Consistency Breeds Accuracy
Part 2
Adjustment
“The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.” - Kakuzo Okakura
Regardless to how diligently you prepare and develop your surroundings so they are favourable towards achieving your aims. There is always the chance of something contrary occurring. As unwelcome as this maybe it’s not a problem if you’re aware of the potential implications and have the ability to adjust and compensate.
Shot Adjustment - Not on your first shot, not on a bad shot or on a shot within your expected scoring area.
Even with correct application of the four marksmanship principles something might still cause the round to impact elsewhere. It’s important to fully understand and assess the conditions of the first shot before making any adjustments. To do so could likely mean chasing the error and therefore repeating the error complicating and compounding the problem. If your first shot doesn’t impact where you wanted. Simply repeat the process and fire again; one of two things will happen. It will either impact where you want in which case there is no problem or it will impact as the first one did, you now have a trend. This gives you information to make necessary adjustments and to hit your target.
Never on a bad shot. If you know you’ve made an error then you will expect the shot to be off of miss target. There is nothing you can do about that shot, it was your fault. The only course of action is to not repeat the error and apply the marksmanship principles in their entirety for your next shot.
As targets become more difficult, generally due to range and size then you can’t expect to hit a bulls-eye every time. By knowing your ability and that of the weapon, through experience, you will understand the capability and what to expect. Easy targets should expect to be hit centre. As the range increases then the firers ability plays a part on overall performance. If you’re hitting within your capability don’t adjust the sight. Simply improve your capability through progressive practice, getting better by repetition.
To become expert takes time and practise. The first time you do something it’s reasonable to expect the result not to be fully what you desired. By repetition and learning by your mistakes progress is made. Through repetition you develop experience. Through experience you develop good judgment. With measured judgment then you are better placed to assess a situation. If you make an error in judgment then simply don’t repeat the error and go again. Similarly, experience will allow you to understand quicker and identify the cause of error and react to it immediately. In this instance, experience reduces the risk. If you don’t have that experience then you have to assess the risk to see if it’s acceptable.
There comes a point when you can only do what is within your capabilities. As you get better at something then often you need better competition or better equipment to progress further. Or maybe your own skills aren’t fully developed yet. Either way, so long as you are achieving what is within your capabilities and making continued progression and improvements then you are achieving your aim at that time. Keep doing what your doing, follow the process. Consistent practice will lead to improvement.
Factors Effecting The Application of Fire - F.L.A.P.W.I.E
Firing Position
Light
Attachements
Positional Support
Wind
Inefficient Zero
Wet & Oily Ammunition or Chamber
We’ve looked at the basics that you can control and mentioned that some elements you can’t but need to be aware of.
Firing Position.
The more contact your body has with the ground the more stable a fire position you can build. Real life is seldom that accommodating and some degree of elevation is required to see your target. Therefore a sitting, kneeling or even standing position will need to be used. The application of the first MMS principles remains extant. Now other elements become more important to compensate for the stability you’ve had to sacrifice. As the firing position becomes harder to maintain due time and physical capability. You need to be more efficient with the aiming process and shot release.
Whatever situation you’re facing it will rarely be perfect. This isn’t the time to ignore the fundamentals. Their application is even more important. If your foundation preparations are weak in one area then its necessary to compensate in other areas, the ones that you do have more control over.
Light.
The effects of light can play tricks on the firer and force errors. Light on the target can improve visibility making it seem closer. Like wise the clearing of a cloud cover or a change in direction can put the sun in the firers eyes. Significantly effecting the aiming process. This change in conditions can cause problems for the unawares. All of which can be dealt with by prior preparation. A detailed weather study and carrying simple equipment to counter the effects will overcome the problem.
Any given situation can change in an instant. So long as you’re aware that the situation has change then you can adjust accordingly. In most cases some contingency planning before embarking on a journey can make all the difference, giving yourself options when the predictable happens.
Attachments.
A sniper rifle is a precision instrument. Anything that causes changes will effect how it operates. Especially when dealing with long range accurate fire. It is carefully calibrated in its manufactured condition. Attaching anything to it, ranging from camouflage to night viewing devices will affect the internal ballistics and therefore how the round reacts. So long as these effects are understood it’s a simple solution to adjust for within the sight.
If you are already aware that a change in the conditions will impact on what you do then all that is required is a compensating adjustment somewhere else. So long as you have the ability to be able to do that you can accept any changes. Problems occur when you accept something that you can’t influence or mitigate against.
Positional Support.
One way to improve a firing position is to use ‘support’. This could be a purpose built tripod or using your surroundings to fire from a rested / benched position or it could be leaning your body against cover to assist creating the desired stable firing position. This is advantageous but does effect the application of fire, how the round will preform, the firers ability and the point of impact.
We all need support at sometime and it can come from the most unlikely of sources. Support is something we should welcome. It will change a dynamic but if used correctly it will be for the greater good. You may only need that support for a period of time. Until your able to develop a better position. We should be grateful and appreciative of it and always ready to support others in return.
Wind.
Whilst range to the target will effect the vertical axis of a round in flight. Its wind that will have an impact horizontally, deflecting a round left or right. Range is fixed and simpler to judge. Wind however can be much more complex, its effect can be varied at different stages of the bullets trajectory. With practice and experience the wind can be ‘read’. Its effects anticipated and calculations made and dialled into the sight adjustments prior to taking the shot. Should a wind be gusting then a shot should be release when the wind is at its most consistent. Even if that means at its strongest and biggest impact. Doing so creates the longest possible time gap. Keeping other contributing factor the same; consistency breeds accuracy! In a sniper pair, the No2 will make the calls for range and deflection. This is the most experienced of the two. The No2 will be looking at the surrounding factors and influences allowing the No1 to concentrate on the target, the sights and releasing the shot.
External factors and influences will always try and knock us off course, to detract us from our true aim. Having a coach, a mentor or trusted confidant. Someone of experience who understands the effects of outside influences and can provide advice beforehand is invaluable. Their knowledge and experience is passed on for you to develop further and in time do the same for someone else.
Inefficient Zero.
When taking ownership of a rifle all firers will ‘zero it’ at the earliest opportunity. That is he will confirm that the rifle is hitting centre of mass at 100m then slip the sight scales so they read ‘Zero’. Now when shooting from further ranges and different conditions he can make adjustments in the sight to maintain the point of aim being the point of impact. A process completed at regular intervals or doubt of the accuracy. Getting the zeroing process wrong will significantly effect all subsequent shots and negating any learning from them.
We all need to be ‘calibrated’ at some point, make sure that we are performing as we should. Be that physically, mentally or ethically. To not be will ultimately lead to problems and complications. It’s good to, every so often, dial back to basics. To check that everything is in order and you’re ready for the tasks ahead.
Wet & Oily Ammunition or Chamber.
This is a constant hazard, especially in an operating environment. Oil is vital for the efficient working of a rifle but causes problems if it gets in the chamber, effecting the internal ballistics. Care then should be taken and the necessary precautions to protect ammunition from getting wet or oily.
Somethings are unavoidable, you will come across them regardless. Some elements are key to success in one area of life but can be detracting in other areas. We should take steps to separate them but at the same time recognise the importance of what they do in the right situation.
Summary
Being able to adjust is important but knowing when and how to adjust is vital. Ultimately it comes down to preparation. Making a plan but knowing that it will change. Anticipating these changes and having the equipment, facilities and knowledge to react appropriately. Never be scared or to proud to ask for help and support, everyone needs it at some point. Having experienced people to call on to assist can save significant time and effort by avoiding trial and error.
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