Tuesday, January 11, 2005
The rifle range.
So in case you are curious about what we do on the rifle range, here's the deal. We fire 50 rounds from the M16-A2 at targets which are scored from 5 points to 2 points. Marksman, the lowest level of qualification, is 190 points, Sharpshooter is 210, Expert is 220.
The smallest target, which we call the "able" target, is a circle. The 5 ring is 12" in diameter, the 4 and 3 rings are 6" wider than it. The "dog" target approximates a person's head and shoulders, the 5 ring is 24" wide, 18" tall. The "long range" or "B modified" target is a waist-up man sillhouette 48" tall and 20" wide. The dog and B mod targets also have 4 and 3 rings which extend out from them. We use iron sights, no optics are allowed.
The 200 yard line starts with our slow fire using the able target; 5 rounds sitting, 5 rounds kneeling, 5 rounds standing in a time limit of 20 minutes. Then we do the rapid fire from the sitting, which is two magazines of 5 rounds in 70 seconds on the dog target.
The 300 yard line is 5 rounds sitting on the Able target, then two magazines of five rounds in a time limit of 70 seconds from the prone on the dog target.
The most visually imposing, but most automatic for me is the 500 yard line. 10 rounds in a time limit of 10 minutes on the long range target. It is a long way, but we fire from the prone position, which is extremely stable.
It is difficult to explain all the difficulties associated with the course of fire, but here's some tidbits.
Your front sight post, which you line up with the taret, is a 1/16" squared off metal post mounted at the end of your rifle which is 39" long. To visualize this for yourself, take a toothpick, cut it so that you have a squared end, and hold it out at arm's length. That's what our front sight post looks like. The standing position at the 200 yard line is very unstable, and you are aiming at a target which looks as wide as your front sight. At the 500 yard line, your 20" wide target is now less than half as wide as your front sight post. Add in time constraints and weather and you have a serious challenge.
There are so many ways your shots can wind up off target. A sling that is too loose, an improper positioning of your elbow, a jerky trigger pull, can all cost you points. If a lieutenant fails to achieve a qualifying score, they will be dropped back to the next training company to pick up, putting them several months behind their peers. All the training we've done so far, they have to repeat. This adds a measure of stress to the whole process for those who are struggling.
I've qualified 4 times as an expert. Experts get to wear a device on their uniform with their expert rifle badge which indicates how many times they have earned expert. A little extra bragging rights for us when we're wearing dress uniforms. My goal, however, is the bragging rights of having the highest score in the company, the company high shooter. No badge, no bonus, no one cares outside our TBS class, but I care. It won't be easy though, there are a lot of good, experienced shooters out there.
The smallest target, which we call the "able" target, is a circle. The 5 ring is 12" in diameter, the 4 and 3 rings are 6" wider than it. The "dog" target approximates a person's head and shoulders, the 5 ring is 24" wide, 18" tall. The "long range" or "B modified" target is a waist-up man sillhouette 48" tall and 20" wide. The dog and B mod targets also have 4 and 3 rings which extend out from them. We use iron sights, no optics are allowed.
The 200 yard line starts with our slow fire using the able target; 5 rounds sitting, 5 rounds kneeling, 5 rounds standing in a time limit of 20 minutes. Then we do the rapid fire from the sitting, which is two magazines of 5 rounds in 70 seconds on the dog target.
The 300 yard line is 5 rounds sitting on the Able target, then two magazines of five rounds in a time limit of 70 seconds from the prone on the dog target.
The most visually imposing, but most automatic for me is the 500 yard line. 10 rounds in a time limit of 10 minutes on the long range target. It is a long way, but we fire from the prone position, which is extremely stable.
It is difficult to explain all the difficulties associated with the course of fire, but here's some tidbits.
Your front sight post, which you line up with the taret, is a 1/16" squared off metal post mounted at the end of your rifle which is 39" long. To visualize this for yourself, take a toothpick, cut it so that you have a squared end, and hold it out at arm's length. That's what our front sight post looks like. The standing position at the 200 yard line is very unstable, and you are aiming at a target which looks as wide as your front sight. At the 500 yard line, your 20" wide target is now less than half as wide as your front sight post. Add in time constraints and weather and you have a serious challenge.
There are so many ways your shots can wind up off target. A sling that is too loose, an improper positioning of your elbow, a jerky trigger pull, can all cost you points. If a lieutenant fails to achieve a qualifying score, they will be dropped back to the next training company to pick up, putting them several months behind their peers. All the training we've done so far, they have to repeat. This adds a measure of stress to the whole process for those who are struggling.
I've qualified 4 times as an expert. Experts get to wear a device on their uniform with their expert rifle badge which indicates how many times they have earned expert. A little extra bragging rights for us when we're wearing dress uniforms. My goal, however, is the bragging rights of having the highest score in the company, the company high shooter. No badge, no bonus, no one cares outside our TBS class, but I care. It won't be easy though, there are a lot of good, experienced shooters out there.
// posted by Josh @ 1/11/2005 04:04:00 PM 
