Chapter VIII: Conduct of Range and Field Practices

Section =55=.--Thirty Yards Ranges.

=1.= When no classification range is available, elementary practices with service ammunition may be carried out on a 30 yards range. Such practice will render recruits familiar with the discharge of the rifle, and improve their trigger release under easy conditions. No practice will take place unless an officer or experienced serjeant is present.

=2. Precautions for Safety.=--All precautions for safety will be taken. Loading, in all positions except lying, will be carried out with the rifle held just above the waist, and the muzzle directed towards the target. _Charging or uncharging magazines is not to be carried out with the muzzle pointing upwards._

=3. Practices.=--Practice at vanishing, moving, and landscape targets can be carried out as on miniature ranges, but with service ammunition. Long-range sighting-targets should be provided as a means of ascertaining the error of the rifle, and practice may be carried out with long-range sights.

Section =56=.--Grouping Practices.

=1.= One firer will be detailed to each target, and fire five shots, maintaining the regulation point of aim throughout. Targets will be changed, and a second detail of men will fire similarly. Both details will then proceed to the targets, see their groups measured, and note the positions of the points of mean impact with reference to the points aimed at. If it is impracticable to proceed to the targets, the group may be marked by means of small spotting-discs (see also Appendix, VI, para. 2, note 3).

=2. Rules for Measuring Groups.=--(i) The groups will be measured with wire rings, 4, 8, and 12 inches in diameter, counting 25, 20, and 15 points respectively; 10 points will be allowed for a 12-inch group with one wide shot.

(ii) The ring which will contain all the shots will be recorded as the measure of the group. A shot-mark is included within a ring when it cuts 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.

(iii) All shot marks found on a target will be included in the group to be measured. No points will be allotted to a group unless there are five shot-marks at least on the target. If more than five shot-marks are found on the target, there will be no score, and the practice will be repeated.

(iv) =Point of Mean Impact.=--When the ring is placed to include all the shots, the centre of the ring will be taken as approximately the point of mean impact. Its distance from, and direction with reference to, the point aimed at will be recorded on the register--_e.g._, 7 inches, four o’clock.

(v) On return to the firing-point other details will fire, but steps will be immediately taken to ascertain the cause of any bad shooting of men in the first two details.

=3. Third-Class Shots.=--As a rule, third-class shots should not be allowed ammunition for further training in application practice until a satisfactory standard in grouping has been attained. This may be fixed at a ring of diameter equal to one-three-hundredth of the range, but officers should exercise their discretion as to allowing one wide shot in five when dealing with young soldiers.

Section =57=.--Timed Practices.

=1. Deliberate Practices.=--In deliberate practices, twenty seconds is the time limit allowed for each shot, reckoned from the act of loading. If there is a tendency to exceed the limit, a whistle should be used to mark the beginning and end of each period, but not otherwise.

=2. Timed Exposure of Targets.=--The timed exposure of targets for snapshooting and rapid fire practices will be reckoned from the time when the target is in position and stationary to the time when it is again moved for lowering. The movements of raising and lowering must be conducted with the utmost rapidity, but without jarring the target frames.

=3. Timing in Rapid Practices.=--(i) Timing in rapid practices should be reckoned from the word of command “_Rapid Fire_,” and fire should be stopped by the command “_Cease Fire_.” The command “_Rapid Fire_” should be given as soon as the target appears. The target should be lowered at the end of the time allowed for firing under orders of the officer on butt duty, but the officer superintending at the firing-point should also time the practice and order “_Cease Fire_” at the end of the time allowed for firing, reckoned from the command “_Rapid Fire_.” Four points will be deducted for every shot fired after the order to cease fire has been given.

(ii) =Charging Magazine in Rapid Practices.=--In rapid practices, unless otherwise stated in the “Instructions for the Conduct of the Practice,” the magazine will be charged with four rounds, and the rifle will be loaded before the target appears.

=4. Firing from Cover.=--(i) In firing from behind cover, the position adopted must be such as would enable the firer on service to obtain the fullest protection from the cover, having due regard to the efficiency of his fire. In the prone position, the grip of the left hand must be maintained on the rifle, and there must be no undue exposure of the shoulder or legs.

(ii) In firing from behind cover, the butt of the rifle will be in contact with the ground, and the firer will remain in observation, but otherwise completely covered, until the command “_Rapid Fire_” is given in rapid-firing practices, or the target appears in “Snapshooting” and “Crossing-Shot” practices. When snapshooting or firing rapid in the open, the rifle may be held in the loading or aiming position, as preferred.

=5. Jambs.=--In the event of a jamb occurring in a timed practice, and provided that it is not caused by any fault on the part of the firer, the time allowed for the practice will be increased to the extent due to the delay caused thereby. Should, however, a jamb in a rapid practice be due to a breakage of mechanism or other defect that cannot readily be rectified on the range, the whole practice will be fired again.

=6. Missfires.=--In the event of missfires, extra rounds will be allowed equal to the number of missfires in the practice concerned, a proportionate part of the time allowed for the whole practice being given for each extra round.

=7. Extra Time.=--Whenever extra time is allowed for a timed practice, a report giving the reason, and stating whether the jamb or missfire was due to the rifle or to the ammunition, will be rendered to Command Headquarters.

Section =58=.--General Rules for Range Practices.[27]

=1.= Range practices, unless otherwise ordered, will be fired in drill order. Range practices should be fired, as far as possible, in favourable weather. It is of the utmost importance that recruits’ firing should not take place in cold and unsuitable weather.

=2. Order of Practices.=--Range practices should as a rule be fired in the order in which they appear in the tables, but brigade commanders may vary the order at their discretion. When deliberate and rapid practices for classification are fired at the same distance, each man may fire the rapid practice immediately after the deliberate practice.

=3.= In the case of ranges of less than full extent, general officers commanding-in-chief may frame special instructions, make proportionate changes in the size of targets, and vary the points for classification.

=4. Distribution of Ammunition.=--(i) _The general distribution of ammunition laid down in the several parts of Tables A and B respectively should be adhered to._ In the Regular Army and Special Reserve not more than fifteen rounds should be fired in one day, except in classification practices, when twenty-five rounds may be fired, if necessary. It is always better, when time is pressing, to reduce the number of rounds fired in instructional practices than to hurry through them. All available officers should be present at the firing-points during instructional practices.

(ii) =Forfeiture of Rounds.=--Omission to fire the rounds allotted and failure to fire during an exposure or run in vanishing and moving practices will entail forfeiture of the rounds that should have been fired, and misses will be recorded for them. Ammunition required for repetition of qualifying practices will, when necessary, be taken from the surplus.

=5. Firing Positions.=--In range practices the regulation positions are obligatory, except in firing from cover, when the rifle should be rested and the position adapted to the ground. This includes resting the arm as well, if suitable, but the cover is not to be specially constructed as a rest for the rifle.

=6. Commencing Practice.=--No man will load, or assume a firing position, until the senior officer present has ordered the practice to commence. After firing, men will return to the loading position, but will not open the breech in the deliberate practices until the last shot has been signalled. If it is necessary to suspend firing, all men who are in position will raise the safety-catch (or unload if no safety-catch is provided), until the order is given to resume the practice.

=7. Important Rules.=--(i) =Loading.=--_Loading will always be through the magazine._

(ii) =Sling.=--_Dependence on the sling should be discouraged, and it will not be used for steadying the rifle in range practices._

(iii) =Rifle.=--_No soldier equipped with a rifle is permitted to fire with any but his own._

(iv) =Sighting Shots.=--_No sighting shots are allowed._

(v) _Men will fire singly, never in twos or threes._

=8. Shots to verify Wind or Elevation.=--Occasional shots to verify elevation or strength of wind, or to prove the accuracy of a rifle, may sometimes be fired by an officer or non-commissioned officer, with the senior officer’s permission. They will not be fired during classification practices or standard tests. Notification of their commencement and conclusion will be made to the officer in the butts by telephone, signal, or bugle-sound. The target in use will be lowered and checked, and a clean one raised for the occasional shots. When they are completed, it will be lowered and checked, and the original target raised for the firer to complete his rounds.

=9. Resting Arm or Rifle.=--A coat or waterproof-sheet may be used to protect the uniform, but _except when firing from cover, or when rests are authorized, neither rifle, forearm, wrist, nor hand, is to rest against anything, or to be supported_.

=10.= No one is allowed at the firing-point, except the men actually firing, the instructors, and officers. All non-commissioned officers and men not on duty at the firing-point will ground or pile arms, and remain not less than 30 yards in rear of the firing-point. No shouting is allowed; men next to fire will be brought up by signal.

=11. Instruction during Intervals of Firing.=--(i) During intervals of firing an opportunity should be given occasionally to all ranks for revising their impressions as to the visibility of the human figure at short distances, by placing men on the firing-platforms up the range. The study of visibility under conditions of known distance and in relation to targets used for practice in shooting is especially valuable.

(ii) Those men who are not actually engaged in firing should receive instruction in ground reconnaissance, use of the eyes, use of field-glasses, range-finding, and description of ground, while waiting behind the firing-point.

=12. Field-Glasses.=--Field-glasses or telescopes will be carried by all officers and section commanders. The men should be encouraged to use them during spare time on the range.

=13. Condition of Sights.=--The sights will be used as issued, without alteration of any kind. They may not be blackened; the browning is renewed by an armourer when required. No additions, marking, or colouring, are permitted, nor are orthoptics allowed.

=14. Observation Practices.=--The change which takes place in conditions of shooting when there is no signalling of each shot is not always appreciated, and it is essential that the importance of the first application of fire should be realized. Troops, therefore, which are unable to fire field practices should fire some at least of the instructional practices without signalling. Such practices are called “observation practices.” The targets should be placed on the face of the stop-butt or at the foot of the gallery-bank, and may with advantage be falling or collapsible targets.

=15. Precautions.=--To guard against accidents, the following orders will be observed:

(i) No firing will take place until a large red danger-flag
is hoisted on the signal-staff at or near the butts, and the
necessary look-out men posted.

(ii) A smaller red danger-flag will be hoisted at the butts as a
warning to cease fire. This flag will remain exposed during the
entire period of cessation of fire, and will not be withdrawn
until the whole of the butt party is under cover. No one will
leave the butts until cessation of fire has been notified from
the firing-point.

(iii) A red flag will be kept raised at the firing-point when no
firing is taking place, and will be lowered only on the order of
the senior officer. This order will not be given until the flag
at the butts has been withdrawn.

(iv) Aiming or snapping during target practice may only take
place from the firing-point after the red flag has been lowered.

Section =59=.--Surplus Ammunition and Computation of Averages.

1. =Surplus Ammunition.=--The rounds shown as “surplus” in Tables A and B will be distributed primarily by commanding officers for the following purposes:

(i) Repetition firing, as prescribed in the tables.

(ii) Fifteen rounds per man to be expended by company commanders
for further training of indifferent shots.

(iii) The further training of recruits.

(iv) Fire-direction practices.

(v) The testing of rifles when necessary.

(vii) Occasional shots on the rifle-range (Sec. 58, para. 8).

(vii) Ten rounds per man who commences the course for voluntary
practice.

(viii) Any surplus available after the above requirements have
been fulfilled will be distributed to companies for general
practice. It is not to be used for practice for competitions.

=2. Computation of Averages.=--The best shot of each squadron or company will be determined by his aggregate score in Part III. Averages made by companies in each of the classification practices will be calculated to one place of decimals, and published in regimental orders. Only the scores of those officers, non-commissioned officers, and men who completed a practice will be included in the numbers by which the total points made in that practice are divided. Points made by casuals (see footnote to Sec. 63) will be included at the end of the year, and fresh averages struck. The sum of the averages of the practices of Part III. will be termed the “company average” in classification practices.

Section =60=.--Conditions of Qualification

=1.= The conditions for qualification in Part I., Table B, are:

A score of not less than 15 in each of Practices 1 and 4, and a
total of not less than 45 in Practices 2, 3, 5, and 6.

=2.= Those who fail to reach any of these standards will, after firing Practices 7 to 14, repeat those practices of Part I. in which they failed, until the standard is attained or a third failure is recorded. They will omit Practices 15, 16, and 17. Those who fail to reach all the standards after two repetitions of those practices in which they failed will be classified as Third-Class shots, and will not fire