Module 5: Basic Marksmanship

Training
Module Overview

This module presents Preparatory marksmanship training and basic gun safety rules.

Lesson 5.1 Firearm’s Safety Rules

Lesson 5.2 Preparatory Marksmanship Training

Motivation Question
Before any shooting is done, why is there a need to check your target?

Module Pretest

Identify the following. Write the correct answer.

I.
1. Referring to an activity of actual shooting practice using a firearm and live ammunition
at the firing range.
2. What is the skillful art of shooting and hitting the target at a given range or known
distance?
3. Referring to the correct practice of applying the basic elements of marksmanship.
4. Referring to achieving the proper relationship between the target, the front sight and the
rear sight.
5. What is the proper relationship between the front and rear sights?
6. What is the proper relationship between the rear sight, front sight and the target?
7. Referring to the application of pressure on the trigger to fire the weapon.

II. A. What are the two phases of marksmanship training?

8.
9.
B. the Element of Basic Marksmanship
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Lesson 5.1: Firearm's Safety Rules
Lesson Summary

This lesson presents the important rules of safe gun handling.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Learn the Basic Gun Safety rules;

2. Internalize the Basic Gun Safety rules.

Motivation Question
Which handgun do you prefer, a pistol or a revolver? Why?

SPECIFIC RULES OF SAFE GUN HANDLING

Safety Rules Concerning the Shooter's Behavior.

1. Always Consider every firearm as if it were loaded.

2. Never give or accept a firearm from another individual before the cylinder or action has
been opened, and you have specifically confirmed that the weapon is fully unloaded.
3. Before the use of any firearm, know its operation.
4. Do not rely on any mechanical device for safety.
5. Always think before you shoot: you can't take back a shot after you've pulled the trigger!
6. When handling or using firearms, never make jokes or participate in horseplay.
7. Be vigilant at all times; don't fire if you're tired, cold, or otherwise impaired. Shooting
should not be mixed with the use of alcohol or drugs.
8. Never sleep with a loaded gun in your bed if you sleepwalk, have nightmares, sleep
restlessly or have other sleep problems.
9. Protect your eyesight, ears, and wellbeing. Always cover the eyes and ears. Minimize
your exposure to aromatic organic solvents and limit your exposure to heavy metal
particulates and gases.
10. If you see unsafe conduct when handling or using firearms, speak up and immediately
correct the situation.
11. Before you start shooting, receive competent instruction from a qualified person. If
questions arise after you've been shooting for a while, get answers from a competent
authority.
Target-Related Safety Rules

1. Before shooting positively identify your target and the danger it presents.
2. What's behind your chosen target? Always ensure that a stray bullet that fully penetrates
its intended target is safely prevented.
3. Don’t fire at a hard surface or water because the bullet can ricochet and hurt someone.
4. Never fire at glass bottles, live trees, or other unsuitable targets that may endanger
others or damage the ecosystem.
5. Never shoot any firearm directly upwards or at a high angle of elevation. Any stray
bullets may accidentally kill someone!
6. Never shoot across a highway or other roadway.

Safety Rules Related to Your Firearm

1. Before shooting the firearm, make sure it is in good mechanical condition. Get your
weapon tested by a licensed armorer or a factory-approved gunsmith regularly for signs
of erosion, cracking, or wear.
2. Never attempt to shoot a pistol with a partially obstructed or plugged barrel.
3. Ensure that a qualified individual does all modifications to a firearm and that the
modifications do not compromise with the firearm's safety features.
4. Ensure that all accessories, such as holsters and grips, are compatible with the firearm
and will not obstruct safe operation.
5. Keep in mind that having a backup firearm on your person will be extremely useful if your
primary firearm is ever made inoperable or stolen from you by an adversary.
6. It is your duty to keep your firearm on your person and under your control at all times, or
to keep it safe and secured away from children or any unwanted parties. Lock down your
firearms when not in service to avoid disaster.
7. When storing a firearm for an extended period, consider storing the slide, bolt, or other
critical components of the firearm under a separate lock and key.
8. Never carry a single-action revolver with a round under the hammer unless that revolver
is a modern transfer-bar type, equipped with an inertial firing pin.
9. Never carry a pistol with a round in the chamber unless the pistol has an automatic
firing-pin block and an inertial firing pin.
10. Generally, avoid keeping carrying a firearm that is an external-hammer type and with the
hammer cocked. Practice extreme caution in decocking any external hammer firearm: it
is very easy to experience an accidental discharge while doing so if your thumb slips off
the hammer.
11. Usually, avoid unloading a firearm by working the ammunition through the action one at
a time; drop the magazine and then eject the cartridge, which may be left in the chamber,
instead, if possible.
 12. Always never use a scope mounted on a weapon as a general-purpose spotting scope:
you may mistakenly point your firearm at fellow hunters or other non-targets when
observing an area.
13. Avoid trying to catch a live cartridge (while unloading a semi-automatic pistol) by
cupping your hand around the ejection port while retracting the slide; doing so may
result in an accidental discharge.

Ammunition-Related Safety Rules

1. Check to see if your firearm and ammo are compatible. Shooting the incorrect
ammunition into a firearm will destroy it or even cause it to explode.
2. Relying on ammunition that doesn't feed consistently in your firearm could cause it to
malfunction at a critical moment: practice with a certain lot of ammunition in your
firearm before using it for defensive purposes.
3. Just use ammunition recommended by the manufacturer of the firearm. Never use
ammunition with a pressure rating higher than the industry standard. Over-pressure
ammunition shortens the life of your weapon and places you and others in danger of a
disastrous firearm malfunction.
4. Use reloaded ammunition cautiously. Be aware that many firearms manufacturers
specifically prohibit the use of reloaded ammunition in their products.
5. Many shooters prepare and safely use reloaded cartridge each day. It can be an
economical way to stretch your ammunition budget. However, the safety of that
reloaded ammunition directly depends on the care, components, equipment, and
practices used in preparing it.
6. Bring only one caliber of cartridge when shooting. Accidentally grabbing the wrong
ammunition while shooting can result in a shooter or third party being injured or damage
or destruction of a firearm.
7. Ensure you bring enough extra cartridge for your defensive firearm, and make sure you
carry it in a readily employable fashion (such as in spare magazines or speed loaders).
8. Keep ammo that isn't in use locked up and out of reach of unwanted people and
children.
9. Dispose of unwanted ammunition in a secure manner.

Firing Range Safety Tips

1. At the shooting range, immediately follow the range officers' or someone else's orders to
cease fire.' Read, understand, and obey any rules specific to the range you're using.
2. Be cautious of hot gases and metal shavings expelled from a revolver's forcing cone.
3. Keep your fingers and other parts of the body away from a semi-automatic pistol's
muzzle, rear of the slide, and ejection area.
4. If the pistol misfires, aim it in a safe direction, take the finger off the trigger, wait ten
seconds, and eject the cartridge and dispose of it properly.
 5. Stop firing and check when you hear an unexpected sound or sense an unusual recoil
while pressing the trigger. It's possible that you had a "squib" load (or an underpowered
cartridge) that created a bore obstruction. Keep pointing the gun in a safe direction, take
your finger off the trigger, wait ten seconds, then unload the weapon and carefully
inspect the barrel.
6. Never handle a gun when you are emotional such as anger or depression. Your judgment
may be impaired.
7. Always wear eye and ear protector as appropriate
8. Never consume alcohol or drugs before or while shooting
9. Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional
safety precautions

Additional Tips

• Never fire a firearm at an event (such as New Year's Eve). This is not only dangerous, but
it is also unlawful. A bullet shot into the air will hit the ground with enough force to injure
or kill anyone.
• Hand your gun to someone only after you verify that it is unloaded and the cylinder or
action is open. Take a gun from someone only after you verify that it is unloaded and the
cylinder or action is open.

Basic Gun Safety Rules

1. Always Treat every firearm always loaded

As a shooter, do not assume that your firearm is empty; consider it always loaded and check to
ensure it is not loaded before storing or using it. Also, check if it is in safe. Complacency is one
of the common reasons for the accident.

2. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Never point a gun at something that you are
not willing to destroy.

The rule is intended to minimize the damage caused by an intended discharge and bear in mind
that the firearm is assumed to be ready to fire anytime. Thus, do not point your firearm to anything
you don’t intend to shoot or destroy.

3. Always Keep Trigger finger off the trigger

To avoid unintentional discharge and to prevent accident makes it a habit that when handling a
firearm, always keep trigger finger out of the trigger unless you are ready to fire and intend to
shoot

4. Know your target and what is beyond it

When a weapon is deliberately shot, this rule is meant to prevent or mitigate harm to non-
targets. If a non-target is misidentified as a target, the bullet hits something other than the
intended target, unintended damage may occur. So, before firing a round, make sure you know
what your target is and what's behind it.

Common mistakes

• Barrel not placed downrange when arriving at the range

• When replacing a magazine barrel is pointed in an unsafe direction.
• Looking down the barrel with a malfunction.
• Barrel sweeps
• Finger on the trigger

Major Causes for Accidents

• Ignorance
• Not familiar with gun safety rules
• Not familiar with the proper operation of a pistol
• Carelessness/complacency
• Know the rules but do not apply

Learning Tasks/Activities
Select one Basic gun safety rules and make elaboration in 300 words.

Assessment

Essay: Write your answer briefly.

1. Explain the four basic gun safety rules.
2. Identify the four basic gun safety rules.

Instructions on how to submit student output

1. Answer the questions pre-test exercise in module 5 and submit answers to VSUEE.
2. Read and understand all the lesson in Lesson 5.1
3. Accomplish and submit quizzes, assignments, or activity outputs through VSUEE or as
instructed by the instructor.
4. Answer the Post-test exercise in Module 5 and submit it through VSUEE.
Lesson 5.2: Preparatory Marksmanship Training
Lesson Summary

This lesson presents the the principles of marksmanship and phases of marksmanship training

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Define Marksmanship;
2. Categorize Phases of Marksmanship training;
3. Apply the basic Marksmanship Training.

Motivation Question

Why there is a need to undergo marksmanship training? How important is marksmanship

training in firearm proficiency?

DISCUSSION

What is Marksmanship?
Marksmanship refers to the skillful art of shooting and hitting target at a given range or known
distance. The purpose of marksmanship training is to provide proper information and instruction
so you can become a safe and effective shooter.
Phases of Training
There are two phases of Marksmanship Training as mentioned below
• Preparatory Marksmanship Training

Preparatory marksmanship training is the correct practice of applying the basic elements
of marksmanship such as Grip, Aiming, Breath control, Trigger squeeze, Stance.

Thus, preparatory marksmanship imparts essential skills and develops fixed and correct
habits of marksmanship before range practice begins. Thorough instruction and carefully
supervised practice in the preparatory phase saves time and ammunition during range
firing and develops habits and procedures necessary for well-trained firearm shooter.

• Range Firing/Live firing

Range firing activity refers to actual shooting practice using firearm and live ammunition
at the firing range. This the second phase of marksmanship training.
The pistol's primary function is to engage an opponent at close range with fast, precise shooting.
Knowing and properly performing the elements of marksmanship leads to accurate firing. The
following are the components of pistol marksmanship:

GRIP

One of the most important fundamentals of fast fire is having a good grip. The pistol should
become an extension of the hand and arm, and it should take the place of the finger when aiming
at something. The arms must be kept in a tight, standardized grip by the firer.

Different types of Pistol Grip

a. One-Hand Grip.
• Hold the pistol in the non-firing hand;
• Form a V with the thumb and forefinger of the strong hand (firing hand).
• Place the pistol in the V with the front and rear sights in line with the firing arm.
• Wrap the lower three fingers around the pistol grip, putting equal pressure with all three
fingers to the rear. Allow the thumb of the firing hand to rest alongside the weapon without
pressure.

Source:https://tinyurl.com/kntsyd2a
Figure. 4.8 photo showing one-hand grip

WARNING

Do not place the non-firing thumb in the rear of the weapon. The recoil upon firing could result in
personal injury.
 b. Two-Hand Grip.

The two-hand grip allows the firer to keep the shooting hand steady when aiming. By
wrapping the fingertips of the non-firing hand around the fingers of the firing hand, the
non-firing hand becomes a support device for the firing hand. Both pistol shooting can be
done with two hands.

Source: https://tinyurl.com/nssw5pn3
Figure. 4.9 photo showing two-hand grip/fist grip

Kinds of Two handed grip

• Fist Grip.
Grasp the firearm as with the one-hand grip. Close the non-firing hand's fingers over the firing
hand's fingers, meaning that the non-firing hand's index finger is between the firing hand's middle
finger and the trigger guard. Place the thumb that isn't firing next to the thumb that is firing.

Palm-Supported Grip.

This grip is commonly called the cup and saucer grip.

• Grip the firing hand as with the one-hand grip.

• Wrap the non-firing fingers around the back of the firing hand and position it under the
firing hand.
• Place the non-firing thumb over the shooting hand's middle finger.
 Palm-Supported Grip
Source: https://tinyurl.com/nssw5pn3
Figure 5.0 photo showing palm-supported grip

• Weaver grip.

This grip can be used in the same way as the fist grip. The non-firing thumb is wrapped
around the firing thumb as the only exception.

Weaver Grip
Source: https://tinyurl.com/nssw5pn3
Figure. 5.1 photo showing weaver grip

What is isometric Tension?

This is commonly known as the push-pull method for maintaining weapon stability. When the
firer applies forward pressure with the firing hand while pulling backward with the non-firing
hand, isometric tension is created. This produces an isometric force, but not to the point that
the firer trembles. This helps to keep the pistol still and decreases recoil barrel rise. The firing
arm is fully extended, with the elbow and wrist locked. The firer must experiment to find the
right amount of isometric tension to apply.

AIMING
AIMING is the process of achieving the proper relationship between the target, the front sight and
the rear sight. Aiming consists of two components: SIGHT ALIGNMENT and SIGHT PICTURE
The Dominant Eye
• Extend your hands ahead of your neck, forming a small triangle between your thumbs and
the first knuckle with your hands together.
• Look through the triangle with both eyes open and focus on something in the triangle,
such as a doorknob or the bullseye of a goal.
• Your left eye should be closed. You are right eye dominant if the object stays in focus. You
are left eye superior if the hands tend to shift away from the object and to the left.
• Look through the triangle and focus the object with both eyes open to confirm the first
test.
• Your right eye should be closed. You are left eye dominant if the object stays in focus. You
have right eye dominance if the hands tend to shift away from the object and to the right.
•

Source:https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60738677
Figure: 5.2 Illustration how to test for dominant eye
 Source: http://www.westtownarchery.com/amazon/dominant_eye.htm
Figure: 5.3 illustrations to test dominant eye

Elements of Aiming

A. Front Sight – Placed on top of the barrel attached to the front part of the slide. The position
of the front sight determines the direction of the barrel.
B. Rear Sight – Attached at the rear portion of the slide, where the front sight is aligned to
produce an imaginary straight line towards a target.
C. Aiming Point – Reference point on the target where the front sight post is aligned.

SIGHT ALIGNMENT

It is the proper relationship between the front and rear sights. The eye must be lined up with the
front, and rear sights and the sight positioned to correct the alignment. Proper sight alignment
of the two sights means that the top of the front sight must also be centered in the notch of the
rear sight.

Source: http://navyadvancement.tpub.com/12018/css/Correct-Sight-Picture-387.htm
Figure. 5.4 illustration showing correct sight alignment and sight picture
 Source: https://www.usacarry.com/front-sight-squeeze-follow-through/
Figure. 5.5 illustration showing correct sight alignment

SIGHT PICTURE

The proper relationship between the rear sight, front sight and the target. A proper sight picture
is obtained when the aligned sights are put into their proper relationship with the target.

BREATH CONTROL

The firer must learn to keep his breath correctly at any point during the breathing cycle to ensure
precision. When pointing and pressing the trigger, this must be achieved.
• Take a breath, lets it out, then inhale normally, lets a little out until comfortable, hold and
then fires (inhale, exhale normally and hold your breath at the moment of the natural
pause, then the shot must be fired before feeling any discomfort from not breathing).

Stop breathing momentarily while firing the shot! (Respiratory pause). Prolong respiratory: 8 – 10
sec

Source: https://tinyurl.com/2mkt6ptd
Figure: 5.6 & 5.7 illustrations of prolonging respiratory pause
 Source: https://tinyurl.com/3y35dt6s
Figure 5.7

TRIGGER CONTROL

The application of pressure on the trigger to fire the weapon. Proper trigger control is the
independent movement of the trigger finger in applying uniform increasing pressure on the trigger
straight to the rear, without disturbing the correct sight alignment until the weapon fires.

STAGES OF TRIGGER CONTROL

• Remove slack
• Apply initial pressure
• Pull
The trigger slack, or free play, is taken up first, and the pulling pressure is continued steadily until
the hammer falls.
If pulled properly, the firer will know exactly when the hammer will fall. Thus the firer does not
flinch or heel, which can result in a bad shot. The firer must not apply pressure left or right but
increase finger pressure straight to the rear, and only the trigger finger must perform this action.
A slight off-center pressure of the trigger can cause the weapon to move and disturb the sight
alignment (Jerking/Flinching)
• Flinching – is an automatic human reflex caused by anticipating the recoil of the weapon.
• Jerking – is an effort to fire the weapon at the precise time the sights align with the target.

FOLLOW-THROUGH

Follow-through is the continued effort of the firer to observe the fundamentals during and after
the round was fired. Follow-through means maintaining aiming (perfect sight alignment and good
sight picture), breath control, hold control, and trigger control until the gun settles back into the
aiming area after firing.
Kinds of Trigger Taps

• Single Tap – an individual shot fired on the target.

• Twin Tap – Two successive shots fired on the target using two ( 2) distinct correct sight
pictures ( long-distance firing).
• Double Tap – two (2) quick successive shots fired on the target using one sight picture
only. This is used for Advance Marksmanship Shooting.

STANCE

2 Kinds of Stance

• Weaver/Isometric Stance – developed by an American Jack Weaver, instead of facing

the target squarely, the weak side foot is placed slightly forward to point the weak shoulder
slightly towards the target.
• Isosceles Stance – the weapon is held by two hands with the arms fully extended forward
and locked at the elbow, forming an isosceles triangle with the body as the base. (Ideal
for multiple targets).

Learning Tasks/Activities
Organize into five groups, and each group will Perform a dry fire exercise under the supervision
of a qualified instructor.

Assessment

Essay: Write your answer briefly.

1. What is Marksmanship?
2. Identify the two types of marksmanship training and discuss

Instructions on how to submit student output

1. Answer the questions Pre-test exercise in module 5 and submit answers to VSUEE.
2. Read and understand all the lesson in Lesson 5.2
3. Accomplish and submit quizzes, assignments, or activity outputs through VSUEE or as
instructed by the instructor.
4. Answer the Post-test exercise in Module 5 and submit it through VSUEE.
Module Posttest

I. Enumerate the following:

1 – 2 Phase of marksmanship Training
3 – 7 Elements of Basic Marksmanship
8 – 11 The 4 basic gun safety rules
II. Identification. Read the questions carefully and write the answer only.

1. What is being placed on top of the barrel attached to the front part of the slide?
2. What is that part of the firearm attached to the rear portion of the slide, where the front
sight is aligned to produce an imaginary straight line towards a target?
3. We called it the reference point on the target where the front sight post is aligned?
4. Referring to the correct practice of applying the basic elements of marksmanship.
5. Referring to achieving the proper relationship between the target, the front sight and the
rear sight.
6. What is the proper relationship between the front and rear sights?
7. What is the proper relationship between the rear sight, front sight and the target?
8. Referring to the application of pressure on the trigger to fire the weapon.
9. Referring to an activity of actual shooting practice using a firearm and live ammunition
at the firing range.
10. What is the skillful art of shooting and hitting the target at a given range or known
distance?
References and Additional Resources

Grip techniques used with the M9 Pistol (ArmyStudyGuide.com). Army Education Benefits Blog.
(n.d.). https://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/m9/grip-
techniques-used-with.shtml.
-, J. B., By, -, James Barnharthttp://defconccw.com/James Barnhart is a Veteran of the U.S.
Navy, Barnhart, J., & James Barnhart is a Veteran of the U.S. Navy. (2012, January 31).
Front Sight, Squeeze, Follow Through. USA Carry. https://www.usacarry.com/front-sight-
squeeze-follow-through/.
Marksmanship. (n.d.). https://www.tpub.com/seabee/2-25.htm.
National Handgun Safety Course. Additional Rules About Firearm Safety | US | Handgun Safety
Course.com™. (n.d.). https://www.handgunsafetycourse.com/handgun/studyGuide/Additional-
Rules-About-Firearm-Safety/601099_700077837/.
Peckley M.F. (2013), firearm and Firearm Safety 2nd Edition, Wiseman’s Books Traiding Inc.
https://tinyurl.com/3y35dt6s
https://tinyurl.com/nssw5pn3
https://www.pro12.pnp.gov.ph/main/?page_id=349
Source:https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60738677