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 Part III., but will fire Part VI. if ammunition is available. Special reports will be submitted in the case of men who are found to be incapable of reaching the second class standard in Table B.

Section 61.—Classification Practices and Conditions of Classification.

1. The classification practices should be fired during the most favourable time of year for individual firing. As a man’s pay is affected by these practices, every facility should be given for firing to be carried out under favourable conditions.

2. With the exception of those who are exempted from musketry by the regulations, every man on the strength of his unit on the last of the four days allotted to classification firing will be classified at or before the end of the year.

3. Trained men, not exempted by the regulations, who for any reason do not commence Table B will be classified as Third-Class shots. Those who commence Table B, Part III., but do not complete it, will be classified according to the number of points obtained in those practices which they complete.

4. A note will be made in the Company and Battalion annual returns of the number of men (if any) who are classified without having completed the range practices of Table B.

5. Cavalry and Infantry.—(i) Cavalry and infantry soldiers, if qualified in Part I., will be classified upon their total scores in Part III. as follows:

Those who obtain 130 points and upwards Marksmen.

Those who obtain 105 points and less than 130 First-Class shots.

Those who obtain 50 points in Practices 18 to 22 inclusive, or in the alternative obtain 70 in Part III. Second-Class shots.

Those who for any reason fail to attain the Second-Class standard Third-Class shots.

(ii) Commanding officers will take every opportunity of stimulating all ranks to take an interest in shooting and judging distance by granting indulgences to the most proficient, and by giving prominence to the best shooting company in any manner considered desirable.

(iii) Third-Class shots will not be employed in any capacity which will interfere with their attendance at all parades and instructional duties.

6. Royal Engineers.—The sappers and pioneers of the Royal Engineers (Regular Forces) will fire the following practices:

(i) Table A.—Recruits’ Course Regular Forces (Cavalry, R.E., Infantry), and Special Reserve (R.E., and Infantry), Parts I., II., III., and IV. They will not repeat Part I., nor any practices of Part II., unless they fail to make a total score of 90 points in these practices. Those who fail to obtain 90 points will, after firing Part III., repeat Practices 5 to 12, instead of firing Part IV. Surplus ammunition will be used for the further training of indifferent shots, for testing rifles, or for occasional shots.

(ii) Table B.—Annual Course, Regular Forces (Cavalry, R.E., and Infantry). Parts I., II. (Practices 7, 9, 12, and 14), and III. The qualification standard will be the same as for the cavalry and infantry. Those who fail to qualify in Part I. at the first attempt will proceed with the prescribed practices of Part II. (twenty rounds), and then repeat those practices of Part I. in which they failed. Those who fail twice in any of the standards in Part I. may, provided sufficient ammunition is available out of the authorized annual allowance, repeat those practices in which they failed once more, with a view to qualification. Those who repeat any practices of Part I. will, if they qualify on first or second repetition, fire the whole of Part III., or, failing that, Practices 19, 20, 23, 24, and 25, according to the amount of ammunition available.

(iii) Any man who qualifies in Part I. on the first, second, or third attempt, and completes the practices of Part III., will be classified according to the standards of Part III., but not below Second-Class shot. Those who complete Practices 19, 20, 23, 24, and 25 only will be classified as Second-Class shots, provided they have qualified in Part I.; those who fail in Part I., or who, having qualified in Part I. for any reason do not complete these five practices, will be classified as Third-Class shots. Any ammunition unexpended will form a surplus for further instruction.

7. R.A.M.C. and A.V.C.—Recruits of the R.A.M.C. and A.V.C. will fire Practices 1 to 4, Table B (Royal Artillery, etc.). The following standard will be required:

Practice 1.—All shots in a 12-inch ring. Those who fail to attain this standard will repeat Practice 1 until they do so, or expend the full allowance of ammunition. Ammunition not required for the above practices is to be expended on preliminary training on the 30-yards range, as considered necessary.

Section 62.—Recruits’ Course, Regular Forces, Cavalry, R.E., and Infantry.

1. Part I.—Part I. should be fired intermittently during the latter part of preliminary training, and may be repeated as often as is considered necessary. The conditions may be varied, with the object of removing any particular defects observed in previous shooting.

2. Part II.—On the completion of Part II., recruits will repeat once those practices of Part II. in which they failed to reach the Grouping Standard, or, if they obtain less than 90 points in Part II., they will repeat, once, the whole of Part II. before proceeding to Parts III. to VI.

3. Elementary Field Practices.—Recruits who have completed their course of instruction in range practices will fire elementary field practices before joining their companies in the trained soldiers’ course in order that they may realize the true function of elementary shooting as a means to an end and a preparation for field firing—not as an end in itself.

Section 63.—Execution of Tables A and B in the Same Year.

1. Soldiers of the cavalry, Royal Engineers, and infantry of the Regular Forces who complete Table A will be exercised in the whole of Table B (sappers of the Royal Engineers the prescribed practices only), with their own companies, if possible, in the same year; but their scores in Part III. will not be included in the company or battalion averages. In special cases, which should be exceptional, commanding officers may direct that backward men shall repeat Part II., Table A, instead of firing any portion of Table B in the same year.

2. If Part II., Table B, has been commenced before they are available, they will begin firing at any practice which their companies are executing at the time they become qualified, and will then complete the remainder of the table. If all the companies in the battalion have completed Part II., Table B, before they are available, the brigade commander will decide as to whether they shall be exercised as casuals.28 They will be awarded marksmen’s badges if they attain the necessary standard in Table B. In any case, they will receive such further practice in firing as may be considered by their company commanders to be necessary.

Section 64.—Trained Soldiers’ Course.

1. Object of Range Practices.—Range practices are fired by trained soldiers in order that they may revise their knowledge of elementary and timed shooting before entering upon more advanced practices. Soldiers who have missed the whole or a portion of the range practices and have become available to commence the field practices with their companies may, if they are known to be good shots, be allowed by their commanding officers to execute the field practices, and fire the range practices subsequently.

2. Programme of Instructional Practices.—Considerable latitude is allowed as regards the programme of instructional practices. Officers commanding companies may vary the number of rounds to be fired by individuals, or they may alter the order of the practices in Part II. Officers commanding battalions may, with the approval of general officers commanding brigades, vary the instructional practices in any way calculated to further instruction; but it is not permitted to design practices, or to vary the details of practices in Part II. with the object of assimilating the conditions to those of the classification practices.

3. Uncompleted Practices.—If a man has fired one or more rounds in any range practice, and is prevented from completing it, the points made will not count, and the whole practice will be recommenced when his training is resumed. Every soldier not exempted by Musketry Regulations or by the King’s Regulations will execute the full course of range and field practices yearly.

4. Correction of Sighting.—Correction of sighting in individual firing is rarely possible in war. It is therefore all-important to estimate the elevation and deflection for the first shot. When a reasonable standard of skill in trigger-pressing has been shown in grouping practices, and the principle of application is understood, further practice in deliberate fire should aim at successful application of fire from the first shot, and less importance should be attached to correction of sighting, according to the signalling, of a series of shots.

5. Sighting Shots.—For this reason skilled shots should fire two or three shots at each of several ranges for sighting practice rather than long series of shots at one or two distances. Only a few rounds in all should be devoted in their case to deliberate shooting; a high standard of snapshooting should be developed. Officers and sergeants may fire sighting-shots at ranges beyond 600 yards, but as a rule such training should be reserved for the fire-direction practices.

6. Allowance for Wind.—It is convenient to memorize the effect of right-angle winds at some one distance, as a guide in estimating deflection allowance for winds of similar strength at other distances. Five hundred yards is a satisfactory range for this purpose, and the approximate effect of right-angle winds blowing ten, twenty, and thirty miles per hour may be studied with advantage. The use of elaborate wind-tables, and dependence on flags, telescopes, or sighting-shots, is prohibited.

TABLE A.

RECRUITS’ COURSE—REGULAR FORCES (CAVALRY, ROYAL ENGINEERS, AND INFANTRY).

N.B.—Royal Engineers (Sappers and Pioneers) of the Regular Forces will fire those practices only which are detailed in the Instructions for Royal Engineers (see Sec. 61, para. 6).

Part I.—Instructional Practices (Elementary).

No. Practice. Target. Distance in Yards. Rounds. Instructions for Conduct of Practice.

1 Grouping 2nd Class Elementary (Bull’s-eye) 100 5 Lying, with arm or rifle rested.

2 Application 2nd Class Elementary (Bull’s-eye) 200 5 Lying, with arm or rifle rested.

3 Grouping 2nd Class Elementary (Bull’s-eye) 100 5 Lying.

4 Application 2nd Class Elementary (Bull’s-eye) 200 5 Lying.

Total rounds 20

Part II.—Instructional Practices (Repetition).

5 Grouping 2nd Class Elementary (Bull’s-eye) 100 5 Lying. All shots in 12-inch ring.

6 Application 2nd Class Figure 200 5 Lying, with arm or rifle rested. Five hits, including four within inner (24-inch) ring.

7 Application 2nd Class Figure 200 5 Lying. Five hits within Magpie (36-inch) ring.

8 Application 2nd Class Figure 300 5 Lying. Five hits.

9 Application 1st Class Figure 200 5 Kneeling. Four hits at least within inner (40-inch) ring.

10 Application 1st Class Figure 300 5 Kneeling with arm or rifle rested. Four hits at least within inner (40-inch) ring.

11 Application 1st Class Figure 400 5 Lying. Four hits at least.

12 Application 1st Class Figure 500 5 Lying, with arm or rifle rested.

13 Application 1st Class Figure 500 5 Lying.

14 Application 1st Class Figure 600 5 Lying, with side of rifle only rested.

Total rounds 50

Part III.—Instructional Practices (Timed).

15 Deliberate 2nd Class Figure 200 5 Lying.

16 Deliberate 2nd Class Figure 200 5 Kneeling.

17 Rapid 2nd Class Figure 200 5 Lying. 40 seconds allowed.

18 Deliberate 1st Class Figure 400 5 Lying.

19 Rapid 1st Class Figure 400 5 Lying. 40 seconds allowed.

20 Deliberate 1st Class Figure 500 5 Lying. Taking cover behind stones or sandbags representing a parapet and firing over them.

21 Snapshooting 2nd Class Figure 200 5 Lying. Exposure, 6 seconds for each shot.

22 Snapshooting 2nd Class Figure 200 5 Kneeling. Taking cover in a trench, or behind a screen representing a wall, and firing over the parapet. Exposure, 6 seconds for each shot.

Total rounds 40

Part IV.—Instructional Practices.

23 Grouping 2nd Class Elementary (Bull’s-eye) 100 5 Lying.

24 Application 1st Class Figure 300 5 Kneeling.

25 Rapid 1st Class Figure 300 5 Lying. 40 seconds allowed.

26 Snapshooting 2nd Class Figure 200 5 Lying. Taking cover as in 20. Exposure, 5 seconds for each shot.

27 Application 1st Class Figure 500 5 Lying.

Total rounds 25