Service Pistol Team How-To's Shot Group Plotting Board Training Method

[Jack H]

THE UNITED STATES ARMY MARKSMANSHIP UNIT

Service Pistol Team How-To's Shot Group Plotting Board Training Method

The "Shot Group Training Method" is designed to check the shooter’s ability to call a shot group. You begin by ensuring that the proper stance, position, grip, sight alignment and trigger control are used. A shooter can use a 50-yard repair center (B-6c P) for this exercise and any caliber competition pistol. The shot group training exercise is for slow fire training and can be fired at 50 or 25 yards with the appropriate target. Do not use a spotting scope to examine each round as it is fired. The spotting scope may be used after all shots have been fired to evaluate the shot group. A clear focus on the sights or dot is necessary to accurately call a shot. During this exercise, the shooter should make every effort to correctly call each shot. After the shot has been called, the shooter will then indicate on the shot plotting board (50 yard repair center) where the shot should have impacted on the target. The shooter will continue this training until ten shots have been fired and marked on the plotting board. Upon completion, the shooter will verify the shot group by comparing the plotting board marks with the actual shots on target. If the shooter paid close attention to detail while firing each shot, the shot group should be relatively close to the plotting board group. This training exercise will help a shooter focus on sight alignment and smoothness in shot delivery. The shooter should evaluate the shot group for tightness and shape. The shot group should be tight and in a rounded pattern. Oblong or angular patterns indicate that additional movement was present during the delivery of the shot. With this feedback, the shooter can identify what the problem is, and make the necessary corrections.


Note: To call a shot, the shooter tries to evaluate where the shot impacted the target before looking into the scope. This is accomplished by analyzing the position of the sights in relation to the target at the time the round is fired. The shooter should be within his minimum arc of movement during this sighting process. By paying close attention to the front sight or dot, the shooter can tell whether the shot was left, right, low or high in their holding area when the shot was fired.


In addition to the "Shot Group Training Method" an individual may also train using the "Individual Shot Training Method". The shooter follows the same basic principles as in the "Shot Group Training Method". The difference is, after the shot is plotted on the board each shot will be scoped, and the actual location of the shot will be marked on the plotting board as well. A good way of doing this is by using two different colored markers to indicate perceived hit and actual hit. The called shot (perceived hit) is marked in red, and the actual hit is marked in green. As each shot is marked on the plotting board, they should be labeled in the order they were fired.


Another way of using the "Individual Shot Training Method" is by using the buddy system. As the shot is fired, your shooting buddy will scope the shot. The shooter will call the shot out loud using the "clock method" i.e. (six o’clock 10), this will increase the interaction between the shooter and spotter by allowing the spotter to have a better insight into what the shooter is seeing. Both people will plot the shot on their boards; shooter plotting called shot and spotter plotting actual shot. Both plots should be numbered in the sequence they were fired. After ten shots have been fired, the two plotting boards are compared. When used consistently, these training methods can greatly improve a shooter’s ability to maintain focus in sight alignment, smoothness in shot delivery and increase slow fire scores.


KEEPING IT SIMPLE


When shooting in a match you are told there are many things that you must do in order to shoot a 10. What is not said enough is that you learn what is needed to shoot a ten in practice. Once you get into a match you must try to keep everything you do as simple as possible. Because, the simpler your plan is the easier it will be to do the same thing over and over again. The way to win in a match is to be the most consistent shooter on the line who shoots a ten every shot. The only way to do this is to keep it simple. Roger C. Jacobson SFC, USA Instr/Shtr, SP Section


I have found that in order to go far in the shooting game, I have to insulate myself from thinking about the value of scores. I do not think of what might happen if I fire the gun to the best of my ability. I look at the scores when I am finished firing the gun. In my heart I know that I will shoot the gun to the best of my ability. I do not expect to do more, and I do not allow myself to do less.
Fritz Ficke SPC, USA Instr/Shtr, SP Section

[RodJ]

Damn. Thank you Jack.