CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WEAPONS TRAINING BATTALION MARINE CORPS MARKSMANSHIP CENTER OF EXCELLENCE MARINE CORPS COMBAT DEVELOPMENT COMMAND QUANTICO, VIRGINIA 22134-5040

LESSON PLAN
ZEROING THE SERVICE RIFLE/CARBINE AND ANALYZING SHOOTER PERFORMANCE CMC-22R COMBAT MARKSMANSHIP COACHES COURSES REVISED 02/07/2006

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

APPROVED BY

___________________________

DATE ___________

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WEAPONS TRAINING BATTALION MARINE CORPS MARKSMANSHIP CENTER OF EXCELLENCE MARINE CORPS COMBAT DEVELOPMENT COMMAND QUANTICO, VIRGINIA 22134-5040 INSTRUCTOR PREPARATION CHECKLIST ESSENTIAL DATA LESSON DESIGNATOR LESSON TITLE CMC-22R Zeroing the Service Rifle/Carbine and Analyzing Shooter Performance 07 February 2006 1 hr 15 min Lecture LOCATION INSTRUCTORS REQUIRED REFERENCE TRAINING AIDS/EQUIPMENT sCMC.23-12 MCRP 3-01A Slides sCMC.23-1 Indoor/outdoor classroom One

DATE PREPARED TIME METHOD

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WEAPONS TRAINING BATTALION MARINE CORPS MARKSMANSHIP CENTER OF EXCELLENCE MARINE CORPS COMBAT DEVELOPMENT COMMAND QUANTICO, VIRGINIA 22134-5040 DETAILED OUTLINE ZEROING THE SERVICE RIFLE/CARBINE AND ANALYZING SHOOTER PERFORMANCE (Slide 1) INTRODUCTION (3 MIN)

1. GAIN ATTENTION. The bottom line for the rifleman is to develop skills that enable him to become combat effective. It is essential for the Marine to know how to zero his service rifle. Zeroing is the adjusting of the elevation and windage on the service rifle to cause the shots to impact where the Marine aims. Zeroing compensates for the effects of weather and other external influences upon where the bullet impacts. The ability to analyze a shot group and apply zeroing fundamentals is an essential skill required to shoot accurately. (Slide 2) 2. OVERVIEW. This lesson covers zeroing the service rifle/carbine to include elements of zeroing, types of zeros, the service rifle/carbine sighting system, windage and elevation rules, steps to zeroing, factors affecting a battlesight zero (BZO)/causing a BZO to be reconfirmed, field expedient BZO, and zeroing during KD firing. In addition, coaching instruction for analyzing shooter performance through target analysis is covered. 3. INTRODUCE LEARNING OBJECTIVES. The Terminal Learning Objective and Enabling Learning Objectives pertaining to this lesson are as follows: a. TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE. Given a prepared shooter, range supplies, equipment, a range, and without reference aids coach battlesight zeroing with the to ensure personnel achieve a proficiency level IAW MCO 3574.2_. (8530.1.3)

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

b.

ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1) Given a shooter, a target, and without reference aids correct errors in zeroing to ensure the shooters rifle is zeroed IAW MCRP 3-01A. (8530.1.3a) 2) Given a target with shot holes and without reference aids conduct target analysis for indications of shooting problems IAW Combat Marksmanship Coaches Course lesson plans. (8530.1.3c)

4. METHOD. lecture.

This lesson is taught in a classroom setting using

5. EVALUATION. Students are evaluated on topics from this lesson with a comprehensive written examination. Performance is evaluated with a performance checklist during Table I (Day 1-3). TRANSITION: It is a shooters responsibility to get consistent and accurate hits on the target with his rifle. A shooter accomplishes this by properly zeroing his rifle as well as determining and applying the sight settings (windage and elevation) to strike the targets center at a particular range. A shooter must understand the elements of zeroing to do this. BODY (1 HR 10 MIN)

INSTRUCTORS NOTE: This lesson contains the Combat Marksmanship Program (CMP) instruction on these topics as well as the coaching instruction. This is done so you will not have to go to another reference to prepare for this instruction. Review the CMP instruction, as necessary, depending on the knowledge and experience level of your audience. The focus should be on the coaching instruction interspersed throughout the lesson. 1. (1 MIN) ELEMENTS OF ZEROING

(Slide 3) To accurately engage targets, the strike of the bullet must coincide with your aiming point on the target. This must be 2

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

done while compensating for the effects of weather and the range to the target. This is accomplished by adjusting the sights on your rifle to achieve point of aim/point of impact. This process is called zeroing and it is a critical element of accurate target engagement. a. Line of Sight. Line of sight is a straight line beginning at the center of the eye. It passes through the center of the rear sight aperture. Then, it continues across the tip of the front sight post to the exact point of aim on the target. b. Aiming Point. The aiming point is the precise point where the tip of the front sight post is placed in relationship to the target. c. Centerline of the Bore. Centerline of the bore is an imaginary straight line beginning at the chamber end of the barrel. It proceeds out of the muzzle and continues indefinitely. d. Trajectory. A bullet does not follow a straight line to the target. Instead, a bullet travels in a curved path, or arc, which is called the bullet trajectory. 1) This trajectory occurs because of the earths gravity, which pulls the bullet down toward the ground as soon as the bullet leaves the rifles barrel. The rate of this curvature increases as the bullets speed decreases. 2) To compensate for this effect (so that the bullet will impact the target), the muzzle of the rifle must be elevated. This is accomplished by applying elevation to the rifle sights. 3) The greater the distance to the target, the higher the bullets trajectory must be to impact with the target. Therefore, the greater the distance to the target, the greater the elevation that must be applied to the sights. e. Range. Range is the known distance from the rifle to the target.

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

Confirm by questions.

TRANSITION: There are three types of zeros, which must be understood if you are to zero your rifle to place rounds on target. (Slide 4) 2. (1 MIN) TYPES OF ZEROS

a. Battlesight Zero (BZO). A BZO is the elevation and windage settings required to place a single shot, or the center of a shot group, in a predesignated location on a target at 300 yards/meters, under ideal weather conditions (i.e., no wind). A BZO is the sight settings placed on your rifle for combat. In combat, your rifles BZO setting will enable engagement of point targets from 0 300 yards/meters in a no wind condition. (Note that 8/3 is the rear sight elevation knob setting for the M-16A2 BZO. 6/3 is the rear sight elevation knob setting for the M-16A4 & M-4 Carbine.) b. Zero. A zero is the elevation and windage settings required to place a single shot, or the center of a shot group, in a predesignated location on a target at a specific range, from a specific firing position, under specific weather conditions. c. True Zero. A true zero is the elevation and windage settings required to place a single shot, or the center of a shot group, in a predesignated location on a target at a specific range other than 300 yards/meters, from a specific firing position, under ideal weather conditions (i.e., no wind). Confirm by questions.

TRANSITION: To zero the rifle, the first step is to determine the correct sight adjustments to strike the center of the target. The windage and elevation rules define these adjustments and these rules must be used to make accurate sight adjustments.

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

(Slide 5) 3. (15 MIN) SIGHTING SYSTEM/WINDAGE AND ELEVATION RULES

a. Sighting System. The sighting system of the service rifle/carbine consists of a front sight post, a rear sight windage knob, and a rear sight elevation knob. Moving each of these sights one graduation or notch is referred to as moving one "click" on the sight. 1) Front Sight. The front sight consists of a square, rotating sight post with a four-position, spring-loaded detent. The front sight post is moved up or down when zeroing the rifle. Depress the detent and rotate the post to adjust for elevation. a) To raise the strike of the bullet, rotate the post clockwise (in the direction of the arrow marked UP) or to the right. When rotated clockwise, the front sight post moves down into the front sight housing. It causes the shooter to raise the weapons muzzle weapon to realign the tip of the front sight post in the center of the rear sight aperture. b) To lower the strike of the bullet, rotate the post counterclockwise or to the left. When rotated counterclockwise, the front sight post moves up and out of the front sight housing. It causes the shooter to lower the weapons muzzle to realign the front sight post tip in the rear sight apertures center.

(SLIDE 6) 2) Rear Sight. The rear sight consists of two sight apertures, a windage knob, and an elevation knob. One knob is for normal range and the other knob is for short range limited visibility engagement. The normal range aperture is unmarked and used for zeroing and most firing situations. The limited visibility aperture is the larger aperture. It may be used for engagement of targets closer than 200 yards, and target engagement during limited visibility, or when a greater field of view is desired. This large aperture is marked 0-2 and is used only in conjunction with your established BZO.

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

a) Windage Knob. The windage knob is moved left or right to move the strike of the round left or right. (1) To move the shot group to the right, rotate the windage knob clockwise (in the direction of the arrow). (2) To move the shot group to the left, rotate the windage knob counterclockwise. b) Elevation Knob. The rear sight elevation knob is used to move the strike of the bullet up or down. To adjust for elevation or range to the target, rotate the elevation knob so the desired setting is aligned with the index on the left side of the receiver. Each number on the knob represents a distance from the target in 100 yard/meter increments. (1) To raise the strike of the bullet, rotate the knob clockwise in the direction of the UP arrow. (2) To lower the strike of the bullet, rotate the knob counterclockwise in the direction of the DN arrow. (Slide 7) b. Windage and Elevation Rules 1) Definition. The windage and elevation rules define how far the strike of the bullet will move on the target for each click of front/rear sight elevation or rear sight windage for each 100 yards of range to the target. 2) Principles. The easiest way to understand the windage and elevation rules is to first analyze where the bullet struck the target. If an adjustment needs to be made up or down to hit the center of the target, adjust the elevation on your rifle. If an adjustment needs to be made right or left to hit the center of the target, adjust the windage. a) Front Sight Elevation Rule. One click of front sight elevation adjustment will move the strike of the bullet on the target approximately 1

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

inches (M16A2 & A4) and 2 inches (M4 carbine) for every 100 yards of range from the target. b) Rear Sight Elevation Rule. One click of rear sight elevation adjustment will move the strike of the bullet on the target approximately 1 inch (M16A2), .5 inches (M16A4) and (M4 carbine) for every 100 yards of range from the target. (Slide 8) c) Windage Rule. One click of windage adjustment will move the strike of the bullet on the target approximately 1/2 inch (M16A2, M16A4) & 3/4 inch for the M4 carbine for every 100 yards of range from the target. Confirm by questions.

TRANSITION: If a Marine is to place shots in the center of the target, correct sight adjustments must be made to the rifle. This is done by observing the location of the strike of the rounds, determining their distance from the center of the target, and making appropriate adjustments to the rifle sights. We will cover the basic zeroing steps that determine proper sight adjustments to enable shots to be placed in the center of the target. (Slide 9-11) 4. (15 MIN) ZEROING THE SERVICE RIFLE/CARBINE

Zeroing is conducted at a range of 300 yards/meters. The rifles sights must be adjusted so the bullets trajectory and line of sight intersect at a range of 300 yards/meters. Zeroing at 300 yards/meters accomplishes this. a. Establishing Initial Sight Settings. To begin the zeroing process the rifle sights are placed on a known BZO previously established or on initial sight settings. To set the sights to initial sight settings: 1) Front Sight Post. To set the front sight post to initial sight setting, depress the front sight detent

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

and rotate the front sight post until the base of the front sight post is flush with the front sight housing. 2) Rear Sight Elevation Knob. To set the elevation knob at the initial sight setting, perform the following: a) Rotate the rear sight elevation knob counterclockwise until the rear sight assembly is bottomed out on the upper receiver. b) Rotate the rear sight elevation knob clockwise until the number 8/3 (M16A2) or 6/3 (M16A4, M4 carbine) aligns with the index mark located on the left side of the upper receiver. 3) Windage Knob. To set the windage knob to initial sight setting, rotate the windage knob until the index line located on the top of the large rear sight aperture aligns with the centerline on the windage index scale located on the moveable base of the rear sight assembly. b. Steps to Zeroing the Rifle 1) When the target appears, fire a well-aimed 3-shot group in a one minute time limit. 2) The target will be lowered to the pits and marked indicating your 3-shot group. 3) When the target is raised from the pits, plot the 3shot group in the data book. 4) Triangulate the shot group by drawing a line to form a triangle connecting all 3 shots. 5) Locate the center of the triangle and make elevation and windage adjustments on the rifle to place the exact center of the triangle in the center of the target. a) Determine the vertical and horizontal distances in inches between the center of the shot group and the center of the target. b) Using the windage and elevation rules, make an

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

elevation adjustment to the front sight post, moving the center of the shot group to the center of the target. c) Using the windage and elevation rules, make a windage adjustment to the windage knob, moving the center of the shot group to the center of the target. 6) When the target appears, fire a well-aimed 3-shot group in a one minute time limit. 7) The target will be lowered to the pits and marked indicating your 3-shot group. 8) When the target is raised from the pits, plot the 3shot group in the data book. 9) Triangulate the shot group by drawing a line to form a triangle connecting all 3 shots. 10) Find the exact center of the triangle and make additional elevation and windage adjustments to the rifle if necessary. Again, these adjustments will be based on the distance between the center of the triangle and the center of the target. 11) When the target appears, fire 4 final shots in one minute to confirm the sight setting on your rifle. If necessary, make final elevation or windage adjustments on the rifle at this time. 12) When the target is raised from the pits, plot your 4-shot group in the data book. 13) Once the sight setting is confirmed, determine the value and direction of the wind (if wind was present), and remove the number of clicks added to the windage knob to compensate for current wind conditions. This setting becomes the BZO setting for your rifle. 14) Record your BZO setting in your data book and stow this page in your rifles buttstock for future reference. Confirm by questions. 9

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

TRANSITION: There are factors, which affect your ability to place accurate fire on a target and to maintain an accurate and stable BZO. To maintain an accurate BZO, you must understand these factors and how to compensate for them. There are also factors that cause a BZO to be reconfirmed. When any of these factors are present, your BZO should be reconfirmed. (Slide 12) 5. (5 MIN) BZO a. FACTORS CAUSING A BZO TO BE RECONFIRMED/AFFECTING A

Factors Causing a BZO to be Reconfirmed 1) Maintenance. It is possible for the BZO to change if ordnance personnel perform maintenance on the rifle. If maintenance was performed, it is critical that the rifle be rezeroed as soon as possible. 2) Temperature. An extreme change in temperature (i.e., 20 degrees or more) will cause a change in the elevation BZO of the weapon. Changes in temperature cause chamber pressure to increase when hot and decrease when cold. This causes shots to impact the target high in hot temperatures and low in cold temperatures. 3) Climate. Changing climates can mean changes in air density, moisture content, temperature, or barometric pressure. Any of these elements can affect the rifles BZO. 4) Ground Elevation. Drastic changes in ground altitude can create changes in air density, moisture content, temperature, or barometric pressure. Any of these elements can affect the rifles BZO. 5) Uniform. If your rifle is zeroed while in your utility uniform and fired in full battle gear, your BZO may change. A BZO must be established while wearing the uniform and equipment that will be worn while engaging targets.

10

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

INSTRUCTORS NOTE: Elaborate on each of the factors affecting a BZO as necessary to assure student understanding. (Slide 13) b. Factors Affecting the Accuracy of a BZO and/or Shot Placement. Anything the Marine changes from shot to shot affects the BZO on his rifle and/or shot placement. To ensure consistent shooting, complete notes should be kept in your data book analyzing your shots (the data book will be discussed in detail in MCC.13). These are some of the common factors that, when applied inconsistently, diminish the accuracy of your BZO and your shot groups: 1) Any of the seven factors (forward hand, grip, right elbow, stock weld, rifle butt in the shoulder, muscular relaxation/tension, and breathing). 2) 3) 4) 5) Stability of hold. Sling tension. Trigger control. Sight picture. Confirm by questions.

TRANSITION: Zeroing procedures remain the same regardless of the field situation. For example, there may not always be a 300-yard range available on which to zero. But there is an alternate, field expedient method for zeroing the rifle at 36 yards that can be used for BZO when a 300-yard range is not available.

(Slide 14) 6. (3 MIN) FIELD EXPEDIENT BZO

11

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

INSTRUCTORS NOTE: Point out where the bullet crosses the line of sight twice. a. Purpose. When a rifle is zeroed at 300 yards, the bullet will cross the line of sight twice. The bullet will cross the line of sight first on its upward path of the trajectory at 36 yards, and again farther down range at 300 yards (point of aim/point of impact). When the bullets trajectory intersects the line of sight at 36 yards and 300 yards, the rifle is considered to be zeroed to hit a target at the exact point of aim at both of these ranges. That is why there is an alternate, field expedient method for zeroing the rifle at 36 yards when a 300-yard range is not available. b. Initial sight setting for Field Expedient BZO. For the M16A2 the rear sight elevation will be set at 8/3 2. For the M16A4 and M4 Carbine the rear sight elevation will be set at 6/3 4. If rear sight elevation will not go to 6/3 4, notify armorer and have them adjust the rear sight knob screw to allow the rear sight to be set at 6/3 4. c. Accuracy of a 36-yard Field Expedient BZO. A rifle zeroed using the field expedient BZO method at 36 yards can be taken into battle. Note, however, that a BZO established at 300 yards is considered to be more accurate than a BZO established at 36 yards. (This is due to the minor inconsistencies a Marine can apply at 36 yards that will, in turn, greatly multiply at 300 yards.) d. Coaching Instruction: Determining Excessive Windage or Elevation. The coach should ensure the shooter does not have excessive windage or elevation on his rifle. This could indicate a problem with the rifle or a problem with the shooters application of the fundamentals and position. In a no wind condition, a rear sight windage setting in excess of 21 clicks left or right and a front sight post setting in excess of 10 clicks up or down is considered excessive and the rifle should be test fired. For easy reference, the 36-yard BZO target is designed with this in mind (i.e., the grid lines do not exceed this number of clicks). 1) The coach should first have the rifle fired to ensure

12

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

the problem is not with the rifle. If excessive windage or elevation is confirmed, the rifle should be returned to the armory and another rifle drawn. 2) If the problem is not with the rifle, the coach should work with the shooter to ensure he has a sound shooting position and is applying the fundamentals correctly. Confirm by questions.

TRANSITION: Zeroing can be accomplished at a 36-yard line if a 300-yard line is not available. KD firing provides the Marine with the opportunity to refine the accuracy of his sight settings from different positions and ranges to the target. Depending on the stage of fire, the sight settings used to begin that stage of fire will differ. We will walk through the objective sight settings used for various stages of fire during KD firing. (Slide 15) 7. (15 MIN) ZEROING DURING KD FIRING

a. Objective of Zeroing During KD Firing. The objective of zeroing during KD firing is to refine and maintain a BZO. The 300-yard rapid fire prone stage provides the BZO setting for the rifle. KD firing also enables the Marine to establish hasty sight settings inside and outside his BZO range at the 200- and 500-yard lines, respectively. b. Objective Rear Sight Elevation Knob Settings. To maximize the design features of the M16A2 service rifle, objective rear sight elevation settings are used for each yard line in KD firing. To establish and maintain a BZO, the following settings should be maintained on the rear sight elevation knob: 1) 200 yards - 8/3-2 (M16A2) or 6/3-4 (M16A4 & M4). (Hasty sight setting inside BZO). a) When firing at 200 yards, the rifles rear sight elevation knob is adjusted to 8/3-2(M16A2) or 6/3-4

13

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

(M16A4 & M4). b) This is done because when a rifle is zeroed at 300 yards, the bullet exits the muzzle and travels upward to reach its maximum height, then downward until it intersects the line of sight to achieve point of aim/point of impact at 300 yards. The bullet is approximately 4 inches above the line of sight at 200 yards, requiring the rear sight elevation knob setting to be lowered 2 clicks for the M16A2 and 4 clicks for the M16A4 & M4 Carbine at 200 yards for the bullet to impact the aiming point. This is done only on the KD Course of Fire because of the accuracy needed to get two-point hits on the D target at 200 yards. 2) 300 yards 8/3(M16A2) or 6/3(M16A4 & M4).This setting is mandatory at 300 yards; there are no exceptions. 3) (Slide 16) c. Elevation and Windage Sight Adjustments for Day 1 KD Firing. The purpose of KD firing is to practice and demonstrate fundamental marksmanship skills. KD firing is also used to establish and/or maintain a BZO on your rifle. Therefore, on Day 1 of training, all elevation sight adjustments will be made on the front sight post at 200 and 300 yards. 1) 200-yard Tri-fire. Tri-fire is fired from the sitting position at 200 yards to establish a sight setting to begin KD firing at the 200-yard line. Prior to firing, the rifles sights are placed on initial sight settings, a known BZO, or adjusted sight settings from the Grouping Exercise (with the rear sight set at the hasty sight setting of 8/3-2 or 6/3-4). During trifire, sight adjustments may be required to fine-tune your known BZO front sight post and windage knob settings. 2) 200-yard Slow Fire Sitting. This stage of fire should be used to confirm the shooters 200-yard true 500 yards 5 (hasty sight setting outside BZO).

14

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

zero established in tri-fire. 3) 200-yard Slow Fire Kneeling and Standing. As the shooter moves from a stable firing position (sitting) to a less stable firing position (kneeling and standing), stability of hold will decrease. This will affect shot placement because it may be difficult to obtain a stable sight picture. On Day 1 of KD firing, the shooter should not move off of his sight settings from 200-yard slow fire sitting, if possible, because it is a more stable position and a more accurate representation of his BZO. (Slide 17) 4) 200-yard Rapid Fire Sitting. Use the same settings from 200-yard slow fire sitting, if possible. If an adjustment was made during 200 slow fire kneeling, you may use those settings. 5) 300-yard Slow Fire Sitting. Use the same settings from 200-yard slow fire sitting, if possible, and apply 8/3 or 6/3 on the rear sight elevation knob. If an adjustment was made during 200 rapid fire sitting, you may use those settings. 6) 300-yard Rapid Fire Prone. Use the same settings from 300-yard slow fire sitting. If an adjustment was made during 300 slow fire sitting, you may use those settings. 7) 500-yard Slow Fire Prone. Use the same settings from 300-yard rapid fire prone except apply 5 on the rear sight elevation knob. a) A primary objective of KD firing is to establish a BZO during the 300-yard rapid fire prone stage. Therefore, any front sight post adjustments made to the rifle at this stage should be retained at the 500-yard line so as not to come off of the BZO elevation setting. b) At the 500-yard line, elevation adjustments are made to the rear sight elevation knob. However, an effort should be made to retain the objective rear sight elevation knob setting of 5.

15

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

(Slide 18) f. Elevation Sight Adjustments for Days 2, 3, and 4 (Qualification). 1) 200 Yards. The rear sight elevation knob should be set at 8/3-2 or 6/3-4. a) Assuming a BZO was established on Day 1, the front sight post setting should be that setting established at the 300-yard rapid fire stage on Day 1 minus the wind conditions. This is done to maintain the BZO setting established. The Marine will not truly know if his BZO is off until he fires at the 300-yard line. b) The rear sight windage knob setting should be that setting established at the 300-yard rapid fire stage on Day 1 minus the wind conditions. 2) 300 Yards. The rear sight elevation knob should be set at 8/3 or 6/3. a) The front sight post setting should be the BZO setting established at the 300-yard rapid fire stage on Day 1. b) If an elevation adjustment must be made, it is made to the front sight post only. If an adjustment is needed, this means that a BZO has yet to be established on the rifle. 3) 500 Yards. The rear sight elevation knob should again be set at the sight setting established at the 500-yard line on Day 1. e. Windage Adjustments for Days 2, 3, and 4. Windage adjustments are made to compensate for the effects of weather. Not counting wind conditions, regardless of the position or range to the target, every effort should be made to retain the windage knob BZO setting established during the 300-yard prone stage on Day 1. (Slide 19)

16

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

f. Sight Adjustment Changes. If sight adjustments are needed after two days of training, chances are it is due to an inconsistency in the Marines application of the fundamentals and seven factors, rather than a necessary BZO adjustment. Use the following guidelines for making sight adjustments throughout KD firing: 1) Generally, major elevation adjustments from established sight settings are caused by poor application of the fundamentals, inconsistencies in firing positions, stability of hold across positions, inconsistencies in sight picture at different ranges and different positions, and inconsistent tension on the sling. Every effort should be made to correct shooting errors prior to making a sight adjustment on the rifle. 2) In addition, sight adjustments should be made off of a shot group, not a single shot. 3) Look at your shooters shot groups to identify shooters who may need assistance. Record any problems the shooter is experiencing in the REMARKS section of the data book. This information is critical to the coach during KD firing, particularly if the same coach is not assigned to the same shooters throughout training. Confirm by questions.

TRANSITION: If you understand and apply the proper procedures for zeroing your service rifle to compensate for the effects of weather and the range to the target, you will be a proficient rifleman. As a coach, you will constantly analyze your shooters performance throughout training to identify, correct, and improve their performance. This is accomplished by observing the shooter, analyzing the shooters plotted information in the data book, and analyzing the shot holes on the target. (Slide 20)

17

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

8. (15 MIN) COACHING INSTRUCTION: TECHNIQUES FOR ANALYZING SHOOTER PERFORMANCE THROUGH TARGET ANALYSIS a. Criteria for Analyzing Shooter Performance. During firing the coach should watch the shooter, not the target. This enables the coach to correct performance of the application of fundamentals and shooting positions. There are shooting problems, however, that the coach cannot observe from just watching the shooter. These problems, such as problems with zeroing and compensating for the effects of weather, may be indicated by the shot holes in the target. In these cases, after the shooter fires, the coach must look at the target to see where the shots impacted. It must be stressed that the coach never takes his eyes off of his shooters while they are firing. b. Analyze and Correct Position and Fundamentals Before Adjusting Rifle Sights. There are times, particularly if the coach has more than two shooters, when he is working with one shooter and glances at the target to discover that another shooter is shooting poorly. In this general technique, analyzing shooter performance begins with observing a poor shot or shot group on the target. 1) The coach should analyze shooter performance and exhaust all possibilities of poor performance (i.e., position, fundamentals) before having the shooter adjust his sights. 2) This will avoid the shooter adjusting his sights after every shot (i.e., chasing the spotter) and instead refines the shooters marksmanship skills. (Slide 21) c. General Technique for Analyzing Shooter Performance. The coach should look for consistencies in shot placement. 1) The coach begins by ensuring the shooter is firing a true group. If there is no pattern to the shot impacts (i.e., shot holes are all over the target), the coach will analyze the shooters position and application of the fundamentals to determine the shooters problem area; this is not indicative of a sight adjustment problem. The coach can use the grid lines on the PLOT section of the data book page to measure group size once 18

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

the shots have been accurately plotted. The following rules of thumb apply for determining if the shooter is applying the fundamentals well enough to shoot a group: a) 200 yards - shot group within a 12-inch circle. (Keep in mind the D-MOD target is 19 tall by 26 wide.) b) 300 yards shot group within a 16-inch circle. (Keep in mind the D-MOD target is 19 tall by 26 wide.) c) 500 yards 20-inch circle to keep the group on the 20 x 40 E target. 2) If the shooter is shooting groups consistently just outside the black, the coach should remind him to check his natural point of aim or make a minor sight adjustment. The coach will not go through an entire analysis if the shooters shot placement does not indicate a greater problem. 3) If the shot or shot group is misplaced, the coach will look at the shooters rifle to determine if the shooter has his sights adjusted correctly for that string of fire; and/or look at the shooters data book to determine if sight settings were calculated correctly and the weather was compensated for correctly. (Slide 22) d. Technique for Analyzing Shooter Performance During Slow Fire. Once the coach observes poor shot placement, he should go through the following, step-by-step, systematic check: 1) Ask the shooter why he thinks his shots are outside the aiming black. 2) Ask the shooter what his zero is on his rifle. The coach should physically check the settings on the rifle to confirm or have the shooter do this. a) Check the shooters data book to ensure the windage and elevation settings he recorded in the data book are the same settings he has on the rifle. 19

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

b) If the settings are the same, check the setting recorded in the data book to ensure it is calculated correctly. (1) Ensure the setting recorded was taken properly from the TRUE ZERO of a string previously fired; or the sight adjustment was correctly calculated using the windage and elevation rules. (2) If there is wind, ensure the shooter correctly calculated the wind, recorded it in his data book, and applied it to his rifle. 3) If the shooters zero is correct, visually check the rear sight aperture on the shooters rifle to ensure the correct aperture is up and it is not canted.

(Slide 23) 4) If the shooters zero and sight aperture are correct, have the shooter fire another round and observe his position and application of the fundamentals. a) The coach should analyze the shooters position and natural point of aim. b) If these are correct, have the shooter fire a round, and observe his trigger control and breath control. c) If these are correct, and the shooter continues for shoot poorly, analyze aiming by having the shooter draw his sight picture in the REMARKS section of the data book. 5) If the shooters position and application of the fundamentals are well executed, the coach should narrow his focus to the shooters forward hand, head, eye, and stock weld. The coach should look for obvious movement or a disruption just prior or as the shot is breaking such as flinching, jerking, moving the head off the stock, elbow slipping, anticipation, hesitancy, etc. 6) Once the coach has identified a problem and worked with the shooter to correct it, he should continue to

20

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

emphasize it as a focal point for the shooter to work on. (Slide 24) e. Technique for Analyzing Shooter Performance During Rapid Fire. During rapid fire, the coach cannot work with the shooter, one shot at a time, to identify and eliminate shooting problems. Once the shooter starts firing the string, there is not time to interrupt the shooter to adjust something and continue to fire. The coach should work with his shooters during slow fire to reduce or eliminate shooting problems before the shooter fires rapid fire. If the shooters rapid fire group is misplaced or large on the target, the coach should consider the following: 1) If the group is compact but outside of the aiming black, it may be due to an incorrect zero, failure to compensate for the wind, or incorrect natural point of aim. 2) If it appears there are two distinct groups that differ on the target, the shooter may have changed something during the magazine change. a) For instance, the shooter may not have reestablished his position and natural point of aim after the magazine change. During rapid fire, the coach can observe the shooter after the magazine change for movement of the forward elbow, the right elbow slipping, and inconsistency of stock weld, placement of the rifle butt, and sling placement. Inconsistency of these factors will affect shot placement. If the shooter does not have natural point of aim, he may muscle the weapon to force it to center, which can cause a group strung horizontally across the target. b) A major wind change in the middle of the two strings can cause this target pattern. 3) If a tight shot group is strung out vertically on the target, it may be due to the shooter breathing during firing or stopping his breathing at a different place in his breathing cycle for each shot.

21

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

(Slide 25) 4) If the coach did not observe any problems with the shooters position or application of the fundamentals, and the group has no discernable pattern, he can only look at sight picture. Have the shooter draw his sight picture in the REMARKS section of the data book. f. Analyzing the Target for Poor Pit Service. It is the coachs responsibility to ensure his shooters get timely and accurate pit service. This includes ensuring feedback is provided for all shots fired. When the coach observes the target after the shooter fires, he can often identify poor pit service and should take action to correct it. If the coach observes poor pit service or targets in disrepair from the firing line, he should immediately inform the block NCO so that action can be taken to repair the targets. The following actions should be reported by the coach: 1) Poor targets can sometimes be identified by a spotter being placed in the same place for every shot fired (i.e., the spotter simply is not being moved). This is often the indication of a lazy target puller. Or it may be a case where the target is in such disrepair that there are multiple shot holes not pasted and the target puller cannot identify which shot hole was a result of the last shot fired. 2) If the target puller uses the wrong size spotter to mark the shot hole and it is not visible from the line, the coach should inform the block NCO so that it can be fixed. 3) The coach can also identify a disregard for accurate feedback when spotters are placed in obvious designs on the target. 4) Poor targets (i.e., face peeling off the backing) can often be observed from the firing line. Confirm by questions.

TRANSITION:

Analysis of the target during KD firing can often

22

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

reveal a shooter with a problem in adjusting his rifle sights, or zeroing. Zeroing problems cannot be identified by watching the shooter. If the coach observes the shooter applying the fundamentals and seven factors correctly, but the shots are still not impacting the center of the target, the coach must work with the shooter to identify problems in making sight adjustments. During firing the coach watches the shooter, not the target. Once firing is complete, the coach can analyze the target to look for clues in identifying shooting problems. OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTIONS: 1. 2. Respond to questions from the class. Prompt Marines with questions to the class. a. QUESTION: How far will one click of front sight elevation adjustment moves the strike of a round at 100 yards for the M16A4? ANSWER: b. 1 1/4 inches. What is a BZO? (1 MIN)

QUESTION:

ANSWER: A BZO is the elevation and windage settings required to place a single shot, or the center of a shot group, in a predestinated location on a target at 300 yards/meters, under ideal weather conditions (i.e., no wind). A BZO is the sight settings placed on your rifle for combat. c. QUESTION: Why does the coach constantly analyze shooter performance throughout training? ANSWER: To identify, correct, and improve shooting performance. d. QUESTION: If a shooters shots are not impacting the center of the target, what should the coach do? ANSWER: The coach should analyze shooter performance and exhaust all possibilities of poor performance (i.e., position, fundamentals) before having the shooter adjust his sights.

23

CMC-22R 07 Feb 06

e. QUESTION: When the shooter is firing, what should the coach be observing? ANSWER: The shooter; not the target.

f. QUESTION: What are some of the factors that cause a BZO to be reconfirmed? ANSWER: Rifle maintenance, temperature, climate, ground elevation, and uniform. INSTRUCTORS NOTE: Ask Marines as many questions as necessary to ensure they fully understand the material presented in this class.

SUMMARY:

(1 MIN)

All the principles covered in this lesson are essential to becoming an effective marksman. The Marine must know how to analyze his shot groups, apply the windage and elevation rules, and apply zeroing procedures to improve the accuracy of his shooting. To be successful in combat, the Marine must have a BZO on his rifle.

SLIDES TABLE OF CONTENTS NUMBER TITLE

24