BEYOND BLASTING BEER CANS... REAL RIFLERY!

DATELINE: Butt Butte, MT.

rd
The 123 Disorganized Montana Militia held its bi-annual rifle
marksmanship qualification. The three members, self-dubbed the “A-
Team”, under the command of Obergruppenfuhrer Bubba McCoy,
gathered behind the county dump to ready themselves for the coming
battle with the evil Blue Helmets. Targets [beer cans] were engaged
at ranges from 15 to 25 yards, off-hand position, rapid fire. The elite
array of firepower, including a Mosin-Nagant, a single-shot break-
action H&R .410 shotgun and a Marlin .22 semi-auto, devastated the
enemy in what Bubba called a realistic representation of the
Normandy Landings. The operation was deemed a great success,
and the A-Team began preparations for the next shoot by emptying
plenty of more targets.

Well, if you’re actually serious about learning to be a real rifleman,

your first step NEEDS to be attending an Appleseed. I didn’t learn
anything all that great in the Army, and we shot only 40 rounds a year
to qualify. You zeroed (or in some cases merely tried to) your M16A1
at 25 meters, then fired 20 rounds from a sandbagged foxhole and 20
rounds from the prone at pop-up targets out to 300 meters. You could
actually miss every single 300 meter target and still qualify. Not that
this helped a lot of folks. No, zero, nada, zip marksmanship training
was conducted past basic training. Bad habits remained bad, and
poor marksmanship remained poor.

This is why I’m such an advocate of the Appleseed Program. Even

the weekend shoots teach you to do it right from the ground up and
can be a quite humbling to people who think they’re crack shots and
even to veterans and law enforcement personnel. If you can manage
to squeeze in the week-long Appleseed Boot Camp shoot, you will
come out as the finest form of rifleman (or woman). It’s time well
spent, you’ll be much better for it, and your shooting buddies won’t
believe what you can do.

You could do a whole helluva lot worse than shooting an Appleseed

for an annual or bi-annual rifle qualification. As Fred asks, “Are you a
cook or a rifleman?” I did get my rifleman patch, but my score at one
Appleseed made me think I should brush up on my Dutch oven
cooking.

Then, when you take an Appleseed Boot Camp or get to scoring real
well and think you’re real hot stuff, take a look at some of these
training exercises.
 Rifle Ten

The first test is Jeff Cooper’s Rifle Ten. This not only tests your
shooting but your physical condition and, since you are advancing
towards the enemy, imbues you with a great deal more offensive
spirit than sitting in a foxhole shooting from a sandbag.

The target used is the IPSC Option Target; a cheap substitute could
consist of home-made man-sized silhouette target (delivery pizza
boxes work great) with a 10-inch paper plate affixed dead center. You
would, of course, paint the plate the same color as the silhouette,
right? The improvised target would require another circle around the
plate and/or scoring might have to be adjusted a bit. The individual
targets are placed at 200, 225, 250, 275 and 300 yards.

The shooter starts at the 300 yard firing line, standing, loaded as he
would like to be, not looped up with a sling if he uses one, and any
bipod folded. When the whistle blows, the shooter goes into whatever
position he chooses, and fires two rounds at the target.
Without any further signals, he springs to 275, fires two rounds from
the position of his choice, then again at 250 and 225. He must fire the
last two rounds at 200 yards’ range from the standing position.

Hits in the 10-ring count five points, in the outer ring four points, and
on the paper two points, for a maximum possible score of 50 points.
The rifleman (versus the cook) time for all the shooting and running is
around two minutes. Cooper said anyone who can score 40 points
and run the course inside of 2 minutes is a “good shot”. I would have
to say you rate a helluva lot better than that.

I’ve only tried this once and didn’t come close. I got some decent hits
from the prone, but I had to take a long time to concentrate and
squeeze off good shots. Especially after the first couple of sprints.
You will be amazed at how quickly you start breathing hard and your
blood starts racing. By the time you waddle up to that 200 yard off-
hand shot, you’re panting like a steer, and wobbling all over the
place.

There now, wasn’t that easy?

This first series of shooting exercises comes from the WWII British
Army rifle training manual. The weapon used was the legendary
SMLE, Short Magazine Lee-Enfield. There was a saying at the end of
WWI that the German Mauser was the best hunting rifle, the
American Springfield was the best target rifle, but the British Enfield
was the best combat rifle.

If Tommy Atkins could do this in 1940 with his SMLE, can you do it
today with your state-of-the-art glass-sighted semi-auto uber
sturmgewehr?

The following practices are given as a guide:--

Practice 1.—Firing and observing

No, of rounds.—5.
Targets.—Collapsible; iron falling plates are the ideal target, tiles or
bricks, 5 for each firer, placed at irregular distances and intervals.
Range.—Between 200 and 300 yards.
Lessons.—Mutual assistance.
Observation of fire.
All points of weapon training.
Method of conducting.—Men work in pairs, under battle
conditions, as firer and observer, changing round.
Points of criticism.—Points of elementary training. Observation
of fire. Observation must be exact.
General notes.—It is an advantage if the plates can be
concealed by bushes, etc. These may be pulled away by
strings as required. The device will give exercise in quick
observation.

Practice 2.—Endurance and quick firing

No. of rounds.—5.
Targets.—Any suitable figure target, preferably Fig. 4A, exposed over
or around a piece of cover.
Range.—About 200 yards.
Lessons.—
Concentration.
Quick accurate shooting.
Method of Conducting.—The targets will be exposed fives times over
a period of five minutes. Each exposure of five seconds. The last
exposure to be in the last half minute. Two exposures to be in quick
succession, i.e. three second interval. A small pit or suitable piece of
cover for the marker is required.
General notes.—The firer should be given a small area of ground to
keep under observation and the targets exposed at different places.

Practice 3.—Attack
No. of rounds.—10.
Targets.—Two figures 2 and two figures 4A (or other suitable figures)
per firer.
Range.—From 400 to 200 yards.
Lessons.—
Accuracy of fire after movement.
Judging distance.
Sight setting and all points of weapons handling.
Method of conducting.—Four figures will be exposed and the firer will
engage them from wherever he wants.
Time limit.—Three minutes to fire the 10 rounds. Targets will drop
when hit.
General notes.--
This practice must be on an individual basis as it will not
be possible to fire as a detail.
A small pit or suitable piece of cover is necessary for the
markers. If this is not possible the targets must be fixed
and a limit placed on the number of rounds to be fired
at each target.

Practice 4.—The stalker

No. of rounds.—5.
Targets.—Any suitable figure—figure 4A preferably, placed in battle
positions, firing round cover, from tree, etc.
Range.—Not exceeding 250 yards.
Lessons.—
Use of ground.
Accurate shooting after an advance under arduous conditions.
Method of conducting.—If markers’ pit is available, the figure
target will be exposed for a suitable period and lowered when hit. The
stalker will have the enemy pointed out to him from a position in rear,
which necessitates his stalking forward about 100 yards in order o be
certain of a shot to kill.
Points for criticism.—
Fieldcraft.
Fire positions selected.
 Care of arms when advancing.
Fire effect.
All points of weapon training.
General notes.—
(a) The time limit will be dependent on the length and
difficulty of the advance.
(b) If a pit or other suitable cover exists at the target
position the stalker may be kept under observation
throughout by means of a periscope. A round of ball or
blank should be fired whenever he is seen.

The ATOM Manual

I have never seen good shooting and practicing for good shooting so
emphasized as in the British ATOM (Anti-Terrorist Operations
Malaya) manual for Commonwealth Forces fighting there.

Short Range Shooting.—The importance in Malaya of the quick

deadly accurate shot has already been emphasized. Continual
practice will be required on:--
The Malayan Range.
 The Jungle Lane.
The Ambush Range.

Malayan Range.—The aim of the Malayan Range is to

shoot in the standing position. To perfect the soldier for jungle the
standing and kneeling positions at fleeting moving targets. Every
company must have a range where firing can be carried out at ranges
up to 100 yards. The range should be constructed under trees to
reproduce the normal operational shooting light. In order to carry out
timed practices at snap or moving targets, there must be a trench in
which markers can move and present targets with safety. The
alternative is a system of pull-up, and moving targets operated by
wire. The trench system is by far the best, because it is a more
reliable way of presenting targets; and because it allows more
variation in placing them. Figure 1 shows a lay-out for Malayan
Range.

X..........X........X.......X.......A
X..........X........X.......X.......B
100 yd 75 yd 50 yd 25 yd

Such a lay-out enables two practices to be carried out

simultaneously: one at stationary targets at A, and one at snap or
moving targets B. Both practices must be fired at the same range,
and checking and pasting are done at the same time. The trench
need not be straight but can zigzag in order to allow targets to appear
in unexpected places. Details of the practices to be carried out are
given in Appendix A.

Appendix A
Malayan Range—Practices
Rifle [#5 Jungle Carbine, SLR (FAL), or M1/M2 carbine]

Practice 1
Grouping.—5 rounds. Fig 11 target [man-size silhouette] with a
1-inch square patch as aiming mark. Standard required 4-inch group.
(One-inch squares? Four-MOA? Sounds like an Appleseed!) HPS
[Highest Possible Score] 25.
Practice 2
 Timed.—5 rounds. Fig. 11 target with rectangles 2-in. x 4-in., 4-
in. x 6-in. inscribed in centre of target. Time 15 seconds. Scoring
4,3,2. [4 points in smallest rectangle, 3 points in larger rectangle, 2
points elsewhere on the target] HPS 20.
Practice 3
Snap.—10 rounds. Five differently coloured Fig. 11 targets. Ten
4 second exposures (reduced to 2 seconds as proficiency increases).
Firer engages a colour as ordered by the instructor and fires one
round each time a target is named. Scoring 3,2. HPS 30.
Practice 4
Snap.—10 rounds. Fig. 12 target with 6-in. circle inscribed in
centre of target. Ten 4 second exposures (reduced to 2 seconds
proficiency increases). One shot each exposure. Scoring 3, 2. HPS
30.
Practice 5
Moving Targets.—5 rounds. Length of run 15 yards. Target
appears at walking speed. Firer engages with one shot and target
breaks into running speed. Firer then fires 1 or 2 more shots. This
process is repeated on the return run of the target. Scoring 3, 2. HPS
15.

NOTES

a. Total number of rounds 35

HPS 120
b. Practices should initially be carried out at 25 yards, and
increased up to 100 yards as proficiency increases.
c. In practices 3 and 5, Fig. 11 targets will be marked with two
lines 6-in. apart, forming a “vital area” 6-in. wide down the center of
the target from top to bottom. Scoring—3 points per hit in the vital
area, 2 points for hit elsewhere on the target.
d. Standing position will be used up to 50 yards range, and
standing or kneeling at ranges over 50 yards.

Jungle Lane:--
The aim of the Jungle Lane is to practice men in quick
and accurate shooting, at targets representing CT
[Communist Terrorists], while the firers are on the
move themselves down a jungle track.
 A narrow winding track must be found, or cut, in jungle.
The firer advances down this track at the ready
position, as on patrol. At intervals, various types of
targets appear. There is no need for any of these
targets to be moved or controlled by hand. They
can be placed so that the firer turns a corner, or
comes to a certain point, the target comes into his
vision to his front or flank. If snap or moving
targets are made to be controlled by hand, an
instructor following behind the firer must operate
the wire so as to present the target at the right
moment.
The advantage of the first method is that the firer has to
pick out a silent and stationary target; it is
therefore a better test of his powers of observation
than a pull-up target. The advantage of hand-
controlled targets is that they can be made to
appear for a definite timed exposure. The best
solution is to have a proportion of static targets,
with a variety of hand-controlled targets appearing
at ground level or at a man height round the side
of a tree, or moving at any angle desired. For
scoring purposes, Figure 11 targets should have
the “vital area” inscribed, as on the Malayan
Range, and Figure 12 targets should have the
circle in the centre. This is important, to bring out
that only a killing shot is a good shot.
CT fire can be simulated by firing a carbine or LMG in a
pit near the target, firing it by means of a wire
controlled by the instructor moving behind the
firer. This is a good variation from static targets.
It is vital that scored are properly marked and recorded,
so that each man’s progress can be assessed.

Ambush Range.—The object of having an ambush range

is to practice fire control and shooting from an ambush position, in
conditions representing, as nearly as possible, an operational
ambush. The requirements, which are easy to fulfil are:--
 Ambush Position.--This should be large enough for a section
and needs careful selection. Natural cover will be
required and therefore the position should be left
untouched as far as possible.
Killing Ground.—The killing ground should look as natural as
possible from the ambush position, but trenches need to
be dug in order that targets and markers can be moved
about. If the ground allows, there should be several
trenches at different angles, so that targets may
approach and withdraw from different directions. A
possible layout is shown at Figure 2.
Safety Precautions.—Care must be taken to ensure that
sufficient earth is thrown up at the right places to give
ample protection for the markers. If the ground does not
favour natural protection, pulley-raised targets should
be used.
Ingenuity.—Exercises run on the ambush range depend on
realism for success. The following points are useful:--
All movement by troops in the ambush position must be
fully operation, e.g. position taken up silently;
camouflage, and clear orders.
A wait should be imposed to introduce realism. Targets
should appear without any warning. Once fire has
opened targets must move rapidly.
The range should be used by day and night.

Conclusion.—The standard of shooting required for success in

Malaya can never be set too high. This standard can be achieved
only by careful, continuous training.
Real mountain troops, like the Gebirgsjaeger, are a true elite force,
requiring physical prowess, stamina, intelligence and a high standard
of marksmanship. The following is just one, and the easiest one at
that, of five exercises proscribed for Swiss ski troops while they
awaited a possible German invasion during WWII. The remaining four
courses are much longer and more demanding, some lasting hours
and traversing a great deal of mountain terrain. Rather like a biathlon
in full combat gear. The weapon used was the open-sighted K31
carbine.

Training of the High Altitude Mountain Fighter.

EXERCISE NO. 1
Purpose of the exercise: Check the skill and speed of the patrol,
then require a maximum of his individual over a certain trail. There
must be a drop of from 300 to 600 feet between the beginning and
end of the course. He will have to pass between a certain number of
markers on the way down. Midway in the course, the man will be
required to remove his skis and crawl out onto a ledge and take up
his position with his carbine. A referee will point out to him,
successively, targets “A” and “B”, which are at different distances and
are of different nature.

“A” (about 300 to 450 feet, a G-type target or head) is an enemy who
is already in position. He has revealed himself to our patrol by his fire
which had come from the direction of the floor of the valley. Our patrol
has had the good fortune to catch sight of him and surprise him. The
man will have a maximum of 2 shots and 40 seconds for hitting him.

A second enemy shows up, attracted by the first shots and desiring to
come to the assistance of his comrade. (The target is visible only
momentarily; an E- or F-target [man-sized silhouette] is used: time
allowed 10 seconds; one cartridge only).
Other enemies have slipped into a position at the foot of the ledge;
our patrol knows they are there only by their tracks. He cannot get at
them with the fire of his carbine. Two hand grenades must be thrown
into a hole approximately 6 feet in diameter.

Lastly, he sees an enemy spring up near him who probably intends to

try getting possession of his skis. The man tackles him without
weapon or pack and must put the enemy on his back in not over 30
seconds. Only then can he put on his skis and continue his trip.

The trip time and combat time are measured separately. The
mistakes in fire, in throwing the grenades, and in the combat are
turned into penalty seconds. The man must announce himself
correctly at the start and finish. A referee will check his conduct and
form.

The course may be varied as much as is desired, made easier or

more difficult according to the ability of the participants and the time
available for the exercises. In order to avoid serious mistakes, the
course should be explained in detail, even traveled over in the sight
of all the men so that they will understand everything fully.

There must be referees for the skiing, the firing, and the grenade-
throwing. The wrestler must be relieved by others as they finish their
trip. This will give them a chance to observe where they themselves
have made mistakes. If there are no walls, rocks, or other objects
which will shield a man and enable him to raise the disappearing
target when the whistle is blown, the target will have to be fixes and a
check made of the shots after each man has finishing firing. The
course should be well laid out and without any unnecessary
complications. The turn should not last more than 5 or 10 minutes at
the most. A correct record will not only show the good points but call
attention to weak ones which will have to be given special attention.

CONCLUSION

So, there you have it. Once you get good enough at an Appleseed,
try some of these on for field firing. Of course, you don’t have to ski
down the Matterhorn firing left-handed behind the back or anything
like that. You can merely use these ideas as a guide and source of
ideas and adapt any of these firing exercises to suit your needs or
AO. For instance, you can certainly do the preceding drill on foot
without skis and snow and mountains and such. Perhaps you would
like to change the time limit on the Rifle Ten and low crawl under
cover between firing positions. Be creative and adjust for your
shooters' abilities or for different terrain in your area. Take it
easy...baby steps. You can't expect to beat an Olympic Biathlete your
first time out. Start small, start short, start slow and build from there,
adapting what you need.

This is just a sample of what good men with rifles can do. FIRST, get
thee to an Appleseed. Then build from there. With enough time,
ammunition, and practice, truly amazing things can be achieved.
Without any time, ammo, or practice, you may as well go join up with
Bubba and the A-Team.

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