Post by Frank on Jul 4, 2014 10:51:04 GMT -5
Fundamentals of Combat Marksmanship (CMMS)
1. Stance
2. Grip
3. Sight alignment
4. Sight picture
5. Trigger manipulation
6. Follow thru
7. Recovery
Stance
The stance that the shooter takes is more or less a common fighting stance that allows maximum mobility and agility. A standard fighting stance used in the fist fight will work perfectly for the shooting stance. The stance is a balance front to rear where the weight of the body is divided evenly . The feet are basically shoulder width apart and slightly offset with the strong side foot back and the weak foot forward. The weight of the upper body is leaned forward at the waist and the knees are slightly bent to allow the weight of the body to be lowered. The arms are rolled over the shoulders and allow the back to be slightly rolled over. The stance must allow maximum mobility so the weight is centered on the balls of the feet and the shooter must stay light on his feet like a boxer. Ready to move in any direction.
There are three qualities a stance must provide no matter what position the shooter is firing from.
Balance
Mobility
Stability
The position a shooter fires from depends on the tactical situation. The shooter chooses which position based on the need for each of the above qualities. A sitting position will not have the mobility that a standing position will have, but the standing position does not have the stability a sitting position will have. There will be different levels of these qualities based on position
Grip
(M-4 Rifle)
The grip for a rifle is developed with the strong hand holding the pistol grip in a way that the fingers are evenly applying pressure with all fingers. The thumb is indexed in an upright manner where when needed it can reach the safety and manipulate it on and off. The trigger finger is indexed along side the trigger guard until it is time to mount the trigger. The hand holding the pistol grip is also pulled tightly into the body so that the weapon is pulled tightly into the shoulder. The elbow should be down along side the chest. The weak hand grip is indexed on the foregrip of the rifle at the point that the reach is not overextended and uncomfortable. The hand grabs along or around the foregrip so that it controls the movement of the weapon at the same time pulling the rifle tighter into the shoulder. The forefinger can be pointed forward to index to a target but is not necessary. The amount of pressure between the two hands should be evenly distributed so that the weapon stays centered in the shoulder and body when the weapon is aimed. If the grip is too disproportionate between the hands the weapon will can to the side of the hand that is gripping too much. The amount of pressure should be that of a firm handshake the day you met your girlfriends dad or your boyfriends mother.
Sight alignment
The most important fundamental skill needed for accurate weapons engagement is sight alignment. It is the vertical and horizontal balance of the front sight post in the rear sight aperture. The same amount of light should show thru the sides of the front sight when it is horizontally balanced. The top of the front sight post is balanced in the middle of the rear sight aperture when it is vertically balanced.
Sight picture
The sight picture is the shift of focus from the tgt to the front sight. The target area should be slightly blurred and the front sight should be crystal clear. Once a shooter is skilled enough they should be able to see every finite mistake in the front sight post from scratches in the finish and small nicks in the metal.
Trigger manipulation
Trigger manipulation is the second most important fundamental skill needed for accurate weapon engagement. The trigger must be controlled in a way that it releases the sear when you want it to. The common saying that the gun should surprise you when it fires is as wrong as anything that has ever been said about shooting. The trigger must be moved to the rear in a smooth manner that does not allow the sight alignment to be thrown off the finite point of aim. Once the sear is released the trigger will need to be brought forward and reset in the original starting position. The finger will control the manner that it comes back to position best if it remains in contact with the trigger during and after the weapon fires. Losing contact with the trigger will cause the shooter to over react and possibly lose control of the trigger causing the sight alignment to be thrown off. One control technique is to squeeze the trigger smoothly to the rear and once the sear is released to guide the trigger back to the original start point until you feel and hear the trigger reset “click” . Once that point is reached the trigger is reset and ready to be pressed again for a follow on shot. This technique is the most common way to ensure that the creep and overtravel of the trigger is lessened for trigger manipulation. This is however not the fastest way to manipulate the trigger.
Overtravel is the amount of movement the trigger has after the sear has been released. Generally the trigger will move past the point of release to the frame of the weapon.
Trigger creep is the amount of travel the trigger moves before it engages the sear. Trigger travel is the movement of sear engagement to sear release.
Follow thru
Follow thru is the ability to maintain the fundamentals thru out the complete firing of the projectile from the weapon. Maintaining good sight alignment and trigger manipulation along with all the other fundamentals will ensure that the projectile will hit the tgt where the shooter intended. It is possible for the grip to move and the trigger move the weapon during the firing of the weapon. The most common mistake is the shooter “racing a round to the tgt”. This happens when the shooter does not allow the projectile to leave the barrel before he is looking up off the sights. If the shooter follows thru correctly he will see the round impact the tgt thru the sights. You could say that follow thru is “following the bullet thru the sights and watching it hit the target and confirming the hit thru the sight”. The best way to confirm your follow thru is to get a second sight picture thru the sight once the round is fired.
Recovery
Recovery is the ability to recover from the last shot and hold the sights in order to get the best follow on shot to the tgt. Recovery starts as soon as the projectile leaves the barrel.
1. Stance
2. Grip
3. Sight alignment
4. Sight picture
5. Trigger manipulation
6. Follow thru
7. Recovery
Stance
The stance that the shooter takes is more or less a common fighting stance that allows maximum mobility and agility. A standard fighting stance used in the fist fight will work perfectly for the shooting stance. The stance is a balance front to rear where the weight of the body is divided evenly . The feet are basically shoulder width apart and slightly offset with the strong side foot back and the weak foot forward. The weight of the upper body is leaned forward at the waist and the knees are slightly bent to allow the weight of the body to be lowered. The arms are rolled over the shoulders and allow the back to be slightly rolled over. The stance must allow maximum mobility so the weight is centered on the balls of the feet and the shooter must stay light on his feet like a boxer. Ready to move in any direction.
There are three qualities a stance must provide no matter what position the shooter is firing from.
Balance
Mobility
Stability
The position a shooter fires from depends on the tactical situation. The shooter chooses which position based on the need for each of the above qualities. A sitting position will not have the mobility that a standing position will have, but the standing position does not have the stability a sitting position will have. There will be different levels of these qualities based on position
Grip
(M-4 Rifle)
The grip for a rifle is developed with the strong hand holding the pistol grip in a way that the fingers are evenly applying pressure with all fingers. The thumb is indexed in an upright manner where when needed it can reach the safety and manipulate it on and off. The trigger finger is indexed along side the trigger guard until it is time to mount the trigger. The hand holding the pistol grip is also pulled tightly into the body so that the weapon is pulled tightly into the shoulder. The elbow should be down along side the chest. The weak hand grip is indexed on the foregrip of the rifle at the point that the reach is not overextended and uncomfortable. The hand grabs along or around the foregrip so that it controls the movement of the weapon at the same time pulling the rifle tighter into the shoulder. The forefinger can be pointed forward to index to a target but is not necessary. The amount of pressure between the two hands should be evenly distributed so that the weapon stays centered in the shoulder and body when the weapon is aimed. If the grip is too disproportionate between the hands the weapon will can to the side of the hand that is gripping too much. The amount of pressure should be that of a firm handshake the day you met your girlfriends dad or your boyfriends mother.
Sight alignment
The most important fundamental skill needed for accurate weapons engagement is sight alignment. It is the vertical and horizontal balance of the front sight post in the rear sight aperture. The same amount of light should show thru the sides of the front sight when it is horizontally balanced. The top of the front sight post is balanced in the middle of the rear sight aperture when it is vertically balanced.
Sight picture
The sight picture is the shift of focus from the tgt to the front sight. The target area should be slightly blurred and the front sight should be crystal clear. Once a shooter is skilled enough they should be able to see every finite mistake in the front sight post from scratches in the finish and small nicks in the metal.
Trigger manipulation
Trigger manipulation is the second most important fundamental skill needed for accurate weapon engagement. The trigger must be controlled in a way that it releases the sear when you want it to. The common saying that the gun should surprise you when it fires is as wrong as anything that has ever been said about shooting. The trigger must be moved to the rear in a smooth manner that does not allow the sight alignment to be thrown off the finite point of aim. Once the sear is released the trigger will need to be brought forward and reset in the original starting position. The finger will control the manner that it comes back to position best if it remains in contact with the trigger during and after the weapon fires. Losing contact with the trigger will cause the shooter to over react and possibly lose control of the trigger causing the sight alignment to be thrown off. One control technique is to squeeze the trigger smoothly to the rear and once the sear is released to guide the trigger back to the original start point until you feel and hear the trigger reset “click” . Once that point is reached the trigger is reset and ready to be pressed again for a follow on shot. This technique is the most common way to ensure that the creep and overtravel of the trigger is lessened for trigger manipulation. This is however not the fastest way to manipulate the trigger.
Overtravel is the amount of movement the trigger has after the sear has been released. Generally the trigger will move past the point of release to the frame of the weapon.
Trigger creep is the amount of travel the trigger moves before it engages the sear. Trigger travel is the movement of sear engagement to sear release.
Follow thru
Follow thru is the ability to maintain the fundamentals thru out the complete firing of the projectile from the weapon. Maintaining good sight alignment and trigger manipulation along with all the other fundamentals will ensure that the projectile will hit the tgt where the shooter intended. It is possible for the grip to move and the trigger move the weapon during the firing of the weapon. The most common mistake is the shooter “racing a round to the tgt”. This happens when the shooter does not allow the projectile to leave the barrel before he is looking up off the sights. If the shooter follows thru correctly he will see the round impact the tgt thru the sights. You could say that follow thru is “following the bullet thru the sights and watching it hit the target and confirming the hit thru the sight”. The best way to confirm your follow thru is to get a second sight picture thru the sight once the round is fired.
Recovery
Recovery is the ability to recover from the last shot and hold the sights in order to get the best follow on shot to the tgt. Recovery starts as soon as the projectile leaves the barrel.