Posted on Jan 3, 2015
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I have heard everything from, kevlar too tight/loose, gloves, camelbak was in the way, can't fire with knee/elbow pads, never fired with a vest/kevlar in BCT, couldn't see anything, etc.
Posted in these groups: 
Excuses
Marksmanship
Excuses Marksmanship
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 122
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My favorites are the ones that can't close just one eye. I used to keep a couple pairs of eye glasses with no lenses & tape over the left or right side. I ran a lot of ranges, and even if I wasn't the 1st line, I could give them the glasses and see dramatic improvement pretty fast.
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SFC Walter Mack
SPC (Join to see) , it was a young Soldier like yourself that taught me that. As usual, all my best ideas are the result of someone else's genius.
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PFC Kevin Shelbrock
Who is teach people to shoot with one eye closed? That is absolutely ridiculous. peripheral vision for target acquisition is out the window if your doing that...
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SFC Walter Mack
Well PFC Kevin Shelbrock , I was a Marine Infantryman, and I've maintained an expert rifle badge for 19 years, so I'd say my resume isn't ridiculous. Different people learn to shoot different ways. Ultimately, it's being faster and better than the person on the other end of your barrel that matters most. It's the instructor's job to help you get there. To address your comment, it is best to keep both eyes open until you acquire your target, then concentrate on the front site post with your dominant eye in lining up the target. Some people have a hard time with the transition. They may be less efficient overall in combat, but I work in a hospital now and we don't have a lot of time for reflexive fire drills or combat patrols.
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SSG (Join to see)
"The magnetic variance of the earth is odd because of the upcoming lunar eclipse. That's why my weapon keeps shaking!"
Leave it to Commo Soldiers to nerd up the excuse.
Leave it to Commo Soldiers to nerd up the excuse.
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1SG Bill Farmerie
Actually one of the last ranges I went to, I was informed by the safety I was shooting the major's targets in the next lane. He couldn't hit shit. We both still ended up qualifying (him only because I hit the first 10 targets. I usually shot expert as I had a great NCO who was my section sergeant at my 2nd duty station who taught me as a young SPC as he was once on the Army competition team
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PO1 James Booker
I shoot with guys from the AMU and MMU at matches all over...including Camp Perry and the Nationals. Anyhoo...I was shooting the center out of the target standing @200yds. This is the hardest position to score well for most and IF you can walk away with a good score you have a good chance of placing high when going back to the 300yd line and then to 600 at the end. I was feeling great as I came down to my last couple of shots. I was "in the zone" and dialed in. Felt nothing, heard nothing...just a stone cold target focus. 9th shot down range was an "x". I grabbed my next round, chambered it...then it happened. I calculated that all I needed to do was stay in the 9 ring to walk off with my best score...a 97. Next round off...felt great. I had a great sight picture, called it a 10...but the target never disappeared into the pits. WTF???I looked at the scorer(An MMU Gunny)and he had a look of horror. All of the sudden I realized the target NEXT to me had dropped...but that shooter was already done. My target came up marked a miss...the other came up. "X"...My whole day/match was done for after that. Walked off with a pedestrian score but the psycho damage was done. Laughed it off though...happens to EVERY match shooter eventually!
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"My eyes were sweating, sir."
I told him there is no crying at the range.
My favorite was "the targets are too far away and the ground is uneven" I heard that in Korea.
I told him there is no crying at the range.
My favorite was "the targets are too far away and the ground is uneven" I heard that in Korea.
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The batteries in the lithium sights must be dead... bent barrel.... crooked bullets....sun in eyes....
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This isn't MY weapon, PVT Shmedlap 2 foxholes down has MY weapon, the one I qualified on the range with last time. I asked them (not that all of us remember) what there serial number was. They rattle it off and I checked the weapon, and lo and behold the soldier is firing THEIR weapon as I'm LMAO over their "excuse".
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MSG (Join to see)
I still remember my rifle # from Iraq. But then, my brain is wired for remembering weird crap
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Not just Privates who can't Shoot, I've seen Officers as well as NCOs who have a rough time shooting, even at an Alternate Qual range. Usually they cannot grasp the basics of marksman ship. I heard everything from the weapons screwed to well I just can't or the uniform affecting my ability. I believe the Army doesn't devote enough time to basic marksman ship. Thearine Corps. However devotes a whole week to basic shooting on a Known Distance Range. They qualify up to 500 M and they stress the basics and it pays off. If you want to increase Marksmanship I suggest taking a note from the Marines.
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I had an interesting thing happen to me while qualifying in basic training. The first few targets drop just fine, then all of a sudden, I squeeze the trigger and nothing happens. I chamber a new round, try again, and once more nothing happens. I should have raised my hand after that, but no, my dumb a$$ decided to try one more time. I squeeze the trigger, and it feels stiff, but I keep going and the damn thing starts firing in full auto! I just threw the weapon down in front of me and waited to be killed. I think there were two drill sergeants and a couple of cadre behind me before I could even turn around. I thought I was going to get a boot to the head right there.
My drill sergeant picks up my weapon and says "There better be a rock in your lower receiver." I prayed really hard for a rock and, thank God, there was one! It was a big one, and I have no idea how it got there, but it was Ft. Leonard Wood, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised to find a rock anywhere.
I hind sight, I should have asked to keep the rock. When you consider what would have happened to me had it not been there, it was kind of a lucky rock. I loved that rock.
My drill sergeant picks up my weapon and says "There better be a rock in your lower receiver." I prayed really hard for a rock and, thank God, there was one! It was a big one, and I have no idea how it got there, but it was Ft. Leonard Wood, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised to find a rock anywhere.
I hind sight, I should have asked to keep the rock. When you consider what would have happened to me had it not been there, it was kind of a lucky rock. I loved that rock.
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While a Cadet, I recall an accuracy challenged peer blame the M16 as the reason he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a bass fiddle on the zero range.
Our Green Beret SGM replied, "Really? Let me see that."
He got down in the prone, inserted a full magazine and commenced to empty it in rapid succession. The SGM had cut out a small, silver dollar sized hole in the middle of the zero target.
He handed it to the cadet and said (basically): "I don't think this weapon is your problem."
Our Green Beret SGM replied, "Really? Let me see that."
He got down in the prone, inserted a full magazine and commenced to empty it in rapid succession. The SGM had cut out a small, silver dollar sized hole in the middle of the zero target.
He handed it to the cadet and said (basically): "I don't think this weapon is your problem."
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I'll never forget basic training when we were zeroing our m16s before the range....one of my fellow soldiers was having such a hard time that the drill sergeant made him put down his weapon, pick up a handful of rocks to throw at the target
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