Chapter IX: is devoted to “Preliminary Drills; Position and Aiming Drills,”

in which the soldier is trained in all the motions of aiming and firing, snapping the weapon. Exercises are provided for dismounted and mounted soldiers.

Chapters X, XI, and XII prescribe the actual practice shooting with complete rules, regulations, and methods of procedure, together with illustrations and diagrams.

The regulation target practice is divided into two courses: the dismounted course and the mounted course, each of which is separate and complete in itself.

The following schedule shows the general target practice scheme of each course, a score in all cases consisting of five consecutive shots.

TARGET PRACTICE SCHEDULE

DISMOUNTED COURSE

_Instruction Practice_: NO. OF
SHOTS

Slow fire, at 15 and 25 yards, minimum of 1 score at each
range. Target L. Time limit, none. 10

Rapid fire, at 15 and 25 yards, minimum of 2 scores at each
range. Target L. Time, 20 seconds per score. 20

Quick fire, at 15 and 25 yards, minimum of 2 scores at each
range. Target E--Bobbing. Time, 3 seconds per shot at 15
yards; 4 seconds per shot at 25 yards. 20

_Record Practice_:

Rapid fire, at 25 yards, 2 scores. Target L. Time, 20 seconds
for each score 10

Quick fire, at 15 and 25 yards, 2 scores at each range.
Target E--Bobbing. Time, 3 seconds per shot at 15 yards; 4
seconds per shot at 25 yards. 20

_Expert Test_:

Rapid fire, at 50 yards, 1 score. Target L. Time, 30 seconds
per score. 5

Quick fire, at 15 and 25 yards, 1 score at each range. Target
E--Bobbing. Time, 3 seconds per shot at 15 yards; 4 seconds
per shot at 25 yards. 10
--
Total 95

MOUNTED COURSE

_Instruction Practice_:

_Dismounted_--

Slow fire, 15 yards, minimum of 2 scores. Target L. Time
limit, none. 10

Quick fire, 15 yards, minimum of 2 scores. Target M--Bobbing.
Time, 3 seconds per shot. 10

_Mounted_--

Halt; minimum of 2 scores; one to the right and one to the
left. Target M--Bobbing. Range, 10 yards. Time, 3 seconds
per shot. 10

Walk; minimum of 2 scores; one score firing to the right while
moving to the left and one score firing to the left while
moving to the right around the circumference of circle about
12 ft. in diameter tangent to the track at the firing point.
Target M--Bobbing. Range, 10 yards. Time, 3 seconds per shot. 10

Gallop; minimum of 8 scores. Target M. Range, 10 yards. Time
governed by gait of at least 12 miles an hour. 40

[_Note_:--Five M targets are placed 10 yards from the track and
10 yards apart (20 yards apart for the revolver). Each trooper
makes eight circlings of the track (four in each direction)
firing four scores to the right and four to the left.]

_Record Practice_:

Halt; quick fire. Target M--Bobbing. 2 scores 1 to the right,
1 to the left. Range, 10 yards. Time, 3 seconds per shot. 10

Gallop; Target M. Range, 10 and 14 yards. 4 scores--2, firing
to the right while circling to the left; 2, firing to the
left while circling to the right. 20

Time governed by gait of at least 12 miles an hour.

[_Note_:--Three of the five M targets (the first, the center,
and the last targets) of the gallop stage, Instruction Practice,
are set at an angle of 45 degrees to the track, and the trooper
in making the run fires at each of these when facing them at
about 14 yards range. The firing of the full score and the
direction of the shots is therefore as follows: Right front,
right, right front, right, and right rear. In making the left
hand run, two targets are set at an angle and the firing is in
the following order: Left, left front, left, left front, left.]

_Expert Test_:

Halt; 1 score. Five E targets--Bobbing; unknown angles. Range,
8½ to 15 yards. Time, 2 seconds per shot. 5

Gallop; 1 score; group of three M targets. Range, 10 and 14
yards; 3 shots to right advancing and 2 shots to left
returning. Time governed by gait of at least 12 miles per
hour. 5

[_Note_:--Two of the targets are set at an angle as in the gallop
stage. Record Practice, the firing being right front, right, right
rear, in advancing; and left front, left, in returning.]

Gallop, extended; 2 scores. Range, 5 to 15 yards. Time governed
by gait. 10

[_Note_:--Targets arranged as follows: Target F, 5 yards to the
right; 20 yards further along track, Target E, 7 yards to the
right; 30 yards further, Target M, 10 yards to the left; 20 yards
further, Target M, 10 yards to the left; 30 yards further, Target
M, 15 yards to the right. Two runs are made firing at the targets
in the order named.]
---
Total number of shots. 130

_Explanatory Notes, etc._

_Timing_: --Intervals of time are measured from the last note of the signal or command, “Commence firing,” to the last note or word of “Cease firing.”

_Targets_:--Target L is illustrated on page 91. Targets E, F, and M are full size silhouette figures of men in the kneeling, prone and standing positions, respectively. When “bobbing” target is prescribed, it refers to an operating device for turning the targets 90 degrees on a vertical axis by means of ropes. The target is thus made to turn so as to appear edgewise and flatwise from the firing point and remains flatwise or “exposed” for the number of seconds stated in the time limit for each shot, and “turned from view” between shots for an interval of 3 to 5 seconds.

_Procedure_:--In quick fire the soldier stands at the firing point, pistol loaded with 5 cartridges, hammer down (in mounted practice hammer cocked at safe), weapon in holster, flap, if any, buttoned. Upon the first exposure of the target the soldier draws and fires, or attempts to fire, one shot at the target before it is turned from view and keeps the weapon in hand until he has fired five shots at successive exposures of the target to complete the score.

_Qualification Scores_: _Dismounted Course_--Sixty per cent. of the aggregate possible score of the Instruction Practice for advancement to Record Practice and 80 per cent. of the latter for advancement to Expert Test. In Expert Test, 50 out of a possible 60. _Mounted Course_--Fifty per cent. of the aggregate possible score of the Instruction Practice for advancement to Record Practice and 70 per cent. of the latter for advancement to Expert Test. In Expert Test, 13 out of a possible 20.

_Competitions_:--In every alternate year department pistol competitions are held simultaneously with the department rifle competitions at places designated by the department commanders.

ORGANIZED MILITIA TARGET PRACTICE

The prescribed course in effect in 1914 is adapted to the service revolvers. Five shots constitute a score. All shooting is on Target L. The course is divided into Instruction Practice and Record Practice.

_Instruction Practice_:

Slow Fire: Range 15, 25, and 50 yards; one score at each range. Time limit, none.

Rapid Fire: Range 15, 25, and 50 yards; two scores at each range. Time limit, 30 seconds per score.

Rapid Fire: Range 15 and 25 yards; two scores at each range. Time limit, 15 seconds per score.

_Record Practice_:

Rapid Fire: Range 25 and 50 yards; two scores at each range. Time limit, 30 seconds per score.

Rapid Fire: Range 15 and 25 yards; two scores at each range. Time limit, 15 seconds per score.

The rules, regulations, and procedure are the same as those governing the U. S. Army practice.

Qualification scores are as follows out of a possible 400: Second classman, 250; first classman, 300, and expert pistol shot, 320. Insignia badges and pins are awarded to those qualifying.

U. S. NAVY TARGET PRACTICE REGULATIONS

The revolver practice in the U. S. Navy consists of three classes, designated the Marksman’s Course, the Sharpshooter’s Course, and the Expert Pistol Shot’s Special Course. Each course is subdivided into “Instruction Practice” and “Record Practice.”

All shooting in the Marksman’s and Sharpshooter’s courses is done on Target A, which is a rectangle 6 ft. high by 4 ft. wide, with a circular black bull’s-eye 8 in. in diameter, counting 5, and concentric circles of count with diameters as follows: 4 ring, 26 in.; 3 ring, 46 in.; 2 rectangle, rest of target. Target L is used in the Expert Course.

MARKSMAN’S COURSE (SLOW FIRE)

_Instruction Practice_:

At least 1 string of 6 shots, each range: 25 yds., 50 yds.; no time limit.

_Record Practice_:

At least 1 string of 6 shots, each range: 25 yds., 50 yds.; time limit, 5 minutes.

SHARPSHOOTER’S COURSE (RAPID FIRE)

_Instruction Practice_:

6 shots, each range: 25 yds., 50 yds.; time limit, 30 seconds per score.

_Record Practice_:

6 shots, each range: 25 yds., 50 yds.; time limit, 30 seconds per score.

EXPERT PISTOL SHOT’S SPECIAL COURSE

_Instruction Practice_:

Slow Fire: 6 shots, each range: 15 yds., 25 yds., 50 yds. No time limit.

Timed Fire: One score of 5 shots, each range: 15 yds., 25 yds., 50 yds. Time limit, 30 seconds for each score.

Rapid Fire: Two scores of 5 shots, each range: 15 yds., 25 yds. Time limit, 10 seconds for each score.

_Record Practice_:

Timed Fire: Two scores of 5 shots, each range: 25 yds., 50 yds. Time limit, 30 seconds for each score.

Rapid Fire: Two scores of 5 shots, each range: 15 yds., 25 yds. Time limit, 10 seconds for each score.

Qualification scores are 80 per cent. of the possibles of each course.

In rapid fire practice the timing is done at the target. On a signal that all is ready at the firing point, the target appears and remains exposed during the time limit, then disappears.

In addition to the above regulation practice, the men are put through a thorough preliminary course of position, sighting, and aiming drill.

The more expert men are given advanced practice in snap, double-action, and left-hand shooting, also firing alternately at targets at different distances and at floating objects at unknown distances.

Excellent practical suggestions and information is contained in Chapter V, devoted to Pistol Practice, in “The Landing Force and Small Arms Instructions,” edition 1911.