The Marksmanship Handbook

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Marksmanship is a core skill of the infantry and good marksman are key asset covering long range weapons platforms from Rifles to Snipers. They are able to accurately hit targets and group shots over long distances.

Use milliradian tools to obtain a range to the target, by applying the core concept that at 1000 meters, 1 milliradian equals 1 metre.

Look at the target and fire the laser rangefinder to obtain an exact range to the target.

Adjust your aiming point vertically relative to the target by:

• estimating the distance to the target visually
• adjusting based on previous shot impacts

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

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.

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

Use an appropriate shooting stance for the engement while taking into account available cover, sight stability and mobility requirements.

• 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

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.

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.

Understand the implications of the effective range of a rifle as a result of:

• muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient causing instability of the bullet in flight
• stopping power at extended ranges

Both factors become will worsen quickly once the bullet becomes subsonic

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

• 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

Input and confirm equipment information entered into the ATragMX, including:

• Rifle, scope and bullet information
• Any conversions needed to enter the ballistic coefficient in C1 or G1 format
• Use of the drop truing feature to refine ballistic coefficient
• Correct latitude to compensate for the Coriolis effect

Measure using the Kestrel and enter readings for the following values as appropriate at each new firing position:

• Altitude
• Temperature
• Barometric pressure 
• Humidity 

Measure wind readings using the Kestrel and convert them to enter into the ATragMX, including the following parameters:

• An accurate reading of headwind velocities
• An accurate reading of wind direction
• Interpreting wind direction as an o'clock value for ATragMX entry

Utilizing both the ATragMX Target Speed Estimation screen and a mil-dot scope:

• Ensure shot parameters are input accurately
• Precisely time target movement relative to travel a fixed number of MRADs

Consider the limitations of the ATragMX suite alongside changes in environmentals as a bullet travels downrange and adjust ballistic solutions as appropriate.

• 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