Marksmanship Guide

Overview

This guide is a rifle and pistol training reference for chapter leads running range sessions and for individual members building marksmanship skills on their own time. It covers equipment setup, shooting fundamentals, structured drills, coaching methods, and qualification standards. Everything here applies to the AR-15 rifle chambered in 5.56 NATO and the full-size 9mm pistol, though the principles transfer to any platform a member chooses to run.

The Foundation establishes the external programs to attend: Project Appleseed for rifle fundamentals, NRA courses for foundational safety and instruction, USPSA and IDPA for competition development. This guide fills the space between those programs. It gives chapters a common language, a structured progression, and a way to measure where members stand. A chapter that shows up to Appleseed having already worked through the fundamentals in this guide will get far more out of that weekend than one that walks in cold.

This is not a substitute for professional instruction. It is a framework for organized practice under competent supervision. Chapters should have at least one member with formal instructor credentials (NRA, Appleseed, or equivalent) before running live-fire training. Until then, dry fire drills, equipment familiarization, and classroom instruction are where you start.

Introduction

The proper execution of fundamentals is critical to every aspect of marksmanship. Only through proper execution will success be achieved.

1. The end state of all marksmanship training is to make you as effective as possible through efficient techniques.

2. Individual growth is dependent upon academic knowledge and understanding, perfect practice, and correct and well sequenced training opportunities.

3. Accuracy is completely driven by the mastery of the marksmanship fundamentals.

4. Engagement efficiency requires understanding of individual ability, equipment capabilities, managed mindset, evaluation of the situation, and applying the necessary effort or compromise in your actions.

5. You will never reach your marksmanship potential without focusing on all elements of the system.

6. Treat marksmanship as a martial skill.

Think of Shooting as an Experiment

Shooting is the effective manipulation of the weapon system resulting in the projectile impacting where the sights are indicating. There are many different weapon systems that we utilize, but the definition stays the same. In order to accomplish “point of aim, point of impact” consistently and effectively, the individual must focus on the mastery of the basic fundamentals of marksmanship. Along with perfect practice and mastery of the fundamentals, an individual must eliminate as many variables in the firing process that cause undesired results.

When an individual desires to fire a weapon system they are in concept conducting an “experiment”, with the intent of predicting the outcome. If during that process they inject multiple variables into the “experiment”, the likelihood of predicting the outcome becomes less. Therefore, the elimination of as many variables as possible becomes a necessity. It is not a single variable that causes the majority of experiments to fail, rather it is the compounding error of multiple variables.

Any shot that does not impact where the sights indicate is a miss, whether it hits the target or not. In order to become an effective and accurate shooter, it is the cause of those errors that we need to identify and eliminate.

Variables to avoid include, but are not limited to: incorrect zero, misunderstanding of the weapon’s ballistics, not taking into account environmental effects, incorrect range estimation, improper equipment setup, incorrect trigger control, improper sight manipulation or sighting errors, and not utilizing proper positional elements.

With an emphasis on perfect practice, the mastery of the fundamentals, and the elimination of marksmanship variables an individual will be able to predict the outcome of the shots that they take and perform the act of shooting to perfection.

Training Has to Have a Fundamental Focus

When it comes to marksmanship training there are several schools of thought. No matter the path, most training is focused on the fundamentals and understanding their proper application. There are exceptions to this rule but the most effective way to approach training is from a fundamental angle.

It is imperative that marksmanship training focus on the mastery of the fundamentals. It is the only way to achieve the highest degree of accuracy. Fundamentally there are two things that we need to accomplish: properly point the weapon at the desired target and fire the weapon without disturbing it. There are no other secrets to accurate marksmanship. Although this is easy to conceptualize, it takes a tremendous amount of effort to accomplish at the highest degree. Few shooters, if any, will master it.

Keep It Simple: Focus on the Core Skills

When trying to determine how to train, we often overlook the necessity to address the foundation of the specific discipline or talent we are working on. It is the base or core skills that make a specific skill set and the efficient, effective application of those skills that enable an individual to progress.

Understanding this principle and applying it to our training will increase our growth exponentially. Shooters have a tendency to make marksmanship training more difficult than it needs to be because we wish to progress to “next level” events without effectively addressing our foundation.

Progressing too fast often leads to the individual incorporating errors into their mechanics and manipulations. The more that these errors are reinforced the more engrained they become, and the harder they are to remove or correct.

Remember, it is the accomplishment of core skills that enable us to progress to the “next level”. “Advanced” skills or specific complex situations are a collection of fundamental skills. The better I am at performing at the foundational level, the better my performance will be at the tactical and complex level.

Academic vs. Technique Training

When it comes to marksmanship training there are several approaches. This often comes down to two basic methods: knowledge based training or technique based training.

In a knowledge based program the individual learns the cause and effect of their influence while shooting. In a technique based program the individual observes proper execution, imitates, and through repetitive action learns the technique. Both methods can be effective, depending on the end state of your training.

Shooting needs to be approached from an academic standpoint more than a replication approach. The main goal in marksmanship training should not be to instruct technique alone, but to impart marksmanship knowledge. Education and understanding provides members the opportunity to further themselves through self-development. The goal should be to teach shooters how to teach themselves.

You need to believe in the academic approach to shooting. This provides the individual the opportunity for introspection, analysis, and interpretation of their marksmanship problems. If you can understand the cause and effect of your variables in the shooting experiment, you are more likely going to be able to efficiently address your issues and provide efficient solutions.

Marksmanship as a Martial Skill

The necessity for you to understand your mental approach, your physical ability, and marksmanship capabilities will dictate an engagement that will utilize minimal movement (efficiency) with maximum effects (accuracy and speed). Engagements should be simple and direct, utilizing the least amount of mental and physical energy.

Techniques should be incorporated based on their effectiveness in defensive situations, not because they have style or look good. Identify and avoid the limitations of specific methods or techniques.

A defensive encounter is spontaneous. You cannot predict it, you can only react. Train all situations so your reactions become instinctive and fluid. This will allow you to transition through engagements and flow as needed. The end state is to utilize appropriate tools for different situations and increase your effectiveness.

Treat your training as a sparring session. This approach will allow the engagement to be as close as possible to real situations. Training targets do not shoot back. Emphasize reality, your focus, and tactical mindset. Repetitions of reality based training will shape your skill and reactions.

Train the Entire System

In order to maximize our ability we need to maximize training value. Along with the ability to maintain a consistent and relevant path with applicable lessons, effective training is accomplished by understanding our desired end state and the resources available.

Training leads must understand how to leverage all available resources to accomplish a systematic training approach; but, most importantly, they need to have an appropriate knowledge base to impart to their members and place appropriate technical emphasis.

The emphasis begins with the application of the engagement theory into the individual’s training and engagement process. It is the understanding of all aspects of an engagement that leads the individual down a path of efficient marksmanship. Engagements are driven by the target information weighed against your individual ability. The engagement theory is the guide to staying ahead of the threat’s actions to dictate and direct your response.

Understanding and applying the engagement theory increases engagement efficiency. Armed with the knowledge that the target dictates the engagement, mindset drives the efficiency of action, and ability defines target engagement, an individual can train all three phases of their individual system to increase their capability.

The first focus area is the engagement itself and ensuring our training plan focuses on the full spectrum of engagement possibilities. All engagements require effective application of fires to eliminate the threat, but the level of and type of fires varies. The amount of time, effort, and accepted error required will drive the spectrum from finite accuracy to effective volume of fire.

Balancing our training throughout the entire engagement spectrum, from finite accuracy drills to acceptable accuracy drills to effective volume drills, will build an understanding of self and mind. This continuous transition of drills, up and down the full spectrum, speeds the decision making process. This reduces our individual reaction time and allows us to apply only the necessary amount of energy into the engagement.

For example: drill one may be a grouping drill that focuses on accomplishing the fundamentals at the highest level; drill two may be managing all impacts in the A-zone of an IPSC target in a compressed amount of time; drill three may be one shot accuracy on a series of smaller targets; drill four may be a recoil management drill onto a medium sized target, and so forth.

This continuous fluctuation in strict and compromised fundamentals will drive the individual to understand and apply the minimum mental and physical energy required into each drill. Decreasing the likelihood of unnecessary and inefficient action introduced into the shooting experiment increases individual proficiency. Training leads teach members how to think and how to execute proper decision making faster by placing them in situations that promote the use of critical thinking. A member that can perform well on a flat range may not necessarily perform well under stress or in a dynamic scenario. By treating even a flat range as a realistic training event, members blur the lines between training and application.

Training Management

When making the decisions on what or how to train, the number one concern should be how to maximize training efficiency. Understand that a solid foundation is the only means of progression regardless of skill level. Aggressive progression or failing to adhere to a logical glide path may look good on a training schedule, but expert proficiency requires time and repetition.

Gathering statistical data supports the effectiveness of a marksmanship program and ensures continuity based on empirical evidence. Evaluating data points (times, scores, penalties) against applicable variables (environmental, sequence of information, amount of resources) will allow training leads to identify trends such as, “When we trained this way, shooters were better prepared to execute.”

The first step of training management is to identify an end state and ensure that enough time is available to secure all appropriate resources (time, ammunition, and logistical requirements). Without an end state for your training or appropriate resources, you reach a plan without direction.

Once a realistic end state is established, backwards planning is used to establish what key gates must be met in order to reach the end state. This ensures a building block progression occurs.

Dry Fire Programs

All marksmanship training must be supported by a dry fire program. Without one your shooters will never reach their full potential. A successful dry fire program must be executed continuously; not only prior to or concurrent with a range opportunity. It must be a continuous and reinforcing element of your training. Dry fire training that is properly sequenced as a reinforcing element throughout a training cycle will ensure that live fire training is more effective (the shooter has more repetitions) and more time efficient (the shooter will require less coaching, leaving more time for execution).

Dry fire training must cover more than the execution of the marksmanship fundamentals. It should focus on, but is not limited to, marksmanship and manipulation, and all of the things that these elements consist of. Manipulations are a broader spectrum of skills. They include: loading and reloading, malfunctions, weapons transitions, weapons handling, pistol draws, incorporating barricades, transfer of the weapon from strong side to weak side, and so forth.

Training Progression

Sufficient time must be allocated for mastery of a basic skill before moving on to a complex skill (example: a shooter should not progress to recoil management drills if they cannot reset the trigger during recoil).

Use the “crawl, walk, and run” approach as a reference. Many of us learn a skill during the “crawl” phase and immediately progress to the “run” stage. When we revisit or are given another training opportunity we begin at the “run” stage and think that if we continue to reinforce the techniques at the highest level we will maximize proficiency. This approach slows your growth and hinders future performance.

When approaching marksmanship in this manner we introduce errors into our solution. As we continue to train we reinforce these negatives and ingrain them within our sympathetic systems. The more rooted these approaches become the harder they are to get rid of.

Proper execution consists of a lot of “crawling”, some “walking”, and little “running”. All marksmanship disciplines have core competencies. It is the focus on these core activities and the proper execution of these skills that will exponentially increase our capabilities. As a general rule, a minimum of 50% of our training time should be spent on simple firing tasks.

The mastery of the marksmanship fundamentals allows the efficient execution of tactical firing solutions to complex marksmanship problems. A chapter that has truly mastered the basics will outperform one that has not. Training leads must understand and embrace this.

Training Sequencing

The proper sequencing of training according to TC 3-22.9 is to: conduct Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction (PMI), perform down range feedback (Known Distance Range) training, perform field fire and record fire qualifications, and conduct collective live fire exercises.

It is important to not only follow that model but to understand the necessity for your training to have a logical sequencing in order to be as effective as possible. All marksmanship training must start with preliminary instruction. We often overlook the need for preliminary instruction or take for granted individual competency. Instead, we need to begin training at the rudimentary foundation level. Start with the basics.

Preliminary training and dry fire training are sustainment programs and should be visited continuously. The need to conduct this training on a regular basis cannot be overstated, especially in an environment that has limited range opportunities. These programs will enhance individual performance and shorten the time necessary to reach the desired end state.

Progression to compound or complex situations should be dependent on the individual or collective ability to perform simple skills at an acceptable level. Training leads can recognize the level of proficiency that their members possess and construct ability groups. Using this method will allow the entire chapter to progress and keep the group from regressing with the introduction of newly joined members.

Training leads need to not only provide an opportunity for training, they must also provide emphasis on that opportunity. Training leads must understand and acknowledge that every shortcut that is taken and every missed opportunity to train such a perishable skill as marksmanship is an acceptance of risk. Training leads need to understand the principles discussed within this guide and enforce proper training techniques. Finally, training leads must develop training plans utilizing the guidelines and parameters outlined within this document and referenced Army publications that provide appropriate emphasis and avoid training pitfalls.

Safety and Range Standards

The Four Rules

Every firearms handling error traces back to a violation of the same four principles.

Range Commands

Standardized range commands eliminate confusion and keep everyone operating on the same protocol.

Every range session begins with a safety brief that covers the four rules, the range commands, the boundaries of the firing line, left and right limits, and the location of medical equipment. This brief is not optional and it is not abbreviated regardless of how experienced the shooters are.

Medical Readiness on the Range

Equipment Setup

The same equipment that is to be used in a defensive context should be trained with on the range in order to determine deficiencies and confirm functionality. This applies to absolutely everything from shoes to weapons lubricant to magazines. Training leads must factor the proficiency level and experience of members when approving aftermarket components or accessories. A member should perfect the basics before advancing to accessories that add complexity. Members must perfect the basics before advancing.

Lubrication

Weapons lubricants that have a very high viscosity will generally dissipate faster with the high temperatures that occur inside of weapons. High viscosity lubricants will also not stay exactly where they were applied due to the heat and inertia generated by the cycling of the action. Low viscosity lubricants will remain where they were applied and will generally tolerate heat better. A lubricant with an extremely low viscosity will be very thick and will not lubricate efficiently.

Ideally weapons lubricants should be applied only to the working surfaces of the weapons. Over lubrication will attract fouling and debris. Under lubrication will lead to weapons malfunctions. Very little lubricant is required to lubricate a rifle and a pistol. Less than 10 drops of a quality lubricant will lubricate both weapons for over a week of use. Weapons should be disassembled and lubricated rather than lubricating them while they are assembled.

Rifle

The AR-15 chambered in 5.56 NATO is the standard platform. A 16-inch barrel is the practical default for chapter training: it balances ballistic performance, maneuverability, and legal compliance across all 50 states. Members who want a shorter barrel for practical shooting should understand the NFA requirements for barrels under 16 inches or research pistol-brace configurations under current federal law.

Buttstock. A good buttstock will allow for adjustment. Generally speaking the more the buttstock is extended to the fully open position, the more control the shooter will have over the rifle. This also properly sizes the rifle for the correct length of pull. The buttstock should have a sling attachment point near the heel that will allow the sling to be routed around the top. If the sling is routed correctly, the rifle will hang closer to the body when not carried in the hands and the rifle will cinch into the body when the sling is adjusted tightly for additional support. If the sling attachment point is at the toe of the buttstock, the rifle will cant away from the body when it hangs freely as well as when the sling is used for support. An elevated cheek piece may be secured on the buttstock to establish consistent head position with optics that sit higher above the bore.

Pistol Grip. The pistol grip should allow a natural and repeatable hand position. Grip texture may be added to improve purchase. The firing hand should sit high on the grip so the trigger finger falls naturally on the trigger. Aftermarket grips with different angles or textures are available and should be selected based on what allows the most natural grip alignment for the individual shooter.

Trigger. The factory trigger on most AR-15 rifles is adequate for learning fundamentals. Members who want to improve trigger feel should look at aftermarket single-stage or two-stage triggers from established manufacturers. The trigger should be light enough for a clean press without disturbing the sights, but heavy enough to function reliably.

Bolt and Carrier. The bolt lugs are the most likely component of the rifle to break. Members should conduct a thorough inspection of the bolt locking lugs (especially the lugs located at either side of the extractor) after the bolt has been cleaned. A sign of a worn ejector is when the rounds are ejected at angles greater than 60 degrees from the rifle. Ensure the gas rings are properly staggered. Gas ring serviceability may be checked by inserting the bolt into the bolt carrier and shaking it while the bolt is facing the ground. The bolt should not fall out of the bolt carrier. The bolt requires no lubrication. The bolt carrier requires light lubrication on the four working surfaces.

Optics. A red dot sight should be used in conjunction with a magnification device for work beyond close range (RTC 350-10). A red dot with a flip-to-side magnifier provides fast target acquisition up close and the ability to positively identify and engage targets at distance. A low-power variable optic (LPVO) in the 1-6x or 1-8x range is a popular civilian alternative that serves both roles in a single optic. Either configuration works for chapter training. Iron sights serve as a backup and every member should know how to use them.

All optical lenses are to be cleaned with lens cloth from the center of the lens to the outside in circular motions. Only use denatured alcohol when cleaning optical lenses in order to preserve the lens coating. When mounting an optic, adjust the weapon for proper length of pull, clean the Picatinny rail and mount of all debris, place the optic on the rail to establish the proper eye relief in all positions, and tighten the mount to the manufacturer’s specifications. Thread locking liquid that does not require the use of heat to remove will add to securing the optic properly. Optics that use scope rings should be torqued to specification. All components that are attached with a screw or bolt should be secured with a thread locking liquid and marked with a paint marker. This mitigates the possibility of the screw becoming loose, and if it were to come loose, the paint marker allows you to identify the issue.

Barrel. Ensure the crown of the barrel is never scraped or damaged as it will affect accuracy. Do not use sectional metal rods as they may harm the bore. The use of one piece coated cleaning rods is highly recommended. Do not clean your rifle from the muzzle end. Only clean from the chamber forward and use caution when pulling the cleaning rod back. Any movement of the cleaning rod into the muzzle needs to be cautious as this has the potential to damage the crown. A damaged crown will cause inconsistent pressures and destabilize the projectile as it leaves the barrel.

Muzzle Devices. A muzzle brake will diminish the effects of recoil but will also amplify the muzzle flash and concussion. A flash hider reduces visible signature. Members should select a muzzle device appropriate to their intended use.

Sling. Members should use slings that are rapidly adjustable and attach at two points to the weapon. One point slings are considered hazardous as when the rifle is not retained in the hands, the muzzle points directly at the feet. One point slings are also not conducive to effective rifle to pistol transitions. Attach the front sling swivel as close to the muzzle as possible. This will aid in trapping the rifle to the body and using the sling for additional support.

Lights. The activation switch for the light should be mounted on the handguard where the shooter places the support hand in the majority of positions. The switch should be accessible when firing from the firing side or the support side. Do not use any light that uses an incandescent bulb.

Magazines. The preferred magazine is aluminum or reinforced polymer with a non-binding follower from established manufacturers. Members are encouraged to number their magazines to facilitate tracking malfunctions. Carry a minimum of three loaded magazines to each range session. Do not slap upwards to seat the magazine. This action is one of the primary causes of the double feed malfunction. Instead, index the magazine against the rear of the magazine well, rotate forward, and press upward. Pull down on the magazine to ensure it is seated.

Ammunition. M855 (62-grain, steel-tipped penetrator with a lead rear core and copper jacket) is the standard 5.56 NATO training round: it is widely available and affordable. The military has transitioned to M855A1 (Enhanced Performance Round), which is not available on the civilian market. M855 remains the closest civilian equivalent to the current service round and is the baseline for all ballistic data in this guide.

For members pursuing precision work beyond 200 yards, 77-grain Sierra MatchKing loads (commercially available as Mk 262 clones from several manufacturers) offer superior accuracy and a higher ballistic coefficient. Buy in bulk when prices are low and standardize across the chapter so everyone is running the same load for zeroing and qualification.

Dummy Rounds. The recommended inert training round is the ST Action Pro Inert Training Rounds. These rounds are easily distinguished from live ammunition, do not require constant replacement, and sound the same when chambered. Dummy rounds that look exactly like live ammunition should not be used.

Pistol

A full-size 9mm pistol is the standard. Compact and subcompact frames are fine for concealed carry, but chapter training runs on a full-size platform: the longer sight radius, higher capacity, and reduced felt recoil make it easier to learn and diagnose fundamentals. The pistol should have a Picatinny rail for a weapon light, standard sights (or a slide cut for a red dot), and should accept double-stack magazines where legal.

Frame. Some shooters will benefit from the use of a weighted and flared magazine well. This will eliminate the empty space in the butt of the grip and assist with recoil control, finding the pistol during the draw process, and magazine changes. Ensure that the installation of such devices does not inhibit the ejection of the magazine. Grip texture may be added to improve purchase.

Trigger. Do not modify or replace factory trigger components unless you have the knowledge and experience to do so safely. Ensure that any modifications are from established manufacturers designed for your specific pistol model.

Sights. You are authorized and encouraged to dull the sights with a removable matte substance as long as the sights are not damaged. The alignment dots on many pistol sights are present for low light situations where the top edge of the front sight may not be visible, but should not be used as the primary aiming reference in normal light conditions.

Pistol Mounted Lights. An LED weapon light that produces more than 300 lumens and uses a switch that enables the light to be activated while firing one-handed with the firing hand alone is the standard. Do not use incandescent bulbs. A small amount of chapstick or petroleum jelly on the lens will allow carbon to be removed easily.

Holster. A rigid Kydex belt holster with positive retention is required for any drill involving the draw. Do not use any holster that is cloth, does not protect the trigger, requires a locking device that encompasses the trigger for retention, lacks any form of retention (to include friction only), or uses any form of external device to provide retention. The holster should mount to a rigid gun belt (not a dress belt) and should hold the pistol securely enough that it does not shift or fall out during movement. Holsters should be worn so that the body does not need to be displaced in order to draw the pistol and so that they are secured on the belt on the centerline of the hip. Members should carry at least two spare magazines in a belt-mounted pouch for reload drills.

Magazines. Members are encouraged to number their magazines to facilitate tracking malfunctions. Extended base pads are encouraged to facilitate ripping lodged magazines from the pistol during malfunction clearance.

Zeroing

Every rifle must be zeroed before any training or qualification takes place. The zero distance you choose depends on your intended use. A 100-yard zero is straightforward: the bullet hits where you aim at 100 yards, and you apply holdover or dial corrections beyond that distance based on your ballistic data. A 200-meter zero (confirmed at actual distance, not assumed from a 25-meter reduced-distance zero) keeps the bullet within a few inches of the line of sight from the muzzle to roughly 250 meters with M855 from a 14.5-inch barrel. Whatever distance you choose, the zero is only as good as the data behind it.

RTC 350-10 states that “in order to collect the exact data for your weapon, you must collect it yourself.” The recommended zeroing workflow starts with capturing your actual muzzle velocity rather than trusting the number printed on the ammunition box. Muzzle velocity varies with barrel length, chamber dimensions, temperature, and ammunition lot. A Doppler radar chronograph such as the Garmin Xero C1 Pro captures true muzzle velocity without attaching anything to the barrel. Shoot a string of 10 to 20 rounds and record the average velocity, standard deviation, and extreme spread. Feed that measured velocity into a point mass ballistic solver (Applied Ballistics, JBM Ballistics, or any equivalent engine) along with your bullet’s ballistic coefficient, sight height over bore, zero range, and atmospheric conditions. The solver generates a trajectory table showing exactly where the bullet will be at each distance. Validate the solver’s predictions by shooting at known distances beyond your zero and comparing actual impacts to predicted drops. If they do not match, true the data by adjusting the velocity or ballistic coefficient in the solver until predicted and actual impacts align.

To confirm zero at the range, set a target with a precise aiming point at your chosen zero distance. Fire a five-round group from a stable supported position, preferably prone with a sandbag or rest. Five rounds give a more reliable center than three. Adjust the sights or optic to move the point of impact to the point of aim. Fire another five-round group to confirm. Repeat until the group centers on the aiming point. Mark the zero settings on the optic or record the number of clicks from mechanical zero for iron sights. Every member should know their rifle’s zero and should confirm it at the start of each training quarter.

If your range does not offer your chosen zero distance, a reduced-distance zero at 25 meters can provide a starting point. The trajectory of a 5.56 round crosses the line of sight at approximately 25 meters on the way up before arcing to the zero distance on the way down. To use this method, aim at the center of the target at 25 meters and fire a five-round group. Rather than adjusting the sights to move the group to the point of aim, adjust them so the group impacts at the offset prescribed by your ballistic solver for a 25-meter confirmation of your chosen zero distance. The solver calculates the exact offset based on your muzzle velocity, bullet, and zero distance. This method removes wind as a variable (wind has negligible effect at 25 meters) and requires less range space, but it introduces precision errors: being half an inch off at 25 meters can place your actual zero anywhere from 185 to 322 meters instead of the intended 300. For that reason, a reduced-distance zero must always be confirmed at actual distance when range facilities allow. Use it as a starting point, not a final answer.

Maintenance

Every member must be able to field strip, clean, lubricate, and reassemble their primary rifle and pistol.

Clean after every range session. Lubricate before every range session. Run the function check after every reassembly. A weapon that malfunctions in training will malfunction when it matters.

Marksmanship Fundamentals

As stated earlier the only factor to delivering an accurate “point of aim, point of impact” shot is the proper execution of the marksmanship fundamentals. The mastery of the fundamentals should be the driving force behind an individual’s focus and training path. Without that focus they will never realize their potential for delivering accurate shots.

The three marksmanship fundamentals that are the most important are sight alignment, trigger control, and follow through. Neither is more important than the other and each must be equally accomplished in order to predict where our bullets will impact. It is imperative to focus on mastering the fundamentals to be an effective shooter.

Everything else that we incorporate into our marksmanship training is to support and to ease our ability for the successful accomplishment of these tasks. There are no secrets or shortcuts within the tactical or competitive marksmanship communities that give successful shooters an edge. Perfect practice with an emphasis on accomplishing the marksmanship fundamentals is the key to the mastery of shooting.

Eye Dominance

You have a dominant eye. It is responsible for gathering the majority of the image that your brain processes. Some individuals’ eye dominance is proportionately more than others. However, it is important to identify which eye is your dominant eye and utilize it for the sighting process.

Your dominant eye has nothing to do with your hand dominance. A right handed individual may not be right eye dominant and vice versa.

You should identify your dominant eye as soon as possible in order to be as efficient as possible. Your non-dominant eye will fatigue faster, decrease your performance, and use of the improper eye for sighting may lead to a decreased ability to process the situation.

There are two techniques to identify your dominant eye.

Technique 1: Fully extend your arms in front of your face while overlapping your hands. Leave a small window between your thumbs. Leaving both eyes open, focus on an object centered within that window. Maintaining focus on the object, bring your hands towards your face. The window will naturally go to your dominant eye.

Technique 2: Focus on an object. Extend your arm with your index finger extended. Point at the object; close one eye and then the other. This should cause your finger to displace left or right. When your finger is pointing at the desired object with one eye open, it is that eye that is your dominant one.

If you discovered that your dominant eye is different from your dominant hand then you are cross dominant. Depending on the training time available, you may want to consider learning to shoot using your non-dominant hand and side to realize your maximum potential. However, this needs to be carefully balanced as it is going to change absolutely everything that you do.

For an individual who has years of shooting experience or does not have the training time to spare, the change cannot be made. Note: if you squint your eye at all to look through the sights, you are not collecting 100% of the data that is available. You are allowing yourself to not function optimally.

Sight Alignment

Sight alignment is the effective use of the sighting system, either iron sights or optical sights, allowing the individual to reference the relationship between the weapon system and the intended target. Utilizing the sights as intended will allow the individual to properly point the weapon at the target.

Iron sights have two references, the front sight and the rear sight. There are multiple variations of iron sights with most based on two types: the aperture sight and the blade notch sight. We will discuss each of these further.

No matter which sight is used, focusing on the front sight is critical to accomplishing consistent and effective sight alignment.

Focusing on the front sight will allow for leveling or centering in the rear sight aperture or rear sight notch. This is easily accomplished as the human eye has the natural ability and desire to center and level objects. For example, most people do not need a bubble level in order to see if a picture is not hanging level. Note: in certain situations, focusing on the rear sight is acceptable.

Aperture Sight. The standard aperture sight is the one found on the AR-15 platform. The sight consists of the front sight post and the rear sight aperture. In order to utilize the sight as intended the shooter centers the top center of the front sight in the center of the rear sight aperture.

As an additional reference, due to the refraction of light through the aperture a small circular shadow is present in the center of the rear sight. This shadow is more apparent on a brighter day. This allows the individual to have a smaller circle to center the front sight. Note: available lighting conditions and the sight’s ability to reflect light will change how the eye perceives the sights. Blackening or darkening the sights will decrease the amount of this deviation.

Whether the sight is exactly centered or not is unimportant as long as it is “centered” in the same place every time for the individual shooter. As long as the reference of the front sight to the rear sight is consistent for the individual, repeatability and predictability between shots will be accomplished.

Blade Notch Sight. The blade notch sight is the type found on most pistols. This sight consists of a front sight blade and a rear sight notch. Sight alignment is accomplished by leveling the top of the front sight with the rear sight notch with equal parts of light on both the left and right side. Focus needs to be on the top center of the front sight. An error in sight alignment will be more significant than an error in sight picture due to angular error (parallel deviation vs. angular deviation).

A common mistake that can be made when referencing this type of sight is to be distracted by the alignment dots on the front and rear sight. These dots should not be utilized as the primary aiming reference point because they are not placed on a portion of the sight that should be used for aiming. These dots are present for low light situations where you may not be able to see the top edge of the front sight, but can be distracting in normal light conditions. Proper use of an overt pistol mounted flashlight would negate the requirement for aiming dots.

Optical Sights. Optical sights offer an advantage over iron sights for two main reasons: they accomplish sight alignment internally, and make sighting generally easier and faster. No optic is truly parallax free; however the focus should still be on the aiming device and not the target.

Simply put, it is easier to incorporate errors into the sighting process with iron sights than with optical sights. However, care still needs to be used when using optics. Consistent head placement to minimize the effects of parallax and proper eye relief to ensure that there is no scope shadow are critical.

Sight Picture

Once we understand how to accomplish proper sight alignment, with whichever sight is being utilized, we need to incorporate the target into that relationship. The incorporation of the target into properly aligned sights is called the sight picture.

With iron sights it is critical to focus on the front sight. Due to the target and the sights being at differing distances, they are on different focal planes. We cannot focus on both at the same time, but front sight focus facilitates finding the true center mass of a target and faster engagements.

The individual must remain focused on the front sight to ensure they are maintaining proper sight alignment. Without maintaining sight alignment the individual does not know where the weapon is pointed. Therefore, they will not be able to predict where the round will impact. Emphasis on centering a clearly focused front sight on a “blurry” target will facilitate proper technique.

With optical sights, alignment is accomplished internally through the function of the sight. To be most effective, the individual must maintain focus on the reticle or dot while aiming and allow the target to be slightly out of focus. A common mistake is to try to focus on both simultaneously while firing.

Aiming Point

Once we understand where our focus needs to be on the front sight or the reticle, we need to understand where to place the sights on the target. This is referred to as our aiming point or hold.

When aiming, you should place your sights in the area of the target which affords you the highest probability of hitting your intended target. For a vague target it is generally easier to hold center mass. This will be referred to as bisecting your target. Bisecting allows you to have equal parts of the target above, below, left and right of your sights. Not only is this a measurable reference it also allows you the most room for error. In this case the center of mass is based off of the largest available portion of the target.

Although there are other methods of aiming, many of them may not have a direct correlation to practical marksmanship. One of these is to “lollipop” the target, which is to place the sights at the base of the target and have an adjusted zero that allows the bullets to impact center mass. This relies on the exact dimensions of the target and also that the individual is aiming at no reference other than the bottom of the target. This aiming method is not recommended.

Sighting Errors

There are multiple errors that can be made during the sighting process that should be avoided and understood. We will discuss the most common errors seen when using iron and optical sights. Understanding and focusing on the reduction or elimination of these errors will enable us to recognize the errors and improve our performance.

Sight alignment errors are angular. Any misalignment that we have will cause the round to impact in the direction of the front sight’s misalignment. This error will increase as the engagement distance increases. This error is directly correlated to the amount of angular error and the engagement distance. You can predict the direction of the error but due to the vagueness of the misalignment, knowing precise deviation is almost impossible.

With optical sights it is important to maintain a clear field of view through the optic and avoid any shadowing. Shadowing is caused by an incorrect head position or improper rifle setup causing an incorrect relationship between the dominant eye and the optic’s eye relief. Shadowing is similar to misalignment of iron sights; the error will be opposite of the direction of the shadow and will increase with distance.

Sight picture errors (with properly aligned sights) are parallel errors. This means that there is a predictability of the error because the amount of deviation is directly relatable and measurable by the misplacement of the sights. Simply stated, if you aim 4 inches right of your intended impact, the round will impact 4 inches right.

Another common error that is often overlooked is the incorporation of cant. Cant is when the rifle is leaning either left or right of vertical. This prevents the sights and the bore from being in alignment as they were when the weapon was zeroed. This error will cause the bullet to miss. The rounds will impact in the direction of the cant and vary by the degree of the cant and the distance. For example, if your rifle is canted left the bullets will impact low and left. Shooters should make every effort to eliminate cant.

Once you have aligned your sights and have a proper sight picture your position is going to have a wobble area. Emphasis needs to be made to allow that wobble to happen. The size of the wobble zone can be decreased by: using the natural point of aim, proper hydration and nutrition, using a more stable position, and concentration.

Trigger Control

Trigger control is the effective manipulation of the trigger to fire the weapon without disturbing sight alignment. The individual should attempt to pull the trigger straight to the rear while maintaining proper sight alignment and a consistent sight picture.

Due to the direct manipulation of the weapon through the force applied to the trigger and the propensity for that force to disturb the weapon, trigger control is the more difficult of the fundamentals to master.

Allowing the movement and sight picture to happen, the shooter needs to execute trigger control, fire the weapon, and accept the result of where the sights are in relation to the target within that wobble. A round that impacts within the wobble zone is successful. A round that impacts out of the wobble zone denotes an error has occurred.

Trigger Manipulation. The trigger finger may contact the trigger when the sights and target are visible at the same time. This does not mean that the sight picture has to be fully refined, but it means that if both are visible it ensures that the weapon is pointed in a safe direction yet gives the shooter the most time to prep the trigger. The trigger should be prepped as much as possible without the weapon firing. In doing so, the distance that the trigger is being pulled is reduced (allowing the fastest time to engage and reducing the amount of movement that can be seen with improper trigger press) and a fraction of the trigger weight is reduced (with most weapons). Failure to prep the trigger lengthens the amount of time allotted to engage the target and is indicative of improper training or lack of education.

Shooters should always work on resetting the trigger as efficiently as possible. Ideally the individual should fire the shot, release the trigger during recoil only to the point of reset and no further, before the weapon finishes recoil and is back on target. The time of flight for an average M855 round fired from a 14.5 inch barrel is 0.123 seconds for 100 meters, which means that the bullet leaves the crown of the barrel in 0.000453 seconds. If you add a lock time of 0.0044 seconds that equates to 0.00893 seconds. It is impossible for the minor movement of the trigger finger resetting the trigger a fraction of an inch to disturb the round as it travels through the barrel in just 0.00893 seconds. Shooters will train to ensure that the trigger is reset during recoil so they are more effective regardless of the type of training to be executed.

Trigger reset is something that should be continuously worked on in all phases of training and every time that you fire or dry fire. If you focus on resetting the trigger your timing will improve and accuracy will not be affected.

Triggering Errors

The majority of triggering errors that we encounter can be classified into two categories: anticipation and acceleration.

Anticipation is the actions incorporated into the firing process that are in reaction to the pending shot. Generally, it is identified as a negative reaction to the pending recoil or sometimes noise of the shot. Most often anticipation is described as a “flinch” and is manifested by the disturbance of the weapon through physical manipulation.

With rifle, we want to be mindful not to “shoulder” the buttstock, close our eyes and disturb our head position, or any other muscular reaction to the pending shot that can disturb the firing process.

With a pistol, we want to keep a consistency in our grip, do not break the wrists, thrust with our shoulders, drop our position, or any other muscular reaction to the pending shot that can disturb the firing process.

Anticipation errors cause the impact of the round to be generally low.

Acceleration is an error caused during triggering that is incorporated into the firing process. It is accomplished by the sudden desire to pull the trigger. It is often described as a “jerking” of the trigger or any other inappropriate technique.

It is often caused by the individual desire for the shot to be fired exactly when the sights are centered perfectly on the target. This desire and reaction to the sights when they are exactly perfect causes the triggering to be sped up and an inability to separate the trigger finger from the remainder of the grip, the forearm, and potentially the shoulder. The errors will be low and left for a right hand shooter and down and right for a left hand shooter.

Calling Shots

Concentrating on the front sight and remembering where it was in relation to the target at the precise moment when the weapon fired will allow us to predict where the round will impact. This is “calling your shot.”

Utilizing this method will allow us to evaluate our performance for every shot that we take and enforces that we are utilizing our sights correctly. You cannot call your shots if you are not focusing on the front sight or reticle at the moment of firing.

If the round impacts at the point of our call, forgiving the weapon’s capabilities (group size at that distance), then we have executed the shot appropriately. We have achieved our desired “point of aim, point of impact.”

However, if the shot does not impact within that area then something has caused the shot to be offline and unpredictable. If this happens the shooter must evaluate their performance and determine the cause of the error. Any shot that fits into this category is in essence a miss whether it impacts the target or not.

Utilizing this process with an appropriate level of individual criticism allows the shooter to evaluate the entirety of their performance and to alleviate any future errors.

In addition to the evaluation of performance, understanding where the round will impact will drive our engagements. When a shooter knows his rounds were ineffective using a certain point of aim (striking an obstacle, body armor, cover) he will know to transition to another vulnerable point on the target. Knowing where our initial rounds impact will allow us to understand the effectiveness and placement of our shots. This can drive the speed of our subsequent follow up shots as well as speed potential transitions to a secondary target, if necessary.

Follow Through

Follow through is nothing more than continuing to apply the marksmanship fundamentals throughout the firing of the weapon until the weapon has completed its cycle of function.

As part of follow through, concentration and focus on the sight needs to be maintained, the above trigger techniques should be utilized, the shooter should return to the target and assess, take up a secondary sight picture, and prepare for a follow up shot, with the trigger at reset.

Concentration on maintaining proper follow through will allow the shooter to focus on the necessary steps of firing the weapon, deter them from bringing unnecessary elements and variables into the firing process, and increase their ability to engage targets efficiently.

One of the biggest mistakes that individuals make is to lower the weapon automatically to a low ready position. It can be referred to as “racing the gun down.” This problem is engrained through poor training practices. Generally, it comes from doing multiple two shot drills. It becomes automatic that after the second shot the gun is lowered awaiting the next command.

This can be a dangerous practice and should be corrected immediately and avoided at all costs. Do not “put the gun away” before you have confirmed it is unneeded. Lowering the gun must be a separate and conscious decision.

Instead, after every shot that is fired it should be expected that another shot will be needed, no matter how many shots have been fired, one or fifteen. The gun should be slightly lowered, still on target and ready to fire. This will allow the individual to have 100% situational awareness (optic will not mask the field of view), an ability to evaluate the target, and be in a position for an immediate engagement should it be necessary.

Body Position

Body position is the fundamental of how the ground is engaged and how the body is used to support the rifle. Ideally the rifle would have skeletal support to minimize the movement that is created by bracing with the body; however, due to the situations that we find ourselves in and speed with which we shoot this is not always possible. Ideally, the entire body would point the weapon (natural point of aim) instead of just the hands and upper body muscles. Shooters can work towards calibrating their bodies so that they begin the position in a way that facilitates rapidly attaining their natural point of aim in any condition. This however takes time and repetition.

Generally speaking, any point on the body where bones will contact each other will be padded by muscle (triceps muscle on the knee instead of elbow, etc.).

Natural Point of Aim

Natural point of aim is the direction the weapon points when the shooter’s body is relaxed in position. To find it, assume the shooting position, close the eyes, take a breath and exhale naturally, then open the eyes. Where the sights are pointing is the natural point of aim. If the sights are not on the target, adjust the position of the body (not the arms) to bring the natural point of aim onto the target, then verify again. Shooting against the natural point of aim introduces muscular tension that degrades accuracy. Checking and adjusting natural point of aim should become automatic in every position.

Breathing

Ideally we would fire the weapon at one specific point in our breath cycle; however, this is not possible. Shooters must be prepared to fire at any point during their breath cycle. An applicable version of breath control is staging our breath cycle while we are required to fire. An example would be during inhalation a target presents itself; the shooter would momentarily hold the breath and continue the breath cycle with short periods where the breath is being held. The respiratory pause (the natural pause between exhale and the next inhale) provides a moment of relative stillness for pressing the trigger, but it is useful, not required. A shooter who can only fire during a deliberate pause will struggle under time pressure. The goal is to press the trigger between the gross movements of breathing, whether that falls on the pause or not.

Engagement Criteria

Understanding the necessity to accomplish the fundamentals and also realizing that situations provide the potential for compromise during the shooting process, we know that we are not always going to be able to effectively accomplish the marksmanship fundamentals to perfection.

Because of this, we need to understand that there are criteria for that compromise. The amount of time and effort that can be incorporated into each shot is going to depend upon our observation and evaluation of the situation.

The situation will define our engagement and that definition will guide us in the amount of effort we utilize, or error we accept, in our shot process. Additionally, this evaluation will dictate whether you engage with effective or volume fires.

Engagement criteria consist of: the amount of threat the target presents, the exposure of the target, the distance to the target, and the individual’s abilities. Simplified they are: threat, exposure, distance, and ability.

Having the ability to evaluate the situation immediately allows the shooter to balance the amount of time, effort, and focus that they have to effectively engage the target.

Remember, we do not always have to have point of aim, point of impact performances. If the threat, exposure, distance, and ability dictate an acceptance of errors while still enabling us to stop the threat, then we should allow them to drive our engagement and its efficiency.

Threat

When evaluating the threat level the individual must determine the likelihood of injury from the target.

The determination of threat is the number one criteria when evaluating volume fires vs. effective fires. In some situations, the individual may have to use volume fires prior to effective fires due to the criteria.

The volume fire action should improve the threat level by changing the attitude of the target and allow the individual more time to effectively engage the target.

Consider two examples. A threat which is pointing a weapon at you at 35 meters is much more likely to hit you than one who is at 200 meters even though their actions are the same. Engaging these two specific targets will require separate actions.

At 35 meters time is of the essence. The ability to deliver accurate shots may be compromised and volume fires may need to be used. As soon as the attitude of the target changes, you will have more time to deliver an effective shot.

At 200 meters there is a definite threat but it is considerably less. This provides you more time to get in a firing posture that increases the likelihood of hitting the target. Even though the time is not substantially more, what you have may be used on positional elements and to focus on proper execution of the fundamentals.

Exposure

The amount of the target that is exposed is going to directly affect our ability to effectively engage the target. A target that is partially covered will provide less area for us to aim at and hit, therefore requiring more effort to stop.

Use of hard cover is not the only factor that reduces exposure. This also applies to margin of error in our shot. In the instance of reducing collateral risk and the necessity for a clean shot, effective exposure of the target can be reduced. A target that utilizes body armor reduces the availability of effective impact areas.

In order to effectively engage a target that presents itself behind cover and only offers a small portion exposed, we will have to eliminate as many shooting errors as we can and try to deliver as accurate of a shot as possible.

Compare that to the same target that steps out from that cover in a kneeling position and exposes most of the body. We can accept errors in our shot process to expedite the engagement.

Distance

Distance and exposure are relatively similar in concern. They both are the easiest and most natural of the criteria to understand the limiting factors. Both factors affect the amount of error we can accept due to the perception of the size of the target. However, distance allows for a specific concern compared to exposure.

The farther away that a target is, the less error we can make due to the fact that errors at the weapon system are angular errors. Since they are angular errors the amount of error proportionately increases as distance increases.

An error on target of 2 inches at 50 meters will be 8 inches at 200 meters. With this example, we may be able to accept the errors that caused us to miss 2 inches at 50 meters but not be able to accept the 200 meter error. In either case, if we cannot accept the error then more effort will be needed to deliver an accurate shot.

Ability

This is the most subjective of the four and the only one that can be improved through training. It is truly where you can affect your efficiency and effectiveness. Your ability is individually driven by the internal evaluation of your capability. You simply know what you are capable of and what problems require more time to solve.

If you can only hit a target 20% of the time at 150 meters from the standing position but hit the same target 80% from the kneeling and 100% from the prone, then you should perceive that taking the time to change positions is necessary for you to efficiently engage this target.

Effective vs. Volume Fires

When engaging targets the initial decision on how to engage is made by the evaluation of the engagement criteria balanced against the method of fire that we deem necessary. Ideally we would like to provide effective fires in every engagement but that may not be possible.

Effective fire is defined as fires that provide a deciding, decisive, or desired effect. In our terms it is fires that efficiently stop the threat.

Volume fire is fire that degrades the performance of a target below the level needed to continue its actions. It is fire that is directed to a target to render the target ineffective. While a target may be fixed, it may still be capable of continuing to act and therefore remains a threat.

Consider a defensive scenario: a threat presents itself partially exposed at 100 meters with a weapon firing in your direction. Even though you cannot effectively engage from the standing position or while moving, you choose to fire rounds at the target while moving to cover.

If you can direct volume fires that effectively stop the threat from firing at you and can change the attacker’s mental focus and perspective, you can then transition to a firing posture that provides you the ability to direct effective fires and stop the threat. If you are unable to transition to effective fires, your volume of fire will fix the target and allow maneuver to finish the engagement.

In this example your initial volume fires proved to be effective even though the attacker was not stopped. Your fires eliminated the immediate threat to yourself until the problem could be readdressed.

Tactical Mindset

Maintaining and managing an appropriate tactical mindset is imperative to surviving a defensive encounter. It is the ability to change or maintain your level of awareness that prepares you for any situation that you may encounter. This will help alleviate hesitation, doubt, or confusion that can cause a lag in your reaction and potentially be life threatening. Additionally, it will allow you to manage the physiological changes that are associated with stress.

By focusing on your tactical mindset during training you will be able to shape and maintain your self-control. This will enable your engagement speed to stay within your performance abilities.

There are a couple of individuals who are the leading minds in tactical mindset philosophy: COL Jeff Cooper and LTC Dave Grossman. It is their perspectives that frame the necessity for an appropriate level of awareness not only in a tactical situation but general social situations.

Cooper’s Color Code

Cooper believed that one of the primary tenets of surviving a lethal confrontation was the individual’s mindset. Cooper utilized a color code system to describe the state of mind the individual had established prior to being exposed to a situation. It had nothing to do with a specific tactical situation; rather it relates to the specific degree of peril you are willing to do something about and which allows you to move from one level to another to enable you to properly handle a situation. It describes your mental state.

Grossman’s Perspective

LTC Grossman wrote an article titled “On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs.” It was an analogy based piece on his views of society and the categories that an individual falls into based on their preparedness. He described that people fall into three categories: sheep, wolves, or sheepdogs.

Sheep are people that are completely unaware and unprepared. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident. Sheep live in denial; that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in this world. They rely on hope or wishful thinking as their defense.

Wolves have a capacity for violence and no regard for their fellow citizens. They are defined as aggressive sociopaths. These are the manipulators, the criminals that will put nothing in the way of achieving their goal. They prey upon the sheep. They look for indicators of weakness when targeting individuals. Slumped walk, passive behavior, and lack of awareness make them choose their victims.

Sheepdogs have a capacity for violence and a deep love for their fellow citizens. They realize that hope is not a strategy. Preparedness is the only sure way of survival. They are the protectors who have chosen to walk a harder path. They have been given the gift of aggression and a love for others and they will use this gift to protect the sheep from the wolves.

These categories help define the necessary and differing mindset of the individual. It is not the wolf that we need to focus on. It is the sheep and the sheepdog that carries the most impact to our performance. We know the wolf. He is a constant. He will do violent things and that is his primary solution.

Where we need to focus is whether we are going to be a sheep or a sheepdog. The obvious answer is that I am a sheepdog and that is that. However, ask yourself: Do you maintain situational awareness at all times? Are you prepared for everything? Do you ever let your guard down? If you do then you walk through this world as a sheep, sometimes. Being aware of this potential helps us realize that we need to maintain our observations and preparedness at all times to be the sheepdog and avoid being a victim.

Psychological and Physiological Effects

It is Cooper’s and Grossman’s perspectives that allow us to see the necessity for preparedness to handle situations. The ability to understand the situation and more importantly ourselves, we can set ourselves up for success. We must remind ourselves to stay diligent and to stay aware. Ideally we need to be the sheepdog and walk through this world in condition yellow and be prepared to transition to orange or red when the conditions require it.

Being prepared will ensure that the situation is not overwhelming. We will maintain mental focus and control. One of the characteristics of successful high level competitors is their ability to cope with and control anxiety. They do not lose their physical abilities, technical skills, or strategic knowledge during stressful situations.

Those that fail lose control of their cognitive abilities, the ability to concentrate and focus on relevant actions. This is often referred to as “choking.” It is the negativity of the individual that causes this. In critical incidents, this negativity has caused people to resign their fate and to shut down.

Being prepared and understanding this necessity will help us manage some physiological reactions to stress. Knowing that a potential situation is looming, and by preparing our reactions ahead of time through training and understanding, we can predict and overcome certain levels of stress.

The most relevant physiological change that we encounter when stressed is an accelerated heart rate. As your heart rate increases it affects your physical abilities. The following numbers are a general range and your individual levels of fitness and physiological effects may be different.

How Is Our Mindset Shaped?

Our mindset is a repository of our genetic heritage, cultural tradition, and previous experiences. This shapes the way we observe, the way we decide, and the way we act. This forms our current mental perspective.

Our genetic heritage, or how we were raised, plays into our orientation. This not only has to do with our upbringing and shaping from our parents but also how we have been shaped by our training and community. Our individual and collective training is the heritage that shapes a portion of our mindset.

When we look at cultural tradition we need to visit the environments we have been and are in. It is the present and historic individual and organizational impression that provides the pressure for us to act or be a certain way.

The mindset that is framed through our past and present environments, the organizations we have been and are with, the individuals that we are impressed with and are trying to impress, defines our culture. The mentality of the chapter in which we train and the individuals with which we serve will shape our mindset.

Our previous experiences cover a multitude of things. Our individual training lessons and experiences, successes and failures of decisions made, interaction with everyone in our life, the collective lessons from others, and anything else that we have adapted and learned from falls into our previous experiences.

When you combine our training, the culture of the chapter that we are in, and our previous experiences, we shape our mindset.

The evolution and transition of our mindset throughout the engagement process is based on the mentioned factors weighed against analysis and synthesis of new information.

We transition through the color codes as the situation dictates. It is an ebb and flow from awareness to “switched on” and back. This transition allows the individual to maintain a higher level of awareness for a more sustainable amount of time and contributes to individual success.

Training the Mindset

Knowing the negative psychological and physical effects of not being prepared provides the emphasis for a training plan that incorporates tactical mindset management into it. The more situations that you encounter that provide stressors to the performance, the more prepared you will be.

To incorporate the stress into your training we do a few things. We incorporate time standards and evaluations into our courses of fire. The individual desire to perform at the highest level can be manipulated through the use of stringent but achievable time standards. When faced with the potential for failure by running out of time or competing against the clock, individuals routinely stress out and performance suffers. After routine exposure to this type of training the individual prepares themselves for the pending situation. Training leads will ensure that given certain stimuli, basic skills are executed rapidly while still leaving room for decision making ability.

The main thing that you can do is emphasize the focus necessary during training. Remind individuals to maintain focus and to be prepared.

Application

You need to understand the necessity to be prepared. Be aware of all pending situations and stay aware. Utilize your understanding of your environment and surroundings to assist in this. Keep your head on a swivel.

You must remove denial from your thinking. You have to maintain a “when this happens” attitude instead of an “if something happens” one.

You must have the conscious or subconscious willingness to defend yourself and others. It is mindset that will, more often than not, be the determining factor of your success or failure in a defensive encounter, regardless of your proficiency with your weapon.

Think of the person who shoots on the weekend for competition or hobby compared to the individual who trains with a weapon for survival. What is the difference? Not proficiency. It is the willingness and preparedness to use the weapon to defend themselves and others. Their mental trigger is trained. They will maintain their composure and ensure that their engagement speed does not exceed their physical ability. More than likely the hobby shooter will not.

Rifle

In order to facilitate the accomplishment of the fundamentals, an individual must maximize the platform from which they are firing. The firing position must be as stable as possible, decreasing the movement of the sights in relation to the target.

Rifle Fundamentals

Support. As a rule, positions become less stable the further from the ground that they are. Utilizing muscular and skeletal support to leverage the stability of the ground into the position is the goal. Emphasis needs to be on using skeletal support to its fullest advantage and incorporating major muscle groups to support the stability of the skeletal system. The elimination of supporting and assistor muscles will increase the endurance of the position and decrease movement caused by fatigue.

In order to utilize skeletal support to its potential, the individual should try to get bone support directly below the weapon whenever the desired position allows. Whether it is your lower leg or your forearm, a weapon’s weight directly over the supporting appendage will be supported by skeletal elements and major muscles.

When possible, additional external support should be utilized. Whether it is vertical or horizontal support, incorporating it into your position will increase the stability.

Sling Support. The sling should be utilized to aid in the stability and support of the rifle. The sling provides an additional contact point for incorporating the rifle into the position. For the majority of engagements a hasty sling can be utilized. In order to use a hasty sling to its fullest potential, a sling manufactured to have a quick tightening buckle and quick release is preferred. A hasty sling is any sling use that is quick, easy, and provides additional support to the position. The individual can wrap their arm through and around the sling in all positions, the sling can be routed around the torso and tightened, the sling can be held against an obstacle with the non-firing hand, and so forth.

Positional Elements. All positions should be efficient (easy to assume or breakdown), balanced, dynamic (as we are always moving to or from), resistant to recoil, and allowed to be interpreted by the individual as long as they meet the other requirements.

An aggressive weight forward posture allows for the “explosion” necessary to move out of position and into the next likely firing posture. Additionally, the weight forward position provides the maximum amount of weight behind the weapon and reduces the effects of recoil, aiding in recovery and the ability to deliver accurate, fast follow up shots.

An individual has to be allowed to interpret their positions to fit their physiology. As long as their interpretation of the position allows for and incorporates efficiency, balance, and dynamics to their highest levels, positional variations should be encouraged. Performance at the highest level is the only landmark with which the position can be evaluated. “Shooter’s preference” does not mean that common sense and the laws of physics are negated.

Head and Stock Weld. In all positions the head should remain as vertical, upright, and natural as possible. This will enable the position to maintain balance and aid natural equilibrium. The full weight of the head should be placed onto the buttstock. Avoid leaning your head; if we lean our head in any direction the shooting position will lean in that direction as well. This will cause us to incorporate more muscular tension into the position and increase potential for fatigue and instability. Additionally, the vertical head position allows the shooter to use the eyes correctly. Your eyes are anatomically designed to be used straight ahead and centered. Leaning your head sideways or too far forward distorts images, makes focusing difficult, and fatigues your vision.

Buttstock Placement. The buttstock should be placed in the natural pocket formed in the shoulder between the collar bone and the shoulder joint. The buttstock will be placed higher in the shoulder the further from the ground your position is. It will have a smaller degree of contact and be higher in the pocket when you are standing as compared to when you are prone.

Firing Hand. The firing hand grasps the pistol grip of the rifle. With all weapons the firing hand should be high on the grip and firm, similar to a firm handshake grip. It should not be excessive as it will fatigue and bring movement into the position. The higher the hand is on the pistol grip the more leverage the individual will have to control the weapon. The shooter should strive to have as much skin to weapon interface as possible. The more contact allows the shooter to have more control of the weapon as it is fired. This assists in managing the torque of the rifle during firing and assists with recoil management and the ability to return to target.

Trigger Finger. The trigger finger should fall naturally on the trigger. Trying to keep a natural grip alignment and easing the ability to pull the trigger to the rear should be the goal. Many have been taught to use the very tip of their finger for various reasons. This may not allow for natural grip alignment and make it more difficult to pull the trigger straight to the rear. Instead allow the trigger finger to fall naturally on the trigger. Do not force it deeper into the trigger well or realign your grip to ensure your finger tip is in contact with the trigger. Both are equally inefficient.

Support Hand. The support hand supports the weight of the rifle by grasping the handguard. It should be a firm grip. In all positions, it should be as close to the muzzle as naturally possible to aid in recoil management and moving the gun for target transitions. If possible, the shooter should strive to have the thumb of the support hand provide downward force or pressure on the handguard. This pressure will provide necessary force that will aid in the management of muzzle rise from recoil. The efficient management of recoil and muzzle rise is necessary for quicker and more accurate follow up shots during an engagement.

Positions

Standing (Dynamic Stance). The stance provides the starting point and foundation for the platform from which we shoot. We utilize elements of the stance within other alternate positions, and the stance is the starting point from which we assume other alternate positions.

The stance should be weight forward and aggressive (think of pushing the muzzle of the rifle a quarter inch towards the target). This provides recoil reduction, eases transitioning to other firing postures, and facilitates reaction times. Lowering the center of gravity should be emphasized.

1. The feet should generally be shoulder width apart with the non-firing foot slightly ahead of the firing foot. Weight should be evenly distributed between both feet and focused on the balls of the feet. Emphasis needs to be made to keep the weight off of the heels as this will hinder recoil management and the explosive nature of assuming and breaking down.

2. The knees are relaxed or slightly bent. The individual should not exaggerate the amount that their knees are bent as this will cause muscular fatigue in the thighs.

3. Slightly bent forward at the waist as if you were trying to put the weight of the upper body above the belt buckle.

4. Both arms should be generally relaxed without forcing them tight against the body or exaggerating the elbows into a higher position.

5. Head should be as upright and natural as possible enabling proper balance.

6. The hips and shoulders should be oriented to the target to the maximum extent possible. If the individual “blades off” or has the body at an excessive angle they will not be as efficient or balanced in assumption, breakdown, transition the weapon, or recoil absorption.

When adjusting your natural point of aim in the standing position, the anchor or pivot point will be the front foot. Very small movements will have large effects at the target. To achieve lateral adjustments, move the trunk of the body left or right in relation to the anchor point. To achieve elevation adjustments, move the support hand closer or farther away on the handguard.

Kneeling. There are two variations of the kneeling position: conventional kneeling and aggressive kneeling. Both can be naturally supported or use external support depending upon the individual’s anatomy and environment.

The conventional kneeling position is more stable due to multiple contact points which incorporate more skeletal support. However, the tradeoff is ease of assumption and breakdown, reduced dynamic potential, and a small degradation of recoil management. The conventional kneeling begins with the firing knee being placed on the ground so that the firing side knee is approximately 90 degrees to the rifle. The toe of the firing foot can be used to support or the foot may be laid on the outside. The shooter may sit on the calf of the firing leg or may raise the hips to the necessary height of the engagement. The support side knee is utilized for support of the non-firing elbow. Ensure that the elbow and knee provide consistent support by avoiding supporting the position with the tip of the elbow. The loose skin of the elbow provides a slippery contact point. Instead place the back of the arm on the front of the knee. The firing arm is relaxed and unsupported.

The aggressive kneeling position is faster to assume and breakdown, is far more dynamic, has greater recoil management, and has a slightly smaller profile to the threat. However, it compromises stability due to minimal skeletal support. The aggressive kneeling position begins with a dynamic movement of assumption. The firing knee is placed on the ground with the inside of the foot in contact with the ground (the sling may be adjusted on the way down). The non-firing foot remains flat and in contact with the ground. The position leans toward the target. The elbows are not supported and remain relaxed.

For either the conventional or the aggressive kneeling position, the non-firing foot will be the anchor or pivot point for natural point of aim adjustments.

Sitting. The sitting position is assumed by orienting the body to achieve a natural point of aim, lowering the position by placing either the firing or support side foot behind the other, and assuming a crossed leg or crossed ankle position. Tighten the sling as necessary on the way to the ground. The crossed leg position will allow the barrel to be oriented higher. The crossed ankle position will allow the barrel to be depressed. The support hand should be open like a shelf to avoid steering the rifle, relaxed and not held open or closed. Place the elbows either in front of the knees or in the pockets that are formed when the knees are bent and rest them in place. Sitting should be part of every chapter’s positional training; it is undervalued and provides a bony support structure that is faster to assume than prone.

Prone. The prone is the most stable of all positions that do not incorporate additional support. Without incorporating cover, the prone position offers the least frontal exposure to the threat. It is utilized to provide maximum stability to the firing platform to engage targets which require it.

The body lays flat on the ground with the legs either spread equally behind the rifle or with the firing leg cocked. The spread leg position provides maximum mass behind the rifle and assists in recoil absorption. The cocked leg position provides comfort and relieves pressure on the diaphragm. Either is acceptable.

The overall position of the body should be directly behind the rifle. This allows for the most efficient means of recoil control. The elbows are in contact with the ground. The non-firing elbow should be placed as directly under the forearm as possible with the palm open and relaxed to ensure that the weapon is pointed with the body and not steered with the support hand. This incorporates skeletal support into the position. The firing elbow acts as a kick stand providing stability and support to the overall position.

A prone unsupported position that utilizes sling tension to support the rifle is superior to the magazine on the ground position. It offers equal stability, consistent recoil management, reduced eye fatigue, increased situational awareness, is not terrain dependent, and will work with any equipment configuration.

The prone position begins with a dynamic movement of assumption. The individual will keep concentration on the target or target area, maintain control of the rifle with the firing hand and orient it towards the target, bend forward and post the non-firing hand slightly in front of the feet in line with the center of the body, kick out both legs and sprawl in a modified pushup position, lower the body and place the weapon in position while providing proper positioning techniques.

The anchor or pivot point for the prone position will be the non-firing elbow. Prone is the position of choice for any shot beyond 100 yards where cover or terrain permits it.

Alternate Positions. The amount of time spent training alternate positions should mirror how often they are used, likely a very small amount of time. In all alternate positions, ensure that the ejection port remains clear and available cover does not present a possibility of contributing to a malfunction with spent casings bouncing back into the chamber.

Side prone is useful when shooting over low pieces of cover such as a curb or small tree trunk. The shooter assumes a supine position behind cover, ensures that the toes are kept as flat to the ground as possible to limit exposure, places the buttstock in the shoulder as much as possible, and compensates for cant.

Roll over prone is useful when engaging targets from beneath a piece of cover such as underneath a vehicle. The shooter remains behind cover and assumes a kneeling position with both knees on the ground, plants the support hand on the ground with the palm down, presses the magazine well into the support forearm to lock the weapon in place, and compensates for cant.

Squatting may be useful for speed of assumption or to potentially minimize exposure to ricochets as the body is in minimal contact with the ground. The shooter assumes a standing position, bends both knees and rests the weight of the body on the calf muscles, and places the elbows in front of the knees.

Transitions. The ability to move between positions is essential. Whether transitioning between positions (standing to prone) or displacing to another location, the individual must put emphasis in their training on this necessary skill. The more efficient and balanced a position, the easier to move throughout your engagements. When moving it is critical the individual maintains footing. Utilizing smaller strides while running and keeping the upper body centered and over your feet decreases the likelihood of losing your footing and increases your ability to assume a hasty position should the need arise.

Close Quarters Marksmanship

At close range, every engagement requires efficient weapon presentation and the ability to transition between targets and handle threats that present from multiple angles. The following techniques apply to home defense and close range flat range training.

Presentation. Once the decision has been made to engage and positional elements are accomplished, presenting the weapon to the target is the first step in firing. We are trying to achieve an efficient address of the weapon to the target while still maintaining the positional elements necessary to support the fundamentals.

Individual focus should be maintained on the area of the target where we intend for the round to impact. The sighting system of the weapon should be brought into this sight line through an efficient and direct movement upwards. The head needs to maintain its upright natural position to maintain balance and stability.

For a single engagement with the rifle: the individual focuses on the desired impact area of the target, the forearm is lifted bringing the rifle up and the sights into the sight line, the trigger finger can be placed on the trigger when the sights and the target can be seen at the same time (this does not mean the individual must have a good sight picture, but once the sights can be perceived in the periphery while focusing on the target the trigger can be contacted), and firing will begin as soon as the individual sees the sights on the intended location of impact. Firing will not stop until the threat has been stopped. Conduct proper follow through.

Target Transitions. Multiple targets within a single engagement require specific techniques. The more efficiently they are engaged the less likely they are to influence the outcome.

Using the engagement criteria discussed earlier, the assessment of which target to engage first will be made. The target that poses the highest level of threat in your area of responsibility should be engaged first. After engaging the first target we will need to engage additional targets if the situation dictates.

To accomplish an effective target transition we follow a few simple rules.

Rule 1: Lead with the eyes and the weapon follows. The first thing that we need to do is transition our eyes to our intended target. Our head does not come off of the rifle; we simply look out of the corner of our eye and identify. During this transition you must find and focus on the intended aiming point and drive the rifle to that point. Do not throw your rifle at the target area and fire.

Rule 2: Aggressively drive the rifle to the target as a unit. Think of your upper body as a turret. The desire is to move it as a unit, not separately. We do not want to break position and then reestablish position. It is inefficient. We move the weapon to the next target using the lower body to orient the trunk and rifle to the target. If the upper body is used to move the weapon, the angles formed by the chest and arms will be disturbed and you will change the perception of the sights.

For small transitions where the space between the targets is small and there is no collateral concern between them, the finger may remain in contact with the trigger. For large transitions where there is space or potential collateral concern between targets, remove the finger from the trigger during the transition and reestablish trigger contact as the sights become acceptable on the next target.

Turning into the Target. Not all targets will present themselves directly in front of the individual, and gaining situational awareness as fast as possible is the guiding principle. Turning into the target requires that the individual face either right, left, or turn around in order to bring them into a firing posture. Every turn should finish in the stance with the option of other firing postures or moving directly towards the target.

One of the easiest techniques is the step-pivot. This allows the shooter to step with one foot and rotate on the other to fully turn into the target. Avoid spinning on the pivot foot, as this can cause the individual to be unbalanced or potentially cause under or over rotation. To avoid spinning, simply pick the foot up and take a small step. Avoid excessively large steps; large steps expand and narrow the base causing the position to become less stable. Avoid stepping backwards to complete any turn.

To complete the turn: immediately identify the threat by turning the head, begin to turn into the target, and once a clear path can be established for the muzzle, present the weapon to the target. Finish the turn by establishing the stance and engage.

For 90 degree turns: step-pivot with the foot that is in the direction of the turn (lead foot) while simultaneously stepping with the trail foot. The trail foot must finish in the stance. For 180 degree turns: take two steps while turning. Step with the same foot as the direction you are turning (right 180: step with right foot first and follow with the left foot; left 180: step with the left foot first and follow with the right).

Functional Movement

Engagements of various types are encountered in defensive situations. It is the dynamic nature of practical marksmanship that dictates the necessity for efficient marksmanship whether stationary or while moving. To reach the fullest potential, an individual must be effective at reacting to a threat and shooting on the move.

Body Position While Moving. The end state of proper body position is a level stable weapon and necessary resistance to recoil for effective engagements. There are two separate elements to consider: above the waist for weapons stability and recoil resistance, and below the waist to support the stride and elimination of ground shock.

Your center of gravity should be lower than if you were engaging from a stationary stance but should possess similar aggressive forward lean. Lowering the position allows the legs to be used as shock absorbers to minimize ground shock, allows your legs to adjust to variations in terrain or footing while maintaining a level weapon, and will increase your hip mobility enabling lateral range of motion and changes in direction.

Above the waist, have a weight forward approach to assist in recoil recovery and follow up shots. Focus on the weight being over your toes with your upper body over your belt buckle. Keep the weapon in your shoulder at the ready or depressed muzzle while moving. Avoid looking through the sights or having the weapon too high in your position. Both will limit your field of view, slow your reaction time, and limit your ability to process the environment.

Ground Shock. Ground shock is the energy that is transferred as the foot strikes the ground. Through that contact, energy from the impact is transferred through your body. Without any absorption from your joints it would be jarring.

To minimize the effects of ground shock you need to concentrate on the actions of the foot as it impacts the ground. The goal is to walk with an exaggerated heel to toe movement. The heel should contact the ground first. Find the ground with your heel; do not slam the heel. Do not reach far forward with your heel; instead keep your feet under you. Roll the ankle forward and control the foot as it contacts the ground. Transfer your weight through the outside of the arch. Repeat with each step. Lowering your position and allowing the thighs to act as shock absorbers will dampen the impact.

Stride. The length and width of our stride has a direct effect on positional movement. Whether it is the length of the stride increasing or decreasing the vertical aspect of our position, or the width of the stride affecting body sway, stride must be understood and addressed.

Your stride should be shortened in length, appropriately narrowed, and sped up or slowed down to match the situation. Shortening your stride diminishes the vertical movement associated with a normal or longer stride. However, it will slow your advance. In order to keep a similar rate of advance you can speed up your stride. Narrowing the stride will minimize positional sway.

Due to the unpredictability of a threat presenting itself, shots should not be practiced during predictable aspects of the stride during training. Instead focus on the ability to smooth out the movement through the entire stride and be prepared to engage at any time.

Rate of Movement. Your movement speed should only be dictated by the effectiveness of your individual engagement abilities. If you can move quickly and maintain your sights on target and effectively engage, then that is appropriate. If you have to slow down in order to maintain weapons stability, take appropriate action. Movement speed should not interfere with effective shot placement at the cost of decreased effects on target. If you cannot maintain effective shots on target then you need to slow down.

Decelerating. When a target appears that must be engaged while running, a shooter may be required to decelerate or halt movement to effectively engage the target. The most efficient means to decelerate would be to lower the profile of the position in order to lower the center of gravity. A series of shortened, choppy steps will also assist in the reduction of speed in the shortest distance. Decelerate only enough as required by the situation.

Use of a Barricade

Whenever it is possible to bring stability and cover into a firing position it should be utilized. We do this through the manipulation and incorporation of structure into our firing solutions. A barricade is nothing more than an obstacle encountered that can be utilized to provide firing position support while simultaneously providing cover and concealment.

It is up to the imagination of the shooter to determine what they would like to use as a barricade. Most barricades are going to fall into two categories: natural elements and man-made structures. Natural elements include rocks, trees, terrain anomalies. Man-made structures include vehicles, architecture, infrastructure. The more natural and man-made obstacles that are trained with, the more proficient the shooter will be at incorporating them.

There are two ways to utilize a barricade in our firing process. We can use it as support or we can use it as stand-off. Support will bring stability and cover to the position. Stand-off will minimize exposure but will not provide any structural support.

Assess the Threat and Barricade. Once we have identified the need to engage a threat and have evaluated that engagement against our criteria, we can determine if that engagement is going to allow or require the incorporation of a barricade within our solution. If so, we will quickly assess the likelihood of the barricade to support our firing task and how we will utilize it. Will we incorporate it into our position or use it for stand-off? Considerations include: will exposing my barrel beyond the barricade compromise my safety? Do I have the time or momentum to take the time to assume a supported position? Does my engagement require support?

Assume a Supported Position. The primary way to use the barricade to support our position is to allow the barricade to assist in the support of the shooter’s position by utilizing the barricade for body support. However, the structure should only assist and not be pressed against with the entirety of the body weight so that your position becomes dependent on it and therefore limit your mobility.

Ideally, leaning into the structure with slight pressure will enable the support and stability of the weapon and allow the most efficient means to change positions. Caution should be used contacting the weapon or accessories against the barricade as the weapon and accessories can be damaged.

Standing with Barricade Support. Establish the correct stand-off from the barricade. Ensure the outside foot is in line or behind the barricade. Square up the stance so the feet are in line with each other to facilitate a larger range of motion. Exaggerate the bend in the knees. Using a modified c-grip on the rifle, plant the outside edge of the hand in moderate contact with the barrier. Present the rifle and transition to the target using the body.

Kneeling with Barricade Support. Establish the correct stand-off from the barricade. Ensure the outside foot is in line or behind the barricade and the foot is parallel to the barricade. Lower the support knee to the ground. The angles of the ankle, knee, and hip should start at 90 degrees to have the largest range of motion. Using a modified c-grip on the rifle, plant the outside edge of the hand in moderate contact with the barrier. Ensure that the firing side elbow is in contact with the front of the firing side knee for maximum support and recoil control.

Passing the Rifle (Switching Sides). When cover requires engaging from the non-dominant side: remove the finger from the trigger and place it straight along the receiver; place the weapon on safe and return behind cover; swim out of the sling and grasp the magazine well with the firing hand; bring the rifle buttstock over the shoulder to clear space and transfer the rifle to the support shoulder; grasp the pistol grip with what was the support hand and grasp the handguard with what was the firing hand; present the rifle as you normally would.

Stand-Off. If you decide in your assessment that you do not need to utilize the barricade for support, you will utilize it by standing off of the support. Stand-off is nothing more than being offset back from the barricade and leaning out to fire. The advantages are that it is faster to assume and the muzzle of the rifle is not exposed.

In a protracted engagement, it is important that as you repeatedly expose yourself you change levels to alleviate predictability of exposure. This will lower the possibilities of the threat being able to anticipate your position. One of the simplest ways to change levels is to go from the standing to the kneeling position.

Considerations. Do not rely on using standard barricades as your only training tool. Instead utilize them for initial training and sustainment but utilize your experiences to produce real world situational relevant barricades. Practice on multiple surfaces with your weapon system. Ensure that the barrel does not contact the barricade, as this will cause a shift in the impact of the round. This training can be executed as a dry fire manipulation and does not require live firing to validate. However, after practicing different approaches in dry fire, live fire training should be done to identify special considerations for recoil management.

Rifle Manipulations

Weapons manipulations are the actions necessary to use a weapon system to its fullest potential. Manipulations cover everything from weapons handling skills, presentations, loading and reloading, and malfunctions. Efficient techniques of loading, unloading, and reloading are indicators of individual proficiency. Practice of these individual tasks should be part of our dry fire training. The necessity for efficient manipulations cannot be overstated. It can be the difference between a successful or unsuccessful engagement.

Work Space. We must conduct our manipulations in an area that allows continuous situational awareness. The area in which we will address all weapon issues is referred to as our work space. It is best described as the area immediately in front of the mid-chest and the eyes. It is in this space that we load, reload, or address weapon issues. The work space also facilitates safety as the muzzle will be pointed in a safe direction.

By using this area we are able to maintain our tactical awareness. Bringing the weapon into this position and using our peripheral vision, along with practiced and refined motor skills, we conduct our reloads and clear malfunctions while maintaining our visual security of the area.

Conversely, if we take our focus from the area while doing our manipulations at the waist level we have completely lost our visual security. This potentially could lead to a failure to identify a threat, as well as require us to visually clear the entire area upon the completion of our manipulation, decreasing our efficiency.

Clearing the Rifle. A rifle must be cleared whenever it is received, prior to handing the weapon to someone else, and prior to being loaded. Clearing allows a visual inspection to ensure that all weapon parts and systems are in good working order prior to loading.

To clear the rifle: keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction; ensure that your finger is straight and off the trigger; place the weapon on safe; trap the buttstock under the firing side arm; if necessary remove the magazine and stow; while depressing the lower portion of the bolt catch, pull the charging handle to the rear and lock the bolt to the rear; press the charging handle forward; rotate the weapon to ensure that you can fully see into the chamber, magazine well, and bolt face; if nothing is observed the weapon is clear. If you notice any ammunition or obstruction, safely address the issue and re-inspect. Allow a fellow shooter to visually inspect the chamber.

Loading the Rifle. In order to build the consistency in our processes, we treat all loading procedures the same. There is no difference between an administrative load and a training load. All loading and reloading manipulations will be done in our work space.

To load and conduct status check: maintain muzzle awareness and keep your finger straight and off the trigger; ensure the weapon is on safe; lock the bolt to the rear; ensure the rifle is clear using the steps above (this is the last visual check that you will do prior to firing); trap the buttstock under the firing arm; withdraw a magazine from an appropriate pouch and with your index finger determine which side of the magazine feed lips the round is on (this will be utilized to ensure that the rifle is loaded); index the magazine against the rear of the magazine well and rotate forward while pressing the magazine into the magazine well; pull down on the magazine to ensure it is seated; release the bolt by depressing the lower portion of the bolt catch; remove the magazine and with your index finger inspect to ensure that the round is on the opposite side of the magazine feed lips (this ensures that a round has been loaded); insert the magazine as before and ensure it is seated by pulling downwards on it; close the dust cover.

Speed Reload. The speed reload is conducted after an engagement has been completed and the magazine has been depleted. The magazine is not stowed; it falls to the ground and is recovered later.

To conduct a speed reload: remove your finger from the trigger and press it against the lower receiver; place the weapon on safe; begin to lower the rifle to trap it underneath the arm; with the index finger depress the magazine release button while the rifle is vertical and allow the magazine to fall to the ground; bring the rifle back and trap it under the firing arm ensuring that the magazine well is within your workspace; simultaneously begin the magazine sweep starting from one side working towards the other and retrieve a magazine with your non-firing hand; shift focus towards the magazine well; rotate the magazine into position, index to the rear of the magazine well, shift focus back towards the next task and seat the magazine by pushing up into the magazine well; ensure it is seated by pulling down on the magazine.

Emergency Reload. An emergency reload is conducted when all ammunition has been expended because you allowed your weapon to run out of ammunition. The procedure follows the speed reload with one addition: after seating the new magazine, depress the bolt release with the support hand thumb and present the rifle.

Tactical Reload. The tactical reload is conducted after an engagement when an opportunity is provided (tactical pause). The reload is accomplished to ensure that the individual has the maximum number of rounds available prior to a future engagement. This requires swapping your partially spent magazine with a full magazine, controlling both magazines in one hand during the process. You can secure the new magazine with your thumb and index finger and trap the expended magazine with your remaining fingers.

To conduct a tactical reload: remove your finger from the trigger; place the weapon on safe; bring the rifle back and trap it under the firing arm ensuring the magazine well is within your workspace; simultaneously begin the magazine sweep and retrieve a magazine ensuring that you have it secured in a grip that will allow you to swap magazines; while holding both magazines depress the magazine release, remove the partial magazine and replace with the full magazine, and pull down to ensure it is seated; make one attempt to stow the partial magazine. When stowing partial magazines in pouches, ensure they are secured with the rounds facing up so there is less of a chance of loading a partial magazine.

Rifle Malfunctions

A malfunction is anything that causes the weapon to not function properly. The individual’s awareness to and experience with malfunctions is key to detection. Once detected, the individual’s timely ability to fix the malfunction and get back in action is imperative.

Training with induced malfunctions through creative load plans (incorporating dummy ammunition into a magazine) will ensure the individual reacts as efficiently as possible when encountering a malfunction.

In order to prevent malfunctions, proper maintenance and lubrication of equipment needs to be accomplished. Once a malfunction has occurred, the individual needs to identify the cause and ensure that it is addressed. Faulty magazines, improper lubrication, improper maintenance, and broken weapons parts are a few of the causes. Muzzle awareness needs to be maintained throughout all malfunctions.

Cycle of Function. Before we can address malfunctions we need to understand the proper function of the weapon we are using. Understanding how a rifle works is imperative in understanding what causes it not to. The cycle of function for all weapons consists of eight steps. Understanding these steps will allow us to understand the failure, identify possible causes, and reduce the potential for future malfunctions.

Immediate Action: Tap, Rack, Bang. We address every malfunction in a two step process. First execute immediate action, then if needed, remedial action. Tap, Rack, Bang is a simple and effective way to eliminate simple malfunctions. However, it is only the beginning of an algorithm; if at any time you realize it will not address the malfunction you will immediately progress to remedial action.

To perform immediate action, beginning with the weapon in a firing position:

1. The trigger finger needs to come out of the trigger well and be placed alongside the lower receiver.

2. Attempt to put the rifle on safe.

3. Do not look into the ejection port to identify your malfunction. You are only slowing the process of getting your weapon back into action. You will be able to identify which malfunction you have by listening to your weapon during the sequence and how the charging handle reacts when pulled. Additionally, you will not be able to see your malfunctions in low visibility environments so you must have a system that supports all possibilities.

4. The head comes off of the buttstock and the weapon is transferred from the shoulder and placed under the arm (in the armpit). This will provide an anchored weapon system and assist with leverage.

5. The weapon should be placed into the workspace.

6. With the heel of the hand vigorously strike the bottom of the magazine. This should be done with enough force to ensure that the magazine is seated.

7. Rotate the weapon so that the ejection port is oriented downward providing better access to the charging handle and allowing gravity to assist with extraction and ejection.

8. Pull the charging handle to the rear and release. Do not ride the charging handle forward. It is imperative that all of the inertia from the action of the recoil spring be allowed to chamber the round.

9. Present the weapon to target, rotate the selector lever to fire, place your finger on the trigger when you can see the sights and the target, and continue to engage.

It is during step 8 that you may be able to progress immediately into remedial action based on the ability to actuate the charging handle. If the charging handle does not perform as intended it indicates that the weapon has a more complex malfunction.

The Double Feed. The double feed is caused when two rounds attempt to be loaded simultaneously. You realize the bolt is out of battery when you pull the charging handle and there is slack, or upon releasing the charging handle the bolt does not go into battery. You also may be able to hear or feel the thud of the bolt striking the lodged rounds when it attempts to go forward.

To clear a double feed: seek cover immediately (this can be something as simple as going to a knee or prone position); remove the magazine and place it in a consistent location; lock the bolt to the rear; while keeping the rifle vertical, insert two fingers through the magazine well or through the ejection port to loosen and dislodge the rounds and allow them to fall free; cycle the bolt to ensure that no rounds have fallen into the chamber and lock the bolt to the rear; insert a different magazine (if possible), depress the bolt catch, and return to action. You may reinsert the magazine that you removed but it should be considered as the potential cause of the initial malfunction.

The double feed malfunction is likely caused by a bad magazine. When damaged, the feed lips of a magazine fail to retain the second round when the rifle is feeding.

Bolt Override. The bolt override presents itself when a round becomes lodged within the charging handle. The round is jammed in place by the bolt key and the handle. You attempt to pull the charging handle to the rear but it does not move or moves very little and is in a locked position.

To clear a bolt override: seek cover immediately; remove the magazine and place it in a consistent location; fully collapse the buttstock; bring your non-firing hand to the magazine well and depress the bottom portion of the bolt catch; trap the charging handle by pressing the firing hand against it while grasping the buttstock; ensure muzzle awareness, and with force, strike the heel of the buttstock against the ground until the bolt carrier moves independently of the charging handle to the rear. The buttstock must be struck on the heel (the uppermost portion if the weapon was in the shoulder). This will allow the most energy to be transferred. If struck on the toe there is a high probability that the buttstock will be broken.

Ideally, the bolt will lock to the rear due to the bolt catch being depressed. If this happens, push the charging handle forward. This should cause the rounds to fall free. If the rounds are still within the weapon system dislodge them with your fingers. In the event that the buttstock slam does not work, the bolt carrier will need to be manipulated using a multi-purpose tool or the corner of a magazine.

Malfunction Causes. Once we have encountered a malfunction we need to address the potential causes to ensure that it can be prevented in the future. A large portion of the malfunctions that are routinely encountered will occur due to the failure of the magazine or due to poor loading practices. Routine maintenance and a proper inspection must be done with your magazines to ensure that they are in working condition. Numbering your magazines will assist in the identification of problem magazines. The primary area of consideration is the feed lips. Inspect the feed lips by visually looking for distress or cracks on the rear portion where they meet the magazine body. If the magazine is identified as being faulty, destroy it beyond use.

Ballistics

In order to be fully capable with our weapon we need to understand not only how to use it but how it works. This starts with an understanding of the firing process, the flight of the bullet, and the bullet’s performance when it impacts the target.

Ballistics is defined as the science of the motion of projectiles in flight and the study of the processes within a firearm as it is fired. There are three phases of ballistics that we need to understand: internal, external, and terminal ballistics.

Internal Ballistics. Internal ballistics is everything that happens once the bullet is fired until it leaves the barrel. From the time the firing pin strikes the primer, the primer ignites the powder, the burning powder causes an expansion of gases which propels the bullet down the barrel, the rifling engages and imparts spin on the bullet, and until the bullet exits the crown of the barrel encompasses internal ballistics.

When considering our effect on internal ballistics it is important to understand that we wish to have a consistency in our weapon. Do not allow the barrel to have contact with an external force when firing. The action of merely resting the barrel of the rifle on a barrier while firing can displace the round as much as 12 inches from the point of aim at 100 meters. Do not use damaged ammunition. Do not clean your rifle with a sectional steel cleaning rod; use a one piece coated cleaning rod. Do not clean your rifle from the muzzle end. Only clean from the chamber forward and use caution when pulling the cleaning rod back. A damaged crown will cause inconsistent pressures and destabilize the projectile as it leaves the barrel, dramatically affecting accuracy.

External Ballistics. External ballistics is everything that happens to the bullet from the time it exits the barrel until it comes in contact with the target. It is important to understand how the bullet is going to be affected during flight in order to counter the effects of gravity and the environment and to predict its impact.

There are three elements of external ballistics: the line of bore, line of sight, and trajectory. The line of bore is an imaginary line that extends from the chamber through the bore. It represents the line of departure or launch angle of the bullet. The line of bore is angled slightly upwards towards the sights to allow for increased performance at longer ranges. The line of sight is the line that extends from your dominant eye, through your sights, and to the target. Trajectory is the flight of the bullet. It is a parabolic curve that starts at the muzzle and ends when the round impacts.

The rising branch is the portion of the trajectory in which the bullet is rising to the line of sight due to the angle of departure. The maximum ordinate is the point where the bullet has reached its highest point before it begins to drop. The round will generally reach its maximum ordinate at 60% of the total range to the target. The falling branch is where the bullet drops from its maximum ordinate until it strikes the target.

There are two things that affect trajectory: gravity and drag (air resistance). Gravity is a constant. A bullet has no loft capabilities and velocity alone does not overcome the effects of gravity. We compensate for gravity by appropriately elevating the line of bore through our zero. Drag refers to the forces that act on an object moving through air. The aerodynamic efficiency of the bullet’s design greatly affects the frictional force of air density. It is measured by the bullet’s ballistic coefficient. The more aerodynamic a bullet is, the less effect drag will have on it.

The following reference shows M855 trajectory from a 14.5-inch barrel at 2,970 fps with a 200-meter zero under standard conditions (RTC 350-10). All values are approximate.

With a 200-meter zero, the bullet stays within a few inches of the line of sight from the muzzle out to roughly 250 meters. Beyond that distance, holdover increases rapidly: more than 8 inches at 300 meters and nearly two feet at 400 meters. This is why the zeroing section emphasizes capturing your actual muzzle velocity with a chronograph and running it through a ballistic solver: the solver generates a complete trajectory table specific to your rifle, load, and zero distance rather than relying on generic data. Members who want to use a different zero distance (such as 300 meters) should generate their own trajectory data from their measured muzzle velocity rather than relying on published tables for different ammunition types. Beyond 200 yards, every member should have a drop table generated from their own data rather than relying on memorized holdovers.

Note: the ballistic data in this guide will most likely not be exactly the same for your weapon, ammunition, and optic. In order to collect the exact data for your weapon, you must collect it yourself.

Terminal Ballistics. Terminal ballistics is everything that happens to the bullet once it comes in contact with the target. How and where we place our shots to have the greatest terminal effects is where we have input. Therefore an understanding of human physiology is important for those training for defensive marksmanship.

Incapacitation of an individual can be accomplished in two ways: immediately and eventually. Damage to the central nervous system by direct trauma (immediate), or by eliminating the flow of oxygen to the brain by reducing blood flow and blood pressure through damage to the vascular structures of the human body (eventual).

The only way to immediately incapacitate an individual is to destroy the central nervous system and its pathways, thus decreasing its functioning capability. Specifically, we are talking about the brain and the cervical spine. If you do not hit the target directly in this area they will not be stopped immediately.

Without directly damaging the central nervous system, incapacitation depends on the physical, emotional, psychological, and the normal or altered mental state of the individual. The mental state can be affected by the amount of adrenaline the individual produces as well as the introduction of substances.

Non-central nervous system hits are far more common. A direct hit to the heart which totally destroys the ability of the body to deliver oxygen will not cause the brain to cease function immediately. An individual in this situation may still have enough residual oxygen to support motor function.

The vascular structures of the body are the heart and major vessels (arteries and veins) and the liver. The major vessels are the ascending and descending aorta (heart and torso), pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein (lungs), carotid artery and jugular vein (neck), and the femoral and brachial arteries (limbs). The liver supports the filtering of our vascular system and damage to it can be fatal.

Thick clothing, the angle of the body, anatomic structure (bones, muscle, and fat), and equipment can impede the pathway and penetration of the bullet and reduce velocity of the projectile. Reducing the velocity of the bullet will have a direct impact on the energy transferred to the target as well as the size of the wound channel.

If engaging the center of the chest and having minimal effect (potential body armor), transition the aiming point to the head or pelvic girdle. Analyze the target for obstructions before and during the engagement. Aim for the largest unobstructed area that provides the greatest probability of terminal effect.

M855 Terminal Performance. M855 was designed to destabilize, tumble, and fragment rather than expand upon contact. This action is dependent on velocity; after the bullet falls below approximately 2,550 fps (approximately 185 meters from a 14.5 inch barrel), terminal performance changes. At close distances and higher velocities the round must travel through approximately 6 inches of tissue to slow enough for maximum effect. Therefore, there is a higher probability of pass-through shots at close range. Understanding that M855 has velocity dependent performance helps inform shot placement decisions and reinforces the necessity for multiple well placed shots.

Environmental Considerations

There are several environmental considerations we need to account for when engaging targets, especially at distance. The effects of wind, temperature, humidity, altitude, barometric pressure, and angles will have an effect on the trajectory of the bullet if the weapon was not zeroed in the same conditions. Zeroing our weapon in an environment that we are operating in or one that is similar is ideal.

Wind. Wind is the environmental consideration that we will primarily deal with. Wind will displace the round to the left, right, up, or down of our desired impact. The amount of displacement will depend on the amount of force applied to the round and the amount of time the bullet is exposed to the environment while in flight.

For M855 from a 14.5-inch barrel, a full-value crosswind displaces the bullet as follows. These values scale proportionally with wind speed; the 3 mph column serves as a baseline multiplier.

To estimate wind speed on the range, observe the environment around you.

Shooters compensate for the wind in order to give ourselves the highest probability of striking the target. A wind from the right will push the round to the left. A wind from the left will push the round to the right. To determine wind direction you may observe wind indicators (foliage, smoke) or feel the direction of the wind on the face or neck.

At the distances where most chapter training occurs (under 200 meters), wind is a minor factor in calm to moderate conditions and a meaningful one only in strong crosswinds beyond 150 meters. The most practical wind skill for chapter members is awareness: knowing that wind exists as a variable, observing conditions before shooting, and making a simple hold adjustment when conditions demand it.

Temperature, Humidity, Altitude, and Barometric Pressure. These factors affect bullet trajectory through their effect on air density. At the distances where chapters train, these effects are small. The following table shows the approximate impact shift for M855 at 300 meters per unit of change from standard conditions (59 degrees F, sea level, 50% humidity, 29.92 inHg).

Warmer air is less dense and produces less drag; the bullet will impact higher. Colder air is more dense and produces more drag; the bullet will impact lower. Higher altitude has thinner air and produces less drag. The best practice for compensating for these effects is to zero at the conditions you train in, confirm the zero seasonally, and if you train across significantly different conditions (sea level versus mountains, summer versus winter), re-validate with your ballistic solver using updated atmospheric inputs.

Angles. Firing at an angle has an impact on the trajectory of the bullet due to the reduced effects of gravity. A bullet fired at an incline or decline when compared to the zero angle is affected less by gravity. Regardless of upward or downward incline, the bullet will impact high. This is relative to the distance fired and the degree of the angle. A simple technique is to hold slightly lower on the target when engaging at angles greater than 30 degrees. A 30 degree change in angle will affect the strike of an M855 round approximately 4 inches at 300 meters.

Engaging Moving Targets. The variable that we are most concerned with while engaging moving targets is the time of flight of the round. As distance to target increases, so does the time of flight. Because the target is in motion, we must aim for where the target will be and not where it was (lead the target). The factors that determine the size of the lead are target speed, target angle, reaction time, and range to the target.

If the target is moving at a high rate of speed it will cover more lateral distance during the time of flight of the round. The same methods used for compensating for wind apply to the angle that the target is moving. If the target is moving parallel to our position it will require a full lead. If it is moving at a 45 degree angle, a half lead. If moving straight towards or away, no lead is required as the target is not covering lateral distance as we perceive it. If the target is traveling against the direction of the wind the lead must be increased. If the target is moving with the direction of the wind the lead must be decreased.

Pistol

This section discusses the application of pistol specific techniques to assist in your personal development. The information contained within the introduction, fundamentals, and training sections still applies and should be utilized appropriately. In order to avoid redundancy we will not be revisiting that information in full within this section.

Fundamental Review

The only factor to delivering an accurate “point of aim, point of impact” shot is the proper execution of the marksmanship fundamentals. The grasp of the fundamentals should be the driving force behind an individual’s focus and training path; without that focus they will never realize their potential for delivering accurate shots.

The three marksmanship fundamentals are sight alignment, trigger control, and follow through. One is not more important than the other and all must be equally accomplished in order to predict where our bullets will impact. Emphasis must be made on accomplishing all elements effectively and the amount of effort necessary for the successful implementation of them.

Everything else that we incorporate into our marksmanship training is to support and to ease our ability to successfully accomplish these tasks. There are no secrets kept or shortcuts within the tactical or competitive marksmanship communities that give successful marksmen an edge. Perfect practice with an emphasis on accomplishing the marksmanship fundamentals is the key to the mastery of shooting.

Sight Alignment. Sight alignment is the effective use of the sights to indicate where the barrel is pointed, allowing the individual to reference the relationship between the weapon system and the intended target. Iron sights have two references, the front sight and the rear sight. With pistols the majority of the sights use a variation of the blade notch sight. The blade notch sight consists of a front sight blade and a rear sight notch. Sight alignment is accomplished by leveling the top of the front sight with the rear sight notch with equal parts of light on both the left and right side. Emphasis has to be focusing on the front sight in order to accomplish consistent and effective sight alignment. Focusing on the front sight will allow the leveling and centering in the rear sight notch. This is easily accomplished as the human eye has the natural ability and desire to center and level objects.

Trigger Control. Trigger control is the effective manipulation of the trigger to fire the weapon without disturbing sight alignment. The individual should attempt to pull the trigger straight to the rear while maintaining proper sight alignment and a consistent sight picture. Due to the direct manipulation of the weapon through the force applied to the trigger and the propensity for that force to disturb the weapon, trigger control is the more difficult of the two fundamentals to master.

Once you have aligned your sights and have a proper sight picture your position is going to have a wobble area. Emphasis needs to be made to allow that wobble to happen. Allowing the movement of sight picture to happen, the shooter needs to execute trigger control, fire the weapon, reset the trigger during recoil, re-align the sights and accept the result of where the sights are in relation to the target within that wobble. In order to improve the individual’s ability to deliver shots more consistently, the shooter will have to train to decrease the size of their wobble through positional applications.

Trigger Prep. Prepping the trigger describes a technique in which some of the slack or movement of the trigger is taken up as the weapon is presented to the target. The intent is to increase the engagement speed by reducing the time it takes to manipulate the trigger by starting to pull the trigger before full extension. This does not make the trigger lighter; it just makes the distance that the trigger has to travel before the weapon fires less.

Triggering Errors. The majority of triggering errors can be classified into two categories: anticipation and acceleration. Anticipation is the actions incorporated into the firing process that are in reaction to the pending shot. Generally, it is identified as a negative reaction to the pending recoil or sometimes noise of the shot. Most often anticipation is described as a flinch and is manifested by the disturbance of the weapon through physical manipulation. With a pistol, we want to keep a consistency in our grip, do not break the wrists, thrust with our shoulders, drop our position, or any other muscular reaction to the pending shot that can disturb the firing process. Anticipation errors cause the impact of the round to be generally low.

Acceleration is an error caused during triggering that is incorporated into the firing process. It is accomplished by the sudden desire to pull the trigger. It is often described as a jerking of the trigger or any other inappropriate technique. It is often caused by the individual desire for the shot to be fired exactly when the sights are centered perfectly on the target. This desire and reaction to the sights when they are exactly perfect causes the triggering to be sped up and an inability to separate the trigger finger from the remainder of the grip, the forearm, and potentially the shoulder. Acceleration errors cause the impact of the round to be down and away from your firing hand: low and left for a right hand shooter, low and right for a left hand shooter.

Trigger Finger Placement. The trigger finger should fall naturally on the trigger. Keeping a natural grip alignment and pulling the trigger straight to the rear is the goal. Many have been taught to use the very tip of their finger for various reasons. This may not allow for natural grip alignment and make it more difficult to pull the trigger straight to the rear. Allow the trigger finger to fall naturally on the trigger. Do not force it deeper into the trigger well or realign your grip to ensure your finger tip is in contact with the trigger. Both are equally inefficient. However, it may not be wrong if your fingertip is on the trigger, as long as it is natural. Strive for natural placement to increase your efficiency of proper trigger manipulation and weapons management. Remember we are just trying to make it as easy as possible to pull the trigger straight to the rear. A slight gap between the pad of the trigger finger and the frame of the pistol will decrease the amount of movement in the sights while pulling the trigger.

Defensive Stance

The stance for rifle and for pistol can be the exact same as they accomplish the exact same tasks. Shooters will most likely employ their pistols and rifles together versus pistol only. If a shooter has a different stance for rifle and for pistol he will have to adjust his stance while transitioning from rifle to pistol.

Body. The body should be oriented to the threat or target as much as possible. If the individual blades off or has the body at an excessive angle they will not be as efficient or balanced, and it will degrade range of motion for target transitions and recoil absorption. The weight of the upper body should be placed over the belt buckle.

Arms. The arms should not be locked out. They should generally be centered from the chest forward, forming a triangle from an overhead view (this is the element that gives the Isosceles Stance its name). You may see the arms centered or offset slightly on the dominant eye side. Both are normal and acceptable. The shoulders should be relaxed and not hunched over. The elbows should be slightly bent to allow the elbows to absorb recoil efficiently. Locking the elbows can have a negative effect on recoil absorption. Locked out arms can potentially displace the upper torso by transferring the energy of recoil to the shoulders. This will be more evident if the position lacks an appropriate weight forward nature. Also, it should be avoided to have the elbows bent below the weapon. This will create a hinge point and make recoil management more difficult as the weapon will have a tendency to rise uncontrollably.

Head. Head should be as upright and natural as possible enabling proper balance. If the head leans in any direction the body will be off balance in that direction. Additionally, the head should remain upright and not tucked into the arms, as this will limit situational awareness. The weapon’s sights should be brought to the head with minimum displacement. The goal would be for the head not to move at all, but as long as the head is not tucked into the shoulders or lowered and pushed forward, a slight movement can be accepted as long as it does not slow the overall engagement.

Grip

The firing grip is probably the most important aspect of pistol shooting. It is the direct interface between you and the pistol. It is the grip that provides the necessary platform for the proper execution of the fundamentals and gives you leverage of the pistol for recoil management. An appropriately and consistently aligned grip can provide the shooter an ability to consistently align the weapon to the target upon presentation of the pistol.

Grip consistency is extremely important. It is the consistent grip that aligns the pistol to you and your position. In order to attain a consistent grip you must practice it as often as possible within your dry fire sustainment training. This will provide you tactile memory of the touch points of the grip itself. Simply put you will feel what is right through repetition.

Grip Pressures. When we begin to grip it is important to understand the forces and pressure applied to the pistol itself and the reasoning behind it. In the percentages approach, the amount of pressure that each hand is responsible for is described as a percentage. If you were to describe the grip as 50/50, it would mean that both the right and left hand have equal amounts of pressure within the grip. The predominant theory is that the firing hand of the grip should have less pressure or be more relaxed than the non-firing hand to allow the independent movement of the trigger finger. That being said, you will hear people describe the grip as 60/40 or 70/30.

Force and Counter Force. Your grip should provide multiple planes of pressure that counteract each other to assist the pistol in staying stable throughout the trigger squeeze and recoil management. Applying the proper pressure and direction of pressure will help mitigate potential errors as the pistol is locked into position. Each hand of the grip and every direction of manipulation should have force and a counter to that force. These counteracting forces will act as a vise for each direction applied. The countering forces will support each other, prevent the movement of the pistol within our grip, and prevent the potential breakdown of the pistol grip during firing.

We want to have multiple directions of pressure within our grip to support each other, as well as counter any errors that can be introduced within firing. The multiple directions of grip pressure will assist in mitigating errors, manage recoil, and provide proper leverage and control of the pistol.

The firing hand will grip the pistol from front to back through the front strap to the back strap of the pistol grip. Emphasis should be made to keep the pressure of the grip from the second pad of the fingers (force) to the heel of the hand (counter force). The thumb of the non-firing hand will be extended and the wrist rolled forward putting downward pressure on the muzzle of the pistol (force); the heel of the firing hand and support hand will push pressure on the back strap of the grip (counter force). If the shooter focuses on keeping the heels of the hands together, then this will limit the amount of recoil seen through the sights as well as ensure the support hand does not degrade its grip. This motion will greatly assist recoil management. The heels of both hands will be pressed together as the arms are extended during the presentation. The heel of each hand provides the force and counterforce to each other. When the pistol is fully presented to the target and the grip is properly pressured, the shooter will have four supporting planes of pressure.

Contact Points. Understanding the contact points of the hands will help you assume a proper grip and also give you an understanding of assumption of the grip during the draw.

There are six contact points for the two handed grip:

1. The heel of the firing hand on the back strap of the pistol grip.
2. The fingers of the firing hand on the front strap of the pistol.
3. The fingers of the non-firing hand against the bottom of the trigger guard of the pistol.
4. The heel of the non-firing hand against the grip of the pistol provided by the firing hand.
5. The thumb of the non-firing hand extended and alongside (not touching) the frame of the pistol.
6. The thumb of the firing hand extended and rested on top of the non-firing thumb.

There are three contact points for the one handed grip:

1. The heel of the firing hand on the back strap of the pistol grip.
2. The fingers of the firing hand on the front strap of the pistol.
3. The thumb of the firing hand resting against the frame of the pistol.

Understanding these contact points as well as the appropriate grip pressures will enable the shooter to assume the grip. Simply doing them in order will complete the grip and provide you a mental checklist as you start to shoot pistol or start to reinforce proper technique.

Notice that we do not talk about the trigger finger as one of the contact points. The trigger finger should not be against or resting on the trigger until the decision to fire has been made. The trigger finger should only contact the trigger when the target and the sights are witnessed at the same time.

Leverage. The barrel and the force applied through it during recoil acts as a lever against our grip. Managing this force is paramount in order for faster follow up shots. In order to manage this force we need to have our grip as high against the line of bore as possible. This will keep the pivot point of the applied force as close to and high against the lever (barrel).

When you look at the grip of most semi-automatic pistols you will see a beavertail. The purpose of this is to allow you to place your hand against it to be able to apply force to a backstop to keep the pistol from rotating within your grip and to keep the muzzle down. This helps keep the barrel down assisting in recoil management and recovery. It is important to have your hand high against the beavertail. There should be enough pressure against it to have a bulge of skin protruding slightly over it. Do not over exaggerate this bulge as the slide of the pistol can contact and cut you during its normal operation. Additionally, it could cause the pistol to potentially malfunction. If you do not have your hand high enough the pistol will have more of a mechanical advantage against you and recoil will be more difficult to compensate for. Ensure that the thumb of the support hand does not interfere with the functioning of the pistol (slide lock or the slide cycling).

One Handed Grip. To grip the pistol with one hand, use a firm grip pressure and follow the three contact points above. Ensure the webbing between the thumb and index finger is pressed high against the beavertail of the pistol. Place the heel of the hand on the back strap of the pistol grip. Wrap the fingers around the pistol grip and apply pressure directly from the front through the rear of the grip. Complete the grip by resting the thumb against the pistol. When firing one handed you should anchor the non-firing hand and arm to prevent any movement of the arm being transferred into your position.

Two Handed Grip. Ensure the webbing between the thumb and the index finger is pressed high against the beavertail of the pistol. Place the heel of the hand on the back strap of the pistol. Wrap the fingers around the pistol grip and apply pressure directly from the front through the rear of the grip. Keep the firing hand thumb high and out of the way.

With your non-firing hand’s fingers extended and joined, place the third knuckle of the index finger against the trigger guard and wrap the fingers around and into the valleys of the firing hand fingers. With your non-firing hand placed at a 45 degree angle downward, place the heel of the hand into and against the opposite side grip. This will be the space provided between the finger tips and the thumb of the firing hand. Apply the correct pressure.

Roll the non-firing hand thumb forward toward the muzzle and oriented to the target. Provide down force on the muzzle while pressing the heel of the firing hand to provide the counterforce. Place the firing hand thumb directly in line and on top of the non-firing hand thumb.

With the two handed grip the pistol will not be in line with the firing arm. It will be turned slightly out. This will enable the pistol to be sighted appropriately when presented from the center of the body.

Grip Errors. The following table summarizes common grip errors. Detailed descriptions follow.

The most common error that you are going to see when you shoot or potentially instruct others is a “90% grip”: it is almost correct but just missing the necessary elements to be as efficient as we need. The wrist of the non-firing hand is neutral. This is witnessed by the thumb pointing at an up angle when referenced to the frame. Remember we want to roll the thumb forward and create the 45 degree downward force to assist in recoil management.

A “shallow grip” is described as not having the hand high enough on the back strap against the beavertail and/or having the non-firing hand grip and subsequently the thumbs too low on the pistol. This prevents proper leverage or control of the pistol during recoil.

Another mistake is placing the index finger of the non-firing hand on the front of the trigger guard. This should be avoided as that finger has a higher probability of disturbing the pistol during firing. That finger can sometimes mimic the trigger finger’s action. Many manufacturers of pistols have indents or serrations on the front of the trigger guard; however, they should be disregarded.

Another mistake is the incorrect overlapping of the thumbs. This reduces weapon to individual interface and degrades performance of fundamentals and recoil management.

The “cup and saucer” grip is identified as a proper firing hand grip supported or resting on top of the non-firing hand. The firing hand is the cup and the non-firing hand is the saucer.

When it comes to errors there are an unlimited number of possibilities. When correcting these errors it is important to note that, even though they are wrong, to the individual they feel correct because they have been engrained through multiple iterations and training opportunities. As such, it will be difficult and time consuming to correct. Shooters will have to be reminded as they will slip occasionally and revert to their old habits. The best way to overcome these errors is dry fire, dry fire, and dry fire some more.

Grip Pressure Errors. Primarily, we wish to maintain a consistent grip. Ensure that we do not add any unnecessary external forces to the pistol during firing and that our wrists stay consistent through firing and recoil.

Applying grip pressures and wrist manipulation during firing is one of the primary ways the bullet’s point of impact is negatively influenced. There are several pressures that can be applied during firing that will influence the barrel and therefore displace the impact of the round.

The first error is the inability to separate the action of the trigger finger from the rest of the hand. The shooter uses the whole hand to pull the trigger by squeezing the hand. This manipulation brings the fingertips of the firing hand into play, pushing the barrel down and away. To visualize this, make a finger gun with your firing hand. The barrel will be your index finger. Look down it like you are looking down the sights. Now touch the fingertips of your pinky, ring and middle finger to the palm of your hand while keeping your index finger straight. If you are right handed the barrel should be moved down and left. If you are left handed it will be down and right. If you are experiencing a down and away error this is more than likely the cause.

Another error is the pushing of the heel of the firing hand into the back strap of the pistol. This is called heeling. Heeling pushes the barrel up when firing, causing the bullets to impact high. Again, this is caused by an inability to separate the trigger finger and/or as a reaction to recoil.

Another common mistake is to have the wrists break during firing. This is best described as the wrists bending forward and the barrel being pushed down. The point of impact will be low. This is usually caused by a reaction to recoil as the individual is trying to push the gun against the rearward motion of the pistol’s recoil.

If you understand that the pistol is usually pushed away from the influence it will help you diagnose the potential problem and begin to address and work on it.

Presentation

The presentation is the act of driving the gun to target after establishing and completing the grip. Understanding the presentation and its efficient execution is one of the more important aspects of pistol shooting. Along with a properly aligned grip, the presentation allows the weapon to be addressed to the target for firing. These elements, along with proper fundamental execution, comprise the majority of efficient pistol marksmanship.

The goal is to drive the gun to target as efficiently as possible while simultaneously completing the grip, aligning the sights, establishing an acceptable sight picture, and executing trigger control (prepping). Follow on steps include taking the shot, calling the shot, compensating for recoil, resetting the trigger, returning the sights to the target and repeating if necessary.

Throughout the entire process there should be a focus on efficiency. Efficiency consists of two elements: correctness and speed. Our goal when presenting the weapon is to drive it to the target as controlled and fast as possible to provide more time to execute the fundamentals.

There is a separation between the acts of presentation and firing of the pistol. It takes mental discipline to drive the gun quickly and slow down for fundamental execution. However, the discernable difference is minute and we are referring to mental speed. Shooters will often rush the fundamentals because of the speed at which they are presenting the gun. Instead, understand what your capabilities are and get the gun to target as fast as you can correctly so there is time within your engagement to properly execute trigger control and sighting.

Presenting the Pistol. The firing hand will have been established with the non-firing hand’s fingers against the trigger guard. The pistol should be brought up to the sight line and the heel of the non-firing hand should be placed against the grip between the space provided by the fingers and heel of the firing hand. The movement is described as an exaggerated “L”. It should be an up and out movement. Avoid bringing the head down to the sights; bring the weapon to your head.

Drive the weapon on a straight line to the target extending your arms. Transition your focus from the target to the sights as soon as possible to allow sight corrections to be made during extension. During this the grip will be completed as the thumbs are extended and placed in position. Trigger prep will begin during the extension.

Your arms should not be locked. At 90% extension slightly slow the remaining 10% of execution to keep the pistol from being pushed too hard and causing lowering of the front sight. Conceptualize easing into a stop sign; it is the same concept. The defining factor is controlling the movement to increase overall speed.

Presentation Pitfalls. There are several common mistakes that can be made when presenting the pistol. These mistakes often cause inefficiency and can hinder or limit situational awareness.

The first mistake is bringing the pistol up from the low ready. In this position the shooter already has the arms fully extended with the pistol pointed towards the ground. This prevents the individual from focusing on the sights as he presents the weapon, potentially slowing the sighting process. It can cause the individual to pass the target as he brings the sights up and have to refine his sights before firing. Furthermore, it does not allow firing of the weapon system until the weapon is fully brought to bear. It is not part of the movement of the draw and does not support continuity of techniques.

The next mistake is “casting the pistol.” This is similar to casting a fishing rod overhand. As the pistol is brought to the sight line the muzzle will be elevated. As the pistol is extended the sights are completed by bringing the rear sight up or the front sight down. This prevents the individual from focusing on the sights as he brings the weapon up, slowing the sighting process. The weapon impedes the vision of the shooter and does not allow firing of the weapon system until the weapon is fully brought to bear.

Additionally, avoid dropping your head when bringing the pistol to target instead of bringing the pistol to the sight line. This can slow the presentation process and, if the individual tucks his head into his arm, it can limit vision and slow target to target transitions.

Follow Through and Recoil Management

At the moment that the shot breaks you should take a mental image of where the sights were in relation to the target. This is referred to as calling your shot. This enables you to understand where your round should impact.

Calling your shot is part of the learning process to provide feedback on fundamental execution. If the round impacts where the sights were when fired the individual executed appropriate sighting and trigger control. If the round is displaced the individual can start to diagnose the issue.

A shooter will know how fast he can fire a follow up round if he watched his sights during recoil. You will know the moment you fire because your sights indicated where the bullet would impact, and when the sight picture becomes acceptable again, you will know you are ready to follow up. Do not shoot at a comfortable cadence; shoot when the sights tell you.

When the pistol recoils there are two directions that the pistol will try to manipulate your grip. The pistol will present muzzle flip and the gun itself will try to rise. Your goal is to manage both of these movements. This is accomplished by appropriate grip and an aggressive balanced stance.

Extending the thumb of the non-firing hand and putting down force on the muzzle (force) while pushing the heel of the firing hand into the heel of the pistol (counterforce) will assist in both muzzle flip and gun rise. This motion puts force down on the muzzle and locks the wrists in position. Extending the thumb places the non-firing hand at 45 degrees to the barrel and helps keep the weapon down as described in the grip section.

The goal is to have both the pistol and position return to the relative point of the previous shot. If you manage recoil correctly your pistol should return to target enabling you to execute follow up shots quicker.

There is no value in “double tapping” a target as you will be less likely to know the exact point of impact of the second round on the target, making adjustments for follow up shots difficult. Shoot until the threat is stopped, not for sound effects. Controlled pairs are used in training because they are a cost effective means of training recoil control and multiple shots per engagement.

Follow through is nothing more than continuing to apply the marksmanship fundamentals throughout the firing of the weapon until the weapon has completed its cycle of function. Proper and deliberate follow through will enhance the execution of the fundamentals and provide support to proper positioning techniques. Deliberate focus on the back end of the shot will reinforce emphasis on the front side of the action and execution of the shot itself.

As part of follow through, concentration and focus on the sight needs to be maintained and proper trigger technique should be utilized. The shooter should return to the target and assess, take up a secondary sight picture, and prepare for a follow up shot. Reset the trigger during recoil, readdress the weapon, reassess the threat, and reengage if necessary.

The Draw

The next progression after working and understanding the presentation is to apply that movement to the draw process. The draw is a manipulation that must be worked on constantly for efficiency. It should be a very deliberate, fluid action with a goal of getting the pistol out of the holster and presented to the target as quickly as possible.

Consider the situations you will need to draw your pistol and the associated urgency. Pistol engagements predominantly are close proximity engagements where the amount of time you have to respond is diminished.

The draw is broken down into four steps; however, it should be emphasized the draw is a dynamic movement made with fluidity and haste. This is to ensure that you get the pistol to target as fast as possible, which enables more time for executing a shot. What we do not want is to approach the movement “by the numbers” or as a stepped process for long periods of time in training. Do not build pauses between steps before moving to the next step. This slows down the draw and overall engagement time, with potentially negative results.

This sequence should be learned in dry fire before ever attempting it with live ammunition. The draw is the most dangerous manipulation in pistol shooting because it involves a loaded weapon, a trigger, and movement near the body. Train it slowly and deliberately until it is automatic, then introduce speed. A fast draw is the product of eliminating wasted motion, not of rushing.

Avoid floating the non-firing hand, or not properly anchoring it. This leads to frequent miss-grips when completing the draw as the hand is often in slightly different locations when establishing initial contact points. This also presents the risk to flag the non-firing hand with the muzzle of the pistol during the draw process.

Re-holstering. There is no time constraint to holster the pistol. Upon completion of the engagement, re-holster the pistol ensuring the pistol takes the same path it did during the draw sequence. Ensure the pistol does not flag the support hand. Look down to ensure that there is nothing obscuring the holster. Observe as the pistol is holstered. Ensure the pistol is properly secured in the holster by pulling up on the grip.

Pistol Manipulations

Manipulations are the actions necessary to use a weapon system to its fullest potential. Manipulations cover everything from weapons handling skills, presentations, loading and reloading, and malfunctions. All manipulations are conducted the same way every time. There is no difference between what is done in training and what is done in a defensive situation. Manipulations are taught in a sequence that allows a true progression in a logical manner. The most basic skill will feed into the next and prepare the shooter for subsequent tasks.

A tactically aware manipulation area to accomplish our tasks is a must. Additionally, practice of these individual tasks should be part of our dry fire training. The necessity for efficient manipulations cannot be overstated. It can be the difference between a successful or unsuccessful engagement.

Work Space. We must conduct our manipulations in an area that allows continuous situational awareness. The area in which we will address all of our weapon issues is referred to as our work space. It is best described as the area immediately in front of the mid-chest and the eyes. It is in this imaginary space that we load, reload, or address weapon issues.

Using this area we are able to maintain our awareness. Bringing the weapon into position and using our peripheral vision, along with practiced and refined motor skills, we conduct our reloads and clear malfunctions while maintaining visual security of the area. Proper use of the work space also facilitates safety as the muzzle is always pointed in a safe direction.

Conversely, if we take our focus from the area while doing our manipulations at the waist level we have completely lost our visual security. This could lead to a threat not being identified and the associated consequences.

Clearing the Pistol.

1. Grasp the pistol grip with the finger outside of the trigger well pressed straight along the frame.
2. Bring the pistol to the work space.
3. Eject the magazine (if applicable) and stow the magazine.
4. Turn the pistol inwards and grasp the rear serrations of the slide with the support hand thumb on top and pull to the rear with the support hand.
5. Lock the slide to the rear by pulling rearward on the slide while pressing up on the slide stop.
6. Visually inspect the three areas of concern for rounds, debris, and anything that will inhibit the function of the pistol: the chamber, the magazine well, and the bolt face.
7. Allow another shooter to visually clear your pistol.
8. Return the slide to the forward position while oriented in a safe direction and holster the pistol.

Always function the slide from the rear serrations. The front of the slide does not provide adequate grip surface. Functioning the slide from the front of the pistol is dangerous because it is immediately adjacent to the muzzle and presents a potential for catastrophe. Additionally, it presents a higher likelihood of not allowing a chambered round to eject.

Loading and Status Check.

1. Grasp the pistol grip with the finger outside of the trigger well pressed straight along the frame.
2. Bring the pistol to the work space.
3. Eject the magazine (if applicable) and stow the magazine.
4. Turn the pistol inwards, grasp the rear serrations of the slide, and lock the slide to the rear.
5. Visually inspect the three areas of concern: the chamber, the magazine well, and the face of the slide. This is the last time you will ensure there is nothing that will keep your pistol from functioning perfectly.
6. Begin the magazine sweep. If the magazine pouches are mounted on the belt, the support hand begins the sweep with the thumb at the navel and sweeps back towards the magazines so there is no requirement to look for them.
7. When the heel of the support hand finds the first magazine, grasp the magazine with the index finger of the support hand riding along the front of the magazine.
8. Transfer focus to the magazine well and index the magazine into the magazine well. Focus returns to the next task.
9. Seat the magazine with force.
10. Function the slide with the support hand thumb. The support hand thumb is used because regardless of the type of glove or make of pistol the support hand thumb will always work. Additionally this eliminates the possibility of the slide going forward on an empty chamber.
11. Place the thumb of the support hand on the beavertail and the index finger in front of the rear sight. Pinch the two together and ensure that you can see the brass of the chambered round on the face of the bolt.
12. Holster the pistol.

Speed Reload. A speed reload occurs when the shooter has a depleted magazine at the completion of an engagement. The shooter is more concerned with having a fully loaded pistol rather than securing the depleted magazine; however, once the engagement is complete the depleted magazine should be retrieved.

1. The trigger finger comes off the trigger and is pressed straight along the frame.
2. Return the pistol to the work space while simultaneously breaking the firing hand grip on the pistol, allowing more direct force to be placed on the magazine release.
3. Simultaneously reposition the body to the next threat or task and begin the magazine sweep with the support hand.
4. With the pistol still vertical eject the magazine and watch it fall to the ground out of the peripheral vision. Re-grip the pistol with an appropriate one handed grip that will accept the support hand.
5. Place the pistol and the magazine at the same angle and transfer focus to the magazine well.
6. Index the magazine into the magazine well and transfer focus to the next threat or task.
7. Seat the magazine with force.
8. Present the pistol while prepping the trigger to the next target.

Emergency Reload. An emergency reload is conducted when all ammunition has been expended. The slide will lock to the rear if the shooter has a proper grip on the pistol.

1. The trigger finger comes off the trigger and is pressed straight along the frame.
2. Return the pistol to the work space while simultaneously breaking the firing hand grip on the pistol to allow more direct force to be placed on the magazine release.
3. Simultaneously reposition the body to the next threat or task and begin the magazine sweep with the support hand.
4. With the pistol still vertical eject the magazine and watch it fall to the ground out of the peripheral vision. Re-grip the pistol with an appropriate one handed grip that will accept the support hand.
5. Place the pistol and the magazine at the same angle and transfer focus to the magazine well.
6. Index the magazine into the magazine well and transfer focus to the next threat or task.
7. Seat the magazine with force.
8. Function the slide stop with the thumb of the support hand.
9. Present the pistol while prepping the trigger to the next target.

Tactical Reload. This reload will be done after an engagement when an opportunity is provided (tactical pause). The reload is accomplished to ensure that the individual has the maximum number of rounds available prior to a future engagement while still retaining the partial magazine. This reduces the likelihood of the individual running out of rounds and having to do an emergency reload during a fight.

1. The trigger finger comes off the trigger and is pressed straight along the frame.
2. Return the pistol to the workspace while simultaneously breaking the firing hand grip on the pistol to allow more direct force to be placed on the magazine release.
3. Simultaneously reposition the body to the next threat or task and begin the magazine sweep with the support hand.
4. Place the pistol and the magazine at the same angle and transfer focus to the magazine well.
5. Re-position the fingers of the support hand to allow the index and thumb to secure the partial magazine and rip the stuck magazine from the frame.
6. Eject and retain the partial magazine.
7. Re-grip the pistol with an appropriate one handed grip that will accept the support hand.
8. Index the magazine into the magazine well and transfer focus to the next threat or task.
9. Seat the magazine with force.
10. Make one attempt to stow the partial magazine.
11. Present the pistol while prepping the trigger to the next target or re-holster.

In order to build the consistency in our processes, we treat all loading procedures the same. There is no difference between an admin load or reload and a tactical load or reload. All loading and reloading manipulations will be done in our work space.

Pistol Malfunctions

A malfunction is anything that causes the weapon to not function properly. The individual’s awareness to and experience with malfunctions is the key to detection. Once detected the individual’s timely ability to fix the malfunction and get back in the fight is imperative.

Training with induced malfunctions through creative load plans (using dummy ammunition) will ensure the individual reacts as efficiently as possible when encountering a malfunction. In order to prevent malfunctions, proper maintenance and lubrication of equipment needs to be accomplished. Faulty magazines, improper lubrication, improper maintenance, and broken weapons parts are a few of the causes. Careful consideration, inspection, and prevention of the cause will mitigate future malfunctions from happening. Muzzle awareness needs to be maintained throughout all malfunctions. There are multiple malfunctions that present themselves with a live round in the chamber.

Immediate Action: Tap/Rack/Bang. Tap, rack, bang is an algorithm to correct malfunctions. It does not need to be completed in its entirety. If at any point one of the steps either solves the problem or indicates a need for remedial action, the algorithm can be stopped. Situational awareness will be emphasized.

1. Upon identification of a malfunction, remove the finger from the trigger and place it straight along the frame.
2. Return the pistol to the workspace and strike the bottom of the magazine with force using the heel of the support hand.
3. Pull the slide to the rear with the support hand while simultaneously pushing the frame of the pistol forward with the firing hand. This doubles the amount of force.
4. Present the pistol to the target while prepping the trigger.

If the pistol still does not fire, re-attempt. Do not ride (continue to hold) the slide into battery. This may cause a failure to fire malfunction.

Failure to Fire. The weapon does not fire when the trigger is pulled. Immediate action will normally address the failure to fire malfunction. Causes include but are not limited to: failure to feed (whether it is the failure of the magazine to be fully seated or an empty magazine, the inability for the bolt to pick up a round to feed into the chamber will cause the weapon to fail to fire); failure to chamber or lock (whether it is a foreign obstruction in the chamber, damaged ammunition, or a failure of proper maintenance, if the slide cannot go fully forward and engage in battery the weapon will fail to fire); and damaged ammunition.

Lodged Magazine. Be mindful that, in many cases, it can be difficult to remove the magazine as the slide can be pushing down on the magazine against the magazine release preventing the magazine from falling.

1. The trigger finger comes off the trigger and is pressed straight along the frame.
2. Return the pistol to the work space.
3. Break the firing hand grip on the pistol to allow more direct force to be placed on the magazine release. Eject the magazine. If the magazine does not fall immediately, continue with the sequence.
4. Simultaneously reposition the body to the next threat or task and begin the magazine sweep with the support hand to secure a magazine.
5. If the magazine does not fall, re-position the fingers of the support hand to allow the index and thumb to secure the lodged magazine and rip it from the frame with force.
6. Re-grip the pistol with an appropriate one handed grip that will accept the support hand.
7. Index the magazine into the magazine well and transfer focus to the next threat or task.
8. Seat the magazine with force.
9. Present the pistol while prepping the trigger to the next target or re-holster.

Stovepipe. The inability of the round to be properly ejected from the pistol. If the round is partially ejected it presents itself as a stovepipe malfunction. The stovepipe is the easiest malfunction to diagnose as the front sight post will be blocked by the casing of the round.

1. Remove the trigger finger from the trigger and place it straight along the frame.
2. Return the pistol to the workspace.
3. Transfer focus to the stovepipe.
4. Form a knife cutting edge with the support hand and chop from front to rear to dislodge the round. Ensure that the support hand does not extend past the front sight.
5. Transfer focus back to the threat, push forward with the firing hand while pulling rearward with the support hand in a chopping motion.
6. Strike the bottom of the magazine with force using the heel of the support hand.
7. Turn the pistol over in the hand and grasp the rear serrations of the slide with the support hand thumb on top.
8. Pull the slide to the rear with the support hand while simultaneously pushing the frame of the pistol forward with the firing hand. This doubles the amount of force.
9. Present the pistol to the target while prepping the trigger.

Rifle-to-Pistol Transition

Anytime a shooter experiences a malfunction with the rifle at close range (25 meters and closer) the immediate response is to transition to the pistol. If the rifle no longer works and we are unsure what has caused the malfunction, and it has a potential to be very complex such as a broken bolt lug or a primer that has become lodged in the trigger mechanism, the pistol is the fastest way back into the fight. For this reason, anytime shooters execute close quarters oriented training they should train with their pistols and rifles together.

To execute a rifle-to-pistol transition:

1. Attempt to put the rifle on safe. This is done as an extra measure of safety. There is no time that will be lost in simply attempting to put the rifle on safe.
2. Immediately move the rifle so that it is out of the way and does not obstruct the drawing of the pistol. The rifle can be placed in the front of the body or moved to the side. Additionally the rifle may be rolled to the side so that the sling is on top of the magazine well and secures the rifle to the body. Sling tension should be adjusted so that the rifle hangs in the proper location. There is no additional movement of the support hand required to place the rifle in these locations. Once the rifle is trapped in place the support hand will move to the body to index the pistol. If the rifle is still moving during the draw that movement will then be translated to the sights during presentation. There is no need to look into the chamber as all rifle malfunctions cannot be diagnosed at that angle and would not be visible during hours of limited visibility. Looking at the chamber is a waste of precious time.
3. As soon as the rifle has been placed on safe (or attempted to be placed on safe), the firing hand moves to find the pistol as part of the draw process.
4. The rest of the draw process follows without change.
5. Once the threat has been stopped, re-holster the pistol and perform immediate action with the rifle as necessary.

The stance for rifle and for pistol should be the same as they accomplish the same task. If a shooter has a different stance for each weapon he will have to adjust his stance while transitioning, which costs time and introduces instability. Train both platforms from the same stance so the transition is a change of weapon, not a change of position.

Train the rifle-to-pistol transition in dry fire before attempting it live. Clear both weapons completely and use snap caps. Practice slowly until the sequence is automatic. Common errors include looking into the rifle chamber, excessive movement of the support hand and rifle, and failing to attempt to place the rifle on safe. Introduce speed only after the mechanics are consistent. Once the transition is reliable in dry fire, introduce it during live-fire drills by loading the rifle with a snap cap at a random point in the magazine. When the dead trigger occurs, the shooter transitions to the pistol and completes the drill.

Pistol Alternate Positions

Training leads must ensure that safety is adhered to while conducting training with pistols in alternate firing positions.

Prone. The draw will remain the same for this position with the exception of the support hand.

1. The firing hand draws the pistol while ensuring that the support hand is not flagged.
2. The support hand posts to the ground while still keeping the focus on the target.
3. Kick the feet rearward and sprawl.
4. Place the pistol magazine on the ground or form a modified grip much like a golf grip for additional elevation. If the pistol is entirely off the ground it will be less conducive to recoil control and will be less stable.
5. Adjust for less elevation as the rounds will generally impact higher on the target due to the altered perception of the sights.

Most shooters will benefit from positioning the body slightly canted to the target and placing the cheek on the upper arm of the firing side. Immediate action in the prone position can be executed by slamming the magazine against the ground to reduce unnecessary movement.

Side Prone. This position will be nearly identical to the prone position except the body will be parallel with the targets. Ensure that the feet are in line or behind the muzzle. The elbow can be used as a contact point with the ground to produce a more stable position. There is no need to adjust for cant.

Kneeling. The draw will remain the same for this position.

1. Draw the pistol normally while simultaneously dropping down on both knees.
2. The position can become more stable by widening the distance between the knees and shifting the weight of the body back on the heels. Some shooters may be able to sit back on their heels with the feet flat on the ground.

Use of a Barricade. Ensure that the pistol is not touching the barrier as it may retard the cycling of the slide. The outside portions of the hands should be used as the interface between the barrier and the pistol. All manipulations should be executed behind cover. Just like the rifle, the weapon should be presented from where the threat is not located to where the threat is located (outside to inside).

Low-Light Considerations

Most emergencies do not happen in daylight on a well-lit range. Reduced light is the norm for home defense, roadside stops, and power outages. Training exclusively in daylight leaves a gap in the skill set that matters most when it counts.

A weapon-mounted light is essential for any firearm that may be used in reduced light. For the rifle, mount an LED light on the handguard where the support hand can activate the switch without shifting grip. The switch should be accessible when firing from the firing side or the support side. For the pistol, an LED weapon light mounted on the Picatinny rail should produce at least 300 lumens and use a switch that allows activation while firing one-handed with the firing hand alone. LED is the standard; incandescent bulbs produce less light, burn out faster, and are more fragile.

The weapon light serves two purposes: target identification and aiming. The fourth rule of firearms safety (be certain of your target and what is beyond it) applies with greater force in reduced light because the consequences of misidentifying a target are irreversible. The light goes on to identify, and the decision to fire follows identification. A weapon-mounted light points wherever the muzzle points, which means illuminating anything with it also covers that thing with the muzzle. Use a separate handheld flashlight for general navigation and searching when you do not intend to point a weapon.

Iron sight dots (the painted dots on many pistol sights) exist for low-light situations where the top edge of the front sight may not be visible. However, these dots should not be used as the primary aiming reference in normal light conditions because they are not placed on the portion of the sight used for precise aiming. A weapon-mounted light producing adequate illumination negates the need for sight dots entirely by making the sight picture fully visible.

Dry fire practice with the weapon light builds the manipulation into muscle memory. Practice activating and deactivating the light during the draw, during reloads, and during transitions between targets. Practice identifying a target (use a printed image on the wall) and making the decision to fire or not based on what the light reveals. The light activation should not disrupt the grip, the trigger press, or the sight picture.

On the range, low-light training requires additional safety measures. Left and right limits should be marked with visible indicators. The training lead should maintain an overt light source for range commands and safety checks. Start with deliberate, untimed drills in reduced light before introducing par times or complex scenarios. Safety takes precedence over realism in all low-light range work.

Training Philosophy

In order to reach the desired end state, a well thought out training plan following a logical training path is necessary. The training methods utilized must be fundamentally sound, support overlapping marksmanship fundamentals, be a blend of dry and live fire, and focus on the desired end state. The end state is determined through the evaluation of individual skills, collective needs, and required evaluations.

Defensive Marksmanship

Defensive marksmanship is a blend of accuracy and speed. Although there are infinite elements to tactical engagements, fast and accurate fire is the stalwart of defensive shooting. There are two paths to becoming a proficient shooter: focusing on accuracy and then incorporating speed, or focusing on speed and incorporating accuracy.

Defensive marksmanship is placing rapidly aimed, effective fire within an acceptable area of accuracy while remaining situationally aware of your surroundings, quickly making decisions, and exposing as little of yourself to the threat as possible while you stop them.

Accuracy Methodology

In the defensive and tactical world the majority of training approaches believe in accurate fire and then incorporating speed. Most have been part of a training path that instructs themselves or others to ensure a certain amount of accuracy and then to speed up their cadence until they lose accuracy. At this time, they should “throttle back” or slow down until accuracy returns. Through this dynamic process they will make progress in the speed department while still maintaining accuracy.

This is the foundation of the training path used in this guide. Accuracy will be emphasized in the beginning with strict focus on the execution of correct fundamentals and proper execution. This is why the NRA B8 bull is used in the beginning and reinforcement training before switching to humanoid targets. Once those conditions are met, speed will be introduced and targets will be varied. Training leads will use the correct combination of targets and par times to produce the product that is required during specific points within the training path.

The speed methodology is not used because shooters will learn proper execution by going slow (slower than many may be comfortable with) enough to work out any issues that they encounter to facilitate correct and efficient methods. This method produces a platform that is best suited to build from and incorporate speed. We will always be grounded in the execution of basic fundamentals; it is our ability to apply the basics which enables us to advance. Competition should be encouraged; however, unless steps are made to create defensively oriented competition it can produce habits that do not transfer to practical application.

Training Paths

A training path must begin with safety, basic knowledge, marksmanship fundamentals and progress through simple, compound, and complex firing skills and tasks. Additionally, as the competency of the individual progresses it must be emphasized to continue to focus on foundational marksmanship and to reinforce the discipline’s core competencies.

The path must be a blend of dry fire training and live fire training. For every skill that is trained a dry fire regimen for that specific skill must be accomplished before live fire training is implemented. This is not only safety oriented but provides reinforcement of the skill without the masking effects of recoil, maximizing available training time. Additionally, dry fire training is not resource dependent and provides a significant opportunity to sustain and improve marksmanship skills. You will never reach your full potential without including an all-inclusive dry fire training plan into your training path.

Many training paths do not look at an efficient approach to the desired end state. Rather, they look at repetitive opportunity or saturation of tactical skills as the way to reach their end state. Ignoring or paying minimal attention to fundamental skills and focusing on tactical skills is the least efficient and encompassing of all training paths.

Instead, a path that is logically sequenced begins with comprehension of marksmanship knowledge and fundamental skills to simple marksmanship tasks and then progresses to compound drills and finishes with complex marksmanship situations. Utilizing this sequence produces a more skilled shooter. This approach will allow a better application of marksmanship skills no matter the engagement.

Training Tasks

A comprehensive training path must incorporate marksmanship instruction, simple skills, compound tasks, and complex situations to efficiently and effectively train.

Marksmanship instruction should include equipment understanding, marksmanship fundamentals, positions, zeroing and ballistics, malfunctions and manipulations, and environmental considerations.

Simple skills build the foundation for proficient marksmanship. These are the core proficiencies. They should be simple and provide reinforcement of building block marksmanship skills. They should be performed perfectly with an emphasis on efficient and proper execution without compromise in their processes. They include dry firing, position work, grouping exercises, single shot engagements, and recoil management.

Compound tasks incorporate defensive skills into simple tasks. The inclusions of additional tasks are added after the accomplishment and evaluation of foundation marksmanship. They include shooting while turning, shooting on the move, tactical reloads, holstering of the pistol, weapons transitions, utilization of barricades, and non-standard position work.

Complex situations incorporate multiple compound and simple tasks. Stress fires, marksmanship qualifications, competitive stages, and similar scenarios are all examples of complex situational training. Chapters should incorporate a blend of these situational events to build the individual’s ability to process information under pressure and apply marksmanship skills to challenging situations. Competitive shooting in formats like USPSA and IDPA can be excellent complex situational training when adapted with defensive principles in mind.

Training Checklist

Below is a sequenced checklist of skills and events that a chapter training plan should address in order. Not every chapter will be able to cover all items in a single quarter, but the list provides a logical progression to work through over time.

1. Safety
2. Eye dominance test
3. Rifle form, fit, and function
4. Pistol form, fit, and function
5. Equipment setup
6. Fundamentals of marksmanship (executed through dry fire and basic live fire, not lecture alone)
7. Pistol dry fire (manipulations and triggering)
8. Rifle dry fire (manipulations and triggering)
9. Rifle-to-pistol transition dry fire
10. Basic ballistics
11. Reduced distance zero
12. Actual distance zero
13. Basic pistol marksmanship (single round, controlled pair, manipulations from the ready position and draw, recoil management)
14. Verification of ballistic holds for close range distances
15. Expansion of ballistics (compensating for wind and range estimation)
16. Known distance fire
17. Basic rifle marksmanship at close range distances (presentation, single round, controlled pair, recoil management)
18. Live fire rifle-to-pistol transitions (use of the pistol as a secondary weapon in every situation after this)
19. Target transitions (small, large, width, depth, and varying target sizes)
20. Turning movements (staged and then un-staged)
21. Unknown distance fire
22. Limited exposure targets at distance
23. Alternate positions fire at distance
24. Shooting on the move (forward, laterally, diagonally)
25. Run, stop, shoot
26. Passing the rifle
27. Use of barricades
28. Engaging moving targets (slow walk, walk, slow jog, jog, sprint)
29. Compensating for cant
30. Alternate positions
31. Stress fires

Evaluations

Determining the end state that every individual marksmanship skill set requires will guide your evaluations. A well rounded evaluation incorporates all elements of the training tasks. Using simple, compound, and complex tasks as a basis for your evaluation will provide an important balance that identifies training successes and pitfalls of the individual and mentor, as well as validate the training plan. Keeping records (collecting and analyzing historical data) of these results will drive training path progress, shape future training events, and provide continuity.

Dry Fire

Shooters are encouraged to use every opportunity available to conduct dry fire training. The only aspect of marksmanship training that cannot be trained through the use of dry fire training is recoil management. Dry fire training is defined as training any and all aspects of marksmanship outlined within this guide without the presence of live ammunition.

When an individual considers dry firing they dismiss the benefits and focus on the boring experiences that they have had in the past. Many think of dry firing as simply position work while focusing on trigger manipulation. It does not take very long for someone to become bored and disengaged from a dry fire plan that does nothing more than simple trigger manipulation drills.

In order to eliminate the stereotypes of traditional dry fire training we have to understand not only what we are trying to accomplish, but also where our focus needs to be. A dry fire plan must look at marksmanship holistically. You must understand the necessity to put your focus on the entire system and not just the actuation of the trigger.

The focus needs to be placed on effective marksmanship. Effective marksmanship is made up of three areas: marksmanship, manipulations, and movement. It is by focusing on these three areas within your dry fire training and live fire training that you will begin to reach your goals and realize your potential.

Dry fire training allows you to work on and reinforce individual skills. It takes numerous correct repetitions and conscious thought to program ourselves to perform a task consistently. Dry firing provides that opportunity. Dry firing allows shooters to change bad habits in a short amount of time. Through the use of a coach, a shot timer, dummy rounds, and video replay, a shooter can coach himself out of bad habits in a short amount of time.

Every aspect of shooting can be trained during dry fire with the exception of recoil control. All manipulations and movement that your chapter will subsequently execute at the next range day can be practiced. Dry fire drills can be as simple as breaking the firing hand grip on the pistol to change a magazine, to improving your ability to calibrate your body to natural point of aim. There is no limit to creating a dry fire scenario. The key to successful dry fire is replicating actual scenarios that the chapter may encounter. If a shooter practices stepping laterally while changing a magazine during dry fire, then he is practicing to do the same undesirable act in a real situation.

Consistent focused dry fire will produce faster improvement than an additional monthly range trip. The key word is focused: each repetition should have a purpose (smooth trigger press, consistent draw to the same spot, finding natural point of aim in sitting). Mindless repetitions build mindless habits. Use snap caps (inert training rounds) to practice malfunction clearance and to verify that you are pressing the trigger without flinching (load a snap cap randomly in a magazine during live fire to diagnose).

Structured Drills

The following drills are sequenced from simple to complex. Each builds on the skills developed in the previous one. Drills sourced from military training programs or established civilian instructors are credited. Drills developed for chapter use are noted as chapter-defined; their parameters are set by this guide rather than an external standard. Par times are guidelines for competent civilian shooters training regularly; adjust them up for beginners and down as proficiency develops.

Rifle Drills

Dot Drill. Place a target with six 1-inch dots at 25 yards. From the prone supported position, fire one round at each dot with no time limit. The purpose is pure precision: trigger control, breathing, natural point of aim, and follow-through with no time pressure. The standard is all six rounds touching or inside their respective dots. When a shooter can clean this drill consistently from prone, move it to kneeling, then standing. This is the first drill of every training progression because it isolates the fundamentals from everything else.

Cold Bore Drill. At the start of every range session, before any warm-up or practice, fire one round at a 2-inch circle on a target at 50 yards from the prone position. Record the result. This single shot measures readiness: can the shooter deliver a precision shot on demand with a cold barrel and no preparation? Track cold bore shots over time to identify trends. A shooter whose cold bore consistently drifts in one direction has a zeroing, position, or trigger control issue to address.

Controlled Pair. From the standing position at 15 yards, fire two rounds at a USPSA target with a 1.5-second par time from the ready position. The two rounds should land within the A-zone of the target. The purpose is shot cadence: learning to deliver two accurate shots in rhythm by pressing the trigger, managing recoil, reacquiring the sight, and pressing again. The controlled pair is the building block of practical rifle shooting. When 1.5 seconds is comfortable, push the par time down.

Target Transition Drill (chapter-defined). Set two USPSA targets at 25 yards, spaced approximately 3 yards apart. From the standing position, engage each target with two rounds, transitioning between targets. Par time is 3 seconds from the ready position. The purpose is target transitions: moving the weapon smoothly between targets while maintaining a stable shooting platform. The eyes move to the next target before the weapon does. Once the two-target version is consistent, add a third and fourth target and extend the par time proportionally.

                25 yd
    [TGT 1]  ~3 yd  [TGT 2]
       |               |
       |   2 rds each  |
       |               |
    ===|===firing line==|===
              [S]
         S = Shooter

Bill Drill. Originally developed by competitive shooter Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat and named by Rob Leatham during the early days of IPSC competition. From the holster at 7 yards, draw and fire 6 rounds as fast as possible into a single USPSA target. All 6 rounds must land in the A-zone. The original standard is 2.0 seconds from the holster; 3.5 seconds is a solid benchmark for shooters who are building speed. The purpose is recoil management under speed: maintaining acceptable accuracy while driving the weapon as fast as the shooter can control it. This drill reveals whether the shooter’s grip, stance, and recoil management are adequate for sustained rapid fire. Chapters without holster-qualified members can run the drill from the ready position.

Snaps (RSALC). Start at the standing position. On the signal, drop to prone and fire one round at a known-distance target. The pits or a spotter calls the hit. The drill is run at progressively increasing distances: 100 yards with a 10-second par time, 200 yards with a 12-second par time, 300 yards with a 15-second par time. Reduce par times as shooters improve. The purpose is the standing-to-prone transition under time pressure: finding a stable prone position quickly, establishing natural point of aim, and delivering a single precision shot. This drill trains the most common real-world sequence for a rifle shooter: you are on your feet, a target presents, and you must get into the most stable position and hit it before the opportunity closes.

    [TGT]                   [TGT]                   [TGT]
    100 yd / 10s par        200 yd / 12s par        300 yd / 15s par
       |                       |                       |
       |                       |                       |
    ===|===firing line=========|=======================|===
    [S] standing                Signal: drop to prone, fire 1 rd

Barricade Drill (chapter-defined). At 50 to 100 yards, engage a target from behind a vertical barricade, two rounds from the strong side and two rounds from the weak side. Par time is 8 seconds total, including the transition. The purpose is positional shooting with support: indexing the weapon on a structure, shooting from the non-dominant side, and transitioning smoothly. Barricade shooting is where real-world marksmanship and range marksmanship intersect.

                 50-100 yd
                 [TGT]
                   |
                   |
       |-|         |
       |B|  strong side: 2 rds
       |A|  transition
       |R|  weak side:   2 rds
       |R|
       |-|         |
    =====|===firing line===
         [S]
    B = Barricade (vertical surface)
    8 sec par total

Progressive Distance Drill (chapter-defined). Start at 50 yards prone and fire 5 rounds at a USPSA target with no time limit. Move back to 100 yards and repeat. Continue at 150 and 200 yards. If range facilities allow, continue to 250 and 300 yards. No time limit on any stage. The purpose is known-distance marksmanship: learning what holdover looks like at each distance, confirming the zero trajectory against the ballistic solver’s predictions, and building confidence at extended range. Once a shooter can clean the drill untimed, introduce a 2-minute par for each stage.

    [TGT]
       |
    300 yd  5 rds prone (if available)
    250 yd  5 rds prone (if available)
    200 yd  5 rds prone
    150 yd  5 rds prone
    100 yd  5 rds prone
     50 yd  5 rds prone  <-- start here
       |
    ===|===firing line===
    [S] shooter moves back after each stage

Changing Gears (RSALC). From the standing position at 10 yards, fire 2 rounds to the body of a USPSA target followed by 1 round to the head. Par time is 2.5 seconds from the ready position. The purpose is transitioning from speed to precision within a single string of fire: the first two rounds are practical accuracy to a large target area, and the third round demands a deliberate trigger press on a much smaller zone. As the RSALC curriculum puts it: if the target size varies, the shooter must recognize what accuracy standard can be sacrificed and what demands full application of the fundamentals. The A-zone of the body is large and allows speed; the A-zone of the head is small and demands precision.

         10 yd
      +---------+
      | [HEAD]  |  <-- rd 3 (precision)
      |  . . .  |
      |         |
      | [BODY]  |  <-- rds 1-2 (speed)
      |  A-zone |
      |         |
      +---------+
           |
    =======|===firing line===
          [S]
    2.5 sec par from ready

Pistol Drills

Draw and Fire. From the holster at 7 yards, draw and fire 1 round into the A-zone of a USPSA target. Par time is 2.0 seconds. The purpose is clean presentation: establishing the grip in the holster, clearing cleanly, acquiring the sight, and pressing a single accurate shot. This is the foundation of pistol work from the holster. When 2.0 seconds is consistent, push toward 1.5.

5x5 Drill. Originally developed by Gila Hayes and published in her book on personal defense. The standard version is 5 rounds into a 5-inch circle from 5 yards in 5 seconds from the ready position. The chapter version expands this: fire 5 rounds into a 5-inch circle from 5, 7, and 10 yards (15 rounds total), 5 seconds per string from the ready position. The expanding distances require the shooter to adjust cadence as the accuracy demand increases. This is a useful diagnostic drill because failures reveal whether the issue is speed, accuracy, or consistency at each distance. Credit the original 5-yard version to Gila Hayes when teaching.

VTAC 5-5-5 (RSALC). Using a VTAC skeleton target or USPSA target at 7 meters, fire 5 rounds to the chest, 5 rounds to the pelvis, and 5 rounds to the head, then reload and repeat the sequence. Par time is 30 seconds for the full drill (30 rounds total). The purpose is engaging multiple target zones under time pressure while managing a magazine change. The decreasing target size (chest to pelvis to head) forces the shooter to adjust accuracy standards within the same string. This drill was a standard component of the RSALC pistol curriculum using humanoid targets to build defensively applicable skills.

       7 meters
    +-----------+
    |  [HEAD]   |  5 rds (smallest zone)
    |           |
    |  [CHEST]  |  5 rds (largest zone)
    |           |
    |  [PELVIS] |  5 rds (medium zone)
    |           |
    +-----------+
    Reload, repeat (30 rds total)
    30 sec par

Reload Drill. At 7 yards, fire 2 rounds, perform an emergency reload (slide locked back), and fire 2 more rounds. Par time is 5 seconds from the ready. Then repeat with a speed reload (weapon still in battery). The purpose is building automatic reload mechanics so the manipulation happens without conscious thought under time pressure.

Ball and Dummy Drill. Load a magazine with a random mix of live rounds and snap caps (inert rounds). Fire normally. When the snap cap chambers and the weapon does not fire, observe what happens. A shooter with a flinch will visibly push the weapon downward when the snap cap fails to fire, revealing the anticipation of recoil. This is the single best diagnostic tool for identifying and correcting a flinch. Once the flinch is visible, the shooter knows what to fix: the trigger press should look identical whether the round fires or not.

Combined Drills

Positional Standards (chapter-defined). This is a quarterly benchmark. At 25 yards with a rifle from the standing position, fire 5 rounds. Transition to kneeling and fire 5 rounds. Transition to prone and fire 5 rounds. Total 15 rounds. Par time is 45 seconds for all three positions. Score on a USPSA target: A-zone hits score 5 points, C-zone hits score 3 points, D-zone hits score 1 point. Maximum score is 75. Record the score quarterly to track progression. This drill tests positional transitions, fundamentals across all three major positions, and performance under time pressure.

Timed Positional Transition (chapter-defined). At 100 yards, start standing. On the signal, fire 2 rounds standing, transition to kneeling and fire 2 rounds, transition to prone and fire 2 rounds. Par time is 15 seconds. All 6 rounds on a USPSA target. The purpose is fast positional work at a distance where position stability matters: standing at 100 yards is difficult, kneeling is better, and prone is where the precision shots land.

Stress Drill (chapter-defined). Physical exertion followed by marksmanship under elevated heart rate. The chapter version: run 100 yards (or perform 10 burpees) and immediately assume a standing position at 50 yards. Fire 5 rounds at a USPSA target. All hits must be in the A-zone. No par time; the stress comes from the elevated heart rate and breathing. The purpose is learning to shoot while physically taxed: controlling the breathing, finding the natural point of aim despite the heaving chest, and pressing the trigger cleanly when the body wants to rush. Stress shoots have a long history in military training; the RSALC curriculum includes a pistol stress shoot using a cone or burpees with tiered round counts over a 2-minute window. The chapter version adapts the concept for rifle at greater distance.

    [TGT] 50 yd
       |
       |
    ===|===firing line===
       |
       |  <-- run 100 yd or 10 burpees
       |
    [START]
    No par time. A-zone hits only.

Coaching and Running a Range Session

How People Learn to Shoot

Marksmanship instruction follows a three-step cycle: the instructor demonstrates the skill at full speed so shooters see what right looks like, then explains the key points in a focused 3 to 5 minute talk covering the what, the why, and the common errors (RSALC), and then the shooters execute the skill themselves while the instructor observes and coaches. This cycle repeats for each building block of the session.

The building-block approach sequences skills from simple to complex. A shooter does not begin with timed drills; a shooter begins with a single trigger press in dry fire, builds to a single live round in prone, builds to groups, builds to multiple positions, builds to time pressure, and builds to complex drills that combine all the fundamentals. Each block is mastered before the next is introduced. When a shooter struggles with a complex skill, the fix is almost always to go back to a simpler block and rebuild from there.

Keep instruction concise. Shooters on a range have a limited attention span for talking. Five minutes of instruction followed by live fire execution is far more effective than a 20-minute classroom block followed by shooting (RSALC). Time on the trigger should always exceed time spent talking.

Diagnosing Common Errors

When a shooter is missing on a flat range, start with trigger control. Trigger control errors account for the majority of misses in structured training. If the trigger press is clean, check the position and natural point of aim. Equipment, zero, ammunition, and environmental conditions are the least common causes of misses in controlled range conditions and should be investigated only after the shooter’s mechanics have been evaluated. Watch the muzzle at the moment of firing. If it dips, the shooter is flinching (anticipating recoil and pushing the weapon down). If it moves laterally, the trigger press is not straight to the rear. Use the ball and dummy drill (snap caps loaded randomly) to make the flinch visible to the shooter. Most people do not believe they flinch until they see it on a snap cap.

If trigger control is clean but shots are still inconsistent, check the position. Have the shooter close their eyes, relax, and open them. If the sights are not on the target, the natural point of aim is off and the shooter has been muscling the weapon onto target, which introduces movement and inconsistency. Adjust the body, not the arms.

Running a Range Session

A chapter range session should run 2 to 2.5 hours and follow a consistent structure.

The dry fire warm-up costs no ammunition and gets every shooter’s mechanics engaged before the first live round. The fundamentals block covers a single skill: one position, one trigger control drill, or one new concept. Keep the group on the same drill at the same time so coaching is efficient. The skills block applies that fundamental in a more complex drill or combination. The diagnostic drill at the end gives each shooter a score to measure where they stand.

Planning a Training Quarter

Plan backward from the quarterly goal. If the goal is for every member to pass the rifle qualification at Marksman level, identify the skills that the qualification tests (positional shooting, timed fire, accuracy at distance) and build the quarter’s sessions to progressively develop those skills. Month one focuses on fundamentals and positions. Month two adds time pressure and drills. Month three includes full run-throughs of the qualification course. Every session builds on the previous one.

Keep a training log. Record what drills were run, what par times were used, and what common errors were observed. This log is how the training lead identifies patterns (the chapter consistently struggles with kneeling, for example) and adjusts future sessions to address them.

Sample 12-Session Quarter

The following plan sequences 12 range sessions from simple skills through qualification. It follows the building-block model: roughly half the training time on simple fundamentals, with complexity increasing only after the group demonstrates competence at each level. Adjust the pace based on your chapter’s experience. If members are struggling with a session’s objectives, repeat the session before moving forward. A skill that is rushed past is a skill that will break under pressure.

Phase 1: Foundation (Sessions 1 through 4)

By the end of session four, every member should have a confirmed zero, a working understanding of all four positions, and demonstrated safe weapons handling.

Phase 2: Development (Sessions 5 through 8)

Phase 3: Application (Sessions 9 through 12)

The training lead should reference the specific drill descriptions in the structured drills section for setup, par times, and standards. Sessions that go well can absorb an additional drill. Sessions where members struggle should slow down and spend more time on the building block that is not solid rather than pressing forward on the schedule.

Qualification Standards

These two qualification courses provide a quarterly measurement of individual marksmanship proficiency. The rifle qualification is adapted from the RTC 350-10 rural qualification course structure (40 rounds, four positional stages, 2-minute par times, 30-second position setup) with distances scaled for civilian ranges and USPSA targets replacing military silhouettes. The pistol qualification is chapter-defined. Both use a common scoring system and rating scale for simplicity. Shoot them quarterly, record every score, and track progression over time.

Rifle Qualification Course

This course of fire uses 40 rounds and is fired on USPSA cardboard targets in four stages.

Upon occupying the firing line for each stage, the shooter is given 30 seconds to assume a proper position. The training lead announces “Shooters ready,” “Standby,” and then the shot timer beep begins the stage. An air horn or verbal command signals the end of the time window. For each round fired after the time limit, the shooter’s highest-scoring hit is deducted from the total (RTC 350-10). Scoring uses USPSA target zones: A-zone hits score 5 points, C-zone hits score 3 points, D-zone hits score 1 point, misses score 0. Maximum score is 200 points.

Marksman is the minimum standard every chapter member should meet. Expert is the standard for members pursuing instructor or cadre roles.

Pistol Qualification Course

This course of fire uses 30 rounds and is fired on USPSA cardboard targets in three stages.

The same range commands and procedures apply. Scoring uses USPSA target zones: A-zone hits score 5 points, C-zone hits score 3 points, D-zone hits score 1 point, misses score 0. Maximum score is 150 points.

Both qualifications should be shot quarterly. The training lead records scores for every member and reviews trends at the end of each quarter. A member whose score drops has a fundamentals issue to diagnose. A member whose score plateaus needs new challenges: tighter par times, smaller scoring zones, or movement to the next progression of drills.

Tracking Scores

The training lead should maintain a qualification log for every member. At minimum, record the member’s name, the date, which qualification was fired (rifle or pistol), the score for each stage, the total score, and the rating earned. Run the same qualification under the same conditions each quarter so scores are comparable. Tracking individual stage scores rather than just totals reveals specific weaknesses: a member who scores well in prone and kneeling but drops points in standing has a positional fundamentals issue to work on, not a general accuracy problem. A member whose scores improve across the first three quarters and then plateau is ready for harder challenges: tighter par times, smaller target zones, or competition.

Fire the rifle and pistol qualifications at the start of each training quarter as a baseline and again at the end as a measure of what the quarter’s training produced. Compare the two. If the scores did not improve, the training plan needs adjustment. If a member’s score regresses, diagnose the cause before the next quarter begins: has the member been absent from training, or has a bad habit crept in that needs correction?

Keep the log simple and accessible. A spreadsheet or a notebook works. What matters is that every score is recorded, every quarter is compared, and the data drives the next quarter’s training plan rather than guesswork.

Continuing Education

The external programs described in the Foundation are the starting point: Project Appleseed for rifle fundamentals and NRA courses for foundational safety and instruction. This guide gives chapters the structure to train between and beyond those programs. What follows is the progression from there.

Competition. USPSA and IDPA matches run monthly at clubs in most states. They provide time pressure, scoring, movement, and shooting problems that cannot be replicated on a flat range. Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) competitions develop known-distance rifle skills. Members should shoot their first competition within six months of starting regular training. Competition exposes weaknesses that drills do not because it introduces variables, pressure, and comparison to other shooters.

Professional Instruction. Schools like Gunsite Academy, Thunder Ranch, and similar programs offer multi-day courses in defensive pistol, carbine, and precision rifle. These courses are valuable for chapter training leads who need exposure to professional instruction methodology and for members ready to push past the fundamentals this guide covers.

Instructor Development. A chapter that depends on a single instructor is a chapter with a single point of failure. The long-term goal is to develop multiple members to instructor level. NRA Instructor Certification, Appleseed Instructor qualification, and USPSA Range Officer certification are practical paths. Members at the cadre level of the Foundation’s training progression should hold at least one instructor credential in their area of focus and should be actively training the members behind them. The measure of a cadre-level member is not what they can do but who they have taught.

Appleseed as a Chapter Event. Attending a Project Appleseed weekend as a chapter is one of the highest-value training events available. The $85 cost, the two-day format, the structured instruction by volunteer coaches, and the nationwide availability make it accessible to any chapter. Members who have already attended should return as repeat shooters or pursue Appleseed Instructor certification to bring that capability in-house.

The events calendar lists upcoming marksmanship events, Appleseed clinics, and competitions across the country. The trajectory from this guide leads outward: external programs, competition, professional schools, and eventually the chapter developing its own institutional knowledge and instructor cadre. This guide is the foundation for that progression, not the limit of it.