Hits Count

[Francis Marion]

Vintage US Army marksmanship wisdom:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/35921851/Da-Pam-23-2-Hits-Count-Usa-1955


Get the pdf here of the 1959 edition:

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0BxOg0FYzUhZyMDcyNzg5YjUtOTAxOC00MDE3LThjZWUtNThhMmE4ZjIyNDY0&hl=en&authkey=CN_ujfUO

PS-
Props to

     http://www.theliberalgunclub.com/phpBB3/index.php

for sharing these documents.

[DesertDog]

Very cool.  I printed it off and will read it later.  "The Book of The Rifle" by Jim Carmichael is an outstanding book as well.

[TaosGlock]

Great stuff!
Thanks for finding and posting it!
TG

[Andre]

Interesting read.  They sure didn't bother teaching me this way when I was in basic training - maybe this came up in AIT - and I wasn't Infantry, so I didn't get the attention?  Thanks for the links.

[slim]

BUMP!

[Francis Marion]

So much of value in that document.   
See 1959 edition, page 12, Figure 9:
There is an illustration of a tie applied to the rifle to create a hard stop/index point for a smaller statured person's support hand.  What a great idea- our shooters come in all sizes, too.  How can we do this today?  Whatever is used must not want to slip.

One means to this end is found in the first aid box.  There is a type of bandage wrap that adheres to itself; it's what they wrap onto your arm after you give blood.

It's called a 'self adherent bandage', for example:
http://www.first-aid-product.com/industrial/self-adherent-bandages.htm

This stuff adheres to metal and wood, as to itself, so it's very easy to wrap it around a rifle and sling to create an index point for the support hand.  The sling may still be lengthened or shortened, but the bandage remains in place, and doesn't slip. 

First aid tape, several wraps thereof, fiber reinforced box tape or duct tape should also work; but the beauty of the self adherent bandage is that it does the job without deposting any adhesive residue to a shooter's rifle, and can be repositioned and reused. 

Have a shooter with no sling whose support hand slips down the stock each shot?
Wrap the stock with self adherent bandage, and wrap the shooter's hand with the same- voila, support hand less susceptible to slip. 

Now these aren't suggested to 'game' the system, but are rather field expedient solutions to overcome shooter frustrations borne of ill fitting rifles or lack of proper equipment. 



   

[Xeyed]

The Self Adhesive bandage has many Ad-Lib applications.

Coupled with a medium sized sponge it makes a great  improvised cheek pad for folks struggling with sight alignment and scopes.

Easy on. Easy Off.

Started reading the book. Good stuff.

The introduction could be read at every Appleseed. Maybe before one of the Redcoat "Hits Count" COF.

"Americans are born to the tradition of rifle marksmanship. Since the birth of the nation, the rifle more than any other weapon has symbolized the conquest of the American Wilderness and fight for freedom. In the skilled hands of a pioneer, the rifle was companion that protected and provided him with food. In the hands of a soldier, it was a weapon that won and preserved our democratic way of life. In periods of peace it brought untold hours of healthful recreation to millions of sportsmen.

Today, this great tradition lies in the hands of our sportsmen and soldiers. Rifle marksmanship is still a prime source of enjoyment to those who respond to it's exacting demands for strength and skill, for a keen eye and a steady hand, and who thrill to it's everlasting challenges on the range and the hunt. It is just as important to our Army today as it was at Saratoga and Yorktown, and the soldier must be trained to be as deadly a marksman as his predecessor, who cut his teeth on one cardinal rule -- only hits count. "
                                                               Brig. General Carl Fritache

Shooters your preparation period begins now.

[oladcock]

"There is an illustration of a tie applied to the rifle to create a hard stop/index point for a smaller statured person's support hand.  What a great idea- our shooters come in all sizes, too.  How can we do this today?  Whatever is used must not want to slip."

On a couple of our loaner 10-22's I put 2 lugs for the forward sling. One outboard of the band, another about 4" inboard of the band. The lugs cost about $.80...O.L.

[TowedJumper]

Interesting read.  Kind of a snapshot of history with cold war references and all (Hydrogen Age).