Basic Training
Journal: Friday, September 5th
Yesterday and today we were on the range. We did grouping
yesterday. You had to shoot at a paper target about 25 meters
away. The shots could be anywhere on the paper target as long
as you got 6 shots in a 4cm circle. It was pretty stressful
for me since I didn't want to screw up anything...this was
our first day with live rounds. After a few shots I settled
down and got a tight shot group.
There wasn't much waiting because they have lots of concrete
foxholes on the range. Usually you only had a firer and coach
at any given foxhole. The odd guys out had to wait behind
them. The coach loaded the magazine with 3 rounds since we
shot 3 rounds at a time. I was coach first, I didn't want
to fire first anyway until I saw how we were supposed to do
things. After everyone fires their 3 rounds the firers go
halfway downrange and wait for a DS to make his way down and
look at your shot group and they'll give you advice. They'll
say things like "Work on your breathing, trigger squeeze,
sight picture, etc." While the firers are halfway downrange,
the coach collets the 3 expended rounds.
It's not the funnest job being a coach. You have to lay down
right beside the firer and avoid expended rounds. You can
usually avoid them but sometimes one will fly right at you
and burn your skin if you're unlucky enough for it to hit
your face or hands. I only got hit on the hand and it didn't
hurt that bad. If the firer is left handed you don't have
to worry about expended rounds.
For grouping yesterday, you had to fire 6 consecutive rounds
in a 4cm circle, but it could be anywhere on the paper. I
had never shot a gun before, but I was suprised how easy it
was to shoot the M16. The recoil wasn't bad at all, and the
ear plugs deadened the sound.
It took me about 24 shots until I got grouped. A very rare
few grouped in 6, but most took at least 15 shots. If you
were doing very good, the DS would adjust your elevation and
windage knob, and/or rear sight. That's actually the process
of zeroing, they adjust your gun so your shots hit the small
black target on the center of the paper. You're supposed to
aim the exact same way and not adjust at all because they
cater the gun to you.
I was hitting the black at the start but I'd have one or
two shots out of 6 that were too loose. I got the hang of
it though and got grouped in 24 shots, which was right around
the average.
Today we went to the range to zero. I did better this time.
You had to have 5 of 6 consecutive shots in a 4cm circle at
the center of the target. I did it in 15 shots, which was
pretty good. I was surprised when DS Bailey slapped me on
the back and told me "Good job". We don't get to
keep our paper targets and you don't get many good looks at
it, but I could see I had a pretty tight shot group.
When the firer is done, the coach becomes the firer and the
firer becomes the coach. When both of you are done, you get
off the range and clean your weapon. You have to wait for
everyone to group and zero, so you sit around a lot. We're
out on the range from breakfast time to lunch. We then go
back to the bay and clean and oil our weapon, turn them in,
shine boots, etc.
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