fundamentals. Do not compromise. Follow through and continue to apply all control factors. If the shot is fired as a surprise, there will be no reflex action. When you are absolutely sure you have set up conditions for a controlled shot, put your plan into action. Confidently and aggressively follow each mental step with physical action until the sequence is complete and the shot is delivered on the target.
Remember that in slow fire you do not have to shoot before bringing your gun down to rest. When you fatigue, run short of breath, experience difficulty in maintaining concentration on sight alignment or cannot maintain a suitable arc of movement, lower the weapon to the bench and relax. Re-plan the delivery of the shot, breathe deeply and try again. Some excellent slow fire shooters try two or three times before being able to deliver a controlled shot. Full control of the application of the fundamentals insures the correct control of a shot.
1. Example of a system delivering rapid fire strings with fire commands: As the Range Officer starts his commands, he will announce:
a. “ON THE FIRING LINE, FOR YOUR FIRST STRING OF RAPID FIRE,WITH FIVE ROUNDS LOAD.”
(1) You should load at this time and assume your grip.
b. “IS THE HE LINE READY?”
(1) Continue your rhythmic breathing.
(2) Check that you are going to shoot on the proper target.
c. “READY ON THE RIGHT.”
(1) Extend the arm with a stiff wrist and a locked elbow.
(2) Align the sights.
(3) Breathe deeply and exhale.
d. “READY ON THE LEFT.”
(1) Find the aiming area on the edge of the target frame.
(2) Take a final deep breath.
(3) Settle into a minimum arc of movement.
e. “READY ON THE FIRING LINE.”
(1) Partly release the breath and hold the remainder.
(2) Point of focus is on the front sight.
(3) Take up the slack — apply initial trigger pressure.
(4) Maintain sight alignment.
f. Target faces toward shooter - commence firing.
(1) Start positive trigger pressure.
(2) Shift concentration to perfecting sight alignment.
g. First shot is fired (Surprise Shot).
(1) Maintain eye focus (follow through).
(2) Quick recovery with the sights approximately in alignment, and hold approximately in center of aiming area.
(3) Renew positive trigger pressure.
(4) Strive to correct errors in sight alignment, but do not delay positive trigger pressure.
h. Follow through with four more surprise shots.
i. Good rhythm indicates coordinated application of the fundamentals.
E. MAKE AN ANALYSIS
Complete and instantaneous shot analysis is a prerequisite for improvement in performance or score. It is a complete waste of time and ammunition to fire haphazardly without any comprehensive attempt to improve. A mental impression of the sight alignment should come at the instant the shot breaks.
It is advantageous to analyze why you are shooting well on a particular day. Some shooters have a tendency to ignore their good scores. It is important to analyze the good shot string so the combination of factors that produce these good strings can be remembered and repeated. In making the analysis, an important point to remember is to be honest with yourself and your coach. By admitting mistakes the shooter can correct them. The coach can help find a solution to mistakes which he was not aware of if you reveal everything you saw, heard or thought of during the firing of the shot or string.
If any shooter critically re-examines and analyzes his performance and his technique of shooting, he will find “minor points”, which to a certain extent hinder him from improving his results. The elimination of individual shortcomings and poor methods are the method the shooter has at his disposal to increase his competitive stature.
1. Slow Fire
a. Steps:
(1) Call each shot. Base your call primarily on the relationship of the front and rear sight. Also consider any unusual occurrences in the arc of movement and whether or not concentration on sight alignment was maintained.
(2) When you have decided where your shot should be located on the target, verify your call by observation with the spotting scope.
(3) If the shot or call is good or bad, determine the cause. Generally one of the following situations will occur:
(a) Shot call and shot location coincide and you have a good shot.
(b) Shot call and shot location coincide, but shot is bad.
(c) Shot call and shot location do not coincide.
NOTE: ANY TIME YOU FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THE ERROR, YOU MUST EXAMINE YOUR PLAN TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NOT NEGLECTED A FUNDAMENTAL.
(4) Evaluation: Now consider the question — Did you or did you not follow the planned sequence? If your answer is yes and you had an acceptable shot, this should stimulate your confidence. Review the technique you used to deliver the successful shot. Make every effort to reestablish the same conditions that existed for the first controlled shot and repeat the sequence for each succeeding shot. If your answer was no, you must identify the specific point in your shot sequence where control was lost. The following examples cover only a few of the errors that may have occurred:
(a) Failure to establish a minimum arc of movement.
(b) Inability to maintain point focus on sight alignment.
(c) Concentration drifts from sight alignment to trigger control.
(d) Trigger pressure intermittent and uncertain with considerable effort required to fire the pistol.
(e) Lack of aggressive, determined attitude, and confidence in the technique.
b. The shooter’s slow fire work sheet lists the following steps as a guide to complete shot analysis:
(1) Follow through check.
(2) Call shot (describe sight alignment).
(3) Compare target hit location with shot call.
(4) If shot or call is bad, determine cause.
(5) Watch for error pattern to form. (Same error on more than one shot)
(6) Did shot break in normal arc of movement?
(7) Did you hold too long?
(8) Did you apply positive trigger pressure?
(9) If you benched weapon on a shot effort, why?
(10) Did you lose concentration? (What did you think about other than sight alignment?)
(11) Did you get a surprise shot break?
(12) Were you worried about results?
2. Strings of Five Shots:
After each five shot string, the shooter should remember each shot as one of five individual sight alignments that enables him to accurately call the shot group. If the call and the group are not together it is necessary to
