The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-15
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TEACHING Them T0SHO0T
How Such Excellent Marksmen Are
Turned Out by Uncle Sans
Soldiers.
livery Man in the Company Must
Practice Under Competent
Instructors.
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superior 10 the indian at Any Range
Kit Carson's Comment Is Now Not
Applicable.

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Good shots there were in plenty, but not
10 q result OF governments education in that
direction. Only a small amount Of ammuni-
tion was allowed for the purpose OF target
practice. and if a ompany was noted as be-
inR composed of '.Rood Shots" IT was the
result OF the COMPANY commander's work
In that direction.
Now all Is different. Under the present
Eystem no option is given, unless excused
BY 4 medical officer and then the certif-
cate must form a part of the mans record;
avery man belonging to a company must
become as proficient a ma=ksman as con-
stant practice can make him.
In the years OF search for the best meth
DDS, certain positions have been found to
give the best results when used by the ma
iority Of men, and such positions have
been adopted by the army and are taught
as part of the regular instructions; up to
300 yards the position is standing; then
comes the kneeling position, and at 800
comes the lying-down position prone
head to the target.
All these positions are taught the men in
the barracks before the outdoor season
commences, and at the same time other
preliminary drills are commenced; the rifle
is placed on a fixed rest, and the recruit,
without touching il. sights over the barrel
and directs the marker who stands at the
target. The marker stands with a stick. to
the end of which is attached q card with a
small black spot marked upon it, and
through the center of the black spot is n
little hole large enough to admit the end of
q lead pencil sharpened to q point.
The gun is sighted on the target, which
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the recruit, without touching tho gun. looks
over the sights and directs the marker to
move the black spot on the card, which is
laid against the target, up or down or side
ways, until he has. as he thinks, gotten the
two sights and the black mark or bullseye,
marker puts the end of the lead pencil
through the hole in the center of
the bullseye and makes a dot on
the paper. This gives the mans first aim;
he tries three times. the bulleye be-
ing moved away from the center each time,
and the variation of the three aims give the
accuracy of the mans aim and shows him
where his particular error is, and then he
is shown how to pull the trigger without
disturbing the aim.
So by gradual steps he is brought up to the
indoor gallery practice. in which the service
rifle is used. but with a greatly reduced
charge. Here the man is perfected in the
actual use of his rifle and prepared for the
practice on the range with the service
charge.
Then comes the estimating distance drill.
This is one of the most important prelimi-
nary drills; for no matter how mnch care
may have been taken in teaching the SOL
dier how to hold himself and his gun, to
use his sights intelligently, and to pull the
trigger without disturbing his aim. it is all
practically useless in individual firing in
the field If he cannot gauge with aplroxi-
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iect he wishes to hit with his bullet.
In this estimating distance drill every
man is taught to make comparisons of
familiar objects, such as q man, at different
distances. Men are posted at different dis
tances from 100 to 1000 yards toward the
dark backgrounds. and each soldier notes
the differing effects. The practice is kept
mp till the men are good judges of distance
under any conditions of atmosphere. Those
who find it difficult to judge distances are
not exercised at 1t over 600 yards, while
rately determining distances up to and over
1900.
Next comes practice or the target range
with service ammunition, at known dis
tances. The men are divided into three
classes, recruits. second season men and
courses. The men here fire individually
up to 800 yards.
Then comes the firing at s~ilhouettes rep
xesenting men standing up, lying down and
kneeling; in this. the distances are not
known, the firing line starting from q
point about 600 yards from the ~silhouettes
and approaching to within a little less than
200 feet, making ten halts, five adj
vancing and five in retreat, the
movement being part in quick
time and part at the double. While NOV
ing at the double, the bugle sounds ''Skir-
mishers, halt!' Immediately followed by
Commence fringr!' When the sights are
adjusted the man takes his position for
firing, and fires the number Of shots al
lowed; the time given to do this in is thirty
seconds, the bugle sounding the "Cease
6ringm SO that the last note sounds at the
expiration of the thirty seconds, when all
firing ceases. This is repeated for each of
the ten halts. Then the bullet holes in
the silhouettes are counted and the eff
cacy of the fire determined.
This drill combines many of the condi-
tions of field service. At the signal to halt
and m firing a man may find him
self in a depression of the ground that pre-
vents his seeing the target, or on lying
down to hre the grass may obscure his aim
ana he will have to change his place or
position: in either case he loses some of the
thirty seconds allowed him, and is rendered
unsteady.
Some men never can become rood shots.
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get, becoming excited when conditions
vary. Another class are VIGOROUSLY I'M
certain target shots. but unsrring game
shots and successful hunters.
A curious incident revealed unsuspecting
qualities in an officer who had an excellent
target reeo'd. 1t was at a frontier fort.
One of the government mules was found to
be suffering from CHAMBERS and was, of
course, ordered to be shot to prevent tho
spread of the disease. The officer men.
toned, although in the midst OF a hunting
country, had never killed any game,
Desiring to test his ability he offered to
shoot the animal, and taking his rifle
and ammunition he sailed 70. th,
Whether his heart failed him at the
critical moment. OF whether the mule hvp-
Noticed him, has always been an open cues
tion-certain 1t Is that after the sound of
repeated rifle shots had attracted onIonk-
ers, the officer WAS seen going away from
the mule. which unhurt WAS wonderinply
regarding the dieturber of it's peace, II il
said that the sergeant of the guard, who
later fired the shot that despatched the
mule. found 1t in tears, presumably-as 1t
was an army mule-on account of the bad
workmanship 1T had been forced to witness.
After the individual practice ia completed
comes the yolley and firing at sill, and this
CLOSES the instruction except in the case of
those armed with the revolver. who are
given practice both mounted and dis
mounted. The horses are trained also. and
the test practice is always held at full gal
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