The soldier should acquire the above by degrees. If the soldier’s attention be at first confined to aiming his piece, he will more readily acquire this than if he were required to aim, and to take a prescribed position at the same time. Having acquired a knowledge of the principles of aiming his piece, and then a prescribed position, he will readily acquire the habit of aiming correctly from this position.
He should now learn the proper manner of pulling the trigger, and, when putting this in practice, to keep his piece steady.
The soldier will next be taught to support the recoil, and become accustomed to the report of his piece, by first using caps, and then blank cartridges.
Such appears to be the natural order of instruction to overcome the difficulties attending the proper use of his arm when firing. …
In the spring of 1856, a company in our service, drilled in a similar manner, improved three hundred per cent. in accuracy of fire in six weeks’ time.
– A System of Target Practice. For the Use of Troops When Armed With the Musket, Rifle-Musket, Rifle, or Carbine. By Henry Heth, Captain 10th Regiment US Infantry. Published by Order of the War Department. Philadelphia. 1858
Putting this up here as a reminder that firearms training is not a new endeavor. That is all. 🙂
