Shooting Questions

[OlympicSlide]

This is only my second post...so again, like my last one...please be patient.

Going back to recruit training I was wandering if I could get some advice...

When I was in boot camp before, I didnt make it to rifle qual week. I work at a gun store, and I am an avid shooter of both pistols and rifles. I own an AR-15 and an AK 47...along with several 9mm and .45 pistols. I want to qualify as expert when I get to recruit training. What drills should I be doing in the range to make sure I am at the right area. I shoot all the time, but I want to make sure my drills are acurate with recruit training. Thanks guys!

Jon - www.OlympicSlide.com

[jryanjack]

Honestly, my suggestion would be to not practice too much - the Corps will teach you the Corps' way of shooting, so you will have to unlearn what you already know - break your bad habits. I believe that there are several former PMI's on the site so perhaps one will chime in with better advice - I qualified expert two out of six attempts (boot camp not being one of them!) so am not really qualified to give you drills to work on. From what I've seen though, in boot camp most of the rifle expert qaulifiers did not have any previous experience and therefore learned more of what the PMI's had to teach.

[jinelson]

I ehco jryanjacks words. The PMI's here will be your best for information. Good luck in your Olympics endeavor, I found your website informative.

Jim

[OlympicSlide]

Thanks for the help guys.

unfortunatly...I am turning in my sled for the time being. It wont be the 2010 Olympic for me. I have decided to go back into recruit training and take another shot at the Marines...so I fear that will delay my Olympics at least untill 2014...well see :)

Jon

[Cpl BAJA]

OlymicSlide

First off (and you probably hear this all the time), you’re freak’en crazy travelling that fast headfirst.

As far as your question goes, this can get very lengthy.

BUT…

You live very close to a place called "Front Sight". Look them up, I think you’ll like it.

[SgtHMH]

Well we shoot standing, kneeling, sitting, prown. On your M16A2 you have dope and windage. Depending on the day they will tell you how many clicks to put on your weapon. There ia the able target and dog target, 200 yard, 300 yard, 500 yard lines. You will be taught at the range the Corps way how to shoot. I shot weapons all my life also before coming in the Corp. It is all differant and you shoot rapped fire. Just wait and get to the range and do it their way. Also you you use the rifle sling to go on your arm and you pull the butts. It is not like local range shooting, this is Marine Corp Rifle Range Qual.

Sgt. Hoss

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

It is true that the Corps will teach you their way to shoot. Often the best shooters are those that have never touched a weapon before boot camp. That said, if you can shoot now you'll be able to shoot then. Concentrate on proper sight alignment and sight picture and a good trigger squeeze and you'll be great. They will teach you the positions. The prone is pretty easy to grasp, it is the same anywhere. For sitting, most people sit "indian style" right over left. A few people shoot crossed ankle, but those are usually the older Marines that can't easily assume the normal sitting position. For kneeling you may have difficulty if you're a regular shooter. The Olympic style is not allowed. You must maintain "butt to boot" contact. The high, medium, and low are basically functions of bottom foot placement. The more flexible your ankle is, the lower your position will be. Offhand is a pretty basic stance. T personally did not shoot it the way the PMI taught in boot camp. I shoot a modified Russian stance, and it works best for me.

Of course, it all still comes down to sight alignment, sight picture, and trigger control. If you master those three things you can shoot any gun in any position known to man.

[OlympicSlide]

Thanks for all of the great responses! I am going to stick to my pistol on the range to keep from learning any bad habbits. :)

I am, however, going to check out the front sight. The course is expensive...but looks fun. If nothing else...I am going to try it for the fun of it!

Thanks again guys...

Oh, and yes I get told I am crazy for my sport all of the time! :)

Jon

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Olympic, look on ebay. At times you can buy a certificate for a free course at Front Site that they give to members and people that join various groups. They can often be had for half the price of a regular course.

[OlympicSlide]

Yeah, I checked it out...there are $1,600 courses on Ebay for $99! There isnt any M-16 courses on there right now...Ill keep looking. Thanks guys!

[Marine84]

Oh, and yes I get told I am crazy for my sport all of the time! :)

Nothing wrong with your sport - I like shooting a new toy every now and then myself (but don't do ranges and stuff like all that) but I couldn't shoot that dam M16 for $h!t! I couldn't hold it the way they wanted me to (because of my boobs and short arms) and never could get the sites right. I couldn't adjust my body or aim to hit a target where I needed to. It was funny in a way.....................but we didn't have to qualify with it when I went through. We had to know how to shoot it, clean it, take it apart and put it back together and watch over it for a few weeks but that was it. Since they let me play with bombs for a living - kind of made shooting a little insignificant in the scheme of things to me. IYAOYAS!