DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.

129 University Avenue, Caloocan City

Criminology Department

Definition of Terms:

 MARKSMANSHIP is the skillful art of shooting and hitting the target at a given
range or known distance
 CORRECT SIGHT ALIGNMENT is the relationship between the rear sight
and the front sight with respect to the eye
 CORRECT SIGHT PICTURE is the relationship between the rear sight and
the front sight with respect to the eye thru to your target
 TRIGGER CONTROL is a method used to apply pressure on the trigger so
that shot can be delivered without disturbing sight alignment.
 BREATHING CONTROL- Enables the shooter to hold with a comfortable
breath feeling, long enough to fire one shot or a series multiple shoot
 FOLLOW THROUGH – be able to call your shots and concentrating on
proper techniques

FOUR (4) CARDINAL RULES OF GUN SAFETY

1. Consider every gun as loaded

2. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire
3. Never let the muzzle of your gun point to anything which you do not intent to
shoot
4. Be sure of your target and what is around it

HOW TO HANDLE SAFETY FIRE ARMS

Firearms are dangerous tools, but they can also be very fun outdoor activity
like, firing before ever touching any type of firearm, there are a few cardinal rules
which should be followed at all times. While there are a few “10 rules of firearm
safety” posters and sayings or quips, most gun owners believe there are more than
just 10. Here we have listed 14 rules, though some of them detail more than one
specific thing to follow.

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

The following rules are generally in order of priority (highest to lowest), but
they are all very important and should be followed at all times. Safe firearms
handling techniques should be done consistently each and every time: being 99%
safe is a recipe for tragedy when it comes to firearms.

1. Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

2. Assume that the firearm is always loaded.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger.
4. Be sure of your target and everything that is downrange.
5. Always hand a firearm to someone unloaded.
6. Use the proper ammunition.
7. Wear ear and eye protection.
8. If your gun doesn’t fire when the trigger is pulled, be cautious.
9. Be sure the firearm's barrel, chamber, and action are clear of obstruction
before firing.
10. Maintenance your firearm properly.
11. Learn the safety and firing characteristics of the firearm.
12. Never shoot hard or flat surfaces (including water).
13. Never allow your loaded firearm out of your control.
14. Never mix alcohol or drugs with firearms.

PISTOL MARKSMANSHIP FUNDAMENTALS

1. GRIP
2. STANCE
3. AIMING
4. BREATH CONTROL
5. TRIGGER PRESSING

GRIP

FIVE POINTS OF CONTACT TO ATTAIN PROPER GRIP

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

1. The V-shape formed by your thumb and index finger is placed on the GRIP SAFETY.
2. The heel of the palm must touch the MAIN SPRING HOUSING.
3. The three fingers are wrapped on the front strap.
4. The thumb rest on the SAFETY LEVER.
5. The trigger finger is placed on the TRIGGER.

STANCE

It is a major factor in creating conditions for maximum control. A high degree of

control is necessary for the delivery of an accurate shot.

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

TYPES OF SHOOTING STANCES

1. One-hand Shooting Stance (Precision Stance)

2. Two-hand Shooting Stance

 ISOSCELES STANCE
 MODIFIED ISOSCELES
 WEAVER STANCE

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

ISOSCELES STANCE

It passively absorbs the recoil of fighting the handgun using the shooters’ skeletal
structure rather than muscular tension as in other shooting stances like the weaver stance

Proper Body Position:

1. Feet, knees, hips, shoulders square to the threat or direction of travel

2. Knees slightly bent

3. Bend slightly forward at the waist (aggressive posture / control recoil)

4. Shoulders rolled forward

5. Arms straight with elbows and wrists locked

6. Head erect (bring the weapon to the eyes, not your head and eyes to the weapon).

7. Body weight resting on balls of feet, not the toes or heels

MODIFIED ISOSCELES

 Is similar to the fighter stance or boxer stance which aim to keep you balance and
react quickly and move in any direction easily
 It also gives you better peripheral vision stand with your feet shoulder with apart for
better balance and help absorb recoil.

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

 With the modified isosceles the knees are slightly bent and the shooter aggressively
leans forward with his upper body in an aggressive combat manner toward the target
 Your hip and shoulder should always point at the target whenever possible with a
strong side foot about three to six inches back from the weak side foot for more
natural and comfortable shooting the recovery time between shot is faster with the
modified isosceles and muscle flip is decidedly less sins the arms wrists and body
weight are actively involved in absorbing recoil
 But just because of many advantages in natural nature of the modified isosceles its
does not mean that the WEAVER and ISOSCELES stances are not worth using.

Proper Body Position:

1. Stand in the interview position

2. Knees slightly bent with feet approximately shoulder width apart

3. Bend slightly forward at the waist (aggressive posture / control recoil)

4. Strong arm is extended straight out, and the elbow is locked

5. Support arm pulls back on the gun hand with approximately 40 pounds of pressure.

This locks the gun arm into the shoulder like a rifle stock

6. Head erect (bring the weapon to the eyes, not your head and eyes to the weapon).

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

WEAVER STANCE

 A stance that has two parts, the two-handed technique in which the dominant hands
hold the pistols while support hands wrap around the dominant hand
 Both arms held straight blocking the elbows the arms and chest of the shooter
describe an isosceles triangle which give the stance its name

Proper Body Position:

1. Stand in the interview position

2. The feet are approximately shoulder width apart, with strong side foot slightly back

3. Bend slightly forward at the waist (aggressive posture / control recoil)

4. The strong arm is slightly bent

5. The support arm is sharply bent with elbow pointing straight down

6. Using approximately 40 pounds of pressure, push forward with the strong arm, and
pull

back with the support arm. This equal and opposite pressure creates the "isometric

lock" on the pistol which aids in controlling recoil

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

7. Head erect (bring the weapon to the eyes, not your head and eyes to the weapon).

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

AIMING

The act of pointing the weapon to the target.

ELEMENTS OF AIMING

1. Front Sight 2. Rear Sight 3. Aiming Point

Sight Alignment - is the relationship between the rear sight and the front sight with respect
to the eye.

Sight Picture - is the relationship between the rear sight and the front sight with respect to
the eye thru to your target.

Focus on the Front sight and concentrate on a smooth even trigger pull. The rear
sight and target will be slightly out of focus, with the front sight clearly in focus.

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

CORRECT SIGHT PICTURE

BREATH CONTROL

To attain accuracy, the firer must learn to hold his breath properly at any time during
the breathing cycle.

2 TYPES OF BREATH CONTROL

1. Empty lung technique – when firing at a single target
2. Quarter full technique – when firing at multiple targets

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

TRIGGER PRESS

A method used to apply pressure on the trigger so that shot can be delivered
without disturbing sight alignment.

PULLING TRIGGER PUSHING TRIGGER

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

The trigger squeeze must be gentle, deliberate and controlled.

1. The trigger finger should be positioned so that you are able to pull the trigger straight back
to the rear without disrupting alignment.

a. This action takes practice. The muscles in our hands are sympathetic. When you
“squeeze” the trigger finger, the rest of the fingers on the hand want to sympathetically
“squeeze” at the same time.

b. With practice and concentration you can disarticulate the trigger finger from the rest of the
gripping hand.

2. The trigger finger should not contact the frame of the gun at any time.

3. The trigger finger should be comfortably extended so that the point of contact with the
trigger is the middle of the pad of the first fingertip.

a. Ideally, the pad of the finger should be 90-degrees to the trigger, which enables you to
pull the trigger straight to the rear.

4. The trigger must be released with the same speed and rhythm as it is pulled.

a. Keep finger in contact with the trigger as it returns.

Allowing the trigger finger to return forward without contact with the trigger, further than
necessary, often results in “slapping” or “jerking” the trigger during subsequent shots.

5. Alignment of the sights and squeezing the trigger must be done at the same time.

a. Normally, triggers have a slight amount of free movement until the trigger stops against
the hammer/sear engagement point. Pulling through that free movement and holding against
the weight of the hammer/sear engagement is called “prepping” the trigger. While aligning
sights on the target begin this free movement holding against the hammer/sear engagement.
When proper sight picture is achieved, complete the trigger squeeze.

6. The term “squeeze” implies that increasing the level of pressure against the trigger is
done as a smooth acceleration

Ball & Dummy Practice

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

Conducted by Firearms Instructors (Range ONLY). The ammunition used is a

random selection of live or dummy ammunition. This training allows the shooter to witness
the disturbance in sight alignment if proper trigger discipline in not used as they fire a
dummy round.

Dry Firing Practice

Conducted by Firearms Instructors. This training allows the shooter to employ all the
factors of controlling the firing of an accurate shot without using any live ammunition at all.
Focus on the front sight, it should not move when the main spring of the firing mechanism
completes the firing cycle.

Follow Through

“Follow through” is the attempt by the shooter to keep everything exactly as it

was set up until the round is on its way to the target. “Follow through” is simply
allowing one action to be completed before beginning the next action. It is important
that the student learns to “follow through” from the beginning. It must be done
deliberately, at first, until it has become “Mentally Imprinted”. When the shot is fired,
continue pressing the trigger all the way to the rear and keep your eye on the front
sight as it recoils up and comes back down onto the target. Then, re-acquire the
proper sight picture and then (and only then) allow the trigger to return forward only
far enough for the trigger to re-set to a position where any movement to the rear will
fire the pistol.

MOST COMMON TRIGGER CONTROL PROBLEMS

1. ANTICIFATING RECOIL - may cause you to push the gun forward

2. JERKING THE TRIGGER - mentally focusing on their trigger press
3. PUSHING THE TRIGGER - Placing too little of the finger on the trigger
4. SNATCHING THE TRIGGER - When you pull the trigger
5. HEELING - shooter exerts excessive forward pressure with the heel of the hand
as they fire the gun.

FINGER DRILL

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship

 DIVINE MERCY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC.
129 University Avenue, Caloocan City
Criminology Department

HOW TO DRAW (STEP BY STEP)

RANGE VIOLATION

RVV PE 4 Fundamentals of Marksmanship