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Range Program
Basic Marksmanship Course
Mission:
The goal of this course is to refresh and build upon your knowledge of the fundamentals of Marksmanship. We are not here to make you sharpshooters. We are here to assure that you have a solid foundation to build upon. How much you build upon this foundation is up to you. We as range staff are here to assist you in any way we can.
Firearm Safety Rules
- All guns are always loaded _
- Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are aligned and you intend to shoot.
- Never allow your muzzle to cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond it
First Doctrine of Combat
Never shoot faster than you can make accurate hits!
Important Tip: As it relates to shooting, speed is not in how fast you pull the trigger, it is how fast you complete everything prior to that.)
Range Program
The Seven Fundamentals of Marksmanship
Marksmanship may well be reduced to the ability to hit a desired target. But, the
process requires control of one's thoughts, emotions, muscles, skeletal structure, and breathing, as well as the self-discipline needed to concentrate one's attention on the task at hand: firing an accurate shot.
The best shooters will describe the moment the trigger is pulled and the bullet
sent on its way as a "surprise." Their entire mental focus is on bringing their
mind and body into a state of dynamic tranquility. Their vision, much like a Big League baseball pitcher who never sees the batter, only the catcher's glove, is
focused on the "sight picture." The steady pressure of the finger on the trigger becomes second nature, with no thought to exactly when the sear is released
and the hammer strikes the primer. That is the "surprise."
- Grip Your grip should be firm but comfortable. Your grip should not produce a "white knuckle" effect when holding your firearm. Be sure that your primary hand is high on the back strap with the web of your hand tight against the tang. Your grip should be the same every time and that muscle memory can be developed through repetition.
- Stance As with any sport, success comes when your "position" is most conducive to achieving your goal. Just as in baseball, soccer, football, or tennis, unless you have a balanced, relaxed, and stable stance, you cannot achieve your best results. Think of the baseball or softball batter. The hitter will not achieve maximum efficiency at bat if his or her stance is not balanced, stable, and comfortable. The same is true with shooting. If the standing position is required for pistol, rifle or shotgun shooting, then you must look first to creating a stable
Range Program
A good sight picture will have the rear sight slightly fuzzy, the target slightly fuzzy and the front sight razor-edge sharp.
Aiming is a combination of sight alignment and sight placement.
Sight alignment is the centering of the front sight in the rear sight. The top of the front sight must be level with the top of the rear sight. To align your sights, first center the front sight and then raise or lower it to make the front and rear sights level.
Range Program
Sights aligned
Sight placement is correctly placing the front sight on the target where you wish to hit the target, without disturbing your sight alignment. For target shooting, the "six o'clock" hold is generally used. This is done by placing the dot on top of the aligned sights. For defensive shooting, your point-of-aim will generally be your point-of- impact. In other words, after properly aligning your sights, cover the
Range Program
- Follow-through Even though you've pulled the trigger and sent the bullet on its way, it is important that you regain your sight picture after the rearward movement of the shot has caused you to move the muzzle of the gun. Bring your firearm back in line with the target by again acquiring your sight picture after the shot has been fired. This is called follow-through. Once learned, it will improve your ability to shoot accurately. Follow-through is the continued effort of the shooter to maintain a proper sight picture before, during, and after the firing of the round. The shooter must continue the rearward movement of the trigger finger even after the round has been fired. Releasing the trigger too soon after the round has fired results in an uncontrolled shot, causing a missed target.
