Pre-Marksmanship Training

1. 9/1/2012 SSG Rivera Pre-Marksmanship Training

2. SSG Rivera Purpose Re-enforce previous training, discuss range procedures, safety requirements, equipment, marksmanship fundamentals and answer any questions you may have

3. SSG Rivera M9

4. SSG Rivera Topics of Discussion Weapon Description Pistol Marksmanship Fundamentals Firing Positions Alt. Course Target �BRASS� Safety Requirements Clearing a weapon Uniform

5. SSG Rivera Weapon Description The M9 pistol is 9-mm, semiautomatic, magazine fed, recoil-operation, double-action weapons chambered for the 9-mm cartridge

6. SSG Rivera M9 Pistol

7. SSG Rivera M9 Pistol, components

8. SSG Rivera M9 Pistol, components

9. SSG Rivera M9 Pistol, Ammo

10. SSG Rivera WARNING!!! Do not fire heavily corroded or dented cartridges, cartridges with loose bullets, or any other rounds detected as defective through visual inspection.

11. SSG Rivera Pistol Marksmanship Fundamentals Grip Aiming Breath Control Trigger Squeeze Target Engagement Firing Positions

12. SSG Rivera A proper grip is one of the most important fundamentals of quick fire. The weapon must become an extension of the hand and arm; it should replace the finger in pointing at an object. The firer must apply a firm, uniform grip to the weapon. Example of pistol grips are as follows: Pistol Marksmanship Fundamentals

13. SSG Rivera Pistol Grips

14. SSG Rivera Pistol Grips

15. SSG Rivera Pistol Grips

16. SSG Rivera Pistol Grips

17. SSG Rivera Isometric Tension: the firer raises his arms to a firing position and applies isometric tension. This is commonly known as the push-pull method for maintaining weapon stability. Isometric tension is when the firer applies forward pressure with the firing hand and pulls rearward with the non-firing hand with equal pressure. Pistol Grips

18. SSG Rivera This creates an isometric force but never so much to cause the firer to tremble. This steadies the weapon and reduces barrel rise from recoil. The supporting arm is bent with the elbow pulled downward. The firing arm is fully extended with the elbow and wrist locked. The firer must experiment to find the right amount of isometric tension to apply. Isometric Tension, cont.

19. SSG Rivera NOTE: The firing hand should exert the same pressure as the non-firing hand. If it does not, a missed target could result. Isometric Tension, cont.

20. SSG Rivera Pistol Marksmanship Fundamentals, cont. Aiming is sight alignment and sight placement

21. SSG Rivera Aiming, cont. Sight alignment is the centering of the front blade in the rear sight notch. The top of the front sight is level with the top of the rear sight and is in correct alignment with the eye. For correct sight alignment, the firer must center the front sight in the rear sight. He raises or lowers the top of the front sight so it is level with the top of the rear sight. Sight alignment is essential for accuracy because of the short sight radius of the pistol

22. SSG Rivera Aiming, cont. Sight placement is the positioning of the weapon's sights in relation to the target as seen by the firer when he aims the weapon (Figure 2-5). A correct sight picture consists of correct sight alignment with the front sight placed center mass of the target. The eye can focus on only one object at a time at different distances. Therefore, the last focus of the eye is always on the front sight.

23. SSG Rivera Aiming, cont.

24. SSG Rivera Breath Control: to attain accuracy, the firer must learn to hold his breath properly at any time during the breathing cycle. This must be done while aiming and squeezing the trigger. While the procedure is simple, it requires explanation, demonstration, and supervised practice. To hold his breath properly, the firer takes a breath, lets it out, then inhales normally, lets a little out until comfortable, holds, and then fires.

25. SSG Rivera It is difficult to maintain a steady position keeping the front sight at a precise aiming point while breathing. Therefore, the firer should be taught to inhale, then exhale normally, and hold his breath at the moment of the natural respiratory pause. The shot must then be fired before he feels any discomfort from not breathing.

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28. SSG Rivera Trigger Squeeze: Improper trigger squeeze causes more misses than any other step of preparatory marksmanship. Poor shooting is caused by the aim being disturbed before the bullet leaves the barrel of the weapon. This is usually the result of the firer jerking the trigger or flinching. A slight off-center pressure of the trigger finger on the trigger can cause the weapon to move and disturb the firer's sight alignment.

29. SSG Rivera Trigger Squeeze, cont. Trigger squeeze is the independent movement of the trigger finger in applying increasing pressure on the trigger straight to the rear, without disturbing the sight alignment until the weapon fires. The trigger slack, or free play, is taken up first, and the squeeze is continued steadily until the hammer falls. If the trigger is squeezed properly, the firer will not know exactly when the hammer will fall; thus, he will not tend to flinch or heel, resulting in a bad shot. Novice firers must be trained to overcome the urge to anticipate recoil. Proper application of the fundamentals will lower this tendency.

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33. SSG Rivera Trigger Squeeze, cont. To apply correct trigger squeeze, the trigger finger should contact the trigger between the tip of the finger and the second joint (without touching the weapon anywhere else). Where contact is made depends on the length of the firer's trigger finger. If pressure from the trigger finger is applied to the right side of the trigger or weapon, the strike of the bullet will be to the left. This is due to the normal hinge action of the fingers. When the fingers on the right hand are closed, as in gripping, they hinge or pivot to the left, thereby applying pressure to the left (with left-handed firers, this action is to the right).

34. SSG Rivera Trigger Squeeze, cont. The firer must not apply pressure left or right but should increase finger pressure straight to the rear. Only the trigger finger should perform this action. Dry-fire training improves a firer's ability to move the trigger finger straight to the rear without cramping or increasing pressure on the hand grip.

35. SSG Rivera Trigger Squeeze, cont. Single Action: locking the hammer in the rear position, and releasing the hammer with the trigger squeeze. Double Action: moving the hammer through it�s entire range of motion by squeezing the trigger

36. SSG Rivera Trigger Squeeze, cont. NOTE: The trigger squeeze of the pistol, when fired in the single-action mode, is 5.50 pounds; when fired in double-action mode, it is 12.33 pounds. The firer must be aware of the mode in which he is firing.

37. SSG Rivera WARNING!!! The half-cocked position catches the hammer and prevents it from firing if the hammer is released while manually cocking the weapon. It is not to be used as a safety position. The pistol will fire from the half-cocked position if the trigger is pulled.

38. SSG Rivera Firing Positions

39. SSG Rivera Firing Positions, cont.

40. SSG Rivera Firing Positions, cont.

41. SSG Rivera Firing Positions, cont.

42. SSG Rivera Alternate Course Target

43. SSG Rivera Remember �BRASS� Breathe: take a normal breath, let part of it out, and lock the remainder in the lungs by closing the throat Relax: relax the body muscles. Aim: take correct sight alignment and sight picture, and focus the eye at the top of the front sight Slack: take up the trigger slack Squeeze: squeeze the trigger straight to the rear with steadily increasing pressure without disturbing sight alignment until the hammer fall

44. SSG Rivera Safety Requirements Weapons should be considered loaded at all times while on the range DO NOT point your weapon at anyone Keep weapon pointed �UP� and �DOWNRANGE� at all times Do not touch your weapon while there are personnel downrange

45. SSG Rivera Safety Requirements, cont. No �horse playing� Any one can call �CEASE FIRE� if an unsafe act is observed Do not load your weapon until directed to do so Take all instructions from the RSO

46. SSG Rivera Clearing a Weapon

47. SSG Rivera Clearing a Weapon, cont.

48. SSG Rivera Clearing a Weapon, cont.

49. SSG Rivera M16A2

50. SSG Rivera Topics of Discussion Weapon Description Marksmanship Fundamentals Mechanical Zero Sight Adjustment Shot Groups Safety precautions Clearing a Weapon Uniform requirements

51. SSG Rivera Weapon Description The M16-/M4-series weapons are 5.56-mm, magazine-fed, gas-operated, air-cooled, shoulder-fired weapons. These weapons can be fired in Semi-Automatic, 3 round burst or Fully Automatic . It can fire ball, tracer, blank, SRTA and dummy ammunition.

52. SSG Rivera M16A2

53. SSG Rivera M16 Series / M4, Ammo

54. SSG Rivera Marksmanship Fundamentals Steady Position Aiming Breath Control Trigger Squeeze

55. SSG Rivera Steady Position. When the soldier approaches the firing line, he should assume a comfortable, steady firing position. The time and supervision each soldier has on the firing line are limited. He must learn how to establish a steady position during integrated act of dry-fire training (Figure 4-16). The firer is the best judge of the quality of his position. If he can hold the front sight post steady through the fall of the hammer, he has a good position. The steady position elements are as follows:

56. SSG Rivera Steady Position

57. SSG Rivera Aiming. Having mastered the task of holding the rifle steady, the soldier must align the rifle with the target in exactly the same way for each firing. The firer is the final judge as to where his eye is focused.

58. SSG Rivera Aiming , cont.

59. SSG Rivera Aiming, cont.

60. SSG Rivera Aiming, cont.

61. SSG Rivera Breath Control. As the firer�s skills improve and as timed or multiple targets are presented, he must learn to control his breath at any part of the breathing cycle. The firer must be aware of the rifle�s movement (while sighted on a target) as a result of breathing.

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64. SSG Rivera Trigger Squeeze. A novice firer can learn to place the rifle in a steady position and to correctly aim at the target if he follows the basic principles. If the trigger is not properly squeezed, the rifle will be misaligned with the target at the moment of firing.

65. SSG Rivera Rifle Movement. Trigger squeeze is important for two reasons: First, any sudden movement of the finger on the trigger can disturb the lay of the rifle and cause the shot to miss the target. Second, the precise instant of firing should be a surprise to the soldier. The soldier�s natural reflex to compensate for the noise and slight punch in the shoulder can cause him to miss the target if he knows the exact instant the rifle will fire. The soldier usually tenses his shoulders when expecting the rifle to fire. It is difficult to detect since he does not realize he is flinching. Trigger Squeeze, cont.

66. SSG Rivera Trigger Finger. The trigger finger (index finger on the firing hand) is placed on the trigger between the first joint and the tip of the finger (not the extreme end) and adjusted depending on hand size, grip, and so on. The trigger finger must squeeze the trigger to the rear so the hammer falls without disturbing the lay of the rifle. When a live round is fired, it is difficult to see what effect trigger pull had on the lay of the rifle. Trigger Squeeze, cont.

67. SSG Rivera Mechanically Zeroing the M16A2/A3. Mechanically zeroing the weapon (Figure 2-5) is only necessary when the weapon zero is questionable, the weapon is newly assigned to the unit, or the weapon sights have been serviced. If necessary, the soldier should mechanically zero the weapon as follows: Mechanical Zero

68. SSG Rivera Mechanical Zero, cont. (a) Adjust the front sight post (1) up or down until the base of the front sight post is flush with the front sight post housing (2).

69. SSG Rivera Mechanical Zero, cont. (b) Adjust the elevation knob (3) counterclockwise, as viewed from above, until the rear sight assembly (4) rests flush with the carrying handle and the 8/3 marking is aligned with the index line on the left side of the carrying handle.

70. SSG Rivera Mechanical Zero, cont. (c) Position the apertures (5) so the unmarked aperture is up and the 0-200 meter aperture is down. Rotate the windage knob (6) to align the index mark on the 0-200 meter aperture with the long center index line on the rear sight assembly.

71. SSG Rivera Sight Adjustment, cont.

72. SSG Rivera Sight Adjustment, cont. Windage is adjusted by moving the rear sight aperture �LEFT� or �Right� Do not confuse the windage knob with the elevation knob

73. SSG Rivera When adjusting elevation (front sight), one square in your zero target = one click on the sight When adjusting windage (rear sight), one square in your zero target = 3 clicks on the sight Sight Adjustment, cont.

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75. SSG Rivera Shot Groups

76. SSG Rivera Shot Groups, cont.

77. SSG Rivera Alternate Course Target

78. SSG Rivera Safety Requirements Weapons should be considered loaded at all times while on the range DO NOT point your weapon at anyone Keep weapon pointed �UP� and �DOWNRANGE� at all times Do not touch your weapon it there are personnel downrange

79. SSG Rivera Safety Requirements, cont. No �horse playing� Any one can call �CEASE FIRE� if an unsafe act is observed Do not load your weapon until directed to do so Take all instructions from the RSO

80. SSG Rivera Clearing a Weapon

81. SSG Rivera RangeOrientation

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88. SSG Rivera Uniform Requirements Properly Fitted Helmet Load-Bearing Equipment Individual Body Armor Cold &/or Wet Weather Gear (optional)

89. SSG Rivera Other Requirements Lunch Water Study Materials

90. SSG Rivera Review

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92. SSG Rivera Hands-On Training