
firing
84
85
firing
be
remembered
in
caring
for
101
use
22
Soda
solution
Kneeling
41
Solvent,
Object
31
Squeezing
44
Standing
and
drills:
aiming
Prone
Standing
Practice,
of
importance
position,
Prone
holding
of
position
33
Stock,
88
Swabling
of
rifle
officer
78
.
Rapid-fire,
gallery
Rests,
.
39
67
practice
77
of
use
of
rifle
and
53
body
of
100
solution
Target
94
78
range
different
be
to
for
78
78
exercise
of
care
Things
target
Rapid-fire
hold
position,
89
T
56
house
Range
94
practicing
trigger,
and
body
R
Range
94
nitro
Targets,
Range,
.
91
rifle
of
Preservation
".
position
43
down
Sitting
47
of
Sling,
Importance
Position
kinds
80
remembered
in
caring
rifle
and
Thong
Thong
101
brush
and
case
"Three-In-One"
92
oiler
91
oil
95
exercise
28
Trajectory
12
Trigger-squeeze
Trigger-squeeze,
practicing
89
S
U
Scorebook
74
"
driver
Screw
of
rests
77
Use
of
sling
47
93
value
straight,
Shooting
Use
and
tance
impor-
of
11
V
Sight,
of
care
100
Value
Sighting
of
13
drills
Sighting
22
;
shooting
straight
11
23
W
Sights:
Open
IS
What
Peep
16
Windage
59
Winds,
rifleman
looks
at
when
17
firing
.
Sight-setting
drills
Signals,
danger
Sitting
position,
position
.
62
designation
of
63
83
of
holding
body
of
rifle
Z
and
56
Zero
of
rifle
65
//
Chapter
TO
HOW
I
SHOOT1
Value
and importance of shootingstraight.The
value of a soldier as a fighting
is measured
man
by his
to shoot straight.
If you can't shoot,you have
ability
business on the firing
no
line, you merelytake up room
"
without
accomplishing
anything. In
in the way,
are
would
you
would
be
not
be
not
From
and
would
to your officers.
standpointit is to your advantageto
learn to shoot.
Not
but it may some
in the world,
day mean
it mean
more
save
your
pay to you,2
to you than all the riches
more
life.
the consciousness that you
go into battle,
well as the other fellow,if not even
a little
ever
as
will giveyou
better,
that will
onlydoes
it may
"
can
and
life unnecessarily,
riskingyour
useless burden
a
every
If you
shoot
other words, you
be better off at home
where
mean
to you
more
confidence
comfortingfeelingof
a
may
have
This
comfortingfeelingof
all the extra
than
pay
you
in marksmanship.
gotten for qualification
thousand
times
that you
shot.
may
confidence
will repay
you
a
and patience
for all the time, care
have devoted to making yourself
a good
over
hit the
Remember, althoughyou may not actually
other fellow,if you can shoot straight
enough to make
him so
your bullets pass close to him, you will make
1
The
assistance
2
$8;
as
If
author
in
you
expert
the
is
indebted
preparation
Capt.
to
of
this
qualify as marksman,
rifleman, $5.
John
W.
Lang,
29th
Inf., for
valuable
chapter.
you
get
$2
a
month
extra
;
as
sharpshooter,
How
12
that he will
nervous
shooting,or
Any man
a
behind
down
drop
of
eyesightand
normal
fairshot ifnot
that
quit
fairintelligence
and
an
and
cover
wild.
his shots will all go
determination
with
can,
Shoot
to
come
instruction, be-
proper
excellent one.
into
shooting. While there are
of factors,some
others less so,
a number
very important,
that enter into .shooting(for example, effect of light
and wind, hold of piece,
tion,
triggersqueeze, physicalcondietc. ) none
of them is especially
and they
difficult,
all be mastered
can
by determination and practice.
Getting out of the rifle all there is in it. Our rifle
Factors
enter
,
is the best and
There
certain
are
that it can
be made
Whether
accurate
most
rifle in the world.
things that
it is
capableof doing,
to do.
the soldier
capableof doing,
"
there is in it
can
whether
make
he
his rifle do what
can
get
out
it is
of it everything
(allthe hidden 4's and 5's)
pretty nearlydoing what
"
whether
,
he
can
make
it to do,
"
it
come
depends
upon
he wants
the soldier's determination
and
instruction.
In other words, with his officersand noncommissioned
officers to instruct him, it is entirely
up to the soldier
himself as to whether or not he becomes at least a marksman.
The
trajectory.As
air it makes
a
curved
the bullet passes through the
line something like this :
Fig. 1
This curved
'
line is called the
trajectory.
How
resistance
The
Shoot
to
of the air and
13
the force of
gravity (the
pullsall bodies toward the earth ) are the two
the path of the bullet a curved
line,
things that make
the path of the baseball
as
they make
just the same
thrown
by the player a curved line.
force that
The
,
resistance
of the air holds
the bullet back
and
the
gravity pulls it down, so that the two acting
togethermake the bullet's path curved.
will the path of the
The
longer the range the more
lowing
bullet (the trajectory)be curved, as shown
by the foldrawing:
of
force
\
\
Fig.
is the
principleinvolved
throwing a baseball. For
The
from
hard
very
very
high in
home
from
the air,but
the
would
you've got
air and
be
to
An
how
to
curved
as
a
that involved
you
throw
a
in
ball
base-
make
first base, you can
it
straightline,without going
if you
wanted
would
get it there and
very
much.
allowance
make
the force
to
outfield, you
pretty high in order
same
example, if
third
in almost
first base
reach
2
for
the
the ball
to throw
have
to
throw
it
its
tory)
path (trajec-
In
other
words,
of the
resistance
of
gravity.
just
player knows, through practice,
expert ball
high it is necessary
to throw
a
ball in order
for it to
points. A beginner does not know.
Sighting or Aiming. Now, on the rifle there are two
sight, which
"sights," the front sight and the rear
reach
certain
"
"
How
14
to
Shoot
regulatethe path of the bullet,as
the ball player regulatesthe path of the ball.
If the ball player wants
distance, he throws the ball
using his eye and
high (raisesthe path,the trajectory),
guesswork, and likewise if the rifleman wants to shoot
at a distant target, he, too, shoots the bullet high (that
is,he raises the muzzle of his rifle) but he doesn't have to
depend upon guesswork. It is all worked out for him
by experts and all he need do is to set the rear sightfor
that is,for the distance the object is
the proper
range,
the rifleman
enable
to
,
"
him.
from
sightinga rifle consists in bringing into
three objects: The
target, A, the front sight,B,
the rear
sight,C.
Aiming
line
and
or
#
Fig. 3
The
are
in line, and
so
made
and
the
sights
placedon it in such a way that when the
pieceis held in such a positionthat the
target,the frontsightand the rear sight
the trigger is pulled (squeezed) the
bullet will strike the
You
rifle is
target.
raise the muzzle
of the
pieceby raisingthe rear
sight, that is, raisingthe rear
sight has the effect of
raisingthe muzzle, for the higher you raise the rear sight
the higher must
in order to see the
you raise the muzzle
front sight and get it in line with the object aimed
at
and the rear
sight.
"
How
This
v%~
in the
is shown
to
Shoot
15
followingillustrations :
Mo***'-
C
kBeat
Fio. 4
Fig.
The
sight,C,
rear
eye, A,
all
are
being set
on
for 200
a
at
now
but
see
line with
must
and
the eye, D,
the
the bull's
rear
sight
yards.
to shoot
at 2000
the slide up
the bull's eye
to 20
instead
of 200
(2000 yards)
through the notch sight
D.
We
to the position,
raise the eye
sight,the bull's eye and the eye in line,
bring the front sight in line with them,
must
2000, we
have the rear
we
sight,B,
the front
Suppose we wanted
yards. We would raise
the sightleaf.
on
In order to
4a
by raisingthe muzzle of the piece,giving
in Fig. 4a.
the result shown
Line of sight. With
the open sightthe line of sight
is determined
by a point on the middle line of the notch
of the rear
sightand the top of the front sight.
the peep sight,the line of sightis determined
With
by the center of the peep and the top of the front sight.
which
is done
Different
kinds
of
sights.The
different
sightsare as follows :
Open sight. By open sightis meant
of the sightingnotches.
one
the
use
kinds
of
of any
16
How
To
to
Shoot
the open
sight:
Look
1.
through the sightingnotch at
the target. (Fig. 5. )
2.
Bring the top of the front sighton
Fig. 5
line with the top and in the
a
of the sight notch, the top of the
center
front sightbeing just under the bull's eye.
use
Because
of its.wide
field of view
and
Fig. 6
its
gettinga quick aim with it,the open sight
that is generallyused in the later stages of
is the one
battle,or when fire is to start immediately.
The
correct
followingpositionsof the front sight are inreadiness
in
Fig. 6a
Peep sight. By peep sightis meant
the
use
of the
peep hole in the drift slide.
To use the
sight:
peep
1.
Look
through the
target. (Fig.7.)
2.
Bring the top of
to
the
the
center
of
the peep
peep
the
hole at the
front
hole, the
frontsightbeingjustunder
sight
top of
the bull's eye.
Fig. 7
(Fig.8.)
How
18
to
Shoot
Hold
only indistinctly.
your hand in place,but focus
some
objectbeyond your fingeron a line
your eye on
You
will stillsee your
with your fingerand your eye.
be fuzzy and indistinct.
fingerbut it will now
have three pointswhich are
In shootingwe
placed
in ajine
the rear
sight,the front sightand the target.
all three at the same
to focus the eye on
It is impossible
"
time.
One
Which
must
shall
be chosen.
we
choose?
of
followingillustrations show the appearance
the eye is focused
the bull's eye, depending upon whether
the front sight,rear
on
sightor bull's eye.
In Fig. 12 the eye is focused
the bull's eye.
on
Notice how clear cut and distinct it is,and the blurring
of the front and rear
sights.
The
Peep
normal
sight
Open
normal
sight
Fig. 12
In
Fig.
the eye is focused on
the front sight.
Notice how clear cut and distinct it is,and the
blurring
of the bull's eye.
13
How
to
Shoot
19
Fig. 13
In
Notice
Fig.
how
the front
14
the
clear cut
sightand
eye
and
is focused
on
the
distinct it is,and
the bull's eye
rear
how
sight.
blurred
are.
w,.,,,.v-.*.:..r:"
Fig.
and
---.."",
14
focuseshis eye
proficiency
the target while aiming,but he glancesat one
sight
then the other to see that they are alignedproperly,
The
on
|
rifleman who
attains
How
20
his eye is
at the instant
target,and
the target.
at the
back
then
on
Shoot
to
of
discharge
by using the peep sight,
Blurring is best overcome
dow,
be compared to lookingthrough a round winwhich may
and
whatever
blurring there is will be uniform
"
concentric and
Normal
Figs. 12,
that
one
without
SIGHT
FRONT
sight.
13
the
assures
time.
every
and
The
or
amount
of front
14, is called the normal
always
sight,as
peep
taking
In
the TOP
of
other
the
OF
THE
difficulty.
the soldier should
notch
open
stillcenter
can
we
same
either with
use,
it is the
amount
words, it assures
sighttaken in
sightand is the
the
only sightwhich
of front sight
a greater degree
of the most
portant
imwhich is one
uniformityin sighting,
factors in shooting. By uniformityin sighting
of sighteach time.
amount
is meant
taking the same
of front sightused
If you take less than the amount
in the normal
sight,it will,of course, have the effect of
loweringthe muzzle of the piece,and consequentlyyou
will hit a point lower than if you had used the normal
sight.
of
On
the other hand, if you take more
than the amount
of front sightused in the normal
sight,it will,of course,
have
the effect of
you will hit a
normal
sight.
Fine
raisingthe muzzle
point higher than if
and
you
consequently
had
used
the
sight. Although occasionally
a
will be found who can
man
get good results
by using the fine sight,the average man
Fine sight
cannot, and this form of sightingis,therefore,to be
avoided.
How
Full sight. The
to
Shoot
21
so-called
fullsightmust be avoided
It is merely mentioned
and
under all circumstances.
shown here to point out a fault that must
be carefullyavoided.
The objections
to its use
the same
are
as
of the fine sight, that is,lack
in the case
Fig. 16
of uniformityin the amount
of sighttaken.
Full sight
Battle sight. By battle sightwe mean
the position
of the rear
There is a sighting
sightwith the leaf down.
"
the top of the leaf,or
slide which works up and down
notch
on
rather
on
top of the leaf
the leaf.
sightis the only sightused in rapidfire.
the side that first opens
In unexpected,close encounters
fire has a great advantage over
the
accurate
a rapidand
other.
Again, a soldier on patrolgenerallyhas no time
if suddenlyattacked at close range.
The
to set his sight,
battle sight,may,
therefore, be called the emergency
sight, the handy, quick sight. The soldier should,
therefore, become
thoroughly familiar
of this sight.
with the use
The
battle
"
sightingnotch in the slide
with the rear
sightleaf down, is the
same
heightas is the sightingin the
drift slide when
the rear
sightleaf
Fig. 17
is raised and set at 530 yards.
Battle sight
to a sight
That
is to say, battle sightis equivalent
settingof 530 yards. Therefore, in shootingwith battle
than 530
yards you must aim
sightat objectsnearerThe
lower.
How
22
trajectoryof
the
following shows
battle sightis used:
The
when
Shoot
to
l_ ,*rc
bullet
the
J/**r
o*
S5o
500
_Aoo
Fig.
That
sightat
25
is to say,
an
inches
if you
18
aiming
were
object530 yards away,
above
an
object of the
yards, 28 inches
above
at
300, 23
with
battle
the
the bullet would
pass
height at
same
inches
above
at
200
400,
500, which is only another way
of saying if shootingwith battle sightat an object200
and 7 inches above
at
one
inches
(about 2 feet)
below the objectin order to hit it; if at 300 yards,28
inches (2% feet below) ; if at 400 yards,23 inches (about
if at 500
2 feet) below; and
yards, 7 inches (about
y2 foot) below.
of the battle sight,the
that in the case
Remember
positionof the slide is immaterial, except as regards
in sighting, that is,it is immaterial whether
accuracy
yards
away,
you
aim
must
25
"
the slide is well forward
accuracy
make
a
in
or
However,
the position
of
sighting,
as
gards
re-
the slide does
difference,for the greater the distance between
the front
and
rear
sightingbe. Hence,
back as possible.
sights,the
more
the slide should
Sighting, Position
The
well back.
and
Aiming
accurate
always
will the
be
as
far
Drills
importance of the followingsighting,position
and aiming drills cannot
be overestimated.
If they are
before firinga singleshot at a tarcarefullypracticed,
How
will have
get, you
hold
Shoot
to
learned
how
23
aim
to
your
rifle
rectly,
piece corthe trigger
steadily,squeeze
that positionbest adapted to the parproperly,assume
ticular
of your
conformation
body, and you will also
have acquired the quickness and manual
skill required
for handling the piecein rapid fire.
The
sighting,positionand aiming drills teach the
fundamental
the
are
principlesof shooting, which
foundation
which
marksmanship is built.
upon
Do not confineyourselfto going through these drills
only during drill hours, but go through them frequently
The extent to which it will improve your
at other times.
than repay you for your trouble.
shootingwill more
your
Drills
Sighting
Object.
1.
To
The
show
objectsof the sightingdrill are:
how
to bring the rear
sight,the
sightand the target into
how to sightproperly.
2.
To
discover and
other words, to discover
and
to
show
the
line, that is,to show
same
"
pointout
the
errors
errors
for same,
you
in
sighting, in
make
in sighting
"
that you
so
may
be able
them
correct
3.
reasons
the
front
To
properly.
teach uniformity in sighting, that is, to
"
teach
amount
Fig.
how
you
see
every
of
front
of
to
take the
same
sight each time,
time
"
the
same
to
amount
look
sight when
you
through the rear sight.
Sighting rest for rifle. A
good sightingrest for a rifle may
How
24
be
made
by
Shoot
to
the
removing
box, or
pistol ammunition
cutting notches in the ends
closely. (Fig. 19.)
Place
rifle in
the
triggerguard
outside
and
At
a
(or
box
to
fit the
rifle
.
"?"=""=
convenient
distance
on
a
above
wall
be
or
the
on
a
ground fasten
plank nailed to
a
a
ground.
fastened
legs are
it may
Fig. 19a
end.
one
sheet of paper
stake driven into the
rest
of the
then
close to
blank
Three
box, and
similar
a
empty
an
the
with
these notches
from
top
to
placed on
the
the
Fig. 20
ground without
any
from
sheet of paper.
the blank
legs),which
is placed20
or
30
feet
How
26
there will be
a
Shoot
to
fine line of
lightbetween
the bottom
of
and the top of the front sight (Fig. 22).
bull's-eye
formity
uniinsure
is important to
This
in sighting, that is,in order
the
"
to
make
of the front
If the
that
sure
the
sight is
amount
same
taken
each
time.
top of the front sight touches
the bottom
to
possible
it is imbull's-eye
justhow much of the
FlG- n
of the
say
First
front
sightis seen.
Sighting Exercise
Using the sightingrest for the.rifle (Fig. 20, page
to direct the marker
the
to move
24) requireeach man
disk until the rifle is directed on the bull's-eye
with the
normal
"Hold."
If aiming correctly
sight and command,
the rear
sight,the front sightand the bull's-eye
will look as shown in Fig. 22, above.
The instructor then verifiesthis line of sight. Errors,
if any, will be pointed out to the soldier and another trial
made.
If he is still unable
to sightcorrectly,
he will
be given as many
be necessary.
trials as may
more
Sometimes
does not know
how
to place the
a
man
or
eye in the line of sight;he will look over
along one
side of the notch of the rear
sightand believe that he is
aiming through the notch because he sees
it at the
time
same
sight. Again
look
Fig.
23
at
the
some
front
that he does the front
men
in
sight and
sightingwill
not
at
the
object.
Repeat the above exercise,using the
the rear
peep sight. If aiming correctly,
How
front
sight,the
shown
in
Fig.
sight
for
and
the
27
will
bull's-eye
marker
to
as
Sighting Exercise
triangleof sighting. Using
rifle as before
(Fig. 20, page
the
look
23.
Second
The
Shoot
to
the
sighting rest
24), direct the
the disk until the rifle is directed
move
on
the
with the normal
"Mark,"
bull's-eye
sightand command
the
whereupon the marker, being careful not to move
disk, records through the hole in its center, the position
of the disk, and withdraws
it. Then, being careful not
the rifle or
to move
sightsrepeat the operation until
three marks
Join
pointsby straightlines. The
trianglewill indicate the nature
in sighting.
the three
size of the
and
variations
made
example, if
time, you will get a
For
this
"'
:
.
I
made.
been
have
which
for
A
26
A
:
Fig. 25
triangle like Fig.
taking the same
jgsight each time,
Fig.
instance
'
2^
each
aim
same
trianglesomething like
taking each ^^
resulted from
A
the
taken
of the
small
very
this aim.
time
have
you
shape
results
26
from
not
of front ^^
amount
as
shown
28
shows
in
Fig. \\J
27.
trianglelike Fig.
i
^^lLJ1^sz^~.z
c
FlG-28
front
sight was
the middle
each
time,
Fie
* ^
29
Z J*
that the /^""\-_
not
."
^^
in ^**s
of the notch
as
shown
in
f
^"
Fig.
27
How
28
of
combination
tioned
,\
"-"
*"-
of
the
the
amount
same
sight each
of
middle
vJ'
each
(^)("
in ^-^
shown
as
/^n
time
the front
notch
the
time,
\"J
that is,not
having
not
s~\
men-
errors
"
front
and
sightin
two
above,
taking
\
/
the
Shoot
results from
trianglelike Fig. 30
A
a
to
Fi
^^^
G)
"
Fis- 31-
-\jy"
If
f?\ $
i
.
^^
any
one
of
the
sides of
the
triangleis longer than one-half inch,
the exercise is repeated,each sight
being verified by the instructor,who
.
^^
will call the soldier's attention to his
Og
if any.
The
smaller the triangle,the bet-
errors,
^A-'
FlG-31
ter
are
mark
the center
j.1,
"
U4-sighting.
Verifying the triangle. If the sides of the triangle
small that they indicate regularityin sighting,
so
+
the
of the
and
triangle
then
placethe
center
of the
this mark.
The instructor then exon
amines
bull's-eye
the position
of the bull's-eye
with reference to the
line of sight. If the bull's-eye
is properlyplaced with
reference to the line of sight,
the soldier aims correctly
and with uniformity.
If the bull's-eye
is not properlyplacedwith reference
the soldier aims in a regularmanner
to the line of sight,
but with
a
Causes
its proper
constant
error.
of errors.
the
position,
he has taken too
If the
above
is directly
bull's-eye
soldier has aimed high, that is,
littlefront sight.
"
How
If the
to
Shoot
29
is directly
below
bull's-eye
the soldier has aimed
low,
"
its proper
that is,he has taken
position,
too much
front
sight.
If the bull's-eye
is directly
to the rightor left of its
the soldier has not sightedthrough the
proper position,
center
of the
top of the front
the right,
the soldier has either sightedalong
notch
rear
and
over
the
sight. If to
the leftof the rear
sightnotch or the rightside of the
front sight,
both of these errors.
has committed
or
the
If the bull's-eye
is to the leftof its proper place,
soldier has probablysightedalong the rightof the rear
has committed
or
sightnotch, or to the leftof the front sight,
both
of these
errors.
above and
If the bull's eye is diagonally
the soldier has probably combined
the
to the
errors
right,
which
placedit too high and too far to the right.
Any other diagonalpositionwould be produced by
a
of vertical and
similar combination
After
man,
the
the above
instruction has
horizontal
errors.
been
given to one
the line of sightwill be slightly
changed by moving
age,
sightingrest or by changing the elevation and windand the exercises similarly
repeatedwith other men.
Repeat the exercise,using the peep sight.
Third
This
exercise
It is most
Sighting Exercise
shows
the effect of
cantingthe piece.
aiming the sightsbe kept
important that in
vertical and the piecenot be canted, that is,that the
barrel be not tilted over
to the right or left.
If the piece is canted
to the right,the sights are
lowered
to the right and
consequently the bullet will
strike to the right and below
the point aimed
at, even
"
How
30
to
Shoot
though the rifle be otherwise correctlyaimed and the
sightscorrectlyset.
Similarlyif the pieceis canted to the left the sights
the bullet will
lowered to the left,and consequently
are
strike to the left and
effect of
This
follows
:
the
Use
low.
canting the piecemay be shown as
sightingrest with the riflefirmlyheld
in the notches, the bolt removed.
Paste
a
black
the center
pasternear
of the bottom
line
target. Sight the rifle on this mark, using about
yards'elevation. Then, being careful not to move
of the
2000
through the bore and direct the marker
is in the center of
disk until the bull's-eye
the rifle,
look
the
move
field of view
and
command,
to
the
"Mark."
90" to the
(with the rifle)over
elevation,sighton
right,on its side,and with the same
the same
Then, being careful not to
paster as above.
the rifle,
look through the bore and again direct
move
the marker
to move
the disk until the bull's-eye
is in the
Next, turn
the rest
of the field of view
center
and
command,
"Mark."
Not
the fall of the bullet,the firstmark
considering
represents the point struck with the sightvertical,the
second mark
representsthe pointstruck, low and to the
elevation and the same
right,using the same
point of
aim, when the pieceis canted 90" to the right.
Different degrees of cantingthe piececan
be represented
of
circle
the
two
a
by drawing an arc
through
marks
be at
with the
pasteras
a
center.
The
second mark
pointon this arc correspondingto
cantingthe piece.
It is importantto know that this effect
a
with
the distance
from
the
of
the target.
will
degree of
creases
cantingin-
How
Fourth
Shoot
to
31
SightingExercise
This exercise is to show
the
advantageof
blackened
sights.
a
In strong sunlight,
make
riflehaving sights
worn
not to
the
move
of sighting,
triangle
using
bright. Then, being careful
and make another
blacken the sights
rifle,
a
triangle.
dotted lines for the
Use
full lines for
and
the
with brightsights
triangle
trianglemade with blackened
sights.
and size of the two triangles
The position
will plainly
show the advantageof usingblackened sights.
Fifth
SightingExercise
This exercise is to illustratethe
ing
importanceof knowthe effects of varyingdegreesof light.
In strong sunlightmake
a
triangleof sighting.
the piece,
make another
Then, beingcareful not to move
the target and the man
triangle,
sightinghaving first
been shaded.
relative
The
of
positions
knowing the
importanceof
of light.
Position
Object.
The
and
objectof
will show the
triangles
effects of varyingdegrees
the
Aiming
the
Drills
and aimingdrills
position
are:
To
1.
so
educate
the muscles
of the
arm
and
bodv
piece,during the act of aiming,shall be held
of firing
shall
and during the operation
without restraint,
the target by any convulsive or
not be deflected from
of the trigger
fingeror of the body,
impropermovement
that the
arms,
or
hands.
How
32
to
Shoot
They also establish between the hand and eye
such prompt and intimate connection as will insure that
the trigger,giving the final
the fingershall act upon
the top of the front
when
pressure at the exact moment
sightis seen to be directed upon the mark.
it is
the pieceis discharged,
If at the moment
3.
properlysupportedand correctlyaimed, the mark, will
surelybe hit.
be taught to
Since any fairlyintelligent
can
man
the
and to hold the sightsalignedupon
aim correctly
2.
mark
with
fair amount
a
of steadiness,it follows
that
other
arise from causes
shootingmust necessarily
is known
to
than bad aiming. The chief of these causes
it is discharged,
be the deflection givento the riflewhen
of firing,
due to the fact that the soldier,at the moment
the trigger,
instead of SQUEEZING
jerks it. This
convulsive action is largelydue to lack of familiarity
with the methods of firing
and to a constrained position
of the muscles of the body, arm,
and hands, which constrained
it is the objectof the position
and aiming
position
bad
drillsto correct.
General.
the
In order to correct
the
piece,
Place
a
rear
any tendency to cant
sightis raised in all the exercises.
black paster at which
to
aim
on
the wall
oppositeeach man.
The
squad being formed in singlerank, with an
interval of one
the instructor directs
yard between files,
the men
to take the positionof "Ready," except that
the position
of the feet is such as to insure the greatest
firmness and steadiness of the body.
(Note. Some of
best shots turn the toes in, as in horseback
our
riding,
claimingthat it stiffens the leg muscles and makes the
support much steadier. )
How
34
Shoot
to
depressed,
slightly
zontal, muzzle
heel of the butt
aline
on
top of the shoulder.
the
with
(Fig. 32.)
the
piece
(Two.) Bring
smartly againstthe hollow of the
shoulder, without permittingthe
and
shoulder to give way,
press
the rifle againstit,mainly with the
righthand, only slightlywith the
left, the forefingerof the right
hand
restinglightlyagainst the
trigger, the rifle inclined
neither to the rightnor
left.
(Three. ) Resumethe
positionof ready. (Fig.34.)
Remarks.
should
The
tor
instruc-
notice
especially
in
man
see
positionof each soldier
this exercise,endeavoring to give to each
He should
an
easy and natural position.
that the men
avoid
drawing in the
stomach, raisingthe breast, or
bending the small of the back.
The
butt of the piece must
be
pressed firmly,but not too- tightly,
into the
not
arm.
the
hollow
onlythe
34
of
the
shoulder
and
againstthe muscles of the upper
If held too tightly,
the pulsations
of the body will be communicated
to the piece;if too loosely,
the
recoil will
Fig.
Fig. -33
bruise
heel
or
the
shoulder.
toe touches
of the shoulder, the recoil
If
the hollow
mav
throw
How
the muzzle
down
Shoot
to
35
affectingthe positionof the hit.
both
used
While
the piece to the
to press
arms
are
should be used to direct the piece
shoulder, the left arm
be left free to squeeze
the right forefingermust
and
the trigger.
or
up,
Aiming
instructor
The
will first direct
elevation
for the lowest
different
The
Exercise
the
sightsto be
subsequently for
and
justed
adthe
longer ranges.
instructor
At
commands
1.
:
Aiming.
the last command
of
motion
Exercise.
the first and
execute
second
2.
the
position
exercise.
to
(Two.) Bend the head a little
the right,
the cheek resting
against
the
left eye
stock, the
closed, the
righteye lookingthrough the notch
of the rear
sightat a point slightly
below the mark.
(Fig. 35.)
a
(Three.) Draw
moderately
long breath, let a portion of it
escape, then, with the lungs in a state
of rest, slowly raise the rifle with the
cline
left hand, being careful not to inthe
Fig.
the
mark;
moment;
sight
either
to
side, until
35
hold the rifle
line of
sight is directlyon
steadilydirected
then, without
command
to hold the rifle steadilyis
power
the positionof "Ready" and resume
on
the mark
the
for
a
just before the
lost,drop the rifle to
the breathing.
and
How
36
Remarks.
Some
to
riflemen
Shoot
preferto
extend
the left
givesgreater control over the rifle
position
when
firingin a strong wind or at moving objects. It
also possesses advantages when
a
rapid as well as
the posiaccurate
tion,
deliveryof fire is desired. Whatever
whether standing,kneeling,sitting,
or
prone, the
on
pieceshould rest on the palm of the left hand, never
the tipsof the fingers,
and should be firmlygrasped by
all the fingers
and the thumb.
be brought to the line of sighteither
The eye may
by lowering the head or by raisingthe shoulder; it is
Such
arm.
a
best to combine
somewhat
the
these methods;
shoulder
by raisingthe rightelbow and holding
front and at rightanglesto the body.
to be well raised
it well to the
If the shoulder is not
the soldier to lower
bring the
too
the head
to
the
necessarv
front
in order
for
to
sight.Lowering the head
bringsit near the righthand, which
When
the pieceis discharged,
this
into the line of
far to the front
grasps
hand
eye
raised,it will be
the stock.
is carried
by the recoil to the rear and, when the
head is in this position,
strike againstthe nose
or
may
mouth.
This often happens in practice,
and as a result
of this blow often repeated many
become
men
gun-shy,
of firing.
or
flinch,or close their eyes at the moment
Much
bad shooting,
ascribed to other causes, is reallydue
to this fault.
Raisingthe rightelbow at right angles to
the body elevates the rightshoulder, and lifts the piece
that it is no longernecessary to incline the head maso
terially
to the front in order to look along the sights.
As the lengthof the soldier'sneck determines greatly
the exact method
of takingthe proper position,
the in-
How
to
structor
will be careful to
without
restraint.
Always be
Shoot
see
37
that the
positionis taken
hold the thumb
along the small of
the stock, as shown in Figs. 41-46; for,if the face is
struck the thumb is the usual offender.
As changes in the elevation of the rear
sight will
necessitate a correspondingchange in the positionof
the soldier's head when
aiming,the exercise should not
be held with the sightadjustedfor the longer ranges
have been practiced
with the sightsas
until the men
the latter would
generallybe employed for offhand
firing.
be cautioned that while raisingthe
The soldier must
fix his eyes on the mark
line of sightto the mark he must
then be readily
and not on the front sight
; the latter can
brought into the line joiningthe rear-sightnotch and
mark.
If this plan be not followed, when firingis held
will generally
the range at long distances the mark
on
front sightwill
blurred and indistinct. The
appear
though the eye is not
always be plainlyseen, even
it.
directed particularly
upon
without jerk,and its
be raised slowly,
The rifle must
motion stopped gradually. In retainingit directed at
the mark,
sure
care
to
be taken
must
not
to
continue
the aim
periodwill probablybe found
but will quicklylengthenwith practo be short at first,
tice.
to prolongit beyond the
No effort should be made
Each
be easilyrestrained.
time that breathing can
after steadiness is lost ; this
soldier will determine
the
discontinuing
The
too
long,as
cases.
must
men
a
for himself
the proper
time
for
aim.
be cautioned
tremblingof
the
not
body
to
hold
the breath
will result in many
How
38
Some
riflemen
to
Shoot
prefer,in aiming, to keep
both
eyes
the soldier should
open but, unless the habit is fixed,
instructed to close the left eye.
be
Trigger-Squeeze Exercise
The
2.
commands:
instructor
Exercise.
At
the command
Trigger squeeze.
Exercise, the soldier
1.
aiming exercise.
(Two.) The second motion of the aiming exercise.
(Three. ) Draw a moderatelylong breath, let a portion
of it escape, hold the breath and slowly raise the
rifle with the left hand until the line of sightis on the
mark, being careful not to incline the sightsto either
the
Take
side.
up the triggerslack, and then contract
triggerfingergradually,contractingall the muscles of
the whole hand, slowly and steadily
the presincreasing
sure
the
while
aim
the
is being perfected;
on
trigger,
continue the gradual increase of pressure
that when
so
the aim has become
exact the additional pressure
required
to release the point of the sear
be given almost
can
insensiblyand without causing any deflection of the
executes
of the
the first motion
rifle. Continue
the aim
a
moment
after the release of the
firingpin,observe
if any change has been made
in the
direction of the line of sight,and then resume
the position
of
"Ready," cockingthe pieceby raisingand
ing
lower-
the bolt handle.
Remarks.
Poor
shootingis often the result of lack
of proper coordination
of holdingthe breath, the maximum
steadiness of aim, and the squeeze of the trigger.
By frequent practicein this exercise, each man
may
to know
the exact
come
instant his firingpin will be
released. He must
be taught to hold the breath, bring
How
the
bear upon
sightsto
all at the
same
to
Shoot
the mark, and
39
the
squeeze
trigger
time.
The
The
Trigger Squeeze.
trigger should be
squeezed,not pulled,the hand being closed upon itself
is squeezed,the forefinger
as
a
sponge
sharingin this
movement,
remembering that the trigger slack must
The
always be taken up beforeyou begin to squeeze.
forefingershould
be placed as far
the trigaround
ger
press it
the
second
to
as
with
By practice
joint.
soldier
the
TRIGGER.
familiar
comes
the
with
trigger
Fig. 36
s
q
be-
u
e
e z
e
of his
and knowing this,he is able to judge at any time,
rifle,
within limits,what additional pressure is requiredfor its
of this exercise he
repetition
should be able finally
to squeeeze the triggerto a certain
will release
movement
point beyond which the slightest
the sear.
Having squeezedthe triggerto this point,the
discharge. By
aim
true, the additional pressure
the dischargefollows.
is corrected
appliedand
constant
and, when
is
Rapid-Fire Exercise
Object. The objectof this exercise is to teach the
time accurately
soldier to aim quicklyand at the same
in
to assume
he will be called upon
in all the positions
practice.
range
1. Rapid-fire exercise.
The instructor commands
:
the first
Commence
2.
Firing. At the first command
How
40
and
second
motions
performed.
At
to
of the
exercise
trigger-squeeze
command,
the second
the third motion
Shoot
of the
squeezingthe triggerwithout
of the piece,but at the
position
the
are
soldier performs
exercise,
trigger-squeeze
disturbingthe aim or the
same
time without
undue
removing the rifle from
with the left
the shoulder, holding the piecein position
hand, grasps the handle of the bolt with the righthand,
both hands toward each other, rapidlydraws back
turns
the bolt,closes the chamber, aims and again squeezes the
is repeateduntil the trigger
trigger. This movement
has been squeezed five times, when, without
command,
the pieceis brought back to the positionof "Ready."
When
the soldier has acquired some
in this
facility
ten
exercise,he will be requiredto repeat the movement
he may,
times, and finally,
by using dummy cartridges,
by degrees,gain the necessary quicknessand dexterity
for the execution of the rapid fire requiredin range
firing.
Methods.
The methods
of takingposition,
ing,
of aimand of squeezingthe trigger,
taught in the preceding
exercises,should be carried out in the rapid-fire
exercise,with due attention to all details taught therein;
the details being carried out as prescribed
except that
deliberation.
He
then, without
In order that any
greater promptness is necessary.
tendency on the part of the recruit to slightthe movements
of aiming and of trigger
squeeze shall be avoided,
the
exercise
rapid-fire
is thoroughly drilled
exercises.
will not
and
be
taught until
familiar
with
The
the
the recruit
preceding
recruit will be instructed that with
practice
in this class of fire the trigger can
be squeezed
promptly
without
deranging the piece.
How
42
to
Shoot
aiming kneelingthere is,from the nature of
the position,
a
tendency to press the butt of the rifle
instead of againstthe hollow of
againstthe upper arm
the head considerably
the shoulder ; this will necessitate inclining
and by
to the right to get the line of sight,
bringingthe rifle so far to the rear will,if the thumb is
it to giveby the recoil a
placedacross the stock, cause
When
mouth.
blow upon the nose
or
be avoided by advancing the
These difficultiesmay
time raisingit
rightelbow well to the front, at the same
so
that the
hollow of the shoulder will then be
the rifle butt, and
the
ground. The
the natural placefor
will be brought too
with
parallel
is about
arm
rightthumb
the
the face to strike it in the recoil.
far from
Some
riflemen
prefer,by bending the ankle, to rest
the ground, the weight of the body
instepflat on
the upper part of the heel ; this obviates
on
coming more
the
; or, by resting
any tendencyof the rightknee to slip
rightside of the foot on the ground,toe pointingto the
front,to bring the weightof the body on the left side of
authorized.
the foot. These positions
are
Choice of Position.
In firing
ness
kneeling,the steadiobtained depends greatly
adopted.
upon the position
The
of the individual
of conformation
peculiarities
soldier exert when
firingkneelinga greater influence
than when
or
firingeither standing,
sitting,
prone; the
instructor should,therefore,
endeavor, noticing
carefully
the build of each soldier,
to placehim in the position
for
which he is best adapted and which will exert the least
the
tension
or
strain upon
the muscles and
be remembered, however, that without
elbow
on
the knee
of steadiness
over
this
the
It should
nerves.
the rest of the left
position
possesses
standingposition.
no
advantage
How
to
Shoot
43
Taken.
The
Kneeling Position; When
kneeling
positioncan be taken more
quicklythan either the sitting
the prone
or
position. It is, therefore, the position
when
soldier,who is standing or
a
naturallyassumed
appearin
advancing,has to make a quick shot at a moving or dissteadiness than can be
objectand desires more
obtained standing.
Position
In many
the
and
cases
Drill, SittingDown
Aiming
while
the men,
piecemoderately steady,can
better results.
much
All
able to kneel
obtain
in
and
hold
sittingposition
a
structe
should, therefore, be in-
down
well as kneeling.
as
aiming sitting
the soldier in the precedingexercises in
To practice
in a single
the squad being formed
sittingposition,
in
a
rank, with
should
an
interval of
one
pace
first be brought to "Order
then commands
:
At
this command
The
exercise
between
the rifle
files,
arms"; the instructor
Sit down.
make
half face to the
rightand,
assisted by the left hand on the ground, sit down, facing
slightlyto the right,the left leg directed toward the
both heels,but
front, rightleg inclined toward the right,
the bottoms of the feet, on the ground,
not necessarily
the right knee slightly
higher than the left; body erect
time
and carried naturallyfrom the hips;at the same
drop the muzzle of the piece to the front, and to the
of the first motion of load, righthand upon the
position
thigh,just in front of the body, the left hand slightly
above, but not restingupon, the left leg.
will
be
a
executed
as
heretofore
except that at the command
exercise)the soldier will rest the left elbow
scribed,
pre-
(position
'Two"
on
the left
How
44
to
Shoot
knee, the pointof the elbow in front of the kneecap,and
rightelbow
the
knee, at the
same
againstthe left or inside of
the body from
time inclining
the
right
the hips
forward.
slightly
exercises the
the aiming and trigger-squeeze
For
will be 2y2 feet from the
pasters,used as aiming points,
floor or the ground.
rest or on the completionof the
To afford the men
kneelingor sittingdown exercises the instructor will
command
Rise, when
the "Order
resume
Remarks.
the
men
rise,face
to the
front, and
arms."
precedingpositionis carefully
steadiness is quicklyattained. The rightleg
practiced,
should not be carried so far to the rightas not to afford
brace for the rightelbow.
a good support or
be modified, but, in general,
not
This position
may
without impairingthe steadiness of the man,
by crossing
the legs at the ankle, the outside of each foot resting
erect, and the knees slightly
upon the ground,body more
raised than in the previousposition.
more
If
Position
From
the nature
the
and
Aiming Drill,Prone
of the
it is not practicable
position
to execute
lowed
folthese exercises accordingto the method
when
standing or kneeling. Instruction will,
however, always be given with reference to the position,
to the manner
of assuming it,and to aiming and squeezing
the trigger.
For this purpose the squad beingformed as specified
and aiming drill,
down
above,in the position
(the
sitting
black plasters
therein mentioned
being about 12 inches
from the ground), the squad will be brought to "Order
arms."
How
Then
(the squad
instructor commands
either
:
Lie
Shoot
to
45
standing or
down, which
kneeling),the
will be executed
in the Drill Regulations;the legs may
be
prescribed
spread apart and the toes turned out if found to give a
steadier position.
After the squad has taken the position
as
prescribed
above, the legs should be inclined well to the left,and
either crossed or separated as the soldier prefers or as
conformation
his particular
to render
sirable
demost
appears
and the body at the same
time inclined slightly
to the right.
and' practice
the soldier may
With
care
acquire an
he is able to assume
with great
easy positionwhich
facility.
Being at "Ready," the instructor then commands:
Exercise.
2.
1.
Trigger squeeze.
as
the latter command
At
front
and
carry the left elbow to the
the left hand under the
to the right,
slightly
weight of the body mainly supported
the
on
by the left elbow, the rightrestinglightly
floor or ground.
(Two. ) Slide the riflewith the righthand through
barrel at the balance,
the left hand
to the
front
until the left hand
in front of the
triggerguard
rifle with
hands
both
and
; at
the
press it
same
time
againstthe
is
a
little
raise the
hollow
of
the shoulder.
and carry
the mark
the rifle upon
the further details of aiming and squeezingthe trigger
(Three.)
out
as
exercise.
trigger-squeeze
the position,
lying down.
the
the men
have acquiredwith accuracy
without
they will be practiced,
position,
in
prescribed
Then
As
Direct
resume
soon
as
details of the
the
How
46
to
Shoot
aiming and squeezingthe triggerat will ;
exercise in the prone position
after which the rapid-fire
skill and dexterity
the necessary
will be practiced,
being
acquiredby degrees.
To afford the men
cise,
rest, or on completionof the exerthe numbers, in
the instructor will command
:
Rise, which is executed
the Drill
Regulations.
for firing
The precedingposition
Remarks.
lying
down
tion
possesses in a greater degree than any other posiof the
to the configuration
the merit of adaptability
low
ground; it enables the soldier to deliver fire over
parapets or improvisedshelters,thus making the best
the soldier in
The importance of training
of cover.
use
should not, however, be
firingfrom the other positions
the prone
quently
lost sightof, since from
positionit will frebe impossible
the objective.
to see
Back
not authorized.
are
positions
In the prone
when
position,
aiming, the left elbow
as
in
prescribed
should
be well under
the barrel,the other
elbow
what
some-
to the
dency
right,but not so far as to induce any tento slip
the floor or ground.
on
The
greater changes in elevation requiredin first
the rifle on the objectshould be givenby altering
directing
the positionof the left hand under the barrel,the
slighter
changes only by advancing or withdrawing the
shoulder.
As
the
ing
body does not yieldto the recoil,as when firthe force of recoil,if the rifle
standingor kneeling,
is not properly held, may
severelybruise the soldier.
It is one
of the objectsof this exercise to so teach him
that this will be preventedby assuming a correct position.
Care
must
be. exercised that the butt is not brought
How
againstthe
to the front
the
body or
positionin
collar bone.
or
rear,
and
toward
which
Shoot
47
By moving the shoulder slightly
by moving the rightelbow from
it,each soldier
may
determine
the shoulder
rifle the easiest rest.
which
to
This
givesto the butt
will probablybe the
the
of the
one
in
the force of the recoil will be least felt.
The
obtains
soldier should
persistin
this exercise until he
in which he feels no constraint,which
position
and from
will not subjecthim to bruises from the recoil,
which
the mark
plainlythrough the sights.
appears
he must
not change it
Having secured such a position,
when firing,
as
a variation in the pointsof support of
the distance of the eye from the rear
the rifle,
or
sight,
the tension of the hold has a decided effect,especially
the location of the point
at the longer ranges, upon
a
struck.
Important. The soldier should be encouraged to
at other than drill
go throughthese exercises frequently
hours, care being taken that,in the aiming and triggerdefinite objectfor
he alwayshas some
squeeze exercises,
a
mark.
sling. After the soldier has been drilled in
and prone posithe proper standing,
tions
kneeling,sitting,
the use of the slingwill
in the foregoingexercises,
be taught. Adjustments and their advantages will be
taught with the idea of noninterference with quickness
exercises
of action. The trigger-squeeze
and freedom
will then be continued in the different positions,
using
the sling.
Description and adjustment. The slingis made
the arm
up of four parts: the long strap,A, forming
loop;the stort strap,B; and the two keepers,C and D.
Use
At
one
of
end of each of the straps there is a metal claw,
How
48
Shoot
to
the
adjustingthe straps. At the other end of
the longer
short strap there is a metal loop through which
the two traps.
strap is passed,thus connecting
used for
Fig.
37
P
To
A^^^
/
/
of
holes
proper
being
necessary
the slingdoes.
What
using
There
until you
the
take
up
It
(1 )
things:
the recoil,
"
the "kick."
that is,to reduce
use.
It does two
(2) helpsto
and
steadies the rifle,
of
short
loop).
(the arm
Its
in
also made
the
adjustment as
the long strap
strap, such
be
slingfor
the
the claw of the
firing,
short strap is disengaged and reengaged in the
"
may
adjust
are
a
decide upon
different
with
sling. Experiment
find and
methods
of different
number
the method
ones
best suited
to you.
The
slingshould
well
as
as
at
firing,combat
be used in all
"
tice
prac-
target practice.
Always adjustthe slingso that it will be tight.
the arm
Have
loop no longer than is necessary
reach
the middle
the arm,
the arm
hold the
have
of the small of the stock.
the lower end
of the
pit,with the keeper well
loop fast.
When
loop well
presseddown
arm
up
so
to
on
near
as
to
How
50
Shoot
through
loop,(Fig.39) bringingthe loop
Extend
2.
the
to
the
arm
on
,
well up
near
the
the
pitof
arm,
grasping
the piece
with the left
and
hand,
pressingdown
3.
the
keeper,A.
Place left hand between
slingand piece,(Fig. 40),
the hand
be-
i n g pressed
well forward
toward
upper
A.
back
the
sling swivel,
Notice
how
the
of the hand
restingagainstthe
of the sling.
is
flat
How
4.
is
to
Shoot
51
positionof aim, Fig. 41. Pressure
sling by pressing forward the left
hand, and holding the rifle to the
shoulder with the righthand.
member
Re-
to the
Come
applied to
the
whatever
that
pressure
r-
apply
you
be the
must
for
same
each
shot.
Notice
and
42)
left hand
of
the
how
well
is, and
(Figs.41
forward
how
the
the
flat
slingis restingagainst
the
wrist
and
back
See
how
the
short
of
hand.
Fig. 41
Right
side view
strap, C,
(Fig. 41),
of the
The
slingis correctlyloose.
thumb
should
be held
as
along the stock
shown
(A) in Fig.
42.
tion
Holding of piece and posiof body. While, because of
differences
in contour
of body, it
Fig.
Left
42
side view
How
52
to
Shoot
piecethe same
waj
there
of the body,
ar"
the same
and to assume
positions
in both the holding of the pieci
certain basic principles
be observed t(
of the body that must
and the position
get the best results in shooting. For example, amon"
which are:
holdingthe left am
well under the piecein all firing
is not
for
possible
all men
to hold the
,
Side
view
holdingthe left
except sitting;
positions
hand as near
to the upper
slingswivel as
stock and
; placingcheek against
possible
eye as close to cockingpieceas possible;
slingtight;pointof elbows in kneeling
and
sittingpositionsto be slightlyin
front of knees.
Without
violatingany
other principles
take hold
and assume
the position
of
is most
comfortable
of
of
the
these
or
the
piece
body that
to you.
Front
view
How
to
Shoot
53
-r
Fig.
43
and
the
various
illustrations show
methods
fing
the
of
holdusingthe sling,
pieceand taking position.
Study
c
by
the
our
carefully,
out, for they
them
and try them
are
following
ones
that
are
used
best shots.
Standing position.Fig. 43.
Notice positionof feet; body
elbow
well balanced ; right
raised ; left elbow pressed ^
clined
close to body; head inf
well to right;
sling
passing
Fig. 44
isPP*
inder
f!left
arm
pitand
tight;
very
of slingpressing
tightness
against left wrist; body
right
leaningback slightly;
thumb
along stock.
Kneeling positions.1.
Fig. 44. Notice rightknee
pointingto rightflank;left
elbow resting
left knee,
on
point of elbow well over
'nee; rightheel supporting
ody; body bent forward;
chumb
along stock; cheek
Fig. 43.
at
'ig.45
againststock; slingas
in
arm
Fig. 47
How
to
Shoot
55
Fig. 45. Notice rightfoot on which soldier is
of left elbow; left hand well forward
note position
sitting;
near
slingswivel ; rightthumb alongstock ;
upper
body bent forward.
is excellent,if your build will enable
This position
2.
you
to take
it.
Sittingpositions.1. Fig. 46. Note how head is
held along stock;
and rightthumb
bent well forward
left hand well forward; heels dug into ground; body
bent well forward; arm
through loop of sling;note
elbows.
of
Fig. 47. Same as Fig. 46, except position
of head, hands
feet and legs. Study carefully
position
2.
and elbows.
Fig. 48. Rapid fire. Keep pieceat
head when bolt
the shells,
while ejecting
raising
back, and keepingrifleand elbows in place.
3.
r
?
Fig. 48
shoulder
is pulled
Fig. 49.
which
piece,
of body
position
general
Note
4.
of
to Shoot
How
56
show
and
errid
solidity.
firmness and
IT
Fig. 49
Study this picture
carefully.
of righthand,
of thumb
(Note incorrect position
which should be alongstock and not across
it.)
Prone positions.1. Fig. 50.
Placing piece to
shoulder. Left hand well forward, piecerestingon flat
Fig. 50
of hand
turned
and
not
on
front
fingers;
to left; left elbow
grasped in righthand
2.
Fig. 51.
and also how
Note
and
of
well under
placedin
excellent
body
rifle; butt of stock
hollow of shoulder.
of
position
left elbow is well under
raised and
rifle.
left hand,
How
58
the
Sandbag rest.
piecedirectlyon
to
Shoot
Fig.
53
the
In
sandbag
sandbag as
the
rest
men
some
in
shown
Fig.
resl
I
54.
"i
.-"!""!":
:"-".-.",
"
(i
tffl
'PfH!^
""?^PB
"*
Fig.
54
is in getting uniformity.
The
positiont
Difficulty of this position of piece on sandbag
them
head
are
good.
Study
of feet, hands, legs, and
carefully.
very
Others
the
rest
sandbag,as
the
in
piece on
Fig. 55.
the
hand, which
rests
on
Fig. 55
Advantage
Note
The
rests
of this position of piece is that it is suited
incorrect
should
position of left foot, which
secret
is uniform
of
in
to
be
giving
same
as
uniformity
of hold.
right foot
shootingwith the sandbag^
holding, that is,holdingthe piecethe!11
success
"
How
same
the
on
each
way
bag, as
"
in
Fig. 55,
is the
59
positionwith
the
and
time,
Shoot
to
the hand
best suited to
one
getting
this result.
Deflection
Drills)
(Sight-Setting
Sight Correction.
Drills
Correction
Elevation
and
You
find when
may
firingat a
bull's-eyeor
target that the first shot has missed the
Sgure. Now, one of two things may be done in order
the second shot to hit the bull's-eye
or
figure:
:o cause
(1 ) The pointof aim may be changed,or (2 ) the sights
nay
be moved
In
order
and
to
do
the
accurate
have
7%ffi"Tjlm
/M/Ytf /w
point as before aimed
shooting it is necessary
same
which
to
aim;
p
the
one
to be used.
Exercises.
order
^SJjgffi]?
to
elevation
in
and
that
deflection
is, in
proceed
t
V
nes
to
nes
to
as
(windage),
sight-setting,
"
"
follows:
3f"owrs.
Take
FlG- 56
In
givethe soldier
in making corrections
practice
"rAMS.
O
at
consequently,
tions,
except for very slightcorrecof moving
the method
the sights,
involving changes
and
in elevation
windage, is
MfiPS
f*"
//
to
mark
well-defined
a
at.
rule
an
"A"
it off with
target and
red
vertical
represent range and black or blue horizontal
represent windage deviations, as in Fig. 56.
How
60
Tell the
sights (eitherpeep or open)
the sights (assisted
windage. Examine
yards,no
for 200
Shoot
their
set
to
men
to
officers and
the lieutenants, noncommissioned
bv
expert riflemen).
Then
your
sightsset
have
them.
as
now
you
shot
The
a
with
yards
200
at
ample,
ex-
fired
have
"You
shot
for
say,
was
(pointingto
T,' Fig. 56). Change
your sightsso as to move
here
marked
the
bull's-eye,con
sid
take
the
"
that
you
hold
as
you
the
into
shot
next
did
4Of"f3P0M0,
1
ering
same
last
the
time."
/
I
(Note.
sight
the
this
In
om
case
v
""4//6" SOP
j
I
1
osa"zfcr/o//.
po/ur
Fig. 57
lowered
m"r's'
-1
to
eoAPSs/VAW/ro
be
should
*P0/Af7S
/
O
wwararair
K4fiP3
1
1
r
1
r
1
1
'**
t
75
yards and 2
points of left windage
should be taken. )
Repeat with different
positionsfor "P" until the
a^
men
nT""fl"w"v
H^3"^
the method
for 300
and
600
57,
no
58
and
Do
reasons.
Fig. 68
understand
the
same
yards, 500 yards,
yards. See Figs.
and
59.
Explain that in firing
changein sightsshould
How
until the
be made
then
change
Shoot
to
that his hold
is sure
man
without
61
good, and
was
hesitancy.
The
correct
their
=1""and
fO
firinga
shot.
will
This
work
on
Elevation.
so
_/00
7
t^
o
the
The
distances
the
rear
range
As
previously
explained, raising
sightincreases the
of
the
bullet
and
/tPMTf.
/
lowering
Fig.
time
range
isn*"s.
7f
exercise
much
save
and
C0**SJPt?AU"/#6
sights
adjustment
proper
be taught without
thus
/rcan
of
use
it decreases
the
59
method
range.
the
rear
setting
of
sightfor
different
explained on page 221.
The amount
of change which a given amount
of elevation
will cause
in the pointstruck varies with the range
and
with
was
the rifle and
with the ammunition
used.
For
in order,
example,generallyand approximately,
of 500 yards, to change the point struck 1
at a range
be changed 48 yards,while to
foot, the rear sightmust
change the point struck 1 foot at 1000 yards it must be
changed 12 yards. That is to say, if you fired a shot
at 300 yards,and then with the same
aim, hold and other
conditions as before, you raised your rear
sight48 yards,
the next
one,
[first
shot would
and
ibullet would
one.
If
if you lowered
then strike the
firingat
yards would
strike the
cause
1000
the
target
rear
1
foot above
the
sight48 yards,the
target 1 foot below the first
yards,raisingthe
the bullet to strike the
sight 12
target 1 foot
rear
How
62
higherand lowering the
to
rear
Shoot
sight 12 yards would
cause
it to strike 1 foot lower.
following table gives the approximate changes
the pointstruck 1 foot at ranges
rear
sightto move
100 to 1000
yards:
The
in the
from
The
score-books
contain
elevation
consult
the chart
issued
charts
by
all you
have
to do is to
score-book
in order to get the I
amount
in order
to raise
Deflection
lower
the
windage
your
(windage).
(side movement)
screw
division of the
at
moves
any
particularrange
shots any
desired
Corrections
of the bullet
that
Department
and
of your
of elevation necessary
or
the Ordnance
are
made
the movable
in
distance.
the
by
tion
deflec-
means
of
base, each
graduations on the rear end of the movable
base being called a "point of windage."
One point of windage moves
the pointstruck 4 inches
for each 100 yards of range.
How
to
Shoot
63
yards, 1 point of windage
the point struck 4 inches; at 200 yards,8 inches
moves
(2x4); at 300 yards, 12 inches (3x4), etc.
carrying
Consequently,if at 100 yards the wind were
is to
That
your
say,
at
bullets 8 inches
100
to
the
side, you
would
take
two.
and if the
pointsof windage to get on the bull's-eye,
wind were
carryingyour bullets 20 inches to the side,
take 5 pointsof windage, irrespective
of the
you would
rate at which the wind
was
blowing.
carryingyour
Again, if at 200 yards the wind were
bullets 8 inches to the side, you would take 1 point of
windage, and if it were
carryingyour bullets 20 inches
would
take 2?/9 points,irrespective
of
to the side, you
the rate at which the wind was
blowing.
In using the wind
remember
windage is
gauge
always taken in the direction from which the wind is
in the same
corning(intothe wind) and the bullet moves
4hat is,if the wind
direction that the rear sightmoves
is coming from the right,you take rightwindage and
the bullet will strike to the right. Likewise if you move
the rear sightto the left(takeleftwindage), the bullet
will strike to the left.
Winds
Designation of winds.
are
designatedas
"
,
"12
pending
o'clock," "1 o'clock," "2 o'clock," etc., winds, dethe direction
on
Imagine
face of
a
will be
on
A
a
clock and the
rear
your
the
from which they come.
firingpoint to be in the middle
wind
3 o'clock
target to be
9 o'clock
your right,
and 12 in your front.
on
of the
at 12 o'clock ; 3 o'clock
your
left,6 o'clock in
blowingfrom your rightto your left is called
wind ; one
blowing from your rear is called a
How
64
6 o'clock
wind;
.3
one
books
score
^
^
your front, 12
o'clock wind, etc.
from
The
Shoot
to
^
fy
nance
by the OrdDepartment
windage charts ^
issued
have
been
that have
out
all you have to
do is this : Estimate
and
of
the
miles
per
the
force
wind
in
^
v
^"t
"
determine
hour, and
t,
FlG*
"
it
the
it
"
60
n
direction
which
g
_,
^
care-
worked
fully
"m".i
from
(whether a
comes
9
o'clock
look at the
wind, etc.). Then
wind,
windage
o'clock
2
a
chart
and
see
windage you must take.
The
simplestand best rule for the beginner is for
him to make
his estimate and then ask an experienced
shot what windage to use, checkingthis up with what he
found on the windage chart. In this way he soon
learns
justhow
much
to estimate
for himself.
Practice
been
up
5's and
making
with
You
can
Throw
they are
find out
or
grass
up
some
blown,
wind.
4's what
Ask
windage
a
man
who
has
he used and check
estimate.
own
your
smoke,
wind
estimatingthe
or
the direction of the wind
by
ing
watch-
the limbs of trees.
small straws
wet
your
and
fingerand
cools the side it strikes.
watch
which
way
hold it up.
The
How
66
The
of the front
use
while
off and
rubbed
Shoot
sightcover
prevent the
possesses no
black from
also lessens the effect
this and
of
Because
it does
to
also because
the
vantages,
disad-
being
of lightchanges.
front sight cover
mended
habituallyin battle, its use is recomin all firing.
oughly
Gallery practice. After the soldier has been thoraiming,
instructed in sighting,and in the position,
be
would
used
he is exercised
deflection,and elevation correction drills,
firingat short ranges (50 and
rifle (.22caliber).
gallerypractice
in
75
yards) with
the
ing
Notwithstanding the value of the positionand aimit is impossibleto keep up the soldier's interest
drills,
if these exercises are
unduly prolonged. By gallery
and
however, the interest is easilymaintained
practice,
further
especiallyin teaching the trigger
progress,
is made.
Many of the external influences,
squeeze,
affect the firing,
which
the range
on
being absent, the
soldier is not puzzled by results for which, at this stage
of his education, he could
to
firingwith
surest
Not
account
were
he advanced
full
recoil to induce
finds that he
not
can
stimulus
charges. Furthermore, as there is no
the soldier soon
nervousness
or
flinching,
make
is the
good scores, and this success
to interest.
of value ;
only to the beginner is gallerypractice
to the good shot it is a means
of keeping,to a certain
and practicein shooting,
much
extent, in practice,
as
as
in anything else,is essential. Since it can
be carried on
value
throughout the year, gallerypracticeis of much
in fixingin the men
the habit of aimed fire,
than which
nothing in his trainingis of more
importance.
Procedure
in
Shoot
How
to
rapid
fire.
The
67
soldier
should
be
of -rapid fire,and
thoroughlydrilled in the mechanism
instructed in the procedure to be followed on the range
which are
as
and in the regulations
governing same,
follows
At
:
200
yards there
will be but
one
man
firingat
each
charge of the line will command
the pieceloaded
The magazine will be filled,
"Load."
with one
cartridgetherefrom, and the safetylock turned
all is ready in the pitthe targetsto be
to "Safe."
When
will be drawn
fired upon
(the rear targets
fullydown
being blank or targets of another class than those being
fired upon ) and a red flaghoisted at the center target.
the officer in charge of
the red flag is displayed,
When
line will command
the firing
"Ready," when the safety
the positionof
lock will be turned
to the ready and
"Ready" standingassumed, with the sling,if used, on
line will then
The officer in chargeof the firing
the arm.
call so that all may
hear, "Ready on the right;ready on
the officer in charge calls out "Ready
the left." When
call
is not ready must
who
the right,"etc., anyone
on
If any soldier fails
-."
out, "Not
ready on target
that he is ready, and if he
to so call,it will be assumed
he will be given a
the target appears
fails to fire when
officer in
target. The
,
total miss
for that
score.
firingline being ready, the pit is signaled or
this
telephoned,"Ready on the firingline." When
signalis received in the pit,the red flag is waved and
lowered and five seconds thereafter the targets appear,
remainingin sightone minute and then disappear. The
ing
soldier,without coming to the "Order," takes the kneelor
soon
as
as
sittingposition
any part of the target
The
How
68
fire and
begins to
appears,
with
a
full
Shoot
to
attempts
are
fired
or
loading
shots,rethe belt,and
fire 10
from
is taken
clipwhich
to fire until 10 shots
continues
to
until the
target
disappears.
In
or
case
when
is
more
repeated.
At
300
the soldier
part of the
and
cartridgecounts a miss.
of a defective cartridgeor a disabled piece,
than 10 hits are made
on
a target,the practice
unfired
Each
except that
yards the procedureis the same,
the prone
as
assumes
positionas soon
any
target appears, the time limit being 1 minute
seconds.
10
yards the procedure is the same, except that
with the pieceat the
the soldier is in the prone position,
shoulder, before the target appears, the time limit being
At
500
1 minute
and
20
seconds.
all ranges, in rapid fire,firingis from a full clip,
the belt. In
be loaded from
the second clipmust
At
and
clip jams
singly.
case
a
At
the
breaks, cartridgesmay
expirationof
the
time
be
loaded
limit, the target is
being giv"m.their
In case
of more
than 10 hits on a target,
proper value.
the target will not be marked
but the firing
line will be
notified and the firingon that target repeated. In case
soldier fires on the wrong
a
target, only such shots as
he may
have fired on his own
target will be counted on
his score.
He will be given misses for the remainder
of
pulled
his
and
marked,
all hits
score.
In
the
down
or
than one
firingrapid fire,if more
target is used,
order of men
at the firingpoint will fire together,
How
man
one
time.
69
Shoot
target, all targets being fired upon
at each
one
to
at
sightis used at all ranges in rapidfire.
Estimating distance. Abilityto estimate distances
correctlyis an important part of a soldier's education.
While it is true that fire on the battlefield will usually
the
be by groups
and the ranges will be given by officers,
battlefield is reached
only after a long series of experiences
and outpost duty, in which
in scouting,patrolling,
where
it is
the soldier is frequentlyplaced in positions
battle
The
to
for himself
that he shall determine
necessary
be used
There
that his fire may
of
different methods
in order
are
(for example, by sound, trial
etc.),but the only
know
soldier need
those
are
of
the range
be effective.
estimatingthe range
strumen
shots, range-findinginthe
that
ones
average
estimatingdistance by
the eye and by trial shots.
To estimate distance by the eye with accuracy, it is
to
the appearance,
to be familiar with
as
necessary
which
be compared
can
length, of a unit of measure
mentally with
the distance which
convenient
most
unit of
lengthis 100 yards.
of
the soldier the extent
upon
is to be estimated.
a
The
To
stretch of 100
impress
yards two
posts 100 yards apart, with short stakes between to mark
the barracks, or on
each 25 yards,should be placednear
requiredto pace off the
distance several times, counting his steps. He
marked
100
of his steps make
will thus learn how
yards
many
the drill
and
ground, and the
will become
whole
distance
Next
shown
him
a
familiar
and
distance
and
soldier
with
the
of its fractional
of
more
he will be
than
appearance
of the
parts.
100
requiredto
yards will
compare
be
this dis-
How
70
tance
100-yard unit
with the
Shoot
to
and
his estimate, he will be
made
estimate it.
to
Having
curacy
verifyits ac-
requiredto
distance.
by pacing the
day should be spent in this practice,
the soldier often being requiredto make his estimate
structo
by raisinghis rear-sightleaf and showing it to the inA
few minutes
After
each
requiredto pace the
unusually inaccurate.
soldier should
The
distance from
by
a
the enemy,
observation
careful
taught that, in judging
be
line may
be
seen.
the
be corrected
may
clearness with which
his estimate
of
the
of limbs
details of dress,the movements
a
is
the estimate
only when
distance
be
soldier should
first drills the
the
of the filesin
or
In order to derive the benefit of this
method, the soldier will be requiredto observe
the details noted
above
in
singlemen
posted at varying distances,which
or
all
closely
squads of men
will be measured
and
announced.
in
of
of
Although the standing and kneelingsilhouettes used
field practiceafford good objectsupon
which to estimate
distances,the instructor should make
frequentuse
this is the class
as
livingfiguresand natural objects,
targets from which the soldier will be compelled to
estimate
his range in active service.
Methods
of estimatinglong distances
The
be
by the
eye.
followingmethods are found useful:
(a) The soldier may decide that the objectcannot
than
more
a
certain distance
distance; his estimates
closest
possiblelimits
the range.
and
the
away
must
mean
nor
be
less than
kept
a
within
of the two
taken
tain
cer-
the
as
How
(b)
The
the middle
half distance
distance
familiar
soldier selects
point of
into
a
certain
a
71
point which
whole
the
doubles
and
Shoot
to
he considers
distance, estimates this
similarlydivides the
of lengths which
are
he
it,or
number
to him.
soldier estimates
the distance
along a
(c) The
side, having on it wellline,as a road on one
parallel
defined objects.
of several estimates
(d) The soldier takes the mean
made
is not
This method
by different persons.
plicabl
apto instruction.
modified by varyobjects: How
ing
conditions of light;difference of level,etc. During
instruction the men
should be taught the effect of
varying conditions of lightand terrain upon the apparent
distance of an object.
Objects seem
nearer
the objectis in a brightlight.
(a) When
the color of the objectcontrasts sharply
(b) When
with the color of the background.
(c) When
lookingover water, snow, or a uniform
Appearance
of
"
surface like
a
wheat
field.
(d) When
lookingfrom a heightdownward.
(e) In the clear atmosphere of high altitudes.
distant
Objects seem
more
in the ground.
(a) When
lookingover a depression
there is a poor lightor a fog.
(b) When
(c) When
only a small part of the objectcan be
"
seen.
(d) When
looking
higherground.
from
low
ground upward
ward
to-
How
72
due
recoil,or the "kick," of the rifleis
recoil. The
The
the
explosionof
the
to
Shoot
to
changed into a gas and this gas needs
the cartridgegives it. Something must
The
pressure of the
walls of the
The
so
"
is
with
the
The
is
than
room
more
give way.
equal in
every
prevent motion
chamber
is in the direction of the
force used
same
in
rifle is much
tion.
direcways,
side-
length
ward
sending the bullet.for-
that which
as
is
powder
heavier
sends
than
the rifle
the bullet,
"
heavy and moves
correspondingly
of equal weight,they would move
If they were
same
speed.
times
425
slower.
The
exactly the
backwards.
about
powder
that all motion
of the barrel.
The
powder.
as
"
loosely,will- move
against the
shoulder quickly and will give a hard blow.
If it is
pressedfirmlyagainst the shoulder it can't get a start
and the recoil becomes
of a kick. Therefore,
a push instead
to avoid
injury,hold the piece pressed firmly
a
against the shoulder, and wear
pad on the shoulder
The
and
on
rifle,if held
the elbow.
Flinching. Don't flinch. Don't be afraid of your
rifle. Flinchingis due to fear. Don't be a coward.
when
Keep your
firing. This will do
open
eye
than anything else to prevent flinching.Also,
more
wear
a
pad on your shoulder and on each elbow; press
the butt hard againstyour shoulder and
be
you cannot
hurt.
Practice
where
You
will
your
"callingyour
rifle was
will have
to
aimed
keep
therebyhelp you
to
your
shots," that is, announcing
"
at the moment
eye
overcome
open
to
of
discharge.
do this,and
flinching.
it
How
74
are
that
knows
he
callingcorrectly,
improperlyset, you
are
Shoot
to
either your
committing
are
some
sights
or
error,
lets you shoot again; you
He
your rifle is a poor one.
call 3 at 3 o'clock,but get a 2 at 8 o'clock. He sees that
rifle.
he tries your
so
something is radicallywrong,
rifle is not
Generally the
study the case
has been
He
fault; so the coach beginsto
at
looking at
you
have a
discoveringthe trouble.
of
the view
with
"
and to see if
good position
butt is properlyplacedagainstthe shoulder.
after the rifle
To observe how your body moves
2.
To
1.
the
see
if you
is fired.
To
3.
see
thumb
your
or
jointof
bruise the third
or
the
cheek with
strike your
fingernails,
fingeragainst
your
middle
your
with
nose
triggerguard.
To
4.
see
if the
pieceIs
canted.
observe if you are
is,holdingyour breath when
5.
To
6.
To
see
Scorebook.
The
book
are
others
if you
Use
breathingproperly, that
the trigger.
you squeeze
"
flinch.
your
scorebook
Scorebook
Bull's-eye
both excellent.
preferthe
scorebook
or
the
yourselfon
strike
if you
Some
other.
issued you
you
fully.
study it care-
the Marine
riflemen
Follow
and
and
and
preferone
Scorewhile
the instructions of the
will
qualifyas
marksman
better.
While
waiting to
take your
line,enter
positionon
firing
date,hour, place,wind,
in your scorebook, the
etc.,justas explainedin the scorebook.
light,
do this; then when
to fire at the
you come
with
the
the same,
same
you
rifle
can
on
start
another
the
day, and
rightin making
Be
same
sure
range
conditions
5's and
to
are
4's in-
How
stead of 2's and
feel around
to
what
so
In
windage
velocityof the
the
was
75
other words, you will not have
will know, for
for the bull's-eye.You
O's.
much
instance,how
Shoot
to
you had the last time and
wind.
If the wind is not
strong this time, you will take less windage,and
you will save
searchingfor the correct
In
time
this way
cold
causes
Therefore, if you
recorded
and
them
shot
Heat
on
a
shots to strike
day
and
made
5's,
other conditions in your
temperature and
know
sheets that you
should
raise your
cold
causes
warm
would
a
pointsin
to strike low.
scorebook, you
firingon
on.
sight-setting.
Effect of heat and cold.
high,and
loss of
and
so
on
looking at
your
elevation,if you
score
were
day.
Effect of moisture.
Dampness
causes
shots to strike
them to strike low. Therefore,
high and drynesscauses
on
damp days take lower elevations than on dry days.
Effect of light. Light affects the aiming without
the beginnerknowing it. It does not, however, affect
the travel of the bullet.
tendency to aim farther below
than if the target were
the bull's-eye
bright. Therefore,
use
higher elevations with dark targets. As it gets
darker, higher elevations should be used.
the light
and correctly
If you always aim carefully
will have little effect on your aiming, that is,if your
eyesightis good.
A
dark target causes
a
"
shooting in a dull lightand a brightsun
there is a tendency to move
comes
out, say on your right,
the front sightto the opposite(left)side of the rear sight
notch, since the near
(right)edge is shaded and obscured
If you
are
How
76
^4
Therefore
somewhat.
Shoot
to
to
%
into
windage
the
sun
this.
(rightin this case) should be taken to overcome
hold higher for a brightlight.
In using battle sight,
out.
We
also raise our
sightsif a strong sun comes
Move
have this rule:
rear
sight
Therefore, we
your
and raise your
into the sun, just as you do for a wind,
"
elevation.
to the target.
Mirage gives a wavering appearance
called
is heated air that is moving. It is sometimes
It
waves."
"heat
the wind
With
between
clear,hot days the
waves
2
and
be
can
14
seen
miles
hour
an
moving
on
the
across
target.
there is
When
or
a
lightsix
o'clock
wind,
straightup, or "boil." Never firewhen
from one
side
boiling, wait for it to move
the other and then take windage to correct for it.
of temperature,
Summary
light and moisture
the
waves
go
the mirage is
to
wind
no
"
effects:
Raise
elevation for
"
Dull
target
Shooting in
Hot
the
sun
gun
Dirty gun
Cold day
Bright or shiningsight
Cloudy day
12
o'clock wind
Lower
elevation
for
"
Bright target
Target in sun
Cold
Clean
Hot
Moist
Full
6
gun
gun
day
day
sights
o'clock wind
Firing with bayonet fixed. In firingwith bayonet
fixed usuallya lower point on the
target will be struck,
correspondingto a reduction of about 50 yards in the
range.
How
to
Shoot
77
Finding the target.
do
where
know
not
correctlyand
aimed
sure
you
should
If you make
the bullet went,
your
miss
a
and
although you
hold was
good,
you
are
you
"
if you
See
1.
Sometimes
have
have
take
men
into the wind.
windage
left windage when
set your
they
should
right.
2.
See
3.
See
if your
whether
has loosened
up
4.
Be
5.
Lower
sure
sightsare
the set
which
screw
and
the slide
that
you
your
at the proper
elevation
clamps
slippeddown
the
used
50
correct
yards
elevation.
the slide
or
up.
notch.
if you
are
firing
yards.
yards. If at 500 or 600 lower 100
Fire again and repeat with another reduction of range.
tion.
elevaIf this does not find the target,add to the original
If your
sights are otherwise correctlyset, you
should find the target before a fourth shot is necessary.
of coaching is perCoaching. While any amount
mitted
in the instruction practice,
coaching of any nature
in record practice.
is strictly
whatsoever
prohibited
after a soldier has taken his place
In record practice,
must
at the firingpoint no
one
attempt to render him
(Par. 96, S. A. F. M.) He is
any assistance whatever.
about anything. (Author)
not to talk to anyone
to fire
Firing in pairs. It is customary for two men
alternatelyat each firingpoint.
rest
Use
distance practice
of rests.
In known
no
except the authorized sandbag at 600 yards slow fire may
at 800
and
1000
be used.
However,
will be
in combat
permitted.
firingsuch
rests
as
are
available
How
78
equipment.
and
Dress
will be
service uniform
Shoot
firingthe
all classes of
In
The
worn.
coat
be omitted
may
post commander.
the
by
authorized
when
to
practicethe soldier will be
equipped with rifle,cartridgebelt, and cartridgebelt
firingthe cartridgebelt suspender
suspenders. When
shoulder if desired.
be slippedfrom one
(Par. 94,
may
S. A. F. M.)
In
distance
all known
The
Range
Target
officer in
Noncommissioned
officer detailed
noncommissioned
charge of pit.
to
look
after
the
A
rangements
ar-
at the butts.
The
the markers
and
The
parapet.
who
in the
are
indicatingthe
The pit. The
in which
space
deep and
depending upon
lengths,
behind
butts.
the
The
targets,are
to 12
shot
holes
house.
targets are placed.
feet wide, of various
the number
called "The
firingpoint. The
is placedwhen firing.
range
10
the
pit,parapet
The
The
pit pasting the
protects
value.
It is a ditch 10 feet
The
of earth which
mound
and
of
backstop,which
is
Butts."
line or spot on
A
targets.
which
house built behind
the
or
near
man
the
butts,and in which target material is kept,targets are
put together,pasted,etc.
The
range
officer.
The
officer
of the range.
management
Disks. The value of the shots
pit with different colored
end of long handles.
are
disks that
with
the
indicated from
the
charged
are
fixed
on
the
How
bull's-
a
(5).
eye
red disk indicates
A
Fig.
79
indicates
disk
white
A
Shoot
to
a
(4 )
center
.
65
Fig. 66
black
A
.
black
A
disk indicates
(3 )
inner
an
white
and
disk
indicates
outer
an
(2).
Fig.
Fig. 67
red
A
red
A
a
ricochet
flagindicates a miss.
white
and
flag indicates
and means
(rick-o-shay),
that the bullet struck the
then
Fig.
a
69
glanced off
The
get.
struck the tar-
and
ricochet
parapet and
Fig.
with
flagis shown
70
disk of the value of the hit.
In
in
practice,
the absence
flagwith white field and red
are
displayed.
A ricochet counts
justas
A
a
68
shot which
shot which
inside the
cuts
cuts
center,
much
the
edge
ring has
any
shot
as
a
ricochet
prescribed
white and red flag
a
of the
clean hit.
is
bull's-eye
the value
a
5;
of the space
ring.
small disks of tin
Spotters. Spotters are
that
of the
fastened
are
a
a
peg
which
is
board
card-
put into the
positionto those at the firing
pair of field glassesthey can be seen
the firingpointand thus the exact loca-
hole to indicate
point. With
from
distinctly
on
or
its
How
80
tion of the hit known.
and
Shoot
to
White
spottersare
used
for 5's
spottersfor all other hits.
black
Targets. There are four targets used, and they are
designatedas "A," "B," "C," and "D" targets.
Target A is used for 200 and 300 yards,slow fire.
Target B is used for 500 and 600 yards,slow fire.
..4'.-
H--
TARGET
--*!
A.
TARGET
B.
Fig. 62
Target
C is used
for 800
and
1000
yards,slow
J. _J
TARGET
Fig. 63
C
r
*-
fire.
How
82
Each
low
of the
the
target is numbered;
the
on
Shoot
to
parapet or
target.
being
backstop,above
the
on
up
number
down
the top
Fig. 72
Each
A
should
man
be
sure
the wrong
One shot wasted
on
bull's-eye
score
sheet.
loss of
fireon his own
target gets a zero
to
in this way
or
expert qualification,
the term
of your
enlistment,
"
"
two
an
may
dollars
a
target.
on
your
mean
the
month
for
expensive piece of
carelessness.
Before
your
own
you
fire
glance up
and
see
that you
are
on
target.
Marking.
One
of the
important duties on the target
is that of marking. The First Sergeant details a
range
certain number
of men
for "pit" detail, usuallytwo
marched
to the pitto be there
are
per target. These men
about 20 minutes before firing
is to commence.
"
the
officer in charge of
They assist the noncommissioned
pit by getting the targets ready and in other ways.
How
83
Shoot
to
firingstarts the markers go to the targetsto
they are assignedand when the firingbeginsthey
for the hole made
by the bullet.
Before
which
watch
little
A
the
your
passingto
one
Just
either
his
tell whether
to
man
a
fired on, since the "crack" of the bullet going
head sounds
differentlyfrom the "crack" of
target was
over
practiceenables
soon
as
by
as
sound
the raised
fired
target was
your
and
seeingthe hole,pullit down
or
Place
the shot hole, and
over
then
where
a
miss
mark
the center
it there
unless
went
you
it. If you
about
POSITIVE
ABSOLUTELY
hold
on,
for
a
it.
lower
indicate
Don't
know
you
target ACCURATELY.
of the disk
moment;
side.
one
guess it, don't do it, let the firer guess,
he is guessing,but he does not think you
know
to
"
"
are
have
he will
are
and
he will go by what you mark.
Suppose you are wrong,
and half the time you are, when
guessing, imagine the
will keep getting
the firer. He
effect it will have on
"
"
further away
Be
and
the
golden rule
The
others
from
as
you
would
target.
of the
have others mark
honest, careful and
your
marking
target range
will be
is:
Mark
for
for you.
quick about
good.
your
marking
the target
miss until you have gone over
carefully. Look in the rings and in the numbers
Don't
mark
a
edges of the
indicatingthe value of hits. Examine
the red
frame
carefully. Then if you are sure, wave
flag.
the target is in place and
Danger signals. When
not in use, always displaythe red signalflagin front of
How
84
it,and
above
be
the
sure
Shoot
to
placethe flag so
to
that it will be well
parapet.
Half-masting the targets. If during the firing
such and such a target
word
is received that firingon
"halfhas ceased, the target in question is at once
and
masted," that is,brought about half-way down,
the red flagdisplayedin front of it.
"
"
Points
to
Remembered
be
Before
Blacken
the front
Firing
and
sights.Smoke from
a small pieceof burning camphor givesthe best results.
Be sure
before blackening
to clean off all oil from the sights
them, therebyinsuringa uniform, velvety,
dry black.
2.
Clean the bore with dry rags and then with a
with gasoline,so as to remove
all oil,
rag saturated
1.
which
is liable to make
See that there is
3.
of it may
some
your
flyinto
no
shots go wild.
oil in the well of the bolt,as
your
Having
blackened
and
will have
rear
eye
when
the
pieceis
charged
dis-
sight and cleaned your
rifle,you should, while waiting for your name
to be
called,spend your time in position
and aiming exercises,
the
aiming at the target or other objectson or near
This practiceprevious to firingwill prevent
range.
4.
nervousness
Also, study the
wind,
velocity.Check up your
experiencedshots in the
5.
Watch
firingline,and
the
see
your
a
marked
effect
on
estimating its direction
conclusions by askingthe
and
more
company.
expert shots while they
what
score.
your
they
are
are
doing. Get
on
the
all the
How
"dope"
from
Shoot
to
85
them
regarding windage, etc.,
before you take your place on the firingline.
When
is called to replacea man
6.
on
your name
the firing
card at once
from the First
line,get your score
of the target to which
Sergeant and give it to the scorer
the First Sergeant has assigned you.
Get
rifle
your
and ammunition, examine
sightsto see if they are
your
stillblack and adjustthem.
Adjust your sling,get out
scorebook
and pencil,
and go up near
your
your firing
point. Enter in your scorebook the date, hour, wind,
light,etc.
can
you
When
7.
point,take
under
any
the
man
you
to relieve
are
leaves the
placepromptly. Then load.
circumstances
load before you
are
your
Do
on
firing
not
the
firingline.
Don't
8.
Keep
your
waste
eyes
do, and
Company
your
open
do
to
are
and
it. Don't
to
breath; let
breathe
until after you
the
have
aiming.
then
hold
Take
a
deep
the remainder
fired.
your
This
each
while
sightsaligned,and graduallysqueeze
trigger. Keep your eye open when you discharge
charge.
after disaim for a moment
piece. Continue
your
2.
your
Get
for
it necessary
the First Sergeant, or
make
Firing
of it out, and
some
Know
the range.
what
you
Remembered
be
While
Don't
on
get after you.
Points
1.
while
learn.
Commander,
else to
someone
time
your
shot.
will enable
you
to
call your
shot.
Call
How
86
shot
each
Record
3.
Shoot
to
in your
follow
light,wind, time, etc., and
record
wise
like-
book, and
score
directions
therein.
Don't
5.
you
well out
cant
shoulder,
be
on
your
littlecant
will throw
rifle in the hollow
the butt of your
not
"
piece. A
ring.
your
of the 4
Place
6.
won't
you
the kick.
by
bruised
and
pads
Wear
flinch.
Don't
4.
of your
tight,for if the
Hold
arm.
pieceis held looselythere will be a hard kick.
Place your
7.
along the stock and
right thumb
press your cheek againstthe stock.
aim too long, get your
Don't
8.
sightsaligned
quickly.
9.
Except when your sight is being marked, don't
shots. Rest your eyes.
look at the target between
"
rub
10.
Don't
11.
Immediately
allow
your
barrel to cool.
with
you
has
whether
and
has
13.
be
sure
another
14.
Then
do
until the
so
and
the bolt to
man
ing
shoot-
aim, fire and
sight to see
by the explosion
rear
your
jarredloose
slippeddown.
Be
sure
you
are
target
In
case
immediately,as
explosion may
In such
reload
examine
the slide has been
It will irritate them.
firingpull back
upon
Don't
fired.
ejectempty shell.
12.
Frequently
eyes.
case
piecewith
using the rightnotch,
firingon the righttarget. A
you
are
for you.
of misfire do not
counts
the hand.
"5"
also
on
"0"
it may
be
result which
cock the
and
draw
of
back
the bolt
hang-fireand an
serious injury.
cause
may
pieceby drawing back the cocking
a
case
How
15.
Do
to
Shoot
87
leave your cartridges
exposed to a hot
them in your belt,which will also keep them
not
Keep
clean. Cartridgesthat have been lyingin a hot sun
will
fire high. This also appliesto cartridgesplaced and
of a hot rifle a considerable time
kept in the chamber
before firing.Never
place the cartridgein the rifle
until you are ready to fire it.
sun.
Points
1.
Never
to
be
Remembered
At
All Times
let the
firingpin
down
by
hand
on
a
If necessary
to carry the
cartridgein the chamber.
in the chamber, turn the
piececocked, with a cartridge
safetylock to the rightas far as it will go, so that the
word "Safe" is seen.
In manipulatingthe bolt always draw
2.
it back
that the empty shell
as far as it will go, thus making sure
will be ejectedand that when the bolt is shoved forward
it will catch the top cartridge
in the magazine.
3.
Be sure
oil in your oiler,
always to have some
and that the thong and brush when not in use are always
in the oiler and thong case.
4.
Keep the cover on the front sighthabitually.
Never
load your pieceor carry cartridges
in the
5.
ordered to do so.
magazine unless specifically
6.
Keep the cut-off turned "Off
except when
using the magazine.
actually
with the safetylock
7.
Carry your piecehabitually
that is to say, locked.
at "Safe"
8.
the slingin all shooting. It will improve
Use
your shooting.
Never
9.
put the muzzle of your piece on the
ground. If you do, you will probablyget dirt in it,and
"
"
How
88
to
Shoot
if you should fire the rifle with dirt in the muzzle, the
barrel will probablybe seriously
injured. Even if you
piece,in removing the dirt from the muzzle
injurethe muzzle and thus reduce the accuracy
don't fire the
you
may
of the rifle.
that to shoot well
Remember
10.
a
must
man
be in
good physicalcondition.
Conclusion
In
Practice, practice,PRACTICE.
There
is
no
good marksmanship, it requireslots of
constant, careful, hard and patientpractice.This is
the only way that the eye, the muscles of the body and
the nervous
system can be kept in that condition which
royal road
to
"
is necessary for them
with one
another and
be in order
to
work
in unison
without
requisite
which good marksmanship is impossible.
It is said that the great pianist,
Paderewski, practices
dumb
hours
in
order
for
to
on
a
piano
every day
So, too, it is
keep his fingersin perfectcondition.
necessary for the rifleman to train his muscles and keep
them
in proper
If
with the mind,
to
condition.
properly trained
or
target when
trained
The
a
convulsive
will not by an improper
pull,the rifle off the
the muscles
movement
the
piece is fired. The muscles must be
to hold the rifle steady.
hand must be taught to SQUEEZE
the trigger
that the aim will not be disturbed and the final
sure
preswill be appliedat the exact moment
when
the top
of the front sightis seen
to be properlydirected on
the
so
target.
The
front
when
be trained to take the same
sighteach time and to be focused on
the pieceis discharged.
eye must
amount
of
the target
How
90
too
in
highly.
to
Shoot
followingillustration shows
The
the rod
use:
It is
from
a
reallyastonishingwhat results
and painstaking
use
persevering
be obtained
of the Hollifield
can
interest" that dispels
rod, which possesses a certain "human
of aimless
entirely the monotony and irksomeness
The
snapping.
describe
device
also
windage
The
a
instructions
for
the
of
the
rod
using
the
instruction
in
use
simple and effective method
for elementary practiceand
of
elevation.
and
latest Hollifield rod is equipped with
an
excellent
cartridgefeature,which enables practicein the
mechanism
of rapid fire,and instruction should be had
with it in rapid fire as well as in slow fire. Men
should
be requiredto call their shots.
The Hollifield Target Practice Rod has been officially
adoptedby the United States Army and can be obtained
requisition
justlike any other article of ordnance
upon
dummy
property.
under
The
National
Section 1661
Militia Laws.
direct from
town, N. Y.
Guard
R. S.,or
Individuals
the Hollifield
of
Section
can,
States
can
get it
17 of the Amended
of course,
purchase it
Target Practice Co., Middle-
Care
and
Preservation
of the
Chapter
CARE
AND
OF
RIFLE
soldier's
of him
The
thought; for, if
time of danger, he
in
THE
"
care
first
91
II
PRESERVATION
Importance.
Rifle
rifle should
of
his
he
would
must
it take
have
take
be
care
it at all
of
care
the
times.
generally recognized fact that more
rifles
become
and unserviceable
inaccurate
by the lack of care
than by firing.
The
instructions for taking care
of the rifle are
few
and
them
well and
stantly,
consimple. Learn
apj)ly them
it only requires a little care
and patience. You
will be well repaid for it. It may
some
day save
your
It
is
a
"
life.
Implements
Materials
and
The
in
following are
cleaning the rifle:
the
Cleaning
for
implements
and
materials
used
Implements
The
the butt
six inches
Oiler
and
of the
stock.
long,
Thong
divided
Case, Fig. 1,
It consists
by
a
Fig.
of
a
is carried
metal
partitioninto
two
tube
in
about
sections
1
\
I
;
How
92
Oiler, A, in which
oil is carried; and
and
brush
small
Thong
of the oiler,and
bottom
Shoot
supply of
sperm
which
in
Case, B,
or
"3-in-l"
the
thong
reaches
to the
carried.
Oiler is fitted with
The
or
are
a
to
a
wire, F, which
is used
for
applying oil,a drop
at the time.
more
The
oil is
only for the lubrication of the working
parts.
pad on the outer end of the Thong
result
Case, G, which prevents the noise that would
from the oiler strikingthe butt plate.
serted
The
Oiler and Thong Case should
always be inin the stock so that the leather pad will be next to
the butt plate.
The soldier should see that there is always a good
supply of oil in the oiler.
The Thong and Brush, used in cleaningthe bore
of the rifle,
shown in this figure.
are
There
is a leather
*
wmm
The
thong tip,A, into which the brush, B, is screwed,
is provided with a rag slot,C; one
end of the thong or
string,is fastened to the tip at D, and other end is
fastened the weight,F, at E.
In cleaningthe bore by means
of the thong,the brush
or
from the muzzle toward
rug should always be drawn
the breech.
The
is not
thong and brush are used in the field,where
to carry the cleaning
rod.
practicable
it
Care
The
to extend
and
of the Rifle
Preservation
Cleaning Rod, Fig.
through the barrel.
Fig.
3, is of sufficient
93
length
3
cleaningrod into the bore from
the breech, and never
from the muzzle, which it may
injureif inserted from that end. The bolt must, of
Always
insert the
always be removed
course,
before
the rod
is inserted.
garrisonand on the target
It is easier to manipulatethan the thong and
range.
brush, cleans the rifle better and is less liable to injure
The
cleaningrod
is used in
the bore.
The
has the
Screw
driver, Fig. 4,
largeblade, A,
blade, B, the spur,
the small
C, and
the
pin,D.
Fig. 4
CfS
The
large blade
platescrew,
screws.
should
the butt
be used
platecap
for the
screw,
and
large butt
the
guard
How
94
The
Shoot
be used
small blade should
except the cut-off
should
to
on
for
spindlescrew,
all other
screws,
the
which
spur
be used.
as
a drift in removing the butt
plate
pin serves
floor plate catch, sear
joint and trigger
cap, ejector,
pins,and the band spring.
The
Materials
Ordnance
Department
Solutions
followingsolutions and oil are
by the Ordnance Department:
Soda
solution.
foulingfrom
Standard
the metal
Swabbing
bore
after the
Used
for
and
furnished
Oil.
The
organizations
removing
the
powder
the bore.
metal foulingsolution.
fouling from
solution
powder
,
and
Used
for
ing
remov-
the bore.
Used
in
the metal
swabbing out
foulinghave
the
been
removed.
in lubricating
mechanism
and
Sperm Oil. Used
other parts of rifle to reduce friction and also to prevent
rust.
Solvent
The
No.
9.
Hoppe's Nitro Powder
author
would
strongly recommend
Hoppe's Nitro
Powder
Solvent No. 9 (soldat all post exchanges) for
cleaning out powder residue, and removing leading,
After
nickel, and rust.
cleaningthe bore be sure to
pass through it a clean patch well saturated with "3-inOne
oil,as it will always prevent rustingin any climate.
The use
of this powder solvent, per instructions on
bottle,is simplerand less laborious than the use of the
Ordnance
the
Department solutions,and it accomplishes
same
thingfullyas well.
and
Care
Oil."
"3-in-One
the author
of the
Preservation
The
best and
of is "3-in-One
knows
Rifle
95
oil
satisfactory
most
Oil," which
is sold at
post exchanges. In addition to being a very high
grade oil,it is put up in a handy can with a screw-top
neck, which makes the most convenient oil container on
all
This oil is used
the market.
than
more
anv
other in the
for
Army, the Marine Corps and the National Guard
cleaningand lubricatingrifles and for preventingrust.
How
oil on the
not pour or squirt
to apply oil. Do
rifle.
Put
few
a
rub
cotton, and
of
drops on
with
pieceof clean cloth,preferably
cloth,thereby avoidingthe use
a
the
amount.
unnecessary
Cams
and bearingscan
an
be oiled this way.
However,
instead because
of greater ease
in
if the oiler is used
oil them
reaching them,
no
than
more
it
merely results
a
waste
in
requires work.
to
cover
complishes
ac-
a
the
The
proper
results in
How
of the bore
care
clean
bore
must
from
the muzzle.
always
factured
manu-
for.
the bore.
be
requiresconscientious,
well in reduced
prolonged accuracy
target practice."
to
of the rifle is
bore
in order that a high
greatest care
fore,
be obtained, and it should, theremay
work, but it pays
in
of the Bore
The
degree of accuracy
be properlycared
and
oil
of oil.
with
careful
with
with
lightcoating,excessive,undesirable smearing and
Care
It
soak
lightly.To
cleaned
labor of cleaning
and
life of the rifle,
With
the
from
Cleaning from
the
better
cleaningrod
breech,
the muzzle
"
the
never
is liable to
How
96
injurethe
otherwise
and
wear
is easilyinjuredand
on
Shoot
to
thus the
mouth
of the barrel,which
piecerendered
inaccurate.
the bolt from the rifle,
First,remove
placethe muzzle
and do not
the floor,a board
or
piece of canvas,
while the
it therefrom
remove
muzzle
Never
place the
should
get into it.
on
cleaning-rodis in the hot:
the bare ground, lest dirt
(Note. Of
cleaning rifles,it should
placingthe muzzle on the floor. )
for
clean
To
they may
What
the
bore
patches
use
easilyrun
care
of the
care
used
of
rag,
preferably
a
of
into squares
through the barrel.
of the bore
bore
rack
be
flannel,cutting them
canton
that
the
if
is vided
proinstead of
course,
such
size
consists of.
consists
Brieflystated,
removing the fouling
face,
chemicallyclean sur-
of
firingto obtain a
and then coating this surface with a film of oil to
prevent rusting.
Kinds of fouling. The foulingwhich results from
firingis of two kinds, the powder fouling,from the
burning of the powder; and the metal fouling,from
the nickel scraped off the bullet as it passes through the
resultingfrom
"
bore.
The
powder fouling is highly corrosive; that is,it
rust
causes
and
be removed
The
eats
as
into the metal, and
soon
as
it must,
fore,
there-
possible.
metal
foulingitself will not cause
rust, but it
the powder fouling and
cover
thus prevent the
may
cleaningmaterial from gettingat the powder fouling,
which,
as
metal
fouling accumulates
reduces
stated before, will eat
the accuracy
in
into the metal.
noticeable
of the rifle.
When
quantitiesit
How
98
How
To
to
proceed
Swab
the
out
powder fouling.
and
breech, pump
convenient
A
solution
soda
with
bore
to do
way
of the rifle into the
the muzzle
solution
cleaning the bore.
after firing,
proceed as
in
the bore
clean
Shoot
to
with
the
can
to
follows:
remove
sert
this is to in-
containingthe
cleaning-rodinserted from
the barrel full
a
few
the
times.
couple of patchesof cloth.
whether
to see
Examine
patchesof metal fouling
any
as
same
in evidence, and if so, then remove
explained
are
above.
If no metal fouling is in evidence, then swab
bing
The
of swabamount
out with the swabbing solution.
mined
requiredwith the swabbing solution can be deteronly by experienceassisted by the color of the
patchesof cloth. Ordinarilya coupleof minutes' work
is sufficient. Dry thoroughly,and oil.
As a measure
of safety a patch should always be
amined
run
through the bore on the next day and the bore exto insure that cleaninghas been properlydone.
The bore should then be oiled again.
of pits. It
Necessity for preventing formation
is a fact recognizedby all that a highly polishedsteel
which is roughless easilythan one
surface rusts much
ened;
also that a barrel which is pitted,
fouls much more
fore,
Every effort,thererapidlythan one which is smooth.
of pits,
should be made
to prevent the formation
which are merely enlargedrust spots,and which not only
affect the accuracy
of the piece but also increase the
labor of cleaning.
If swabbing solution or standard
metal fouling
solution is not available,the barrel should be scrubbed
Remove
and
dry
with
a
and
Care
as
the
already described, with
oiled with
of the
Preservation
the end
At
"3-in-One."
soda
99
Rifle
solution, dried, and
it should
of 2-4 hours
again be cleaned, when it will usually be found to have
but
"sweated."
Usually a second cleaning is sufficient,
at the end
to insure safetyit should be again examined
of a few days, before final oiling.
the swabbing solution should
Of course,
always be
that each
be remembered
used, if available,for it must
is an
incipient rust
"puff" when the bore "sweats"
pit.
What
solutions
just been
furnished by
the
stated before, however, the
less labor if
with
contemplatesthe use of
Ordnance
Department.
said
has
same
the
As
result will be obtained
Hoppe's
Nitro
Powder
barrel.
The
proper
Solvent
No.
9
is used.
How
a
to
oil
a
follows
barrel is as
Wipe
the
cloth and
smear
method
of
ing
oil-
:
cleaning rod dry; select
a
clean
warmed
or
sperm
has soaked into the
it well with
patch of
cosmic
oil,
patch well ;
scrub the bore with patch, finallydrawing the patch
smoothly from the muzzle to the breech, allowing the
cleaningrod to turn with the rifling. The bore will be
quent
and bright so that any subseto be smooth
found
now
spectio
rust or
"sweating" can be easilydetected by in(By "sweating" is meant, rust having formed
ing
under the coating of metal fouling where
powder foulwas
present, the surface is puffed up.)
being sure
Care
often
that the cosmic
of the chamber.
neglected
because
The
chamber
it is not
of the rifle is
readily inspected.
How
100
rapidityof
the
to
bore.
the
as
that it is cleaned
thoroughly
A
roughened chamber
delays greatly
shells
fire,and not infrequentlycauses
should be taken
Care
Shoot
to
to
see
as
stick.
The
bolt.
clean
To
parts thoroughly with
lightlyoil
the
bolt,
clean
remove;
oilyrag; dry, and before
the barrel of
firing-pin,
an
the
sleeve,the striker,the well of the bolt and
be cared
watch.
cams.
issued by the Ordnance
sight cover
protects the front sight.
magazine. The magazine should be
front
The
clean and
The
covered
with
stock.
The
linseed oil
raw
from
rain, dew,
rubbed
in with
Care
wet
the
aimed.
The
of
sembling
as-
sights. Both the front and rear sightsshould
for the works of your
for justas you would
care
If the sightsare injured,the riflewill not shoot
The
as
all
all
or
thin coat
a
stock
once
etc.
the hand.
bolt should
wiped
be
to
a
be
the rifle has been
When
unfavorable
withdrawn
with
after
or
lightcoat
any wetting
thoroughly
a
"
of the mechanism.
exposed
receive
oil should
The
kept
of oil.
should
month,
a
partment
De-
and
climatic conditions, the
all
working parts
dry cloth,and then
gone
over
fully
care-
with
an
oilyrag.
The
thing should be done after firing.
All working parts should habitually
be lightlyoiled
with a thin-bodied oil,such as
oil. ("3-in-One"
sperm
oil is recommended.)
The
same
care
the rifle should
of all metal
be
kept clean
parts.
and
All
metal
free from
rust.
parts of
and
Care
and
Cams
be
bearings.
All
Rifle
and
cams
101
bearings
must
oiled.
constantly
kept
the
of
Preservation
Remember
1.
It
2.
To
a
dry
Emery
removing
to
soften
the
or
a
To
4.
through
a
rust
for
least
rifle that
has
first
;
and
rag,
then
let it
wipe
with
be
used
the
into
against
of
but
bore,
the
soldier
shown
in
Fig.
to
5,
found
in
the
bore,
run
a
rag
day.
circumstances,
exposed
dirt
have
on
flat
to
put
away
bad
weather,
the
ground.
the
which
target
short
to
Fig.
wood
rest
5
foreign
run
may
Always
sight.
a
on
other
or
vehicle
a
On
something.
every
be
rust.
rifle
your
danger
on
will
a
out
with-
it.
lay
step
may
or
bluing.
eraser
dirt
any
fired
cleaning
is there
each
never
the
rubber
and
rust
must
removes
removing
once
been
Never
6.
it also
under
Never,
burnisher
ordinary
an
prevent
at
5.
for
rust,
serviceable
very
one
rust.
remove
oil with
as
paper
However,
only
to
apply
rust,
so
than
prevent
rag.
3.
in
to
remove
awhile
for
stand
is easier
his
matter
it, or
over
rest
it up
ting
getsome
securely
it is well
range
or
Not
metal
rifle.
fork,
for
as
1
~
^
.
ff
^*
"
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rs
^
f
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.
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5
li
;rf?s:
I s
5fSffJP"Mfcw"
"SJrtjO
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fc*S!
9S*"$gg*i
///
/'
Oil
Splendid
in a Handy Can
handiest
have within hands'
can
The
thing a man
of 3-in-0ne.
With
Oil Can
it he
reach is a Handy
and
"ease ' a tight bearing, clean
polish steel or
can
rust
over"
and
tarnish anyon
wood, and "slip one
where.
3 -in-One
Oil
look
All
easier and
better.
makes
everything go
and
Post
Exchanges
Ship's Stores keep it. 10c for
1 oz.
bottle; 25c for 3 oz. ; 50c for 3 oz. (J^ pt.).
shown
Can
holds
3
Oil
above
The
oz.
Handy
can't get it we'll
If you
and sells for 25c.
send
one
by parcel post, full of good
3-in-One
for 30c.
1^1)1^1^ a
^
*""*"'-'
sample and
generous
the
3-in-One Dictionary by mail.
THREE-IN-ONE
OIL CO.,
42 DAL. Broadway, New York
Used
Sam's
Uncle
By
HOPPE'S
Expert Riflemen
NITRO
SOLVENT
POWDER
No. 9
NITRO
Trade
ra
M
Htffh
lotcleanino.
PowerRita SMI
(luniandRW
erjJtoiii"ij"*
i
remove
Ihe rwi
dueof "ny smoiw
to*
w Bart
less
tfer.lnaespeniiWe
forctanmca1"b!ac)i
"rilltiusmc
po""r Removes
Fouling"Bdi
Helai
*imou"
Leadtnfi
toiustoirhttoB
^rusM'WillP"
climsleistRui!
remover ilnesno
"uamo".i"eman
or Sportsman
bewmouU
should
STATION
O.
RUST
Power
(Springfield)Rifles,
of all Kinds.
A
that will remove
the residue
of any
compound
It will
high power
powder, including Black Powder.
neutralize
residue
and
loosen metal fouling and
any
be left in the barrel after cleaning,
leading that may
and
Pitting.
prevent
No. 9 is the only Rifle cleaning Solvent
that will
remove
Rust, Metal fouling and Leading.
For
and
cleaning the .22 cal. Rifles, Revolvers
Automatic
Pistols it has no
equal.
Nitro Powder
Solvent No. 9 is endorsed
by the
most
Riflemen
in America.
prominent
Used
by U. S. Rifle Teams, and at Buenos
Ayres,
No Rifleman or Quartermaster's
Argentine, Matches.
it.
Department should be without
For
Revolvers
Cleaning
and
Sold by Sporting
FRANK
Registered
PREVENTS
REMOVES"
N99
A verfeclsolvent
Mark
A.
HOPPE,
High
Firearms
Goods
Sole
Dealers
and
at
Post
Exchanges
Manufacturer
PHILADELPHIA.
U.
S.
A