NRA
Probationary Course
Unit P3
Principles of Marksmanship
Principles of Marksmanship
• Position & hold must be firm
enough to support the rifle (sling)
• Natural alignment
• Correct aim picture
• Shot release & follow through
Position & hold must be firm
enough to support the rifle (sling)
• The left arm should be as close under the rifle as possible
• The left wrist must not be too close to the ground (Bible)
• The sling (and jacket) must be tight enough
• The left hand should only support and not grip
• The rifle should be locked in without right hand grip
Sling
Positioning
Natural alignment
Basic Starting Position
• Rifle pointed at target
• Body and left leg approx
15o to rifle
• Right leg in line with
rifle (straight or bent)
• Test and adjust by
moving:
– Right leg
– Body to or away from rifle
For A Correct Aim Picture…
The
Aiming
Mark
The
Foresight
Aperture
The Rearsight
Aperture
The Eye
…Four Things Must Be Correctly Aligned
Correct Aim Picture
Aiming is divided into three parts:
• Getting the sights perfectly upright
• Aligning the sights
– Precise alignment of the eye, rear sight,
foresight and target.
• Completing the sight picture
– Maintaining perfect alignment while bringing
the foresight on to the aiming mark.
Aiming Mark In Focus
Blurred
Foresight
Aiming
mark
Focussing on the Target Produces
Erratic Shots
Both Aiming Mark AND Foresight
In Focus
Impossible ! !
Focus On Foresight Giving A
Slightly Blurred Target
Correct ! !
??
You have lost the picture
Rest your eyes and try again
Remember
The First Sight Picture
Is Always The Best
Shot Release & Follow Through
Locked in and totally relaxed
The only thing to move is the end of the trigger finger
- but when?
At the end of the natural breathing cycle
extend the “breathed out” phase by up to six seconds
Squeeze the trigger and hold the pressure until
the rifle stops “bouncing about”
The sights should return to, more or less, the aiming mark