Marksmanship

 Is a precise skill that requires focus,

practice, and routine steps for safe and
accurate shots.

 Learning to handle a firearm properly and

refining your craft will help you become a
safer, more precise gun handler.
 4 Rules of Gun Safety
 Treat all guns as if they are always loaded.
 Never let the muzzle point at anything that you are
not willing to destroy.
 Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are
on target and you have made the decision to shoot.
 Be sure of your target and what is behind it
 Treat all guns as if they are always
loaded
Never pass a firearm to another person, or accept a firearm
from another person, until the cylinder or action is open
and you've personally checked that the weapon is
completely unloaded. Before handling any firearm,
understand its operation.
 Never let the muzzle point at anything that you
are not willing to destroy.

It is your responsibility to ALWAYS keep the gun

pointed in a safe direction 100% of the time whether
you are setting up in your work area, loading,
reloading, shooting, showing clear, or laying the
firearm down on the bench
 Keep your finger off the trigger until your
sights are on target and you have made the
decision to shoot.
Even though it may be comfortable to rest your finger on the
trigger, it is unsafe. If you are moving around with your
finger on the trigger and stumble or fall, you could
inadvertently pull the trigger.
Be sure of your target and what is behind it
.
Observing your prospective area of fire before you
shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are
people or any other potential for mishap. Think first.
Shoot second..
7 Fundamentals of
Marksmanship
 1. Good Stance
 Refers to the position of your feet and body in relation to
the target.
 All other shooting fundamentals are built upon a steady
position when firing
Bullseye – For the bullseye shooter using
only one hand on the gun, the stance is at a 45-
degree angle to the target with the feet shoulder-
width apart. The thumb of the non-firing hand
should anchor securely in the pocket to prevent
the free arm from swaying and throwing your
shot off-balance.
Weaver – This stance is for the action shooter
with both hands on the gun. The feet are at an
angle to the target, the strong arm is straight,
and the weak arm is bent. The weaver stance
helps lock in the upper body and provides
tension in the pistol grip for better recoil
control.
Isosceles – The body is facing directly toward the
target in this stance. Both hands are on the gun, and
arms are straight out in front of the shooter. The upper
body leans slightly forward .
 2. Proper GRIP
 To grip with enough strength to prevent the
pistol / rifle from moving during the shot
but relaxed enough so that your hand
doesn’t shake from the pressure.
Here are some tips for better gun grip.
 Make a “V” with your dominant hand; your thumb should be
on one side and all the other fingers on the other.

 The gun is placed in the center of the “V” with the middle,
ring, and pinky fingers wrapped around the pistol’s grip.

 Place the area between the joint and the tip of the index
finger pad on the trigger. Do not over insert the finger;
otherwise, it may cause the other fingers to move and
interfere with your shot when you squeeze the trigger
 3. Sight Alignment
 The process of lining up the rear and front
sights on the gun.

 For a well-aimed shot, the shooter must pay

attention to the rear sight aperture and how it
lines up with the front sight, with most of the
focus on the front sight post.
 4. Sight Picture
 The image seen when the sights align
with the target. This is true for all types of
sights when holding a rifle, handgun, or
any other firearm.
“Sight picture does not rely on the natural
ability to shoot. Instead, the shooter utilizes
a precise system to center objects in
preparation for a shot”.
“. When the target is BLURRED, and the Front Sight
is CLEAR, you are in the correct Sight Picture.
 5. Breathing
it’s good to keep a calm, regular breath
throughout your preparation, aim, and fire .
Oxygenate the blood – Regular breathing adequately
oxygenates the blood, which sharpens vision and
keeps you alert.
Relaxes the nerves – Regular breaths help to relax the
muscles and nerves for optimal shots.
Steady movement – Prevent jerky movements and
forced breathing that can quickly mess up your shot.
The optimal moment to
pull the trigger is when
your breathing cycle
reaches a natural pause,
like at the end of an
exhale. Your aiming
breath should be calm
and consistent, and the
ideal shot fits into your
breathing rhythm.
“It’s not a good idea to hold your breath in or
force your breath out. This can create
unnecessary tension in your chest muscles or
make your body feel like it needs to gasp for air”.
 6. Trigger Control
Pressing the trigger to complete the shot
without upsetting your sight alignment .
 There are two main issues when it comes to proper trigger
control
Pulling – Pulling the gun is caused by placing too much
finger on the trigger, causing a hooked finger that pulls the
gun to the side when the shot is discharged. This causes
your shot to hit to the right of the target.
Pushing – Pushing is caused by too little finger in the gun,
which creates a side push of the trigger instead of straight
back, producing a shot that will be hitting left of the target.
The ideal trigger control position allows for independent movement
of the index finger with trigger contact on the finger’s pad. This part
of the finger is most sensitive and allows for accurate control and
discharge of the gun.
 7. Follow Through
“ when you end the shot by keeping the trigger
finger fully depressed until your gun has completed
recoil and the shooter’s sights are back on the target.
Once your sights are back on target, then you can
release the trigger.
“Follow-through is especially important when more than one
shot or sustained fire is the goal. With each follow-through,
focusing on trigger control, breath, grip, and aim prevents the
shooter from abandoning the shot too early, as well as returning
to a pre-firing position to prepare for the next shot..