Push Your Limits

The Fundamental Marksmanship evaluation is simple:
Two Army 300m scaled targets placed at 25m.
5 shots on each.
90 second time limit. 

Shots in the circle score 5 points. 
Shots in the black score 4 points. 
Shots in the white score 0 points. 
If a shot touches more than one scoring area, the higher point value is awarded. 
More than 5 shots on a target? The lowest 5 scores count. 

0 - 27 points: Pro-Marksman (unqualified)
28 - 35 points: Marksman
36 - 44 points: Sharpshooter
45 - 50 points: Expert Rifleman

A few months ago, the Rifleman participated in his own Fundamental Marksmanship class (fear not - there were three well qualified RSOs on duty!). The rifle used was Lucy - the 18" SPR with a White Oak Armament match barrel, Geissele trigger, free float rail, ACOG scope, and other upgrades. 

Naturally, the Rifleman scored a perfect 50 on the evaluation.  In fact, on the 2nd evaluation, the target was stapled up at an angle (not straight up and down), a fellow participant mixed up my two magazines so the no longer had 5 rounds each (still 10 rounds total - but there were 4 in one mag and 6 in the other - unbeknownst to me), and I sprinted over 25m to my unloaded rifle when time started.  Nevertheless,  another perfect 50 was recorded.

One participant suggested it was my highly customized rifle that was the reason I shot well... so let's find out:

The Rifleman went to the range again, this time with a stock M4 in hand.  This rifle has an M4 profile barrel, is not free floated, no special trigger, and wore only a red dot sight.  The result?

Point made. 



So, the Rifleman took Lucy and put the Aimpoint on her.  Here is the result:

Another perfect 50. 



Certainly, the results with the ACOG were slightly better:

Caveats:
When I shot with the stock M4, the following conditions were true:
1. Started standing with the unloaded rifle on the ground. 
2. Completed the course of fire in 26 seconds (90 second time limit).
3. Used Military Prone instead of my preferred Olympic Prone. 
4. The evaluation was performed at the end of the day, when I was very tired. 


Lessons?
1. Scopes don't help you shoot better, they help you see better. 
2. A Rifleman doesn't need the high dollar stuff to make hits.
3. All the excuses given in classes as to why folks didn't shoot as well as they had hoped are just that - excuses. 
4. A Rifleman pushes his limits in order to grow.