Using Firearms Safely and Skilfully

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 84, Issue 4, 15 April 1952, Page 334

Using Firearms Safely and Skilfully

THIS article is the second of a series by G. G. Kelly, Arms and Ballistics Officer to the Police Department, dealing with the safe and skilful handling of firearms. Next month's article will describe types of sporting rifles and ammunition and the setting of sights accurately.

ONE of the most costly faults of rifle shooting is known as “trigger jerk”, but it is easily overcome when it is recognised. -It is costly because it is frequently not even suspected. The sequence of events is so rapid that the shot, noise, and recoil appear to be instantaneous with the release of the trigger, and the low percentage of successful shots may be blamed on the rifle itself or the ammunition. The quickest way to detect trigger fault is by using the rifle without ammunition. This is called “dry practice” and the user himself should detect that his somewhat violent trigger jerk has disturbed the aim and that, the foresight has moved away from where he was sighting it. This fault must be eliminated before even a fair average of well-placed shots can be expected. The pupil is helped considerably if a teacher or coach stands to one side and watches the muzzle closely. Any experienced marksman by doing this can not only detect the pupil’s trigger jerk, but can also gauge where the bullet would have gone had a cartridge been fired. With rim-fire ammunition it would be well to use a fired shell in the breech to absorb the blows of the firing pin. With some rifles it is possible to damage the cartridge seating of the barrel unless this is done. This damage may cause misfires later on. Too much emphasis cannot be placed on this point of proper release of the sear by the movement of the trigger.

The best-aimed shot of the day with the best combination of rifle and cartridge will be practically useless unless this important qualification for marksmanship is thoroughly mastered. The trigger should be released with a squeeze or, better still, a grip that follows through. The trigger should be gripped by the fleshy part of the second joint of the forefinger. The thumb should be across the back of the “small” of the stock so that a gripping motion of a steady, smooth kind will cause the sear to slip out of the bent at the moment of the best hold, and no movement of that hold should be allowed until recoil causes movement. The gripping should be of a kind that one uses to squeeze a lemon. The same care that is taken in this operation to prevent the lemon juice from squirting should be used in directing the bullet. The Standing Position Many game animals have to be aimed at from the standing position, which is the most difficult of all positions, as there is no steadying factor to assist the marksman. There is a satisfactory method that can be used and one that is quite easily learnt once the underlying principles are understood. It is known as the “swinging shot” and is used by pistol champions all over the world. Rules of pistol shooting require that a competitor stands with the weapon in one hand and the arm extended. There is no support possible. He may not use his left hand to steady his

shooting arm or hand. How then do pistol marksmen get such extraordinary scores? The answer appears to lie in the ability to get the shot away at the correct moment when the sights are swinging from right to left or vice versa, whichever way the competitor chooses, and he probably uses only one way. This moment is when the sights are just passing under the bullseye and it is then that he finishes the “pull” or release of the shot. A rifleman can get his shot away much more easily on the same principle. The stance is as relaxed as possible and the rifle is merely held comfortably firmly. Part of the load on the trigger is applied and the final pressure should finish the movement at the right moment. The man who braces himself rigidly and tries to steady the rifle by main force will fail, because this attitude brings only unsteadiness and flinching, as any good golfer knows. Holding a heavy rifle is easier than holding a light one, because the heavier weapon helps to absorb or reduce vibration. However, in the .22 calibre nearly all the heavy rifles are designed for indoor rifle shooting and are expensive. They also have the drawback of being less convenient to carry around the farm. Elbow-on-hip Rest One other aid can be used for the standing shot when using a .22 rifle. This is sometimes allowed in rifle competitions in America and Continental countries where “off-hand” practices are followed. The rifleman’s left elbow is rested on the top of his left hip bone and the rifle is balanced on the very ups of the fingers of the left hand. This gives an “elevation” rest to the rifle that is impossible in any other method. The rifle will still swing from side to side, but the up and down movements will be more easily controlled. The pose necessary for this elbow-on-hip rest is not readily adopted and requires a little practice. The illustration above shows that the body is side on to the target so that the hip bone is brought straight below the tore-end of the rifle. This allows the forearm to be a straight prop between these two points. The length of the fingers is needed to make the hold useful. The Continental rifleman uses a round ball which is attached to the fore-end of the rifle by a 4 or sin. connecting rod. This ball, which is about the size of a cricket ball, rests on the inner heel of the palm and the fingers close round it. This fitting is a mere refinement and would be an added burden to the farmer; the finger rest will work quite as well for all ordinary game shots. Advantage should always be taken of available natural rests such as a small tree if there is no wind blowing or a stump or fence post. Every natural advantage should be used to prevent wastage of ammunition.