FROM HEADQUARTERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 137, 11 June 1909, Page 4

FROM HEADQUARTERS

IMPORTANCE OF RIFLE FIRE. INSTRUCTIONAL ORDERS BY CHIEF OF STAFF. The greater importance that has been, attached to rifle firing by military auth-. orities, since the demonstration of ita great effectiveness during the wars 01 the lasjt ten years, is shown by the growth of a special literature regarding it. One of the latest leaflets an the subject consists of "Extracts from -Genera! Instructions Applicable to All Courses," issued by Colonel Robin, Chiel of Staff, for circulation amongst responsible officials of the Now Zealand Defence Forces." It deals comprehensively with the subject of early training, having special regard to grouping practices. PRELIMINARY TRAINING. Following is the full text of the leaflet: — "1. Evex-y effort should be made in preliminary training, by means of standard tests, sub-target practice, miniature range practice, and firing on the thirty.yards range, to insure that every man begins his practice on the open range confident in his own. powers and determined to prove his ability to hit. "2. It is a common experience that serious faults become formed habits in recruits before they are discovered by the instructor. These faults are overlooked in tho early stages of training, and may be recognised for the first time during tho execution of Table 'A.' Incompetent instructors will devote much time and- attention to the firing positions, or some one form of training, to the exclusion of others, such as aiming or trigger-pressing, which are of equal or greater importance. It is most unlikely that. such an instructor who neglect some principal element or early training will have £ c skill required to ■ discover faults by any other means than a target-practice register, and even then. he will be unable to trace the origin oi any bad habit. It is therefore desirable in the earliest stages of .training, and at later stages also in the case of bad shots, to prescribe methods which compel analysis of faults, indicate clearly how defects may be remedied, and remove ah suspicion as to the accuracy of his rifle-. With this object, preliminary and qualifying practices are divided into exercises in (a) grouping and (b) applying fire. GROUPING EXERCISES. "3. Individual grouping is an exercise in firing a series of shots (usually five} at a definite aiming-point without alteration of aim or sighting during the x ac term 'group is used to define the diagram made on the target by the series of &hot-marks. "The value of such a group is determined by the relative closeness of the shot-marks. It is measured for training purposes by means of rings of various sizes, and points are allotted according to the size of the ring which will contain all the shots, or, when specially prescribed, all thfe shots but one, which is called a 'wide shot.' When the ring is applied so as to contain all the shots, the point where the centre of the ring falls on the target is regarded for training purposes as tho point of mean impact. The position ot the point of mean impact with reference to the mark aimed at has no influence on the value oi the group. Its position is, however, of great importance for instructional purposes, because it indicates approximately the error of the rirle, or gives information as to the fault of tho firer. "Grouping practices should not bo hred at distances beyond 100 yards, it being essential that atmospheric influences should be excluded from consideration and that the firer should walk up to the' target to inspect his group after firing. If a soldier makes a bad group and tho rifle is suspected it should be at once fired under similar conditions by a reliable marksman. If the rifle is proved accurate the soldier's aim should next be tested by the triangular method, and his let-off should be tested by means ot tho aim-corrector. His eyesight and nervous condition should be examined. If be has shown nervousness he should be instructed to develop his will-power by gymnastics or otherwise. It should be borne in mind that some men can aim quickly, but lose their power of definition when straining the eye. In serious cases the soldier be medically examined, with a view to discharge or tho provision of proper glasses. Whenever possible a complete analysis of the faults of the firer and, his rifle should be made before leaving tho range, and a noto should be made on the register ol the steps decided upon for remedying defects. SHOT APPLICATION. "4. When a recruit is "shown to have acquired sufficient skill 'in aiming ana trigger-pressing, as shown by the result of his grouping, he will be instructed in applying hia shots to a definite mark. This form of practice, in which aim or sighting is altered as may be found necessary, is called 'Application.' Instruction is given in making allowance for atmospheric influences, chiefly cross winds ; but it is not desirable that trifling changes of wind should be met by minute adjustment of the wind-gauge. In war this would be impossible, and, in training, the wind-gauge should be used only to obviate the necessity for aiming off the instructional target. For this purpose it i& very useful, since it facilitates elementary training in weather which -would otherwise be unsuitable. The instructor should call upon the soldier to estimate the wind before firing, and tell him the corrected allowance which he is to place on his sights. Subsequent alteration should be unnecessary. Grouping standards are in some cases attached (o application practices in order to emphasise the importance of care and consistency in shooting. DELEGATING AUTHORITY. "5. The separation of instruction from classification affords an opportunity for extending the principle of delegating authority to those immediately responsible for musketry training, so that they may vary the forms of instructional tiring. In any case it should be understood that company officers may make minor alterations with regard to individuals in firing moic or fewer rounds in elementary practice, or in omitting or repeating a practice. HINTS" AND INSTRUCTIONS. "6. The discretion allowed as to varying details of instructional practices should remove any excuse for hurrying through tho instruction. Officers should be present at the firing-point, and every assistance be given in the form ol 'coaching', to those that need it. "7. It is always better, when time is pressing, to reduce the number of rounds fired in .instructional practices than to hurry through them. "8. Averages of instructional practices will not be worked out. "9. In plow practices twenty seconds is tho time-limit -allowed for each shot, reckoned from the act of loading. It there is » tendency to exceed tho limit a \shistlo should be used to mark the beginning and end of each period, but not olherwibe. ''10. In firing from behind cover careis to be taken that the position adopted is such as would enable the firer on, ser- \ ice to obtain tho fullest protection from the cover. INSTRUCTIONS FOR CARRYING OUT' GROUPING PRACTICES i "One firer will be detailed to each tfU'-

get, aud fire five shots, maintaining the regulation point of aim throughout; details will then proceed to the targets, see their groups measured, and note the points of mean impact with reference to the points aimed at. '"JLhe, groups will be measured with wire rings, four, eight, and twelve inches diameter, counting 25, 20, and 15 points respectively. • Ten" 'points will) #be allowed for a 12-incn group, \vith one wide shot. ' l t "Tho ring which will contain 'all the shots will b.e recorded as the measure ot the group A shot is included within any particular ring when the shot-hole touches the circumference of the largest circle which can be described within that ring by means •of a pencil held at right angles to the target. "All shot marks found on a target will be included in the group, to be measured. No points will be allotted to a group ttnless there aie five shot-marks at least on the target. If more than five shotraarks are found on tho target there will be no score, and the practice will be repeated. "When the ring is placed to include all the shots the centre of the ring will be taken as approximately the point oi mean impact ; its distance from and direction with reference to the point aimed at will be recorded on the register— e.g., 7in. , 4 o'clock. "On return to the firing point other details will fire, but steps will bo immediately taken to ascertain the cause ot any bad shooting of men in the first two details. Rifles suspected of error should be at once fired for grouping by tho best shot available ; and in any case baa shots should on some occasion see their rifles tested in order that they mas' have confidence in their weapons. If the rifle is correct the firer should be tested by means of the triangle of error, the result being recorded on the register : and before leaving the range the officer superintending should not the result vf any other investigation of the man's ftiulta, and tho steps which he directs to be taken for remedying them. 1 '