rifle

shooting
How to Use This Pamphlet
The secret to successfully earning a merit badge is for you to use both
the pamphlet and the suggestions of your counselor.
Your counselor can be as important to you as a coach is to an athlete.
Use all of the resources your counselor can make available to you.
This may be the best chance you will have to learn about this particular
subject. Make it count.
If you or your counselor feels that any information in this pamphlet is
incorrect, please let us know. Please state your source of information.
Merit badge pamphlets are reprinted annually and requirements
updated regularly. Your suggestions for improvement are welcome.

Send comments along with a brief statement about yourself to Youth

Development, S209 • Boy Scouts of America • 1325 West Walnut Hill
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This merit badge pamphlet is one in a series of more than 100 covering
all kinds of hobby and career subjects. It is made available for you
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America. The costs of the development, writing, and editing of the
merit badge pamphlets are paid for by the Boy Scouts of America in
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 BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
MERIT BADGE SERIES

Rifle Shooting
 Note to the Counselor
BSA Standards
Boy Scouts are permitted to fire .22 caliber bolt-action, single-shot rifles;
air rifles; shotguns; and muzzleloading long guns under the direction of a
currently certified instructor, 21 years of age or older, within the standards
outlined in current Scouting literature and bulletins. BSA policy does not
permit the use of handguns in the Boy Scouting program.

References: Guide to Safe Scouting, No. 34416; Camp Program and Property
Management (section VI, Shooting Sports), No. 20-920; Health and Safety Guide,
No. 34415A; Camp Health and Safety, No. 19-308.

Rifles
The following standards are established for rifles used in Boy Scouting:
1. Breech-loading rifles will be single-shot, bolt-action of the .22 caliber
rim-fire type only. They may be chambered for the .22 short, .22 long,
or .22 long rifle, but not for the .22 WRF, which is a more powerful
­cartridge. Air rifles are also permitted.
2. Semiautomatic rifles will not be permitted.
3. Repeating rifles with a tubular magazine will not be permitted.
4. Repeating rifles with a removable clip-type magazine will be permitted
but must be used as single-loaders.
5. All rifles used in BSA shooting sports must have a trigger pull in excess
of 3 pounds and must be tested with a 3-pound weight or scale at least
once a week while in use. If the trigger mechanism is activated by the
3-pound pull, the rifle should be immediately removed from service.
6. Shooting safety glasses and hearing protection are required on
rifle ranges.
7. All training and shooting activities must be supervised by a cur-
rently certified NRA rifle instructor or NRA coach who is 21 years
of age or older.

35942
ISBN 978-0-8395-3330-6
©2001 Boy Scouts of America BANG/Brainerd, MN
2010 Printing 4-2010/060015
Muzzleloaders
The following standards for muzzleloading long guns are to be used by
members of the BSA:
1. Muzzleloading rifles must be recently manufactured, percussion-lock
only. The BSA recommends .45 or .50 caliber. Rifles made from kits
must be checked by a qualified gunsmith.
2. Recommended loads of black powder or Pyrodex® are not to exceed
1 grain per caliber; 35 grains is frequently sufficient for target shooting
at close range.
3. Shooting safety glasses and hearing protection must be worn.
4. All training and shooting activities must be supervised by a currently
certified NRA or National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (NMLRA)
muzzleloading rifle instructor who is 21 years of age or older.
5. When loading and firing, each Scout must have one instructor or adult
coach under instructor supervision.

RIFLE SHOOTING     3
Requirements
1. Do the following:
a. Explain why BB and pellet air guns must always be treated with the same
respect as firearms.
b. Describe how you would react if a friend visiting your home asked to see
your or your family’s firearm(s).
c. Explain the need for, and use and types of, eye and ­hearing protection.
d. Give the main points of the laws for owning and using guns in your
­community and state.
e. Explain how hunting is related to the wise use of ­renewable wildlife resources.
f. Obtain a copy of the hunting laws for your state. Explain the main points
of hunting laws in your state and give any special laws on the use of guns
and ammunition.
g. Identify and explain how you can join or be a part of shooting sports activities.
h. Explain to your counselor the proper hygienic guidelines used in shooting.
i. Give your counselor a list of sources that you could ­contact for information
on firearms and their uses.

2. Do ONE of the following options:

Option A—Rifle Shooting (Modern cartridge type)

a. Identify the three main parts of a rifle, and tell how they function.
b. Identify and demonstrate the three fundamental rules for safe gun handling.
c. Identify the two types of cartridges, their parts, and how they function.
d. Explain to your counselor what a misfire, hangfire, and squib fire are, and
explain the procedures to follow in response to each.
e. Identify and demonstrate the five fundamentals of shooting a rifle safely.
f. Identify and explain each rule for safe shooting.
g. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to safely shoot
a rifle from the benchrest position or supported prone position while using
the five fundamentals of rifle shooting.
h. Identify the basic safety rules for cleaning a rifle, and identify the
materials needed.
i. Demonstrate how to clean a rifle properly and safely.

4     RIFLE SHOOTING

j. Discuss what points you would consider in selecting a rifle.
k. Using a .22 caliber rimfire rifle and shooting from a bench­rest or supported
prone position at 50 feet, fire five groups (three shots per group) that can
be covered by a quarter. Using these targets, explain how to adjust sights to
zero a rifle.
l. Adjust sights to center the group on the target* and fire five groups (five
shots per group). According to the target used, each shot in the group
must meet the following minimum score: (1) A-32 targets—9; (2) A-17
or TQ-1 targets—7; (3) A-36 targets—5.
*Note: It is not always practical to adjust the sights (i.e., when using a bor-
rowed fixed-sight rifle). For requirement 2l, you may demonstrate your abil-
ity to use the shooting fundamentals by shooting five shot groups (five shots
per group) in which all shots can be covered by or touch a quarter and then
explain how to adjust the sights to zero the rifle used.

Option B—Air Rifle Shooting (BB or pellet)

a. Identify the three main parts of an air rifle, and tell how they function.
b Identify and demonstrate the three fundamental rules for safe gun handling.
c. Identify the two most common types of air rifle ammunition.
d. Identify and demonstrate the five fundamentals of ­shooting a rifle safely.
e. Identify and explain each rule for shooting an air rifle safely.
f. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to safely shoot a
target from the benchrest position or supported prone position while using
the five fundamentals of rifle shooting.
g. Identify the basic safety rules for cleaning an air rifle, and identify the
­materials needed.
h. Demonstrate how to clean an air rifle safely.
i. Discuss what points you would consider in selecting an air rifle.
j. Using a BB gun or pellet air rifle and shooting from a benchrest or supported
prone position at 15 feet for BB guns or 33 feet for air rifles, fire five groups
(three shots per group) that can be covered by a quarter.
k. Adjust sights to center the group on the target and fire five groups (five shots
per group). According to the target used, each shot in the group must meet
the following minimum score: (1) BB rifle at 15 feet or 5 meters using TQ-5
targets—8; (2) pellet air rifle at 25 feet using TQ-5 targets—8, at 33 feet or
10 meters using AR-1 targets—6.

RIFLE SHOOTING     5
 Option C—Muzzleloading Rifle Shooting
a. Give a brief history of the development of muzzleloading rifles.
b. Identify principal parts of percussion and flintlock rifles and discuss how
they function.
c. Demonstrate and discuss the safe handling of ­muzzleloading rifles.
d. Identify the various grades of black powder and their proper use.
e. Discuss proper safety procedures pertaining to black powder use and storage.
f. Discuss proper components of a load.
g. Identify proper procedures and accessories used for l­oading a
muzzleloading rifle.
h. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to safely shoot
a muzzleloading rifle on a range, including range procedures.
i. Shoot a target with a muzzleloading rifle using the five fundamentals
of firing a shot.
j. Identify the materials needed to clean a muzzleloading rifle safely. Using
these materials, demonstrate how to clean a muzzleloading rifle safely.
k. Identify the causes of a muzzleloading rifle’s failure to fire and explain or
demonstrate proper ­correction procedures.
l. Discuss what points you would consider in selecting a muzzleloading rifle.
m. Using a muzzleloading rifle of .45 or .50 caliber and shooting from a bench­
rest or supported prone ­position, fire three groups (three shots per group)
at 50 feet that can be covered by the base of a standard-size soft drink can.
n. Center the group on the target and fire three groups (five shots per group).
According to the target used, each shot in the group must meet the follow-
ing minimum score: (1) at 25 yards using NRA A-23 or NMLRA 50-yard
targets—7; (2) at 50 yards using NRA A-25 or NMLRA 100-yard targets—7.

6     RIFLE SHOOTING

Contents
Rifle Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Gun Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Choosing a Rifle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Air Rifles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Care of Your Rifle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Ammunition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Rifle Shooting Fundamentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Shooting Positions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Firing Your First Shots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Scoring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Olympic Games and Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Muzzleloading Rifles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Conservation and Hunting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

What’s Next?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

RIFLE SHOOTING     7
Rifle Parts.

Rifle Parts
A rifle is a precision instrument, designed for precise work. It is designed to shoot a
projectile (a bullet, BB, pellet, ball, etc.) to hit where the barrel is pointed.
It’s helpful to learn the parts of a rifle. Then, when you read about how to han-
dle a gun, you’ll be able to quickly understand the information.
(Note: For easy reference, terms in italics are further defined in the glossary.)
A rifle is divided into three major parts or groups:
• The stock—the handle by which the rifle is held and which holds the other
groups together
• The barrel—the metal tube through which the projectile passes when the
rifle is fired
• The action—the group of moving parts that load, fire, and unload the rifle
Let’s look at each of these main groups.

Barrel
Action

Stock

Major rifle parts

8     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Rifle Parts

The Stock
Most stocks are made of wood, but today more and more stocks are made of fiber-
glass and other synthetic materials. The stock has special design features to give the
shooter comfort, ease of handling, and maximum shooting accuracy. The stock is
divided into four basic parts: butt, comb, grip, and fore-end.

Bolt handle Bolt Rear sight Front sight

Butt
Comb Grip
pad

Fore-end Muzzle
Trigger
Trigger guard
Butt

Parts of a rifle

The butt is the rear portion of the stock. It usually is contoured to fit comfortably
against the shoulder. The comb is the top portion of the stock upon or against which
the shooter rests his cheek. The grip, or “small of the stock,” is the area where the
firing hand grasps the stock. The fore-end is the part of the stock that extends under
the barrel. This is the area where the nonshooting hand supports the rifle.

The Barrel
The hollow inside the barrel—the hole through which the projectile passes—is
called the bore. The bore is measured in fractions of an inch or in millimeters. This
measurement is called the caliber of the rifle. The larger the diameter of the bore,
the larger the caliber and, therefore, the larger the size of projectile it will take.
The opening through which the projectile leaves the barrel is called the muzzle.
The rear of the barrel is called the breech. The chamber is located at the breech
end of the barrel. That is the portion of the barrel (bore) into which one round of
ammunition (or cartridge) is placed for firing. Chambers are shaped to exactly
match the ammunition. As long as you are using the proper size ammunition, the
fit should be nearly perfect.
For the remaining length of the barrel, the bore is lined with spiral grooves,
somewhat like the grooves on the inside of a machine nut. The flat, raised ridges of
metal standing between the grooves are called lands. When a projectile passes
through the barrel, the lands cut into the bullet to make it spin. This spinning action
makes the projectile more stable and accurate in flight toward the target. The projec-
tile in flight is similar to a well-thrown football. The grooves and lands inside the
barrel are known as rifling, which is where the rifle got its name.

RIFLE SHOOTING     9
Rifle Parts.

Lands

Rifling causes the bullet to spin, giving it

stability on its flight to the target.

The Action
The action, as explained above, is the group of moving parts that allow the shooter
to load, fire, and unload the rifle.
• Loading involves opening the action, placing a cartridge in the chamber, and
then closing the action with the cartridge in place. In most rifles, opening and
closing the action cocks the firing pin, making the rifle ready to be fired. Some
rifles must be cocked separately.
• Firing takes place when the trigger is pulled to the rear. This action allows the
firing pin to strike the cartridge and fire the gun.
• When the action is opened after firing, the used cartridge is ejected so that a new
one can be loaded.

10     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Rifle Parts

Other Features
Many rifles have other features such as the magazine, clip, trigger guard,
and safety.
The magazine is a
container with a spring
into which several car-
tridges can be placed.
The two most common
types of magazines are
a nondetachable box
type located inside the
bottom portion of the Box magazine
action and a tube type
located under the bar-
rel or in the stock.
Detachable magazines
can be loaded and then
slipped into place in
the gun. The magazine
uses a spring to push
the unfired cartridges
Tube magazine
into the path of the bolt
for loading.
A rifle chamber can contain only one cartridge at a time. The maga-
zine makes it possible to load a new cartridge into the chamber without
having to load it by hand. When an action is opened and closed, a new
cartridge is pushed from the magazine into the chamber.
A clip is a device to hold cartridges for charging the magazines of
some rifles.
The trigger guard is a protective shield around the trigger that keeps
the trigger from being pulled accidentally.

RIFLE SHOOTING     11
Rifle Parts.

The safety is a mechanical device designed to prevent a gun from

being fired accidentally. When the safety is in the “on” position, it should
block the operation of the trigger, thus preventing the rifle from firing.
Always remember that the safety is only a mechanical device. Never
depend on it as a substitute for following the safety rules. You are the
­ultimate safety!

Safeties are found in a variety of locations on the gun, depending on the rifle’s
design and manufacture.

Types of Actions
There are several popular types of cartridge-rifle actions. To give a general idea of
how these actions operate, the following describes the loading and unloading proce-
dures for some of the more common rifle designs: bolt, pump, lever, semiautomatic,
hinge, and falling-block actions. Be aware, however, that there are many operational
variations for these as well as other types of action designs. You must thoroughly
study and understand the rifle’s operation manual before using the rifle.
Bolt. The bolt-action rifle operates on a lift, pull, and push sequence similar to a
door bolt. The bolt action is probably the most common type. Many feel that it is
the strongest and most accurate of the action types. Scouts may use this type of
rifle to earn this merit badge.

12     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Rifle Parts

Pump. On pump-action
(also called slide-action)
rifles the fore-end of the
stock is pumped back and
forth to open and close
the action. Using bolt action
a pump-action rifle, expe-
rienced marksmen can
quickly load, fire, and
eject the spent cartridge
while keeping the rifle
pointed toward the target. Lever action
Lever. The action on
a lever-action rifle is
opened by pulling the
cocking lever downward
and forward away from
Semiautomatic
the stock. It is closed by
simply returning the lever
to its original position.
Lever-action rifles, like
pump-action rifles, also
allow rapid reloading. falling block
Semiautomatic. These
actions are sometimes Common types of actions
called repeaters or auto­
loaders. Each time a semiautomatic rifle is fired, burning powder in the cartridge
produces gas that provides the energy to open the action and eject the cartridge
case. A spring then closes the action, reloading a new cartridge at the same time.
This happens once each time the trigger is pulled.
Hinge. The hinge action opens similarly to the movement of a door hinge. When
the release lever is pushed to one side, the barrel swings downward. Hinge-action
rifles may have one, two, or three barrels. Double rifles are built as either an “over
and under” or a “side by side,” depending on the placement of the barrels. Three-
barreled guns usually have a combination of shotgun and rifle barrels and are often
called drillings.
Falling Block. The falling-block action uses a block instead of a bolt to hold the
cartridge in place at the breech end of the barrel. The action is opened by lowering
the trigger guard or the small lever under it that causes the breechblock to fall down
and away from the barrel. Raising the lever closes the action and covers the breech
end of the barrel. Falling-block rifles are single-shot rifles.

RIFLE SHOOTING     13
Rifle Parts.

Sights
Sights help you aim the rifle. There are many dif-
ferent types of sights, but generally they fall into
three categories: optical, open, and aperture.
Optical sights are telescopes
mounted atop the barrel or receiver
(the frame for the action parts of a
gun). They are good sights for
new shooters because they are
simple to use. Optical sights
have a crosshair or dot that
acts as an aiming point.
It’s important that
the sights be of the
right design and size
for the rifle. Optical
sights should be
mounted far enough
Pictured are some of the common reticles (aiming devices)
forward to assure found in optical sights. Left to right: duplex, dot, crosshair,
that the rifle’s recoil and post. Choosing which to use is largely a matter of
won’t cause the sight ­personal preference.
to strike the shooter’s
eye or eyewear.
Open sights have a notch or “V” located near the rear or breech end of the
rifle, and a front sight (a post or bead) located near the muzzle. To aim, the shooter
aligns the front and rear sights with the target.

Open sights are available in various adjustable and fixed designs.

14     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Rifle Parts

Aperture sights are often called peep sights because they have a small hole in
the rear sight that the shooter looks through (or peeps through) when aiming. The
front sight is aligned in the center of the rear sight opening, making alignment of the
sights much easier and more precise than with open sights. However, peep sights
aren’t as fast and easy to use as open sights when shots must be fired quickly.
Aperture rear sights, scopes, and some open sights can be precisely adjusted
without special tools. This adjustment is absolutely necessary for getting shots to
hit the center of the target. Usually both elevation (up and down) and windage
(left and right) adjustments can be made. The cardinal rule for adjusting sights is
to move the rear sight in the same direction desired for the shots on the target or
to move the rear sight to the center of the target. (For more on adjusting the sights,
see “Firing Your First Shots.”)

GLOBE FRONT SIGHT APERTURE REAR SIGHT

Aperture insert
Post insert

Globe front sight AND BULL’S-EYE As seen through the aperture rear sight

Globe front sights with aperture or post inserts are popular

with target shooters because they allow precise aiming.

RIFLE SHOOTING     15
Gun Safety.

Gun Safety
In marksmanship, nothing is more important than safety. Participants in shooting
sports assume a vital responsibility that affects the lives of others. It is critically
important to learn and practice all of the rifle safety rules.

The Scout Marksman’s Code

A Scout:
Always follows the rules for firearms safety.
Accepts the responsibility that goes with the use and possession
of firearms.
Follows the laws that govern the use and possession of firearms
in his community.
Practices wildlife conservation.
Follows the spirit and the letter of the game laws.
Is especially careful to be a true sportsman when using firearms.

When handled correctly and used properly, a rifle is not dangerous. A rifle, like
any other precision machine, instrument, or piece of sports equipment, is manufac-
tured to perform a ­specific task and can do so at no risk to the user or others. If a
rifle is handled incorrectly or recklessly, without regard for the safety rules, then
accidents can happen.
Rifle safety is a simple but ongoing process. You must first acquire knowledge
of how to handle rifles safely, then develop and maintain proper safe-handling
skills through practice. The most important element to being safe is attitude. Safety
knowledge and skills are of little value without a determination to use them all of
the time. Being safe means consciously keeping the gun under control. Always
be alert to, and conscious of, the rifle’s capabilities, and be aware of what might
happen if it is used improperly.
Basic gun safety rules fall into two major categories: safe gun handling and
safe use and storage.

16     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Gun Safety

Fundamental Rules for Safe Gun Handling

Three basic rules apply to
­handling a rifle—under
any circumstances.

1. ALWAYS keep the gun

pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of gun
safety. “Safe direction” means
that the gun is pointed so
that even if it were to go off, it
would not cause injury or
damage. The key to this rule is
to control where the muzzle
or front end of the barrel is ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
pointed at all times. Common
sense dictates the safest direction,
depending on circumstances.

2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the

trigger until you are ready to shoot.
When holding a gun, rest your finger
along the side of the gun. Until you
are actually ready to fire, do not
touch the trigger.

3.  ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded

until ready to use. When picking ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger
until you are ready to shoot.
up a gun, carefully point it in a safe
direction. Engage the safety if possi-
ble. Then, while keeping your finger
off the trigger, open the action and
look inside the chamber(s), which
should be clear of ammunition.
(If the gun has a magazine, remove
it before opening the action and
make sure it is empty.) If you do
not know how to open the action or
inspect the chamber(s), leave the
gun alone and get help from some-
When picking up a gun, carefully point it
one who does. in a safe direction, engage the safety,
open the action, and check to be sure the
chamber is clear of ammunition.

RIFLE SHOOTING     17
Gun Safety.

Rules for Using or Storing a Gun

When actually engaged in shooting—whether in hunting, recreational practice, or
competition—always follow these rules.
• Know your target and what is beyond. Be absolutely sure to identify the tar-
get beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond the target.
This means observing the prospective area of fire before shooting. Never fire in
a direction in which there are people or where any other potential for mishap
might exist. Think first. Shoot second.
• Know how to use a gun safely. Before handling a gun, learn how it operates.
Know its basic parts and how to safely open and close the action, and remove any
ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun’s mechanical safety
device is never foolproof. Nothing can replace safe gun handling.
• Be sure the gun is safe to operate. Just like other tools, guns need regular
maintenance to remain in good working order. Regular cleaning and proper
­storage are part of the gun’s general upkeep. If there is any question about a
gun’s ability to function, a gunsmith should look at it.
• Use only the correct ammunition for the gun. Only the BBs, pellets,
­cartridges, or ammunition designed for a particular gun can be fired
safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the
barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information
printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the
cartridge. Do not shoot the gun without loading the
proper ammunition.
• Wear hearing and eye protection. Shots fired from
guns are loud, and the noise can damage the hearing
of shooters and by-standers. Firing a gun also emits
debris and hot gas that can cause eye injury. For these
reasons, shooters should wear shooting glasses and
hearing protection.
• Never use alcohol or drugs before or when shoot-
ing. Alcohol, or any other substance likely to impair
normal mental or physical functions (including pre-
scription and nonprescription medicines), must not be
used before or while handling or shooting guns.
• Store guns so they are not accessible to unautho-
rized persons. Deciding where and how to store guns
and ammunition depends on several factors, such as
security and accessibility. Safe and secure storage
Wear eye and hearing
requires that untrained individuals (especially chil- protection when you
dren) be denied access to guns and ammunition. are shooting.

18     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Gun Safety

Shooting Ranges
The supervised shooting range is one of the safest places to enjoy shooting. The
operators of most ranges use standard range commands to control shooting and to
promote uniform safety practices. Range commands and rules let everyone shoot
safely. In every case, the undisputed boss is the range safety officer, who gives the
commands and monitors all shooters to be sure they comply with the safety rules.
It is your responsibility as a shooter to obey and respect the range officer.
The range has:
• A range safety officer • Firing points
• A ready area • Target holders
• A firing line • A backstop

20' Backstop

target holder
100 yard target line
safety safety
fan fan
10º 10º
side berm
or fence

50 yard target line

75' target line

firing
points
secured firing line
storage
area
fence stat board ready area
Typical shooting range

RIFLE SHOOTING     19
Gun Safety.

Shooters use the preparation area behind the firing line to get their equipment
ready and wait for their turn to shoot. Shooters take their positions on the point just
behind the firing line. Most ranges provide a target holder at the proper distance
from the firing line. The backstop behind the target holder catches the bullet just
after it goes through the target so there will be no danger to people or property
beyond the range.
Here are a few of the range commands you may hear a range safety officer use.
• “First relay—on the firing line.” This means that the shooters assigned to that
relay may now take their places on the firing line.
• “Is the line ready?” When everyone appears ready, the range safety officer
will inquire with this command (question). Anyone not ready should call out,
“Not ready,” and the range officer will state, “The line is not ready.” When the
difficulty is corrected, the range officer will repeat, “Is the line ready?”
• “Load.” This is normally the next command. It means that you can now load
your rifle but not fire it.
• “Ready on the firing line.” This is the last preparatory command.
• “Commence firing.” This command means that you may begin shooting and
that the time for the relay has begun.
• “Cease fire.” When the time for the relay ends or everyone has finished shoot-
ing, or if there is a problem that requires shooting to stop, the range safety officer
commands, “Cease fire.” Everyone stops shooting immediately. Additional com-
mands to unload, open the action, and bench or ground the firearm may follow.
Depending on the shooting facility, the number of people shooting, the type
of shooting equipment being used, or other variables, additional commands may
be used. Generally these additional commands direct the flow of shooters to and
from the firing line, provide necessary instructions, or inform ­shooters of the
time remaining.
Regardless of the shooting conditions, you have an important responsibility.
If you see an unsafe situation in which someone could get hurt, then it is your
responsibility to call “Cease fire.” Don’t wait for the range safety officer to notice.
Remember, anyone can call a “cease fire” in an emergency.

20     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Choosing a Rifle

Choosing a Rifle
Buying a rifle can be a memorable experience. Picking the right one is important.
Before making a selection, review local and state laws that apply to the purchase,
ownership, use, possession, and carrying of firearms. These laws vary widely
according to community and state. Then begin thinking about what type of firearm
best fits your needs. The following guidelines will help.

Purpose
The first consideration in buying a rifle is: Why do you want it? There are many
types of rifles, and each has a specific purpose. One would not want to buy a hunt-
ing rifle to shoot competitively, for example. Knowing what you want to use the rifle
for can save money and frustration. Patient searching will pay off and help you find
the right rifle.
The local library or bookstore is a good place to begin your study. Visiting a
local sporting goods or gun specialty store is also a must. Find an interested sales-
person who will explain the features of the models you’re studying. Be specific
about your interests, plans for use, and budget. In all you do, take your time. Be
careful not to buy on impulse or because of a sales pitch.

Action
A good action is one that can be kept open during handling and that permits an
easy visual check of the chamber (and of the magazine, if the rifle has one). After
trying out the various action types, you probably will develop a preference for one.

Trigger
For safety reasons, rifles used in BSA shooting programs must have a 3-pound or
greater trigger pull. Rifles used for other purposes, such as the smallbore rifles shot
in competition, have a much lighter trigger pull.

RIFLE SHOOTING     21
Choosing a Rifle.

Weight
The weight of a rifle is an important consideration when selecting a gun. The proper
weight depends on the rifle’s intended use and your current physical development.
If you are still growing, a lighter rifle will be easier to handle. A larger Scout or an
adult will probably want a heavier rifle. A Scout shooting a .22 who is just getting
started will want a rifle that weighs about 5 to 7 pounds. A serious target shooter or
an adult selecting a high-powered rifle may want something heavier, maybe as much
as 10 to 17 pounds. In any case, the rifle needs to be heavy enough to be stable and
absorb the recoil (kickback) of firing but light enough to handle comfortably.

Barrel
Barrel length, like weight, will vary with the rifle’s use and the shooter’s size. A
young man with his first .22 rifle will probably do better with a shorter barrel,
around 18 or 24 inches. A larger or more experienced shooter selecting a more pow-
erful rifle may prefer a barrel that is 24 to 29 inches in length. The situation in
which the gun will be used is another consideration. On a rifle that is to be used in
heavy brush or woods, a shorter barrel is best. A target rifle or one to be used in
open country would be better if it had a longer barrel.

Stock
Proper stock fit is very important in the selection of a rifle.
A stock that is too short will make the shooter feel cramped,
and the shooter may place the rear sight too close to the face.
A stock that is too long will put the weight of the gun too far
away from the shooter and will force him to stretch to operate
the gun. Since most guns are made for the average adult, a
Scout will often need the stock shortened to make it fit well.
This is usually easily done by any competent gunsmith.
A quick and easy test to see if the stock is the right length
for you is to bend your arm at the elbow and place the butt of
the rifle into the crook of your arm. In this position you
should be able to comfortably reach the grip and trigger. If Measuring stock fit
you can’t, a gunsmith can add a spacer to the butt or cut off
part of the stock to make the length right for you.
The comb of the stock is important, too. A comb that is too high will prevent
you from properly aligning your eye with the sight. A comb that is too low will force
you to raise your cheek up off the stock to see the sight. Both of these are detrimen-
tal to good shooting. Unfortunately, fixing a poorly fitting comb can be difficult and
expensive. To begin with, it is best to select a rifle with the proper comb height.
When you’re checking comb height, remember to consider the type of sights you
will be using. A scope will require a higher comb than field sights.

22     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Choosing a Rifle

The adult rifle in the photo at left is too big for a young person to successfully
shoot from any position. The smaller rifle, at right, is ­better suited to the younger
shooter’s needs.

Sights
The intended use of the rifle also determines the type of sights Buy a gun that fits
you need. For hunting, most people choose a scope in the 3- to
6-power range. Target shooters typically use aperture (peep) you. A gun that fits
sights that are easily adjusted. A recreational shooter might well lets you shoot
prefer an open (field) sight that is more economical. Other
shooters may select specialized sights that are made for their your best.
particular type of shooting. No matter what type of sights you
choose, make sure that you can easily adjust them to zero-in
your rifle. (This technique is explained later in the pamphlet.)

Before You Buy

Answer these questions before making a final choice. If you are
thinking of buying a used gun, take additional care in making
the decision.
• How do you plan to use this rifle? Is the use multipurpose
or specific?
• What are the best caliber, weight, and sights for this use?
• Is ammunition readily available? How much will ammuni-
tion cost for the amount of shooting you plan to do?
• How much money can you spend for the rifle?
• Have you done your homework? Have you studied
­manufacturers’ catalogs?

RIFLE SHOOTING     23
Choosing a Rifle.

• Have you inspected and handled the different types of rifles available?
• Have you checked the accessories and special features options?
• Can accessories be easily added to accommodate any changes in your
shooting interest?
• Is the rifle simple to operate and to clean?
• Can the sights be easily adjusted?
• Does the rifle fit you?
• Have you read the warranty or guarantee?
• Is the rifle produced by a known manufacturer? Buying quality brands generally
ensures the availability of future repairs and a good return on your investment.
• Does the rifle have a good record for dependability?
• Are you buying from a reputable dealer?
• What is the marketability if you decide to sell the rifle? Could you get back most
of your money in a sale?
• Have you taken your time in making your decision? Remember: The chances are
good that you will keep the rifle for life.

Buying a Used Rifle

Here are some additional points to consider when buying a used rifle.
• Locate the previous owner, if possible, and find out why the rifle was traded or sold.
• Be aware that a poor outward appearance on a rifle generally indicates abuse or
excessive wear.
• Have a gunsmith look at the rifle and determine if it has been misused.
• Check the bore for bulges or excessive wear.
• Check screw slots to determine if they have been abused during disassembly by
an inexperienced person.
• Check the trigger for consistent pull and smooth function.
• Check the safety to determine if it functions properly.

24     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Choosing a Rifle

• Secure advice from a gun expert regarding this rifle’s market value.
• Check the wood in the stock for type, quality, and hairline cracks.
• Shoot the rifle before you buy it.
• Be certain the seller legally owns the rifle.
• Remember that you usually get what you pay for!

Note that rifles in original, unaltered condition tend to hold their value.

Using a Borrowed Rifle

You may be able to use a rifle range in your town or at Scout camp. There, you
will probably use a rifle provided at the range. This is fine. If possible, sight-in your
borrowed rifle to your satisfaction.

Sighting-In Your Rifle

You will sight-in your rifle whether it has come directly from the manufacturer or
has been used by other people. This is also known as zeroing the rifle. “Zero” is
sight adjustment that will allow the bullet to strike the target at the desired point of
aim. To sight-in your rifle, follow the steps outlined in “Firing Your First Shots.”

RIFLE SHOOTING     25
Air Rifles.

Air Rifles
Air guns are not toys. Today’s air gun is a technically sophisticated and precise
instrument. Everything in this merit badge pamphlet—on safe gun handling, shoot-
ing positions, fundamentals of firing a shot, hygiene, and etiquette—applies to the
use of air guns. Additionally, the advice given for purchasing a gun also applies to
the purchase of an air gun. However, the procedures for cleaning an air gun differ.
Air guns are relatively inexpensive. They range in price from about $100 to
more than $1,500. The ammunition is much cheaper than the cartridge type.

Pellet Guns
The air rifle (pellet gun) fires a skirted lead pellet at varying velocities from about
300 to about 850 feet per second. Because they have velocities less than the .22 cali-
ber cartridge gun, these gas and air guns are shot at a distance of 25 yards or less.
In most organized programs, air rifles are shot at 25 feet on the NRA TQ-5 target or
33 feet (10 meters) on the NRA AR 5/1 or AR 5/10 targets. These targets are sized
so that the challenge of meeting the shooting requirements is comparable to the
.22 caliber rimfire rifles shot at 50 feet.
There are four types of air rifles: spring-operated, precompressed, carbon dioxide,
and compressed air. Air rifles are virtually recoilless (they don’t “kick”). The spring-
operated air rifle was popular for many years and uses several types of systems. In
the most successful spring-operated system, the barrel and action recoil freely to the
rear when the piston and spring are moved forward. A more modern gun uses a pre-
compressed system—the shooter cocks the rifle using a long lever and at the same
time compresses air in a chamber that is released when the trigger is pulled. The car-
bon dioxide type is an old idea using a carbon dioxide cylinder that allows for a short
burst of gas under pressure that propels the pellet through the barrel. A newer system
uses compressed air as the propellant (the same system divers use). The gun’s com-
pressed air cylinder is filled from an air tank and installed in the gun the same as the
divers’ CO2 system.
Air rifles are used in recreational and competitive shooting, field shooting, and
silhouette shooting. The 10 meter (33 feet) air rifle event is a recognized event in
national and international competitions including the Olympic Games.

26     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Air Rifles

One of the newest and fastest growing air rifle events in the United States is
position air rifle. Position air rifle is normally shot in the prone, standing, and kneel-
ing positions at 10 meters (33 feet). (See “Shooting Positions.”) There are two cate-
gories of position air rifle shooting: precision and sporter. Precision air rifle mostly
emulates smallbore rifle shooting, using the same equipment and an expensive air
rifle. Sporter air rifle is shot in street clothes using a low-cost air rifle. This type of
air rifle shooting is shot widely across the United States and is recognized by the
National Rifle Association for national records.

The BB gun is not a toy—nor is any air gun.

Pellet guns fire skirted lead pellets.

BB Gun
The BB gun is usually a spring-piston model and is the simplest and least expensive
of all rifles. It operates by a lever that compresses a spring that has a piston attached
to it. When the trigger is pulled, the spring releases the piston and sends a blast of
air up the bore behind the BB.
The bore of a BB gun is not usually rifled, so accuracy drops off as distance to
the target increases. The average ­muzzle velocity of the BB gun is around 300 feet
per second. This velocity gives good accuracy at short distances. The BB gun is shot
at 15 feet for most organized types of shooting, including qualification programs
and competition.
Always wear eye protection when shooting a BB gun. Steel BBs can ricochet off
wooden or metal target frames, causing injury and property damage. It’s best to hang
BB targets from a string suspended between two posts, secured at the top and bottom.

Advantages of Air Guns

The advantages of air rifles include low cost, lack of noise on firing, little or no
recoil, and the shortened distance needed between the firing line and the target,
which makes these guns great for use in a large room or outdoors.

RIFLE SHOOTING     27
Air Rifles.

An air gun is an excellent way to practice at reasonable cost, and an air rifle
certainly can be used in fulfilling requirement 2 for this merit badge.

Care and Cleaning

The care and cleaning of an air gun is a little different from cleaning a .22 caliber
rifle. (See “Care of Your Rifle,” next.) Some cleaning solvents will harm air gun
seals. Use a 100 percent synthetic solvent, which will not damage the rubber seals.
Additionally, most air guns are to be cleaned from the muzzle, not from the breech
end of the gun. In doing so, be careful not damage the muzzle with cleaning equip-
ment. Carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the gun.
The origin of the rifling is at the muzzle end of the barrel. This is the last con-
tact of the rifle with the projectile. If the rifling is damaged by inserting the cleaning
rod into the muzzle, the overall accuracy of the rifle will suffer. Instead, use a pull-
through system made from strong fishing line.

28     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Care of Your Rifle

Care of Your Rifle

A rifle is a precision instrument. Like any other item of value, it must be cared for
properly if it is to operate correctly and safely. Unlike many other items of sports
equipment, a rifle is built to last a lifetime—and it will, if it is cared for properly.

Cleaning
Make a habit of cleaning the rifle after each use. Regular cleaning will help ensure
that the rifle functions properly, shoots accurately, and is reliable. Always thoroughly
clean a rifle and apply protective lubrication before storing it. Cleaning helps preserve
the finish and value of a rifle. Cleaning is also essential when a rifle has been stored
for a long time or has been exposed to dirt or moisture. Be sure the rifle is cleaned
thoroughly before use.
Before you begin to clean the rifle, point it in a safe direction, open the action,
and be absolutely sure that the gun is empty and all ammunition is removed
from the area. To assure safety, the action should be open during cleaning. Ideally,
the bolt should be removed from the rifle during cleaning.

RIFLE SHOOTING     29
Care of Your Rifle.

Six basic materials are needed to clean a rifle:

• Cleaning rod with attachment (jag tip to hold
patches and a bore brush)
— The rod must be the proper size for the bore
of the rifle.
— The use of a bore guide is recommended to
help keep the rod in line with the bore.
• Cloth patches
• Bore solvent
• Gun oil
• Soft cloth
• Small brush

Steps in Cleaning
Step 1—Pour a small amount of cleaning solvent into a small pan or cup, or use an
applicator bottle. Screw a jag onto the cleaning rod, put a cleaning patch on the end
of the rod, and dip the patch in the pan of solvent. Using a cleaning rod guide, push
the rod through the guide and the barrel to loosen the fouling. (Fouling is the residue
from burning powder and lead particles left in the barrel after a shot is fired.) Always
push in one direction (action through muzzle). Remove the brush and pull the rod
out of the rifle. Take off the jag and screw a bore brush onto the cleaning rod; dip
the brush in the solvent pan. Repeat the same process used to run the patch through
the barrel. (This technique keeps the residue out of the trigger mechanism and helps
protect the barrel.) Remove the brush.
Step 2—Again, attach a patch to the cleaning rod and dip it into the solvent. Run
the wet patch through the bore and remove it from the rod. (Do not pull the patch
back through the barrel because you will
cause residue to fall into the trigger.)
Step 3—Run a dry patch through the barrel
in the same manner.
Step 4—To remove the loosened residue
and fouling, run a series of dry patches
through the barrel until one stays clean.
Repeat steps 1 through 4 until the patches
come out clean.
Step 5—Push a lightly oiled patch through
the bore.

30     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Care of Your Rifle

Step 6—Properly dispose of the unused solvent.

Do not pour the unused solvent back into the
solvent container because it may contaminate the
clean solvent.
Step 7—Using a small brush (old toothbrush)
or cloth, clean remaining parts of the rifle and
remove any foreign material such as unburned
gunpowder or small particles of lead.
Step 8—Lubricate any moving parts of the rifle
(see manufacturer’s recommendations).
Step 9—Wipe all
exposed metal surfaces
with a silicone or lightly
oiled cloth.
Step 10—Wash your
hands when you are
finished to remove lead
and chemical residues.
After the rifle is cleaned,
handle the gun by the
stock. (Fingerprints can
cause rust on the metal parts of your rifle.) Be sure your ammunition is clean as
well. Check it for foreign material before using it. (Once again, be absolutely sure
that no ammunition is present in the cleaning area.)
If the gun is a type that is not fired by gunpowder, such as an air rifle, its bore
must be cleaned regularly. Keep any ­­gun clean and rust-free on all exposed surfaces.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Repairs
Beginning shooters should leave repairs to experts. If the rifle is not functioning prop-
erly, take it to a professional gunsmith or send it back to the manufacturer for repairs.

Storing Firearms
Before you decide how and where to keep your gun and ammunition, consider
safety, storage conditions, access by others, and your personal needs. Many people
are naturally intrigued by guns, and the temptation to pick one up is very real for
adults and children alike. That could spell trouble if the person is too young or inex-
perienced to handle the gun safely. Security is another factor. Unfortunately, guns
are often desirable booty for thieves.

RIFLE SHOOTING     31
Care of Your Rifle.

For all of these reasons, shooting equipment must be kept in a secure location.
Many manufacturers offer fine wooden cabinets to display and secure guns. Some
gun owners prefer to have their guns out of sight and out of reach. If you choose
storage that requires a lock, keep the keys where casual visitors and youngsters
can’t get them.
Always store guns and ammunition so that they are not accessible to untrained
or unauthorized people. When removing a firearm for handling or cleaning,
always remember to ­follow the safety rules, and double-check to ensure that the
gun is unloaded.
Ammunition should be stored in a cool, dry place. Minimize the chance of an
accident by storing guns and ­ammunition separately.

32     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Ammunition

Ammunition
The types of ammunition available today are as diverse as the types of rifles.
Different sizes and shapes of ammunition have been developed to fit every sporting
need, but all modern rifle ammunition consists of four basic parts—the case,
primer, powder charge, and bullet (projectile). Together they form a rifle cartridge.
• The case is the container in
which the ammunition parts are
assembled. A metal—typically
Centerfire brass—is used in its construc-
tion. Cases come in many sizes
and shapes designed to fit
matching firearms. There are
Bullet two basic types—rimfire and
centerfire. The basic difference
between the two is the location
of the primer.

Case
Rimfire
Bullet

Case
Powder
Powder

Primer Primer

RIFLE SHOOTING     33
Ammunition.

• The primer is an impact-sensitive chemical mixture that ignites when hit by the
­firing pin. In rimfire ammunition (mostly .22 caliber), the priming chemical is con-
tained inside the hollow rim at the base of the case. The rim is soft enough that the
firing pin leaves a small dent after striking it. This indentation crushes the priming
compound, causing it to ignite. In centerfire ammunition, the primer is a separate
component located in the center of the cartridge base. This type of design allows
the greater case strength required in high-power rifle ammunition.
• The powder (a chemical compound) is a propellant. When ignited by the primer,
the powder’s gases expand rapidly and produce a high pressure, providing the
force needed to propel the bullet through the barrel and to the target.
• The bullet is the projectile that is shot by the rifle at the target. It normally is made
of lead and may also have a jacket of hard metal such as copper. The bullet must
match the chamber and bore of the rifle, or an unsafe condition can result.

Cartridge in chamber

Firing pin strikes and ignites primer, which in turn ignites powder

Gas from burning powder expands in case

Gas pushes bullet out with force

Bullet speeds out through barrel

Bullet and escaping gases make the “bang”

How a rifle fires

34     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Ammunition

Malfunctions
The three possible problems that can result from ammunition
If a cartridge fails
malfunctions are misfire, hangfire, and squib rounds.
to fire when the
• The misfire happens when a cartridge does not fire when the
firing pin hits the primer. When this happens, the shooter trigger is pulled,
must keep the gun pointed in a safe direction and wait for at
keep the rifle
least 30 seconds before opening the bolt. The misfire normally
happens because the strike by the firing pin was too weak to pointed in a safe
fire the priming compound or because there was no priming direction. Because
compound where the firing pin hit the cartridge’s primer.
the cartridge
• In rare cases, the priming compound will not ignite immedi-
ately but may ignite after a delay. Late ignition of the round might still fire,
is called a hangfire. The possibility of a hangfire is why the do not attempt to
rifle is kept pointed in a safe direction for at least 30 seconds.
At the end of that time, the bolt may be opened to remove open the action of
the misfired cartridge or empty case. the gun for at least
• In a squib round, the primer ignites, but there are not 30 seconds.
enough gases to force the bullet out of the barrel.
In the rare instance that the round fired but did not sound
right, nor did it hit the target, stop. Raise your hand if you are
firing on a range, and explain the situation to the range safety
officer. Do not attempt to shoot another shot, because the
bullet may be lodged in the barrel.
The proper procedure is to remove the bolt and inspect the
barrel from the breech end to determine whether the bullet is in
the barrel. If the bullet is in the barrel, it should be removed from
the barrel by pushing it with a cleaning rod from the breech—
never from the muzzle. After removing the lodged bullet, clean
the barrel to remove any residue and unburned powder.

RIFLE SHOOTING     35
Rifle Shooting Fundamentals.

Rifle Shooting Fundamentals

Once you know how a rifle works, how to handle it safely, and how to care for it,
you are almost ready to shoot it. But there is much more to shooting than pulling
the trigger.
Learning to shoot a rifle accurately is much the same as being introduced to
any other skill. In soccer, for instance, the beginner is taught the basic skills—like
kicking, passing, and shooting—before taking to the field and beginning actual play.
It’s the same with rifle shooting. To shoot a rifle safely and accurately, you must
first learn the basic skills of the shooting positions and the shooting fundamentals.
Once you have learned the fundamentals of rifle shooting, you can begin to apply
them to various rifle-shooting activities for a lifetime of fun and challenges.
The shooting position provides a platform from which to accomplish the funda-
mentals of firing a shot. For this merit badge, you will learn how to shoot from a
supported position (benchrest or prone supported position). This position will give
you the best support, from which you can correctly learn the shooting fundamentals
in the shortest time. (Shooting positions are described in more detail in the next
chapters, “Shooting Positions” and “Firing Your First Shots.”)

Determining the Proper Shoulder

Before you can get into a shooting position,
you must determine whether you should shoot
from the left or right shoulder. In shooting, this
depends on whether you are right- or left-eyed,
not whether you are right- or left-handed.
To find your dominant eye:
• Extend your hands in front of you.
• Put your hands together and form a small
opening between them.
• Keep both eyes open, and look through the opening at your instructor’s nose.
By looking through the opening in your hands, your instructor will quickly
­identify your ­dominant eye.

36     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Rifle Shooting Fundamentals

As an alternative method:
• Extend your hands in front of you.
• Put your hands together and form a small
opening between them.
• Keep both eyes open, and look through
the opening at an object in the distance.
• Move your hands backward until they touch
your face, all the while keeping the object
in sight.
The eye that is looking through the opening at the object is your dominant eye. If it
is your right eye, you should shoot from your right shoulder (left eye, left shoulder).

Shooting Positions
The shooting position is simply the posture of the body while shooting. The sup-
ported position forms the foundation from which you can learn the proper shot
release technique. If your range has a benchrest, use it. If not, shoot from the
supported prone position.

Position of the Body

The position of the body is the arrangement of the head, torso, arms, and legs, and
their relationship to the target. Positioning the body is the first step in assuming any
shooting position.
Benchrest position

Left-handed position Right-handed position

Supported prone position

RIFLE SHOOTING     37
Rifle Shooting Fundamentals.

Three conditions are essential for a good position.

• First, be comfortable and relaxed. This means having as natural a body position
as possible without straining.
• Second, provide maximum bone support. Use bones, not muscles, to support the
body and rifle. If you rely mostly on muscles to support the weight of the rifle,
you will tire quickly and you may have a hard time holding the rifle still.
• Third, align your position to the target. If these conditions are met, your rifle will
naturally point at the target. The point where the rifle comes to rest when the
body is relaxed is what shooters call natural point of aim (NPA).

Position of the Rifle

Correct position of the rifle involves the proper relation-
ship of the rifle with the body. The rifle must be placed
firmly against the shoulder so that the sights are aligned
with the dominant eye, comfortably and naturally.
Alignment of the sights with the eye, without tilting the
head to the side, is essential to proper body position.
The fore-end of the stock should rest in the nonshoot-
ing hand. Do not grip or squeeze the fore-end.
Correct hand and index finger placement on the rifle
grip and trigger is necessary to correctly hold the rifle and
pull the trigger. Grasp the grip of the stock with the lower
three fingers, lightly resting the
thumb on the top of the stock.
Place the hand so that the index
finger can pull the trigger straight
Placement of the index
to the rear. finger should allow the
While relaxed, and without trigger to be pulled
touching the trigger, notice straight to the rear.
through the sights where the rifle
is pointing—where the rifle naturally wants to come to rest.
If the rifle does not naturally point at the target, adjust your
position around the sandbag or support to allow the rifle to
naturally point at the target (natural point of aim).

Fundamentals of Firing a Shot

The trigger finger Now that you have looked at the elements of a position,
should be clear it’s time to learn what it takes to fire a shot. It is important
of the stock so it
will not touch the to understand that shooting is actually a series of one-shot
stock while pulling events. Whether rapid-fire, as with a high-powered rifle,
the trigger. or single-shot, as with a single-shot smallbore rifle, the

38     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Rifle Shooting Fundamentals

f­undamentals of firing each shot are the same. An expert

shooter will recognize that each shot is a single event and will
learn to use the fundamentals consistently for each shot. Unless designated
The five fundamentals of firing a shot are otherwise, all
• Aiming position descrip-
• Breath control tions and photos
• Hold control in this pamphlet
• Trigger control
are for the right-
• Follow-through
handed shooter.
A shooter must accomplish each fundamental for each shot.
Left-handed
Aiming shooters will
Aiming, simply stated, is the process of lining up the shooter’s
need to reverse
eye, the rifle, and the target. Aiming is done in two steps: sight
alignment and sight picture. this information.
• Sight alignment is the alignment of the eye, rear sight, and
front sight. Consistent and proper sight alignment is necessary
for accurate aiming. When using open sights with a post or
bead front sight, sight alignment is correct when the front
sight is centered in the rear sight notch and the top edge of the
front sight is even with the top of the rear sight. With aperture
or peep sights, sight alignment is correct when the front sight
ring or top edge of the front sight post is centered in the rear
sight aperture. When using a telescopic sight, proper sight
alignment is achieved by positioning the eye to clearly see
the entire field of view when looking through the scope.
• Sight picture is the relationship between the eye, the aligned
sights or scope, and the target. Sight picture will vary accord-
ing to the type of sights and kind of target being used. A bead
front sight should be aimed at the center of the target. The
top edge of a post front sight is centered on the bull’s-eye or
at the bottom of the bull’s-eye (called a “6 o’clock hold”).
When you have obtained the correct sight picture, the front
sight should be clearly defined while the target and rear
sight remain slightly out of focus. A scope reticle (usually
crosshairs) is simply centered on the target and everything
is brought into clear focus.

RIFLE SHOOTING     39
Rifle Shooting Fundamentals.

Rear sight Front sight Aligned sight Sight picture

Aiming with open sights

Aiming with aperture sights

Breath Control
Breath control simply means to stop breathing before firing a shot. Breathing causes
your body to move. Continuous breathing makes it difficult to maintain a steady
sight picture. Before firing the shot, be sure you are comfortable and relaxed. Then
exhale and stop breathing. This technique will help you in aiming by reducing the
movement of your body and rifle in relation to the target. You should hold your
breath no longer than about 8 to 10 seconds while aiming at the target. If you are
not able to shoot the shot within that time, stop, take a breath or two, and repeat
the process.

40     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Rifle Shooting Fundamentals

Hold Control
Hold control means keeping the aligned sights or scope reticle aimed as closely as pos-
sible on the center of the target. It is the most important period in firing a shot. Even
though you assume a proper and relaxed position and stop breathing, you will still
notice movement in the sight picture. This movement is natural.
From a support, such as a benchrest, a shooter can come close to eliminating
movement. You can minimize the amount of movement by concentrating on achieving
the proper sight picture and holding as still as possible. You must learn to concentrate
totally and consistently on sight picture control when firing.
Controlling sight picture movement is something that cannot be learned in one
or two shooting sessions. All other fun­damentals of shooting can be learned in a
fairly short time, but hold control is practiced by championship shooters for years.
However, you will notice rapid improvement in accuracy if you concentrate on
achieving good hold control and practice this technique regularly.

Trigger Control
To fire a good shot, pull the trigger straight to the rear when your hold is best—
when it looks and feels right. Slowly squeezing the trigger while maintaining a good
sight picture works much better than trying to quickly jerk the trigger to catch that
instant when the sight picture looks just right.
There are two rules for good trigger control.
1. Pull the trigger while holding steady.
2. Pull the trigger straight to the rear smoothly and slowly, without disturbing
your hold.
Remember to concentrate on hold control with your focus on the front sight.

Follow-Through
Follow-through is maintaining position, aim, breath control, hold control, and trigger
control before and immediately after firing the shot. Follow-through allows the rifle
to recoil and return to its natural point of aim after the shot is fired. This will mini-
mize the possibility of any sudden movement (just before the shot is fired) that will
disturb the sight picture and radically change the bullet’s path. If you remember
where the bull’s-eye was located in, or on, the front sight when the shot was fired
and can tell your instructor where it was, then you have followed through. This is
the process that shooters refer to as “calling the shot.”

RIFLE SHOOTING     41
Shooting Positions.

Shooting Positions
The first consideration in any shooting activity is safety. Remember to
observe the range rules and the basic rules of safe gun handling.

The shooting position is the platform from which the fundamentals of firing a shot
are executed. There is one fundamental learning position with two derivations, and
there are four basic shooting positions that rifle shooters use. Whether you are
shooting competitively, shooting for recreation, or hunting, you will use one of
these positions or some variation thereof.
As you learn to shoot, the best position to use is the “supported” position. The
supported position is shot either from a table using sand-
bags to support the rifle or from the prone posi-
tion using sandbags. Place the sandbags
under the fore-end of the rifle. These
positions will allow you to work
on the fundamentals with-
out distractions.

42     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Shooting Positions

In all shooting positions, a sling (a strap normally made from leather or webbing)
can be used to help support the rifle. With a properly adjusted sling, the muscles do
not have to hold the rifle and can be relaxed, making the rifle steadier. In recreational
shooting and hunting, a sling can be used in all positions. In competitive shooting, a
sling is normally used only in the prone, sitting, and kneeling positions.
Rifle shooting is a precision sport. Learn to use the body to correctly support
the rifle when you’re firing a shot. In rifle shooting, the four basic positions are
prone, sitting, kneeling, and standing. Each position has five basic elements that
should be observed:
• Balance
• Support
• Natural point of aim (NPA)
• Comfort
• Consistency
If you are considering becoming (or are) a competitive shooter, you also
need to make sure that your positions are legal (conform to the rules used
during competition).

Balance
Balance is a prime consideration in a shooting position. A good position places the
weight of the rifle over the support points of the body. An erect head position is key
to maintaining good balance. Keep your head erect and ears level to the ground in
all shooting positions.

Support
All shooting positions need to be built around the skeleton of the body. The skeleton
is the structure that supports all the parts of the body. In shooting, the principle is
to use the bones as much as possible to support the rifle. When building a shooting
position, shooters must take into consideration their bones and muscles. Muscles
will tire and quiver. Bones do not tire out, and they provide the most consistent sup-
port for the body-rifle system. A sling plays a major role in helping to support the
prone, sitting, and kneeling positions.

Natural Point of Aim

Natural point of aim (NPA) is where the rifle points when the body is at rest. A good
shooting position will allow the rifle to point directly at the target, naturally, without
any “muscling” by the shooter. NPA has three parts:
• Bone support. The bones must be used to support the rifle in all shooting
­positions because the muscles tire while the bones do not.

RIFLE SHOOTING     43
Shooting Positions.

• Relaxed muscles with sling support. A sling, when used, supports the weight
of the rifle in all positions (except standing for competitive shooters).
• Alignment to the target. The rifle naturally points toward the target with
the body in a relaxed position supported by bone structure and very little
muscle tension.
How do you check NPA? There are several ways. The following suggestion is
one method.
• Relax in position with the head against the stock.
• Close the eyes for a few seconds.
• Open the eyes and see where the rifle is pointing.
How often should NPA be checked? Every shot.

Canting the Rifle

The shooting sports are in a constant state of change. Years ago, shooters
thought that canting (tilting a rifle to move the rear sight in front of the
shooting eye) was not acceptable. Over the past 20 years, shooters have
learned that to shoot well, it is very important to make sure that the body
is in a balanced position. That means that the rifle should fit the shooter
and be brought to the shooter’s position. It is more important to keep the
head erect and tilt (cant) the rifle so the sights are in front of the shooting
eye rather than to tilt the head to the sights. It is good to cant the rifle so
the sights are in front of the shooting eye as long as you cant consistently.

44     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Shooting Positions

Comfort
The positions should be reasonably comfortable. A good position allows normal
flow of blood between the heart and the body while firing. A good position requires
the rifle and the body to be supported by the shooter’s bone structure with little
or no use of the muscles.
Stretching and flexibility exercises can help a shooter improve comfort.
Remember that a Scout is physically strong.

Consistency
Consistency is being able to do the same task over and over in exactly the same way.
Why is this important? In shooting, you try to place one shot on top of another in the
center of the target. The only way to accomplish the task is by having a solid position
and executing the integrated act of firing the shot exactly the same way for each shot. If
you’re not consistent, your chance of firing each shot correctly in the same way is low.

Attitude
Do you want to be a good shooter? The first thing you must do is be positive. No
matter what position you decide to shoot, approach your task with the attitude that
it is fun and easy. There is no “hard” position to shoot. Every position is easy, and
you learn more every time you shoot from it. If you believe that something is diffi-
cult, then it is. Shooters who talk about one position being harder than another are
actually teaching themselves that shooting is hard. Remember: Be positive.
Note: The following positions are described for a right-handed shooter. Reverse
for a left-handed shooter.

Standing Position
The standing position is the most natural and the most often used position. Standing
provides the most clearance. It is the easiest position to assume, but it is the least
stable for the beginning shooter.

Position characteristics:
1. Shooter stands at about a right angle to the target.
2. Feet are about shoulder-width apart.
3. Knees are straight but not locked.
4. Body weight is distributed equally on both feet.

RIFLE SHOOTING     45
Shooting Positions.

5. Back is slightly bent, with a slight twist

above the waist, to compensate for the
weight of the rifle.

6. Head is erect.

7. Right arm is relaxed.

8. The right hand grasps the grip of the rifle

with about as much pressure as would
be used picking up a milk carton.

9. The left arm rests against the rib cage and

supports the weight of the rifle.

10. The rifle rests in the left hand with the

fingers relaxed around the fore-end.

11. The butt of the rifle is positioned

against the shoulder so the rifle sights
are at eye level.

46     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Shooting Positions

Aligning the position (NPA):

1. In standing, major changes to NPA horizontal movement are done by moving
the feet. Minor changes are made by moving the toes.

2. NPA changes to elevation are accomplished by breath control or by positioning

the feet in the stance wider or narrower.

Prone Position
The supported position (benchrest or prone) is the steadiest of the positions. The
prone position is the next steadiest because it uses both elbows and almost all of
the body in contact with the ground to provide a wide area of support.
Position characteristics:
1. The shooter lies facing the target about 5 to 20 degrees to the right of the
firing position.

2. The left side of the body, forearm, upper arm, and left leg form essentially
a straight line.

3. The right leg is drawn up with the lower leg parallel to the back and the right
foot placed naturally on the ground. This action shifts the weight to the left
side while raising the diaphragm off the ground to help breathing and reduce
the effects of the pulse.

4. The left elbow is extended with the left arm forming about a 30-degree angle
between the arm and the ground.

RIFLE SHOOTING     47
Shooting Positions.

5. The rifle fits naturally in the left hand.

6. The right wrist is straight with the fingers relaxed.

7. The butt of the rifle is positioned against the shoulder so the rifle sights are
at eye level.
Aligning the position (NPA):
1. The pivot point in the prone position is the left elbow. Major changes horizon-
tally are made by shifting the hips left and right around the left elbow. Minor
changes are made by slight movement with the hips.

2. Major vertical movement is made by moving the hips forward or back. If using
a sling, the sling length can be changed to lower or raise the position. Make
minor changes vertically with breath control.

48     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Shooting Positions

Kneeling Position
The kneeling position can be as steady as the prone position. Many good shooters
in the competitive world shoot better scores in the kneeling position than they do in
the prone position. This is also a good position in the field. It is quick to assume
and steadier than standing, and it provides the clearance necessary to shoot over
obstructions such as tall weeds or brush.
Position characteristics:
1. The shooter sits on the heel of the right foot.
Note: If shooting on a target range at targets, use a kneeling roll. A kneeling roll
is simply a bag filled with sand, rubber, or other substance that will provide sup-
port for the right ankle. It is placed under the instep of the right foot.
2. The head is erect.
3. The shoulders are almost square to the target (about 25 to 30 degrees to the right).
4. The back is bent slightly forward.
5. The left elbow is placed slightly over the left knee at the flat spot on the knee.
6. The lower left leg is vertical or slightly forward.
Note: This position places about 70 percent of the body weight on the rear heel,
20 percent on the left leg, and 10 percent on the right knee.
Aligning the position (NPA):
1. Major horizontal changes are made by pivoting the body around the right foot
(on the kneeling roll if one is used). Moving the left toe will help make minor
changes horizontally.
2. Vertical changes are normally made using breath control or, if a sling is used,
through a combination of breath control and sling adjustment.

RIFLE SHOOTING     49
Shooting Positions.

Sitting Position
Sitting is a common position used by high-power shooters and hunters. It is a stable
position because it uses both elbows combined with a low body position. For hunters,
sitting, like kneeling, provides more ground clearance than the prone position does.
Position characteristics:
1. The shooter sits on the ground.

2. Legs are extended from the body with ankles crossed (left over right).

3. Shoulders are almost square to the target (about 15 to 25 degrees to the right).

4. Elbows are placed inside the knees.

5. The back is arched forward.

6. The rifle is placed in the left hand with the fingers relaxed.

7. The right hand grasps the rifle grip (straight wrist).

8. The butt of the stock is placed against the shoulder so that the rifle sight is at
eye level.
Aligning the position (NPA):
1. Major horizontal changes are made by pivoting the position left or right around
the buttocks.

2. Vertical changes are normally made using breath control or, if a sling is used,
through a combination of breath control and sling adjustment.

Note: Several other versions of this position are used in the field and by competi-
tive shooters. This position gives the beginning shooter a starting foundation.

50     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Firing Your First Shots

Firing Your
First Shots
Now that you know the basic shooting posi-
tions and the fundamentals of firing a shot,
Position of the body
it’s time to get into position and shoot.

The Supported Position

The supported position (benchrest or sup-
ported prone) is the first position to learn
because it is the steadiest and will give the
best indication of the shot groups (pattern
of shot-holes on the target) that will be
fired. This position will support the body so
that you can work on the shooting funda-
mentals. You should start this position from
a table or from the prone position (sup-
ported prone) using sandbags for support. Position of the rifle
Sandbags are placed under the fore-end of
the rifle. The support helps hold the rifle
steady so you can maintain concentration.
There are five basic steps in learning
any new shooting position. Use these steps
to learn the supported position.

Step 1: Study the Position

Look at the position. Learn what a good
benchrest position looks like by studying
the pictures in this pamphlet.

Left-handed position

RIFLE SHOOTING     51
Firing Your First Shots.

Step 2: Practice the Position Without the Rifle

Learn to put your feet, legs, body, and arms in the correct position by getting into
position behind the table, without the rifle. With the help of your merit badge coun-
selor, do the following.
To get into position:
• Take a seat at the table facing the target.
• Place your feet flat on the ground and lean forward, putting your elbows on
the table. Your hips and shoulders should be aligned so there is no twist in
your back.
• Make sure your left hand rests on the sandbag.
• Keep your head vertical and look at the target.
• Your position (without a rifle) should now look like the picture.

Step 3: Practice the Position With the Rifle

When you are in position and have the feel of it, add the rifle to the position. Again
concentrate on becoming comfortable and familiar with the position. With the help
of your merit badge counselor, do the following.
With the rifle:
• Grasp the rifle grip with your right hand and rest your left hand on the sandbag.
• Lay the rifle across your left hand and against the shoulder so that the dominant
eye can look through the sights comfortably and naturally without tilting the
head to the side.
• Your position with the rifle should now look like the picture.

Step 4: Align the Position With the Target

Ask yourself: “Is the rifle pointed at the target when I relax and look through the
sights?” You are putting NPA to use. If the rifle is not pointed at the target, move
your body left or right using your hand on the support as a pivot point. Adjust the
position so that the rifle points to the target naturally (NPA). Do not “muscle” the
gun to the target. With the help of your merit badge counselor, do the following.
Aligning the position with the target:
• Make vertical adjustments by adjusting the height of the sandbag support.
• Make horizontal adjustments by moving your body left or right around the sand-
bag support on the table.

Step 5: Shoot From the Position

This is the final step in learning a shooting position because it tests everything you
have done. You are now ready to begin the shooting process with dry firing.

52     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Firing Your First Shots

Dry Firing
The best way to learn the fundamentals of firing a shot is to begin with a dry run.
Shooting an unloaded gun as though it were loaded is a process called dry firing.
All shooters, from the beginner through the expert marksman, use the technique of
dry firing. The best competition shooters know its value.
To dry fire, the shooter closes the rifle’s action on an empty chamber, then prac-
tices the fundamentals of firing a shot as though the rifle was loaded. With help
from your merit badge counselor, practice dry firing as follows.
• Get into position with your rifle, align your rifle (NPA) to the target, and make
sure that you are comfortable and relaxed.
• When you feel that you are ready, begin aiming and stop breathing. Concentrate
on eliminating the movement of your aligned sights.
• When everything looks and feels right, slowly squeeze the trigger straight to the
rear until you hear a “click.”
• Keep aiming after you hear the “click” (follow through).
Dry firing several shots will give you a feel for how much pressure is required
to smoothly move the trigger without disturbing the sight picture. Total concentra-
tion on the sight picture, especially the front sight, is required.
(If you are dry firing a percussion muzzleloader, take steps to prevent damage
to the nipple by placing one or two rubber or neoprene faucet washers over it. For
more on this subject, see “Muzzleloading Rifles.”)
If attempting to dry fire a rimfire or an air rifle, be sure to refer to the user’s
manual to determine if it can be safely fired without damaging the gun.

Live Firing
Now try the real thing with live ammunition. Hang a target backward (no bull’s-eye),
or use a blank piece of paper for a target. Put on your eye and hearing protection.
Begin with single shots on a blank target, followed by shooting three-shot groups.
At this point, you don’t need to worry about where the groups are on the target.
Your only concern should be to keep the group as small as possible by aiming at the
center of the blank target. If you scatter your shots, check to make sure your sights
are tight and that your barrel and action are correctly mounted into the stock. If the
sights are tight and the action is correctly mounted, then do more dry firing and
review the fundamentals.
After you have a good feel for the rifle and are comfortable with the fundamen-
tals, hang a target correctly with the bull’s-eye facing forward. Shoot another three-
shot group. Try not to evaluate the shot groups by the scoring rings on the target.
The size of the groups, no matter where they are on the target, will show how well
you have applied the fundamentals of rifle shooting.
Continue shooting three-shot groups. When all three shots in your group can
be covered by a quarter, adjust the sights to center the group on the target.

RIFLE SHOOTING     53
Firing Your First Shots.

Sight Adjustment
12 (Zeroing the Rifle)
11 1 Once you are shooting good
groups with shots placed close
2 together, you are ready to adjust
10
your sights to move the shot
group to the center of the target.
The adjustment is made by mov-
9 6 7 8 9 9 8 7 6 3 ing the reticle or rear sight in the
same direction you want to move
your group. Another way to look
at it is to “move your rear sight
8 4 to the center of the target.” For
example, if your shot group is
7 5 high and left, move the rear sight
6 down and to the right.
Most adjustment knobs are
marked to show which way to
move a shot in a particular direc-
The shot group in the center ring shows the
results of zeroing the rifle. The first group of tion. The instructions furnished
shots fired hit at 2 o’clock in the 8 ring, so the with most sights will tell how far
rear sight was adjusted down and to the left. one click or gradation of sight
adjustment should move a shot
a specific direction. Your merit badge counselor will also explain how to move sights
that require tools such as a screwdriver.
Test your calculations by firing another group. The goal is to have the center of
the group in the center of the target. Continue making finer adjustments until the
group is in the center of the target. Also, remember that different ammunition,
shooting distances, and shooting positions can change the zero and therefore
require additional sight adjustments. When you can shoot the groups in the middle
of the target, move up to shooting five-shot groups that are centered on the target.

After Firing
Shooting is not over after the last shot is fired. After your last shot is fired and the
range is declared safe, it is important to clean your firing point (pick up expended
brass and all trash). If you are shooting your own firearm, clean it before you put
the gun away. If you are using a borrowed gun, return it to the owner clean, or
­follow the rules of your summer camp or range. (Some programs might not want
you to clean the gun because they clean their guns at the end of the day.)

54     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Firing Your First Shots

Shooting Hygiene
It is a good practice not to eat or drink when shooting. You should wash your hands
and face after you shoot. It is also a good idea to change your clothes if you shoot
for hours at a time. This is especially important in indoor ranges where lead dust
tends to settle everywhere. If you don’t practice good hygiene, you increase your
chances of ingesting the lead dust and raising the lead content in your body. On
outdoor ranges, dirt, dust, and the oils from your rifle and ammunition are good
reasons for practicing good hygiene and keeping yourself clean. Remember, a
Scout is clean.

Shooting Etiquette
As a shooter in the 21st century, you face many challenges. Increasing urbanization,
less available hunting land and fewer shooting ranges, and a growing anti-shooting
sentiment make what you do as a shooter more visible to the public. Observing
good etiquette and being a responsible shooter is an attitude that starts when you
are first learning to shoot. All shooters need to act responsibly if the sport is to con-
tinue to grow. If all act responsibly, the sport will be preserved for future genera-
tions to enjoy.
As a shooter, you have a responsibility for safety and courtesy toward others.
Shooters are among the most polite and responsible people of any sport. As a new
shooter, you need to observe some “rules of etiquette”: Remember to keep your
voice low or not talk while others are shooting, immediately obey range commands,
and always clean up your firing point.
Not only does etiquette apply as you are learning to shoot, it becomes more
important as you grow in the shooting sport(s) of your choice. In hunting, for exam-
ple, etiquette requires many of the things you have learned as a Scout. Try to leave
both public and private lands in better condition than you found them. Remember
the last time you walked your favorite trail and noticed cans and candy wrappers
littering the ground? Responsible hunters know that litter is both ugly and environ-
mentally destructive.
If you choose competitive shooting, you will quickly learn that being polite
will help you shoot. You can offer to let another shooter share your shooting point
and use your shooting mat and spotting scope. Not only is this polite, it keeps you
from dragging your gear to and from the firing line. Offering to help the tournament
sponsor can benefit you because you will learn how tournaments are conducted
and you will be able to observe the good shooters and how they handle themselves.

RIFLE SHOOTING     55
Scoring.

Scoring
When you have answered the questions and done the demon-
strations called for in the requirements, you are ready for your
shooting to be scored. The gun, the targets, and the distances
vary in the options offered for the cartridge rifle, the air rifle,
and the muzzleloader.
All shooting required for this merit badge is done from the
supported benchrest or supported prone position. The objective
of shooting is to place all your shots in one hole or get them as
close together as possible. This is called group shooting.
Look at the qualifying scores in the requirements for this
merit badge. The requirement for the minimum score using
the rifle of your choice (.22 caliber or air rifle) is to fire five
groups of three shots per group that can be covered by a Shot on a target
quarter-sized ring. Using these targets, explain how to adjust touching a
the sights to zero a rifle. Then adjust the sights to zero and scoring ring
shoot another five groups with five shots in each group, each
shot meeting the specified minimum score.
Individual shots score by touching a scoring ring area.
Keep in mind that the bullet will push the paper in as it goes
through the target. The hole in the target will be smaller than
the actual bullet. You may need a scoring gauge or plug (a spe-
cial metal gauge with plastic magnifier), which is inserted into
the shot hole to accurately measure if the shot touched the
scoring ring. Remember that shots are scored inward; that is,
the shot hole is measured toward the center of the target.
Note: If it is not practical to adjust the sights of the rifle
(i.e., when using a borrowed fixed-sight rifle), you may
demonstrate skill in shooting fundamentals by shooting five
shot groups (five shots per group) that can be covered by
a quarter or touched by a quarter, and then explain how to
adjust the sights to zero the rifle used. Shot on a target
in a scoring area,
but not touching
a scoring ring

56     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Olympic Games and Shooting

Olympic Games
and Shooting
Olympic-style shooting evolved from the European tradition of shooting. There are
uniform courses of fire, and strict regulations govern the firearms, clothing, and
equipment used in international competition.
The following rifle sports are fired in the Olympic Games.

Air Rifle
With separate events for men and women, air rifle shooting joined the Olympic pro-
gram in 1984. Competitors stand and shoot lead pellets from .177 caliber guns at
targets 10 meters away. The bull’s-eye, or 10-ring, is one-half millimeter wide, the
size of the period at the end of this sentence.
Guns: By international regulation, air rifles can be either air- or gas-powered and
weigh up to 12 pounds.
Course of fire: Men take 60 shots in 1 hour 45 minutes. Women take 40 shots in
1 hour 15 minutes.
Perfect match score: For men, 600 is perfect and 592 is world-class. For women,
400 is perfect and 395 is world-class.
Finals: The top eight competitors advance to a 10-shot final round, with 75 seconds
allowed per shot. The final is calculated in tenths of a point and added to the match
score to determine winners. A perfect final score is 109. A perfect aggregate (match
plus final) score is 709 for men, 509 for women.

Free Rifle Prone

This men’s event has been on the Olympic program since 1896. Athletes lie on
their stomachs and shoot .22 caliber rifles at bull’s-eye targets 50 meters down-
range. The target’s center is 10.4 millimeters wide, smaller than a dime.
Guns: Athletes use elaborate rifles that have metallic sights (nonmagnifying sights)
and can be customized with special accessories and alterations that fit the shooter’s
needs and comfort.

RIFLE SHOOTING     57
Olympic Games and Shooting.

Course of fire: 60 shots in 1 hour 15 minutes.

Perfect match score: 600 is a perfect score; 597 is world-class.
Finals: The top eight shooters advance to a 10-shot final, with a 45-second time
limit per shot. The final is scored in tenths of a point and added to the match score
to determine winners. A perfect final score is 109. A perfect aggregate (match plus
final) score is 709 points.

Three-Position Rifle
In the three-position event (also called 3  40), athletes fire .22 caliber smallbore
rifles from the prone, standing, and kneeling positions, in that order, at targets 50
meters downrange. The bull’s-eye is 10.4 millimeters in diameter. Today there are
separate events for men and women. Until 1980, the three-­position was an open
Olympic event, meaning that men and women competed head-to-head.
Guns: Men and women use different types of smallbore rifles. Women fire “sport”
rifles, which weigh up to 14.2 pounds, and men shoot “free” rifles (up to 17.6
pounds), which can be customized with special accessories or alterations. Both
men’s and women’s guns have metallic (nonmagnifying) sights.
Course of fire: Men fire 40 rounds per position for a total of 120 shots. Time limits
for men are 45 minutes for prone, 1 hour 15 minutes for standing, and 1 hour for
kneeling. Women shoot 20 rounds per position for a total of 60 shots. They are
allowed 2 hours 15 minutes for all three positions.
Perfect match score: For men, 1200 is perfect and 1165 is world-class. For women,
600 is perfect and 580 is world-class.
Finals: For men and women, the top eight performers advance to a 10-shot final
round, fired entirely from the standing position with 75 seconds allotted per shot.
The final is calculated in tenths of a point and added to the match point total to
determine winners. A perfect final score is 109. A perfect aggregate score is 1309
for men; 709 for women.

Running Target
Athletes stand and shoot .177 caliber air rifles with telescopic sights (not exceeding
4-power) at paper targets moving across a track 10 meters away. The target has two
bull’s-eyes spaced roughly 6 inches apart; an aiming dot placed between them aids
the shooter in tracking. The 10-ring (the innermost ring of the black section of the
target) on each bull’s-eye is 5 millimeters wide, about the size of a pencil eraser.

58     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Olympic Games and Shooting

Only men fire this event at world cups and the Olympics. Competition is open
to men and women at U.S., continental, and world championships. Running deer
and running game target, the 100-meter and 50-meter versions of this sport, were
part of the Olympics at different times between 1900 and 1988. Today’s 10-meter
event replaced running game target on the Olympic program in 1992.
Guns: Shooters fire .177 caliber rifles that use air or gas to propel lead pellets
downrange. This is the only shooting event in which competitors are permitted to
use telescopic sights—4-power magnification or less.
Course of fire: The match consists of 60 shots divided into 30 slow runs and
30 fast runs. In slow runs, athletes have 5 seconds to track, aim, and fire at the
moving target. In fast runs, the target is exposed for only 2.5 seconds. Shooters
start with their rifles at hip level and can only mount their guns once the target
is exposed.
Perfect match score: 600 is perfect; 575 is world-class.
Finals: The top six competitors advance to a 10-shot fast-run final. Finals are scored
in tenths of a point and added to match scores to determine winners. A perfect final
score is 109. A perfect aggregate score is 709 points.

RIFLE SHOOTING     59
Muzzleloading Rifles.

Muzzleloading Rifles
Much of the material in the earlier chapters of this pamphlet applies equally to all
shooters. The material is not repeated in this chapter. Anyone involved in muzzle-
loading should read it.

Muzzleloading Firearms: Background

Until the introduction of cartridge firearms in the 1800s, most firearms were loaded
from the muzzle. Rifles that are loaded from the muzzle are called muzzleloading
rifles or muzzleloaders. The firearm came from a discovery made more than 500
years ago. It was found that when a highly combustible material was confined and
then lighted, the burning material created enough energy to send a projectile over
long distances. This was the discovery of the basic firearm design.
The earliest firearms were crude and unpredictable. But, to the credit of their
inventors, many of the major parts developed in the 15th century are still used today.
Since their inception, firearms have consisted of three basic parts—the lock (the
firing mechanism), the stock (the handle by which the gun is held), and the barrel
(the hollow tube through which the projectile travels on its way to the target).
These parts are discussed in greater detail below.
The evolution of the muzzleloading rifle spanned four centuries, over four
basic phases: the matchlock, the wheel lock, the flintlock, and the percussion lock.

The Matchlock Touchhole

The matchlock is one of the earliest Match
types of muzzleloading firearms.
The name comes from a wicklike
piece of material (called a match)
that is lit before the gun is fired. Trigger Pan Matchholder
When the ­trigger is pulled, the smol- lever
dering match is lowered into the Pan
cover
priming pan containing loose gun-
powder. (The priming pan is also
referred to as simply the pan.)
Matchlock action

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 .Muzzleloading Rifles

The loose ­powder in the priming pan is called a priming charge. In ideal condi-
tions, the match ignites the priming charge.
There is a very small hole between the inside of the barrel and the pan, called
a flashhole or flash channel. The burning priming charge “flashes” through this
hole and ignites the powder charge that has been loaded into the barrel through the
muzzle. The ignition of the powder forces a ball of shot out of the muzzle with
great velocity.
Down through history, shooters using this kind of firearm may have been
excused for keeping their fingers crossed. If the priming powder got wet or the
lighted match were put out, the gun
would not fire. Weather conditions had
Pyrite
to be perfect for a matchlock to operate
properly. The first American colonists Dog
used matchlocks. Their use continued in
Europe until the advent of the flintlock. Serrated
wheel

The Wheel Lock

The successor to the matchlock was
the wheel lock. It gets its name from
a spinning wheel that makes a shower Pan cover
of sparks when a piece of pyrite (a
spark-producing material) is brought trigger
into contact with it. The shower of
sparks ignites the priming charge. Wheel lock action
The burning priming charge, in turn,
ignites the powder charge in the Top jaw screw
barrel, which pushes the projec- Flint Frizzen
Hammer face
tile out the barrel. jaws
Frizzen
Hammer
The Flintlock
The next major step took place in
the late 1600s with the develop-
ment of the flintlock. With flint-
locks, a piece of flint is secured
between the jaws of the cock, or
hammer as it is commonly called. Frizzen spring
The priming pan has a spring-
loaded cover to protect the prim- Lock plate Pan
ing charge from getting wet. This
cover is called a frizzen, and the
upright steel plate at the rear of Flintlock action

RIFLE SHOOTING     61
Muzzleloading Rifles.

the frizzen is called the frizzen face. Like

the pyrite used on the wheel lock, the flint
produces a shower of sparks when it strikes
the frizzen face. When the trigger is pulled,
the hammer snaps forward, striking the flint
against the frizzen face, creating the sparks.
As the flint contacts the frizzen face, the
spring-loaded frizzen pops open, exposing
the priming charge, which is ignited by the
shower of sparks. The burning priming
charge, in turn, ignites the powder charge
Cap lock action
in the barrel, which pushes the projectile
out the barrel. Percussion cap

Barrel
Breechplug

Flashhole

Tang (attaches the action to the stock)

Drum Nipple The barrel is secured to the

stock by “keys” or pins
Cutaway of the underside of a typical through the stock.
percussion barrel

The Percussion Muzzleloader

The next major advancement in muzzleloaders took place in the early 1800s. During
this era a compound called fulminate of mercury began to replace flints and black
powder as a priming agent. This compound is contained in a small metal cup called
a percussion cap. When the firearm’s hammer strikes the cap, the compound ignites,
setting off the powder charge. Percussion caps were the forerunner to the modern
cartridge primer.
Today the matchlock and the wheel lock are generally found as museum pieces
or in the hands of collectors. They are so cumbersome and impractical that few
shooters are interested in them beyond their historical value or as collectors’ items.
Flintlock and percussion muzzleloaders are alive and well. There are many original
muzzleloading firearms still being fired today. The popularity of flintlock and per-
cussion firearms is great enough for manufacturers to make reproductions. These
can be found in many sporting goods stores.

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 .Muzzleloading Rifles

Pennsylvania long
rifle, a full-stock
firearm also known
as the Kentucky rifle

A musket, a military-style firearm

Half-stock mountain rifle, a shorter,

more easily portable design. The
ever-popular Hawken-type rifles are
included in this category.

Pictured are popular styles of muzzleloading rifles.

In-line rifles are a recent development. They get their name from the fact that
their percussion lock mechanism is placed behind and in line with the barrel, rather
than alongside it. They are popular with hunters because the nipple (the seat on
which a percussion cap is placed and detonated) and percussion cap are covered
and thus protected from moisture, rain, and snow. Although they look like modern
rifles, they function like any other muzzleloading rifle.

RIFLE SHOOTING     63
Muzzleloading Rifles.

In-line percussion muzzleloading rifle

Lock, Stock, and Barrel

You may have heard the
expression, “Lock, stock, Hammer
and barrel” frequently. Nipple
Today it refers to the total of
many parts. It’s an old Lock plate
expression. Our forebears
used it to emphasize com-
pleteness. The fact that the
rifle was the source of this
old saying gives you some
idea of the important role
firearms played in America’s Percussion lock plate, hammer, and nipple
early history.

The Lock
The lock of the muzzleloading rifle is the part that ignites the powder charge, caus-
ing the gun to fire. In today’s muzzleloading reproductions, the source of ignition
depends on whether the gun is a percussion or a flintlock model.
In the percussion rifle, ignition is caused by the action of the cock, or hammer,
striking the percussion cap. The cap contains a combustible priming substance that
produces a very hot spark when struck and causes the powder charge to ignite.
Pulling the trigger causes the lock to “trip,” thus setting off the desired chain reac-
tion necessary for firing.
Most muzzleloading rifles have only a simple, single trigger. To fire, slowly and
smoothly press the trigger straight to the rear until the hammer is released.

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 .Muzzleloading Rifles

Some rifles have what is known as a single-set trigger. The rifle has only one
trigger, but after cocking the hammer, push forward on the trigger until you hear a
click. The trigger is now set, and only a very slight finger pressure on the trigger is
required to fire the rifle. Single-set triggers can also be fired by simply squeezing to
the rear without first setting the trigger, although considerably more pressure will be
required on the trigger before it releases the hammer.
Some muzzleloading rifles are equipped with two triggers. This type of trigger
mechanism is called a double-set trigger. After cocking, pulling the rear trigger
causes the front trigger to be set. Only very slight finger pressure on the front trigger
will then release the hammer and fire the rifle. The rifle may also be fired by pulling
only the front trigger, although considerably more finger pressure will be required.

The Stock
The stock is the handle by which the rifle is held. Stocks come in a variety of
shapes and sizes designed to allow secure holding and handling under various
shooting conditions.
Each area of the stock has a special name. Here is a review of terms.
• The butt is the part that is placed against the shoulder.
• The wrist is the area where the hand grasps the stock in order to pull the trigger.
• The comb is the top portion of the stock against which the shooter’s cheek rests
when the gun is held properly.
• The forearm is the front portion of the stock, which extends under the barrel.

The Barrel
The barrel is the hollow metal tube through which the projectile passes when the
rifle is fired. To review (see “Rifle Parts”):
• The breech is the rear-most end of the barrel. It is closed by a screwed-in part
called the breechplug.
• The bore is the hollow space that runs the length of the center of the barrel.
The diameter of this hole is measured in fractions of an inch or in millimeters.
This measurement is called the caliber. A .50 caliber (read as “fifty caliber”) rifle
has a bore equal to 50 one-hundredths of an inch, or one-half inch.
• The muzzle is the end of the barrel through which the projectile leaves the rifle.
On muzzleloading rifles, it is also the end from which the rifle is loaded.
• Rifling is a series of spiral grooves cut on the inside of the barrel that imparts a
spin to the projectile as it passes through the barrel. This improves the stability
of the projectile and promotes accuracy in the same way that spiraling a football
makes it more accurate. Spinning a bullet (or a football) helps to keep it on its
intended path. Most muzzleloaders have rifled barrels.

RIFLE SHOOTING     65
Muzzleloading Rifles.

The Powder Charge

The powder used in muzzleloading rifles is referred to as black powder. Black powder
was first used around a.d. 1200 as a charge for rock-throwing cannons. It is still essen-
tially unchanged after 800 years. Black powder is a simple mixture of chemicals that
are easily obtained from natural sources. Although it looks similar, black powder is
drastically different from the powder used in modern cartridges. The powder used in
modern cartridges produces significantly more pressure than black powder and is
never safe to use in muzzleloading rifles in any amount.
Only commercially manufactured, sporting-grade black powder or Pyrodex®
offered for sale by a reputable firm should be used in muzzleloading rifles. The only
safe substitute for black powder is Pyrodex®. It produces nearly identical pressure,
bullet velocity, smoke, and noise. It may be used safely as a powder charge in per-
cussion rifles. It is not recommended for use in flintlock rifles because of its diffi-
culty of ignition.
Black powder usable in muzzleloading rifles will be found in four granulations:
Fg Coarse-grain powder used in rifles of .75 caliber or larger.
FFg Medium-grain powder used in large rifles (.50-.75 caliber).
FFFg Used in small rifles (under .50 caliber), this is the finest-grain black
­powder safe for use as a powder charge.
FFFFg This extra fine-grain powder should be used only for priming flintlocks
and never as a main charge.

Fg FFg FFFg FFFFg Pyrodex

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 .Muzzleloading Rifles

Fine granulations of powder burn quicker than do coarse ones. Rifles with a
large bore (.50 caliber and greater) need slow-burning, coarse-grain powder. Rifles
with bores less than .50 caliber need somewhat faster burning powder.
Black powder is an explosive, and special safety precautions must be observed
whenever handling, transporting, or storing it. Because it is vulnerable to sparks and
heat, black powder should be kept in a tightly sealed container. The 1-pound metal
container it comes in is ideal. Do not use glass or plastic containers. The container
must be stored away from heat. In some areas, there are local ordinances covering
storage procedures for black powder. Carefully follow any laws in your area.
When you pour black powder from its container into a powder horn or flask,
you must do so in an open, well-ventilated area. Never use an imitation horn (made
of plastic) to store black powder. Static electricity can be generated and cause
ignition. Never let anyone smoke near where you are handling black powder.
Percussion caps and flints should be stored separately from black powder.

The Projectile
Most muzzleloading rifles are
designed to fire a projectile known
as a ball (sometimes called a round
ball). Other muzzleloaders, particu-
larly muskets, fire conical bullets or Patch Sprue
minié balls. There are also several
new types of projectiles that can be
fired in a muzzleloading rifle and Round ball
are used primarily for hunting.
A round ball is simply a sphere of pure, soft lead. Usually, there is a slight pro-
jection on the ball left from the hole in the mold through which the lead was
poured. This projection is called a sprue. Round balls are highly accurate at short
ranges and are preferred by target shooters and small-game hunters. Properly sized
round balls are slightly smaller than the bore itself. Therefore, they require the use
of a cloth patch wrapped around them to seal the gas from the burning powder
behind them. The patch also fills the rifling and grips the ball so that the rifling is
able to impart a spin on the ball.
A minié ball is a soft lead bullet with a
hollow base. The base has a thin skirt that is
designed to expand when the hot gases from
the burning powder push against it. This skirt
fills the rifling and seals the gas behind the
minié ball. Since the skirt fills the rifling, no
patch is needed. The minié ball gets its name Base Skirt
from its inventor, French army captain Claude Minié ball

RIFLE SHOOTING     67
Muzzleloading Rifles.

Minié, who developed it in the mid-1800s as an

improvement over the round ball.
A conical bullet (sometimes called a solid-base
conical) is a soft lead bullet with a solid base and two
or more bands at the rear. These bands are slightly
larger in diameter than the bullet itself. When the bul- Bands
let is loaded, the bands cut into the rifling, sealing the
base of the bullet and allowing the rifling to spin the
bullet as it travels down the barrel. No patch is used
with the conical bullet. It was designed as a further Solid
improvement over the minié ball. Conical bullets base
retain their energy over longer ranges than do round
balls. Conical bullets are preferred for long-range Conical bullet
shooting and hunting big game.

Loading a Muzzleloading Rifle

Put a cartridge into a modern rifle’s chamber, and it’s ready to fire. The steps
involved in loading a muzzleloader are considerably more involved. Special equip-
ment and supplies are needed, both for loading and for cleaning the gun. These will
be introduced as each step is described.
Note: Load at least 10 feet from the firing line to avoid sparks from others shooting.

2
21 22 3
1

4
20
19
10
5
18
13 9
17
16 8
12 11 6
14
15
7
Items needed for shooting muzzleloading rifles, identified by number: (1) priming
horn, (2) percussion caps, (3) patch material, (4) ball starter, (5) pregreased patches,
(6) powder horn, (7) loading rod, (8) patch lubricant, (9) powder measure, (10) clean-
ing patches, (11) cleaning jag, (12) patch puller, (13) ball puller, (14) soft lead balls,
(15) powder flask, (16) possible bag, (17) eye protection, (18) nipple pick, (19) ear
plugs and case, (20) patch knife, (21) ear muffs, (22) nipple wrench.

68     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Muzzleloading Rifles

Depending on whether the rifle is designed to fire round balls, minié balls, or con-
ical bullets, you will find the loading instructions slightly different. Regardless of the
kind of projectile, however, the same step-by-step method must always be followed.
The basic steps in loading a muzzleloader are as follows:
• Clear the barrel.
• Measure the powder charge.
• Charge the barrel (pour the powder into the barrel).
• Seat the projectile.
• Prime the rifle.
Until you gain more practice, always have an experienced muzzleloading
shooter or instructor with you when you are loading and shooting a muzzleloading
rifle. This person can help with any problems you might encounter or questions you
may have. Learning with the guidance of an experienced shooter makes learning
easier, safer, and more fun.
The rules of gun safety that you learned earlier in this pamphlet apply to all
firearms, including muzzleloaders. Also, there are some extremely important safety
rules that you must follow when loading and shooting muzzleloading rifles.

Safety Rules for Loading

and Firing Muzzleloaders
• Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
• Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
• Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
• Know how the rifle operates before handling it.
• Know the target and what is beyond.
• Always wear eye and hearing protection.
• Wear a long-sleeved shirt or jacket and a hat made of natural fibers.
Long sleeves and a hat will protect your skin from injury caused by
sparks produced by the priming charge. It’s important to wear clothing
made from natural fibers (such as cotton or wool) for two reasons. First,
synthetics, such as nylon, melt and stick to the skin when they burn,
which can cause severe burns to the skin. Second, synthetics can also
produce sparks from static electricity, which can ignite black powder.

RIFLE SHOOTING     69
Muzzleloading Rifles.

Before loading, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and
loading recommendations for the rifle. Use the following steps as a general guide.
Step 1—Position the rifle for loading. Stand the rifle on the ground between
your legs, with the muzzle pointed up and away from your body. When holding
the rifle as shown, the arm used to hold the rifle should be extended enough to
ensure that the muzzle is kept pointing up and away from the body. Never work
directly over the muzzle.
Some ranges have special loading racks for muzzleload-
ing rifles that hold the rifle upright while it is being loaded.
If you use one of these racks, be sure to properly position
the rifle so that it is held securely and kept pointed in a safe
up-and-away direction.
On a percussion rifle, pull the hammer back slowly
until you hear the first click and leave the hammer in this
position. This should be about halfway between the down
and full-cock positions. This halfway position is called half-
cock. The nipple should not have a cap on it.

Position the rifle

Percussion rifle on half-cock for loading.

Step 2—Check the bore for a load or obstruction. Stored beneath the barrel of
a muzzleloading rifle is a long stick called a ramrod. Draw the ramrod out of the
thimbles that secure it and insert it all the way into the barrel, keeping your ­fingers
from being directly over the bore. Mark the ramrod where it exits the barrel, using
a pencil or by holding the ramrod between your thumb and fore­finger. Remove
the ramrod and place it alongside the barrel with the mark (or your thumb and
finger) even with the muzzle. The tip of the ramrod should come very close to the
nipple or flashhole. If the ramrod does not reach the nipple or flashhole, the gun
may already be loaded! If there is any indication that the gun is loaded, have an
experienced muzzleloading shooter or a gunsmith remove the load for you. Never

70     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Muzzleloading Rifles

try to clear an old load by firing it. You have

no way of knowing what was loaded into
the barrel.
Once you are certain that the rifle is
unloaded and the bore is clear, insert the
ramrod down the barrel again as you did
above. Now, permanently mark the ramrod
where it exits the muzzle. Use a permanent
marker or a pencil. Do not cut a notch into
the ramrod, as this could weaken it, causing Check the bore for a load.
it to break and severely injure your hand.
With the ramrod permanently marked, you have
a quick reference to determine whether the barrel is
empty. Simply insert the ramrod into the barrel. If the
mark is ever above the muzzle, you know that the bore
is obstructed.

Make sure the ramrod is against the face of the breechplug.

Measure against the

­outside of the barrel.

Wipe and clean the barrel.

RIFLE SHOOTING     71
Muzzleloading Rifles.

Step 3—Wipe and clean the barrel. Use your ramrod to run a clean patch up
and down the bore. This will remove any excess oil from the bore that might inter-
fere with ignition. With a percussion rifle, you may dry and clean the flash channel
by firing two or three percussion caps on the nipple. Move to the firing line to do
this. Wear eye and hearing protection. Be sure the range officer has approved your
firing caps. Make sure the muzzle is pointed down range. When you fire the last of
these caps, point the muzzle at a blade of grass or other lightweight object. If the
object moves upon firing, you are assured that the channel is open.
Step 4—Measure the powder charge. Always use a powder measure. The pow-
der measure helps assure the correct amount of
powder in loading. Fill your powder measure
to the appropriate level from the original can
or your horn or flask. The gun’s manufacturer
can provide the recommended powder charge
for that particular firearm. Never exceed the
factory-recommended loading.
Some powder measures have a fixed capac-
ity, while others are adjustable. Always be cer-
tain that you have the correct measure or that it
is adjusted properly.
Powder charges are measured by weight in
grains. A grain equals 1/7000 of a pound. The
general rule is to use one grain of powder per
Measure the powder charge.
caliber. In other words, an appropriate load for
a .45 caliber rifle would be 45 grains of powder. BSA policy requires that Scouts do
not exceed a load of one grain per caliber.
In casual shooting, you may want to use a reduced load. This will result in less
recoil and noise and will make for a more comfortable and economical shot, with
little or no effect on accuracy at close range. You may safely use as little as 35 grains
of powder. As always, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Never pour powder directly from a powder horn or flash into the barrel. The
inaccurate charge will result in inaccurate shooting, and if a spark remains in the
barrel from a previous shot, an extremely dangerous explosion will occur.
Once you have measured the powder charge from the can, powder horn, or
flask, remember to close the container. This is standard procedure for black-powder
handling and an important safety rule.
Step 5—Charge the barrel. Holding the rifle in the loading position, use the
powder measure to slowly pour powder down the muzzle into the barrel. This
procedure is known as charging the barrel. To make sure that all the powder falls
down to the bottom rather than clinging to the side, tap the side of the barrel
several times with the heel of your hand. Be careful not to knock or tap against

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 .Muzzleloading Rifles

a hard object. Tapping the side of the barrel with

your hand by the lock also distributes some of the
powder charge into the drum (the part that holds
the nipple) on a percussion rifle, making ignition
more reliable.
Note: If you are not shooting a patched round
ball, go to step 8.
Step 6—Prepare the patch. As previously men-
Charge the barrel.
tioned, round balls require the use of a patch. Not
just any material can be used for a patch. A patch must be either 100 percent cotton
or linen. The hot gases produced by the burning powder can melt synthetic materi-
als. This can let gases blow past the ball while it is in the barrel, significantly reduc-
ing its velocity and accuracy. A synthetic material can also smolder in the barrel for a
long time—creating a safety hazard when the next charge is poured—and it can be a
severe fire hazard when it hits the ground.
The first step is to lubricate, or grease, the patch. Lubrication makes it easier
to load the ball, provides a better gas seal, and makes the residue from the burning
powder left in the barrel after the shot easier to clean. (This residue is called foul-
ing.) Special lubricants specifically designed for this purpose are available.
You can also use common cooking shortening. Patches are also available that are
prelubricated and precut to a specific caliber.
To lubricate the patch, put a small amount of lubricant on your thumb and
forefinger. Hold the patch between your thumb and forefinger, and work the lubri-
cant into the fabric. The lubricant should be totally absorbed into the fabric. If any
globs remain on the fabric, wipe them off. It is a good idea to prepare ahead of time
as many patches as you think you will need. That way, your hands won’t be greasy
and slippery as you load and shoot.
If you are going to shoot immediately after loading, you may use a spit patch.
A spit patch is lubricated with your own saliva. Just spit on the patch and work the
saliva into the fabric. (Safety note: Be sure to
spit on the patch rather than bringing the patch to your
mouth and licking it. You will have powder, chemicals,
and possibly lead on your fingers that you do not want to
ingest.) A spit patch must be fired immediately. Leaving
it in the barrel, even for just a few minutes, can put a rust
ring in the bore and cause serious damage.
Step 7—Patch the ball. Place the lubricated patch squarely
over the muzzle. Center a single ball directly over the patch
with the sprue facing up.
Step 8—Prepare the projectile. (Note: If you are using a
patched round ball, skip this step.) Minié balls and conical Patch the ball.

RIFLE SHOOTING     73
Muzzleloading Rifles.

bullets need to be lubricated before they are loaded. Minié balls need only a very
thin coat around the skirt and sides. The base may also be filled with grease to soft-
en the fouling (see step 6), but too much grease in the base of the bullet can severely
affect the bullet’s stability on its way to the target.
If you are using a conical bullet, the space between the bands on the ­bullet
must be completely filled with lubricant.
Step 9—Start the projectile. To start the ball or bullet, you need a special tool
called a starter (sometimes called a ball-starter
or short-starter). The starter has a wooden han-
dle with two short rods protruding from it. The
first rod is only about half an inch long. The
second one is usually about 4 to 6 inches long.
Place the bullet’s flat base directly into the
muzzle and push it in as far as you can using
just finger pressure, being careful to push it in
straight. (Proper placement of the patched ball
was described in step 7.) Place the shorter of
the two rods on top of the bullet or ball and
give it a sharp strike with the heel of your
hand, driving it into the barrel flush with the
Start the ball and patch.
muzzle. If you are using a patched ball, this
will also wrap the patch tightly around the ball.
Step 10—Trim the patch. If you are using a precut patch or a bullet, this step will
not be necessary. Otherwise, use a knife to remove any excess patch material pro-
truding from the muzzle. Be careful not to scrape the muzzle with the knife.
Step 11—Short-start the projectile. Using
the longer of the two rods on the starter, place
the tip of it on the projectile. Drive the projec-
tile into the barrel by tapping the wooden han-
dle with the heel of your hand until the handle
is at the muzzle. Remove the starter from the
barrel and set it aside.

Short-start the projectile.

74     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Muzzleloading Rifles

Ball

Tang Breechplug

Cutaway showing proper seating

of ball against powder Powder Barrel
Patch

Step 12—Seat the projectile. Retrieve the ramrod.

Place it into the muzzle, and grasp it no more than 8 to
10 inches above the muzzle. (Safety note: Grasping the
ramrod further up might cause it to break, and you could
stab your hand with the jagged, broken rod protruding
from the barrel.) Push the ramrod down until your hand
is at or near the muzzle. Again grasp the ramrod 8 to 10
inches above the muzzle and repeat this procedure until
the projectile is firmly seated against the powder charge.
You should encounter only slight resistance while you are
pushing the projectile down the bore.
Safety note: It is vital that the projectile be seated
firmly against the powder charge with no air space
between the powder charge and the projectile. This is one
of the most important safety precautions in shooting a
muzzleloading rifle. Failure to properly seat the projectile
can create a dangerous situation.
If you are always going to use the same load (the same
amount of powder and the same type of projectile), you may Seat the projectile.
want to mark your ramrod where it is flush with the
muzzle while the tip of it rests on top of the load.
You will then have two marks on your ramrod: one
that shows when the barrel is empty, and one that
shows when the projectile is properly seated on the
powder charge.
If for any reason the projectile will not go
down the barrel or seat firmly against the powder
charge, it will have to be removed and the pow-
der charge cleared. The procedure for removing a Mark the ramrod.
projectile is covered below. Never attempt to fire a
load that is not firmly seated.

RIFLE SHOOTING     75
Muzzleloading Rifles.

Step 13—Cap the rifle. The final step

in the loading procedure is to place a
cap on the nipple. This should be
done only when you are on the firing
line and ready to fire. With the ham-
mer still at half-cock, use a capper to
place a percussion cap on the nipple.
Be sure to seat it all the way down.
Cap the cap lock.
This is a general guideline. The
steps to follow for any particular rifle can be found in the instructions provided by
the manufacturer.
Now you are ready to shoot!

Failure to Fire
Even if you have followed all of the steps carefully, the muzzleloader might not fire.
You might just hear a “click,” or the cap may fire, but nothing else happens.
If the gun fails to fire, keep it pointed in a safe direction and against your
shoulder for at least two minutes. Sometimes the powder charge will smolder for
a few seconds, or as long as a minute or two, before igniting. This perceptible delay
in the ignition of the powder charge is called a hangfire. When you have waited two
minutes and have reduced the chance that a hangfire will happen, you may begin
diagnosing the problem. Be sure to keep the gun pointed in a safe direction
during this entire process of diagnosis and projectile removal.
• If the percussion cap did not ignite, remove it from the nipple, dispose of it prop-
erly, and wipe any visible debris off the tip of the nipple. Recap using a fresh cap,
making sure to seat it all the way down on the nipple. Failure to seat the cap all
the way down on the nipple is the most common cause for a cap failing to ignite.
• One of the most common causes of a misfire is a blocked flash channel. Run a
fine wire through the nipple to make sure the channel is open. Then recap and
try again.
Still no luck? The problem could be that there is no powder behind the ball. You might
have forgotten to put in a powder charge. This is one reason for carefully following
the same loading procedure every time. Let nothing distract you when you are
loading. Remember: “First the powder, then the ball, or your gun won’t shoot at all.”
In a percussion gun, the problem of having no powder charge can be remedied
by removing the nipple with a nipple wrench. (Work with your counselor in remov-
ing the nipple until you become proficient.) Once the channel is exposed, you can
work enough powder behind the ball to enable firing. Reinstall the nipple, then
reseat the ball with the ramrod. When you cap and fire this time, the ball probably
will be expelled. If not, repeat the entire process, making sure, again, that the ball is
reseated. If this will not work, you may need to pull the ball.
76     RIFLE SHOOTING
 .Muzzleloading Rifles

Removing a Projectile
The simplest and safest way to remove a projectile is to use a carbon dioxide dis-
charger. This device uses a common carbon dioxide cartridge attached to special
adapters that fit over the nipple of a percussion rifle or into the flash channel of a
flintlock. The projectile is discharged by the pressurized carbon dioxide. You must
take care when using this device, as the projectile is expelled with great force. Keep
the rifle aimed at a safe backstop and carefully follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Be sure to clean the barrel after the projectile has been removed and before reloading.
If you pull the ball manually, you must first deactivate the powder. There are
several methods to do this. If your rifle has a removable barrel, remove it from the
stock. Remove the nipple or flash channel liner and place the breech-end of the bar-
rel in a bucket with at least 8 inches of water in it. Let the barrel soak for a mini-
mum of one hour. After letting the barrel soak, you may also want to pour a small
amount of water down the barrel to loosen any fouling in front of the projectile.
This will make removal easier.
If your rifle’s barrel cannot be removed, remove the nipple or flash channel
liner, lay the gun horizontal or muzzle-down—ensuring that it is kept pointed in a
safe direction—and fill the area behind the projectile with water. Let it soak for at
least one hour.
Pulling the ball requires special tools. Most ramrods are not strong enough to
pull a projectile from the barrel. A heavier rod, called a work-rod, should be used.
An attachment that looks like a tapping screw, called the ball-puller, is attached to
the end of the work-rod. Attach the ball-puller to your work-rod, push it down
firmly against the ball, and screw the ball-puller into it.
It is preferable to use a work-rod with a T-handle so that you can place the “T”
in the crotch of a tree or a vise, and pull the barrel toward you to remove the projec-
tile. It is also sometimes possible to wrap a heavy leather thong around the work-
rod, securing it with several clove-hitches, and wrap the other end around a tree or
a stout post. You can then pull the barrel toward you to remove the projectile. Once
the projectile has been removed, clean the barrel and reload. If the ball cannot be
removed in this manner, take the firearm to a competent gunsmith.

Work-rod with ball-puller

Barrel
Ball being pulled Patch
Cutaway showing how a ball-puller is used to remove a ball from a barrel

RIFLE SHOOTING     77
Muzzleloading Rifles.

Wiping the Bore

After firing, wait a minute before reloading to allow any sparks remaining in the bar-
rel to burn out. Each time you fire a muzzleloading rifle, carbonlike residue is left in
the barrel. After several shots this residue (fouling) can become so heavy that the gun
will be hard to load. It can cause a ball to become stuck in the barrel during the load-
ing process. For this reason, it’s best to wipe out the barrel each time you fire a shot.
Wiping is easily done. A cleaning jag of correct size must be attached to the
rod. Simply dampen a single cleaning patch—making sure the patch-jag combina-
tion is sized properly for a tight fit—and push it down the length of the bore several
times. Then repeat this procedure with a clean, dry patch. Now you are ready for
reloading a clean gun. Wiping between shots ensures that no sparks are left glowing
in the bore from the previous shot, and accuracy is usually better if the bore is
wiped between shots.

Caring for Your Gun

Much of the information in the “Care of Your Rifle” chapter can be applied to the
care of a muzzleloader. But caring for a muzzleloader requires a few special steps.
You can protect your muzzleloader by following a basic rule: Never leave your
rifle overnight without a thorough cleaning after shooting. A simple solution of hot
water and any conventional dishwashing soap or a bottle of cleaning solvent are
virtually all you need to keep your gun free of harmful agents. Commercial black-
powder solvents are effective in removing residue. The gun must also be lubricated
frequently to protect its moving and stationary metal parts.

Cleaning the Barrel

Muzzleloading rifles come in two styles. On one, the barrel can be removed from
the standing breech. This is called the hooked breech design. In the second variety,
the barrel, breech, and breechplug (or tang) are one piece.
The cleaning method depends on the style of your rifle. Muzzleloaders with
a hooked breech design are cleaned fairly easily.
Step 1—Remove the ramrod.
Step 2—Bring the hammer to the full-cock position.
Step 3—Remove the nipple if the gun is a percussion firearm.
Step 4—Remove the barrel key from the forearm.
Step 5—Lift the barrel out of the stock.
Step 6—Using a cleaning rod with a cleaning end or a jag attached to its end, fit a
soft flannel patch around the jag.
Step 7—Saturate the patch with cleaning solvent and wipe the bore several times
to loosen the accumulated fouling.

78     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Muzzleloading Rifles

Step 8—Insert the breech end of the barrel in a bucket of hot, soapy water.
Step 9—Stroking the rod in an up-and-down manner, “pump” water from the bucket
through the full length of the bore. Repeat several times. Follow the procedure with a
bucket of clean, hot water, repeating the pumping action until the barrel is clean.

Position the hammer in

full-cock position.

Remove the nipple.

Remove the barrel key from the forearm.

Lift the barrel out of the stock.

Insert the breech end of the barrel in a bucket

or container of hot, soapy water.

RIFLE SHOOTING     79
Muzzleloading Rifles.

In cases where the breech, barrel, and tang are all one piece, they must be
cleaned together. If your rifle is a percussion model, this can be done by using a
flush-out nipple. This part is similar in size and shape to the “shooting nipple”
that you use with percussion caps, but it has a larger hole for ease in cleaning.
Follow these steps:
Step 1—After swabbing the bore with a clean-
ing ­solvent or liquid soap, remove the shooting
nipple and put a flush-out nipple in place.
Step 2—eight one end of an 18-inch section of
thin plastic or rubber tubing (the kind used as
fuel line in model airplanes is ideal).
Step 3—Attach the tubing to the flush-out nip-
ple, making sure the fit is tight and snug.
Step 4—Insert the weighted end of the tube
into a bucket of hot, soapy water so that the
water is siphoned through the tube and into the
rifle as the rod is gently moved up and down in
the barrel.
Step 5—Maintain this action until the gun is
thoroughly flushed. Then repeat the procedure
with clean, hot water.
While you have the shooting nipple removed,
clean it with soapy water. Use an old toothbrush
to scrub the outside and a pipe cleaner to clean
the inside channel. After you have thoroughly
cleaned it, wipe it dry, oil lightly, and screw it
back into the gun, replacing the flush-out nipple. Clean the breech and barrel of
your percussion model by using
If you have a flintlock rifle, you won’t be a flush-out nipple.
able to use this technique. The one exception is
the gun that is equipped with a removable flash-
hole liner. In this case, the
flashhole liner can be replaced with a flush-out nipple and the above procedure
can be followed.
In all other cases, you must clean the barrel with a series of wet patches, using
either hot water or a cleaning solution. The flashhole and the rear of the bore may
be cleaned with a pipe cleaner.

80     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Muzzleloading Rifles

Drying and Protecting the Barrel

After you have thoroughly cleaned the barrel, use several clean, dry patches to wipe
out the entire length of the bore. Continue to run patches on the inside until they
come out clean and dry. Then wipe with an oily patch.
Don’t overlook the outside of the barrel. Wipe and inspect all metal surfaces.
Make sure that no moisture remains in such hard-to-get-at places as the breech and
the thimbles that hold the ramrod under the barrel.

Cleaning the Lock

The lock is usually held to the stock by two bolts. It can be removed from the rest
of the rifle simply by unscrewing the lock bolts a few turns and tapping the bolt
heads gently to loosen the lock plate. Then, unscrew the bolts the rest of the way
and carefully remove the lock.
Once the lock is removed, use an old toothbrush to scrub both sides
thoroughly. Don’t hesitate to use very hot water—the hotter the water, the better
the lock will dry. Make sure the mechanism is thoroughly dry. Then, lightly oil both
the lock and the lock bolts, and replace the stock.

Cleaning the Stock

The stock on your gun is probably made of a fine wood. You will want to keep it
free of grime and powder. Powder solvents can hurt a wood finish, so be careful
when using them. The stock can be cleaned with a damp cloth or a commercially
manufactured stock finish, using a clean patch or cloth. When the stock is
thoroughly dry, treat it with a light coating of stock oil or wax preservative.
Throughout the cleaning process, take extra care to ensure that no water or
cleaning fluid spills into the space between the stock and the barrel. This
moisture, undetected, can cause rust, the unfortunate source of damage
to many a cherished firearm.

RIFLE SHOOTING     81
Conservation and Hunting.

Conservation
and Hunting
Wildlife biologists have long recognized two key factors in
game management:
• The first is that wildlife cannot be stockpiled like coal or oil.
Any area of land, or habitat, can support only a certain num-
ber of wild animals. If a decision is made to have more game
(wild animals for hunting) in a specific area and it is stocked
with additional animals in excess of the biological carrying
capacity of the habitat area, what will happen? In time, all
animals in excess of the biological carrying capacity of the
land will be eliminated by the natural factors of disease, star-
vation, emigration, or predation.

A habitat is the place where a plant or animal naturally

or ­normally lives and grows.

Carrying capacity is the population of animals that an

area will support without being damaged.

A population is
• The second important factor is that wildlife species naturally
all of the individ- overproduce each year. That is, more young are produced
­uals of the same than necessary to continue the species, and more are pro-
duced than the habitat area can support. The extra animals
species that live are lost to disease, starvation, emigration, or predation. This
in one place. is nature’s way of making sure that there are enough surviv-
ing animals each year for a breeding population and that the
strongest strains survive for reproduction. For example, only
8 percent of young rabbits grow to breeding age.
These principles apply despite what people do with animals. If
extra animals are put into an occupied habitat, more animals

82     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Conservation and Hunting

than normal will die. If a few extra animals are taken by hunters, the remaining
stock will soon bring the population up to a normal range.
Wildlife management experts try to arrange hunting seasons and bag limits
(limits on the number of animals taken) so that hunters will harvest only the sur-
plus. The hunting regulations they set ensure that hunters do not take too many
animals. It is far better that hunters should get the healthful outdoor recreation and
the meat by harvesting the surplus than to lose those surplus animals to disease,
starvation, and other natural causes.
Without effective natural limiting factors, natural reproduction will cause an
animal population to grow too large, and the result is damage to the habitat. For
example, an unmanaged population of grazing animals such as deer will grow until
its food and water supply will no longer support its members. In such situations,
the large numbers of animals severely damage the plants in their habitat by over-
grazing or browsing and by trampling the plants. Plants exposed to this kind of
grazing pressure will not return to their former level of productivity for many years.
The loss of productivity is equally harmful to other wildlife species with similar
food and survival needs.

A limiting factor is anything that limits the survival, reproduction, or

number of animals in an area.

Productivity in plants is the power to bear or yield food abundantly.

When it becomes obvious that a population is too large, it is important to

increase the harvest and get the herd down to its biological carrying capacity. Game
managers will often extend the hunting season and/or increase the bag limit to thin
out the population. By harvesting animals that would otherwise be lost to causes
such as starvation and disease, the hunter becomes a responsible participant in
­natural biological processes.
The real problem for wildlife is what humankind has done, and is doing, to
the habitats where these animals must live. People are replacing woods, fields, and
marshes with subdivisions, shopping centers, superhighways, industrial complexes,
and airports. These changes lead to the destruction or alteration of habitats and to
a smaller number of game animals.
(For more about these ideas, see the Environmental Science and Fish and
Wildlife Management merit badge pamphlets.)

Hunting Regulations
Each state has its own hunting regulations. These are issued by the state fish and
wildlife agency, conservation department, or similar organization that is responsible
for the state’s fish and wildlife management program. You can get a copy of the regu-

RIFLE SHOOTING     83
Conservation and Hunting.

lations by writing to the correct department at your state capital.

Locally, sporting goods and hardware stores that sell hunting
In hunting and fishing licenses and equipment usually can supply a copy of
the regulations. Your merit badge counselor can help you with
­language, big
this, also.
game usually There are many differences in the state game laws. Hunt­ing
in Kansas is unlike hunting in California or New York. Differ­
refers to such
ences in geography, human population, and game species call
­animals as deer, for different game laws. Even within a state, there will be some
elk, moose, ante- differences in game laws. Certain areas or counties may have
different laws because of local conditions.
lope, and bear. All states have regulations regarding the use or carrying of
Small game guns when hunting. These laws are designed to protect those in
the hunting neighborhood. Such regulations may prohibit carry-
includes animals ing a loaded gun in a car, shooting from a car, or shooting near
such as rabbits buildings or roads. Many states control the type and caliber of
gun that can be used for certain kinds of hunting.
and squirrels. The states require hunters to carry a hunting license. This
Upland game helps them control the game harvest, and the license fees pro-
vide money for habitat improvement and game management.
includes quail,
To get a hunting license for the first time, all states require the
grouse, partridge, hunter to satisfactorily complete the hunter safety course ini-
tially developed by the National Rifle Association and now
and ptarmigan.
administered by each state’s hunter education program. These
courses are taught by volunteer instructors. (Several states
“grandfathered” people born before a specified date, and those
hunters were not required to take a hunter safety course. In
other states, people who were licensed hunters in the state
before a specific date established by law or regulation were not
required to take a hunter safety course.)
Even if your state does not require you to take such a
course, it is certainly worth your time to take it before you start
hunting. You will find it interesting and informative. And if you
have earned the Rifle Shooting merit badge, you will find it easy.

84     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Conservation and Hunting

Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship applies to all of shooting, whether recreational, competitive, or
hunting. The true sportsman follows the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would
like them to treat you.
• The sportsman knows and always follows the rules of safe gun handling at home,
on the range, and in the field. He knows and strictly follows the laws regarding
possession and use of firearms.
• The sportsman knows and follows the letter and spirit of the hunting regulations.
• The sportsman is considerate of the landowner whose property he may be using.
He asks permission to hunt on the property. He does not litter the area with trash.
• The sportsman is careful of the target, both for safety and also to avoid senseless
destruction. He does not shoot powerline insulators, pipeline valves, signs, or
similar property. He confines his shots to proper targets.
• The sportsman is careful of the area beyond the target to ensure that bullets that
miss the target or ricochet do not travel on to cause damage.
• The sportsman, when hunting in the field, gives fellow hunters a fair chance at
game. The sportsman does not take unfair advantage of another shooter in any way.
The accomplishment of taking game during the hunt is only part of the experience.
Enjoying the outdoors, seeing wildlife, and stalking game are also pleasurable parts
of the hunt.

RIFLE SHOOTING     85
What’s Next?.

What’s Next?
The shooting sports are a popular recreational activity in America. Many people
enjoy hunting or sharpening their skills at a shooting range. Tens of thousands of
competitive shooters participate in shooting contests (matches), including those at
the Olympic Games. In fact, shooting is the third most popular Olympic sport when
ranked by the number of participating nations. It is exceeded only by Olympic track
and field events and boxing events.

Instruction and Qualification Programs

You can enroll in a basic shooting course for several types of shooting, including
rifle, shotgun, and muzzleloading. Basic marksmanship courses are offered by NRA-
certified instructors who will be able to help and guide you to better shooting.
After you have taken a basic course, you can continue to improve your shooting
skills through the NRA Qualification Program. This program is a good way to test your
shooting skills and earn medals, pins, and patches as your shooting skills improve.

Shooting Clubs
One of the best ways to improve your shooting skills is to join a local shooting club
and its junior shooting program. Juniors in these clubs shoot the NRA Qualification
Program and participate in local, state, and national competitions. A local club is a
great way to meet new shooters with the same interests and to travel to new places
to test your shooting skills.

Leagues and Championships

Informal Competitions
Postal matches are competitions in which shooters fire at their home club ranges
and send scores to the NRA for comparison with other scores sent in from around
the country. The Scout Camp National Postal Rifle Matches is an example of a
postal match that you can enter when you go to summer camp. It offers:
• National awards—for the categories of top three seniors (seasoned campers; age
limit 17) and juniors (first-year campers; age limit 13)

86     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .What’s Next?

• Camp awards—a Camp Rifle Champion belt buckle, awarded to the top-scoring
individual in each category of senior and junior
• Weekly awards—NRA/BSA Camp Rifle Champion hat pins and certificates,
awarded immediately to the top shooters in the senior and junior categories at
the end of each week

Tournament Competitions
The NRA sanctions more than 11,000 tournaments each year. Many are conducted
specifically for juniors, but most are also open to adults. These competitions are a
good way for you to test your skills and to learn more about competitive shooting.
They are also the path to the Olympic Games.

Special Activities
NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) programs are sanctioned each
year in the United States and Canada by the hunter safety coordinator in each state or
province. The top finishers from these events are eligible to participate in the North
American YHEC, which is held each summer. Young hunters also have the opportu-
nity to earn awards for successful hunts in the Young Hunter Awards Program.
The law enforcement Explorer shooting program offers a qualification
shooting course for use by the BSA’s law enforcement Explorer program. The NRA
also conducts a law enforcement Explorer shooting championship as part of the
national law enforcement Explorer conference.
Camp programs offer one way to introduce young people to shooting. Not only
do BSA local councils have shooting in many of their summer camp programs, but
many private summer camps also have shooting programs. There are also special
shooting camps sponsored by the NRA designed to improve the junior shooter’s
skills with the rifle. Shooting camps are conducted at the state and national levels
for beginners, intermediates, and advanced junior shooters.
School programs are designed to educate high school students about shooting
sports and to promote activities among school groups. Physical education classes,
scholastic clubs, and competitive teams may be involved in any of the various
shooting disciplines.
College programs are geared to shooting activities on the college level. These
programs include competitive intercollegiate teams, student-run shooting sport
clubs, physical education, and ROTC programs. Rifle shooting is an NCAA sport
with scholarship opportunities available at several colleges.
Other activities are also available such as the Sighting-In Days Program,
National Hunting and Fishing Day, and other types of junior shooting camps.
You can find out more about these and other programs by writing to the NRA at
11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030, or visiting their Web site at http://www.
nrahq.org/youth/ or http://www.nrahq.org/safety/education/youth.asp.

RIFLE SHOOTING     87
Glossary.

Glossary
action. The group of moving parts that ball-starter. A short rod or peg used to
allow the shooter to load, fire, and start a ball or bullet down the barrel of
unload a gun. a muzzleloading gun.
aiming. Aligning a firearm with barrel. The tube through which the
the target. projectile passes. It has raised surfaces
air gun. A gun that uses compressed air or ridges on the inside to impart spin
or carbon dioxide to propel its projectile. to the projectile (see rifling).
ammunition. The projectiles with their BB. A copper-plated steel ball for use
cases, primers, and propelling charges in a BB gun, a type of air gun.
that are fired from guns; cartridges. benchrest. A table or other platform
aperture sights. A kind of metallic that forms a supporting base for a rifle
sight that uses a small hole in the rear and that allows the shooter to be
sight and a front sight with a metal or seated while firing.
plastic insert with a post or a ring in it. black powder. Gunpowder that burns
To aim, the shooter aligns the front explosively.
sight in the center of the rear aperture, bolt. The sliding part in any breech­
placing the front bead on the target or loader’s action that guides a round into
placing the black of the bull’s-eye in the chamber and rotates to tightly lock
the center of the front sight ring. and prevent the action from opening
autoloader. A repeating firearm. After upon firing.
it is loaded and cocked manually by bolt handle. The lever that the shooter
the shooter for the first shot, the fire­ pulls back to open the action on a bolt-
arm then automatically loads a new action rifle and pushes forward to
cartridge from the magazine into the chamber a round and close the action.
firing chamber and cocks itself for the
next shot. See also semiautomatic. bore. The interior of a gun barrel.
ball. A round projectile. See round ball. breath control. Not breathing while
firing a shot in order to maintain a
ball-puller. An attachment that looks steady sight picture.
like a tapping screw attached to the end
of a work-rod, for screwing into an breech. The rear portion of a rifle,
unexpelled ball and removing it from ­usually the rear opening of the cham-
the barrel of a muzzleloading gun. ber into the barrel.

88     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Glossary

breechblock. A movable block of cock. The hammer of a muzzleloader.

metal that closes the chamber at the “To cock” is to place the hammer of a
rear and supports the base of the car- firearm in the firing position.
tridge case during firing. comb. The upper edge of a stock. The
breechloader. Any gun that is loaded shooter’s cheekbone rests on the comb.
from the breech, usually with a car- conical bullet. A soft lead bullet with
tridge, as distinguished from a a solid base and two or more bands at
muzzleloader. the rear. The bands are slightly larger
breechplug. A plug threaded into in diameter than the bullet itself and
the breech of the barrel of a muzzle- cut into the rifling, sealing the base of
loading gun, to seal the breech against the bullet and allowing the rifling to
the rearward escape of gases when the spin the bullet as it travels down the
gun is fired. barrel of a muzzleloading gun.
bullet. An elongated projectile designed crosshairs. See reticle.
to be fired from a rifled barrel. double-set trigger. A trigger mecha-
bull’s-eye. The central blackened part nism that is set by pulling or pushing
of a target or the smallest center ring. a first trigger, then released by a pull
butt. The rear end of a gunstock. on a second trigger.
caliber. The interior diameter of a drilling. A gun with three barrels; for
gun barrel. example, a side-by-side shotgun with
a rifle barrel on top or a gun with side-
calling the shot. Predicting where the by-side rifle barrels with a shotgun
shot will strike the target based upon ­barrel underneath.
the sight picture at the instant of firing.
drum. A cylindrical piece of steel hold-
cap. See percussion cap. ing the nipple in a percussion rifle.
cartridge. The complete unit of ammu- dry firing. Simulating shooting with an
nition, consisting of projectile, case, unloaded firearm, including cocking it
powder (propellant), and primer. and pulling the trigger; used to practice
case. The metal container, usually of gun handling and control.
brass, which holds ammunition parts. elevation. Vertical adjustment of a
centerfire. Cartridges having the firearm sight to change where the
primer in a pocket at the base of the ­bullet hits the target.
cartridge case. falling block. A kind of firearm action
chamber. The rear portion of the gun in which the breechblock drops into
barrel into which a cartridge is inserted a well within the receiver to expose
for firing. “To chamber” is to insert a the chamber.
cartridge into the breech of a gun. firing line. At a target range, the line
charging the barrel. Dispensing a ­ along which shooters are positioned
specific amount of black powder for firing at their targets.
directly into the muzzle of a firearm. firing pin. The device that strikes the
clip. A device or box holding car- primer in the cartridge, igniting the
tridges; used in loading a magazine. primer by causing an indentation that
crushes the priming compound.

RIFLE SHOOTING     89
Glossary.

flash channel. A small hole between the fulminate of mercury. An explosive

inside of the barrel and the priming pan used in some now-obsolete primer
in a muzzleloading gun; see flashhole. compounds.
flashhole. A fire hole used in muzzle- grip. The part of the stock gripped by
loaders; a small hole through the the firing hand.
breech that runs from the ignition group. The pattern of shot-holes on
source to the powder charge. a vertical target.
flint. In a flintlock, the piece of stone group shooting. Shooting a series
that strikes the steel frizzen face to pro- (group) of shots on a target.
duce a shower of sparks, thus igniting
the priming charge and, subsequently, gunsmith. A person who designs,
the main charge in the barrel. makes, or repairs guns.
flintlock. A muzzleloader with a half-cock. A hammer position at the
­hammer, or cock, that holds a flint in midpoint of hammer travel; an inter­
screw-tightened jaws; having a frizzen, mediate safety position for the cock
or striking plate; a pan in which the or hammer. See full-cock.
priming charge is placed; and a flash- hammer. The part that strikes the
hole through which the flame passes to ­percussion cap in muzzleloaders or
the main charge in the barrel. the primer in cartridge arms. Some
follow-through. Maintaining the cor- hammers directly strike the cap or
rect sight picture even after firing, to primer, while others strike a separate
ensure that the firearm remains in firing pin. The hammer on flintlocks
proper relationship with the target so is called the cock.
as not to disturb sight alignment just hangfire. A delay in the ignition of
before the shot is fired. a cartridge at the time of firing, often
forearm. See fore-end. described as the “click” of the firing
pin being followed by a delay, then
fore-end. That part of a gun’s stock the “bang” of firing.
forward of the action, extending under
the barrel and providing a grip for one hinge. A type of rifle action that opens
hand below the barrel. like the movement of a door hinge;
when the release lever is pushed to
fouling. The residue from burning pow- one side, the barrel swings downward.
der left in the barrel after a shot is fired.
hold control. Keeping the aligned sights
frizzen. In a flintlock, the spring-loaded or scope reticle aimed as closely as pos-
cover of the priming pan, with an sible on the center of the target, mini-
upright steel plate against which the mizing movement in the sight picture.
flint strikes, producing the sparks that
ignite the powder. hooked breech. A style of muzzle-
loading rifle in which the barrel can be
frizzen face. The striking surface removed from the standing breech.
of a frizzen.
in-line rifle. A kind of percussion rifle
full-cock. The position of the cock in which the percussion lock mecha-
or hammer when ready for firing. nism is placed behind and in line with
See half-cock. the barrel, rather than alongside it.

90     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Glossary

jag. The end of a cleaning rod, having minié ball. A soft lead bullet with a
grooves or ridges that grip a cleaning hollow base. The base has a thin skirt
patch or swabbing material. that expands when hot gases from
knapping. Shaping flint by breaking burning powder push against it, filling
off pieces with quick blows. the rifling and sealing the gas behind
the bullet.
kneeling position. A shooting position
in which the shooter sits on the heel of misfire. The failure of a round to fire.
the right foot, with the lower left leg musket. A military shoulder arm,
vertical and the left elbow resting on either flintlock or percussion.
the left knee. muzzle. The forward end (mouth)
lands. On the inside of a rifled barrel, of the barrel, through which the
the ridges, standing above the grooves, ­projectile exits.
that make a bullet spin. muzzle velocity. The speed of the
length of pull. The distance from the ­projectile measured as it leaves the
trigger to the rear of the butt. muzzle of the barrel.
lever action. A type of rifle action muzzleloader. Any gun that must be
that is opened by pulling the cocking loaded through the muzzle by charging
lever downward and forward away first with black powder, followed by
from the stock. the lubed or patched projectile.
live firing. Shooting with a loaded natural point of aim (NPA). The point
firearm, using live ammunition. where the rifle comes to rest when
load. A particular combination of case, the shooter’s body is in a relaxed,
primer, powder, and projectile. “To ­natural position.
load” is to charge a firearm with nipple. The cone-shaped seat on which
ammunition. a percussion cap is placed and deto-
lock. The firing mechanism of early nated by the hammer of a muzzle-
firearms (see flintlock; matchlock). loader. The nipple has a hole through
it to let the flame from the cap travel
magazine. In a repeating firearm, to the powder charge in the barrel.
the container in which cartridges are
stored before loading, one by one, open sights. The simplest kind of
into the chamber. sights, consisting of a rear bar with
either a V-shaped or U-shaped notch
match. The fuse, wick, or smoldering cut into it, and a front blade or bead.
cord used in matchlock firearms. The shooter aims by aligning the notch
matchlock. A muzzleloader in which a in the rear sight with the front blade or
lighted match is touched to the powder bead and superimposing that alignment
in the priming pan, igniting the priming on the target.
charge, which in turn shoots its flame optical sights. Telescopic sights, con-
through the flashhole to set off the sisting of a tube containing magnifying
powder charge in the barrel. lenses and an aiming reticle. See reticles.
metallic sight. Nonmagnifying devices pan. On matchlock, wheel lock, and
on the front and rear ends of a firearm flintlock guns, a small, shallow con-
used in aiming. See sights. tainer for priming powder.

RIFLE SHOOTING     91
Glossary.

patch. A piece of material, usually cot- powder measure. A device for

ton, fitted around a round ball in a measuring and dispensing precise
muzzleloading gun to provide a gas quantities of powder.
seal and to impart spin to the ball. primer. In cartridge arms, an impact-
peep sights. See aperture sights. sensitive chemical mixture that ignites
pellet. Ammunition fired by rifled- when hit by the firing pin, igniting
barreled CO2, pneumatic (pump-up), the powder charge. Also, in centerfire
and spring-operated air guns. ammunition, the metal cup or pocket
that contains the primer.
percussion cap. A small metal cup
containing a priming mixture (detonat- priming charge. The fine-grained pow-
ing powder), placed open-end-down der that is used in the pan of a flintlock
over a nipple that has a vent hole lead- and that, when set off, ignites the main
ing into the main powder charge in the charge of powder.
barrel of a percussion rifle. When struck priming pan. See pan.
by the hammer, the cap sends a small projectile. Any solid material propelled
jet of flame into the powder charge, through the gun barrel by pressure—
igniting it. a bullet, ball, BB, pellet, etc.
percussion rifle. A muzzleloading rifle prone position. A shooting position in
using a percussion cap and hammer to which the shooter lies facing the target,
ignite the powder charge. body angled slightly, both elbows and
possibles bag. A pouch carried by almost all of the body in contact with
a muzzleloader shooter, for packing the ground.
necessary gear. pump action. A term applied to
powder charge. A measured amount repeating firearms activated by a slid-
of a chemical compound that, when ing action that is operated by moving a
ignited by the primer, generates gases handgrip below the barrel backwards
that expand rapidly and produce high and forwards.
pressure, providing the force needed pyrite. A common mineral that has
to propel a projectile. In modern car- a pale brass-yellow color and a
tridges, the powder charge is contained metallic luster.
within the case. In muzzleloading rifles,
the powder charge is loaded into the Pyrodex®. A modified black powder
barrel through the muzzle. The black or black-powder substitute that burns
powder used in muzzleloaders is quite without the heavy ­fouling of regular
different from the powder used in black powder.
­modern cartridges. ramrod. A rod used in loading and
powder horn. A container for holding cleaning muzzleloading guns.
black powder. Modern powder flasks range safety officer. The person
are usually made of metal, with a spout ­giving standard range commands
on one end and a lever at the side that and monitoring all shooters at a super-
opens the flask to pour out a measured vised shooting range.
amount of powder.

92     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Glossary

receiver. The frame for the action parts scoring ring. A black or white paper-
of a gun, and the part of the firearm target ring used to separate scoring
around which the rest of the arm is areas of different values.
built. A rifle’s stock is attached to the semiautomatic. A firearm that fires
receiver; the barrel is screwed or locked the cartridge in the chamber, ejects
into the receiver; and the receiver also the fired casing, and chambers a fresh
accepts the bolt, magazine, trigger round from the magazine with each
mechanism, etc. pull of the trigger. See also autoloader.
recoil. The rearward movement of the short-starter. The short peg of a ball-
gun in reaction to the forward move- starter, used to seat a patched ball or
ment of the projectile and powder gas lubed bullet just below the muzzle of a
emerging from the muzzle; the kick- muzzleloading gun.
back of a gun upon firing.
sight alignment. The alignment of
repeater. See semiautomatic. eye, rear sight, and front sight.
reticle. The aiming device in a tele- sight picture. The visual image that
scopic sight, arranged within the lens the shooter sees as he lines the sights
system of the scope to focus perfectly on the target; the relationship between
on the target. Common patterns include the eye, the aligned sights or scope,
crosshairs (in various thicknesses); and the target.
crosshair and dot; dot; crosshair and
post; and post (flat-topped or pointed). sighting-in. Adjusting the sights on
a rifle so that the projectile strikes the
rifling. The lands (raised surfaces) and target where intended; also known as
grooves in a barrel that make the bullet zeroing-in.
spin, imparting greater accuracy.
sights. The metallic or optical devices
rimfire. Cartridges with the primer attached to rifles that enable them to
contained in a fold (rim) at the base be aimed. See aperture sights; open
of the case, which when struck by the sights; optical sights.
hammer ignites the powder charge.
single-set trigger. A single trigger that
round. Another name for a cartridge. combines the functions of both triggers
round ball. A round projectile, usually of a double-set mechanism. After it is
of lead and usually fired with a cloth set (usually by being pushed forward),
patch, fired from a muzzleloading rifle. a very light pull will release the trigger.
safety. A device that prevents a firearm See double-set trigger.
from being accidentally fired, normally sitting position. A shooting position
by blocking the trigger or the hammer in which the shooter sits, legs extended
action or by locking the bolt or lever. from the body with ankles crossed,
scoring gauge. A device used for resting elbows inside knees.
indicating the location of bullet holes six-o’clock hold. In target shooting,
in a paper target or for measuring the aligning the front sight directly below
distance between holes. the bull’s-eye, as if the bull’s-eye were
resting atop the front sight.

RIFLE SHOOTING     93
Glossary.

slide action. See pump action. thimbles. Short metal tubes used to
sprue. The excess metal that hardens secure the ramrod under the barrel of
in the opening of a ball-casting mold a muzzleloading gun.
through which the molten metal is trigger. The lever that activates a
poured into the mold. Also, the slight firearm when moved, usually pulled
projection on the ball that is left from by one finger.
the hole in the mold. trigger control. Deliberate squeezing
squib round. A round that fires but of the trigger straight to the rear with-
does not produce enough gas pressure out disturbing the sight picture.
to force the bullet out of the barrel. trigger guard. A protective shield
standing position. A shooting posi- around the trigger that guards against
tion in which the shooter stands with accidental release of the trigger.
head erect, feet shoulder-width apart, trigger pull. The amount of pressure
knees straight, and body weight distrib- needed to fully release a trigger to
uted equally on both feet. fire a gun.
starter. See ball-starter; short-starter. windage. Horizontal adjustment of the
starting load. Powder charge in a sights on a firearm to send the projec-
muzzleloading gun, generally in a tile to the right or the left on the target.
measure of one grain of powder per work-rod. A rod heavier than a
caliber. For instance, a .45 caliber rifle ­ramrod, used for special tasks such
would take 45 grains of powder as a as pulling a ball from the barrel of a
starting load. muzzleloading gun.
stock. The part of a rifle that the wrist. The part of the stock between
shooter grasps, usually made of wood, the butt and the fore-end that is
and consisting of the butt, comb, grip, gripped by the trigger-hand.
and fore-end.
zero. The point at which a rifle’s sights
tang. The part of a firearm’s receiver are adjusted to the proper point of
that extends to the rear and is used to impact. See sighting-in.
attach the action to the stock.
zeroing. The mechanical movement of
10-ring. The innermost ring of the black the sights to center the shot group in
section (the bull’s-eye) of the target. the center of the target. See sighting-in.

94     RIFLE SHOOTING

 .Resources

Resources
Scouting Literature Trefethen, James B. Americans and
Environmental Science, Fish and Their Guns. Stackpole Books,
Wildlife Management, and Shotgun Harrisburg, PA, 1967.
Shooting merit badge pamphlets; Yuryev, A. A. Competitive Shooting.
Guide to Safe Scouting; Health
National Rifle Association of
and Safety Guide
America, Washington, D.C., 1985.

Visit the Boy Scouts of America’s Muzzleloaders

official retail Web site at http:// Bridges, Toby. Muzzleloading. Creative
www.scoutstuff.org for a com- Publishing, 1997.
plete listing of all merit badge
The Muzzleloading Rifle Handbook.
pamphlets and other helpful
National Rifle Association of
Scouting materials and supplies.
America, Washington, D.C., 1985.

Rifles and Rifle Shooting Organizations and Web Sites

Anderson, Gary L. NRA Junior Rifle Alco Target Company
Shooting. National Rifle Association Toll-free telephone: 888-258-4814
of America, Washington, D.C., 1983. Web site: http://www.alcotarget.com
Bassham, Lanny R. With Winning in American Target Company
Mind. Bookpartners Inc., 1996. Telephone: 303-733-0433
Central Target Company
Crossman, Jim. Olympic Shooting.
Telephone: 502-895-3390
National Rifle Association of
America, Washington, D.C., 1978. Michaels of Oregon
Toll-free telephone: 800-962-5757
Parish, David. Successful Rifle Shooting. Web site: http://www.hoppes.com or
Crowood Press, 1997. http://www.michaelsoforegon.com
Sheets, H. Wayne. The Basics of Rifle
Shooting. National Rifle Association
of America, Washington, D.C., 1987.

RIFLE SHOOTING     95
Resources.

National Target Company The Target Shop

Toll-free telephone: 800-827-7060 Toll-free telephone: 800-746-6812
Web site: U.S. Target Company
http://www.nationaltarget.com Toll-free telephone: 800-746-6836
Target Barn Inc. Web site:
Telephone: 419-829-2242 http://www.ustargetonline.com

Acknowledgments
For their many contributions to this new edition of the Rifle Shooting merit badge
pamphlet, the Boy Scouts of America thanks Charles Mitchell, Howard Q. Moody,
and Rudy Dufour of the National Rifle Association; and J. Franklin Sturges Jr.,
National Camping School shooting sports director, Denver Area Council shooting
sports coordinator, and NRA training counselor. Their assistance was indispensable
with producing this new edition. Thanks also to David Prizio Jr., NCS shooting
sports director, Western Region, for reviewing the manuscript.
We appreciate Troop 660, Falls Church, Va., and Troop 1830, Landover, Md.,
of the BSA’s National Capital Area Council, Bethesda, Md., for their assistance with
the photographs used in this book.
We appreciate the Quicklist Consulting Committee of the Association for
Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, for its
assistance with updating the resources section of this merit badge pamphlet.

Photo and Illustration Credits

All photos and illustrations in this pamphlet are the property of or are protected by
the Boy Scouts of America. All illustrations were created by John McDearmon.

96     RIFLE SHOOTING

 Merit badge library
Though intended as an aid to Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and qualified Venturers in
meeting merit badge requirements, these pamphlets are of general interest and are made
available by many schools and public libraries. The latest revision date of each pamphlet
might not correspond with the copyright date shown below, because this list is corrected
only once a year, in January. Any number of merit badge pamphlets may be revised
throughout the year; others are simply reprinted until a revision becomes necessary.
If a Scout has already started working on a merit badge when a new edition for that
pamphlet is introduced, he may continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet to earn
the badge and fulfill the requirements therein. In other words, the Scout need not start
all over again with the new pamphlet and possibly revised requirements.

Merit Badge Pamphlet Year Merit Badge Pamphlet Year Merit Badge Pamphlet Year
American Business 2002 Engineering 2008 Photography 2005
American Cultures 2005 Entrepreneurship 2006 Pioneering 2006
American Heritage 2005 Environmental Science 2006 Plant Science 2005
American Labor 2006 Family Life 2005 Plumbing 2004
Animal Science 2006 Farm Mechanics 2008 Pottery 2008
Archaeology 2006 Fingerprinting 2003 Public Health 2005
Archery 2004 Fire Safety 2004 Public Speaking 2002
Architecture 2008 First Aid 2007 Pulp and Paper 2006
Art 2006 Fish and Wildlife Radio 2008
Astronomy 2004 Management 2004 Railroading 2003
Athletics 2006 Fishing 2009 Reading 2003
Automotive Maintenance 2008 Fly-Fishing 2009 Reptile and
Aviation 2006 Forestry 2005 Amphibian Study 2005
Backpacking 2007 Gardening 2002 Rifle Shooting 2001
Basketry 2003 Genealogy 2005 Rowing 2006
Bird Study 2005 Geology 2005 Safety 2006
Bugling (see Music) Golf 2002 Salesmanship 2003
Camping 2005 Graphic Arts 2006 Scholarship 2004
Canoeing 2004 Hiking 2007 Scuba Diving 2009
Chemistry 2004 Home Repairs 2009 Sculpture 2007
Cinematography 2008 Horsemanship 2003 Shotgun Shooting 2005
Citizenship in the Indian Lore 2008 Skating 2005
Community 2005 Insect Study 2008 Small-Boat Sailing 2004
Citizenship in the Nation 2005 Journalism 2006 Snow Sports 2007
Citizenship in the World 2005 Landscape Architecture 2008 Soil and Water
Climbing 2006 Law 2003 Conservation 2004
Coin Collecting 2008 Leatherwork 2002 Space Exploration 2004
Collections 2008 Lifesaving 2008 Sports 2006
Communication 2009 Mammal Study 2003 Stamp Collecting 2007
Composite Materials 2006 Medicine 2009 Surveying 2004
Computers 2009 Metalwork 2007 Swimming 2008
Cooking 2007 Model Design and Building 2003 Textile 2003
Crime Prevention 2005 Motorboating 2008 Theater 2005
Cycling 2003 Music and Bugling 2003 Traffic Safety 2006
Dentistry 2006 Nature 2003 Truck Transportation 2005
Disabilities Awareness 2005 Nuclear Science 2004 Veterinary Medicine 2005
Dog Care 2003 Oceanography 2009 Water Sports 2007
Drafting 2008 Orienteering 2003 Weather 2006
Electricity 2004 Painting 2008 Whitewater 2005
Electronics 2004 Personal Fitness 2006 Wilderness Survival 2007
Emergency Preparedness 2008 Personal Management 2003 Wood Carving 2006
Energy 2005 Pets 2003 Woodwork 2003

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