|
Incorrect: Too much foresight. |
Incorrect: Too little foresight. | Correct |
Fig. 13.—Faults in Aiming.
2. Inaccurate Centring of the Foresight in the Notch of the Backsight.—The soldier should understand that this inaccuracy will deflect the muzzle of the rifle to the side on which the line of aim is taken. For example, if aim be taken over the right edge of the notch the direction of the line of fire will be to the right of the line of sight.
3. Inclining the Backsight to one Side.—In this case the bullet will strike low and to the side towards which the sights are inclined. The resulting error will be considerable at long ranges.
4. Fixing the Eyes on the Foresight and not on the Object.—(i) If the eye is focussed on the foresight, the firer will retain only a blurred image of the target. This may not affect the result of his shooting at the distinct stationary bull’s-eye target, but when firing at troops in neutral-tinted uniforms, whether stationary or in movement, or at natural features of ground, it is essential for fire effect that the eye should be focussed not on the foresight, but on the target, which must be watched closely while firing.[11]
(ii) Unless service targets are closely watched while aiming, the firer will be apt to lose them altogether, or see them as a blurred image at the moment of firing, with consequent loss of fire effect. For this reason it is of great importance that recruits should, from the earliest stage of their training, be taught to aim at service targets with the eye focussed on the target, and not on the foresight. If early stages of instruction were confined to the aiming at the bull’s-eye target, the fault of focussing the eye on the foresight in aiming might be contracted owing to the distinct nature of this mark, which makes it possible to aim at it with the eye fixed on the foresight. ([See Appendix, VII.], para. 2.)
Section 18.—Triangle of Error.
1. The following method of recording a triangle of error will be employed to test proficiency in aiming, and to demonstrate the errors which will arise from inaccuracies.
2. The rifle will be placed on an aiming-rest, and pointed at a sheet of blank white paper, fixed to any convenient object at a distance of about 10 yards from the muzzle. A second aiming-rest should be used to steady the head in aiming.