Shoot to Kill. Ion Idriess

      Grasp the vital necessity of steadiness before you practise shooting, and you have laid the foundation to becoming a good shot. It only needs practice then and very soon you will consistently hit the bull at 1000 yards. And the extreme confidence which such good shooting will give you will mean that 1200 then 1500 yard shooting will become easy, while 500 yards, 200 yards (close range shooting) will become child’s play.

      CHAPTER III

      The Firing Position: Aiming

      THE best training for an Auxiliary is, in my opinion, immediate practice in the things that count. That is the best training for a regular army too, if I may have the cheek to say so. Cut out the spit and polish, and get on with the job. The first evening when issued with your rifle you will, or should, learn its mechanism, loading, cleaning, care of the weapon, etc. If your rifle instructors are practical men you’ll master all that in a couple of hours. The next evening you should be out on the range and get in a couple of hours’ shooting before dark.

      First make yourself comfortable, in the lying down position which is the position you’ll generally do your fighting in. Quickly realize that your rifle and Mother Earth will be your two closest friends when the whips begin to crack. Hug Mother Earth, for she’ll save your life many a time, the tiniest wrinkle in her vast face can save you from bullet and shell if only you quickly learn how to take advantage of it.

      As you make yourself comfortable facing the target (with body lying a little left) rest your rifle on the ground, let the ground take the weight as the weapon is loosely clasped in the hands. Thus there is no strain on the sinews and muscles of the arms while you are waiting to fire. When in action you’ll remember to do the same thing, for this helps steadiness of rifle and body when the time comes to take aim.

      Now, there is an actual firing position, a scientific position which has only been learned by an army of good shots throughout years of practice. Learn this position at the very first practice.

      Don't face the target straight; that is, don’t settle down with your head and body in a straight line with the distant target. Your body should lie a little left; that is, it lies easily and naturally a little to the left while your face can comfortably look straight towards the target. (A left handed shooter would lie in the position, his body inclined a little to the right.) Now, when you aim, your face is looking directly at the target. In this position the rifle butt rests solidly and immovably into the right shoulder with the muzzle pointing directly towards the bull. In slightly more “technical” terms, the body lies fairly oblique to the line of fire.