Kitabı oku: «A.B.C. of Snap Shooting», sayfa 4

USEFUL HINTS

Without attempting to treat the subject exhaustively, I will give some hints on aiming, which being taken by a beginner, will save him much time.

Long practice teaches one to hold in certain positions, under certain circumstances, but the majority of gunners cannot give reasons for their doing so.

Point Blank means aiming directly at the object without making visible allowance for depression or windage.

When a rifle is sighted to shoot point blank a given distance, the front sight is filed off, which acts to depress the line of the sights, or elevate the line of the bore, which is the same thing, sufficient to counteract the effect of gravity on the bullet.

When firing point blank at a given distance it is natural to suppose, though all know to the contrary, that the bullet travels in a straight line between the rifle and the target; or in other words, that the trajectory is flat, and that the line of the sights and line of the bore of the rifle are parallel.

Flat trajectory is impossible, because the instant the bullet leaves the rifle it is under the influence of gravity, and in traveling an inch even is depressed by it.

For convenience of description I will call this elevation of the line of the bore The Line of Elevation.

I shall also term that part of the circle between the horizontal and perpendicular above, the Upper Quadrant; and that part between the horizontal and perpendicular below, the Lower Quadrant, and use the figures on the dial of a clock to indicate the positions of hits on the target.

A gun is Canted when a perpendicular line drawn from the line of the sights will not intersect the line of elevation.

"Shooting Straight" (an expression legalized by use) means hitting a target at the point which is in line with the sights.

When a rifle is canted, no matter how little, it will not shoot straight.

Unless the contrary is stated it is always supposed that you are firing point blank at the range for which the rifle is sighted.

A bullet projected from a rifle canted to one side, say the left, at right angles to the upright position, will hit half-past seven o'clock, because the line of elevation throws it to the left just as much as gravity pulls it down, to counteract which influence the rifle must be aimed at half-past one o'clock.

If the rifle be held upside down it will shoot very low, because the line of elevation and gravity both act to depress it.

Held in any position between these, the two regular causes of deflection, gravity and elevation, will influence the shot; counteracting or aiding each other with mathematical precision, as they approach or depart from each other; in the upright position, just counteracting; in the inverted position aiding each other; and in the side position pulling down at an angle of 45 degrees.

In shooting at point blank range horizontally, the line of elevation is just counteracted by gravity.

In shooting straight up or straight down there is no lateral attraction to affect the course of the bullet, gravity acting only to aid or retard its speed, consequently the line of elevation will throw it off the target the full distance.

In shooting at any point in either the upper or lower quadrants, aim low; the lower as you approach either perpendicular.

The speed of a bullet diminishes as it travels, and as it requires much greater time to make the second than the first hundred yards, gravity has more time to depress it in that distance.

In bending backwards to shoot, remember that the rifle is inverted.

The flight of a bullet is not in a perfect curve; at first it travels almost straight, then curves gradually, then abruptly, till finally when it has lost its momentum, it drops perpendicularly, affected only by gravity.

If you are stationary and your target moves, aim ahead.

If you are in motion and your target is stationary aim behind, because your motion is given to the bullet.

If you and your target are both moving in the same direction at the same speed, near each other, aim at it, but if the distance be great, aim ahead, because your target keeps up its speed, while the momentum which you have given the bullet decreases as it travels.

The force of wind being irregular and capricious must be judged from personal observation and experience, but remember, that like gravity, it has more time to deflect a bullet during its second than during its first hundred yards flight.

Hold the gun firmly against your shoulder to prevent its kicking.

To counteract recoil, hold yourself against it by making a slight movement forward as you fire.

The general fault in aiming, in snap shooting, is over-aiming.

The front sight should always be brought well down in the rear sight, which is facilitated by having sufficient drop to the stock of the piece.

Aim at an object going straight away from you, as if it were rising.

TARGET PRACTICE
COMPARED WITH SNAP SHOOTING

The shooting at still targets, either off-hand or from a rest, judging windage and the elevation required, nice cleaning, regular loading, etc., are very scientific and good practice for sharp shooting, but unfit one for snap shooting.

To be able to judge distance, windage, the height above or depression below the level, the speed and direction the object is moving, while you count one, two, three, is the skill which this system endeavors to teach, and which is solidly practical.

To stand for one or two minutes, with the elbow resting on the hip, and the hand twisted in an awkward position underneath the trigger guard waiting for a season of partial paralysis to steady the aim, for any purposes other than sharp shooting, is unpractical.

To rest, either standing or lying is more unpractical still.

To be able, in spite of shaky nerves, to throw the rifle, bullet and all at the object in an instant, is practical.

A good snap shot can shoot better off-hand than from a rest, and does not close either eye, when he aims.

Keeping both eyes open comes unsought with practice, and indicates that the gun has become the servile weapon, which finds its way to its place between the eyes and the object, without demanding attention, and delivers its charge direct at the bidding of the master, whose both eyes are intently watching the course of the target.

The brain and finger become so sympathetic that the firing is done almost without bidding.