Section 73.—Range Practices.
1. Arrangement of Target.—The arrangement of the Target for grouping and application practices is shown in [Fig. 53]. This arrangement must be modified if the practice is an instructional one, fewer targets being used, as it may not be found possible to accommodate eight firers and eight instructors at the firing-point at the same time. In this case targets should be placed on Tier A only. The arrangement of the Target for observation practices is described in Appendix VII, para. 6, and shown in [Fig. 57].
2. Grouping Practices.—The dimensions of the rings to be used in measuring groups in grouping practices fired on miniature ranges are given in Sec. 49, para. 6 (xi). Instruction will be carried out on the principles laid down in Sec. 52, and Sec. 56. The conditions of practices are laid down in Tables A and B.
3. Instructional Practices.—The conditions of these practices are laid down in Tables A and B.
4. Observation Practices.—These practices can be carried out with figures to practise men in the duties described in Sec. 47, para. 4. The range may be estimated by the size of the figure fired at, and aim corrected by observing the results of fire as the bullets strike the sawdust bank or paper screen (see Sec. 74, para. 6, Practice No. 4).
Section 74.—Field Practices, Night Firing and Competitions.
1. Arrangement of Target and Number of Firers.—The arrangement of the Target for individual and collective field practices is shown in Figs. 55 and 56, and fully described in the Official Handbook mentioned in the Appendix, VII, para. 1. Targets may be arranged on both tiers. If necessary, as many as eight men may fire individual field practices at the same time. Six or eight men under a fire-unit commander is a convenient number for firing collective field practices either on the Target or landscapes. The Firers may represent a single fire-unit under its commander, or be divided into two or more fire-units, each under its own commander. The arrangement of landscapes for collective field practices is shown in Figs. 57 and 58, and described in the Official Handbook referred to above.
2. Conditions of Practices.—(i) The conditions of practices as laid down in this chapter may be varied at the discretion of the instructor to suit the skill of firers. Instructors should encourage fire-unit commanders and men to devise the conditions of practical individual and collective field practices. Interest will be added to a practice if men are allowed, under his supervision, to arrange the scenery and place targets in position for practices to be carried out by their comrades. Before commencing, the object of each practice will be explained to the firers by the instructor.
(ii) After firing, the squad will proceed to the Target, when the results of firing will be criticized and the causes of failure discussed. Hits on figure targets will be counted for scoring according to the rules laid down in the field practices in Chapter VIII and in Appendix, VI, paras. 4 and 5. Rifles are to be loaded before or after commencement of practice or appearance of targets, as ordered. Movement may be carried out by running distances representing an advance either outside the range or between firing-point and butt, due precautions being taken to avoid accidents.
3. Individual Field Practices—(i) Demonstrations.—Individual field practices may with advantage commence with demonstrations carried out with or without firing on the Target, arranged with scenery and figures to illustrate lectures on important subjects, such as justification for opening fire, choice of targets, and the duties of men working in pairs.