Thesis
Firearms have been one of the biggest contributing factors to the course that history has and is taking. Understanding firearms requires a knowledge of the development as well as the care, techniques, and safety that is required to handle them in addition to the people and events that have influenced their necessity.
Mentally & Physically Mastering Marksmanship
David Ammons
Senior Project
Mr. Copeland
Fall 2015
Firearms have been one of the biggest contributing factors to the course that history has taken. Understanding firearms requires a knowledge of the development as well as the care, techniques, and safety that is required to handle them. To begin building a foundation of this knowledge one must start with the very earliest glimpses of today’s modern weaponism.
Although the origins of gunpowder are unknown it is believed to have been developed in China, Turkey, or Europe. It is believed that the first recorded combination describes an exploding powder created by Franciscan Monk Roger Bacon (www.nramuseum.org). Within 50 years the cannon was developed. This was the first stepping stone in the journey of weapons development. It took nearly another half century to compress this concept to hand held weapons. The first firearm was supposedly created around 1350, referred to as the hand cannon or a hand gonne was simply a small enough cannon for a single man to wield (www.nramuseum.org). The design of the hand cannon was no different than the original larger cannon design. Both had a smoldering match cord to fire off the shot (study.com). The ability to accurately light and aim the firearm as well as its dependency made ignition of the gunpowder the forefront of initial development. This was a 4 century long venture into more rapid and accurate firing (www.nramuseum.org). With reliability posing such a large problem, several ignition mechanisms were explored including Matchlock, Wheelock, Flintlock, and Percussion (library.med.utah.edu). All of these are ways to ignite an explosive substance for the purpose of launching a dangerous ballistic at an enemy. The greatest stimulus for firearms development was and continues to be military usage (library.med.nramuseum.org). Because of the fact that “…even the most unskilled person with a gun was still a threat, this created a whole new class of soldiers” (study.com). The ignition variable was soon reimagined. Instead of a projectile simply sitting in front of the black powder inside the barrel, the projectile was capped into a housing containing powder and it was ready to be loaded into the firearm. “In 1840, the pin fire cartridge was introduced” (www.theblaze.com). Bullets were arranged into three sections. The first section and the answer to quick reliable ignition was the primer. The primer sparks a small fire which pushes through to the next section of the bullet. The propellant is also known as black powder. This is the main engine of the bullet, this section is responsible for carrying the projectile from the firearm to the target. The third and final section is the actual projectile. It is typically tapered off towards the end to aid in the penetration of metal, flesh or whatever the desired target. (www.exoplainthatstuff.com). Bullets are designed to be much safer than the original method for launching projectiles at deadly rates. When the trigger of any modern gun is hit the spring mechanism hammers a metal pin into the primer and or the rim of the bullet. This then ignites a small explosion, this small explosion leads to the ignition of the propellant. The propellant usually takes up two-thirds of any typical bullet. The explosion creates a burst of gas that quickly runs out of space in the casing and pushes the bullet out at an extremely high rate of speed. Most handgun rounds generate enough energy to propel the bullet at 1000ft/s in most cases (www.exoplainthatstuff.com). In order to aid in the guns evacuation of the bullet the barrels were grooved to give the bullet a gyroscopic effect and help it maintain a straight path towards its objective (www.exoplainthatstuff.com). “When all these factors-the bullet’s motion gravity, air resistance, recoil, and spinning-add together, they make a bullet follow a very complicated corkscrew path as it files through the air” (www.exoplainthatstuff.com). Before the late 18th century sights on guns were not a common fitting. The general maxim was point and fire. But defensively speaking “The development of sights has been largely governed by the accuracy of the firearm” (A. J. R. Cormack)
“The earliest picture of a gun is in a manuscript dated showing a pear-shaped cannon firing an arrow in the year 1326” (americanfirearms.org). Guns have a very long history and they have played a vital role in the course of history. Although the Constitution was signed in September 17, 1787, the Second Amendment was ratified in 1791. The amendment read: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” (npr.org). This is arguably the most important amendment written in regard to the protection of citizens. This amendment offers the freedom of the people to protect themselves and if need be their country. Several people contributed to the equipping of the world with advanced firearms, firearms have often determined the channel history has taken. When questioned Donnie Gray a licensed conceal carry permit holder in Arden, North Carolina stated that "I'm a strong supporter of 2nd amendment for the fact of self & household protection" For instance, in 1863 President Lincoln test fired the Spencer repeating rifle. His approval led to the purchase of 107,372 Spencer rifle and carbines. Because of this the Spencer became the repeating gun of the Civil War (www.theblaze.com). Another influential person being Dr. Richard Gattling. Richard patented the Gattling gun, a 6 barreled weapon capable of firing 200 rounds every minute (www.theblaze.com) Gen. Benjamin F. Butler of the Union army was the first to use the Gattling gun in battle. He used this huge advantage to siege of Petersburg, Virginia in 1864-1865. This new faster more efficient weapon of war was an enormous factor in the Civil War, it gave smaller numbers of U.S troops much larger advantages in firepower. The conservative attitude of the Union army Chief of Ordinance and the unreliability of the early models made the Gattling gun a challenging sell to the army. But Dr. Richard Gattling quickly improved on his designs by engaging a total of 10 barrels that could fire at 400 rounds per minute (www.history.com). Originally the army refuted repeating guns due to the fear that soldiers would waste more ammunition. This would call for the production of more and overtax on the supply system (www.theblaze.com). In spite of that, due to these improvements The U.S. Army adopted his design in 1866 (www.history.com). The Gatling gun made a name for itself very quickly. Before the Battle of Little Big Horn Col. George Custer was offered the service of a Gatling gun but instead opted for the single fire rifles instead (nypost.com). This was likely the most influential decision of the battle. The world got its first real taste of the Gatling gun in 1879. The British faced down 20,000 Zulus. Although the British were outnumbered four to one with the dominant advantage of the Gatling gun the Zulus melted away. They were defeated in just half of an hour (nypost.com). This remained standard until it was eventually replaced in the early twentieth century by the Maxim Machine Gun (www.history.com). The reputation of the Gatling gun would soon be rivaled. This came about through Hiram Maxim who sought to design a weapon with a trigger instead of a crank. Maxim deduced that the power of the guns recoil could be used to power the task of the crank used on Gatling’s design. Thus the Maxim Machine gun was born and is holding the title of the first automatic weapon (nypost.com). By 1893 the British had showed how easy killing could be and in the Matabele War the British killed 1,500 natives with zero loss. Then in a later battle four dozen policemen killed a reported 3,000 Africans (nypost.com). Despite the clear success as a killing machine the worldwide verdict on automatic weapons remained divided. Later in history the British marched in formation, equipped with Bayonets, against a German army with machine guns, in the first hour, 30,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded. In 1898 23 year old Winston Churchill watched as his countrymen killed between 10,000 and 20,000 Sudanese (nypost.com). He was not the only one to feel opposition towards this idea of the mass destruction of enemies. Churchill wrote of seeing men “destroyed not conquered, by machinery.” Along with many others Churchill agreed that “the triumph of victory faded on the mind, and a mournful feeling of disgust grew stronger” (nypost.com). By this time it was clear that the line between defeating an enemy and destroying them was being walked on. World War II was a big time for reflecting on rifles designed up to then. While they changed very little for the duration of the war the Soviets held a secret contest to create a light, compact, reliable gun that was made up of parts that were very easy to assemble (nypost.com). The Soviets were trying to get the upper hand in weapons development. One of the guns that emerged from this was the Kalashnikov, better known as the AK-47. For every 70 people on earth there is one AK-47. This gun was a favorite of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden and allowed Idi Amin to become the devil of Uganda (nypost.com). The critical feature of the AK-47 was that it was built to be loose fitting which drastically reduced jamming. It also consisted of very few parts making it very easy to assemble, it was such a simple design soviet school boys could disassemble and reassemble the firearm in 30 seconds flat (nypost.com). The AK-47 along with the Gatling gun were not the only guns to strongly influence history. During WW2 people began to realize that weapons were becoming a necessity as well as the ability to wield one. There have been 1,500 CMP’s founded since WW2 (www.odcmp.com). CMP stands for “Civilian Marksmanship Program”. Originally established to help train the armed forces and improve the national defense capabilities. The CMP can be traced back to 1903 when Theodore Roosevelt established the National Board for Promotion of Rifle Practice. During this period the program shifted its objective towards training civilians rather than military (thecmp.org). The CMP provided competition rules and sanctioning services for events in each of the disciplines. Currently the CMP serves as an educational and training outlet to help civilians be more responsible exercisers of their second amendment right.
Understanding guns is not simply subject to the knowledge and history of them. To really respect a firearm a significant amount of proper handling time is necessary. Handling a firearm requires a constant awareness. When in control of a firearm always remember what it is capable of. There are several things to keep in mind when in possession of a firearm. The first and perhaps the most important thing to remember is where the muzzle is faced at all times. Forgetting where the muzzle is facing can result in serious injury or a casualty. The next thing to remember is, always keep the firearm unloaded when it is not in use. Most injuries occur before the gun has even arrived where it is to be discharged safely. Most guns come complete with some sort of safety that prevents the trigger from being pulled when the bullet has been racked into the chamber. Despite the presence of the safety, it is critical not to rely on this safety to save anyone’s life. Remembering to apply the safety can be just as hard to remember as maintaining proper muzzle posture. It is also crucial to pay close attention to the direction in which the gun is being shot and what is beyond the target. Understanding in depth the range of each individual firearm and the capabilities of the ammunition present. This emphasizes the next rule to remember in order to handle a gun safely. Always use correct ammunition in every gun. In the event that someone is unsure, it is imperative to ask a professional. The use of improper ammunition can result in jamming. Jamming is possibly the most dangerous event that can occur when firing a gun. When a gun jams it is typically due the lodging of a new round or the previously fired rounds casing in the action of the gun. When this results, handle the weapon with extreme caution because there is a possibility that the hammer is still locked in an active position. The first way to prevent injury over an extended period of time is to wear hearing protection. Just because hearing isn’t immediately lost doesn’t mean damage hasn’t been done. Next it is essential to wear eye protection, due to the type of reaction that is ensuing in the casing of the round it can result in the release of particles that could burn or be propelled towards the shooters eyes. Maintaining a gun includes making sure the barrel is always clear of obstructions. An object that is hindering a bullet from exiting the barrel can issue serious damage to the marksmen or the firearm. It’s very useful during orientation with an unfamiliar gun to learn the mechanical characteristics. Guns require regular servicing in order to ensure accuracy and safety. Never try to modify or alter any gun. Any alterations of a weapon should be done by a professional (www.nssf.org). There are also 5 essentials that must be attained in order for one to shoot accurately and safely. Firstly rifle shooting is a matter of intelligent practice. It takes deep concentration to maintain accurate shooting. In order to be as accurate as possible one requires good body as well as brain. But this isn’t learned overnight it in most cases takes years of practice to be able to consider oneself an expert marksmen (riflemansjournal.blogspot.com). An excellent shot requires control, discipline and concentration of the mind and body (www.caes.uga.edu). In order to become an expert marksmen it is imperative that the shooter keep several things in mind while firing. Holding the gun firmly with the proper grip is of paramount importance. Align the properly adjusted sights on the target. Once the sight is set on an appropriate target, slowly begin pressing the trigger while paying close attention as to not pull off of the desired target. Once enough pressure has been created the firing pin along with the hammer will be released activating the ignition process. Pulling the trigger to fast can cause the shooter to drastically pull off target depending on the distance of the target. People that are new to shooting can take a very long time to perfect their trigger pull. Serious marksmen can pull the trigger without ever moving the target out of their sights. ‘New shooters have a tendency to pull the trigger in an abrupt manner that can move the gun quickly out of alignment and cause the shot to miss” (www.springfield). Proper and accurate shooting relies heavily on stance. Proper posture in consideration of surroundings can make or break a shot. When shooting, arms should be locked in a straight position, fully extended. In addition one’s shoulders should be relaxed, torso leaned forward slightly and shoulders always in front of hips. The shooters weight must be biased forward to counter balance the kick of the gun. As for sight alignment the positioning of the sight on the target will be governed by each sight individually. These key points must be addressed before attempting to hit any target at any distance (www.springfield).
There is an immeasurable and ever growing amount of information on guns. From the history to the development and the constant demand for proper handling, care and techniques. Overall there is an immense amount of experience required to be safe and accurate. Not only has history shown us how beneficial firearms can be but how dangerous as well.
Work Cited
American Firearms Institute. Elegant Themes and Word Press. 23 Oct. 2015<http://www.americanfirearms.org/gun-history/>
Bullets and Missiles. Explain That Stuff! 5 Oct. 2015. 23 Oct. 2015<http://www.explainthatstuff.com/bullets.html>
Competition Archives. Civilian Marksmanship Program. 23 Oct. 2015.<https://thecmp.org/competitions/competition-archives/>
CormacKAJ.R. The world Encyclopedia of modern Guns Edinburgh. 1979.
Rifleman’s Journal. 23 Oct. 2015<riflemansjournal.blogspot.com>
Firearms Safety -- 10 Rules of Safe Gun Handling. National Shooting Sports Foundation. 23 Oct. 2015 <http://www.nssf.org/safety/basics/>
GATLING GUN. History. 23 Oct 2015<http://www.history.com/topics/gatling-gun>
Gray Donnie. Arden, North Carolina. 10-12-15.
History of Gunpowder and its Effects on the New World. Study.com. 21 Oct. 2015<http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-history-of-gunpowder-in-the-west.html>
NRA Museum. 19 May. 2015. NRA National Firearms Museum. 23 Oct. 2015<http://www.nramuseum.org/gun-info-research/a-brief-history-of-firearms.aspx>
Oct.2015<http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/GUNS/GUNHIST.html>
P.G. Wodehouse. The Adventures of Sally. Penguin books. 1997.
The Internet Pathology Laboratory for Medical Education. The University of Utah Eccles Health Sciences Library. 23
The History and Evolution of Guns as Told Through Pictures. The Blaze 12 March. 2013. 23 Oct. 2015<http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/03/12/the-history-and-evolution-of-guns-as-told-through-pictures/>
The First Shot. CMP Online Magazine. Oct. 2014. 23 Oct. 2015<www.odcmp.org>
The gun that changed the world. NY Post. 12 Dec. 2010. 23 Oct. 2015<http://nypost.com/2010/12/12/the-gun-that-changed-the-world/>
The University of Georgia College Of Agriculture & Environmental Science. 23 Oct. 2015<www.caes.uga.edu>
Tips from the Pros. Springfield Armory. 8 Oct. 2015. 23 Oct. 2015<http://www.springfield-armory.com/resources/shooting-tips/>
U.S. Gun Laws: A History. NPR. 23 Oct. 2015.<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91942478>
Mentally & Physically Mastering Marksmanship
David Ammons
Senior Project
Mr. Copeland
Fall 2015
Firearms have been one of the biggest contributing factors to the course that history has taken. Understanding firearms requires a knowledge of the development as well as the care, techniques, and safety that is required to handle them. To begin building a foundation of this knowledge one must start with the very earliest glimpses of today’s modern weaponism.
Although the origins of gunpowder are unknown it is believed to have been developed in China, Turkey, or Europe. It is believed that the first recorded combination describes an exploding powder created by Franciscan Monk Roger Bacon (www.nramuseum.org). Within 50 years the cannon was developed. This was the first stepping stone in the journey of weapons development. It took nearly another half century to compress this concept to hand held weapons. The first firearm was supposedly created around 1350, referred to as the hand cannon or a hand gonne was simply a small enough cannon for a single man to wield (www.nramuseum.org). The design of the hand cannon was no different than the original larger cannon design. Both had a smoldering match cord to fire off the shot (study.com). The ability to accurately light and aim the firearm as well as its dependency made ignition of the gunpowder the forefront of initial development. This was a 4 century long venture into more rapid and accurate firing (www.nramuseum.org). With reliability posing such a large problem, several ignition mechanisms were explored including Matchlock, Wheelock, Flintlock, and Percussion (library.med.utah.edu). All of these are ways to ignite an explosive substance for the purpose of launching a dangerous ballistic at an enemy. The greatest stimulus for firearms development was and continues to be military usage (library.med.nramuseum.org). Because of the fact that “…even the most unskilled person with a gun was still a threat, this created a whole new class of soldiers” (study.com). The ignition variable was soon reimagined. Instead of a projectile simply sitting in front of the black powder inside the barrel, the projectile was capped into a housing containing powder and it was ready to be loaded into the firearm. “In 1840, the pin fire cartridge was introduced” (www.theblaze.com). Bullets were arranged into three sections. The first section and the answer to quick reliable ignition was the primer. The primer sparks a small fire which pushes through to the next section of the bullet. The propellant is also known as black powder. This is the main engine of the bullet, this section is responsible for carrying the projectile from the firearm to the target. The third and final section is the actual projectile. It is typically tapered off towards the end to aid in the penetration of metal, flesh or whatever the desired target. (www.exoplainthatstuff.com). Bullets are designed to be much safer than the original method for launching projectiles at deadly rates. When the trigger of any modern gun is hit the spring mechanism hammers a metal pin into the primer and or the rim of the bullet. This then ignites a small explosion, this small explosion leads to the ignition of the propellant. The propellant usually takes up two-thirds of any typical bullet. The explosion creates a burst of gas that quickly runs out of space in the casing and pushes the bullet out at an extremely high rate of speed. Most handgun rounds generate enough energy to propel the bullet at 1000ft/s in most cases (www.exoplainthatstuff.com). In order to aid in the guns evacuation of the bullet the barrels were grooved to give the bullet a gyroscopic effect and help it maintain a straight path towards its objective (www.exoplainthatstuff.com). “When all these factors-the bullet’s motion gravity, air resistance, recoil, and spinning-add together, they make a bullet follow a very complicated corkscrew path as it files through the air” (www.exoplainthatstuff.com). Before the late 18th century sights on guns were not a common fitting. The general maxim was point and fire. But defensively speaking “The development of sights has been largely governed by the accuracy of the firearm” (A. J. R. Cormack)
“The earliest picture of a gun is in a manuscript dated showing a pear-shaped cannon firing an arrow in the year 1326” (americanfirearms.org). Guns have a very long history and they have played a vital role in the course of history. Although the Constitution was signed in September 17, 1787, the Second Amendment was ratified in 1791. The amendment read: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” (npr.org). This is arguably the most important amendment written in regard to the protection of citizens. This amendment offers the freedom of the people to protect themselves and if need be their country. Several people contributed to the equipping of the world with advanced firearms, firearms have often determined the channel history has taken. When questioned Donnie Gray a licensed conceal carry permit holder in Arden, North Carolina stated that "I'm a strong supporter of 2nd amendment for the fact of self & household protection" For instance, in 1863 President Lincoln test fired the Spencer repeating rifle. His approval led to the purchase of 107,372 Spencer rifle and carbines. Because of this the Spencer became the repeating gun of the Civil War (www.theblaze.com). Another influential person being Dr. Richard Gattling. Richard patented the Gattling gun, a 6 barreled weapon capable of firing 200 rounds every minute (www.theblaze.com) Gen. Benjamin F. Butler of the Union army was the first to use the Gattling gun in battle. He used this huge advantage to siege of Petersburg, Virginia in 1864-1865. This new faster more efficient weapon of war was an enormous factor in the Civil War, it gave smaller numbers of U.S troops much larger advantages in firepower. The conservative attitude of the Union army Chief of Ordinance and the unreliability of the early models made the Gattling gun a challenging sell to the army. But Dr. Richard Gattling quickly improved on his designs by engaging a total of 10 barrels that could fire at 400 rounds per minute (www.history.com). Originally the army refuted repeating guns due to the fear that soldiers would waste more ammunition. This would call for the production of more and overtax on the supply system (www.theblaze.com). In spite of that, due to these improvements The U.S. Army adopted his design in 1866 (www.history.com). The Gatling gun made a name for itself very quickly. Before the Battle of Little Big Horn Col. George Custer was offered the service of a Gatling gun but instead opted for the single fire rifles instead (nypost.com). This was likely the most influential decision of the battle. The world got its first real taste of the Gatling gun in 1879. The British faced down 20,000 Zulus. Although the British were outnumbered four to one with the dominant advantage of the Gatling gun the Zulus melted away. They were defeated in just half of an hour (nypost.com). This remained standard until it was eventually replaced in the early twentieth century by the Maxim Machine Gun (www.history.com). The reputation of the Gatling gun would soon be rivaled. This came about through Hiram Maxim who sought to design a weapon with a trigger instead of a crank. Maxim deduced that the power of the guns recoil could be used to power the task of the crank used on Gatling’s design. Thus the Maxim Machine gun was born and is holding the title of the first automatic weapon (nypost.com). By 1893 the British had showed how easy killing could be and in the Matabele War the British killed 1,500 natives with zero loss. Then in a later battle four dozen policemen killed a reported 3,000 Africans (nypost.com). Despite the clear success as a killing machine the worldwide verdict on automatic weapons remained divided. Later in history the British marched in formation, equipped with Bayonets, against a German army with machine guns, in the first hour, 30,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded. In 1898 23 year old Winston Churchill watched as his countrymen killed between 10,000 and 20,000 Sudanese (nypost.com). He was not the only one to feel opposition towards this idea of the mass destruction of enemies. Churchill wrote of seeing men “destroyed not conquered, by machinery.” Along with many others Churchill agreed that “the triumph of victory faded on the mind, and a mournful feeling of disgust grew stronger” (nypost.com). By this time it was clear that the line between defeating an enemy and destroying them was being walked on. World War II was a big time for reflecting on rifles designed up to then. While they changed very little for the duration of the war the Soviets held a secret contest to create a light, compact, reliable gun that was made up of parts that were very easy to assemble (nypost.com). The Soviets were trying to get the upper hand in weapons development. One of the guns that emerged from this was the Kalashnikov, better known as the AK-47. For every 70 people on earth there is one AK-47. This gun was a favorite of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden and allowed Idi Amin to become the devil of Uganda (nypost.com). The critical feature of the AK-47 was that it was built to be loose fitting which drastically reduced jamming. It also consisted of very few parts making it very easy to assemble, it was such a simple design soviet school boys could disassemble and reassemble the firearm in 30 seconds flat (nypost.com). The AK-47 along with the Gatling gun were not the only guns to strongly influence history. During WW2 people began to realize that weapons were becoming a necessity as well as the ability to wield one. There have been 1,500 CMP’s founded since WW2 (www.odcmp.com). CMP stands for “Civilian Marksmanship Program”. Originally established to help train the armed forces and improve the national defense capabilities. The CMP can be traced back to 1903 when Theodore Roosevelt established the National Board for Promotion of Rifle Practice. During this period the program shifted its objective towards training civilians rather than military (thecmp.org). The CMP provided competition rules and sanctioning services for events in each of the disciplines. Currently the CMP serves as an educational and training outlet to help civilians be more responsible exercisers of their second amendment right.
Understanding guns is not simply subject to the knowledge and history of them. To really respect a firearm a significant amount of proper handling time is necessary. Handling a firearm requires a constant awareness. When in control of a firearm always remember what it is capable of. There are several things to keep in mind when in possession of a firearm. The first and perhaps the most important thing to remember is where the muzzle is faced at all times. Forgetting where the muzzle is facing can result in serious injury or a casualty. The next thing to remember is, always keep the firearm unloaded when it is not in use. Most injuries occur before the gun has even arrived where it is to be discharged safely. Most guns come complete with some sort of safety that prevents the trigger from being pulled when the bullet has been racked into the chamber. Despite the presence of the safety, it is critical not to rely on this safety to save anyone’s life. Remembering to apply the safety can be just as hard to remember as maintaining proper muzzle posture. It is also crucial to pay close attention to the direction in which the gun is being shot and what is beyond the target. Understanding in depth the range of each individual firearm and the capabilities of the ammunition present. This emphasizes the next rule to remember in order to handle a gun safely. Always use correct ammunition in every gun. In the event that someone is unsure, it is imperative to ask a professional. The use of improper ammunition can result in jamming. Jamming is possibly the most dangerous event that can occur when firing a gun. When a gun jams it is typically due the lodging of a new round or the previously fired rounds casing in the action of the gun. When this results, handle the weapon with extreme caution because there is a possibility that the hammer is still locked in an active position. The first way to prevent injury over an extended period of time is to wear hearing protection. Just because hearing isn’t immediately lost doesn’t mean damage hasn’t been done. Next it is essential to wear eye protection, due to the type of reaction that is ensuing in the casing of the round it can result in the release of particles that could burn or be propelled towards the shooters eyes. Maintaining a gun includes making sure the barrel is always clear of obstructions. An object that is hindering a bullet from exiting the barrel can issue serious damage to the marksmen or the firearm. It’s very useful during orientation with an unfamiliar gun to learn the mechanical characteristics. Guns require regular servicing in order to ensure accuracy and safety. Never try to modify or alter any gun. Any alterations of a weapon should be done by a professional (www.nssf.org). There are also 5 essentials that must be attained in order for one to shoot accurately and safely. Firstly rifle shooting is a matter of intelligent practice. It takes deep concentration to maintain accurate shooting. In order to be as accurate as possible one requires good body as well as brain. But this isn’t learned overnight it in most cases takes years of practice to be able to consider oneself an expert marksmen (riflemansjournal.blogspot.com). An excellent shot requires control, discipline and concentration of the mind and body (www.caes.uga.edu). In order to become an expert marksmen it is imperative that the shooter keep several things in mind while firing. Holding the gun firmly with the proper grip is of paramount importance. Align the properly adjusted sights on the target. Once the sight is set on an appropriate target, slowly begin pressing the trigger while paying close attention as to not pull off of the desired target. Once enough pressure has been created the firing pin along with the hammer will be released activating the ignition process. Pulling the trigger to fast can cause the shooter to drastically pull off target depending on the distance of the target. People that are new to shooting can take a very long time to perfect their trigger pull. Serious marksmen can pull the trigger without ever moving the target out of their sights. ‘New shooters have a tendency to pull the trigger in an abrupt manner that can move the gun quickly out of alignment and cause the shot to miss” (www.springfield). Proper and accurate shooting relies heavily on stance. Proper posture in consideration of surroundings can make or break a shot. When shooting, arms should be locked in a straight position, fully extended. In addition one’s shoulders should be relaxed, torso leaned forward slightly and shoulders always in front of hips. The shooters weight must be biased forward to counter balance the kick of the gun. As for sight alignment the positioning of the sight on the target will be governed by each sight individually. These key points must be addressed before attempting to hit any target at any distance (www.springfield).
There is an immeasurable and ever growing amount of information on guns. From the history to the development and the constant demand for proper handling, care and techniques. Overall there is an immense amount of experience required to be safe and accurate. Not only has history shown us how beneficial firearms can be but how dangerous as well.
Work Cited
American Firearms Institute. Elegant Themes and Word Press. 23 Oct. 2015<http://www.americanfirearms.org/gun-history/>
Bullets and Missiles. Explain That Stuff! 5 Oct. 2015. 23 Oct. 2015<http://www.explainthatstuff.com/bullets.html>
Competition Archives. Civilian Marksmanship Program. 23 Oct. 2015.<https://thecmp.org/competitions/competition-archives/>
CormacKAJ.R. The world Encyclopedia of modern Guns Edinburgh. 1979.
Rifleman’s Journal. 23 Oct. 2015<riflemansjournal.blogspot.com>
Firearms Safety -- 10 Rules of Safe Gun Handling. National Shooting Sports Foundation. 23 Oct. 2015 <http://www.nssf.org/safety/basics/>
GATLING GUN. History. 23 Oct 2015<http://www.history.com/topics/gatling-gun>
Gray Donnie. Arden, North Carolina. 10-12-15.
History of Gunpowder and its Effects on the New World. Study.com. 21 Oct. 2015<http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-history-of-gunpowder-in-the-west.html>
NRA Museum. 19 May. 2015. NRA National Firearms Museum. 23 Oct. 2015<http://www.nramuseum.org/gun-info-research/a-brief-history-of-firearms.aspx>
Oct.2015<http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/GUNS/GUNHIST.html>
P.G. Wodehouse. The Adventures of Sally. Penguin books. 1997.
The Internet Pathology Laboratory for Medical Education. The University of Utah Eccles Health Sciences Library. 23
The History and Evolution of Guns as Told Through Pictures. The Blaze 12 March. 2013. 23 Oct. 2015<http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/03/12/the-history-and-evolution-of-guns-as-told-through-pictures/>
The First Shot. CMP Online Magazine. Oct. 2014. 23 Oct. 2015<www.odcmp.org>
The gun that changed the world. NY Post. 12 Dec. 2010. 23 Oct. 2015<http://nypost.com/2010/12/12/the-gun-that-changed-the-world/>
The University of Georgia College Of Agriculture & Environmental Science. 23 Oct. 2015<www.caes.uga.edu>
Tips from the Pros. Springfield Armory. 8 Oct. 2015. 23 Oct. 2015<http://www.springfield-armory.com/resources/shooting-tips/>
U.S. Gun Laws: A History. NPR. 23 Oct. 2015.<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91942478>