Marksmanship Questions for a Marine Corps Instructor

[cmhicksusmc]

Hello Everyone!

MODS sticky this if necessary and useful.

I've noticed that over the course of creeping around the Threadz that many of our brethren have a lot of questions. While I’m not the most knowledgeable person in regards to Cigars I pride myself on knowing as much as humanly possible about Marksmanship and Firearms in General.

Here’s a little about my background and experience in the Marksmanship field. My passion began when I entered the Marine Corps in 2006. I had little experience with firearms up to that point (just the basic redneck Florida Kentucky windage Beer can volley). Upon entering the Marine Corps I realized that while I didn’t have much of a passion for doing wild meaningless tasks I had a true passion for Marksmanship. In Boot Camp at Parris Island many recruits always looked up to their drill Instructors for inspiration and knowledge but I always envied the range coaches, PMIs (Primary Marksmanship Instructors), and Gunners (Chief Warrant Officer, Bursting bomb Insignia). I learned as much as possible from them and in turn was awarded Company high shooter for 3rd recruit training Battalion, Lima Company Platoon 3072. I was awarded a promotion right out of Boot Camp as an E-2, PFC. Thus the Passion Truly Took over My Life!

After Boot Camp I attended MOS school my job being Supply Administration 3043. But no matter how much I learned my heart just wasn’t in it. All I could think about was shooting every second of every day. I read constantly about techniques and physics behind every aspect of my addiction. After getting stationed in Kaneohe at Marine Corps Base Hawaii I spent countless hours at the ISMT (Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer) learning as much as I could from my senior Marines. After fighting every inch to attend the 4 week Range coach's course I got accepted and attended at Pu'uloa Range training facility in Ewa Beach. My knowledge grew but I wasn’t content when there was so much more to learn. So after my first deployment to Afghanistan I returned and got granted my wish of attending PMI course and becoming one of the Marines I looked up to so much!

I attended PMI course which was more a public speaking "how to train Marines" course, but there our instructor changed my life. A man named Keith Sanderson a multiple Olympic Gold Medalist at Beijing and recipient of several awards including triple distinguished and international competition awards. I learned so much under his tutelage that I eventually became active in the Marine Corps Competition scene.

To keep from boring you with too many details here are some of my awards:

-Ranked in top 50 Marine Corps Pacific Division in M16 service rifle, M9 service pistol, and service Colt 1911 .45

-Marine Corps Base Hawaii Shooting team member for regular season and summer team

-Recipient of the Finn and Smith trophies for Marksmanship Excellence

-Primary Marksmanship Instructor qualified as well as Federal Small Arms
Weapons Instructor and Department of Defense Combat Marksmanship Trainer

-Several Bronze/Silver Medals in both Pistol and Rifle in Division Matches

-Attended Camp Perry twice for Marine Corps Championships as a representative of Marine Corps Base Hawaii

-6 LEG points away from Distinguished Rifle

-10 LEG points away from Distinguished Pistol

Sorry for the long biography but if anyone has any questions about absolutely anything in regards to Marksmanship fire away:rifleaim:. If I don’t know then ill ask my mentor. I also have an unholy amount of Power Points, books, articles, videos, lectures etc. on the subject of Marksmanship. Everything from fundamentals to combat mindset and its effects both physically and mentally and ballistics. Just ask and ye shall receive!

 

[cmhicksusmc]

Oh, I almost forgot...Bear in mind that I am currently in Afghanistan at the moment with limited computer access. All I ask is that you give me ample time to respond and I promise ill answer your questions as quick and thoroughly as humanly possible.

 

[cmhicksusmc]

I guess noone has any questions or is seeking advice at all...:dunno:

 

[Hot_Sauce]

I'm sure I'll have some questions in the near future. But can't think of any right now. I'll be sure to look you up when I do though.

Thanks for offering this to us.

 

[cmhicksusmc]

Ok,

I figured I'd start this monster off. I've recieved many questions from my fellow Marines as well as your passerby soldiers and civilian contractors. The question is:

"How does traditional range firing compare to actual combat situations? Furthermore how does it prepare us for an actual COMBAT engagement?"

First off I am a firm believer that the range is absolutely 100% necessary for all service members to participate in regardless of MOS. I feel that too much emphasis is placed on being physically fit (ie. going to the gym) when almost all commands care is focused on annual range qualification. Military members need as much time around their weapon as they do around weights and pounding the asphalt. Too many times the range personnel are regarded as the black sheep of the battalion and arent given their due credit. (Sorry I needed to vent...)

So in addressing the question the first and most rational response to the question is Muscle Memory. Wikipedia defines this as:

"Muscle memory, has been used synonymous with motor learning, which is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition. When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems."

We tracking so far?

Now as much as someone can engage a piece of paper a definitive distance away it is far different from engaging a living breathing objective under an unimaginable amount of stress and i will explain now why this differs so drastically.

Here is the actual application of this:

Overall Objective
Effectively engage the enemy on the battlefield using the fundamentals of marksmanship

Elements of Combat Marksmanship
Platform
Grip
Aiming
Trigger Control
Follow Through


Platform:
basic warrior stance.
feet, hips, and torso.
lean forward. (into your shot while still maintaing sight alignment and sight picture)
Grip:
high firm handshake grip.
finger and thumb placement.
grip of the hand guards
Aiming:
0-2/RCO sight.

sight alignment.
definition:Sight alignment is the relationship between the front sight post and the rear aperture.
A sight alignment error will cause a misplaced shot.
Distance will increase the error.



sight picture.
definition:Sight picture is the placement of the front sight post in relation to a target while maintaining sight alignment.

Correct sight alignment, but improper sight picture, will cause a missed shot





Trigger control:
definition: The skillful manipulation of the trigger from front to rear without disturbing sight alignment and sight picture.
trigger press.
quick trigger recovery

Effective use of sights.
conscious thought.

Effective use of trigger.
subconscious thought (achieved through repetition and muscle memory)

Follow through:
Two sight pictures for any engagement.
Settle your sights, prepare for follow on shots.
Weapon is ready to fire, finger is on the trigger.
Follow the target to the ground (if on the ground).

This is of course a very brief overview of the action being taken and its elements.

Now the most confusing and arguably the most important aspect of being in a combat situation is the Chemical and physical manifestations of this stress placed on your body and mind. we will call this the COMBAT MINDSET.

Physical and mental responses:

Increased heart and respiratory rate:
Nausea.

Chemical cocktail:
Adrenaline + endorphins = shaking, clumsiness, slowness.
Pupils dilate and both eyes open wide.
Tunnel vision.

Tachypsychia: slow motion time/space distortion.
Auditory exclusion.
Precognition.
Conflicting memories.


Ok so back to the initial question. "How does traditional range firing compare to actual combat situations? Furthermore how does it prepare us for an actual COMBAT engagement?"
In reality anything you are familiar with you will be more comfortable and effective in the application of those things. like driving home from work you dont necessarily think about every turn your going to make to get home you just subconsciously and instinctively know. the same holds true for marksmanship. the more you sweat/train in peace, the less you bleed in war.

Truthfully no amount of training can prepare you for the stresses and intensity of actual combat. everyones response is different and no matter what the end result you emerge a different person forever transformed by your experiences. the point is to make you military or not an effective and well trained operator and proficient "dealer of death". I mean fun because everyone knows shooting is just plain old fashioned fun.:rifleaim:

 

[cmhicksusmc]

This of course is just the tip of the iceberg and Combat Marksmanship/Mindset 101 for Marines. If clarification is needed i encourage questions to be asked and of course there is no such thing as a dumb question.

 

[jjon90]

You might want to cover zeroing in the rifle as well..:rifleaim:

 

[NCost]

And one persons zero isn't anothers.

 

[cmhicksusmc]

And one persons zero isn't anothers.

very true!

ill cover zeroing once im back in Hawaii being in transit blows hard! Ive been stuck in Bishkek, Kygyzstan for like 5 days now and our flight keep getting pushed back:argh:

 

[Patrick B]

Great reading so far, thanks for taking the time to post this.

 

[orangedog]

Great reading so far, thanks for taking the time to post this.

no joke... I'm going to own everyone on COD now!

but seriously, thanks for the effort on this. looking forward to more.

 

[cmhicksusmc]

Zeroing-

One aspect that tends to get everyone all worked up and cause rampant debate within the Marksmanship community is Zeroing. Zeroing in relation to Marksmanship is defined as the following for the 3 separate types:

True Zero- The sight settings to place a single shot, or center of shot group, in a pre-designated location on a target at a specific range other than 300 meters / yards, from a specific position, under ideal weather conditions.

Zero- Sight settings to place a single shot or the center of a shot group in a pre-designated location on a target at a specific range, from a specific position, under specific weather conditions.

BattleSight Zero (BZO)- The sight settings to place a single shot, or center of a shot group, in a pre-designated location, on a target at 300 meters / yards, under ideal weather conditions.




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Due to the variation in sighting systems throughout the world of Marksmanship (ie. Iron Sights, RCO, ACOG, CCO, EoTech, etc.) there is not one finite way to describe how to effectively zero a weapon system. These are the only the basics and i will focus primarily on the Marine Corps Service rifle/carbine through the use of Iron Sights and RCO.

Iron Sights


FRONT SIGHT:
TO RAISE TURN CLOCKWISE.
TO LOWER TURN COUNTER CLOCKWISE


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REAR SIGHT:


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Windage and Elevation rules

FRONT SIGHT ELEVATION:
1 CLICK OF FRONT SIGHT ELEVATION WILL MOVE THE STRIKE OF THE ROUND 1 ¼ INCHES AT 100 YDS FOR THE M16A2/A4, 2 INCHES FOR THE M4.
REAR SIGHT ELEVATION:
1 CLICK OF REAR SIGHT ELEVATION WILL MOVE THE STRIKE OF THE ROUND 1 INCH AT 100 YDS FOR THE M16A2, ½ INCH FOR THE M16A4/M4.
WINDAGE KNOB:
1 CLICK OF WINDAGE WILL MOVE THE STRIKE OF THE ROUND ½ AN INCH AT 100 YDS FOR THE M16A2/A4, ¾ INCH FOR THE M4.

Steps for Zeroing (Iron Sights)
FRONT SIGHT POST:
FLUSH WITH HOUSING
REAR ELEVATION KNOB:
CLOCKWISE UNTIL 8/3 (OR 6/3 FOR M16A4 & M4) ALIGNS WITH MARK
WINDAGE KNOB:
INDEX LINE ALIGNS WITH INDEX MARK

SLING, PRONE POSITION, & STABILIZE.
FIRE 3 SHOT GROUP THEN:
TRIANGULATE & DETERMINE CLICKS TO CENTER OF TARGET FOR BOTH ELEVATION AND WINDAGE.
REPEAT PROCESS UNTIL GROUP IS CENTERED.
(4) SHOT GROUP TO CONFIRM ZERO.
WRITE DOWN BZO.

FACTORS THAT CAUSE A WEAPON’S ZERO TO CHANGE:
MAINTENANCE.
TEMPERATURE.
CLIMATE.
ELEVATION.
UNIFORM.

FACTORS EFFECTING ACCURACY OF BZO:
SEVEN COMMON FACTORS
STABILITY OF HOLD
SLING TENSION
TRIGGER CONTROL
SIGHT PICTURE

RCO-

AN / PVQ-31 Zeroing at 36 yards –Battle Sight Zero (BZO):
To acquire a Battle Sight Zero for the AN / PVQ-31 at 36 yards (30 meters), use the tip of the 300 meter aiming point to acquire Point of Aim / Point of Impact.
NOTE: This is a BZO only. Confirm zero at 100 meters as soon as possible.


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REMEMBER 9 CLICKS=1 INCH

AN / PVQ-31 Zeroing at 100m -(preferred method):
When zeroing the AN / PVQ-31 at 100 meters, the tip of illuminated chevron is used to acquire the Point of Aim / Point of Impact. This method ensures maximum accuracy out to 800 meters utilizing the Bullet Drop Compensator.


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REMEMBER 3 CLICKS=1 INCH



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Now this might be a little confusing at first thats why i open the floor:



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QUESTIONS!