BSA 30

Minute
Rifle &
Shotgun
Briefing
NO AMMUNITION
in the classroom
NO EXCEPTIONS!

1
 Orientation Goal
To provide beginning shooters with the
Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude necessary to
shoot a rifle safely under the direct
supervision of a NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
or NRA/USA Shooting/CMP Rifle Coach; or
shoot a shotgun safely under the direct
supervision of a NRA Certified Shotgun
Instructor or NRA/USA Shooting Coach.

2
 NRA Gun Safety Rules

• ALWAYS keep your gun pointed in a

safe direction

• ALWAYS keep your finger off the

trigger until ready to shoot

• ALWAYS keep your gun unloaded

until ready to use

3
 Shooting Fundamentals
Determining the Dominant Eye

 Extend arms forward and form opening between the hands

 With both eyes open, look at a distant object through opening
 Bring hands to face while looking at object – Opening will be aligned
with the dominant eye

4
 Range Safety Briefing

Range layout – Rifle Ranges

 Ready Area
 Firing Line
 Target Area
 Back Stop

5
Range Safety Briefing

6
Range Safety Briefing

7
 Range Safety Briefing

Range Layout – Shotgun

Ranges
 Ready Area
 Shooting Station
 Target Path
 Down range shot drop zone

8
Range Safety Briefing

9
 Range Safety Briefing

NRA Safe Gun Handling Rules

 ALWAYS keep your gun pointed in a safe
direction.

 ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until

ready to shoot.

 ALWAYS keep your gun unloaded until ready to

use.

10
 Range Safety Briefing
Other Safety Rules
 Know your target and what is beyond
 Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate
 Never use alcohol or drugs before or while
shooting
 Be aware that certain types of guns and many
shooting activities require additional safety
precautions
Range Commands
 “Commence Firing”
 “Cease Firing”

11
 Questions

Do you have any questions

before you move to the next
portion of either the Rifle or
Shotgun Briefing?

12
 BSA 30
Minute
Rifle Briefing
(Continued)
NO AMMUNITION
in the classroom
NO EXCEPTIONS!

13
 Rifle Parts…Air Rifle

Loading
Port Rear Sight
Chamber Front Sight
Grip Barrel
Comb
Muzzle

Piercing
Butt
Tube Cap
Trigger Pellet
Safety Forearm
Magazine
Toe Trigger Guard

14
 Rifle Parts…Bolt Action

Chamber
Barrel
Grip Rear Sight
Comb Safety Front Sight
Bolt

Butt
Muzzle
Forearm
Trigger Box
Bolt Handle Magazine

Toe Trigger Guard

15
 Demonstrate Rifle Operation

Instructor demonstration only

 Loading with Dummy Ammo
 Cocking
 Firing “Dry-fire only” with Dummy
Ammo
 Unloading

16
 Bench Rest Position
• Feet flat on the ground
with the legs relaxed.
• Seated directly behind the
front support with slight
lean forward.
• Butt of the rifle in the
shoulder close to neck.
• Elbows on the table to
support the rifle.
• Support hand under the
Forearm.
• Trigger hand.
• Face firmly against the
stock with eye looking
straight down the sights.
• Align the position to
target.

17
 Prone Supported Position
 Feet and legs are flat on the
ground with the legs relaxed.
 Butt of the rifle in the shoulder
close to neck.
 Elbows on the ground to support
the rifle.
 Support hand under the Forearm.
 Trigger hand.
 Face firmly against the stock with
eye looking straight down the
sights.
 Align the position to target.

18
 Rifle Shooting Fundamentals

1. AIMING (sight alignment & sight picture)

2. BREATH CONTROL

3. HOLD CONTROL

4. TRIGGER CONTROL

5. FOLLOW-THROUGH

19
 FUNDAMENTALS “Aiming”
Notch Rear and Post Front Sight

FRONT SIGHT IS IN SHARP FOCUS

Sight Alignment

With Post-and-Notch sights:

The tops of the front and rear sights are
even Sight Picture
6 O'clock Hold on the Bullseye
The front post is centered in the rear
notch
 FUNDAMENTALS “Aiming”
Aperture Rear and Post Front Sight

FRONT SIGHT IS IN SHARP FOCUS

Sight Alignment
Sight Picture
Aperture Rear and Post Front Sight
6 O'clock Hold on the Bullseye
The tops of the front is center in the rear
sights aperture
 FUNDAMENTALS “Aiming”
Aperture Rear and Aperture Front Sight

FRONT SIGHT IS IN SHARP FOCUS

Sight Alignment
Aperture Rear and Post Front Sight Sight Picture
Bullseye is center in the front
The front aperture is center in the rear sight aperture
sights aperture
 FUNDAMENTALS “Aiming”
Scope

FOCUS ON THE TARGET

Sight Alignment
Sight Picture
Looking through the scope , You
see the whole scope tube (not just Cross Hairs are centered on
small hole in tube) the target
 Shooting Fundamentals
Breath Control

Body movement while breathing

can produce gun movement that
impairs shooting.

 Stop breathing momentarily while

firing the shot! (Respiratory pause)

24
 Shooting Fundamentals
Hold Control

Body movement affects the shot.

 Hold your body still.
 Hold control allows you to maintain the
proper sight picture and sight alignment
during the process of firing the shot.

25
 Shooting Fundamentals
Trigger Control

• Trigger is pulled straight to the rear in a

smooth, continuous manner without
disturbing the sight alignment.

• Gradually and evenly increasing pressure

until the mechanism releases.

SURPRISE yourself when the gun shoots.

26
 Shooting Fundamentals
Follow-Through

In Rifle Shooting:
Follow-through means to maintain
aiming (perfect sight alignment and
acceptable sight picture), breath
control, hold control, and trigger
control until the gun settles back
into the aiming area after firing.

27
 Shooting Fundamentals
The Fundamentals…A Review

1. “Maintaining perfect sight alignment and

acceptable sight picture.” –
AIMING

–
2. “Stop breathing.”BREATH CONTROL
3. “Holding still.”HOLD
– CONTROL
4. “Moving only your trigger finger.” –
TRIGGER CONTROL

5. “To maintain position, and continue aiming,

breath control, hold control, and trigger
control until the gun settles back into the
is fired.” –
aiming area after the shot FOLLOW-THROUGH

28
 Most Important
Fundamentals!
NOTE –
The TWO most IMPORTANT shooting
fundamentals are……..

 “Maintaining sight alignment” –

AIMING

 “Moving only the trigger finger” –

TRIGGER CONTROL

29
 Range Safety Briefing

NRA Safe Gun Handling Rules

 ALWAYS keep your gun pointed in a safe
direction.

 ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until

ready to shoot.

 ALWAYS keep your gun unloaded until ready to

use.

30
 Range Safety Briefing
Other Safety Rules
 Know your target and what is beyond
 Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate
 Never use alcohol or drugs before or while
shooting
 Be aware that certain types of guns and many
shooting activities require additional safety
precautions
Range Commands
 “Commence Firing”
 “Cease Firing”

31
 Questions

Do you have any questions

before we continue?

32
 BSA 30 Minute
Shotgun
Briefing
(Continued)
NO LIVE AMMUNITION
in the classroom
NO EXCEPTIONS!

33
 Shotgun Parts
Pump

Loading Bead Front

Rib Sight
Grip Port Chamber Barrel
Comb

Muzzle

Safety Trigger Magazine Forearm

Butt Trigger Guard Loading Port

Action Release

34
 Shotgun Parts
Semi-automtic

Loading Bead Front

Port Rib Sight
Grip Chamber Barrel
Comb

Muzzle
Butt Magazine Forearm
Safety Trigger Loading Port
Trigger Guard
Action Release

35
 Shotgun Parts
Break Action
Action
Release Upper
Bead Front
Safety Chambers Barrel
Rib Sight
Comb Grip

Muzzles
Forearm Lower
Trigger Barrel
Butt Trigger Guard

36
 Demonstrate Shotgun
Operation
Instructor demonstration only
 Loading with Dummy Ammo
 Cocking
 Firing “Dry-fire only” with Dummy
Ammo
 Unloading

37
 Shotgun Shooting Fundamentals

1. Stance
2. Hold Point
3. Mount
4. See the Target
5. Swing
6. Pull the Trigger
7. Follow Through
Scouts will be shooting straight
away targets

38
 Shotgun Shooting Fundamentals
Stance
• Stance aligned with target
breaking point.
• Feet about shoulder width
apart, with toes on lead
foot turned slightly
outward.
• Knee of the lead bent
slightly; back leg remains
straight.
• Approximately 60 % of
body weight on lead leg
and 40 % on rear leg.
• Stance comfortable and
balanced so that it may be
maintained before, during,
and after the shot. 39
 Shotgun Shooting Fundamentals
Hold Point
 Know where the target
will first appear and the direction
it will be traveling.
 Your hold point will be aligned just
under the flight path of target to
allow a clear view of where the
target will first appear.
 The shotgun is pointed at the hold
point, but the eyes are focused on
the area where the target will first
appear.

40
Shotgun Shooting Fundamentals
Mount
• The shotgun is
brought up to your
face to keep the head
erect level.

• The cheek is pressed

firmly against the
stock.

• The head is as far

forward on the comb
as possible without
straining the neck.

• The butt of the

shotgun is in the
pocket of the
shoulder. 41
 Shotgun Shooting Fundamentals
See the Target
 The target must be seen clearly
at the earliest point possible.
 You must be looking past the
beads and focusing on the field
of fire where the target is in
focus.
 The Sight Picture is the visual
relationship of the shotgun muzzle
to the target.
 When acquiring the sight picture,
the focus must be on the target.

42
 Shotgun Shooting Fundamentals Swing
• The swing begins with
the shotgun already
mounted on the
shoulder.

• When the target is

clearly seen, the
shotgun is pointed at
the target.

43
 Shotgun Shooting Fundamentals

Trigger Pull

• The trigger must be

pulled the instant the
sight picture is correct
(the target and the
muzzle meet) for
straight away targets.

44
 Shotgun Shooting Fundamentals

Follow Through
• Follow-through means
continuing to do everything
that was being done at the
time the shot was fired.

• The swing must continue if the

shot pellets are to hit the
target. The trigger is pulled
while the shotgun is moving,
and the gun must continue to
move after the shot is fired.

45
 Most Important
Fundamentals!

The most IMPORTANT shotgun shooting

fundamental is……..

 See the Target “Focus on the target”

You must learn to concentrate on the target.

46
 Range Safety Briefing

NRA Safe Gun Handling Rules

 ALWAYS keep your gun pointed in a safe
direction

 ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until

ready to shoot

 ALWAYS keep your gun unloaded until ready to

use

47
 Range Safety Briefing
Other Safety Rules
 Know your target and what is beyond
 Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate
 Never use alcohol or drugs before or while shooting
 Be aware that certain types of guns and many
shooting activities require additional safety
precautions
Range Commands
 “Commence Firing”
 “Cease Firing”
 “Pull”

48
 At The Shooting Station

One instructor will be at each firing point.

1. Watch straightaway target.

2. Point finger at the target all the way to the ground.
3. Point finger and say “bang” on touching target.
4. The instructor will hold the shotgun by the forearm.
5. Place your hands on the grip. When you have control of the
shotgun, say “Thank you” and the instructor will let go.
6. You will then Dry-fire. TAKE YOUR TIME. Focus on safety
and the shooting fundamentals. When you are comfortable,
tell the Instructor you are ready to shoot.
7. You will Live-fire the prescribed number of shoots.

49
 Questions

Do you have any questions

before you move to the Ready
Area?

50