Army to Kill Marksmanship Test Shortcut that Made Soldiers Less Deadly

PFC Phillip Lord - Not really a crock of shit. I was a horrible shot when I started my service. It wasn't until I found the right shooting coach that I started getting better. By the time my service was over, I was a 40/40 expert marksman. I had no interest in shooting guns after I got out of the Army. It wasn't until 3-4 years later when the whole "ban AR style rifles" nonsense began that I went out and purchased one. I had to re-learn how to shoot. It didn't take very long, took a solid day... but I couldn't just pick it up and fire at targets. Took almost a whole day to zero properly and get a right group. Part of the reason was i had to shoot differently. In the Army, i shot nose to charging handle to maintain sight picture. I had a folding stock installed on my new rifle, which prevented me from shooting this way. If i did, the adapter would hit my front teeth on recoil (which hurt a lot). I had to find a new landmark to maintain sight picture. Next day though, I was hitting beer bottles from 50-100 meters away. It came back quick.

SGT Suraj Dave - Sounds about my experience. I now have bifocals, and I think confidence is a lot to do with it as well. Its a whole new world going from 20/20 eyesight to bifocals and trying to shoot. I tried to shoot an AR about 13 years ago, I had actually bought it. Trying to shoot through the factory sight with my eyes was a joke. I sold it to my son because I am at the point where if it does not have a scope, its not working for me. When I got married in 86, my brother in law had an old German bolt action rifle, I think it was an 8mm. I hit a one gallon gas can with it at 100m with open sights and he was amazed. At that point, I was only a few years removed from a rifle range, and thought it was no big deal. Now, no way I could do that with an open sight. I might know all the fundamentals of shooting properly, but you still have to see what your shooting at well enough to hit it. Its why I was so surprised I shot that tight pattern sighting in my deer rifle. I had not shot a rifle in 12 years, and its not like riding a bike for me. Have a good day.

I was a good shot. Before I retired I got worse over time. went to the eye doctor. had a cataract in my right eye. Had eye surgery and now back to my level of shooting from years ago.

SGT Suraj Dave - Interesting story. I like how you took a day to work it out. Would never purposely insult you. I just see it like it was your way of thinking. You obviously have what ever it is that it takes.Both times you found a way to make it work. I think the difference here is you didn't grow up with firearms. Weren't shooting them all your life. Sounds like once you got comfortable with them you did great. My main point is some people never seem to excel there and barely get by despite all effort.

they most definately are.

Quite true I remember those malfunctioning popup targets that you had shoot the dirt in front of too. Great to put more focus on marksmanship rather once a year.