(2) Dummy cartridges must not be used except on the firing line of the pistol range. The same precautions are observed as in using service ammunition. c. Slow Fire.-(1) The coach stands on the left side of the firer in such a position as to be able to observe the latter’s trigger finger, his grip, his eye, and his position. It is the duty of the coach to correct all errors. The coach fills the magazines for the firer and hands them to him. At the beginning of range practice the magazines should be filled partly with service ammunition and partly with dummy cartridges. The firer must not know how many dummy cartridges are in the magazine or the order in which they are packed. (2) The object of placing dummy cartridges in the mag- azine is to show the coach whether or not the man under instruction Is squeezing the trigger correctly, and in case of an improper trigger squeeze to bring the fact forcibly to the attention of the firer himself. When a loaded cartridge is fired the flinch is often masked by the recoil of the pistol and the firer is not conscious of having flinched. When the hammer falls on a dummy cartridge which the firer thinks is loaded, the sudden stiffening of the muscles and the thrusting forward of the hand to meet the shock that does not come are apparent to everybody in the vicinity, including the firer himself. The mixing of dummy cartridges with service ammunition causes the man to make a determined effort to press the trigger properly for all shots. (3) The firing of scores with dummy cartridges and serv- ice ammunition should not be confined to the early stages of training. It is advisable to have some practice of this kind each day during the entire period of instruction prac- tice. Many expert pistol shots use this form of practice in training for competitions. (4) The following items of instruction are given to a pupil on beginning range practice, even though that person has already done a great deal of shooting. Once a person has been put through this instruction it is usually not neces- sary to repeat it during subsequent periods of range practice. (a) Explain the method of grasping the piece.
AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL..45, M1911 AND M1911A1
b. Rapid fire.
c. Quick fire.
SECTION III
CONDUCT OF RANGE PRACTICE
• 55. Coaching methods.-a Range practice.–(1) The ob-
ject of range practice is to teach the men to apply with a
loaded pistol the principles of good shooting that they have
learned during the preparatory exercises.
(2) Each man while firing must have a coach to correct
him whenever he violates any of these principles.
(3) Slow-fire practice should be carried on until the man
under Instruction thoroughly, understands the principles of
good shooting.
(4) When rapid fire and quick fire are first taken up the
time limit should be extended a few seconds. The time
should then be gradually reduced until the scores are being
fired in the time prescribed for record practice.
b. Dummy Cartridges.-(1) Dummy cartridges are of great
value in teaching both slow and rapid fire.
AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL..45, M1911 AND M1911A1 b. Rapid fire. If pits are used, time is taken at the pits as in rapid fire rifle practice. If pits are not used time is taken at the firing point. The target being up, the soldier stands with the weapon at raise pistol loaded and locked. The command: 1. COMMENCE 2. FIRING, is given and the soldier must fire one score within the prescribed limit of time, at the end of which the command: 1. CEASE 2. FIRING, will be given. Intervals of time are measured from the last words of the commands. c. Quick fire. 54. RECORD Practice.-The following tables prescribe the firing in record practice in the order followed by the individual soldier. The procedure is as in instruction practice.
AUTOMATIC PISTOL CAL .45, M1911 AND M1911A1 This throws out the faulty cartridge and loads in another cartridge. Q. Are there any points about pistol firing that you do not understand? Note.-In all the demonstrations by the man undergoing exami- nation the instructor carefully notes all points that are covered in the preparatory exercises. Each man is put through a thorough test along the line indicated in these questions and answers before he is allowed to fire. SECTION II COURSES TO BE FIRED 52. GENERAL.-AR 775–10 prescribes details as to who will fire and ammunition allowances. 53. INSTRUCTION practice.-The following tables prescribe the firing in instruction practice in the order followed by the individual soldier. Target L is used in much of the practice as the bull’s-eye makes competition keener and shows up errors as no other target can. a. Slow fire. Unlimited time is permitted for slow fire in order to permit proper explanation of the causes of errors and indication of corresponding remedies. It is intended to be the elementary phase of instruction in the proper manipulation of the weapon and for determining and correcting the personal errors of the firer.
AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL..45, M1911 AND M1911A1 Q. What causes this deflection of one end of the pistol when the trigger is given a sudden pressure? A. The sudden pressure itself causes some of it, but most of it is caused by the flinch that always accompanies this kind of a trigger pressure. Q. What does a man do when he flinches in shooting a pistol? A. He usually thrusts his hand forward is if trying to meet the shock by suddenly stiffening all his muscles. Q. Must the trigger always be squeezed slowly in order to do it correctly? A. No. I squeeze it the same way in rapid fire and quick fire. The time is shorter but the process is the same. Q. What is meant by calling the shot? A. To say where you think the bullet will hit as soon as you shoot and before the shot is marked. Q. How can you do this? A. By noticing exactly where the sights point at the time the pistol is fired. Q. If a man cannot call his shot correctly, what does it indicate? A. That he did not squeeze the trigger properly and consequently did not know where the sights were pointed at the instant the discharge took place. Q. Show me how you hold your breath while aiming. Q. Take your pistol. Aim at that bull’s-eye and squeeze the trigger a few times, calling the shot each time. (The instructor particularly notes the holding of the breath.) Q. Show me how you come to a position of aim from raise PISTOL. Q. Show me how you come to the aiming position in draw- ing the pistol from the holster in an emergency. Q. Take this pistol with the cord tied to the hammer and fire a rapid-fire score at that target (simulated fire). Q. Fire a score (simulated fire) at that quick-fire target. I will give the command UP when it is supposed to come into sight, and the command DOWN when it is supposed to be withdrawn from view. Q. What do you do in case a cartridge misses fire? A. I bring the piece to raise PISTOL, grasp the slide with my left thumb and finger, pull the slide fully back and let go of it.
AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL..45, M1911 AND M1911A1 aligned, and he must hold the pistol while aiming so as to see the sights in the same way. Q. Adjust the sights of this sighting bar so that they are in proper alignment with each other. (Verified by instructor.) Q. Now that the sights are properly adjusted, have the small bull’s-eye moved until the sights are aimed at it properly. (Verified by instructor.) Q. Tell me what is wrong with this aim. (The instructor now adjusts the sights of the sighting bar on the bull’s-eye with various very slight errors, requiring the man to point out the error.) Q. Show me how you grip the stock of the pistol. Q. Show me the position you take when you are going to shoot. Q. How do you squeeze the trigger? A. I squeeze it with such a steady increase of pressure as not to know exactly when the hammer will fall Q. If the sights get slightly out of alignment while you are squeezing the trigger, what do you do? A. I hold the pres- sure I have on the trigger and only go on with the increase of pressure when the sights become aligned again. Q. If you do this can your shot be a bad one? A. No. Q. Why? A. Because I cannot flinch for I do not know when to flinch, and the sights will always be lined up with the bull’s-eye when the shot is fired because I never increase the pressure on the trigger except when the sights are properly aligned. Q. When you are practicing in slow fire and your arm becomes unsteady and your aim uncertain, what should you do? ,4. I should come back to raise pistol without firing the shot and then try again after a short rest. Q. If it is impossible for you to hold the pistol very steady, can you still do good shooting? A. Yes; if I press the trigger properly. Q. Tell me why that is. A. Because the natural unsteadi- ness of the arm moves the whole pistol and the barrel remains nearly parallel to the line of sight. But if I give the trigger a sudden pressure the front end of the barrel win be thrown out of line with the target, and the bullets will strike far out from the mark.
AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL..45, M1911 AND M1911A1 will remain up when a strong pressure is applied to the trigger. Q. Show me how you test the half-cock safety device. A. I half cock the pistol, grip the stock, and see if the hammer remains at half cock when pressure is applied to the trigger. Then I take my finger off the trigger, pull the hammer back almost to full cock, and let go of it to see if it stops at half cock as it falls. Q. Show me how you test the disconnector. A. I cock the pistol and grip the stock; then with my left hand I move the slide to the rear a quarter of an inch; I then apply a strong pressure on the trigger and release the slide to see if the hammer will remain up. I also pull the slide fully back until it is held in place by the slide stop; I then grip the stock, apply a strong pressure on the trigger and release the slide by pressing down the slide stop with my left hand. The hammer should remain up after the slide moves forward into place. Q. If the hammer does not remain up after the slide moves forward into place, what does it indicate? .4. That with ball ammunition the pistol would continue to fire automatically as long as pressure is maintained on the trigger, which is very dangerous. Q. If any of the tests of the safety devices fail at any time, what should you do? A. I should report the matter at once to my platoon or company commander. Q. What is this (indicating a sighting bar) ? A. A sighting bar. Q. What is it used for? ,4. To teach men how to aim. Q. Why is It better than a pistol for this purpose? A. Because the sights are much larger and slight errors can be seen more easily and pointed out. Q. What does this represent? ,4. The front sight, Q. What does this represent? A. The rear sight, i Q. What Is this? A. The eyepiece. Q. What is it for? A. To make the man hold his head in the right place so that he will see the sights properly aligned. Q. Is there an eyepiece on the pistol? A. No. A man learns by the sighting bar how the sights look when properly
AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL..45, M1911 AND M1911A1 each man undergoing instruction brings his pistol from raise pistol to the aiming position, aims, fires one shot (simulated fire), and returns his piece to the position of raise pistol. After three or four scores of simulated fire the men of each pair are directed to change places. (7) The coach watches carefully the man going through the exercises and corrects all errors in the grip, position, hold- ing the breath, trigger squeeze, and the manipulation of the piece, paying particular attention to the trigger squeeze. It is advisable to extend the time limit about two seconds for each shot when quick-firing exercise is first taken up. The time is then gradually reduced until it corresponds to the time prescribed for range firing, record practice. (8) When disappearing targets cannot be provided for this exercise it may be held with stationary E targets. The com- mand m, is given to signify that the targets are in sight, and the command down to signify that they have been withdrawn. (9) Practice in quick fire should be held frequently, but the periods of practice should not be of long duration. (I0) If the range is some distance from the area desig- nated for preparatory exercises, or it is impracticable to arrange for a line of bobbing targets, L targets may be substi- tuted for the bobbing targets. • 51. Sixth STEP; examination.-At the completion of the preparatory instruction, the instructor should assure himself by an examination that every man understands thoroughly and can explain every phase of the preparatory training. The questions and answers given below are merely examples. Each man should be required to explain each item in his own words. Instructor: Examine your pistol to see that it is unloaded. Q. What are the safety devices of the pistol? A. The safety lock, the grip safety, the hall-cock notch, and the disconnector. Q. Show me how you test the safety lock. A. I cock the pistol, move the safety lock up into place, and then grip the stock and see if the hammer remains up when pressure is applied to the trigger. Q. Show me how you test the grip safety. ,4. I cock the pistol, see that the safety lock is down and then, without putting any pressure on the grip safety, I see if the hammer
AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL..45, M1911 AND M1911A1 and manipulation of the piece, paying particular attention to the trigger squeeze. (b) Rapid-fire exercises should be frequent but not of long duration. (c) It is advisable to extend the time limits several sec- onds when rapid-fire exercise is first taken up. The time limit is then gradually reduced until it corresponds to the time prescribed for range firing, record practice. • 50. FIFTH STEP; QUICK Fire.-a. Training for quick fire.- (I) The training for quick fire is taken up after the rapid- fire exercise has been practiced sufficiently to be understood thoroughly. Thereafter, exercises in slow fire, rapid fire, and quick fire should all be continued until the end of the period of preparatory training. (2) For each shot the pistol is brought from raise pistol to the aiming position by the shortest route after the target appears. (3) The pistol may be cocked after each shot in this exer- cise either by means of a cord as in rapid-fire exercise, or by using the left hand to pull the hammer back after the position of raise PISTOL is resumed. b. Quick-fire exercise.–(1) Required for this exercise: A line of E targets that can be operated as bobbing targets from a pit or screen, or a line of E targets so arranged on pivots that the edge can be turned toward the firer when the target is not exposed. (2) Give the command: 1. INSPECTION 2. PISTOL, and verify the fact that all pistols are unloaded. (3) Explain to the assembled command that the trigger squeeze is the same in quick fire as in slow fire. (4) Demonstrate the correct method of bringing the piece from RANGE PISTOL to the aiming position. (5) Show how the pistol is cocked between shots when the left hand is used instead of the cord. (6) The above demonstrations having been completed, the men are placed in pairs in front of the line of bobbing targets, one man of each pair to act as coach for the other man. The exercise is then carried on exactly the same as quick fire in range practice. The targets appear, remain in sight the allotted time, and then disappear. After the targets appear
AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL .45, M1911 AND M1911A1 (5) Show how to tie the cord to the thumbpiece of the hammer and cause each man to adjust his cord. (6) Demonstrate the method of cocking the pistol by means of the cord and explain how this simulates the self- loading action of the pistol. (7) Show how the pistol is kept as nearly on the mark as possible during the whole score. Caution the men to avoid unnecessary flourishes or movements between shots. (8) Demonstrate- (a) The action of the pistol in recoil when a shot is fired. (b) How the arm should not be permitted to bend at the elbow. (c) How the pistol should move upward through a small arc and be deflected from the original point of aim only a short distance. (d) How the forefinger should move forward after the explosion only far enough to allow the sear to become re- engaged and immediately thereafter start pressing the trig- ger for the next shot. (e) How the eye should not be allowed to close when the explosion occurs. (f) How the breath should be held for each shot. (9) (a) The above demonstrations having been completed, the men are placed in front of the line of targets in pairs, one to practice and one to coach, The exercise is then carried on exactly the same as rapid fire in range practice. If a line of disappearing targets has been arranged for this exercise the targets appear, remain in sight the allotted time, and then disappear. While the targets are in sight each man undergoing instruction attempts to fire five shots (sim- ulated fire), cocking the piece for each shot except the first by a jerk of the cord with the left hand. (b) If the targets are stationary the exercise begins with the command: 1. COMMENCE 2. FIRING, and ends with the command: 1. CEASE, 2. FIRING. (c) After each three or four scores of simulated fire the men of each pair are directed to change places, the firer becoming the coach and the coach becoming the firer. (10) (a) In this exercise the coach carefully watches the man and corrects all errors in grip, position, trigger squeeze,
