Mr. McCloy. From your experience, Mr. Simmons, do you feel that with a man who had been in the Marine Corps, with the rifle instruction he had there, using this rifle, and what you know of the shots that killed the President—do you think he was an extraordinarily good shot, do you think he was just shooting in accordance with what might be taken to be the skill that service in the Marine Corps would give him?
Mr. Simmons. Well, in order to achieve three hits, it would not be required that a man be an exceptional shot. A proficient man with this weapon, yes. But I think with the opportunity to use the weapon and to get familiar with it, we could probably have the results reproduced by more than one firer.
Mr. McCloy. I think that is all.
Mr. Eisenberg. One thing, Mr. Chairman. May I have this admitted as 586, this table which Mr. Simmons prepared, from which he was giving testimony earlier? This is "Table I, Hit Probability as a Function of Range and Aiming Error."
Mr. McCloy. It may be admitted.
(The table referred to was marked Commission Exhibit No. 586 and received in evidence.)
Mr. Eisenberg. When you say proficiency with this weapon, Mr. Simmons, could you go into detail as to what you mean—do you mean, accuracy with this weapon, or familiarity with the weapon?
Mr. Simmons. I mean familiarity basically with two things. One is the action of the bolt itself, and the force required to open it; and two, the action of the trigger, which is a two-stage trigger.
Mr. Eisenberg. Can familiarity with the trigger and with the bolt be acquired in dry practice?
Mr. Simmons. Familiarity with the bolt can, probably as well as during live firing. But familiarity with the trigger would best be achieved with some firing.