FM/BS-276 - Adjust your aiming point for range to target
Adjust your aiming point vertically relative to the target by:
- estimating the distance to the target visually
- adjusting based on previous shot impacts
Marksmanship Handbook
The FM outlines our core skills, policies and guides to ensure every member stands ready for the mission ahead.
FM/BS-298 - Adjust your aiming point for moving targets
Adjust your aiming point horizontally, relative to the target, by:
- estimating the target speed visually
- estimating the distance to the target visually
- adjusting based on previous shot impacts
FM/BS-296 - Control weapon sway caused by breathing
Hold your breath when pulling the trigger to ensure steady aim.
Follow these principles for more effective breath control:
- Be efficient and keep the held duration short to avoid getting winded.
- Time your hold in the brief respiratory pause at the bottom of the movement cycle to better predict placement.
- Learn to compensate for respiratory sway, as situations may arise that expose this technique as privileged for time.
FM/BS-283 - Take into account bore offset when aiming your rifle
When aiming your rifle, remember that at close ranges bullets will hit lower than what your sight is indicating because the sight is mounted above the barrel. This effect is even more pronounced if you are using the backup sights on a scope.
Above: Sight line vs Bore line
FM/BS-297 - Use an appropriate shooting stance
Use an appropriate shooting stance for the engement while taking into account available cover, sight stability and mobility requirements.
FM/BS-429 - Manually adjust for bullet drop using a range card
- Look up the vertical deviation caused by gravity using the range to target and a range card
- Integrate the calculated value into the final ballistics solution
FM/BS-428 - Adjust follow-up shots to correct misses correlating to your sight picture
Adjust for misses by correcting for the observed impact through any of the following core principles:
- with any sight, estimating the impact offset and holding its inverse,
- with a milliradian sight, reading the impact offset in mrad to hold the inverse of that exact amount,
- with a milliradian sight, reading the impact offset in mrad to dial in the inverse of that exact amount on the scope.
FM/BS-417 - Understand inherent rifle precision
Understand the effects of internal ballistics on the accuracy of a rifle measured in mrad or MOA, causing an inevitable random dispersion around the correctly zeroed point of aim, that does not dictate an adjustment of the shot.
Instead recognise the precision limitations of individual rifles and how to work with them.
FM/BS-295 - Choose a suitable overwatch position
Utilise overwatch positions that have a good combination of the following factors:
- cover/concealment
- line of sight
- egress options
Consider relocation when a position is compromised, i.e. when shooting from it
FM/BS-419 - Communicate adjustments of shots
- Interpret adjustments from spotting prior impacts
- Communicate the adjustment by specifying what action the shooter needs to take to get from the impact point towards the target on the next shot