(iv) Point of Mean Impact.—When the ring is placed to include all the shots, the centre of the ring will be taken as approximately the point of mean impact. Its distance from, and direction with reference to, the point aimed at will be recorded on the register—e.g., 7 inches, four o’clock.
(v) On return to the firing-point other details will fire, but steps will be immediately taken to ascertain the cause of any bad shooting of men in the first two details.
3. Third-Class Shots.—As a rule, third-class shots should not be allowed ammunition for further training in application practice until a satisfactory standard in grouping has been attained. This may be fixed at a ring of diameter equal to one-three-hundredth of the range, but officers should exercise their discretion as to allowing one wide shot in five when dealing with young soldiers.
Section 57.—Timed Practices.
1. Deliberate Practices.—In deliberate practices, twenty seconds is the time limit allowed for each shot, reckoned from the act of loading. If there is a tendency to exceed the limit, a whistle should be used to mark the beginning and end of each period, but not otherwise.
2. Timed Exposure of Targets.—The timed exposure of targets for snapshooting and rapid fire practices will be reckoned from the time when the target is in position and stationary to the time when it is again moved for lowering. The movements of raising and lowering must be conducted with the utmost rapidity, but without jarring the target frames.
3. Timing in Rapid Practices.—(i) Timing in rapid practices should be reckoned from the word of command “Rapid Fire,” and fire should be stopped by the command “Cease Fire.” The command “Rapid Fire” should be given as soon as the target appears. The target should be lowered at the end of the time allowed for firing under orders of the officer on butt duty, but the officer superintending at the firing-point should also time the practice and order “Cease Fire” at the end of the time allowed for firing, reckoned from the command “Rapid Fire.” Four points will be deducted for every shot fired after the order to cease fire has been given.
(ii) Charging Magazine in Rapid Practices.—In rapid practices, unless otherwise stated in the “Instructions for the Conduct of the Practice,” the magazine will be charged with four rounds, and the rifle will be loaded before the target appears.
4. Firing from Cover.—(i) In firing from behind cover, the position adopted must be such as would enable the firer on service to obtain the fullest protection from the cover, having due regard to the efficiency of his fire. In the prone position, the grip of the left hand must be maintained on the rifle, and there must be no undue exposure of the shoulder or legs.
(ii) In firing from behind cover, the butt of the rifle will be in contact with the ground, and the firer will remain in observation, but otherwise completely covered, until the command “Rapid Fire” is given in rapid-firing practices, or the target appears in “Snapshooting” and “Crossing-Shot” practices. When snapshooting or firing rapid in the open, the rifle may be held in the loading or aiming position, as preferred.