I'm unfamiliar with shooting at club (range? idk...). What weapons could I practice with so I can prepare myself for at least part of a marksman's test I'll have to complete.

I "know" how to shoot a rifle and a shotgun, but I want to learn how to shoot well, from a technical standpoint. Something that will make me a better marksman.

Any suggestions? Thanks.
Peash.

Best advice. Learn to shoot the way the military teaches you. Practicing on your own is fine against static target, but ultimately, breathe, relax, aim, and squeeze are basic fundamentals. Speaking for the Army side of the house, as I am familiar but no expert on the Marines side, we engage 40 pop-up targets at ranges of 50-300m. 20 from the supported foxhole, and 20 from the prone unsupported. Seeing as pop-up "Ivan/Hadji" targets aren't readily available, it might be best to see how you would do with an actual nomenclatured weapon during boot.

Seconded...Don't try to learn how to shoot well. You may develop bad habits which will be harder to break later. Just wait and let the USMC teach you (if and when you enter service). Marksmanship in the USMC is a little different from the US Army...the biggest being shooting at up to 500m.

The Marines will teach you all that you need to know in the two week rifle range held during boot. From the time they issue you a rifle until you hand it back over to the armory 2 and 1/2 months later, you will know every nick and scratch on that weapon, and you will very likely have slept with it more times that you have your current squeeze. Its amazing how yer range instructor can actually adjust your aim to hit the black by stepping on yer nuts!

quote:

Originally posted by thegunny:
The Marines will teach you all that you need to know in the two week rifle range held during boot. From the time they issue you a rifle until you hand it back over to the armory 2 and 1/2 months later, you will know every nick and scratch on that weapon, and you will very likely have slept with it more times that you have your current squeeze. Its amazing how yer range instructor can actually adjust your aim to hit the black by stepping on yer nuts!

Dang, gunny, can they still do that nowadays? No matter how much it aids concentration?

good range coaches do.

Hmmm. Must be a PMI thang vs. a DI thang? (I had read about a DI who lost his mos and maybe rank too when his pant leg brushed against a cruit who claimed he kicked him.)

Man what I did was inspect; clean; loadup; fire; clean and breakdown and reassemble everything I could lay my hands on.
Especially loved auto-shotguns fired 'indoors'
(This might get a bit tricky anywhere near a SWAT team...or 'folks') they frown on any rapid fire or full auto (off range)


PLEASE!!
(Don't try that with a high powered rifle...at home or anywhere near someone's home)


Got a lot of 'it' (itchiness) out of my system...and learned some jargon and techniques...but hey...(IF I WAST YOZ...I'd gos wit watt Gunny sez!)

quote:

Got a lot of 'it' (itchiness) out of my system...and learned some jargon and techniques...but hey...(IF I WAST YOZ...I'd gos wit watt Gunny sez!)

Yut! I'd never contradict the gunny!!!!

The military, especially the Marines, will teach you everything you need to know from start to finish. But if you (not the original poster, but others reading this forum) are worried about the aspect of firing a gun and what it feels like, then perhaps you could find a friend with any gun and fire a few rounds at the range under supervision. Then, at boot camp, you can concentrate on learning instead of being apprehenisive about firing. In my boot camp platoon, most had no problem on the range, but there were a couple who, either they were nervous or some other issue, they spazzed at the range and were not accurate enough to make a qualifying score.

shooting with a gun is good clean fun. As long as you don't go postal. (and as long as you shoot accurately).