5. Faults of Firer shown by Shot Groups.—For example, a very small group well placed shows consistency of aim, trigger-pressing, and holding. If badly placed, it may show inaccuracy of the rifle, or a constant error in aiming. A group dispersed vertically on the target shows vertical variation either of the amount of foresight, or of the point of aim; whilst a group dispersed horizontally shows incorrect centring of the foresight in the notch of the backsight, or horizontal errors in aiming. A group low left may show forward movement of the shoulder; and one low right may show jerking the trigger, and high right flinching. These faults, however, can only be ascertained if the firer has been watched closely whilst firing.
6. Analysis of Faults.—(i) Thus, grouping practices are valuable for discovering and correcting the faults of the firer at the commencement of his instruction on the range. Instructors should carefully note the positions of good groups as well as bad ones, for some constant error in aiming or fault of the rifle may thus be discovered, which will escape notice in application practices when every shot is signalled, and error is attributed to wind or other causes for which allowance is easily made in sighting. Such errors are not uncommon even among marksmen, and often affect their shooting unfavourably in field practices when the result of each shot is not signalled.
(ii) Testing Rifle for Faults.—Should a soldier make a bad group, and the rifle is suspected, it should at once be fired under similar conditions by a reliable marksman. Should the marksman also make a bad group with the rifle, the rifle should be tested according to the rules laid down in Musketry Regulations, and, if found inaccurate, the man to whom the rifle belongs should be allowed to recommence the course, the necessary ammunition being found from the authorized allowances. If the rifle is proved accurate, the soldier’s aim should next be tested by the triangle of error, and his let-off should be tested by means of the aim-corrector. His eyesight should also be examined.
(iii) Faults due to Nervousness, etc.—If no other cause for constant faults can be discovered, unsteadiness may be traced to illness, to some habitual excess, such as cigarette smoking, to lack of determination, or to nervousness due to some natural or exciting cause. If faults are found to be due to nervousness or lack of will-power, the best remedy lies in developing the power of nerve and muscular control through physical exercises which develop these powers.[26] Rope-climbing is a good exercise for developing nerve and will-power.
(iv) Faults due to Firing Position, Eyesight, etc.—Faults may sometimes be remedied at once by correcting the fire positions, by allowing time to elapse between the shots, or by snapping practice. Some men can aim quickly, but lose their power of seeing objects well defined if the eye is strained by dwelling on aim. Thus, the cause of the failure may sometimes be due to the firer’s effort to succeed. By dwelling too long on aim the muscles of the eye become tired, the vision becomes blurred, and the will-power is impaired. It is necessary to take time in overcoming difficulties in such cases. In serious cases the soldier should be examined medically with a view to discharge, or the provision of proper glasses.
(v) Record of Analysis of Faults.—A complete analysis of the faults of the firer and his rifle should be made before leaving the range, and a note should be made on the register of the steps decided upon for remedying defects.
7. Application Practices.—(i) When a man has acquired sufficient skill in aiming and trigger-pressing to make a good group with certainty, he will commence application practices. These teach the firers to adjust their sights and point of aim so as to apply the result of their groups to an aiming mark.
(ii) Application practices should be fired first at bull’s-eye targets similar to those used for grouping, but when once a man becomes proficient at these easy targets, figure targets should be used. Figure targets have been devised to accustom men gradually to the difficult targets which will be found in war, and also to counteract the following faults: (a) Taking too long an aim; (b) taking a fine sight; (c) focussing the eye on the foresight instead of the target at the moment of firing. All these are common errors when a bull’s-eye target is used.
(iii) Grouping standards may in some cases be attached to application practices in order to emphasize the importance of care and consistency in shooting. In application practices instruction is given in making allowance for atmospheric influences, chiefly cross-winds; but it is not desirable that trifling changes of wind should be met by minute adjustment of the wind-gauge. The instructor should call upon the soldier to estimate the wind before firing, and tell him the corrected allowance which he is to place on his sights. Subsequent alteration should be unnecessary. In application, and, in fact, any practice, small adjustments of sights should be discouraged. The point of aim should be varied as may be found necessary to counteract any error of the rifle.