BB Rangemaster Training

1. BB Rangemaster Training

2. Course introduction • Introduction: • Instructor introductions • Class introductions • Facilities & Logistics • Length • Course overview

3. Introduction to Cub Scout Shooting Sports Pg. 1 • “Safety through Skill” • Archery & BB Gun are restricted to: • Day Camp • Cub Scout/ Webelos Scout Resident Camps • Council Managed family Camping Programs (Cuboree) • Council Activities • Not to be performed at the Pack/ Den level.

4. Introduction continued Pg. 1 • By providing fun and adventure, Archery and BB gun programs teach: • Skills • Discipline • Self reliance • Sportsmanship • Conservation

5. The Three Rules… Pg. 21 • ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. • ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. • ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready for use. Always – Always - Always

6. Training Outline Pg. 20 Section I (40 minutes) • Brief History of BB Guns (pg. 19) • Safety Guidelines (pg. 21) • Safety Reminders (pg. 22) • What Causes Gun Accidents (pg. 22) • Equipment (pg. 32) • Review Air Guns, Air Compression mechanisms, Safety devices, air gun ammunition, target faces, and backstops. • Review how to maintain, store, and care for equipment.

7. Training Outline Pg. 20 Section II (40 minutes) • Range Layout (pg. 29) • Range Operation Rules (pg. 31)

8. Training Outline Pg. 20 Section III (40 minutes) • Training Cub Scouts (pg. 20) • Teaching Tips (pg. 20) • BB Gun Shooting Basics (pg. 22) • Eye Dominance (pg. 23) • Shooting Shoulder (pg. 23) • Breathing (pg. 23) • Sight Alignment (pg. 23) • Trigger Squeeze (pg. 23) • Follow Through (pg. 23) • Equipment (pg. 32) • Review Air Guns, Air Compression mechanisms, Safety devices, air gun ammunition, target faces, and backstops. • Review how to maintain, store, and care for equipment.

9. Training Outline Pg. 20 Section III continued • Shooting Positions (pg. 23) • Free-Arm Standing Position (pg. 24) • Prone Position (pg. 24) • Kneeling Position (pg. 25) • Sitting Position (pg. 25) • Sighting and Scoring (pg. 26) • Range Commands (pg. 31) • Practice Shooting (moving to end of agenda)

10. Training Outline Pg. 20 Section IV • Basic Shooting Activity (pg.26) • BB Gun Shooting Games and Activities (pg. 26) • Tiger Cubs and BB Gun Shooting (page 21) • Cub Scout Shooting Sports Award (pg. 28) • BB Gun Shooting Belt Loop and Sports Pin (pg.29)

11. Leadership - Requirements Pg. 19 North Florida Council: • Must be at least 21 years old • Must be specially trained by a National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor. • Must successfully complete a two hour course • Certification must be renewed every two years, or sooner if retraining is deemed necessary due to safety National BSA: • Must be at least 18 years old – (Local council policy may be different) • Be trained by a National Camping School-training Shooting Sport director or a National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor. • Must complete a minimum of two hour course • Certification must be renewed every two years

12. Section I

13. Brief History of BB Guns Pg.19 • 1580 – the bellows gun is the earliest known air-powered gun. • A few decades later, the first pneumatic (pump-up) air gun was created in France. • Late 1700’s some units of the Austrian army were equipped with air rifles. • 1800’s Lewis and Clark had an air gun for hunting. • 1885 – The Markham Air Rifle Company became one of the first companies to sell BB guns. • 1895 – A company called Daisy started making air rifles fulltime • 1984 – The Olympic Games featured air guns for the first time. • Today, BB guns are still being produced in both rifle and pistol forms.

14. Safety Guidelines Pg. 21 • Before using a gun: • Always get permission from your parent or guardian. • Always have an adult present when you use a gun. • Know how the gun works and how to use it. • Always be sure of your target and what is beyond the target. • Always wear eye protection (and ear if applicable) • Never reuse BB’s

15. Safety Guidelines – The Basic Rules Pg. 21 • Always keep gun pointed in a safe direction • Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot • Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use • Know how to use a gun safely • Be sure the gun is safe to operate • Use only the correct ammunition for the gun • Wear eye protection • Never use Alcohol or drugs before or when shooting • A safety is a mechanical device • Ear protection may be worn • Know your target and what is beyond the target • Store guns so they are not accessible to any unauthorized person

16. What Causes Gun Accidents? Pg. 22 Ignorance – A lack of knowledge Carelessness – Failure to use knowledge

17. Safety Reminders Pg. 22 What Should a Scout do if he finds a gun in another place? STOP!DON’T TOUCH!LEAVE THE AREA!TELL AN ADULT!

18. Sun Safety on the Shooting Range Pg. 22 • Limit Exposure to Sun between 10AM and 4PM when the Sun’s rays are strongest. • Generously apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and reapply every 2 hours when outdoors, even on cloudy days. • Wear protective, tightly woven clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt and pants. • Wear a 4-inch-wide broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protective lenses. • Stay in the shade whenever possible. • Avoid reflective surfaces, which can reflect up to 85% of the Sun’s damaging rays.

19. Equipment Pg. 32 • 1 range – 50 foot range with eight firing points 15 feet from firing line to target • 10- 12 BB Guns • Targets • BB’s • Backstop • A set of 17-by-22inch instruction wall charts • 10 safety glasses • Red Flag *North Florida Council: Please note the equipment list is included in your Day Camp Trailer; please be sure to do your inventory and test the equipment.

20. Parts and Nomenclature Pg. 32

21. Air Guns Pg. 32 • Spring-Piston • Pneumatic • Pump • Single Stroke • Multi-pump • Compressed • CO2 • Compressed air: SCUBA tank-filled

22. Air Gun – Compression Mechanisms Pg. 33 Methods for compressing air for Spring-piston and Pneumatic single/ multi pump air guns: • Break-barrel(aka barrel cocking) • Over-lever • Under-lever • Side-lever • Slide

23. Ammunition Pg.33 • Five types of air gun ammunition: • Pellets • Lead balls • Darts • Bolts • BB’s • Use the BB’s provided. • Do not reuse BB’s, do not use rusted BB’s

24. Equipment & storage Pg. 33 • Equipment needs to be kept in proper working condition. • All supplies should be checked to ensure the yare in good condition: target backstops, mats, and all ancillary accessories. • Tag and notify if any equipment is found defective. • Equipment should be stored daily to protect from theft, weather, and rodents.

25. How to Access North Florida Council Day Camp Equipment • Standard Day Camp Trailer Load • Day Camp Director Coordinates with Council • All Day Camp equipment is stored at Camp Echockotee.

26. Maintenance Pg. 29 • Follow the Owners Manual for your rifle. • For North Florida Council: • Trigger pulls are taken before use by Day Camp Rangemaster, and at the end of day camp. • At the end of Day Camp (or every 1000 shots), 3 drops of ordinary motor oil.  • Rangemasters are required do the check on the equipment. • Rangemasters are responsible to assure that the guns they are using function according to BSA standards and at the end of Day Camp they will do the trigger pull in order to assure that the guns are empty. • Any non functioning gun is tagged for repair. Please do not put non-functional equipment back in the box leaving a problem for the next Rangemaster. Note: Trigger pull is validate with a trigger pull gauge. It is recorded and documented in a log book. Per Rule 63a of the National Standards of Cub Scout/Boy Scout/ Venture; the trigger pull shall not be less that 3lbs.

27. Section II

28. Range Layout Pg. 29 • Shooting on a Safe range requires three conditions: • A safe Area • A safe Distance • A safe Backstop

29. Pg. 30

30. Potential Impact Zone Pg. 30

31. Range Operation Rules Pg. 31 • If the range is outdoors, fly a red flag when in use. • BB’s will be issued to shooters; must remain in clear sight. • Shooters will be instructed what to do for misfires and malfunctions. • BB gun Position; how it should be left in position. • Cease firing command steps. • Steps to follow for shooters and targets. • No one allowed ahead of firing line after Load command. • No one is allowed on firing line except shooter and coach. • Horseplay strictly forbidden. • All BB guns not in use are placed in racks unloaded. * Please be sure to read the Range Operation Rules in their entirety on page 31.

32. BB Gun Shooting Range Rules Pg. 31 • The range may be opened on by a certified BB gun shooting range officer. • All commands issued by the range officer must be obeyed immediately. • Stay Behind the firing Line. Do not straddle a firing line. • Do not pick up a gun unless told to by the range officer. • Absolutely no running on the range. • No Horseplay or unnecessary talking on the range. • If in doubt about these rules, as your leader or range officer for advice and help.

33. Section III

34. Training Cub Scouts Pg. 20 • How to use a BB gun safely • Teach Basic BB gun shooting skills • Have Fun! • The Instructor is responsible for safety before, during, and after instruction and practice. • Have warmth, patience, and understanding for those having difficulty with this skill.

35. Teaching Tips Pg. 20 • Put the BB Gun in the Cub Scouts hands as soon as possible so he can understand the BB gun while basics are explained. • Group participants together (boy and parent/ guardian would be ideal) • The Instructor demonstrates the activity or action to be followed before the whole group.

36. Teaching Tips continued Pg. 20 • The boy practices while the parent coaches. • Use a positive approach. • Avoid long discussions on the parts of equipment used. • Allow each boy to feel the satisfaction of hitting a target as quickly as possible.

37. BB Gun Shooting Basics Pg. 22 • Eye Dominance • Shooting Shoulder • Breathing • Sight Alignment • Trigger squeeze • Follow- Through

38. Eye Dominance Pg. 22 • Extend your arms in front of you and create a small triangular opening with your hands. Select a small object more than 20 feet away and center it in the opening that you have created with your hands. Close your right eye; if the object stays in view then you are left-eye dominant. If it does not then you are right-eye dominant. • Extend your arms in front of you and create an opening similar to the one you made in the last test. Again find a small object and center it in the opening. This time, bring your hands towards your head while keeping the object centered in the opening. The opening will come to rest over your dominant eye. • Align a distant object with your forefinger. Alternate closing your eyes. If your finger is still aligned with the object when you close your right eye, you are left-eye dominant; if your finger is still aligned with the object when you close your left eye then you are right-eye dominant. *Pair off and work together to test the identification of eye dominance.

39. Shooting Shoulder Pg. 23 • Recommend using the same shoulder that matched the shooters eye dominance. • Discuss examples of what occurs when they shoot with the incorrect shoulder.

40. Breathing Pg. 23 • Breathing causes the body to move and will affect the position and sight alignment. • Before Firing: • Relax and get comfortable (NPA) • Exhale and stop breathing • Take the shot within 8 to 10 seconds or repeat

41. Sight Alignment Pg. 23 • Sight Alignment: The relationship of the front and rear sights to the eye. • Misalignments of sights will cause an angular error that increases exponentially with distance. • Sight Picture: The relationship of the Front and rear sight with the Target.

42. Trigger Squeeze Pg. 23 • Trigger Squeeze- The manner in which pressure is applied to the trigger. • Also known as Trigger control, Trigger pull, Trigger press, and Trigger movement. • Finger placement: • On the pad of the finger between the tip and the joint. • Squeeze the trigger straight back in a smooth and continuous manner without disturbing sight alignment.

43. Follow Through Pg. 23 • Follow Through is the term used to continue everything you were doing as the shot was fired. • This is a great way to mitigate any unwanted movement or deviation in the BB’s flight path.

44. Learning a Shooting Position Pg.23 5 Steps for learning a shooting position: • Study the position. • Practice the positions without a gun. • Practice the position with a gun. • Align the position properly with the Target, Adjust the position so that the gun points naturally at the target. • Shoot from the position.

45. Shooting positions Pg. 23 • Free Standing • Prone Position • Kneeling Position • Sitting Position

46. Free Standing Position Pg. 24

47. Prone Position Pg. 24

48. Kneeling Position Pg. 25

49. Sitting position Pg. 25

50. Sighting & Scoring Targets Pg. 26 • The instructor should zero all bb guns before the range is used for the first time. Note: you are not being trained today on this skill; if a bb gun is grossly misaligned, tag it for repair but do not attempt adjustment if you are not qualified. • The correct sight picture and alignment is a 6 o’clock hold. • Adjust sights to achieve the 10-ring. • When properly aligned; fire a minimum of three shots onto a final target for a sighting record. Put the BB gun number on the target, sign and date it, and post it on the range bulletin board.