MARKSMANSHIP

I. INTRODUCTION

Marksmanship is defined as the skillful art of shooting and hitting the

target a given known distance. In the field of soldiery, it is important that each and every
soldier should have at least the basic fundamental knowledge of marksmanship to attain
this. As a soldier, we are expected to possess its necessary marksmanship knowledge
in order to become proficient marksman to effectively gain confidence especially in real
combat situations.

II. FUNDAMENTALS OF MARKSMANSHIP

A. STEADY POSITION – refers to finding a comfortable position that

allows the weapon to be held still, while it is being fired.

Factors of Steady Position:

1. Non-Firing Hand Grip – the rifle hand guard rest on the heel of
hand in the V formed by thumb and the fingers. The grip of the non-
firing hand is light, and slight rearward pressure is everted.
2. Firing Hand Grip – the firing hand grip grasps the pistol grip so
that, it fits the V formed by thumb. The forefinger is place on the
trigger so that the lay of the rifle is not disturbed when the trigger is
squeezed. A sight rearward pressure is exerted by the remaining
three fingers to ensure that the butt if the stock remains in the
pocket of the shoulder, thus minimizing the effect to the recoil.
3. Rifle Butt Position – You must place the butt of the rifle firmly into
the pocket formed on your right shoulder. Proper placement of the
butt of the fire lessens the recoil, hence helping to steady the
weapon. This also prevents the butt of the rifle from riding up and
down the shoulder.
4. Firing Elbow Placement (Right Elbow) – the location of right
elbow is important because it provides balance to the shooter’s
position. Correct positioning of the right elbow helps from the
pocket on the shoulder or the butt of rifle.
5. Non-firing Elbow Placement (Left Elbow) – the position of the left
elbow must be under the receiver of the weapon or as close to your
position as the conformation of your body will permit. This would
directly support the fire.
6. Stock weld – is the point or firm contact between the shoulder’s
cheek and stock. The cheek is placed on the stock in a position that
gives proper eye relief.
7. Support – if artificial support (sand bags, logs, stumps) is available,
it should be used to steady the position and to support the rifle. If is
 not available, then the bones, not the muscle in the fire’s upper
body must support the rifle.
8. Muscle Relaxation – you must relax to determine a natural
position. This is accomplished when in position and by checking to
see if the sight picture is not correct., you must move your body
until you find a relaxed position and the desired sight picture is
achieved. Before can hit the target, you must first assume a
comfortable and stable position.
9. Natural Point of Aim – when the soldier first assumes his firing
position, he orients his rifle in the general direction of his target.
Then he adjusts his body to bring the rifle and sights exactly in the
line with the desired aiming point. When using proper support and
consistent stock weld, the soldier must have his rifle and sight
aligned naturally on the target. When this correct body rifle target
alignment is achieved, the front sight post must be held on target,
using muscular support and effort. As the rifle fires, the muscle
tends to relax, causing the front sight to move away from the target
toward the natural point of aim. Adjusting this point to the desired
point of aim eliminates this movement. When multiple target
exposures are expected, the soldier should adjust his natural point
of aim to the center of the expected target exposure area.

B. AIMING – refers to the precise alignment of the rifle sight with the
target.

Elements of Correct Aiming:

1. Correct Sight Alignment – placing the center tip to the front sight
post in the exact center of the near sight aperture.
2. Correct Sight Picture – it has the target, the front sight post and
the near sight aligned. The sight picture includes two basic
elements: sight element and placement of the aiming point.

C. BREATH CONTROL – refers to proper control of breathing to keep

the rifle steady as the rifle is gently squeezed.

Two (2) Types of Breath Control:

1. Breath control when zeroing or firing single target – There is a
moment of respiratory pause while breathing, most of the air has
been exhaled from the lungs and before inhaling. Breathing should
stop after most of the air has been exhaled during the normal
breathing cycle. The shot must be fired before the soldier feel any
discomfort.
2. Breath control, firing at timed or multiple targets – this
technique is employed during rapid fire (short-exposure targets).
Using this technique, the soldier holds this breathe when he is
about to squeeze the trigger.
 D. TRIGGER SQUEEZE – If the trigger is not properly squeezed, the rifle
is misaligned with the target at the movements of the firing.

Trigger Squeeze is important for two (2) reasons:

1. Sudden movement of the finger on the trigger can disturb the lay of
the rifle and cause the shot to miss the target.
2. The precise instant of firing should be a surprise to the soldier.

III. FIRING POSITION

It is necessary to find the most effective position which will allow

you to aim at the target in a natural and consistent manner, and assume
an identical position. Locating the most effective firing position is the first
shooting skill that one must develop before firing live rounds.

Types of Firing Position:

A. Basic Position – used during fundamental training and during basic
record firing. It offers stable platform for firing the rifle. It has two (2)
types:

1. Supported Prone Position – this position provides the most stable

platforms for engaging targets. This is done by assuming a prone
position while your rifle rest on a sand bag.
2. Prone Unsupported Positions – this position offers another stable
firing platform for engaging targets. Similar to the supported prone
position but without the aid of sang bag.

B. Advance Positions – different firing positions used to adapt to

different combat situations.

1. Alternate Prone Position – this position is an alternative to both

prone supported and unsupported firing positions, allowing the firer
to cock his firing leg. This position relaxes the stomach muscles
and allow the firer to breath naturally.
2. Kneeling Supported Position – this position allows the firer to
obtain the height necessary to better observe many target areas,
taking advantage of available cover.
3. Kneeling Unsupported Position – this position assumed quickly,
places firer high enough to see over small burst, and provides for a
stable firing position.
4. Standing Position – this position provides the least stability but
could be needed for observing the target area since it can be
assumed quickly while moving.
5. Modified Firing Position – adopted once the firing skills have
been mastered by the firer. Modified firing positions are encouraged
 to take advantage to available cover, to use anything that helps
steady the rifle, or to make any changes that allows the firer to hit
more combat targets.

IV. PRINCIPLES OF ZEROING

The purpose of battle sight zeroing is to align the fire control system
sight with the rifle barrel, considering the ammunition ballistics. When the
rifle is zeroed the sights are adjusted so that the bullet strike is the same
as the point of aim at some given range. When a standard zeroing
procedure is followed, a rifle is properly zeroed for one soldier is close to
the zero of another soldiers.
In order to understand the principles of zeroing, one must know the
basics of ballistics, especially, the relationship between the path of the
bullet flight and the line of sight in bullet is called trajectory. The maximum
height of bullet trajectory, in relation to the line of sight, depends on the
range to the target. The greater the distance a bullet travels before impact,
the higher it must travel in its trajectory. On the other hand, the line of
sight is the straight-line distance through the rear sight aperture, across
the front sight blade to the point of aim.

WEAPON

I. GENERAL

Definition of Terms

WEAPONS – are instruments created solely for violence. Furthermore,

these are instruments design to inflict casualties to anybody the user intended
to. Each weapon has each own characteristic that set them apart from the rest.
To aid you in your understanding on how these weapons functions, here are
some weapon terminologies:

BASIC COMPONENT OF A WEAPON

1. BARREL – is the metal tube of a weapon where the slug or any

projectile passes through. It is usually made up of high-grade carbon
steel.
a. Muzzle – it is the forward end of the barrel.
b. Bore – it is the interior of the battel where the bullet/projectile
slides through.
c. Rifling – are helical or spiral lands and grooves along the
interior bore surface imparting spin or rotation to the movement
 of the bullet/projectile for greater stability in flight of the bullet
/projectile to enhance accuracy and range.
d. Chamber – the enlarged portion of the rear of the barrel where
the cartridge is placed in position for firing.

2. BREECH – The opening at the rear portion of the barrel through which
the cartridge or round is loaded. It is loaded with a recess to fit a
locking mechanism, usually the bolt, so as to seal the chamber to
prevent the scape of gasses.
3. FIRING PIN MECHANISM – It is the device used to strike or hit the
primer hereby igniting it. The following are the different types of firing
pin mechanism:
a. Free-floating – it has no spring on the pin and is free from the
force of another body. (e.g. M16, M14)
b. Percussion – there is a spring on the rear of the pin pushing it
forward. (e.g. M60, Ultimax)
c. Inertia – there is a shorter firing pin than the recess, which it is
housed. A compressed spring is pushing the pin rearwards.
(e.g. Cal .45 pistol)
d. Fixed – the firing pin is firmly attached to the bolt. (e.g.
Thompson Sub-machinegun)
e. Electric – fire is done by electromagnet or electric current.

4. RECIEVER – it is portion of a weapon that houses or holds other

working components to form one functional unit.

CLASSIFICATION OF WEAPONS

1. ACCORDING TO OPERATIONS:
a. Manually operated – the cycle of operation is manually
accomplished (e.g. Springfield)
b. Gas-Operated – firearms that have gas cylinder and piston. They
use the trapped gas to push the bolt assembly backwards to
achieve a complete cycle of operation. (e.g. M16, M14)
c. Recoil operated – firearms that used their recoil energy to
operate.
d. Blow back operated – characterized by a heavy bolt. The barrel
remains stationary during the firing. It has no locking and unlocking
mechanism. Inertia or boil and recoil spring holds the breech
closed.

2. ACCORDING TO FUNCTION:
a. Automatic – This fire continuously as long as the trigger is pulled.
(e.g. M60, Ultimax)
 b. Semi-automatic – one pull of trigger will produce one round
explosion. The trigger must be released first before one can fire
another round. The cycle of operation is done automatically.
c. Single – one trigger pulls for a single round. The cycle of operation
is done manually.
d. Selective – these fore either automatic or semi-automatic by using
the selector lever.

3. ACCORDING TO USE:
a. Hand weapon – designed to be fired by at least one hand. (e.g.
Pistol)
b. Shoulder weapon – designed to fired from the shoulder. (e.g.
Rifle)
c. Crew-served weapon – designed to be operated by two or more
person. (e.g. Mortar)

4. ACCORDING TO THE MANNER OF FEEDING:

a. Muzzle-fed – ammunition is fed through the muzzle. (e.g. Mortar)
b. Clip-fed – ammunition is loaded with a use of a clip that holds
several rounds of ammunition. (e.g. Garand)
c. Magazine-fed – weapon that have a magazine well where the
magazine is inserted. A magazine can hold several rounds of
ammunition. (e.g. M16, M14)
d. Breech-fed – ammunition is fed through the breech. (e.g. M203,
M79, Howitzers.
e. Belt-fed – weapons designed fed cartridges through belt or linked
ammunition. (e.g. Cal .50 Machinegun (Closed loop link), Cal
7.26mm M60 LMG (Open loop link).

TYPES OF WEAPON
1. SMALL ARMS WEAPON – are those that have bore of 30mm and
below.
2. ARTILLERY WEAPON – a general referring to five main types of
cannons: Guns, Howitzers, Mortars, Rocket Launcher, and Recoilless
Rifles.

CYCLE OF OPERATION – it is a mechanical sequence of action in a firing

shot. Each time a round is fired, the parts inside the weapon work together in a
given order sequence.
1. RECOIL MOVEMENT – rearward movement of some parts due to the
explosion and reaction to the forward thrust of the projectile and
gasses.
a. Unlocking – this immediately occurs after firing. It is the
process of disengaging of bolt locking lugs from the breech
recess.
 b. Extracting – the process of pulling away of empty shells from
the chamber.
c. Ejecting – the process of throwing away of the empty shell or
cartridge from the receiver.
d. Cocking – the process of repositioning of the hammer to the
firing position brought about by the bolt overriding the hammer
backwards.

2. COUNTERRECOIL MOVEMENT – the forward movement of some

parts due to the expansion of the compressed recoil spring.
e. Feeding – the process of aligning of the top round around
along the path of the bolt from the magazine.
f. Chambering – the process of pushing the top round towards
the chamber by the bolt. At this process, the extractor snaps
into the case level.
g. Locking – the process where the bolt lug locks up the barrel
recess seating the chamber.
h. Firing – it is when the hammer strikes the firing pin, thereby
igniting the primer

MALFUNCTION – is a failure of the weapon to function satisfactory, without

breaking the cycle of operation. The following are the different kinds of
malfunction:
1. RUNAWAY – the firearm fires continuously even after the trigger finger
released the trigger.
2. COOK-OFF – the premature firing of the firearm due to the extreme
heat of the barrel.
3. HANGFIRE – the delay ignition of the primer due to ammunition defect.
4. MISFIRE – failure to fire after pulling the trigger or after subjecting the
ammunition to the pressure of the firing pin.

WEAPONS
1. Cal .45 Model 1119A1 Pistol – John Browning developed this handgun.
The development begun in 1896 and perfected and enter the US service
on 1911. The pistol was used in the First World War. Some minor
defects such as: the rear edge of the butt was given a more curved
shape and chequered; a shorter groove trigger was fitted; the frame was
chamfered off behind the trigger; the grip safety was slightly lengthened
and the hammer spur was shortened. With these modifications, Model
1119A1 evolved into being.
 CAL .45 M1119A1 PISTOL

a. Characteristics
 Hand weapon
 Recoil operated
 Lightweight
 Magazine-fed
 Semi-automatic
 Air cooled

b. General Data
 Maximum Range------------------------------------------- 200 Meters

 Maximum Effective Range------------------------------- 50 Meters

 Overall Length---------------------------------------------- 21.9 cm
 Length of the Barrel--------------------------------------- 2.7 cm
 Weight without Magazine-------------------------------- 1.13 kilograms
c. Disassembly
 Clear the pistol by removing the magazine, retracting the slide
and checking the chamber for ammunition. Then allow the
chamber to go forward under the control.
 Press in return spring plug under the muzzle and rotate bushing
clockwise.
 Allow plug to come out under control then remove the return
spring and remove barrel bushing.
 Cock the hammer then pull the slide back until the rear of the
slide top is aligned with the rear recess in the center of the slide.
 Push the slide stop out then pull the slide barrel forward off the
receiver.
 Remove the return spring guide then rotate the barrel and
remove from the side.
 d. Assembly – reverse the disassembly process. Take note that the
barrel link must be in forward position and the link pin must be in
place and not protruding.

2. Cal 5.56 mm, M16A1 Rifle (Armalite) – the Basic Rifle of the Philippine
Army. Because it is proven reliability in worst condition, this weapon is
widely used in the Scout Ranger Organization. It was introduced during
the Vietnam War in the 1960’s and was found to be effective in tropical
areas like the Philippines.

CAL 5.56mm M16A1 RIFLE

a. Characteristics
 Shoulder weapon
 Gas operated
 Lightweight
 Magazine-fed
 Operates in both automatic and semi-automatic
 Air cooled
b. General Data
 Maximum Range------------------------------------------ 2,653 Meters
 Maximum Effective Range----------------------------- 460 Meters
 Overall Length--------------------------------------------- 99.06 cm
 Weight with Loaded Magazine (30Rnd) ------------- 3.583
Kilograms
 Weight with Loaded Magazine (20Rnd) ------------ 3.447
Kilograms

c. Ammunition
 Ball
 Tracer
 Blank
 Dummy
d. Disassembly
 Clear the weapon.
 Remove the hand guard by pushing down the Slip Ring.
 Separate the upper receiver from the lower receiver by pushing
out the pivot pin and take out the pin respectively.
 Pull out the charging handle together with bolt carrier.
 Remove the firing pin retaining pin.
 Remove the firing pin.
 Position the bolt cam pin into horizontal position and pull it out.
 Remove the bolt.
 Using another pin or the firing pin, push out the extractor pin so
that the extractor will be removed.
 Push down the Buffer stop and pull out the buffer together with
buffer spring.

e. Assembly – reverse the disassembly process.