Section 3 EO C206.02 – PRACTICE AIMING TECHNIQUES
Resources needed for the delivery of this lesson are listed in the lesson specification located in A-CR-CCP-802/PG-001, Chapter 4. Specific uses for said resources are identified throughout the Instructional Guide within the TP for which they are required.
Review the lesson content and become familiar with the material prior to delivering the lesson.
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Demonstration and performance was chosen for TP1 and TP3 as it allows the instructor to explain and demonstrate aiming techniques while providing an opportunity for the cadets to practice these skills under supervision.
An interactive lecture was chosen for TP2 to introduce the aspects of aiming.
Review the following points from EO M106.03 (Apply Basic Marksmanship Techniques).
The aiming process is achieved by adopting a comfortable prone position and ensuring body alignment with the target.
Sight alignment is the alignment of the eye, the rear sight, and the front sight.
The sight picture is obtained by keeping the bull’s-eye centred with the circles of the front sight and rear sight.
By the end of this lesson the cadet shall have practiced aiming techniques.
It is important for cadets to practice aiming techniques while wearing the cadet air rifle sling as it will enhance the cadets’ marksmanship skills through added stability of the firing position.
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Teaching point 1
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Explain, Demonstrate and Have Cadets Practice Proper Eye Usage
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Time: 15 min
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Method: Demonstration and Performance
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Before completing a manual task, it must first be determined which hand or foot to use. Is one left or right-handed? The same is true for sight; it must first be determined the proper eye to use when aiming the cadet air rifle. To do this cadets’ must determine their master eye, learn to fire with both eyes open and avoid fixed vision.
Everyone has a master eye, which is the brain’s main source for the visual image of what we see. The non-master eye is used by the brain for depth perception or sense of direction. The master eye is the eye to be used when aiming the cadet air rifle.
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The master eye is usually on the same side of the body as the dominate hand. If your master eye is opposite from your dominate hand, you should try firing on the side of your master eye. |
The objective of this activity is to have the cadets determine their master eye.
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1.Have cadets stand and face away from each other.
2.Select a small object preferably at least 5 m away.
3.Face the object and extend both arms in front of the face.
4.Form a small triangle opening around the object with both hands.
5.Look through the opening at the object, and draw the hands back towards the face.
6.Ensure the object remains centred through the opening of the hands.
7.Cadets should be looking at the object through the opening with one single eye (the stronger of the two). This is their master eye.
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The human eyes are always working together. If one eye is closed, the opposite eye will strain and affect focusing of the open eye.
Some cadets will have difficulty focusing, so a blinder should be used in front of the non-aiming eye to help prevent squinting and fatigue. The blinder allows the cadets to see a focused sight picture while having both eyes open.
A good blinder should be translucent (plastic or paper) so that images are blocked, but light can still penetrate it. It should be easily attachable to the rear sight or to the cadet’s glasses.
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Have cadets look at a spot on the wall with both eyes open, then have cadets hold a blank piece of white paper in front of their non-aiming eye. The object should come into a clear focus. |
When anyone’s vision is fixed on one object for more than a few seconds, such as a target bulls-eye, the image can be burned in their mind and a “ghost” image can be seen when glancing to the side. It is important for cadets to avoid this fixed vision during marksmanship training, as it may result in a loss of visual perception and can greatly hinder performance. To avoid fixed vision, cadets need only to blink or slightly shift their vision every four to five seconds.
The cadets’ participation in determining the master eye will serve as the confirmation of this TP.
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Teaching point 2
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Identify and Explain Aspects of Aiming
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Time: 25 min
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Method: Interactive Lecture
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Before cadets can aim the cadet air rifle with accuracy, they must first identify aspects of aiming. To do this cadets must understand that the sight system of the cadet air rifle, natural head position, and eye relief all work together when aiming.
The sight system of the cadet air rifle is made up of two main components – the front sight and the rear sight.
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Explain to the cadets that the front and rear sights of the cadet air rifle must be used together when acquiring a sight picture. |
Front Sight. The front sight of the cadet air rifle is made of a short tube, which is called a hood. The hood is designed to shield the front sight from overhead and side light. The most common front sights used for the cadet air rifle is the aperture or circle sight. The aperture is inserted in the hood through a slit on the top.
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The adjusting of the sights on the cadet air rifle will be covered in Year Three. Instruct the cadets that they are not to make any adjustments to the sights. |
Rear Sight. The adjustable rear sight of the cadet air rifle has three main parts; peep sight, elevation knob, and windage knob.
Peep Sight. The peep sight is the penny-sized dish-shaped part at the rear of the sight. It has a small hole in the centre to look through.
Elevation Knob. The elevation knob is on the top of the sight and moves the point of impact on the target up or down.
Windage Knob. The windage knob is on the side of the sight and moves the point of impact on the target left or right.
The head should be kept as close as possible to a natural position, allowing the eyes to look straight forward from the eye socket. It is perfectly normal to tilt the head forward slightly, but cadets must resist allowing it to tilt to the left or right as this may affect their sense of balance.
Eye relief is the distance between the eye and the peep sight on the rear sight. Depending on an individual’s build and position, the distance is usually 5 to 15 cm. Eye relief should be comfortable, natural and allow the head to be as erect as possible during the firing process. It is important to maintain the same eye relief from shot to shot and to find an eye relief that allows a circle of light to be seen around the front sight while looking through the rear sight. If the eye relief is less than 5 cm, the line of white around the front sight becomes larger, making the sight picture more difficult to keep aligned.
What are the two main components of the cadet air rifle sight system?
What are the three parts of the rear sight?
What is the usual distance for eye relief?
The front and rear sights.
The peep sight, elevation knob and windage knob.
5 to 15 cm.
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Teaching point 3
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Explain, Demonstrate and Have Cadets Practice Marksmanship-related
Breathing
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Time: 15 min
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Method: Demonstration and Performance
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Breathing supplies the blood stream with oxygen and eliminates waste elements (such as carbon dioxide) from the blood. While breathing, the oxygen inhaled is used to supply muscles with energy, ensuring optimal potential of the muscles. Just like in sports, controlled breathing can affect marksmanship outcomes.
Once a stable prone position is established, cadets must integrate the principles of controlled breathing. For maximum stability when firing, cadets will have to hold their breath for five to seven seconds. It is very important that they do not hold their breath for more than seven seconds, as tension will increase in the chest, muscles will lack oxygen and stability will be reduced. When the body lacks oxygen, muscles will quiver and eyesight will be negatively affected.
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During the breathing sequence, cadets should confirm that the cadet air rifle is moving up and down and it is not canted. Also, when breathing in and out, cadets can visually confirm that they are aiming on the proper diagram. |
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ACTIVITY
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Time: 10 min
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The objective of this activity is to have cadets practice a controlled breathing sequence.
Cadet air rifles (one per firing lane).
Cadet air rifle slings (one per air rifle).
Cadet air rifle safety rods (one per air rifle).
Suitable targets (one per firing lane).
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1.Divide the cadets into groups based on the number of air rifles available.
2.Have cadets adopt the prone position using the cadet air rifle sling.
3.Have the cadets relax and breathe normally.
4.Have the cadets obtain a sight picture.
5.Have the cadets inhale and exhale deeply.
6.Have the cadets inhale deeply and exhale normally.
7.Have the cadets relax the chest muscles, hold a breath for 5 to 7 seconds and squeeze the trigger.
8.Have the cadets exhale completely and resume normal breathing.
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It is important for cadets not to fire if they feel they want to take another breath. Their shot will not be perfect and their end result will be affected. Relaxed breathing decreases “vibrations” caused by tension. |
Ensure control at all times. Cadets will treat air rifles as though they are loaded.
The cadets’ participation in the controlled breathing activity will serve as the confirmation of this TP.
What is the master eye used for in marksmanship?
How much eye relief is between the eye and the rear sight?
During a controlled breathing sequence, what direction should the cadet air rifle move?
To aim the cadet air rifle.
5 to 15 cm.
Up and down.
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Breathing is essential to marksmanship as it supplies the muscles with oxygen and helps the cadet to maintain the prone position. With practice using the controlled breathing sequence, cadets can improve their aiming of the cadet air rifle and marksmanship scores can improve.
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A0-027 A-CR-CCP-177/PT-001 D Cdts 3. (2001). Canadian Cadet Movement: Cadet Marksmanship Program Reference Manual. Ottawa, ON: Department of National Defence.
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