Marksmanship
Myth Busters
John M. Buol
Jr.
http://FUNshoot.com
http://MilitaryMarksman.com
Mechanical
Zero
Myth – “You must always go to mechanical
zero before zeroing.”
Fact – You’re
almost always better off starting with the dope already on the
gun.
FM 3-22.9, Page 2-4
“Mechanically zeroing the
weapon is only necessary when the weapon zero is questionable, the
weapon is newly assigned to the unit, or the weapon sights have been
serviced.”
Mechanical Zero is nothing more than
putting the sights in their centermost setting. This setting has no
direct effect on the relationship of the barrel, therefore has no
direct relationship to any zero. Unless the sights have been
completely replaced and the rifle has never been zeroed, you are
better off starting with whatever zero the last shooter used (see
“Rifle Zeroed by Another Shooter” below.)
Knowing
and basing a zero from Mechanical is important only if you plan to
“click on” corrections. For example, both SDMs and
competitive shooters may dial a True Zero onto their sights based on
specific environmental conditions for a given shot. A given
engagement or string may require several sight adjustments. Should
the shooter forget his dope he can dial back to MZ and return to a No
Wind setting, based on his previously recorded data.
For
soldiers who will only adjust to and use a Point Blank/Battle Sight
Zero this isn’t necessary. Hint: A soldier who can’t
explain what “Minute of Angle” is should stick with a BZO
and not worry about MZ.
Transferring Zero to Another
Rifle
Myth – “Once I determine my zero from MZ,
I can apply that dope to any rifle.”
Fact – A
zero setting on one rifle applies only to that specific rifle.
FM
3-22.9, Page 5-14
“There is no relationship between the
specific sight settings a soldier uses on his rifle to the sight
settings he would zero another rifle to. For example, a soldier could
zero his assigned rifle 10 clicks left of center, and then zero
another rifle and his adjustments could be 10 clicks right of center.
This is due to the manufacturing difference from one rifle to
another, which makes it essential that each soldier zeros the rifle
that he is assigned.”
Just as Mechanical Zero has no
direct effect on actual zero, a setting from one rifle has no effect
on another rifle. For example, I have had three different M16A2
rifles through the USAR shooting team. Shooting M193 ball the No
Wind zero was L1, R3 and L9 from MZ for each.
Rifle Zeroed
by Another Shooter
Myth – “Someone else zeroed
this rifle but I still have to completely rezero because shooters
look at the sights differently.”
Fact – Assuming
both shooters are competent, the difference in zero will be
small.
FM 3-22.9, Page 5-15
“When standard zeroing
procedures are followed, a properly zeroed rifle for one
soldier
is close to the zero for another soldier. When a straight line is
drawn from target center to the tip of the front sight post and
through the center of the rear aperture, it makes little difference
whose eye is looking along this line. There are many subtle factors
that result in differences among individual zeros. The similarity of
individual zeros should be emphasized instead of the
differences.”
There are some differences between
shooters in how they hold a firearm and perceive the sights but these
differences are minor. In one test conducted among Smallbore
competitors using an iron-sighted match rifle mounted in a target box
there was only about 1/6 MoA difference in Point of Aim, despite
differences in dominant hand and eye and with some of the testees
needing spectacles of varying amounts of correction.
Total
difference in Point of Impact is rarely more than one or two MoA
between shooters. That is, the difference in sight adjustments to
zero different shooters with the same M16A2 will normally be less
than one or two clicks on the front sight and two to four clicks of
windage on the rear sight. There will probably be some difference,
just not an astronomical amount. This assumes both shooters are
competent and capable of consistently applying the
fundamentals.
Adjusting
Zero
Myth – “Even though the group isn’t
centered I don’t want to adjust the sights because I already
have a zero.”
Fact – A zero is only as good as
the placement of each correctly called shot.
FM 3-22.9, Page
5-21
“KD Zeroing. The 300-meter target can be used at 300
meters to confirm weapon
zero or to refine the zero obtained on
the 25-meter range. The zero on this target is more valid than the
zero obtained on the 25-meter range . . . Soldiers should fire two 5
round shot groups to confirm zero or three-round shot groups to
refine their zero.”
The term “zero”
implies no deviation from the point of aim to the point of impact.
Because line of sight is straight and the trajectory is not zero is
used in reference to a number of different things:
Mechanical –
physically centering the sights
No Wind – windage setting
for a given lot of ammo, disregarding environment
True –
specific sight setting for a specific shot in a specific
environment
Battle (BZO) – no wind setting that allows the
shooter to ignore range on a target of a certain size just beyond the
point blank range.
Differences in environment (temperature,
air resistance, altitude), ammunition lots and other factors can
yield a zero change. Provided you fired and called a good group,
never be afraid to make adjustments. This assumes you can accurately
call each shot . . .
Magazine On the Ground
Myth –
“Touching the magazine on the ground will induce a
stoppage.”
Fact – Touching the magazine of a
AR-15/M16/M4 –series weapons has no adverse effect on
functioning and has been PROVEN to be reliable and stable for
decades.
FM 3-22.9, Page 7-3, Figure 7-5
“Once the
basic firing skills have been mastered during initial training, the
soldier should be encouraged to modify positions, to take advantage
of available cover, to use anything that helps to steady the rifle,
or to make any change that allows him to hit more combat
targets.”
Certain detachable box magazine-fed,
self-loading firearms may be susceptible to stoppages if the magazine
is touched. The AR-15 series, including M16/M4s, is NOT one of
them.
Since the introduction of Commonwealth-style
International Combat shooting to the US Army in the early 1990’s,
military teams have been adapting the good skills learned in National
Match-style shooting to more freestyle events shot with rack-grade
gear. Being a combat match, no alibis are granted. Any stoppage has
to be cleared on the clock, therefore, equipment and technique must
be reliable.
If touching the magazine caused stoppages
nobody (at least not any winners) would use it because any risk of
malfunctions would cancel the stability benefit. For about two
decades the winning technique has been to use the magazine as a base
of support when possible. From a tactical perspective, Mag Prone
puts the shooter in “Helmet Defilade”, the lowest
possible shooting position where the shooter’s helmet and
muzzle are the most prominent things an enemy target can
see.
Breathing
Myth – “Breath Control
is the critical component of marksmanship fundamentals.”
Fact
– Shot placement is determined where the barrel points, as
indicated by the aligned sights, when the trigger is pressed.
Any
movement, whether caused by breathing or any other factor, will show
as motion in the sights. While the sight picture may wobble, the shot
will always be where the aligned sights indicate when the trigger
breaks. All breath control does is pause the shooter’s
respiration while executing shot(s), helping minimize movement.
That’s it! Pause breathing while pressing the trigger and
breathe normally at any other time.
The problem is novice
shooters often tend to hold too long, over-staring the sights,
holding their breath until blue in the face, and probably inducing a
flinch just to be rid of the chambered round. Breath control alone
can't cause shots to go high or low. Even if it somehow could, the
shooter can see that error in the sights. This assumes the shooter
can call shots and fire without flinching
Breath Control
does have one important contribution to improved marksmanship: If
you're on a range and over hear “advice” such as “Watch
your breathing” you can ignore anything that person says about
marksmanship because they have just identified themselves as someone
who doesn't understand the subject.
Finger
Placement on the Trigger
Myth – “To shoot well
you have to use the tip of your trigger finger.”
Fact
– The only factor is can the shooter consistently press
straight to the rear without disturbing alignment.
FM
3-22.9, Page 7-3, Figure 7-5
“The trigger finger (index
finger on the firing hand) is placed on the
trigger between the
first joint and the tip of the finger (not the extreme end) and
adjusted depending on hand size, grip, and so on. . . . It is
important to experiment with many finger positions during dry-fire
training to ensure the hammer is falling with little disturbance to
the aiming process.”
Both humans and firearms vary
greatly in size and shape. To make a general rule that every person
must index the controls exactly the same on every type of firearm is
ridiculous. The only factor that matters anyway is that the trigger
is moved straight to the rear without adding any addition motion.
Start by taking a strong grip on the cleared firearm, letting the
index finger lie across the face of the trigger wherever is natural,
and pressing the trigger straight to the rear while watching and
maintaining sight alignment.
If alignment can be
maintained through the trigger press the shot will be true. The
firearm doesn’t know or care what part of your finger you
use.
Kevlar on
the
Range
Myth – “You always have to wear your
kevlar/helmet/body armor on the range for safety ‘cause Army
Regulation says so.”
Fact – There is no such
printed guidance for small arms ranges and it is not a safety issue.
The current Army Regulation on Range Safety (AR 385-63,
published 19 May 2003) and Training Circular on Training Ranges (TC
25-8, published 5 April 2004) has no such requirement. In fact the
word "helmet" and "kevlar" never appears in
either text.
The Department of the Army Pamphlet on Range
Safety (PAM 385-63, published 10 April 2003) goes into greater depth.
The section on small arms (Chapter 6, page 24) specifically mentions
hearing and eye protection and specifically allows an installation
commander to reduce or eliminate even these requirements, based on
risk management assessment. There are guidelines on when body armor
and helmets are required, typically when handling or shooting certain
kinds of explosive munitions. Small arms such as machine guns,
rifles and pistols are NOT included in this.
All these
documents are available through USAPA and can be downloaded
at:
http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r385_63.pdf
https://akocomm.us.army.mil/usapa/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_aa/pdf/tc25_8.pdf
http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p385_63.pdf
Eventually,
the Soldier must learn to shoot with all his equipment on.
Qualifications, for example, should be shot in full gear for such a
proficiency evaluation. However, these skills are best learned when
unencumbered and then adapting as necessary. If the skills are never
really learned strapping on gear merely hampers the shooter from ever
become skilled. Doing this under the facade of “safety”
confuses the issue more.
Dominant Eye, One Eye or
Two?
Myth – “You must aim with your dominant
eye.” and/or “You must keep both eyes open.”
Fact – You can learn to shoot well with your dominant
or non-dominant eye, both eyes open or one eye closed.
There
are a number of advantages to choosing to aim with your dominant eye
and to keep both eyes open while shooting and this is always
preferred. In fact, it is usually better to shoot from your
non-dominant side in order to allow aiming with the dominant eye.
However, it is possible, with a little effort, to train oneself to
shoot well when aiming with the non-dominant eye. It is also
preferred to keep both eyes open, but if sight alignment can be
obtained and maintained through shot release the called shot will be
accurate. Regardless, you must have at least one aiming eye open
while shooting . . .
Accuracy of Issue, Rack-Grade
Weapons
Myth – “Issue weapons are/are not
accurate.”
Facts – Tests of rack grade firearms
with issue ball ammo by the USAR shooting team have found:
M16A2/A4
will typically hold about two MoA at 100 yards for 10 rounds from
machine rest.
A good shooter from Mag Prone can shoot up to this
slow fire.
M9 will typically hold about three inch groups at 25
yards for 10 rounds from machine rest (Ransom Rest.)
A good
shooter from unsupported, two-handed standing, can usually shoot
four-inch, five rounds groups at 25 yards.
Good
Shooting
Myth – “You can't measure good
shooting.”
Fact – Good shooting is readily
measurable and we can choose from a variety of yardsticks.
The
yardsticks we use for this particular match are based on US Army
Qualification courses and International Combat courses. Decades of
experience has indicated that “good” performance would
be:
APQC – Good shooters expect to shoot clean (200
points).
221 (Pistol EIC) – Competent handgun shooters
who have never fired this course before should be have no problem
scoring over 115 with a borrowed gun. USAR team shooters are
expected to be in the 150’s and match winners are in the
170’s.
KD Qual – Good shooters expect to shoot over
185 on the E-9 scoring rings.
321 (Rifle EIC) – Competent
rifle shooters who have never fired this course before should be have
no problem scoring over 200 with a borrowed gun. USAR team shooters
are expected to be in the 250’s and match winners are in the
280 or 290’s.
Weapon Cleaning
Myth –
“Weapons must be thoroughly cleaned every time they’re
fired and must never be stored dirty.”
Fact –
Basic maintenance is simple and quick requiring little more than a
wipe down and light lubrication.
This myth was a truism at
one time. Many decades ago the priming mixture was corrosive and
would line the bore with sediment that left unchecked would cause
excessive rust and deterioration of the metal. Storing a weapon
dirty after firing could destroy it. Some units maintained a 1:3
regimen, cleaning a rifle three times after each trip to the range.
However, since the introduction of non-corrosive primers
after World War II this is no longer the case. Powder fouling
(“carbon”) doesn’t harm the weapon and won’t
cause problems unless left to build up to the point that it
physically blocks or stops the mechanism. This rarely happens. For
example, some gunsmiths recommend removing the bolt from the carrier
of an AR-15-series only if there is a problem, not for routine
maintenance. Disassembly presented in the TM *-10 is the lowest
level a basic operator can go if need be. That doesn't mean you must
disassemble that far every time.
Visit www.armalite.com and
read “Technical Note 29, Rifle Cleaning.” ArmaLite, Inc.,
the company that initially released the AR-15/M16 rifle, recommends a
“detail cleaning” (complete field strip) once every 1000
rounds and a “combat cleaning” wipe down every 250
rounds. This will change based on environmental conditions, and the
fact that Soldiers may carry a weapon daily, but shoot it very
little. At any rate, the inventors of the M16 insist that it is
important to clean properly, not totally, and that most weapons are
damaged by over cleaning them.
Most military weapons are
damaged by improper and/or excessive cleaning. Most soldiers never
shoot enough to wear a firearm out. Just clean it so it
works.
Vision Quality
Myth – “I used to
be able to shoot good, but now my eyes are bad.” and/or “I
wear glasses so I can’t learn to shoot well.”
Fact
– Anyone who can see well enough to read and safely drive an
automobile can see well enough to shoot good scores.
Anyone
can learn to shoot at a high level as long as he has one functioning
eye able to sufficiently resolve sight alignment, even if optical
correction is required. As humans age the muscle with control the
eyes may weaken. The vision is probably fine, but the muscles that
help adjust and control focus weaken, requiring reading glasses or
bifocals, even for people who never previously needed spectacles
before. The only hindrance to shooting is that most prescription
lenses are ground to focus at a “normal” distance that
will aid the wearer in typical tasks such as reading. Lenses can be
set up to focus at some other specific distance, such as a front
sight on a rifle or pistol. Visit http://CustomSightPicture.com for
an example.
Gender
Myth – “Shooting is
a man’s game.”
Fact – Gender has no factor
on marksmanship skill.
Marksmanship is a technical skill
requiring little strength. The physical component of shooting has
more to do with the endurance and coordination of specific muscle
groups and reflexes unique to marksmanship and raw muscle provides
almost no benefit. Anyone that is able bodied enough to lift a
firearm will, in time, with sufficient correct practice, develop
these consistent reflexes and endurance. “Holding Hard”
is an oft heard expression regarding shooting well, but crude force
isn’t the answer. Holding with consistency is.
Proper
Practice
Myth – “Practice makes perfect”
Fact
– Practice makes permanent
If a shooter practices a
poor technique, or practices it inconsistently, the shooter will not
improve his ability to shoot. More of the same can never improve
things. Good marksmanship involves programming a series of
conditioned reflexes, some of which are contradictory to natural
human response. Shooting more, but failing to develop certain
specific reflexes and removing others (flinch), will only condition
the shooter to stumble along at a lousy level.
It isn’t
like physical training, where simply pounding out repetitions will
probably yield some gains. A person could expend 100 rounds a day
for years and possibly never improve his ability to shoot.
Good
Training
Myth – “Our unit shot the qual course a
bunch of extra times. It was good training.”
Fact –
Shooters improve by focusing on core fundamentals and maximizing
feedback.
FM 3-22.9, Page 1-9
“Feedback (precise
knowledge of bullet strike) must be included in all
live-fire
training. The feedback is not adequate when bullets
from previous firings cannot be identified …”
The
only way to yield consistent improvement is to maximize feedback so
the shooter so he can compare his efforts to the results. Some of
feedback that would be useful to receive would be:
Shooting on a
feedback target plotting the exact location of each shot. This can
be done on a KD range or electro-acoustic/LOMAH targetry
Recording
both the call and actual location of each shot in a data book
Dummy
rounds and dry practice interspersed with live shooting
Video
recording the shooter as he trains
System to trace movement
before, during and after a shot, dry or live (i.e., Noptel)
A
good coach to help interpret the results
We often can’t
have all of this available but the more feedback a shooter can get
the more he can learn and, consequently, the better he’ll
perform. As you can see, RETS “pop up” courses offer
almost no feedback. Field courses are fine for testing and
qualification, but not for training and learning.
Short
Range
Myth – “The 10 and 25 meter ranges don’t
provide good training.”
Fact – Short range
shooting
can provide just as much feedback in training fundamentals.
Scaled
targets at close range provide a nearly identical marksmanship
challenge as the full size equivalent at actual distance. What’s
more, the scaled ranges are the only place most Soldiers ever receive
any useable feedback for improving their shooting, because they
certainly aren’t getting it with “pop up” targets.
A nine-inch group at 300 yards is three minutes, as is a three inch
group at 100 yards or a ¾ inch group at 25. True, scaled
targets at short range can’t take environment into account and
the only way to ensure a solid zero at a certain distance is to shoot
at that actual distance. However, this lack of environmental effect
can be an advantage. It is hard to blame a wide shot on a poor wind
call at 25 meters. At any rate, the training benefit of practicing
fundamentals is the same and can be learned and refined at closer
range.
Dry Firing Guns
Myth – “Dry
firing guns can damage them or wear them out.”
Fact –
Dry fire exerts virtually no wear on most firearms.
Other
than some slight wear and tear on some moving parts, dry fire does no
harm and is crucial to learning to shoot better. Besides, if a
firearm is doomed to failure if exposed to dry fire how can it ever
hope to withstand the tens of thousands of pounds of pressure exerted
inside the barrel every time a live cartridge is discharged?
Let’s
pretend that dry fire will wear out parts prematurely. Ammunition is
expended after one firing and must be replaced in order to shoot
again, too. Having to occasionally replace some other component is
just the cost of learning how to shoot better.
Dry
Practice
Myth – “Dry fire is a poor substitute
for shooting live ammo.”
Fact – Dry practice is
superior training for almost every facet of shooting and gun
handling.
Every firearm will have the same heft, sights and
trigger release whether there is live ammunition in the chamber or
not. The process is identical, from presentation until the hammer
hits home, both dry and live.
Not only can any
manipulation up through trigger release can be learned and refined
through dry practice, this is a superior way to learn. Physiologists
estimate that it takes most humans about 3,000 correct repetitions in
order to imbed a physical skill at the subconscious level. That is
correct repetitions, see “Proper Practice” above.
Without recoil to mask error, hold and press can be evaluated more
easily. Recoil, blast and noise often causes an unconscious reaction
in most people, otherwise known as a flinch. Plus, there is no
ammunition cost and no range requirement so training can be done
anywhere at anytime making it easier to work toward those initial 3K
reps.
Zeroing Machineguns
Myth – “You
don’t need to zero or aim a machinegun because you just ‘walk’
it in.”
Fact – Projectiles can only affect what
they can hit
Crew served machineguns are often the heaviest,
casualty-producing weapon and likely will be used to initiate an
attack, but it can only be “casualty producing” if the
first bursts actually hit something.
Used defensively, a
range card should accompany the set position. Unless the gunner is
fortunate enough to register with live ammo, the data on that card is
only as accurate as the quality of the previously-obtained zero. You
can’t “walk-in” range card data.
If it
costs a couple bursts to get on each target it will take at least two
to three times as much ammo for the same down range effect, plus
twice as much time. But each enemy will appreciate a series of
warning shots while the gunner fumbles about trying to get on
target.
Free Gunning
Machineguns
Myth – “Based on current lessons
learned, you’ve got to throw the FM away ‘cause everybody
just free guns machine guns in combat.”
Fact –
Machinegun doctrine is based on real world lessons
learned.
Current US machinegun doctrine was first developed
during World War I from the artillerymen who were assigned the new
weapon systems. Definitions of Characteristics and Classes of fire
(Gun, Ground, Target) codify ballistic phenomenon and help trained
crews better control their weapons.
Machinegun doctrine was
developed from real world lessons learned as a way to maximize the
capability to support an assault or defend an area. It is effective
for what it was designed for, but other techniques can be added for
new employments.
Free gunning a machinegun is like “quick
kill” or point shooting with rifles or pistols offhand. Flex
mount free gunning may be the best choice for fleeting, close targets
but it can’t be considered a complete solution for all
situations and targets. Just as sandbag-supported prone is a poor
choice for engaging humanoid targets inside a room, offhand snap
shots are a poor choice for engaging targets 500 meters away. The
truly competent shooter will be proficient at both in order to have
an effective response in any situation.
Competition
Shooting
Myth – “Competitive shooting isn’t
‘real’ shooting.”
Fact – Weapons
only put projectiles where and how their pointed and don’t care
what they’re pointed at.
Army Regulation 350-66,
Chapter 2
A firearm is a chemically-operated, mechanical
projectile launcher. Given proper functioning, projectiles only
begin their launch when triggered to do so and follow a path directed
by line of bore. It can’t think or feel and only responds to
the skill and technique of the operator regardless of the target shot
at. If you can’t hit a target on a range you won’t
magically gain the ability to hit it anywhere else.
Any
range that isn’t “two way” is a simulation. The
quality and significance of the simulation is as good as the course
designer makes it. Any simulation is inherently abstract and
relevance is very subjective so it will never be perfect for all
people and situations. This is true of any course and isn’t a
problem with competition shooting, per se. Participants can either
step up and accept the challenge as presented, or step up and design
something else.
The stress of the simulation is as intense
as the participants can be pressured with it. Qualification attempts
to only filter out the worst performers, ensuring that everyone is
“qualified” (at least that’s what the training
records claim.) “Qualified” can entail a whole range of
skill levels. If the goal is get everyone qualified then the
standards have to be adjusted so that everyone can.
Competition,
on the other hand, attempts to filter out the best performers.
Nobody cares what an adequate performance is because the goal of
competition is to find what the best possible performance can be.
The stress of qualification is to be good enough. The stress of
competition is to be the best possible.
In order to have any
meaning we have to measure performance by devising a way to reduce it
to numbers such as points earned, elapsed time, etc. Any course can
be created or adjusted in order to emphasize and reward a desired
performance.
Army Regulation 350-66
Chapter 2
General
Competitive Marksmanship Policy
2–1. Small arms
marksmanship
Participation in military and
civilian-sponsored small arms marksmanship competitions offers
soldiers the opportunity to refine their marksmanship skills, compete
against other military and civilian marksmen, and earn superior
marksmanship awards in addition to the Army basic marksmanship awards
available through annual qualification
standards.
a. Army
personnel should be provided opportunities to prepare for and
participate in small arms marksmanship competition. These
preparations, which include those for international competitions, are
classified as training.
b. Authority for planning, directing,
conducting, supervising, and publicizing competitive marksmanship
activities within the Army is delegated to the lowest possible
command element. Plans for competitive marksmanship activities will
include provisions to publicize excellence in marksmanship, both
internally and externally.
c. Competitive marksmanship match
programs must include Excellence in Competition (EIC) matches. In
addition, the program of matches will include a National match course
individual rifle and pistol EIC match provided adequate
facilities
are available. Credit toward the Distinguished Designation Badge may
be earned.
d. Match programs should emphasize and encourage the
following:
(1) A variety of shooting styles, distances, and
timing of firing with as many weapons and weapon systems as
possible.
(2) Training of experienced competitive marksmen.
(3)
Development of shooter/instructors.
(4) Off-duty competitive
marksmanship activities.
e. MACOM participation in international
level competitions is authorized and encouraged.
Subscribe to Firearm User Network