,,mcrp #c-ja;,b ,pistol ,marksmanship ,illustration ,u4,s4 ,marine ,corps ,,distribution ,,statement ,a3 ,approved for public release2 distribution is unlimited4 ,,pcn #add #jjjach #jj ,to ,our ,readers ,changes3 ,readers of this publication are encouraged to submit suggestions and changes that will improve it4 ,recommendations may be sent directly to ,commanding ,general1 ,marine ,corps ,combat ,development ,command1 ,doctrine ,division 7,c #db71 #ccjj ,russell ,road1 ,suite #cah;,a1 ,quantico1 ,,va #bbacd-ejba or by fax to #gjc-ghd-biag 7,,dsn #bgh-biag7 or by ,e-mail to morgannmccdc4usmc4mil4 ,recommendations should include the following information3 ,location of change ,publication number and title ,current page number ,paragraph number 7if applicable7 ,line number ,figure or table number 7if applicable7 ,nature of change ,add1 delete ,proposed new text1 preferably double-spaced and typewritten ,justification and_/or source of change ,additional copies3 ,a printed copy of this publication may be obtained from ,marine ,corps ,logistics ,base1 ,albany1 ,,ga #cagjd-ejja1 by following the instructions in ,m,c,bul #efjj1 ,marine ,corps ,doctrinal ,publications ,status4 ,an electronic copy may be obtained from the ,doctrine ,division1 ,,mccdc1 world wide web home page which is found at the following universal reference locator3 http3_/_/www4doctrine4usmc4mil4 ,unless otherwise stated1 whenever the masculine gender is used1 both men and women are included4 ,,department ,,of ,,the ,,navy ,headquarters ,united ,states ,marine ,corps ,washington1 ,d4,c4 #bjchj-agge #be ,november #bjjc ,,foreword ,marines must have the versatility1 flexibility1 and skills to deal with any situation at any level of intensity across the entire range of military operations4 ,whenever the situation warrants the application of deadly force1 a ,marine must be able to deliver well-aimed shots to eliminate the threat4 ,a ,marine who is proficient in pistol marksmanship handles this challenge without escalating the level of violence or causing unnecessary collateral damage4 ,it is not enough to simply provide ,marines with the best available firearms2 we must also ensure that their training prepares them to deliver accurate fire against the enemy under the most adverse conditions without hesitancy1 fear1 or uncertainty of action4 ,a well-trained ,marine is confident that he can protect himself1 accomplish the mission1 and protect his fellow ,marines4 ,to be combat ready1 a ,marine must be skilled in the tactics1 techniques1 and procedures of pistol marksmanship and diligent in the proper care and maintenance of the ,m#i1 #i-mm service pistol4 ,marine ,corps ,reference ,publication 7,,mcrp7 #c-ja;,b1 ,pistol ,marksmanship1 is the ,marine ,corps' source document for pistol marksmanship and provides the doctrinal basis for ,marine ,corps pistol marksmanship training4 ,this publication provides all ,marines armed with a pistol with the tactics1 techniques1 and procedures for range and field firing the ,m#i1 #i-mm service pistol4 ,,mcrp #c-ja;,b supersedes the discussion of pistol marksmanship in ,fleet ,marine ,force ,manual 7,,fmfm7 #j-h1 ,basic ,marksmanship4 ,reviewed and approved this date4 ,,by ,,direction ,,of ,,the ,,commandant ,,of ,,the ,,marine ,,corps ,,edward ,,hanlon1 ,,jr4 ,lieutenant ,general1 ,u4,s4 ,marine ,corps ,commanding ,general ,marine ,corps ,combat ,development ,command ,publication ,control ,number3 #add #jjjach #jj ,distribution ,a3 ,approved for public release2 distribution is unlimited4 ,,table ,,of ,,contents ,chapter #a4 ,the ,m#i ,service ,pistol ,functional ,capabilities #a-a ,single-,action ,mode #a-a ,double-,action ,mode #a-a ,nomenclature #a-a ,major ,components #a-a ,slide ,assembly #a-a ,safety ,features #a-c ,decocking_/,safety ,lever #a-c ,firing ,pin ,block #a-c ,half-,cock ,notch #a-d ,cycle of ,operation #a-d ,firing #a-d ,unlocking #a-d ,extracting #a-d ,ejecting #a-d ,cocking #a-e ,feeding #a-e ,chambering #a-e ,locking #a-e ,ammunition #a-f ,wearing of the ,m#i ,service ,pistol's ,gear #a-f ,m#ab ,holster #a-f ,m#a ,ammunition ,pocket #a-g ,m#g ,shoulder ,holster #a-g ,assault ,holster #a-g ,concealed ,pistol ,holster #a-g ,lanyard #a-aj ,firing the ,m#i ,service ,pistol ,while ,wearing ,gloves #a-aj ,preventive ,maintenance #a-aa ,pistol ,disassembly #a-aa ,disassembly of the ,magazine #a-ab ,inspection of the ,pistol #a-ac ,cleaning and ,lubricating the ,pistol #a-ac ,pistol ,re-assembly #a-ad ,pistol ,magazine ,re-assembly #a-ad ,safety_/,function ,check #a-ad ,user ,serviceability ,inspection #a-ae ,pistol ,maintenance in ,adverse ,conditions #a-ae ,extreme ,cold #a-ae ,hot1 ,wet ,climates #a-ae ,hot1 ,dry ,climates #a-af ,heavy ,rain and ,fording ,operations #a-af ,amphibious ,conditions #a-af ,chapter #b4 ,weapons ,handling ,safety ,rules #b-a ,weapons ,conditions #b-b ,determining a ,weapon's ,condition #b-b ,checking the ,round ,indicator #b-b ,conducting a ,chamber ,check #b-b ,weapons ,commands #b-c ,loading the ,pistol #b-d ,making the ,pistol ,ready #b-e ,fire #b-e ,cease ,fire #b-f ,unloading the ,pistol #b-f ,unloading and ,showing the ,pistol ,clear #b-g ,emptying the ,magazine #b-g ,filling the ,magazine #b-g ,reloading the ,pistol #b-h ,dry ,reload #b-h ,condition #a ,reload #b-aa ,reloading ,considerations #b-ab ,remedial ,action #b-ac ,stoppage #b-ac ,malfunction #b-ac ,remedial ,action #b-ac ,audible ,pop or ,reduced ,recoil #b-ad ,weapons ,carries #b-ae ,alert #b-ae ,ready #b-af ,weapons ,transports #b-af ,holster ,transport #b-af ,administrative ,transport #b-ag ,combat ,mindset #b-ag ,physical and ,mental ,preparation #b-ah ,threat ,levels #b-ah ,transferring the ,pistol #b-ai ,show ,clear ,transfer #b-ai ,condition ,unknown ,transfer #b-bj ,chapter #c4 ,fundamentals of ,pistol ,marksmanship ,aiming #c-a ,sight ,alignment #c-a ,establishing ,sight ,alignment #c-a ,sight ,picture #c-a ,relationship ,between the ,eye and the ,sights #c-b ,trigger ,control #c-b ,sight ,alignment and ,trigger ,control #c-b ,grip #c-b ,trigger ,finger ,placement #c-c ,types of ,trigger ,control #c-c ,breath ,control #c-c ,application of ,marksmanship ,fundamentals in ,field ,firing #c-c ,compression of ,fundamentals #c-c ,aiming #c-d ,trigger ,control #c-d ,breath ,control #c-d ,chapter #d4 ,pistol ,firing ,positions and ,grip ,pistol ,firing ,position #d-a ,mobility #d-a ,observation of the ,enemy #d-a ,stability #d-a ,pistol ,firing ,grip #d-b ,before ,firing3 ,stabilize the ,sights #d-b ,during ,firing3 ,allow ,trigger ,control #d-b ,after ,firing3 ,manage ,recoil #d-b ,withdrawing the ,pistol ,from the ,holster #d-c ,weaver and ,isosceles ,variations #d-d ,standing ,position #d-e ,weaver ,standing ,position #d-e ,isosceles ,standing ,position #d-g ,kneeling ,position #d-g ,weaver ,kneeling ,position #d-h ,isosceles ,kneeling ,position #d-i ,prone ,position #d-aj ,weaver ,prone ,position #d-aj ,isosceles ,prone ,position #d-ab ,natural ,body ,alignment #d-ac ,chapter #e4 ,use of ,cover and ,concealment ,cover ,materials #e-a ,dirt #e-a ,cinder ,blocks #e-a ,trees1 ,logs1 and ,telephone ,poles #e-a ,sandbags #e-a ,considerations for ,firing ,from ,cover #e-b ,adjusting the ,firing ,position #e-b ,applying the ,weaver and ,isosceles ,variations #e-b ,keeping the ,body ,behind ,cover #e-b ,providing ,support for the ,position and the ,pistol #e-c ,changing ,positions #e-e ,moving #e-e ,supported ,firing ,positions #e-e ,supported ,prone #e-f ,supported ,kneeling #e-f ,supported ,standing #e-f ,locate and ,engage ,targets ,from ,behind ,cover #e-g ,pie ,technique #e-g ,rollout ,technique #e-h ,combining the ,pie and ,rollout ,techniques #e-h ,chapter #f4 ,presentation of the ,m#i ,service ,pistol ,sight ,alignment_/,sight ,picture #f-a ,presentation ,from the ,carries and ,holsters #f-a ,presentation ,from the ,ready #f-a ,presentation ,from the ,alert #f-a ,presentation ,from a ,holster ,transport #f-b ,presentation ,while ,assuming the ,kneeling ,position #f-g ,from the ,ready #f-g ,from the ,alert 7,arms ,straight7 #f-g ,from the ,alert 7,close ,quarters1 ,elbows ,bent7 #f-h ,from the ,holster ,transport #f-h ,presentation ,while ,assuming the ,prone ,position #f-h ,isosceles ,prone #f-h ,weaver ,prone #f-h ,search and ,assess #f-h ,chapter #g4 ,pistol ,engagement ,techniques ,target ,detection #g-a ,movement #g-a ,sound #g-a ,improper ,camouflage #g-a ,techniques of ,fire #g-b ,double and ,single ,action ,firing #g-b ,single ,action or ,double ,action ,firing ,factors #g-b ,two-,shot ,technique #g-c ,slow ,fire ,technique #g-c ,re-engagement ,techniques #g-c ,slow ,fire ,technique #g-c ,two-,shot ,technique #g-d ,offset ,aiming #g-d ,multiple ,targets #g-d ,combat ,mindset #g-d ,prioritizing ,targets #g-e ,engaging ,multiple ,targets #g-e ,moving ,targets #g-f ,types of ,moving ,targets #g-f ,leads for ,moving ,targets #g-g ,methods of ,engagement #g-g ,applying the ,fundamentals of ,marksmanship #g-h ,chapter #h4 ,one-,handed ,techniques ,presentation and ,shooting #h-a ,adjustment of the ,standing ,position #h-a ,searching and ,assessing ,after ,firing #h-b ,reloading #h-b ,dry ,reload #h-b ,condition #a ,reload #h-d ,remedial ,action #h-e ,presentation ,from the ,holster ,with the ,weak ,hand #h-g ,method ,one3 ,pistol ,rotation #h-g ,method ,two3 ,hand ,rotation #h-h ,method ,three3 ,knee ,placement #h-i ,transferring the ,pistol ,from ,one ,hand to the ,other #h-aj ,chapter #i4 ,advanced ,techniques ,shooting on the ,move #i-a ,moving ,with the ,pistol #i-a ,moving3 ,the ,glide ,technique #i-a ,engaging ,targets3 ,using the ,pistol ,sights #i-a ,continuing to ,move #i-b ,reloading and ,stoppages #i-b ,turn and ,fire #i-b ,engaging ,targets #ij ,degrees to the ,right and ,left #i-b ,engaging ,targets #ahj ,degrees to the ,rear #i-c ,chapter #aj4 ,low ,light and ,darkness ,techniques ,combat ,mindset #aj-a ,night ,vision ,adaptation and ,maintenance #aj-a ,night ,vision ,adaptation #aj-a ,night ,vision ,maintenance #aj-a ,target ,detection ,techniques #aj-a ,off-,center ,vision #aj-b ,scanning_/,figure ,eight ,scan #aj-b ,effects of ,illumination #aj-b ,acquiring ,targets at ,night #aj-c ,sight ,alignment_/,sight ,picture #aj-c ,flashlights #aj-c ,types of ,flashlights #aj-c ,activation ,devices #aj-c ,types of ,lenses #aj-c ,target ,detection #aj-d ,target ,engagement #aj-e ,,chapter #a ,,the ,m#i ,,service ,,pistol ,the ,marine ,corps' uses the ,m#i service pistol as a defensive weapon4 ,it is a semiautomatic1 magazine-fed1 recoil-operated1 double-action pistol4 ,the ,m#i service pistol's magazine holds #ae rounds and is chambered with a #i-mm ball 7,,nato ,m#hhb round74 ,the ,m#i service pistol has a maximum effective range of #ej meters 7#ed4g yards74 ,note3 ,the procedures in this chapter are written for right-handed ,marines2 left-handed ,marines reverse instructions as necessary4 ,functional ,capabilities ,when the ,m#i service pistol's safety lever is moved to the firing position1 it can be fired in either a single-action or double-action mode4 ,it is designed to fire one round each time the trigger is pulled4 ,when the last round is fired1 the slide automatically locks to the rear4 ,single-,action ,mode ,the single-action mode allows the pistol to be fired when the hammer is cocked2 single action requires the hammer to be cocked to the rear before the trigger is pulled4 ,the hammer can be manually cocked or mechanically cocked4 ,the hammer is mechanically cocked after the first shot is fired4 ,see figure #a-a4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-a4 ,single-,action ,mode4 ,double-,action ,mode ,the double-action mode causes the hammer to move to the rear as the trigger is being pulled4 ,see figure #a-b4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-b4 ,double-,action ,mode4 ,nomenclature ,see figure #a-c on page #a-b4 ,major ,components ,the ,m#i's major components consist of the slide assembly1 barrel assembly1 and receiver4 ,see figure #a-d on page #a-c4 ,slide ,assembly ,the slide assembly houses the firing pin1 firing pin block1 striker1 extractor1 and loaded chamber indicator1 and it cocks the hammer during recoil4 ,extractor ,the extractor pulls the brass from the chamber after the round is fired4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-c4 ,m#i ,service ,pistol4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-d4 ,major ,components4 ,loaded ,chamber ,indicator ,when a round is in the chamber1 the upper surface of the loaded chamber indicator protrudes from the right side of the slide4 ,this protrusion can be felt with the finger1 verifying that there is a round in the chamber4 ,barrel ,assembly ,the barrel assembly houses the round for firing1 directs the projectile1 and locks the barrel in position during firing4 ,receiver ,the receiver supports the major components1 controls the functioning of the pistol1 and holds the magazine in place4 ,the front and back straps of the grip are grooved vertically to ensure that the hand does not slip while firing4 ,the receiver consists of the disassembly button1 slide stop1 and magazine catch assembly4 ,disassembly ,button ,the disassembly button permits quick disassembly of the pistol4 ,slide ,stop ,the slide stop holds the slide to the rear after the last round is fired4 ,it can also be manually operated to lock the slide to the rear or release the slide4 ,magazine ,catch ,assembly 7,magazine ,release ,button7 ,the magazine catch assembly secures the magazine in place when loading1 and it releases the magazine from the pistol when unloading4 ,the magazine catch assembly is designed for both right- and left-handed ,marines4 ,note3 ,reversal of the magazine catch assembly for left-handed ,marines can be performed by a qualified armorer4 ,safety ,features ,the safety features of the ,m#i service pistol include the decocking_/safety lever1 firing pin block1 and half-cock notch4 ,decocking_/,safety ,lever ,the decocking_/safety lever1 commonly referred to as the safety1 permits safe operation of the pistol by both right- and left-handed ,marines4 ,as the safety is moved to the safe 7down7 position1 the firing pin striker moves out of alignment with the firing pin4 ,this movement prevents the pistol from firing as the hammer moves forward4 ,note3 ,in the fire 7up7 position1 a red dot is visible1 indicating that the pistol is ready to fire4 ,firing ,pin ,block ,the firing pin block rests in the firing pin notch and prevents movement of the firing pin until the trigger is pulled4 ,as the trigger is pulled1 the firing pin block moves up and out of the firing pin notch4 ,this movement allows a round to be fired when the hammer strikes the firing pin4 ,half-,cock ,notch ,the half-cock notch stops the forward movement of the hammer during a mechanical failure4 ,cycle of ,operation ,there are eight steps in the cycle of operation for the ,m#i service pistol4 ,firing ,once the safety is off and the trigger is pulled to the rear1 the hammer falls on the firing pin1 which strikes the primer and ignites the round4 ,see figure #a-e4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-e4 ,firing4 ,unlocking ,as the slide assembly moves to the rear1 the locking block rotates out of the notches in the slide4 ,see figure #a-f4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-f4 ,unlocking4 ,extracting ,as the slide moves rearward1 the extractor withdraws the cartridge case out of the chamber4 ,see figure #a-g4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-g4 ,extracting4 ,ejecting ,as the face of the slide passes over the ejector1 the case strikes the ejector and it is knocked upward and outward through the ejection port4 ,see figure #a-h4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-h4 ,ejecting4 ,cocking ,as the slide moves rearward1 the hammer is pushed back1 allowing the sear to engage the hammer hooks1 cock the hammer to the rear1 and place the pistol in the single-action mode4 ,see figure #a-i4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-i4 ,cocking4 ,feeding ,the slide starts forward1 pushed by the recoil spring4 ,the face of the slide makes contact with the cartridge at the top of the magazine1 stripping it from the magazine and pushing it toward the chamber4 ,see figure #a-aj4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-aj4 ,feeding4 ,chambering ,as the slide continues forward1 it pushes the cartridge into the chamber4 ,see figure #a-aa4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-aa4 ,chambering4 ,locking ,as the slide assembly continues to move forward1 the locking block lugs move into the locking block recesses on the right and left sides of the slide4 ,see figure #a-ab on page #a-f4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-ab4 ,locking4 ,ammunition ,the only ammunition authorized for the ,m#i service pistol is the ,,nato ,m#hhb #i-mm ball4 ,dummy ammunition can be used during training 7a dummy round has a hole drilled in its side and contains no primer74 ,see figure #a-ac4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-ac4 ,m#i ,service ,pistol ,ammunition4 ,do not open ammunition containers until the ammunition is to be used4 ,ammunition must be maintained in a high state of readiness4 ,to care for ammunition-- ,keep ammunition dry and clean4 ,if ammunition gets wet or dirty1 wipe it off with a clean dry cloth4 ,wipe off light corrosion as soon as it is discovered4 ,never use ammunition that is heavily corroded1 dented1 or has the projectile pushed in4 ,do not expose ammunition to direct sunlight for long periods of time4 ,do not oil or grease ammunition4 ,dust or other abrasives can collect on greasy ammunition and may cause damage to the operating parts of the pistol4 ,oiled cartridges also produce excessive chamber pressure4 ,wearing of the ,m#i ,service ,pistol's ,gear ,the proper placement of pistol gear helps ensure safety and aids the ,marine in effectively handling and employing the pistol4 ,m#ab ,holster ,the ,m#ab holster consists of the holster1 removable holster flap1 and metal retaining clip4 ,to check for proper placement of the holster1 allow the right arm to hang freely4 ,the holster should be slightly in front of the arm to permit easy access to the pistol upon presentation from the holster4 ,see figure #a-ad4 ,note3 ,in most cases1 the holster is issued with the holster flap installed for a right-handed ,marine4 ,to convert the holster for a left-handed ,marine1 remove the metal retaining clip and install the clip on the opposite side of the holster4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-ad4 ,the ,m#ab ,holster and ,ammunition ,pocket4 ,m#a ,ammunition ,pocket ,the ammunition pocket attaches to the cartridge belt on the side opposite the holster in a position that best permits ready access for reloads4 ,the magazine is stored in the ammunition pocket with the rounds down and pointed inboard4 ,m#g ,shoulder ,holster ,the ,m#g shoulder holster consists of a holster with a thumb snap closure1 shoulder strap1 chest strap1 and a belt retaining loop4 ,the holster is positioned on the left side of the chest to provide easy and quick access with the right hand4 ,see figure #a-ae4 ,the ,m#g holster comes fully assembled and has adjustable straps to accommodate each ,marine's body size4 ,the holster is available for right-handed ,marines only1 therefore1 a left-handed ,marine has to withdraw the pistol from the holster with the right hand and then transfer the pistol to the left hand before firing4 7,see chap4 #h for transferring the pistol from one hand to the other47 ,when the shoulder holster is worn properly-- ,the shoulder strap lays flat across the left shoulder with the shoulder pad directly on top of the shoulder4 ,the chest strap attaches to the ,d-ring at the top of the holster and runs diagonally across the chest1 underneath the right arm1 and around the back where it attaches to the end of the shoulder strap4 ,the belt retaining loop is at the bottom of the holster and attaches to the belt to stabilize the holster's position4 ,the ammunition pocket attaches to the chest strap directly underneath the right arm4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-ae4 ,m#g ,shoulder ,holster4 ,assault ,holster ,some ,marines 7i4e41 ,marine security force1 direct action platoon1 and military police7 are required to carry the assault holster4 ,this holster has a retention strap that fastens over the top of the holster to retain the pistol4 ,this type of holster generally has a thumb break on the retention strap that is disengaged to access the pistol4 ,see figure #a-af4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-af4 ,assault ,holster4 ,concealed ,pistol ,holster ,some ,marines are required to carry a concealed pistol as part of their official duties4 ,the primary consideration for placement of a concealed pistol holster is to ensure the pistol cannot be seen2 therefore1 the ,marine must consider the type of clothing to be worn4 ,a secondary consideration is to place the holster so the pistol can be presented easily4 ,typically1 the best position for a concealed holster is just behind the strong side hip4 ,this position best conceals the pistol while allowing it to be presented quickly4 ,another placement choice is in a shoulder holster1 placing the pistol just under the weak side arm4 ,see figures #a-ag through #a-bj on pages #a-h and #a-i4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-ag4 ,wearing of the ,concealed ,pistol ,holster--,utilities4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-ah4 ,wearing of the ,concealed ,pistol--,sweater4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-ai4 ,wearing of the ,concealed ,pistol ,holster--,jacket4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-bj4 ,wearing of the ,concealed ,pistol ,holster--,civilian ,attire4 ,lanyard ,the lanyard aids in pistol retention4 ,it is issued in three sizes and is adjustable4 ,the lanyard consists of a fabric cord1 two cylindrical slip rings1 and a metal clip that attaches the lanyard to the pistol's lanyard loop4 ,see figure #a-ba4 ,to don the lanyard-- ,adjust the slip rings so they are positioned flush with the lanyard's base 7clip end74 ,place the right arm through the loop and place the loop over the head1 resting on the left shoulder4 ,attach metal clip to the pistol's lanyard loop4 ,place the pistol in the holster4 ,use the left hand to hold the bottom slip ring against the base of the lanyard4 ,use the right hand to slide the top slip ring upward to position the loop of the lanyard under the arm4 ,the lanyard should fit snugly against the body1 but not restrict the ,marine's movements4 ,tuck any excess cord behind the holster4 ,ensure that the lanyard is adjusted properly by removing the pistol from the holster and fully extending the right arm4 ,the lanyard should be taut4 ,adjust as necessary4 ,note3 ,re-adjust the lanyard if any equipment changes are made 7e4g41 flak jacket74 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-ba4 ,m#i ,service ,pistol 7,with ,lanyard74 ,firing the ,m#i ,service ,pistol ,while ,wearing ,gloves ,not all combat engagements occur during ideal weather conditions4 ,during cold weather1 the ,marine may find it necessary to wear gloves to protect the fingers from frostbite and help prevent stiffening of the hands4 ,gloves may also be worn in mission-oriented protective posture conditions4 ,gloves provide protection to the hands1 however1 they also may interfere with the ,marine's ability to engage targets effectively4 ,the added bulk of the gloves may affect the ,marine's ability to manipulate the safety1 magazine release button1 magazine1 hammer1 and slide stop_/release4 ,for example1 the ,marine may need to exert more pressure to engage the magazine release or slide release buttons to compensate for the thickness of the gloves4 ,the principles of target engagement 7see chap4 #g7 do not change while wearing gloves1 however1 the specific ability to manipulate and control the trigger is greatly affected by the thickness of the gloves around the fingers4 ,wearing gloves reduces the ,marine's ability to feel1 which makes it difficult to apply trigger control when firing4 ,the ,marine may find that more pressure than normal must be applied with the trigger finger just to establish initial contact with the trigger4 ,once the ,marine can 8feel0 the trigger through the gloves1 then the pressure required to fire a shot can be applied4 ,this action may increase the chances of firing the pistol prematurely due to excessive pressure on the trigger4 ,dry firing while wearing gloves allows the ,marine to learn how to apply trigger control consistently and determines how much pressure is needed to effectively fire a shot4 ,while wearing gloves1 the ,marine may find it difficult to fire the pistol in the double-action mode due to the position of the trigger and the limited amount of space between the trigger and the trigger guard4 ,therefore1 if the situation permits1 the ,marine may wish to thumbcock the pistol to fire in single-action mode4 ,in single-action mode1 there is more space between the trigger guard and the trigger1 making it easier to position the finger on the trigger4 ,however1 the ,marine's ability to thumbcock the pistol may also be hindered by the gloves' bulk4 ,therefore1 to thumbcock the pistol while wearing gloves1 the ,marine may perform one of the following methods3 ,for method one1 loop a section of #eej cord 7approximately #b inches7 through the loop located on the top rear portion of the hammer4 ,the length of the cord should not interfere with the pistol's cycle of operation or with the ,marine's ability to establish sight alignment4 ,once the cord is attached to the hammer1 take the pistol off safe and pull downward on the cord to cock the hammer4 ,see figure #a-bb4 ,for method two1 take the pistol off safe1 rotate the pistol inboard1 and place the top of the hammer against a secure surface 7e4g41 cartridge belt1 table top1 heel of boot74 ,apply pressure on the pistol to keep the hammer in place and push downward on the pistol in one continuous motion to cock the hammer4 ,see figure #a-bc4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-bb4 ,cocking the ,pistol with #eej ,cord4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-bc4 ,cocking the ,pistol on a ,secure ,surface4 ,preventive ,maintenance ,if the ,m#i service pistol is to be effective1 it must be maintained in a state of operational readiness at all times2 therefore1 maintenance of the ,m#i service pistol is a continuous effort4 ,a clean1 properly lubricated1 well-maintained pistol will fire when needed4 ,pistol ,disassembly ,before disassembling the ,m#i service pistol1 ensure that the pistol is in ,condition #d4 ,the pistol is in ,condition #d when the magazine is removed1 the chamber is empty1 the slide is forward1 and the safety is on4 ,to disassemble the pistol1 perform the following steps in sequence3 ,hold the pistol in the right hand with the muzzle slightly elevated4 ,reach over the slide with the left hand and place the left index finger on the disassembly button and the left thumb on the disassembly lever4 ,press the disassembly button and hold it in place while rotating the disassembly lever downward until it stops4 ,note3 ,a left-handed ,marine places the right thumb on the disassembly button and the right index finger on the disassembly lever4 ,pull the slide and barrel assembly forward and remove it while wrapping the fingers around the slide to hold the recoil spring and recoil spring guide in place4 ,turn the slide assembly over in the left hand until the recoil spring and recoil spring guide face up4 ,place the right thumb on the end of the recoil spring guide next to the locking block and compress the recoil spring and spring guide while lifting and removing them from the slide and barrel assembly4 ,see figure #a-bd4 ,allow the recoil spring to decompress slowly4 ,separate the recoil spring from the recoil spring guide4 ,push in on the locking block plunger with the right index finger while pushing the barrel forward slightly4 ,lift and remove the locking block and barrel assembly from the slide4 ,a ,marine is not authorized to disassemble the pistol any further than the preceding steps4 ,any further disassembly must be performed by ordnance personnel4 ,see figure #a-be4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-bd4 ,removing the ,recoil ,spring and ,recoil ,spring ,guide4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-be4 ,disassembled ,m#i ,service ,pistol4 ,disassembly of the ,magazine ,to disassemble the magazine1 perform the following steps3 ,grip the magazine firmly in the left hand with the floorplate up and the thumb resting against the flat end of the floorplate4 ,release the floorplate by pushing down 7with a blunt object2 e4g41 an ink pen7 on the floorplate retainer stud in the center of the floorplate4 ,at the same time1 slide the floorplate a short distance forward with the thumb4 ,maintain the magazine spring pressure with the thumb and remove the floorplate from the magazine4 ,remove the floorplate retainer and magazine spring and follower from the magazine tube4 ,see figure #a-bf4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a-bf4 ,disassembled ,magazine4 ,inspection of the ,pistol ,once the pistol has been disassembled1 it must be thoroughly inspected to ensure it is in a serviceable condition4 ,pistol inspection is continuous during the pistol's cleaning and re-assembly3 ,slide ,assembly ,check for free movement of the safety4 ,ensure the rear sight is secure4 ,barrel ,assembly ,inspect the bore and chamber for pitting or obstructions4 ,check the locking block plunger for free movement of the locking block4 ,inspect the locking lugs for cracks and burrs4 ,recoil ,spring and ,recoil ,spring ,guide ,check the recoil spring for damage4 ,check that it is not bent4 ,check the recoil spring guide for straightness and smoothness4 ,check to be sure it is free of cracks and burrs4 ,receiver ,assembly ,check for bends1 chips1 and cracks4 ,check for free movement of the slide stop and magazine catch assembly4 ,check the guide rails for excessive wear1 burrs1 cracks1 or chips4 ,magazine ,assembly ,check the spring and follower for damage4 ,ensure the lips of the magazine are not excessively bent and are free of cracks and burrs4 ,the magazine tube should not be bent or dirty4 ,cleaning and ,lubricating the ,pistol ,only authorized cleaning materials should be used to clean and lubricate the pistol4 ,if these items are not issued with the pistol1 they may be obtained from the armory4 ,the following procedures are used to clean and lubricate the pistol-- ,slide ,assembly ,clean the slide assembly with a cloth4 ,a general purpose brush and cleaning lubricant protectant 7,,clp7 can also assist in the removal of excess dirt and carbon buildup4 ,ensure the safety1 bolt face1 slide guides1 and extractor are free of dirt and residue4 ,wipe dry with a cloth and apply a light coat of ,,clp4 ,barrel ,assembly ,insert a bore brush with ,,clp into the chamber end of the barrel1 ensuring that it completely clears the muzzle before it is pulled back through the bore4 ,caution ,insert the bore brush through the chamber to prevent damage to the crown of the barrel4 ,repeat several times to loosen carbon deposits4 ,dry the barrel by pushing a swab through the bore4 ,repeat until a clean swab can be observed4 ,clean the locking block with a general purpose brush4 ,use the barrel brush to apply a light coat of ,,clp to the bore and chamber area and lubricate the exterior surfaces of the barrel and locking block4 ,recoil ,spring and ,recoil ,spring ,guide ,clean the recoil spring and recoil spring guide using ,,clp and a general purpose brush or cloth4 ,apply a light coat of ,,clp after wiping the recoil spring and recoil spring guide clean4 ,receiver ,wipe the receiver assembly clean with a cloth4 ,use a general purpose brush for areas that are hard to reach1 paying special attention to the disassembly lever1 trigger1 slide stop1 hammer1 and magazine release button4 ,apply a light coat of ,,clp4 ,caution ,do not allow the hammer to fall with full force by pulling the trigger when the slide is removed4 ,this can damage the receiver and hammer4 ,magazine ,clean the magazine tube and follower with ,,clp and a general purpose brush4 ,wipe the magazine spring1 floorplate retainer1 and floorplate clean with a cloth4 ,apply a light coat of ,,clp4 ,pistol ,re-assembly ,after the ,m#i service pistol has been cleaned and lubricated1 it must be properly re-assembled to ensure its serviceability4 ,to re-assemble the ,m#i service pistol-- ,use the left hand to grasp the slide with the bottom facing up and the muzzle pointing toward the body4 ,use the right hand to grasp the barrel assembly with the locking block facing up4 ,use the index finger to push in the locking block plunger while placing the thumb on the base of the locking block4 ,insert the muzzle of the barrel assembly into the forward open end of the slide4 ,at the same time1 lower the rear of the barrel assembly by slightly moving the barrel downward4 ,the locking block should fall into the notches of the slide assembly4 ,slip the recoil spring guide into the recoil spring4 ,insert the end of the recoil spring and recoil spring guide into the slide recoil spring housing4 ,at the same time1 compress the recoil spring and lower the spring guide until it is fully seated onto the locking block cutaway4 ,use the left hand to grasp the slide and barrel assembly1 sights up1 and wrap the fingers around the slide assembly to hold the recoil spring and guide in place4 ,align the slide assembly guide rails onto the receiver assembly guide rails4 ,push the slide rearward while pushing up on the slide stop with the thumb4 ,lock the slide to the rear while maintaining upward pressure on the slide stop4 ,rotate the disassembly lever upward4 ,listen for a click1 an audible click indicates a positive lock4 ,pistol ,magazine ,re-assembly ,to re-assemble the magazine-- ,grip the magazine firmly in the left hand with the floorplate end up and the counting holes facing the ,marine4 ,insert the follower into the magazine so the flat end of the follower is against the flat end of the magazine4 ,ensure the floorplate retainer is attached to the first curve of the bottom coil4 ,hold the spring upright with the right hand and insert the spring into the magazine tube so that the flat end of the floorplate retainer is against the flat end of the magazine4 ,push the magazine spring and floorplate retainer down with the right hand and hold it in place with the thumb of the left hand4 ,use the right hand to slide the floorplate over the side walls of the magazine until fully seated1 which is indicated by an audible click4 ,safety_/,function ,check ,a safety_/function check is performed after reassembling the ,m#i service pistol4 ,perform the following steps to ensure the pistol is operational3 ,ensure there is no ammunition in the chamber of the pistol4 ,ensure that the safety is in the safe position1 then depress the slide stop1 allowing the slide to return fully forward4 ,at the same time1 the hammer should fall to the full forward position4 ,pull and release the trigger4 ,the firing pin block should move up and down but the hammer should not move4 ,place the safety in the fire position4 ,pull the trigger to check the double action4 ,the hammer should cock and fall4 ,pull the trigger again and hold it to the rear4 ,use the fingers and thumb of the left hand to grasp the serrated sides of the slide just forward of the safety4 ,pull the slide to its rearmost position and release it while holding the trigger to the rear4 ,release the trigger1 a click should be heard and the hammer should not fall4 ,pull the trigger to check the single action4 ,the hammer should fall4 ,place the safety in the safe position4 ,if the safety_/function check does not indicate an operational pistol1 the ,marine takes the pistol to organizational maintenance or the next authorized repair level4 ,user ,serviceability ,inspection ,the ,marine is responsible for performing a user serviceability inspection on the pistol prior to live fire4 ,the user serviceability inspection ensures the pistol is in an acceptable operating condition4 ,this inspection is not intended to replace the detailed pistol components inspection following disassembly or the limited technical inspection or pre-fire inspection conducted by a qualified armorer4 ,to conduct a user serviceability inspection on the pistol1 perform the following steps3 ,ensure the magazine release button is on the left side of the pistol for a right-handed ,marine1 the right side of the pistol for a left-handed ,marine4 ,ensure the magazine seats into the magazine well when it is inserted and that it cannot be pulled out4 ,ensure the slide stays locked to the rear when the slide is pulled rearward with an empty magazine in the pistol4 ,ensure the magazine falls out freely when the magazine release button is depressed4 ,repeat the preceding four steps with the second magazine4 ,ensure the slide is locked to the rear before lubricating the spring guide1 the top of the barrel just forward of the front sight1 and the guide rails of the slide assembly behind the safety4 ,with the muzzle pointed downward1 work the slide several times and release4 ,inspect the pistol's external parts visually to ensure that there are no cracks or excessive wear4 ,perform a safety_/function check of the pistol4 ,pistol ,maintenance in ,adverse ,conditions ,combat situations can place ,marines in a variety of adverse conditions4 ,therefore1 the ,m#i service pistol must be maintained properly to ensure its continued operation4 ,extreme ,cold ,in extreme cold conditions1 ensure that the following maintenance is performed3 ,clean and lubricate the pistol inside at room temperature1 if possible4 ,apply a light coat of lubricant1 arctic weather 7,,law7 to all functional parts4 ,always keep the pistol dry4 ,keep the pistol covered when moving from a warm to a cold area4 ,this permits gradual cooling of the pistol and prevents freezing4 ,ensure that a hot pistol is not placed in snow or on ice4 ,keep snow out of the bore of the barrel4 ,if snow should enter the bore1 use a swab and cleaning rod to clean the bore before firing4 ,hot1 ,wet ,climates ,maintenance in hot1 wet climates must be performed more frequently3 ,inspect hidden surfaces for corrosion4 ,if corrosion is found1 clean and lubricate4 ,remove handprints with a clean cloth in order to prevent corrosion4 ,dry the pistol with a cloth and lubricate it with ,,clp4 ,check ammunition and magazines frequently for corrosion4 ,disassemble and clean the magazines with ,,clp and wipe dry with a clean cloth4 ,if necessary1 clean ammunition with a dry cloth4 ,hot1 ,dry ,climates ,in a hot1 dry climate1 dust and sand can cause stoppages and excessive wear on component contact surfaces during firing2 therefore1 keep the pistol covered whenever possible4 ,corrosion is less likely to form on metal parts in a dry climate4 ,therefore1 lightly lubricate internal working surfaces with ,,clp4 ,do not lubricate external parts of the pistol4 ,wipe excess lubricant from exposed surfaces4 ,do not lubricate internal components of the magazine4 ,heavy ,rain and ,fording ,operations ,the following maintenance procedures are followed during periods of heavy rains or during fording operations3 ,always attempt to keep the pistol dry4 ,drain any water from the barrel prior to firing4 ,dry the bore with a swab and cleaning rod4 ,generously lubricate internal and external surfaces of the pistol with ,,clp4 ,amphibious ,conditions ,if the pistol comes into contact with salt water1 clean the pistol as soon as possible4 ,if time does not permit cleaning in accordance with ,technical ,manual 7,,tm7 #ajje;,a-#aj_/a1 ,operator's ,manual1 ,pistol ,semiautomatic1 #imm1 ,m#i1 then wash the pistol with fresh water4 ,,chapter #b ,,weapons ,,handling ,weapons handling is a method of providing consistent and standardized procedures for handling1 operating1 and employing the ,m#i service pistol4 ,understanding and applying the principles of weapons handling are critical to developing safe and consistent weapons skills4 ,strict adherence to training and diligent practice will make weapons handling instinctive4 ,mission accomplishment and survival during combat depend on a ,marine's ability to react instinctively and with confidence4 ,note3 ,the procedures in this chapter are written for right-handed ,marines2 left-handed ,marines should reverse directions as needed4 ,safety ,rules ,the following safety rules are the foundation for responsible weapons handling4 ,they must be observed at all times1 both in training and combat4 ,safety ,rules ,rule #a3 ,treat every weapon as if it were loaded4 ,this rule is intended to prevent unintentional injury to personnel or damage to property from handling or transferring possession of a weapon4 ,rule #b3 ,never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot4 ,this rule enforces the importance of muzzle awareness and reinforces positive identification of the target4 ,rule #c3 ,keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire4 ,this rule is intended to minimize the risk of firing the weapon negligently 7when not firing1 the trigger finger is straight along the receiver1 outside of the trigger guard74 ,this rule also reinforces positive identification of the target4 ,rule #d3 ,keep weapon on safe until you intend to fire4 ,this rule enforces the use of the weapon's own safety feature and reinforces positive identification of the target4 ,weapons ,conditions ,the ,m#i service pistol's level of readiness is defined by three specific conditions4 ,the steps in the loading and unloading process take the pistol through the specific conditions that indicate the pistol's readiness for live fire4 ,the ,marine must understand and know the condition of his pistol at all times4 ,condition #a4 ,magazine inserted1 round in chamber1 slide forward1 and safety on4 ,condition #b4 ,not applicable to the ,m#i service pistol4 ,condition #c4 ,magazine inserted1 chamber empty1 slide forward1 and safety on4 ,condition #d4 ,magazine removed1 chamber empty1 slide forward1 and safety on4 ,determining a ,weapon's ,condition ,there are two methods for determining the pistol's condition3 checking the round indicator on the right side of the pistol and conducting a chamber check4 ,checking the ,round ,indicator ,when there is a round in the chamber1 the upper surface of the extractor protrudes from the right side of the slide4 ,the protrusion can be felt by sliding either the thumb or the index finger of the left hand over the top of the slide and across the extractor4 ,see figure #b-a4 ,conducting a ,chamber ,check ,to conduct a chamber check-- ,point the pistol in a safe direction and grasp the pistol grip with the right hand4 ,place the trigger guard in the palm of the left hand4 ,use the thumb and index finger to grasp the forward end of the slide at the indentations under the front sight1 behind the muzzle4 ,see figure #b-b4 ,caution ,ensure the muzzle does not cover the hand or fingers4 ,keep thumb in place around the pistol's backstrap and rotate fingers of the right hand over the top of the slide in front of the rear sight4 ,pull the slide to the rear by pushing forward with the right thumb and pulling back on the rear sight with the fingers4 ,use the left hand to steady the pistol and to assist in pulling the slide to the rear4 ,use the right hand to hold the slide to the rear 7just enough to visually inspect the chamber for a round74 ,physically check for a round by inserting a finger of the right hand into the chamber area4 ,see figure #b-c4 ,note3 ,at night or in low light conditions1 the ,marine's visibility is reduced2 therefore1 the ,marine will have to rely on the physical check with the finger to determine if a round is in the chamber4 ,caution ,pulling the slide too far to the rear while inspecting the chamber may cause a double feed or the ejection of a round4 ,remove the finger from the chamber and release tension on both hands to allow the slide to go forward4 ,ensure that the slide is all the way forward4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-a4 ,checking the ,round ,indicator4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-b4 ,placement of the ,left ,hand4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-c4 ,chamber ,check4 ,weapons ,commands ,weapons commands direct the ,marine to safely load1 unload1 and employ the ,m#i service pistol4 ,six commands are used in weapons handling3 8,load0 ,this command is used to take a weapon from ,condition #d to ,condition #c4 8,make ,ready0 ,this command is used to take a weapon from ,condition #c to ,condition #a4 8,fire0 ,this command is used to engage targets4 8,cease ,fire0 ,this command is used to cease target engagement4 8,unload0 ,this command is used to take a weapon from any condition to ,condition #d4 8,unload1 ,show ,clear0 ,this command is used to require a second individual to check the weapon to verify that no ammunition is present before the weapon is put into ,condition #d4 ,loading the ,pistol ,perform the following steps to load the pistol 7take the pistol from ,condition #d to ,condition #c73 ,ensure the pistol is on safe4 ,use the right hand to grip the pistol grip firmly4 ,ensure that the pistol is pointed in a safe direction1 bring the trigger guard to the right of eye level and cant the pistol so the magazine well faces inboard at approximately a #de-;degree angle to the deck4 ,draw the right elbow in to facilitate control of the pistol4 ,use the left hand to remove a filled magazine from the ammunition pocket4 ,index the magazine by sliding the index finger along the forward edge of the magazine4 ,see figure #b-d4 ,insert the filled magazine into the magazine well by guiding it with the index finger and1 with the fingers extended1 pushing it in with the heel of the hand until it is fully seated4 ,do not relinquish contact with the magazine until it is fully seated4 ,see figure #b-e4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-d4 ,indexing the ,magazine4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-e4 ,seating the ,magazine4 ,making the ,pistol ,ready ,perform the following steps to take the pistol from ,condition #c to ,condition #a3 ,firmly grip the pistol grip with the right hand4 ,ensure that the pistol is pointed in a safe direction and the slide is in its forward position4 ,rotate the magazine well outboard to facilitate pulling the slide to the rear4 ,with the fingers and thumb of the left hand1 grasp the serrated sides of the slide just forward of the safety4 ,see figure #b-f4 ,caution ,ensure the muzzle does not cover the hand or fingers4 ,pull the slide to its rearmost position by pushing forward with the right hand while pulling back on the slide with the left hand4 ,release the slide2 this strips a round from the magazine and chambers it as the slide moves forward4 ,ensure the pistol remains on safe4 ,conduct a chamber check to ensure a round is in the chamber4 ,note3 ,a chamber check may be conducted at any time to check the pistol's condition4 ,fire ,perform the following steps to fire the pistol3 ,keep trigger finger straight and use the right thumb to take the pistol off safe4 ,place the trigger finger on the trigger and apply pressure to the trigger until the shot is fired4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-f4 ,grasping the ,slide to ,make ,ready4 ,cease ,fire ,perform the following steps to execute a cease fire of the pistol3 ,remove the finger from the trigger and place it straight along the receiver4 ,place the pistol on safe without breaking the grip of the right hand4 ,assume a carry or transport position4 ,unloading the ,pistol ,perform the following steps to take the pistol from any condition to ,condition #d3 ,use the right hand to grip the pistol firmly4 ,ensure that the pistol is on safe4 ,rotate the pistol so the magazine well is pointed inboard and angled down4 ,note3 ,the angle of the magazine well must allow the magazine to fall freely from the well once the magazine release button is engaged4 ,depress the magazine release button to remove the magazine from the pistol4 ,catch the magazine with the left hand and retain it4 ,push upward on the slide stop with the right thumb and maintain pressure4 ,rotate the weapon so the chamber is outboard4 ,note3 ,a left-handed ,marine pushes upward on the slide stop with the left index finger4 ,reach over the top of the pistol with the left hand and grasp the slide serrations with the thumb and index finger4 ,the left hand should partially cover the ejection port so it is positioned to catch an ejected round4 ,point the pistol in a safe direction and fully retract the slide and lock it to the rear4 ,at the same time1 catch the ejected round with the left hand4 ,see figure #b-g4 ,rotate the pistol so the inside of the chamber can be seen4 ,visually inspect the chamber to ensure it is empty4 ,press the slide stop to release the slide and observe it going forward on an empty chamber4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-g4 ,catching the ,ejected ,round4 ,unloading and ,showing the ,pistol ,clear ,perform the following steps to take the pistol from any condition to ,condition #d4 ,see figure #b-h4 ,use the right hand to grip the pistol firmly4 ,ensure that the pistol is on safe4 ,rotate the pistol so the magazine well is pointed inboard and angled down4 ,note3 ,the angle of the magazine well must allow the magazine to fall freely from the well once the magazine release button is engaged4 ,depress the magazine release button to remove the magazine from the pistol4 ,catch the magazine with the left hand and retain it4 ,push upward on the slide stop with the right thumb and maintain pressure4 ,rotate the weapon so the chamber is outboard4 ,note3 ,a left-handed ,marine pushes upward on the slide stop with the left index finger4 ,reach over the top of the pistol with the left hand and grasp the slide serrations with the thumb and index finger4 ,the left hand should partially cover the ejection port so it is positioned to catch an ejected round4 ,point the pistol in a safe direction and fully retract slide and lock it to the rear4 ,at the same time1 catch the ejected round with the left hand4 ,rotate the pistol so the inside of the chamber can be seen4 ,visually inspect the chamber to ensure it is empty4 ,bring the pistol to the administrative transport and have another ,marine visually inspect the chamber to ensure that-- ,the chamber is empty1 no ammunition is present1 and the magazine is removed4 ,the pistol is on safe4 ,acknowledge that the pistol is clear4 ,press the slide stop to release the slide and observe it going forward on an empty chamber4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-h4 ,unload1 ,show ,clear4 ,emptying the ,magazine ,once the pistol is unloaded1 the pistol magazine can be emptied of ammunition4 ,to empty the magazine1 perform the following steps3 ,hold the magazine upright with the back of the magazine tube against the palm of the hand4 ,push the top round forward with the thumb and catch it with the other hand as it is removed4 ,repeat until the magazine is empty4 ,filling the ,magazine ,prior to loading the pistol1 the pistol magazine must be filled with the prescribed number of rounds of ammunition4 ,see figure #b-i4 ,to fill the magazine1 perform the following steps3 ,hold the magazine with the back of the magazine against the palm of the hand and the follower up4 ,use the other hand to place a round 7primer end first7 on the follower in front of the magazine lips4 ,press down on the round and slide the round completely back under the lips4 ,the thumb or finger may push down on the back of the round to assist movement4 ,the base of the round should be flush with the back of the magazine4 ,repeat this procedure until the magazine is filled with the appropriate number of rounds4 ,holes on the back of the magazine allow the visual counting of rounds in five-round increments4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-i4 ,filling the ,magazine4 ,reloading the ,pistol ,the ,marine's ability to reload the pistol quickly improves his chance for success on the battlefield4 ,dry ,reload ,a dry reload is conducted when the pistol runs out of ammunition during engagement and the slide locks to the rear4 ,see figure #b-aj4 ,perform the following steps to conduct a dry reload with the slide locked to the rear3 ,note3 ,the pistol is not placed on safe during a dry reload2 the trigger finger is taken out of the trigger guard and placed straight along the side of the receiver4 ,seek cover1 if the situation permits4 ,retain the firing grip with the right hand and pull the pistol in close to the body to facilitate control4 ,bring the trigger guard to the right of eye level and cant the pistol so the magazine well is facing inboard at approximately a #de-;degree angle to the deck4 ,see figure #b-aa4 ,press the magazine release button and let the empty magazine fall to the deck4 ,at the same time1 unfasten the ammunition pocket to withdraw a filled magazine4 ,see figure #b-ab4 ,note3 ,the primary objective during a dry reload is to get the pistol back in action as quickly as possible4 ,following engagement1 retrieve the magazine before moving4 ,grasp the magazine by curling the middle finger and thumb of the left hand around the base of the magazine1 with the index finger straight along the ammunition pocket4 ,see figure #b-ac4 ,index the magazine3 as the magazine is being withdrawn from the pocket1 the index finger should be along the front of the magazine4 ,see figure #b-ad4 ,rotate the hand up so the magazine is aligned with the magazine well4 ,glance quickly at the magazine well1 insert the magazine into the magazine well 7see fig4 #b-ae74 ,bring the eyes back on target at the same time as the heel of the left hand seats the magazine1 do not relinquish contact with the magazine4 ,see figure #b-af4 ,roll both hands inward to establish a two-handed grip and press the slide release with the left thumb to allow the slide to move forward1 chambering the first round1 and present the pistol to the target4 ,see figure #b-ag4 ,note3 ,a left-handed ,marine presses the slide release with his trigger finger4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-aj4 ,pistol ,ran ,dry of ,ammunition4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-aa4 ,bring the ,pistol ,toward the ,body4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-ab4 ,release ,magazine and ,unfasten ,ammunition ,pocket4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-ac4 ,grasping the ,magazine4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-ad4 ,indexing the ,magazine4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-ae4 ,glance at the ,magazine ,well4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-af4 ,seating the ,magazine4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-ag4 ,present ,pistol ,back to ,target4 ,condition #a ,reload ,in a ,condition #a reload1 a partially-filled magazine is removed from the pistol and replaced with a fully filled magazine4 ,a ,condition #a reload is performed when there is a lull in the action or whenever deemed necessary by the ,marine4 ,to perform a ,condition #a reload-- ,retain the firing grip with the right hand and pull the pistol in close to the body to facilitate control4 ,keep the pistol pointed in the direction of the likely threat4 ,see figure #b-ah4 ,withdraw a filled magazine from the ammunition pocket with the left hand4 ,index the magazine and bring it up to the left of eye level4 ,see figure #b-ai4 ,slide the index finger to the side of the magazine to grasp the magazine between the index and middle fingers4 ,see figure #b-bj4 ,raise the pistol and bring the trigger guard to the right of eye level and cant the pistol so that the magazine well is facing inboard at approximately a #de-;degree angle to the deck4 ,note3 ,the angle of the magazine well must allow the magazine to fall freely from the well once the magazine release button is engaged4 ,press the magazine release button with the right thumb to eject the partially-filled magazine from the magazine well4 ,grasp the magazine between the index finger and thumb4 ,see figure #b-ba4 ,insert the filled magazine into the magazine well 7see fig4 #b-bb74 ,use the heel of the hand to ensure it is fully seated 7see fig4 #b-bc74 ,lower the pistol and point it in the direction of the likely threat4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-ah4 ,facilitating ,control of ,pistol4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-ai4 ,withdrawing and ,indexing a ,filled ,magazine4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-bj4 ,grasping a ,filled ,magazine4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-ba4 ,removing a ,partially-,filled ,magazine4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-bb4 ,inserting a ,filled ,magazine4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-bc4 ,seating a ,filled ,magazine4 ,if time permits1 examine the partially-filled magazine to determine the number of rounds remaining4 ,stow the partially-filled magazine in the ammunition pocket for later use4 ,reloading ,considerations ,if possible1 take cover before reloading4 ,always reload before leaving cover to take advantage of the protection4 ,when reloading1 the first priority is to reload the pistol quickly so that it is ready to fire4 ,during a reload1 the ,marine focuses on reloading only--not on the enemy4 ,the next priority is for the ,marine to retain the magazine during the reload4 ,however1 the combat situation may dictate dropping the magazine to the deck when performing a reload 7i4e41 dry reload74 ,if time permits 7i4e41 ,condition #a reload71 the ,marine picks the magazine up or secures the magazine 7e4g41 ammunition pocket1 flak jacket7 before moving to another location4 ,remedial ,action ,the ,m#i service pistol is an effective and extremely reliable weapon4 ,proper care and preventive maintenance usually ensures the pistol's serviceability4 ,however1 stoppages1 while infrequent1 do occur4 ,to keep the pistol in action1 stoppages must be cleared as quickly as possible through remedial action4 ,a malfunction cannot be corrected through remedial action by the ,marine4 ,stoppage ,a stoppage is an unintentional interruption in the cycle of operation2 e4g41 the slide not moving forward completely4 ,a stoppage is normally discovered when the pistol will not fire4 ,most stoppages can be prevented by proper care1 cleaning1 and lubrication of the pistol4 ,many stoppages of the ,m#i service pistol are caused by shooter error4 ,the ,marine must be aware of shooter-induced stoppages in order to avoid them or to quickly identify and correct the stoppage and return the pistol to action4 ,in a shooter-induced stoppage1 the ,marine-- ,fails to make ready4 ,fails to take the pistol off safe prior to firing4 ,engages safety while firing4 ,engages magazine release button while firing4 ,engages slide stop while firing 7particularly prevalent when firing with an ,isosceles grip74 ,fails to reset the trigger4 ,fails to recognize the pistol has run dry and the slide has locked to the rear4 ,malfunction ,a malfunction is a failure of the pistol to fire satisfactorily or to perform as designed 7e4g41 a broken front sight that does not affect the functioning of the pistol74 ,a malfunction does not necessarily cause an interruption in the cycle of operation4 ,when a malfunction occurs1 the pistol must be repaired by an armorer4 ,remedial ,action ,there is no one set of procedures 7i4e41 immediate action7 that can be performed to clear all or even most of the stoppages that can occur with the ,m#i service pistol4 ,therefore1 remedial action requires investigating the cause of the stoppage1 clearing the stoppage1 and returning the pistol to operation4 ,when performing remedial action1 the ,marine should seek cover if the tactical situation permits4 ,once a pistol ceases to fire1 the ,marine must visually or physically observe the pistol to identify the problem before it can be cleared3 ,note3 ,the steps taken to clear the pistol are based on what is observed4 ,remove the finger from the trigger and place it straight along the receiver4 ,bring the pistol in close to the body and in a position to observe the chamber4 ,pull the slide to the rear while observing the chamber area to identify the stoppage4 ,see figure #b-bd on page #b-ad4 ,note3 ,ensure the pistol does not move to safe when pulling the slide to the rear4 ,correct the stoppage3 ,if there is a round in the magazine but not in the chamber 7see fig4 #b-be71 the slide is released and a round is observed being chambered4 ,if a round being chambered is not observed1 the bottom of the magazine is tapped to seat it properly1 and the slide is racked to the rear4 ,see figure #b-bf4 ,if there is no round in the magazine or chamber1 a reload is conducted4 ,see figure #b-bg4 ,fire the pistol4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-bd4 ,observing ,chamber4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-be4 ,round in ,magazine but ,not in ,chamber4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-bf4 ,round ,not ,being ,chambered4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-bg4 ,no ,round in ,magazine or ,chamber4 ,audible ,pop or ,reduced ,recoil ,,warning ,when an audible pop or reduced recoil is experienced1 the ,marine ,,does ,,not perform remedial action unless he is in a combat environment4 ,an audible pop occurs when only a portion of the propellant is ignited4 ,it is normally identifiable by reduced recoil and the pistol will not cycle4 ,sometimes1 it is accompanied by excessive smoke escaping from the chamber area4 ,training ,environment ,if an audible pop or reduced recoil is experienced during firing1 cease fire immediately4 ,do not apply remedial action2 instead1 perform the following steps3 ,remove the finger from the trigger and place it straight along the receiver4 ,point the pistol down range4 ,place the pistol on safe4 ,raise a hand to receive assistance from available range personnel4 ,combat ,environment ,the tactical situation may dictate correction of an audible pop or reduced recoil4 ,to clear the pistol1 perform the following steps3 ,remove the finger from the trigger and place it straight along the receiver4 ,seek cover if the tactical situation permits4 ,unload the pistol1 but leave the slide locked to the rear4 ,insert something into the bore and clear the obstruction4 ,observe the barrel for cracks or bulges4 ,reload the pistol4 ,weapons ,carries ,as the threat level increases1 so should the ,marine's readiness for engagement4 ,weapons carries are designed to place the ,marine in a state of increased readiness as the threat level increases4 ,there are two carries with the pistol3 the ,alert and the ,ready4 ,the carries permit quick engagement when necessary4 ,alert ,the ,alert is used when enemy contact is likely 7probable74 ,see figure #b-bh4 ,the ,marine performs the following steps to assume the ,alert3 ,ensure the pistol is on safe4 ,grasp the pistol grip firmly with two hands4 ,the trigger finger is straight and the right thumb is on the safety and in a position to ,extend the arms down at approximately a #de-;degree angle to the body or bend the elbows4 ,see figure #b-bi4 ,the muzzle of the pistol is pointed in the likely direction of the threat4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-bh4 ,alert4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-bi4 ,alert--,close ,quarters4 ,ready ,the ,ready is used when there is no target1 but contact with the enemy is imminent4 ,the ,marine performs the following steps to assume the ,ready 7see fig4 #b-cj73 ,ensure the pistol is on safe4 ,grasp the pistol firmly with two hands4 ,the trigger finger is straight and the right thumb is on the safety and in a position to operate it4 ,extend arms and raise the pistol to just below eye level so a clear field of view is maintained4 ,point the muzzle of the pistol in the direction of enemy contact4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-cj4 ,ready4 ,weapons ,transports ,the ,m#i service pistol is transported in either the holster transport or the administrative transport4 ,holster ,transport ,the holster transport is the most common method of carrying the pistol because it can be transported safely in the holster4 ,this transport is used when there is no immediate threat 7enemy contact is remote74 ,see figure #b-ca4 ,to transport the pistol in the holster3 ,point the pistol in a safe direction4 ,,warning ,ensure the pistol is pointed in a safe direction at all times and does not cover any part of the body while holstering4 ,ensure that the safety is on1 the slide is forward1 and the trigger finger is straight4 ,use the right hand to firmly grip the pistol grip and place the pistol in the holster3 ,lift the flap of the holster with the left hand4 ,look down at the holster1 bring the pistol back to a position above the holster1 and rotate the muzzle down into the holster4 ,push the pistol snugly into the holster and fasten the flap with the right hand4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-ca4 ,holster ,transport4 ,administrative ,transport ,the administrative transport is used to transport the pistol when the ,marine does not have a holster4 ,see figure #b-cb4 ,the ,marine performs the following steps to assume the administrative transport3 ,establish a firm grip around the pistol grip with the right hand4 ,ensure the pistol is on safe1 the magazine is removed1 the slide is locked to the rear1 and the trigger finger is straight along the receiver4 ,bend the elbow to approximately a #de-;degree angle so the pistol is positioned near shoulder level4 ,the wrist should be straight so the pistol's muzzle points up4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-cb4 ,administrative ,transport4 ,combat ,mindset ,in a combat environment1 the ,marine must be constantly prepared to engage targets4 ,when a target presents itself1 there may be little time to react4 ,the target must be engaged quickly and accurately4 ,it is not enough to simply know marksmanship techniques1 the ,marine must be able to react instinctively4 ,the development of a combat mindset can be associated with the carries and holster transport for the pistol4 ,the use of each carry_/transport is dictated by the perceived level of threat4 ,each carry and transport should signify a stage of mental and physical preparedness for combat4 ,the intensity of the ,marine's mental and physical preparation depends on the likelihood of enemy contact4 ,physical and ,mental ,preparation ,physical ,preparation ,in combat1 targets can present themselves without warning4 ,therefore1 it is essential for the ,marine to maintain proper balance and control of the pistol at all times so that the pistol can be presented quickly and the target engaged accurately4 ,speed alone does not equate to effective target engagement4 ,the ,marine should fire only as fast as he can fire accurately1 never exceeding his physical ability to apply the fundamentals of marksmanship4 ,to be effective in combat1 the ,marine must train to perfect the physical skills of shooting so they become second nature4 ,the more physical skills that can be performed automatically1 the more concentration that can be given to the mental side of target engagement4 ,mental ,preparation ,while combat is unpredictable and constantly changing1 the ,marine can prepare mentally for the contingencies of the operational setting and confrontation with a threat4 ,the stress of combat1 coupled with the limited time available to engage targets1 requires concentration on the mental aspects of target engagement2 e4g41 identification of targets1 shoot_/no-shoot decisionmaking1 and the selection and use of cover4 ,minimizing stress and maximizing the limited time available to engage targets can be accomplished by-- ,knowing the combat environment and being constantly aware of the surroundings 7e4g41 terrain1 available cover1 possible threats7 enables the ,marine to quickly present the pistol and accurately engage targets4 ,identifying and evaluating possible courses of action and developing potential plans for target engagement that will be appropriate to the combat situation4 ,instilling confidence in a ,marine's ability to fire well-aimed shots in the stress of a combat situation4 ,a key factor in a ,marine's level of confidence is the degree to which he has mastered the tactics1 techniques1 and procedures of pistol marksmanship4 ,threat ,levels ,no ,immediate ,threat ,when there is no immediate threat1 the ,marine assumes the holster transport4 ,the pistol should be in ,condition #a4 ,this is the lowest level of awareness for the ,marine in a combat environment1 but the ,marine must stay alert and aware of any nearby activity4 ,to prepare for target engagement at this level1 the ,marine must-- ,be aware of likely areas of enemy contact4 ,be aware of the condition of his pistol4 ,establish a plan or course of action to present the pistol to a target should a target appear4 ,mentally review appropriate actions such as reloading and remedial action4 ,contact ,likely 7,probable7 ,if enemy contact is likely 7probable71 the ,marine assumes the ,alert4 ,when enemy contact is likely1 the ,marine should-- ,expect enemy contact and be constantly prepared to present the pistol4 ,search the entire area for indications of enemy targets and for suitable terrain features that offer cover and concealment4 ,the ,marine should avoid restricting the search to a single terrain feature because this hinders awareness to a sector of the battlefield and to approach by the enemy4 ,be mentally prepared for contact4 ,plan a course of action for immediate response to a target4 ,modify the plan of action as needed4 ,be physically prepared to fire4 ,maintain proper balance at all times4 ,avoid self-induced physical fatigue4 ,for example1 do not grip the pistol so tightly that fingers1 hands1 and arms tire from carrying the pistol4 ,contact ,imminent ,when contact with an enemy target is imminent1 assume the ,ready4 ,in this carry1 the ,marine is at the highest level of awareness and is constantly searching for and expecting a target4 ,to fire well-aimed shots upon target detection1 the ,marine must be at the peak of his mental preparation1 all distractions must be eliminated1 and his focus must be on firing an accurate shot4 ,in the ,ready1 the ,marine must-- ,keep the pistol oriented in the general direction of observation 7eyes1 muzzle1 target74 ,maintain a clear field of view above the pistol sights until the target is detected4 ,be mentally and physically prepared to engage the target4 ,the ,marine must be ready to3 ,identify the target4 ,sweep the safety4 ,apply the fundamentals of marksmanship4 ,move only as fast as he is capable of delivering well-aimed shots1 ensuring that speed of engagement does not exceed his physical abilities4 ,search the entire area for indications of enemy targets1 lowering the pistol enough to observe a clear field of view of the area4 ,transferring the ,pistol ,the ,marine's ability to transfer a pistol to another ,marine is critical to safe weapons handling4 ,there are two methods for transferring the pistol from one ,marine to another3 show clear transfer and condition unknown transfer4 ,each transfer is performed based on the operational environment_/combat situation4 ,show ,clear ,transfer ,to transfer the pistol-- ,grasp the pistol firmly in the right hand while ensuring that the pistol is on safe4 ,remove and retain the magazine4 ,lock the slide to the rear and catch the round if there is a round in the chamber4 ,inspect the chamber visually to ensure it is empty and leave the slide locked to the rear4 ,to transfer the pistol-- ,if the receiving ,marine is to the right3 ,cradle the trigger guard in the palm of the left hand and wrap the fingers around the top of the pistol4 ,release the firing grip4 ,if the receiving ,marine is to the left3 ,with the left hand1 grasp the slide of the pistol with the thumb over the slide and the fingers underneath4 ,release the firing grip4 ,ensure that the muzzle points up at a #de-;degree angle in a safe direction and the chamber exposed4 ,hand the pistol to the other ,marine1 grip first4 ,see figure #b-cc4 ,the receiving ,marine-- ,grasps the pistol grip with the trigger finger straight along the receiver4 ,inspects the chamber visually to ensure it is empty4 ,ensures the pistol is on safe4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-cc4 ,show ,clear ,transfer4 ,condition ,unknown ,transfer ,to transfer the pistol-- ,grasp the pistol firmly in the right hand while ensuring that the pistol is on safe4 ,to transfer the pistol-- ,if the receiving ,marine is to the right3 ,cradle the trigger guard in the palm of the left hand and wrap the fingers around the top of the pistol4 ,release the firing grip4 ,see figure #b-cd4 ,if the receiving ,marine is to the left3 ,with the left hand1 grasp the slide of the pistol with the thumb over the slide and the fingers underneath4 ,release the firing grip4 ,see figure #b-ce4 ,ensure that the muzzle points up at a #de-;degree angle in a safe direction4 ,hand the pistol to the receiving ,marine1 grip first4 ,the receiving ,marine-- ,grasps the pistol grip with the trigger finger straight along the receiver4 ,ensures the pistol is on safe4 ,conducts a chamber check to determine the condition of the pistol4 ,remove the magazine and count the number of rounds in the magazine by using the counting holes1 if time permits4 ,re-insert the magazine into the magazine well ensuring it is fully seated4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-cd4 ,condition ,unknown ,transfer to the ,right4 ,illustration3 ,figure #b-ce4 ,condition ,unknown ,transfer to the ,left4 ,,chapter #c ,,fundamentals ,,of ,,pistol ,,marksmanship ,the fundamentals of pistol marksmanship are aiming1 trigger control1 and breath control4 ,understanding and applying the basic pistol marksmanship fundamentals ensures the ,marine's effectiveness in target engagement4 ,the fundamentals must be continually studied and practiced because they are the means by which accurate shots are placed on target4 ,a ,marine with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of marksmanship will be successful in the application of these fundamentals during combat4 ,aiming ,maintaining the correct relationship between the pistol sights is essential for accurate target engagement4 ,because of the short distance between the pistol sights1 a small error in their alignment causes a considerable error at the target4 ,sight ,alignment ,sight alignment is the relationship between the front sight and rear sight with respect to the aiming eye4 ,correct sight alignment is the front sight centered in the rear sight notch with the top edge of the front sight level aligned with the top edge of the rear sight4 ,there should be equal space on either side of the front sight4 ,see figure #c-a4 ,illustration3 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,although a caption exists for it1 this image was not printed in the original book4 ,figure #c-a4 ,sight ,alignment4 ,establishing ,sight ,alignment ,the pistol is fired without benefit of bone support2 therefore1 the pistol is in constant motion4 ,the ,marine must understand this1 yet continually strive to align the sights4 ,to fire accurately1 the sights must be aligned when the shot breaks4 ,grip ,the grip is key to acquiring sight alignment4 ,if the grip is correct1 the front and rear sights should align naturally4 ,dry fire during presentation of the ,m#i service pistol aids in obtaining a grip that allows sight alignment to be acquired consistently4 ,controlled ,muscular ,tension ,there must be enough controlled muscular tension in the grip1 wrists1 and forearms to hold the pistol steady and level the barrel to maintain sight alignment4 ,consistent tension stabilizes the sights and maintains sight alignment4 ,sight ,picture ,sight picture is the placement of the front sight in relation to the target while maintaining sight alignment4 ,see figure #c-b on page #c-b4 ,because the pistol is constantly moving1 sight picture is acquired within an aiming area that is located center mass on the target4 ,the aiming area allows for movement of the sights on the target while maintaining sight alignment4 ,each ,marine defines an acceptable aiming area within his own ability to stabilize the sights4 ,time1 distance to the target1 and personal ability affect dictate the aiming area4 ,as the ,marine becomes more proficient with the pistol1 the aiming area becomes more precise4 ,the aiming area is determined by the ,marine's stability of hold4 ,the proper grip stabilizes the sights so sight alignment can be maintained1 but the sights move continuously within the aiming area of the target4 ,the ,marine understands the pistol's movement and learns to apply trigger control as he is obtaining sight alignment_/sight picture within the aiming area so the shot breaks the moment sight picture is established4 ,illustration3 ,figure #c-b4 ,sight ,picture4 ,relationship ,between the ,eye and the ,sights ,the human eye can focus clearly on only one object at a time4 ,the ,marine must focus on the top edge of the front sight and fire the shot while maintaining the relationship between the front and rear sights within the aiming area4 ,focusing on the top edge of the front sight rather than the target keeps the front sight clear and distinct1 which allows the ,marine to detect minor variations in sight alignment4 ,secondary vision allows the ,marine to see the target 7although slightly blurred7 and maintain sight picture within his aiming area4 ,trigger ,control ,trigger control is the ,marine's skillful manipulation of the trigger that causes the pistol to fire while maintaining sight alignment and sight picture4 ,proper trigger control aids in maintaining sight alignment while the shot is fired4 ,sight ,alignment and ,trigger ,control ,aiming and trigger control are mutually supportive--one cannot be performed without the other4 ,sight alignment and trigger control must be performed simultaneously to fire an accurate shot4 ,as pressure is applied to the trigger1 the sights may move1 causing them to be misaligned4 ,to fire accurate shots1 the sights must be aligned when the shot breaks4 ,trigger control can actually assist in aligning the sights4 ,with proper trigger finger placement and consistent muscular tension applied to the grip1 the sights can be controlled as the trigger is moved to the rear4 ,if the sights move extensively while pressing the trigger1 this can indicate an improper grip or inconsistency in the muscular tension being applied to the grip4 ,grip ,a firm grip is essential for good trigger control4 ,the grip is established before applying trigger control and is maintained throughout the firing process4 ,to establish the grip1 the hand is placed around the pistol grip in a location that allows the trigger finger to move the trigger straight to the rear while maintaining sight alignment4 ,once the grip is established1 it should be firm enough to allow manipulation of the trigger while maintaining sight alignment4 ,the pressure applied to the grip must be equal to or more than the pressure required to move the trigger to the rear4 ,if the pressure is not applied correctly1 the sights move as the trigger is pressed to the rear and sight alignment is disturbed4 ,trigger ,finger ,placement ,once the grip is established1 the finger is placed on the trigger4 ,placement of the finger should be natural and allow free movement of the trigger finger4 ,a natural trigger finger placement allows the trigger to be moved straight to the rear while maintaining sight alignment4 ,if the finger presses the trigger to the side1 it can cause an error in sight alignment and shot placement4 ,each ,marine must experiment with finger placement in order to determine effective placement on the trigger4 ,once established1 effective trigger finger placement allows the trigger to be consistently moved straight to the rear while maintaining sight alignment4 ,types of ,trigger ,control ,uninterrupted ,trigger ,control ,during uninterrupted trigger control1 the ,marine applies a steady1 unchanging pressure to the trigger until the shot is fired4 ,uninterrupted trigger control is particularly effective at close range1 when the target area is large1 and when stability of hold is not critical for accuracy4 ,to apply uninterrupted trigger control1 apply pressure on the trigger while maintaining focus on the top edge of the front sight4 ,continue pressure on the trigger to begin moving the trigger straight to the rear while obtaining sight alignment and sight picture4 ,move the trigger straight to the rear in a single1 smooth motion with no hesitation4 ,interrupted ,trigger ,control ,interrupted trigger control is particularly effective at longer ranges1 when the target is small1 and when stability of hold is critical to maintaining sight picture in the aiming area4 ,this method is also used if the pistol sights move outside the aiming area when applying trigger control4 ,if the sight picture is outside the aiming area1 the ,marine stops and holds the rearward movement on the trigger until sight picture is re-established4 ,when sight picture is re-established1 the rearward movement of the trigger is continued until the shot is fired4 ,breath ,control ,breathing causes movement of the chest1 abdomen1 and shoulders1 which causes the pistol sights to move vertically while attempting to aim and fire4 ,therefore1 it is necessary to stop breathing for a period of time while firing a shot or a series of shots4 ,the object of breath control is to stop breathing just long enough to fire the shot while maintaining sight alignment1 stabilizing the sights1 and establishing the sight picture4 ,to be consistent1 the breath should be held at the same point in the breathing cycle2 i4e41 the natural respiratory pause4 ,breathing should not be stopped for too long because it has adverse visual and physical effects4 ,holding the breath longer than is comfortable results in a lack of oxygen that causes vision to deteriorate and then affects the ability to focus on the sights4 ,application of ,marksmanship ,fundamentals in ,field ,firing ,compression of the ,fundamentals ,pistol engagements typically occur over close distances and are short in duration4 ,because an immediate response to the threat is required1 the application of the fundamentals must be a conditioned response that is executable in a compressed time4 ,the goal of successful1 quick target engagement is the application of the fundamentals of marksmanship while firing the shot the moment weapon presentation is complete4 ,the time required to move the trigger to the rear while acquiring and maintaining sight alignment and sight picture is unique to each ,marine and is based on his capabilities4 ,each ,marine should know his abilities and fire only as quickly as he is capable of firing accurately4 ,the ,marine must not exceed his shooting skills in an effort to get rounds off quickly4 ,aiming ,in field firing1 the fundamentals are applied in a compressed time so sight alignment and sight picture are achieved as the shot is fired4 ,although the target must be quickly engaged in combat1 sight alignment is still the first priority3 strive for a clear front sight4 ,distance to the target and the size of the target affects sight aligmnent as follows3 ,as the distance to the target increases and the size of the target decreases1 sight alignment becomes more critical to target engagement4 ,accurate sight picture_/sight alignment cannot be compromised for speed4 ,sight alignment is critical to the effective engagement of smaller targets such as partially exposed targets4 ,as the distance to the target decreases1 perfect sight alignment is not as critical1 but there must be a relationship between the sights and their placement on the target within the aiming area to ensure accuracy4 ,trigger ,control ,proper trigger control aids in maintaining sight alignment while the shot is fired4 ,as pressure is applied to the trigger1 the sights may move1 causing them to be misaligned4 ,therefore1 the ,marine is constantly re-aligning the sights as pressure is applied to the trigger4 ,sight alignment and trigger control must be performed simultaneously to fire an accurate shot4 ,breath ,control ,during combat1 the ,marine's breathing and heart rate often increase due to physical exertion or the stress of battle4 ,the key to breath control in field firing is to stop breathing just long enough to fire an accurate shot or a series of shots4 ,,chapter #d ,,pistol ,,firing ,,positions ,,and ,,grip ,the ,m#i service pistol is fired from the standing1 kneeling1 and prone positions4 ,each firing position may be adapted to either a ,weaver or ,isosceles variation1 each possessing a distinct advantage in combat4 ,the ,weaver variation stabilizes the pistol sights4 ,the ,isosceles variation manages recoil4 ,the advantages apply whether the ,marine is firing in the standing1 kneeling1 or prone position4 ,the ,marine must select and assume a stable firing position that provides a solid foundation for accurate shooting while meeting the demands of the combat situation4 ,note3 ,the procedures in this chapter are written for right-handed ,marines2 left-handed ,marines should reverse directions as needed4 ,the ,pistol ,firing ,position ,during combat1 the ,marine selects a firing position based on mobility1 observation of the enemy1 and stability4 ,mobility ,a firing position must provide mobility should the ,marine need to move4 ,the standing position permits maximum mobility because it is quickly assumed and easily maneuvered from and it permits lateral mobility to engage widely dispersed targets4 ,the prone position provides limited mobility because it is the most time-consuming position to get into and out of and it lacks the lateral mobility required to engage dispersed targets4 ,observation of the ,enemy ,a firing position should allow observation of the enemy while minimizing the ,marine's exposure4 ,during combat there can be many obstructions to a clear field of view4 ,terrain features such as vegetation1 earth contours1 and manmade structures often dictate the firing position4 ,the prone position normally allows the least exposure1 but it usually provides a limited field of view4 ,kneeling may provide a wider field of view1 but generally provides less concealment4 ,stability ,a solid firing position establishes a stable foundation for target engagement and provides accurate and consistent shooting4 ,the definition of a stable position is one in which the body is positioned so as to resist forces that cause motion 7i4e41 recoil and movement of the pistol sights74 ,the standing position is the least stable firing position1 while the prone is the most stable firing position4 ,a consistent1 stable position is assumed for two distinct purposes3 ,minimize the pistol's movement in order to control the sights and to deliver accurate fire on a target4 ,minimize the affects of recoil in order to recover the sights to the same area on the target4 ,during combat1 it may be necessary to engage the same target more than once to eliminate it4 ,if the firing position is stable1 the pistol's sights should recover to the same area on the target1 allowing rapid re-enactment4 ,distributing the body's weight to balance the position also stabilizes the pistol and allows better management of recoil4 ,a pistol firing position is stabilized through controlled muscular tension4 ,because the pistol is fired without benefit of bone support1 muscular tension is needed in the body to stabilize the position and the pistol sights4 ,muscular tension must follow these guidelines-- ,a consistent amount of muscular tension is needed to hold the pistol steady so the sights are aligned with the aiming eye and the target4 ,controlled and consistent tension in the body provides resistance that the ,marine uses to manage recoil and bring the sights back on target quicker4 ,however1 too much tension can cause strain or trembling4 ,muscular tension is correct when the ,marine can control the pistol before1 during1 and after firing the shot4 ,pistol ,firing ,grip ,a proper grip is one that provides maximum control of the pistol before1 during1 and after firing4 ,it stabilizes the pistol sights before firing1 allows trigger control to be applied during firing1 and manages recoil after firing4 ,before ,firing3 ,stabilize the ,sights ,to fire an accurate shot1 the sights must be stabilized prior to and as the bullet exits the muzzle of the pistol4 ,a proper grip controls the alignment of the pistol's sights and stabilizes the sights so an accurate shot may be fired4 ,the following guidelines apply to the establishment of a proper grip-- ,there must be muscular tension in the wrist and forearms4 ,consistent muscular tension in the wrist1 forearms1 and grip helps maintain sight alignment by reducing the movement in the grip that can cause movement in the sights4 ,the grip is correct when it allows the sights to be naturally aligned to the aiming eye4 ,when establishing a two-handed grip1 equal pressure must be applied with both hands4 ,consistent1 equal pressure from both hands stabilizes the sights and allows them to be aligned and level with respect to the aiming eye4 ,the hand grips as high on the back strap as possible1 bringing the centerline of the bore as close as possible to a parallel line with the bones in the forearm4 ,during ,firing3 ,allow ,trigger ,control ,the ,marine's grip provides a foundation for the movement of the trigger finger4 ,the trigger finger applies positive pressure on the trigger as an independent action1 completely free of the other muscles of the gripping hand4 ,the ,marine should not apply excessive pressure to the web of the hand touching the pistol's back strap because excessive pressure interferes with the manipulation of the trigger by the trigger finger4 ,after ,firing3 ,manage ,recoil ,once a shot is fired1 the pistol recoils1 disturbing alignment of the sights4 ,a proper grip facilitates a quick recovery from recoil so the sights quickly return to the same area on the target4 ,the ,marine's grip determines the following during recoil3 ,the amount the muzzle climbs during recoil depends on the amount of controlled muscular tension in the grip and wrists applied to stabilize the pistol and create consistency in resistance to recoil4 ,controlled muscular tension allows the sights to recover consistently back on target within a minimum amount of time4 ,firm1 equal pressure must be applied to the grip with both hands to ensure that the pistol does not slip during recoil4 ,an improper grip or lack of controlled muscular tension causes the pistol to move after the shot is fired1 disrupting sight alignment and requiring the ,marine to re-establish his grip4 ,locking out the wrist of the firing hand1 similar to executing a punch1 helps provide resistance to recoil and speed recovery4 ,the elbows should be at a position slightly less than locked out to help absorb the recoil and aid in recoil management4 ,withdrawing the ,pistol ,from the ,holster ,the firing grip is not established in the holster1 however1 a proper firing grip can be assumed quickly if the pistol is withdrawn from the holster correctly4 ,the pistol should be withdrawn from the holster in one continuous1 fluid motion3 ,place the heel of the left hand at the center of the torso with the fingers extended toward the target4 ,at the same time1 unfasten and release the ,d-ring with the right hand4 ,see figure #d-a4 ,note3 ,the left hand is placed on the torso in a position that allows a two-handed firing grip to be established in a minimum amount of movement4 ,place the right thumb on the forward edge of the lower portion of the holster and the fingers around the back edge of the holster1 keeping the trigger finger straight4 ,see figure #d-b4 ,note3 ,the left hand may assist in holding the holster flap up4 ,slide the hand up the holster until the fingers come in contact with the pistol grip4 ,at the same time1 keep the thumb above the pistol to guide the holster flap up4 ,see figure #d-c on page #d-d4 ,grasp the pistol grip with the fingers and draw the pistol straight up4 ,continue withdrawing the pistol while moving the thumb to a position on the safety4 ,see figure #d-d on page #d-d4 ,note3 ,this hand placement allows a firing grip to be established once the thumb disengages the safety4 ,any adjustments made to the firing grip after the safety is disengaged should be minor4 ,once the muzzle clears the holster1 rotate the muzzle forward to clear the body4 ,ensure the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction4 ,establish a two-handed grip on the pistol by joining the left hand with the right hand in the front of the torso4 ,see figure #d-e4 ,caution ,ensure the muzzle does not cover the left hand when establishing the two-handed grip4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-a4 ,withdrawing the ,pistol ,from the ,holster--,step #a4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-b4 ,withdrawing the ,pistol ,from the ,holster--,step #b4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-c4 ,withdrawing the ,pistol ,from the ,holster--,step #c4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-d4 ,withdrawing the ,pistol ,from the ,holster--,step #d4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-e4 ,withdrawing the ,pistol ,from the ,holster--,step #e4 ,weaver and ,isosceles ,variations ,the size of the target1 distance to the target1 time1 and type of engagement needed 7i4e41 two shots1 single precision shot7 determine whether to fire in the ,weaver or ,isosceles variation4 ,the ,weaver and ,isosceles variations each consist of three firing positions3 standing1 kneeling1 and prone4 ,the firing position chosen is based on the combat situation and the ,marine's body configuration1 and it must permit balance1 control1 and stability during firing4 ,in addition1 there is a specific firing grip that supports each position and the combination of the grip and the body configuration is key to establishing the variation4 ,see table #d-a for a list of advantages and disadvantages of both the ,weaver and the ,isosceles variations4 ,table #d-a4 ,advantages and ,disadvantages4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ,variation ,advantages ,disadvantages ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ,weaver ,additional balance1 control1 ,recoil has a greater impact and stability of hold during due to the hand placement firing due to placement of on the pistol 7some of the the arms 7left arm bent1 pistol grip is exposed and pistol is in close to the pressure is applied in two body74 different directions around the pistol74 ,easier to maintain sight ,recovery of the sights back picture because the pistol's on target may take longer foundation is steady4 since recoil is affected4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ,isosceles ,recoil has a lesser impact ,stability of hold is because muscular tension and degraded due to the pistol grip pressure are evenly being further from the body distributed around the without support4 pistol4 ,allows quicker recovery of ,since it is harder to steady the sights on target4 the pistol1 acquiring sight picture becomes more difficult4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ,at longer ranges1 the target is smaller1 a more precise shot is required to eliminate the target1 and any small movement moves the sights off the target2 therefore1 the pistol must be steadied4 ,although the ,weaver variation is effective at any distance1 some aspects of the position make it more effective for long range or precision shots on small or partially exposed targets2 i4e41 sight alignment and sight picture are easier for stability of hold4 ,the ,isosceles variation is effective at any distance1 however1 some aspects of the position make it more effective for close range engagements4 ,when confronted with a target1 the natural physical reaction is to face the target and push out with the arms4 ,this makes the ,isosceles variation advantageous for quick engagements at close range4 ,when a target is at close range1 it must be engaged quickly before it engages the ,marine4 ,the management of recoil is a bigger factor in close-range engagements because it is more likely that multiple shots will be fired to eliminate the target and the sights have to recover quickly back on target4 ,however1 at close ranges1 the target is larger so stability of hold is not as important because it is easier to hold the sights on target and sight picture is not as critical4 ,standing ,position ,the standing position is the most often employed position during a pistol engagement due to the short distance of the engagement and the nature of combat4 ,when properly assumed1 the standing position provides a stable base for firing1 a clear field of view1 and excellent mobility4 ,the standing position can be adapted to either the ,weaver variation or the ,isosceles variation4 ,weaver ,standing ,position ,the key to successful employment of the ,weaver variation is the body's angle to the target and the push-pull pressure applied to the grip4 ,see figure #d-f4 ,to assume the ,weaver standing position-- ,face the target and make a half turn to the right1 keeping the pistol oriented toward the target4 ,this orients the body at approximately a #dj to #fj degree angle oblique to the target4 ,the shoulders are angled to the target1 the left shoulder forward of the right4 ,the feet are about shoulder-width apart1 the left foot forward of the right4 ,grip the pistol grip firmly with the right hand4 ,place the right thumb on the safety4 ,keep the shoulders at a #dj to #fj degree angle oblique to the target and raise the right arm and extend it across the body toward the target4 ,ensure that the right shoulder does not roll forward or turn toward the target4 ,extend the left arm to the target1 bending the left elbow to join the left and right hands4 ,the left elbow is inverted and tucked in toward the body so the left arm supports the pistol4 ,note3 ,the angle of the body determines how much the elbow bends4 ,establish a two-handed firing grip in the ,weaver variation4 ,see figure #d-g4 ,place the palm of the left hand over the front of the right hand so the palm covers the curled fingers of the right hand4 ,the trigger guard should rest in the 8,v0 formed by the left thumb and forefinger4 ,the knuckles of the left hand are just outboard of the trigger guard4 ,a portion of the pistol grip is exposed4 ,rest the trigger finger naturally1 straight and outside of the trigger guard1 so the finger can be moved quickly and easily to the trigger4 ,rest the left thumb against the receiver so that both thumbs are on the left side of the pistol4 ,once the safety is disengaged with the right thumb1 the left thumb is placed over the right thumb and positive pressure is applied to hold the right thumb in place4 ,apply rearward pressure with the left hand and forward pressure with the right hand to achieve a 8push-pull0 grip4 ,isometric tension 7push-pull7 stabilizes the pistol during firing4 ,lean forward slightly and apply muscular tension throughout the body to stabilize the position and manage recoil4 ,the muscular tension in the upper body is not symmetrical due to the 8push-pull0 tension applied on the grip4 ,keep the head erect so the aiming eye can look through the sights4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-f4 ,weaver ,standing ,position4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-g4 ,weaver ,grip4 ,isosceles ,standing ,position ,the key to the ,isosceles variation is that the body is squared to the target and equal pressure is applied on the pistol from the grip4 ,to assume the ,isosceles standing position-- ,face the target with feet approximately shoulder width apart4 ,the shoulders are squared to the target4 ,establish a two-handed firing grip in the ,isosceles variation4 ,see figure #d-h4 ,grip the pistol grip firmly with the right hand4 ,place the right thumb on the safety4 ,place the heel of the left hand on the exposed portion of the pistol grip in the pocket formed by the fingertips and heel of the right hand4 ,there should be maximum contact between the pistol grip and the hands4 ,wrap the fingers of the left hand over the fingers of the right hand4 ,ensure both thumbs rest on the left side of the pistol and point toward the target4 ,apply equal pressure on both sides of the pistol to allow for the best management of recoil4 ,note3 ,ensure the left thumb does not apply excessive pressure to the slide stop or slide4 ,rest the trigger finger naturally1 straight and outside of the trigger guard1 so the finger can be moved quickly and easily to the trigger4 ,notes3 ,index finger of the left hand may or may not rest on the front of the trigger guard4 ,marines with large hands must ensure that their right thumb does not rest on the slide stop1 preventing reliable pistol operation4 ,elevate and extend the arms toward the target4 ,roll the shoulders forward and shift the body weight slightly forward to stabilize the position and better manage recoil4 ,the left foot may be slightly forward of the right foot to balance the position4 ,there should be an equal amount of muscular tension on both sides of the body to best manage recoil4 ,tuck the head between the shoulders2 the head is extended forward but kept erect so the aiming eye can see through the sights4 ,see figure #d-i4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-h4 ,isosceles ,grip4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-i4 ,isosceles ,standing ,position4 ,kneeling ,position ,the kneeling position offers a smaller exposure than the standing position and greater stability4 ,increased stability makes the kneeling position effective for longer range shooting4 ,it does not1 however1 offer as much mobility for quick reaction as the standing position4 ,the kneeling position can be quickly assumed and allows firing from various types of cover4 ,depending on the cover and the need for observation1 the kneeling position may be adapted to a high kneeling1 a medium kneeling1 a low kneeling1 or a two-knee kneeling position4 ,the kneeling positions can be adapted to either the ,weaver variation or the ,isosceles variation4 ,weaver ,kneeling ,position ,the advantage of the ,weaver variation of the kneeling position is that it provides bone support due to the left elbow's placement on the knee4 ,the ,weaver variation further enables firing from the side of cover while exposing less of the body to a threat4 ,to assume the ,weaver kneeling position1 the following steps are basic to all adaptations3 ,make a half turn to the right1 drop the right foot back or step forward with the left foot1 and place the right knee on the deck4 ,the body is positioned at a #dj to #fj degree angle oblique to the target4 ,blade the shoulders at a #dj to #fj degree oblique angle to the target1 the left shoulder forward of the right4 ,extend the arms toward the target4 ,bend forward at the waist to better manage recoil4 ,place the flat part of the upper left arm1 just above the elbow1 in firm contact with the flat surface formed on top of the bent knee4 ,the point of the left elbow extends just slightly past the left knee4 ,however1 depending on the need for stability or observation of the enemy1 the elbow does not have to rest on the knee4 ,the following steps provide specifics for each adaptation3 ,high kneeling3 the toes of the right foot are curled and in contact with the deck or the inside of the foot may be in contact with the deck4 ,depending on the need for observation1 the buttocks may or may not rest on the right heel4 ,the left leg is bent at the knee2 the shin straight up and down4 ,the left foot is flat on the deck4 ,see figure #d-aj4 ,medium kneeling3 the right ankle is straight with the foot stretched out and the bootlaces in contact with the deck4 ,the left leg is bent at the knee1 the left foot flat on the deck4 ,the right shin may be angled to the body to create a tripod of support for the position4 ,see figure #d-aa4 ,low kneeling3 the right ankle is turned so the outside of the foot is in contact with the deck and the buttocks are in contact with the inside of the foot4 ,the right shin may be angled to the body to create a tripod of support for the position4 ,see figure #d-ab4 ,two-knee3 drop both knees onto the deck4 ,the toes may be curled to get into and out of the position quickly4 ,depending on the need for observation of the enemy1 the buttocks may or may not rest on the heels4 ,see figure #d-ac4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-aj4 ,weaver ,high ,kneeling4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-aa4 ,weaver ,medium ,kneeling4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-ab4 ,weaver ,low ,kneeling4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-ac4 ,weaver ,two-,knee ,kneeling4 ,isosceles ,kneeling ,position ,the advantage of the ,isosceles variation is that it enables the ,marine to fire over the top of cover while exposing less of the body to a threat4 ,to assume the ,isosceles kneeling position1 the following steps are basic to all adaptations3 ,drop the right foot back or step forward with the left foot and place the right knee on the deck4 ,square the shoulders to the target4 ,extend the arms toward the target4 ,lean forward with the shoulders rolled forward and the head tucked between the shoulders to better manage recoil4 ,the following steps provide specifics for each adaptation3 ,high kneeling3 the toes of the right foot are curled and in contact with the deck or the inside of the foot may be in contact with the deck4 ,depending on the need for observation1 the buttocks may or may not rest on the right heel4 ,the left leg is bent at the knee1 the shin is straight up and down4 ,the left foot is flat on the deck4 ,see figure #d-ad4 ,medium kneeling3 the right ankle is straight with the foot stretched out and the bootlaces in contact with the deck4 ,the left leg is bent at the knee1 the left foot is flat on the deck4 ,the right shin may be angled to the body to create a tripod of support for the position4 ,see figure #d-ae4 ,low kneeling3 the right ankle is turned so the outside of the foot is in contact with the deck and the buttocks are in contact with the inside of the foot4 ,the right shin may be angled to the body to create a tripod of support for the position4 ,see figure #d-af4 ,two-knee3 drop both knees onto the deck4 ,the toes may be curled to get into and out of the position quickly4 ,depending on the need for observation of the enemy1 the buttocks may or may not rest on the heels4 ,see figure #d-ag4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-ad4 ,isosceles ,high ,kneeling4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-ae4 ,isosceles ,medium ,kneeling4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-af4 ,isosceles ,low ,kneeling4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-ag4 ,isosceles ,two-,knee4 ,prone ,position ,the prone position is easily assumed1 stable1 and presents a small target to the enemy4 ,since the prone position places most of the body on the deck1 it offers great stability for long range shooting4 ,however1 it is the least mobile of the firing positions and may restrict the field of view4 ,the prone position can be adapted to either the ,weaver variation or the ,isosceles variation4 ,weaver ,prone ,position ,the ,weaver variation of the prone position produces a cocked leg position by angling the body to the target and cocking the leg to support the position4 ,the ,weaver prone position is ideal for firing from behind cover4 ,see figure #d-ah4 ,to assume the ,weaver prone position1 perform the following steps3 ,face the target and make a half turn to the right 7this places the body at a #dj to #fj degree oblique to the target74 ,grip the pistol in the right hand1 placing the pistol in a position that facilitates control of the weapon4 ,ensure the pistol is pointed in a safe direction and does not cover any portion of the body4 ,move the body to the deck by using either the squat or drop method1 keeping the body at a #dj to #fj degree oblique to the target4 ,squat ,method ,squat down and place the left hand on the deck4 ,kick both feet backward and come down on the right side of the body with the right arm extended toward the target4 ,ensure the pistol does not cover the body or the left hand4 ,see figure #d-ai4 ,drop ,method ,drop to a kneeling position4 ,place the left hand on the deck in front of the body1 push the pistol out toward the target4 ,roll the right side of the body onto the deck4 ,ensure the pistol does not cover the body or the left hand4 ,see figure #d-bj on page #d-ab4 ,bring the left knee up to support the firing position and to raise the diaphragm off the deck so as not to interfere with breathing4 ,the inside of the knee rests on the deck4 ,the knee is drawn up to provide maximum stability for the position4 ,establish a two-handed firing grip on the pistol4 ,place the left elbow on the ground for stability4 ,for maximum stability1 strive to keep the grip firmly placed on the deck4 ,the head may rest against the right arm so the pistol sights can be aligned4 ,the head may be canted as long as the aiming eye can look directly through the sights4 ,strive to keep the pistol sights as level as possible while acquiring sight alignment4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-ah4 ,weaver ,prone ,position4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-ai4 ,squat ,method4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-bj4 ,drop ,method4 ,to make minor increases in elevation1 keep the left hand in place and firmly on the deck and raise the right hand to achieve the desired elevation4 ,however1 contact between the right and left hands must be maintained to stabilize the pistol4 ,see figure #d-ba on page #d-ab4 7,there is a tradeoff between obtaining the needed elevation and losing stability1 so the ,marine must strike a balance between the two47 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-ba4 ,increasing ,elevation 7,minor ,adjustments74 ,isosceles ,prone ,position ,the ,isosceles variation of the prone position produces a straight leg position4 ,see figure #d-bb4 ,to assume the ,isosceles prone position3 ,stand facing the target4 ,grip the pistol in the right hand1 placing the pistol in a position that facilitates control of the weapon4 ,ensure the pistol is pointed in a safe direction and does not cover any portion of the body4 ,move the body to the deck by using either the squat or drop method4 ,squat ,method ,squat down and place the left hand on the deck4 ,kick both feet backward and come down on the right side of the body with the right arm extended toward the target4 ,ensure the pistol does not cover the body or the left hand4 ,see figure #d-bc4 ,drop ,method ,drop to a kneeling position4 ,place the left hand on the deck in front of the body4 ,push the pistol out toward the target1 and roll the right side of the body onto the deck4 ,ensure the pistol does not cover the body or the left hand4 ,see figure #d-bd4 ,establish a two-handed firing grip on the pistol4 ,spread the legs to a position that provides maximum stability4 ,the insteps of both feet may be flat on the deck or the toes may be curled and dug into the deck4 ,keep the pistol sights as level as possible while acquiring sight alignment4 ,keep the head in a position to allow the aiming eye to look directly through the sights4 ,when wearing a helmet1 the head may be canted slightly and rest against the right arm to push the helmet from the eyes so the sights can be aligned4 ,likewise1 the pistol may be canted outboard to allow the aiming eye to look directly through the sights4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-bb4 ,isosceles ,prone ,position4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-bc4 ,squat ,method4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-bd4 ,drop ,method4 ,to make minor increases in elevation1 keep the left hand in place and firmly on the deck and raise the right hand to achieve the desired elevation4 ,however1 contact between the right and left hands must be maintained to stabilize the pistol4 ,see figure #d-be on page #d-ad4 7,there is a tradeoff between obtaining the needed elevation and losing stability1 so the ,marine must strike a balance between the two47 ,illustration3 ,figure #d-be4 ,increasing ,elevation 7,minor ,adjustments74 ,natural ,body ,alignment ,the body must be properly aligned to the target so the sights fall naturally on the target when the pistol is presented4 ,it takes a combination of body alignment and consistent muscular tension to ensure the sights fall naturally to the same area of the target every time the pistol is presented4 ,the ,marine can execute the following to check natural body alignment and to ensure the sights center on the aiming area3 ,orient the body to a target and establish a variation of the standing position and a two-handed firing grip on the pistol4 ,aim in on the target4 ,close the eyes and take a deep breath4 ,open the eyes and see where the pistol sights are in relation to the target4 ,if the pistol sights are right or left of the target1 move the feet to adjust the position right or left4 ,note3 ,do not force the sights onto the target area by moving the arms2 this increases the muscular tension on one side of the body1 disturbs balance1 and makes recoil harder to manage4 ,if the sights are significantly out of alignment when the pistol is at eye level1 it may be an indication of a poor grip4 ,when the grip is correct 7to include the muscular tension in the grip1 wrist1 and forearms71 the sights should align to the point that only minor adjustments are needed to align the sights to the aiming eye4 ,repeat the preceding steps as necessary4 ,body alignment and muscular tension are correct when the sights are naturally placed in the same area on the target every time the ,marine aims on the target4 ,,chapter #e ,,use ,,of ,,cover ,,and ,,concealment ,on the battlefield1 a firing position that allows maximum observation of the enemy as well as cover and concealment is a necessity4 ,a good position provides a solid foundation for the pistol1 maximizes the use of cover to provide protection from enemy fire1 allows mobility1 and provides observation of the enemy4 ,where possible1 the cover should be used to provide additional support for the position4 ,when contact with the enemy is made1 it is important to seek cover as quickly as possible4 ,cover is anything that provides protection from enemy fire4 ,cover should be1 at a minimum1 thick enough to stop small arms fire and high enough to protect the ,marine when firing from behind it4 ,the effective use of cover enables engagement of enemy targets while affording protection from enemy fire4 ,cover can also be effectively used to conceal the ,marine from enemy view while searching for targets4 ,concealment is anything that hides a ,marine from enemy view2 however1 it might not afford protection4 ,concealment can be provided by brush1 trees1 etc4 ,note3 ,the procedures in this chapter are written for right-handed ,marines2 left-handed ,marines must reverse directions as needed4 ,cover ,materials ,natural cover 7rocks1 logs1 rubble1 etc47 is best because it is hard to detect4 ,but any material 7including buildings1 structures1 etc47 that may protect an individual from small arms fire can be used for cover4 ,some common types of cover material are as follows4 ,dirt ,the best type of cover is dirt packed to a minimum thickness of #ah inches4 ,cinder ,blocks ,cinder blocks used as foundations for houses or walls can be used for cover1 but they can be penetrated4 ,they are also brittle and can shatter upon impact from small arms fire1 which can cause injury by secondary fragmentation4 ,trees1 ,logs1 and ,telephone ,poles ,wood is a relatively dense material2 therefore1 it offers good covering protection since bullets have a tendency to fragment as they penetrate4 ,live trees have a greater resistance to bullet penetration than dead wood4 ,wood that has been treated with creosote1 such as telephone poles and railroad ties1 offers better protection from projectiles than untreated wood1 but it still does not ensure protection from small arms fire4 ,sandbags ,sandbags can be used for cover4 ,however1 they should always be packed tightly and tamped down to increase their density4 ,if loosely filled or moist1 a bullet can more easily penetrate the sandbag4 ,doubling or overlapping sandbags also increases their protective qualities4 ,considerations for ,firing ,from ,cover ,adjusting the ,firing ,position ,cover can provide additional support for the firing position4 ,the firing position is adjusted to ensure stability1 mobility1 and observation of the enemy4 ,the ,marine chooses a firing position based on his height in relation to the height of the cover4 ,the firing position must minimize exposure to the enemy but allow observation of the area4 ,although the cover provides additional support1 the ,marine continues to apply the same amount of muscular tension in the grip1 wrist1 and forearms4 ,muscular tension is still necessary to stabilize the pistol sights and manage recovery4 ,because the sights are higher than the muzzle of the pistol1 the ,marine must ensure that the muzzle of the pistol clears the cover as he obtains sight alignment_/sight picture on the target4 ,the closer the ,marine is to the cover1 the easier it is to ensure the muzzle clears the cover4 ,applying the ,weaver and ,isosceles ,variations ,the type of cover may dictate which variation of a firing position will be the most effective4 ,the position should provide the ,marine with the maximum amount of stability and control and allow the ,marine to manage recoil effectively in order to recover on target4 ,weaver ,variation ,the ,weaver variation exposes less of the body from behind cover due to the angle of the body4 ,the ,weaver variation may be better suited for firing from behind the right or left side of cover4 ,for example1 the ,weaver prone is ideal for firing from behind a log4 ,isosceles ,variation ,the ,isosceles variation is good for firing over the top of cover 7e4g41 a window74 ,the ,isosceles prone is ideal for firing from behind narrow cover 7e4g41 a telephone pole74 ,keeping the ,body ,behind ,cover ,avoid inadvertent exposure of any part of the body4 ,be especially aware of the top of the head1 elbows1 knees1 or any other body part that may extend beyond the cover4 ,log or ,curb ,when firing from behind a log or curb1 the ,marine must present the lowest possible silhouette and may use the log or curb for maximum support of the position4 ,for maximum protection1 muzzle clearance is kept as close as possible to the top of the log or curb4 ,the ,marine may fire from either the side or the top of the log1 depending on cover and concealment 7see fig4 #e-a74 ,the ,marine fires over the top of a curb when it is used for cover4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-a4 ,firing ,around a ,log4 ,wall or ,barricade ,firing is done from either the side or over the top of a wall or barricade4 ,see figure #e-b4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-b4 ,firing ,from a ,barricade4 ,window ,if the ,marine has not been detected by the enemy1 he should use the side of the window or the window sill for support4 ,ideally1 it is best to fire from the corner of the window sill when using the window for support4 ,if there is little chance for detection or the shot can be made without support1 the ,marine should remain back and to the side of the window opening so the pistol does not protrude and his body is concealed by the shadows_/darkness of the room4 ,if the ,marine is positioned too close to the window1 his body provides a silhouette to the enemy4 ,vehicle ,in many combat situations1 particularly in urban environments1 a vehicle may be the best form of cover4 ,when using a vehicle for cover1 the engine block provides the most protection from small arms fire4 ,the ,marine establishes a position behind the front wheel or front door jamb so the engine block is between him and the target4 ,see figure #e-c4 ,from this position1 the ,marine fires over the hood of the car or underneath the car from behind the wheel4 ,at the back of the car the axle and the wheel provide the only cover4 ,if the ,marine must shoot from the back of the car1 he must position himself directly behind the wheel as much as possible4 ,see figure #e-d4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-c4 ,firing ,over the ,hood of a ,vehicle4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-d4 ,firing ,from the ,back of a ,vehicle4 ,providing ,support for the ,position and the ,pistol ,support helps stabilize both the firing position and the pistol and enable the ,marine to maintain sight alignment and sight picture4 ,the forearms or hands can contact the support to stabilize the pistol4 ,the ,marine may rest the pistol on or against the support as long as the support does not interfere or affect the pistol's cycle of operation4 ,see figure #e-e4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-e4 ,hand ,resting on ,support4 ,when firing over the top of cover1 the ,marine can establish a supported position and stabilize the position by resting the trigger guard or the magazine on the cover4 ,the pistol may be pushed up against the support so the 8,v0 formed by the receiver and the front of the trigger guard rests firmly against the support4 ,see figure #e-f4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-f4 ,trigger ,guard ,resting ,against ,support4 ,when firing around the sides of cover1 the ,marine can establish support and stabilize the position by placing the back of the hand or arm against the cover4 ,avoid placing the slide of the pistol against the cover because it can interfere with the pistol's cycle of operation4 ,however1 the pistol can be canted and placed against the cover so the trigger guard or the 8,v0 formed between the receiver and trigger guard rests against the support4 ,this position enables the ,marine to expose less of himself to the enemy4 ,see figure #e-g4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-g4 ,hand ,resting ,against ,side of ,support4 ,when using a vehicle for cover1 the ,marine can establish additional support for the pistol by positioning himself in the car behind the door jamb 7frame of door7 and placing his hands or pistol against the 8,v0 formed by the open door and door frame4 ,see figure #e-h4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-h4 ,firing ,from ,behind the ,door ,jamb of a ,vehicle4 ,when shooting from the left side of cover1 the ,marine still uses his right hand and eye4 ,see figure #e-i4 ,he may have to cant his head and the pistol to the left to establish sight alignment4 ,for right-handed ,marines1 shooting from the left side of cover may expose more of the ,marine to the enemy than shooting from the right side4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-i4 ,firing ,from the ,left ,side of ,cover4 ,changing ,positions ,if the ,marine has been firing from cover and has to reload or clear a stoppage behind cover he should attempt to resume firing from a different position4 ,the enemy is aware of the ,marine's current position and will be ready to engage him once he re-appears4 ,moving ,in combat1 the ,marine must be constantly aware of his surroundings and the available cover should enemy contact occur during movement from one position to another4 ,when moving from cover to cover1 the ,marine selects the next cover location and plans the route of movement before leaving his present position4 ,this is done by quickly looking from behind cover to ensure the area is clear1 ensuring the head and eyes are exposed for as short a time as possible4 ,if necessary1 the ,marine should conduct a ,condition #a reload before moving from cover4 ,once the ,marine is committed to moving1 he must focus on the move until cover is reassumed4 ,supported ,firing ,positions ,during combat1 the ,marine may not have the time to assume a perfect firing position4 ,he must know instinctively that his position is correct rather than follow a regimented sequence of movements to ensure its correctness4 ,with training1 the ,marine can assume stable firing positions quickly and instinctively by incorporating the use of cover for support4 ,support provides foundations for the firing position2 which1 in turn1 provides support for the pistol4 ,to maximize the support provided by the position1 the firing position should be adjusted to fit or conform to the shape of the cover4 ,a supported firing position minimizes exposure to the enemy1 maximizes the stability of the pistol and protection from fire1 and provides observation of the enemy4 ,any stable support may be used 7e4g41 logs1 sandbags1 walls74 ,the surrounding environment dictates the support and position4 ,the size1 distance to the target1 and time affect the need for stability and recovery in the selection of a supported firing position4 ,for example1 if the target is a great distance from the ,marine1 he may sacrifice some of his ability to manage recoil in order to assume a supported firing position that provides him the additional stability needed to fire accurately at long range4 ,but1 recovery may be more important for the ,marine if he must fire multiple shots on target quickly2 therefore1 he may sacrifice some stability in his supported firing position in order to engage a target with multiple shots4 ,supported ,prone ,the supported prone position presents the lowest silhouette and provides maximum protection from enemy fire4 ,the supported prone position can be assumed behind a tree1 a wall1 or almost any type and size of cover4 ,it is flexible and allows firing of the pistol from all sides4 ,to assume the supported prone position and maximize the use of cover1 the position is kept as low as possible to ensure no part of the body is exposed to the enemy4 ,if the cover is narrow1 the ,marine positions his body directly behind cover and keeps his legs together4 ,the ,marine's body is in line with the pistol and directly behind the pistol4 ,the ,isosceles prone position presents a smaller target to the enemy and more body mass to absorb recoil4 ,the ,weaver prone position is ideally suited to fire from around cover 7e4g41 log7 because of the angle of the body1 but this position presents a larger target to the enemy4 ,see figure #e-aj4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-aj4 ,weaver ,prone4 ,supported ,kneeling ,if the prone position cannot be used because of the height of the support1 the ,marine may use the supported kneeling position4 ,the kneeling position allows firing of the pistol from all sides4 ,this position may be altered to maximize the use of cover or support by assuming a variation of the kneeling position 7high1 medium1 low1 or two-knee74 ,the kneeling position provides more mobility than the prone position4 ,see figure #e-aa4 ,caution ,the ,marine must not indicate to the enemy his position with his exposed knee4 ,if the ,marine changes knees while exposed to the enemy1 he has indicated the direction of his next shot to the enemy4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-aa4 ,supported ,kneeling4 ,supported ,standing ,when use of the support is maximized1 the supported standing position can be as stable as the supported kneeling or prone position4 ,the supported standing position provides greater mobility than the other positions and usually provides greater observation of the enemy4 ,in the standing position1 the ,marine must not allow the placement of his foot to indicate to the enemy his position behind cover4 ,see figure #e-ab4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-ab4 ,supported ,standing4 ,locate and ,engage ,targets ,from ,behind ,cover ,to locate targets when behind cover or to ensure the area is clear before moving1 the ,marine must expose himself to the enemy4 ,there are two techniques used to locate and engage targets from behind cover3 the pie and the rollout4 ,these techniques minimize the ,marine's exposure to enemy fire while placing him in a position to engage targets or to move to another location if necessary4 ,both techniques are used in the kneeling and standing positions4 ,pie ,technique ,the ,weaver position is the most effective position when executing the pie technique because the position of the ,marine's body minimizes exposure to the enemy4 ,see figure #e-ac4 ,to perform the pie technique-- ,stay behind cover while moving back and away from the leading edge of the cover4 ,the surroundings and situation dictate the distance the ,marine moves back and away from the cover4 ,generally1 the further back the ,marine is from cover1 the greater his area of observation2 staying too close to cover decreases the area of observation4 ,assume a firing position and lower the pistol sights enough to have a clear field of view1 aiming in on the leading edge of the cover4 ,take small side steps and slowly move out from behind cover1 covering the field of view with the aiming eye and muzzle of the pistol4 ,wherever the eyes move1 the muzzle should move 7eyes1 muzzle1 target74 ,continue moving out from cover until a target is identified or the area is found to be clear4 ,if a target is identified1 sweep the safety off1 place the finger on the trigger1 and engage the target4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-ac4 ,pie ,technique4 ,note3 ,if a target is identified before moving out from cover1 the pistol should be thumbcocked and off safe before moving out4 ,rollout ,technique ,in this technique1 the ,isosceles position is the most effective position when executing the rollout technique because the position of the body allows the ,marine to better maintain his balance4 ,see figure #e-ad4 ,to perform the rollout technique-- ,stay behind cover1 move back1 and position the body so it is in line with the leading edge of the cover1 ensuring that no part of the body extends beyond cover4 ,assume firing position and come to the ,ready1 ensuring the muzzle is just behind cover4 ,cant the head and pistol slightly and roll the upper body out to the side enough to obtain a clear field of view4 ,keep the feet in place and push up on the ball of one foot to facilitate rolling out4 ,continue to roll out from cover until a target is identified or the area is found to be clear4 ,if a target is identified1 sweep the safety off1 place the finger on the trigger1 and engage the target4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e-ad4 ,rollout ,technique4 ,note3 ,if a target is identified before moving out from cover1 the pistol should be thumbcocked and off safe before moving out4 ,combining the ,pie and ,rollout ,techniques ,in some situations1 it may be necessary to utilize both the pie and rollout technique in order to search an entire area for targets 7i4e41 corner of a building1 doorway74 ,changing from one technique to another may allow the ,marine to minimize his exposure to the enemy and reduce the time he is exposed to enemy fire4 ,,chapter #f ,,presentation ,,of ,,the ,m#i ,,service ,,pistol ,in combat1 targets present themselves with little or no warning4 ,the ,marine must have the ability to react quickly and to effectively and efficiently present the pistol1 whether the pistol is in the holster or at a carry4 ,to successfully engage a combat target with the ,m#i service pistol1 the ,marine must master pistol presentation from the carries and transport1 pistol presentation while assuming a firing position1 and search and assess techniques4 ,note3 ,the procedures in this chapter are written for right-handed ,marines2 left-handed ,marines should reverse directions as needed4 ,sight ,alignment_/,sight ,picture ,pistol presentation drills and dry fire help the ,marine achieve a consistent grip and rapid presentation and aid in quickly acquiring sight alignment and sight picture4 ,the ,marine always executes the following steps3 ,identify the target and quickly present the pistol to the target while simultaneously sweeping the safety with the thumb of the right hand4 7,disengaging the safety with the right thumb ensures the trigger is not pulled before taking the pistol off safe47 ,shift the focus from the target to the front sight to obtain sight alignment while presenting the pistol4 ,as the front sight breaks the plane of vision1 acquire the front sight and begin to apply trigger control as sight picture is acquired4 ,apply trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,presentation ,from the ,carries and ,holsters ,presentation ,from the ,ready ,to present the pistol from the ,ready1 the ,marine performs the following steps in sequence4 ,when a target appears-- ,sweep the safety with the thumb of the right hand1 place the trigger finger on the trigger1 and raise the arms to bring the pistol to the target4 ,note3 ,if the ,marine wishes to thumbcock the pistol for a single action shot1 the pistol is thumbcocked with the left thumb after the safety is swept with the right thumb4 ,the grip of the left hand may have to be broken to thumbcock the pistol2 re-establish the grip after thumbcocking4 ,acquire sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area and apply trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,presentation ,from the ,alert ,to present the pistol from the ,alert1 the ,marine performs the following steps in sequence4 ,when a target appears-- ,sweep the safety with the thumb of the right hand1 place the trigger finger on the trigger1 and bring the pistol to the target3 ,if the arms are straight1 raise the arms to a #de-;degree angle with the deck4 ,if the arms are bent1 straighten the arms out toward the target4 ,note3 ,if the ,marine wishes to thumbcock the pistol for a single action shot1 the pistol is thumbcocked with the left thumb after the safety is swept with the right thumb4 ,the grip of the left hand may have to be broken to thumbcock the pistol2 re-establish the grip after thumbcocking4 ,acquire sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area and apply trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,presentation ,from a ,holster ,transport ,the pistol is presented from the holster in one continuous1 fluid motion4 ,m#ab ,holster ,to present the pistol from the ,m#ab holster transport1 perform the following steps in sequence once the target appears3 ,place the heel of the left hand at the center of the torso with the fingers extended toward the target4 7,the placement of the left hand allows a two-handed grip to be established in a minimum amount of movement47 ,at the same time1 unfasten and release the ,d-ring with the right hand4 ,use the right hand to place the thumb on the forward edge of the holster and the fingers around the back edge of the holster1 keeping the trigger finger straight4 ,slide the hand up the holster until the fingers come in contact with the pistol grip4 ,at the same time1 keep the thumb above the pistol to guide the holster flap up4 ,grasp the pistol grip with the fingers and draw the pistol straight up4 ,continue withdrawing the pistol while moving the thumb to a position on the safety4 ,note3 ,hand placement should allow the firing grip to be established once the thumb disengages the safety4 ,any adjustments made to the firing grip after the safety has been disengaged should be minor4 ,once the muzzle clears the holster1 rotate the muzzle forward while sweeping the safety4 ,establish a two-handed grip on the pistol by joining the left hand with the right hand in front of the torso4 ,at the same time1 start to straighten the pistol out toward the target4 ,see figure #f-a4 ,continue moving the pistol toward the target and1 at the same time1 place the trigger finger on the trigger1 acquire sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area1 and apply trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,see figure #f-b4 ,illustration3 ,figure #f-a4 ,presentation ,from the ,m#ab ,holster--,step #a4 ,illustration3 ,figure #f-b4 ,presentation ,from the ,m#ab ,holster--,step #b4 ,when time permits to thumbcock the pistol for a single action shot 7e4g41 a long-range engagement71 the ,marine presents the pistol from the holster by performing the following steps once the target appears3 ,withdraw the pistol from the holster4 ,sweep the safety with the thumb of the right hand4 ,join the left and right hands and thumbcock the pistol with the left thumb4 ,establish a two-handed grip on the pistol4 ,straighten the pistol out toward the target and1 at the same time1 place the trigger finger on the trigger1 acquire sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area1 and apply trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,m#g ,shoulder ,holster ,the ,m#i service pistol fits very snugly in the ,m#g shoulder holster because the holster was originally designed for the ,m#aiaa;,a#a 4#de-;caliber pistol1 which has a more slim1 round design1 particularly around the trigger guard4 ,a firm grip is required when holstering and withdrawing the ,m#i service pistol from the ,m#g shoulder holster4 ,to present the pistol from the ,m#g shoulder holster1 perform the following steps3 ,unsnap the thumb snap closure with the left hand4 ,wrap the fingers of the right hand around the pistol grip and rest the thumb on top of the inside of the holster4 ,see figure #f-c4 ,grasp the pistol grip firmly and draw the pistol up and away from the holster while rotating the thumb in a position to operate the safety4 ,continue withdrawing the pistol until the muzzle clears the holster and rotate the muzzle toward the target4 ,see figure #f-d4 ,sweep the safety with the thumb of the right hand while starting to punch the pistol out toward the target4 ,establish a two-handed grip on the pistol by joining the right hand with the left hand in the center of the torso4 ,see figure #f-e4 ,continue punching the pistol out and1 at the same time1 place the trigger finger on the trigger1 establish sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area1 and continue trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,illustration3 ,figure #f-c4 ,presentation ,from the ,m#g ,shoulder ,holster--,step #a4 ,illustration3 ,figure #f-d4 ,presentation ,from the ,m#g ,shoulder ,holster--,step #b4 ,illustration3 ,figure #f-e4 ,presentation ,from the ,m#g ,shoulder ,holster--,step #c4 ,assault ,holster ,to present the pistol from the assault holster1 perform the following in one1 continuous motion3 ,bring the heel of the hand down on the hammer of the pistol so that it disengages the thumb break4 ,see figure #f-f4 ,sweep the hand forward in a small circular motion1 slide the hand up the holster1 and bring the fingers up under the pistol grip4 ,note3 ,depending on the type of retention strap1 this circular motion releases the retention strap or pushes the retention strap forward and out of the way4 ,grasp the pistol grip and draw the pistol straight up and out of the holster while establishing a firing grip and positioning the thumb on the safety to operate it4 ,see figure #f-g4 ,illustration3 ,figure #f-f4 ,presentation ,from the ,assault ,holster--,step #a4 ,illustration3 ,figure #f-g4 ,presentation ,from the ,assault ,holster--,step #b4 ,concealed ,pistol ,holster ,depending on the clothing worn by the ,marine1 there are two methods for accessing the concealed pistol holster so that the clothing does not become an obstruction while presenting the pistol4 ,to present the pistol from the concealed pistol holster1 the following steps are performed in one1 continuous motion when the target appears3 ,if the ,marine is wearing a short jacket_/sweater 7waist-level7 that is buttoned or zipped-- ,move the left hand across the body and grasp the jacket or sweater just above the holster1 at the same time place the right hand on the holster below the jacket or sweater4 ,see figure #f-h on page #f-f4 ,pull up on the jacket or sweater with the left hand4 ,at the same time1 slide the right hand up the holster until the fingers come in contact with the pistol grip4 ,keep the thumb above the pistol to ensure the jacket or sweater clears the pistol4 ,see figure #f-i on page #f-f4 ,note3 ,leaning slightly forward at the waist may assist in clearing the jacket or sweater from the pistol and in removing the pistol from the holster4 ,illustration3 ,figure #f-h4 ,presentation ,from the ,concealed ,pistol ,holster--,step #a4 ,illustration3 ,figure #f-i4 ,presentation ,from the ,concealed ,pistol ,holster--,step #b4 ,if the ,marine is wearing a long jacket 7below waist-level71 or a short jacket or sweater that is unfastened-- ,place the heel of the left hand at the center of the torso to hold the left side of the jacket down with the fingers extended4 ,at the same time1 place the right hand on the right side of the jacket1 with the thumb underneath the right side of the jacket below the left hand4 ,see figure #f-aj on page #f-g4 ,keep thumb of the right hand against the body and throw the jacket back and away from the holster4 ,see figure #f-aa on page #f-g4 ,note3 ,keeping a weighted object 7e4g41 keys1 extra magazine7 in the right-hand pocket of the jacket assists in throwing the jacket back and away from the holster4 ,place the right hand on the holster and slide the hand up the holster until the fingers come in contact with the pistol grip4 ,grasp the pistol grip with the fingers and draw the pistol straight up4 ,continue withdrawing the pistol while moving the thumb to a position on the safety4 ,note3 ,hand placement should allow the firing grip to be established once the thumb disengages the safety4 ,any adjustments made to the firing grip after the safety is disengaged should be minor4 ,rotate the muzzle forward1 once it clears the holster1 while sweeping the safety4 ,establish a two-handed grip on the pistol by joining the left hand with the right hand in front of the torso4 ,at the same time1 start to punch the pistol out toward the target4 ,continue punching the pistol out and1 at the same time1 place the trigger finger on the trigger1 acquire sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area1 and apply trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,illustration3 ,figure #f-aj4 ,presentation ,from the ,concealed ,pistol ,holster with the ,long ,jacket--,step #a4 ,illustration3 ,figure #f-aa4 ,presentation ,from the ,concealed ,pistol ,holster with the ,long ,jacket--,step #b4 ,presentation ,while ,assuming the ,kneeling ,position ,in combat1 the ,marine must be able to quickly assume the kneeling position while presenting the pistol to the target4 ,this usually takes advantage of cover and provides a more stable base for shooting4 ,the following procedures are based on the ,isosceles and ,weaver variations of the standing to the kneeling shooting positions4 ,from the ,ready ,the ,marine drops to the kneeling position while raising the arms to bring the pistol up to the target4 ,note3 ,the ,weaver variation maintains the body's position in a #dj to #fj degree oblique to the target4 ,at the same time1 the ,marine sweeps the safety with the thumb of the right hand1 places the trigger finger on the trigger1 acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area1 and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,from the ,alert 7,arms ,straight7 ,the ,marine drops to the kneeling position while raising the arms to bring the pistol up to the target4 ,note3 ,the ,weaver variation maintains the body's position in a #dj to #fj degree oblique to the target4 ,at the same time1 the ,marine sweeps the safety with the thumb of the right hand1 places the trigger finger on the trigger1 acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area1 and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,from the ,alert 7,close ,quarters1 ,elbows ,bent7 ,the ,marine drops to the kneeling position while pushing the arms out toward the target4 ,note3 ,the ,weaver variation maintains the body's position in a #dj to #fj degree oblique to the target4 ,at the same time1 the ,marine sweeps the safety with the thumb of the right hand1 places the trigger finger on the trigger1 acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area1 and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,from the ,holster ,transport ,the ,marine withdraws the pistol from the holster while dropping to the kneeling position4 ,the pistol should be rotated to the target by the time the knee hits the deck4 ,the ,marine sweeps the safety with the thumb of the right hand1 establishes a two-handed firing grip and-- ,in the ,weaver variation1 raises the arms to bring the pistol up toward the target4 ,in the ,isosceles variation1 pushes the pistol out toward the target4 ,at the same time1 the ,marine places the trigger finger on the trigger1 acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area1 and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,presentation ,while ,assuming the ,prone ,position ,the prone position is generally assumed to take advantage of cover or to provide additional stability for shooting4 ,the following procedures are executed from the standing holster transports4 ,isosceles ,prone ,the ,marine withdraws the pistol from holster4 ,at the same time1 the ,marine eliminates body contact with the deck by either the squat method or the drop method4 ,the pistol is rotated to the target as the left hand is placed on the deck4 ,the ,marine sweeps the safety off4 ,note3 ,if the ,marine wishes to thumbcock the pistol for a single action shot1 it is done once the ,marine is on the deck4 ,the ,marine establishes a two-handed firing grip while spreading the legs a comfortable distance apart for stability4 ,he places the trigger finger on the trigger1 acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area1 and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,weaver ,prone ,the ,marine withdraws the pistol from the holster4 ,at the same time1 the ,marine eliminates body contact with the deck by either the squat method or the drop method4 ,the ,marine maintains the #dj to #fj degree oblique to the target4 ,the pistol should be rotated to the target as the left hand is placed on the deck4 ,the ,marine sweeps the safety off4 ,note3 ,if the ,marine wishes to thumbcock the pistol for a single action shot1 it is done once the ,marine is on the deck4 ,the ,marine brings the left knee up1 establishes a two-handed firing grip1 and places the left elbow on the deck for stability4 ,he places the trigger finger on the trigger1 acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area1 and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,search and ,assess ,to be successful in combat1 the ,marine must have the ability to assess the situation and take appropriate action following engagement4 ,once the ,marine fires one or two rounds to engage a target1 he must quickly assess the situation and the effectiveness of his engagement4 ,this split-second assessment allows the ,marine to determine the best course of action and prevents him from expending a number of rounds without assessing the results and his ability to accurately engage the target4 ,to search and assess1 perform the following steps in sequence3 ,place the trigger finger straight along the receiver immediately after a target is engaged4 ,do not place the pistol on safe4 ,lower the arms just enough to look over the pistol sights and provide a clear field of view4 ,do not rotate the wrists in order to angle the pistol downward1 this breaks the firing grip and changes the tension in the arms4 ,lowering the arms maintains the firing grip1 keeps the sights level1 and allows sight alignment and sight picture to be quickly re-established should follow-on shots need to be fired4 ,search the area by moving the head1 eyes1 and pistol left and right 7approximately #de degrees from center74 ,wherever the head moves1 the muzzle moves 7eyes1 muzzle1 target74 ,keeping both eyes open increases the field of view4 ,if the target has not been eliminated1 the ,marine must determine whether to re-engage the target3 ,if the ,marine decides to re-engage the target1 the target's size1 time and distance to the target1 and ,marine's capabilities dictate the technique used4 ,re-engagement techniques include re-engaging the target with a well-aimed precision shot1 two shots1 or offset aiming4 ,if the target's distance exceeds the ,marine's engagement capabilities or if the target is partially exposed and too small for the ,marine to accurately engage1 the ,marine should not attempt to re-engage the target4 ,the ,marine may seek cover1 seek out a better opportunity for engagement1 or use support to better stabilize the pistol4 ,when it is determined that the area is clear of all enemy threat1 place the pistol on safe without breaking the grip and assume a pistol carry or pistol transport4 ,,chapter #g ,,pistol ,,engagement ,,techniques ,the ,marine must be able to quickly detect targets and employ the proper pistol engagement and firing techniques4 ,the ,marine must also be able to re-engage a target if the initial engagement is not successful4 ,note3 ,the procedures in this chapter are written for right-handed ,marines2 left-handed ,marines should reverse directions as needed4 ,target ,detection ,target indicators reveal an enemy's position4 ,most combat targets are detected by smoke1 flash1 dust1 noise1 or movement and are usually only momentarily visible4 ,target indicators are grouped into three general areas3 movement1 sound1 and improper camouflage4 ,movement ,the ,marine does not need to look directly at an object to notice movement4 ,the eye is attracted to any movement1 especially sudden movement4 ,a slowly moving target is harder to detect than one with quick1 jerky movements4 ,therefore1 the ability to locate a moving target depends primarily on the speed of the object's movement4 ,sound ,sound 7e4g41 movement1 rattling equipment1 talking7 can be used to detect an enemy position4 ,sound provides only a general location1 making it difficult to pinpoint a target by sound alone4 ,however1 sound can alert the ,marine to the presence of a target and increases the probability of locating the target through other indicators4 ,improper ,camouflage ,the improper use of camouflage creates three target indicators3 shine1 outline1 and contrast with the background4 ,the closeness of a typical pistol engagement somewhat diminishes these effects1 but can still affect target detection4 ,the ,marine's ability to recognize target indicators aids in the detection of targets4 ,shine ,shine is created from reflective objects such as metal1 glass1 pools of water1 and the skin's natural oils4 ,shine acts as a beacon in locating a target's position4 ,outline ,the outline of camouflaged objects such as the body1 head and shoulders1 weapons1 and gear can be recognizable4 ,contrast ,with the ,background ,objects contrast with a background because of differences in color1 surface1 and shape4 ,the following are examples of objects contrasting with their background3 ,a target wearing a dark uniform would be clearly visible in an area of snow or sand4 ,symmetrical shapes1 such as helmets or rifle barrels1 can be detected in a wooded area4 ,fresh soil around a fighting hole contrasts with the otherwise unbroken ground surface4 ,while observing an area1 the ,marine notes anything that looks out of place or unusual and studies it in more detail in order to increase the chances of spotting a hidden threat4 ,techniques of ,fire ,to successfully engage a combat target with the ,m#i service pistol1 the ,marine must employ effective techniques of fire4 ,the ,marine's performance of these skills and the proper application of the fundamentals of marksmanship are critical to success in a combat situation4 ,double and ,single ,action ,firing ,when the ,m#i service pistol is taken off safe1 it is capable of firing in both a double and a single action mode4 ,double ,action ,mode ,the design of the ,m#i service pistol causes the first shot fired to be a double action shot4 ,in double action firing1 two actions occur as the trigger is moved to the rear2 the hammer moves to the rear1 cocking the pistol1 and then the hammer moves forward1 firing the pistol4 ,more pressure is required on the trigger to fire a double action shot due to the distance between the trigger and hammer and the weight of the trigger4 ,a double action shot requires approximately #i to #af pounds of pressure to move the trigger rearward4 ,maintaining sight alignment and sight picture are harder when firing a double action shot4 ,therefore1 the sights will more than likely move outside the aiming area when applying trigger pressure4 ,single ,action ,mode ,in single action firing1 the pistol is already cocked because the cycle of operation in the first double action shot leaves the hammer cocked to the rear4 ,therefore1 the only action taking place as the trigger is moved to the rear is the hammer moving forward1 firing the pistol4 ,a single action shot requires approximately #d to #f pounds of pressure to move the trigger rearward4 ,therefore1 the application of trigger control is easier when firing a single action shot4 ,to enable the first shot to be fired single action1 the pistol's hammer can be manually cocked with the thumb3 ,note3 ,the pistol must be taken off safe before it can be thumbcocked4 ,use the left thumb to pull back on the hammer to cock it4 ,this ensures that the firing grip of the right hand does not have to be broken4 ,ensure that the hammer moves all the way to the rear4 ,ensure the trigger finger remains straight along the receiver until the pistol is fully cocked4 ,re-establish the firing grip with both hands once the pistol is cocked4 ,single ,action or ,double ,action ,firing ,factors ,the decision to fire in a single or double action mode is made rapidly4 ,ultimately1 the decision is based on the ,marine's abilities1 but the decision is also based on time and accuracy4 ,the pistol is fired in the double action mode when trigger control1 sight picture1 and stability of hold are not as critical for accuracy 7i4e41 close range1 large targets74 ,the pistol is fired in the single action mode when the fundamentals are more critical to accuracy 7i4e41 long range1 small targets74 ,time ,the ,marine sacrifices time to fire a single action1 precision shot2 but what he sacrifices in time1 he gains in accuracy4 ,for quick engagements at close range1 there may not be time to thumbcock the pistol for a single action shot4 ,therefore1 firing the first shot in the double action mode is preferred because shots are needed on target quickly and stability of hold and sight picture are not as critical to accuracy4 ,when time permits and for targets at longer ranges1 the pistol may be thumbcocked to place it in the single action mode to reduce the weight of the trigger and the distance the trigger must travel rearward to fire the first shot4 ,distance and ,size of the ,target ,the smaller the target1 the more critical the application of the fundamentals in order to engage the target accurately4 ,to accurately engage a small target 7e4g41 head shot1 long-range target7 it is better to thumbcock the pistol for a single action shot4 ,engagement of a smaller target requires additional precision because sight alignment and sight picture are more critical to accuracy4 ,two-,shot ,technique ,during combat1 the preferred pistol engagement technique is to rapidly fire more than one shot on a target to eliminate it as a threat4 ,two shots fired in rapid succession increase the trauma 7i4e41 shock1 blood loss7 on the target and increase the ,marine's chances of quickly eliminating the threat4 ,therefore1 two shots are most often fired in rapid succession on a target at close range4 ,after the pistol is fired1 the muzzle climbs with the recoil of the pistol4 ,to fire two shots1 the ,marine must quickly recover the sights to the same area on the target while re-acquiring sight alignment and sight picture4 ,the proper recovery automatically brings the sights back on target following recoil4 ,a quick recovery allows more time for the ,marine to align the sights and apply trigger control to fire the next shot4 ,recovery begins immediately after the application of the fundamentals to bring the pistol sights into alignment with the target in preparation for firing the next shot4 ,the amount the muzzle climbs during recoil depends on the amount of controlled muscular tension in the grip and wrists used to stabilize the pistol and create consistency in resistance to recoil4 ,controlled muscular tension allows the pistol sights to recover consistently back on target within a minimum amount of time4 ,the speed of delivery of multiple shots depends on how fast the ,marine can re-acquire sight alignment4 ,sight recovery is determined by the following3 ,the key to proper recovery is a stable firing position and proper grip4 ,if the ,marine's firing position is not stable1 recoil forces him out of his firing position1 requiring him to re-establish his position before he takes his next shot4 ,an improper grip or lack of controlled muscular tension causes the pistol to move in the ,marine's hand after the shot is fired1 disrupting sight alignment and requiring the ,marine to re-establish his grip4 ,slow ,fire ,technique ,sight alignment becomes more critical the smaller the target and the greater the distance to the target4 ,in these situations1 the ,marine does not engage the target with two rapidly fired shots because he has to slow down his application of the fundamentals in order to fire a precision shot7s74 ,to engage small targets 7i4e41 partially exposed7 and targets at longer ranges where precision is required1 the ,marine must employ the following slow fire technique3 ,thumbcock the pistol for a single action shot4 ,slow down application of the fundamentals4 ,fire one well-aimed1 precision shot on target4 ,re-engagement ,techniques ,once the ,marine has quickly assessed the situation and determined that the threat still exists1 he may make the decision to re-engage the target to eliminate it as a threat4 ,re-engagement techniques include engaging the target with a precision shot through slow fire1 two shots1 or offset aiming4 ,the time1 size1 and distance to the target as well as the ,marine's marksmanship abilities dictate the technique used to re-engage the target4 ,slow ,fire ,technique ,if the ,marine has engaged a target and the target still poses a threat1 the ,marine may choose to slow down his application of the fundamentals and fire a slow fire1 precision shot4 ,the placement of one well-aimed1 precision shot on a designated area of the target increases the chances of eliminating the target as a threat4 ,however1 the time the ,marine has to engage the target determines if he can slow down his application of the fundamentals to fire a precision shot4 ,firing a precision shot takes time1 so the ,marine will sacrifice time for accuracy4 ,the key to successful shot placement is the ,marine's ability to slow down his performance and focus on the application of the fundamentals of marksmanship4 ,the ,marine must determine where to place shot for maximum effectiveness4 ,in order to make this decision1 the ,marine must consider distance and size of the target and time4 ,for targets at close range and within the ,marine's marksmanship abilities1 a precision shot is placed in the head to immediately eliminate the target as a threat4 ,sometimes1 even at close ranges1 the target may only be partially exposed2 therefore1 the ,marine is presented with a small target and aims his sights on the portion of the target that is exposed4 ,for targets at long ranges1 the target is smaller and requires a precision shot4 ,a precision shot may be placed in the body to add trauma to the target and increase the chances of eliminating the target as a threat4 ,two-,shot ,technique ,if a target is accurately engaged1 but does not go down1 the ,marine may re-engage the target with additional shots4 ,two additional1 rapidly delivered shots increases the trauma and increases the ,marine's chances of eliminating the threat4 ,the size and distance to the target affect how quickly two shots can be delivered on the target4 ,the speed at which two shots are fired also depends on the ,marine's marksmanship abilities and how fast he can re-acquire his front sight4 ,however1 the ,marine must not compromise accuracy for speed2 the key to successful target engagement is to fire only as quickly as the ,marine can fire effectively4 ,offset ,aiming ,when the ,marine assesses the situation and determines his shots are not successful and not striking the target in the designated aiming area1 he may employ offset aiming4 ,since the pistol's sights cannot be adjusted1 offset aiming is applied to adjust the aiming area and to cause rounds to strike center mass4 ,this technique should only be applied when the ,marine determines that he is applying the fundamentals of marksmanship correctly4 ,sight picture will change as the aiming area is adjusted4 ,the known strike of the round offset aiming technique requires shifting the point of aim to compensate for rounds striking off target center4 ,to effectively engage a target using this technique1 the ,marine must be able to see where the rounds are striking and then aim an equal distance from the center of the aiming area opposite the observed strike of the round4 ,for example1 if the rounds are striking the target high and left of center mass1 aim an equal and opposite distance low and right4 ,multiple ,targets ,if engaging more than one target at a time1 the ,marine adheres to the fundamentals of marksmanship and employs the techniques of multiple target engagement4 ,the introduction of multiple targets in a combat scenario requires additional skills that must be learned and practiced if a ,marine is to be successful4 ,to be effective in combat1 the ,marine must be able to detect targets through identification of target indicators 7identified on page #g-a71 prioritize the targets1 and employ multiple target engagement techniques4 ,combat ,mindset ,successful engagement of multiple targets requires a somewhat different mindset from single target engagement4 ,for example1 following engagement of a single target1 the ,marine assesses the situation4 ,during multiple target engagements1 after the first target is engaged1 he must immediately engage the next target and continue until all targets have been eliminated4 ,because split-second decisions must be made1 the development of a combat mindset is important to success on the battlefield4 ,a combat mindset allows the ,marine to control the pace of the battle rather than react to the threat4 ,mental preparedness is essential to successful engagement of multiple targets1 and the required mindset must be developed until it becomes second nature to the ,marine4 ,when multiple targets appear1 the ,marine must prioritize the targets to establish an engagement sequence4 ,to prioritize targets and establish an engagement sequence1 the ,marine must be aware of the surroundings1 not focus on one target1 and continuously search the terrain for additional targets4 ,prioritizing ,targets ,once multiple targets have been identified1 they must be prioritized in terms of the threat each target presents4 ,while the fundamentals of marksmanship must still be applied1 prioritizing targets and planning the engagement are just as essential to successful multiple target engagement4 ,target priority is based on factors such as proximity1 threat1 and opportunity4 ,it also encompasses the ,marine's proficiency level since a ,marine should not attempt to engage a target beyond his proficiency level or the pistol's capability 7e4g41 a target #ajj yards away74 ,the principal method of prioritizing targets is to determine the level of threat for each target so that all targets may be engaged in succession1 starting with the most threatening and ending with the least threatening4 ,prioritizing targets is an ongoing process4 ,as the engagement proceeds1 new targets may appear or previously identified targets may take cover1 delaying their engagement4 ,therefore1 the ,marine must remain constantly alert to changes in target threat1 proximity1 and the opportunity for engagement and revise target priorities accordingly4 ,engaging ,multiple ,targets ,once targets have been prioritized1 the ,marine must quickly eliminate them4 ,it is crucial to understand and practice the physical techniques for engaging multiple targets until they become second nature4 ,when these techniques occur as automatic responses1 the ,marine maintains an awareness of the complete battlefield and is able to concentrate on the mental aspects of multiple target engagement4 ,engagement ,methods ,the fundamentals of marksmanship are critical to the development of skills to support multiple target engagement4 ,while responsiveness is important when engaging multiple targets1 the ,marine's primary concern is to place accurate rounds on target4 ,a balance must be struck between placing shots quickly on targets at close range and slowing down to place precision shots on targets at long range because all targets pose a threat and must be accurately engaged4 ,to engage multiple targets-- ,engage every target1 move from target to target4 ,after all of the targets have been initially engaged1 assess the effectiveness of the engagements and1 if necessary1 re-engage targets that still pose a threat4 ,if all of the targets are eliminated1 search the area for new targets4 ,considerations for ,field ,firing ,positions ,the selection and use of field firing positions are critical to engagement of multiple targets4 ,as in any firing situation1 if the situation permits1 the ,marine should make a quick mental review of the terrain to select a firing position that provides stability1 mobility1 and observation of the enemy4 ,the firing position should also provide flexibility for engaging multiple targets4 ,the more dispersed the multiple targets1 the greater the lateral movement the position must afford to engage them4 ,the prone position provides the maximum stability for firing well-placed shots1 but engaging multiple targets from this position may require adjustment in the position from shot to shot depending on the distance between the targets and their location4 ,because the arms are fully extended on the ground1 the prone position can be restrictive1 increasing the time it will take to recover the sights onto subsequent targets4 ,if the ,marine must make an adjustment in the prone position to engage multiple targets1 he must ensure that he maintains proper arm placement4 ,improper arm placement may affect his stability of hold and his ability to acquire sight picture4 ,the following identifies position adjustments3 ,for targets that are not widely dispersed1 the ,marine adjusts the position of the lower part of the body to orient the upper body toward the target without disturbing the placement of the arms4 ,this allows the ,marine to maintain stability of hold and quickly recover on subsequent targets4 ,moving the legs to the left orients the upper body to the right2 moving the legs to the right orients the upper body to the left4 ,for targets that are widely dispersed1 the ,marine may need to adjust his entire position to orient his body in the direction of subsequent targets4 ,using the left hand1 push the upper body off the deck just high enough to move the body in the direction of the target4 ,extend the right arm toward the target and keep the muzzle pointed in the direction of the target4 ,the kneeling and standing positions provide an increased field of view and allow maximum lateral adjustment to engage dispersed targets4 ,the type of adjustment the ,marine must make in the kneeling or standing position in order to orient his body in the direction of each target is related to the distance between the targets4 ,it is also related to the ,marine's ability to maintain stability of hold and recover from recoil4 ,once the first target is engaged-- ,maintain a proper shooting position1 rotate the body in the direction of the target1 keeping the feet in place4 ,in the standing position1 the ,marine may bend slightly at the knees while rotating the body4 ,this allows the ,marine to distribute his weight forward to provide additional stability to the position and to better control the effects of recoil4 ,adjust the entire position by either adjusting the placement of the feet or knee7s7 in order to face in the direction of the new target if the targets are some distance apart4 ,ensure that as the eyes move to a new target1 the head and pistol muzzle should follow4 ,moving ,targets ,the majority of combat targets will be moving2 the enemy will move quickly from cover to cover1 exposing himself for the shortest time possible4 ,therefore1 a moving target must be engaged before it disappears4 ,the ,marine must engage a moving target with the same accuracy and precision used to engage a stationary target4 ,practice in the proper application of leads and the fundamentals of marksmanship enable the successful engagement of moving targets4 ,types of ,moving ,targets ,moving ,target ,this type of target moves in a consistent manner 7i4e41 walking or running7 and is in continuous sight as it moves across the ,marine's field of vision4 ,however1 unless the enemy is completely unaware of the ,marine's presence1 this type of target is not likely to present itself4 ,stop and ,go ,target ,this type of target appears and disappears during its movement due to intermittent cover4 ,it will present itself for only a short period of time before re-establishing cover4 ,this type of target is most vulnerable to fire at the beginning and end of its movement because it begins slow and gains momentum as it leaves cover and then slows to avoid overrunning the new cover4 ,leads for ,moving ,targets ,once the moving target has been identified it must be engaged4 ,to engage a moving target1 the ,marine must aim at a point in front of the target1 which is known as a lead4 ,lead is the distance in advance of the target that is required to strike the target when it is moving4 ,to achieve success1 determining the amount of lead to engage a moving target must be as precise as possible4 ,when a shot is fired at a moving target1 the target continues to move during the time of the bullet's flight4 ,for this reason1 the aim must be in front of the target2 otherwise1 the shot will fall behind the target4 ,factors ,affecting ,lead ,factors that affect the amount of lead are the target's range1 speed1 and angle of movement4 ,range4 ,there is a time lag from the time a round is fired until the round strikes at the point of aim4 ,this time of flight could allow a target to move out of the bullet's path if the round were fired directly at the target4 ,time of flight increases as range to the target increases4 ,therefore1 the lead must be increased in proportion to the distance to the target4 ,speed4 ,a greater lead is required to hit a running man than a walking man because the running man moves a greater distance during the flight of the bullet4 ,angle of ,movement4 ,the angle of target movement also affects the amount of lead required for target engagement4 ,the angle of movement across the ,marine's line of sight relative to the flight of the bullet determines the type 7amount7 of lead4 ,types of ,leads ,full ,lead4 ,the target moves straight across the ,marine's line of sight with only one arm and half the body visible4 ,this target requires a full lead because it moves the greatest distance across the ,marine's line of sight during the bullet's flight4 ,half ,lead4 ,the target moves obliquely across the ,marine's line of sight 7at about a #de-;degree angle74 ,one arm and over half of the back or chest are visible4 ,this target requires half of a full lead because it moves half as far as a target moving directly across the ,marine's line of sight during the bullet's flight4 ,no ,lead4 ,a target moving directly toward or away from the ,marine presents a full view of both arms and the entire back or chest4 ,no lead is required4 ,this target is engaged in the same manner as a stationary target because it is not moving across the ,marine's line of sight4 ,point of ,aim ,technique ,to engage a moving target1 a ,marine establishes a lead using a point of aim offset aiming technique4 ,this technique uses predetermined points of aim to sector a man-sized target vertically1 halfway between center mass and the leading edge of the target 7both one point of aim and two points of aim7 7see fig4 #g-a on page #g-h74 ,the same units of measure can be applied off the target for holds of additional points of aim4 ,to use the point of aim technique to establish a lead on a man-sized moving target at various ranges1 speeds1 and angles of movement1 the following guidelines apply4 ,see figure #g-b on page #g-i4 ,for a target moving at a distance of #ae yards away or less1 no lead is required4 ,for a target walking directly across the ,marines line of sight 7full lead7 between #af and #be yards away1 hold #a point of aim in the direction the target is moving4 ,for a target running directly across the ,marine's line of sight 7full lead7 between #af and #be yards away1 hold #b points of aim in the direction the target is moving4 ,methods of ,engagement ,moving targets1 although difficult1 can be engaged by the tracking or ambush method or a combination of the two4 ,see figure #g-b on page #g-i4 ,tracking ,method ,in this method1 the ,marine 8tracks0 or follows the target with his front sight while maintaining sight alignment and a point of aim on or ahead of 7leading7 the target until the shot is fired4 ,sight picture is the aiming point in relation to the target while maintaining sight alignment 7when a lead is established in moving target engagement1 the sights are not entered on the target74 ,to execute the tracking method-- ,thumbcock the pistol while presenting it to the target4 ,track the muzzle of the pistol through the target to the desired point of aim 7lead74 ,the point of aim may be on the target or some point in front of the target depending upon the target's range1 speed1 and angle of movement4 ,track and maintain focus on the front sight while applying trigger pressure and acquiring sight alignment4 ,continue tracking and applying trigger pressure while acquiring sight picture4 ,when sight picture is established1 engage the target while maintaining the proper point of aim 7lead74 ,follow through so the lead is maintained as the bullet exits the muzzle4 ,continuing to track also enables a second shot to be fired on target4 ,ambush ,method ,the ambush method is generally used to engage a stop and go target and when it is difficult to track the target with the pistol1 such as in the prone position4 ,with this method1 the pistol is aimed at a predetermined engagement point ahead of the target and along its path1 allowed to remain stationary1 and fired when the target reaches the predetermined engagement point4 ,the engagement point is based on the required point of aim 7lead7 to engage the target effectively4 ,when the sights are settled1 the target moves into the predetermined engagement point creating the desired sight picture4 ,once sight picture is established1 the remaining pressure is applied on the trigger until the shot is fired4 ,to execute the ambush method-- ,look for a pattern of exposure4 ,thumbcock the pistol while presenting it to a selected point of aim ahead of the target4 ,apply trigger pressure while obtaining sight alignment in the aiming area4 ,continue applying trigger pressure and hold sight alignment until the target moves into the predetermined engagement point and the desired sight picture is established4 ,engage the target once the sight picture is acquired4 ,follow through so the pistol sights are not disturbed as the bullet exits the muzzle4 ,illustration3 ,figure #g-a4 ,points of ,aim4 ,applying the ,fundamentals of ,marksmanship ,the engagement of moving targets is a perishable skill that must be practiced frequently if it is to be maintained4 ,the ,marine must practice to develop the skill to calculate the point of aim 7lead7 and fire the shot while maintaining the proper point of aim 7lead74 ,to engage moving targets using the tracking method1 the ,marine moves the pistol smoothly and steadily as the target moves4 ,a stable position and firm grip are necessary to steady the pistol sights while tracking4 ,when using the tracking method1 continue tracking the target while following through with the shot process so the point of aim 7lead7 is maintained as the bullet exits the muzzle4 ,continuing to track also enables a second shot to be fired on target if necessary4 ,concentration should be on continuing to track while applying the fundamentals4 ,the fundamentals must be instinctively applied1 allowing concentration on tracking the target and applying point of aim 7lead74 ,illustration3 ,figure #g-b4 ,moving ,target ,engagement ,methods4 ,aiming ,sight alignment remains unchanged for accurate engagement of a moving target4 ,the most common error when engaging moving targets is to focus on the target rather than focusing on the front sight4 ,sight picture is the point of aim in relation to the target while maintaining sight alignment4 ,for both the ambush and tracking methods1 sight picture is changed from the normal center mass picture1 based on range1 speed1 and angle of movement of the target4 ,it takes practice in moving target engagement to quickly establish the desired sight picture for a given point of aim 7lead74 ,breath ,control ,there is no difference in breath control when engaging moving targets2 the breath is held to fire the shot4 ,trigger ,control ,trigger control is critical to firing shots while establishing and maintaining sight alignment and sight picture4 ,because the single action mode is the preferred method of engaging a moving target1 the pistol is thumbcocked before trigger control is applied4 ,the following guidelines apply3 ,do not use interrupted trigger control when engaging moving targets because the point of aim 7lead7 is lost or has to be adjusted if the trigger is held in order to re-assume the proper sight picture4 ,do not stop tracking as trigger control is applied4 ,this causes the shot to impact behind the moving target4 ,trigger control should be uninterrupted while maintaining the point of aim so the trigger is pulled in one continuous1 smooth motion to the rear4 ,do not interrupt trigger control when the target is masked from view4 ,this is particularly true in the ambush method for targets that appear to stop and go when moving to and from cover4 ,trigger control should be uninterrupted4 ,,chapter #h ,,one-,,handed ,,techniques ,in combat1 a situation may arise where the ,marine must engage a target by using only one hand4 ,a ,marine fires the pistol one-handed when-- ,the ,marine's other hand is occupied4 ,a target presents itself so quickly and at a close range that the ,marine does not have time to establish a two-handed grip and position4 ,one of the ,marine's hands is injured4 ,note3 ,the procedures in this chapter are written for right-handed ,marines2 left-handed ,marines should reverse directions as needed4 ,presentation and ,shooting ,adjustment of the ,standing ,position ,to fire accurately1 the ,marine must maintain the same stability and control of the pistol1 manage recoil1 and recover on target as effectively with one hand as with two4 ,this is accomplished by adjusting the standing position as the pistol is presented to the target 7see fig4 #h-a74 ,the ,marine's angle to the target determines what adjustments are made to the standing position4 ,this adjustment is made while the pistol is being presented to the target by moving or sliding the feet to orient the body to the target4 ,for stability and balance1 the right foot may be slightly forward of the left foot4 ,the further to the right of the ,marine the target is the farther forward the right foot will be4 ,to adjust the standing position when firing one-handed-- ,increase the muscular tension in the right arm and bend the elbow slightly to better manage the pistol4 ,note3 ,for some ,marines1 muscular tension in the firing arm and the position of the body in relation to the target causes them to cant the pistol inboard slightly4 ,a slight inboard cant of the pistol and firing arm allows a natural bend in the elbow and allows a better management of recoil and recovery of the sights back on target4 ,any cant should be natural and not caused by excessive muscular tension4 ,a slight cant does not affect shooting performance and should not alter the application of the fundamentals of marksmanship4 ,apply controlled muscular tension throughout the body to better manage the effects of recoil4 ,lean forward aggressively1 roll the shoulders forward1 and tuck the head into the shoulders4 ,note3 ,the following step is done only during training to demonstrate how to stabilize the position and to simulate the ,marine's other hand being occupied4 ,place the left hand in a fist on the center of the torso to increase stability4 ,if the left arm is swinging freely it causes a corresponding movement in the pistol1 reducing stability and control4 ,placing the left hand on the torso also ensures it is not covered by the muzzle of the pistol as the pistol is presented4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-a4 ,one-,handed ,presentation4 ,searching and ,assessing ,after ,firing ,following one-handed target engagement1 the ,marine must quickly decide if it is to his advantage and if it is possible to free his occupied hand in order to place both hands on the pistol to search and assess4 ,whenever possible1 the ,marine places both hands on the pistol to increase stability and to be ready for re-engagement if necessary4 ,reloading ,dry ,reload ,when only one hand is available1 the dry reload can be performed as follows3 ,seek cover1 if the situation permits4 ,press the magazine release button and allow the magazine to fall to the deck4 ,if using the right hand1 press the magazine release button with the thumb4 ,if using the left hand1 press the magazine release button with the trigger finger4 ,point the muzzle in a safe direction and position the pistol to facilitate loading the magazine4 ,depending on the firing position1 this is accomplished using one of the following methods3 ,two-,knee ,kneeling ,position ,rotate the pistol so the magazine well faces up and the muzzle of the pistol is pointed away from the body4 ,place the pistol between the thighs or knees and apply pressure to hold the pistol in place4 ,withdraw a filled magazine from the ammunition pocket and insert it into the magazine well1 seating it with the heel of the hand4 ,see figure #h-b4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-b4 ,one-,handed ,dry ,reload3 ,two-,knee ,kneeling ,position4 ,standing ,position ,rotate the pistol so the magazine well faces up and the muzzle of the pistol is pointed away from the body4 ,place the pistol between the thighs or knees and apply pressure to hold the pistol in place4 ,bend slightly at the knees to secure the pistol between the thighs4 ,withdraw a filled magazine from the ammunition pocket and insert it into the magazine well1 seating it with the heel of the hand4 ,see figure #h-c4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-c4 ,one-,handed ,dry ,reload3 ,standing ,position4 ,kneeling ,position 7,high1 ,medium1 ,low7 ,rotate the pistol so the magazine well faces outboard and the muzzle is pointed away from the body4 ,place the rear portion of the slide in the bend of the right knee and apply pressure with the leg to hold the pistol in place4 ,for additional control1 the ,marine may drop to a two-knee kneeling position and place the pistol between his knees4 ,withdraw a filled magazine from the ammunition pocket and insert it into the magazine well1 seating it with the heel of the hand4 ,see figure #h-d on page #h-d4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-d4 ,one-,handed ,dry ,reload3 ,kneeling ,position4 ,prone ,position ,the ,marine places the pistol on the deck in front of him and against his body with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction4 ,alternately1 the ,marine may roll on his side and place the pistol between his knees1 with the magazine well facing out4 ,withdraw a filled magazine from the ammunition pocket and insert it into the magazine well1 seating it with the heel of the hand4 ,see figure #h-e on page #h-d4 ,grasp the pistol grip and remove the pistol from its secured location or from the deck4 ,press the slide release to allow the slide to move forward and chamber a round4 ,if using the right hand1 press the slide release with the thumb4 ,if using the left hand1 press the slide release with the index finger4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-e4 ,one-,handed ,dry ,reload3 ,prone ,position4 ,condition #a ,reload ,when only one hand is available1 a ,condition #a reload can be performed as follows3 ,point the muzzle in a safe direction and position the pistol to allow for removal of the magazine 7e4g41 between the thighs1 in the bend of the knee1 in the holster1 tucked in the cartridge belt1 on the deck against the body74 ,any position is correct if it allows the magazine well to be exposed4 ,withdraw a filled magazine from the ammunition pocket4 ,press the magazine release button and remove the magazine from the pistol4 ,if using the right hand1 press the magazine release button with the thumb4 ,if using the left hand1 press the magazine release button with the index finger4 ,insert the filled magazine into the magazine well1 seating it with the heel of the hand4 ,stow the partially-filled magazine 7e4g41 inside the cartridge belt1 in the cargo pocket74 ,grasp the pistol grip and remove the pistol from its secured location1 keeping the trigger finger straight and off the trigger until ready to fire4 ,remedial ,action ,remedial action requires investigating the cause of the stoppage1 clearing the stoppage1 and returning the pistol to operation4 ,when performing remedial action1 seek cover if the tactical situation permits4 ,once a pistol ceases to fire1 the ,marine must visually or physically observe the pistol to identify the problem before it can be cleared4 ,the steps taken to clear the pistol are based on what is observed3 ,remove the finger from the trigger and place it straight along the receiver4 ,lock the slide to the rear4 ,to pull and lock the slide to the rear1 push up on the slide stop and maintain pressure with the right thumb4 7,push up on the slide stop with the left index finger if remedial action is being performed with the weak hand47 ,secure the rear sight on the top of the cartridge belt or any other surface that provides the resistance needed to stabilize the pistol4 ,see figure #h-f4 ,while applying pressure on the pistol to keep the rear sight secured1 push downward on the pistol in one continuous motion to lock the slide to the rear4 ,note3 ,ensure the pistol does not move to safe when locking the slide to the rear4 ,place the pistol in a position to observe the chamber4 ,correct the stoppage4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-f4 ,one-,handed ,remedial ,action4 ,if there is a round in the magazine but not in the chamber1 release the slide and observe a round being chambered4 ,if you do not observe a round being chambered1 tap1 rack1 and bang to perform remedial action3 ,tap ,keep muzzle pointed in a safe direction and place trigger finger straight along the receiver4 ,strike the bottom of the magazine against a hard surface to ensure it is seated4 ,in the kneeling position1 strike the magazine against the thigh 7see fig4 #h-g on page #h-f74 ,in the standing position1 bring the right knee up while striking magazine against the right thigh 7see fig4 #h-h on page #h-f74 ,in the prone position1 strike the magazine against the deck4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-g4 ,tap the ,magazine ,against the ,knee3 ,kneeling ,position4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-h4 ,tap the ,magazine ,against the ,knee3 ,standing ,position4 ,rack ,rotate the pistol so the rear sight can be hooked on the top of the cartridge belt or any other surface 7e4g41 the edge of a table1 wall1 heel of the boot7 that provides the resistance needed to rack the slide in a smooth1 uninterrupted motion4 ,do not let the muzzle of the pistol cover the body4 ,see figures #h-i and #h-aj4 ,apply pressure on the pistol to keep the rear sight secured while pushing downward on the pistol to move the slide fully to the rear4 ,release pressure on the pistol to chamber the round4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-i4 ,rack ,slide ,against ,cartridge ,belt4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-aj4 ,rack ,slide ,against ,heel of ,boot4 ,bang ,recover the pistol on target1 re-establish sight alignment_/sight picture1 and attempt to fire4 ,presentation ,from the ,holster ,with the ,weak ,hand ,during combat1 the ,marine must be prepared to engage targets at any time4 ,therefore1 the ,marine must have the ability to present the pistol from the holster with his weak 7left7 hand if circumstances prevent him from using his strong 7right7 hand4 ,he must apply the same smooth1 controlled movement to present the pistol to the target4 ,there are three methods for withdrawing the pistol from the holster with the weak hand4 ,the ,marine should practice each method to determine which works best for him4 ,method ,one3 ,pistol ,rotation ,unfasten and release the ,d-ring with the left hand4 ,see figure #h-aa4 ,wrap the fingers and thumb around the pistol grip so the index finger and thumb are around the base of the pistol grip4 ,see figure #h-ab4 ,draw the pistol straight up until trigger guard clears the top of the holster4 ,see figure #h-ac4 ,rotate the pistol so the magazine well faces the target and the trigger guard rests on the top of the holster4 ,ensure the trigger guard rests securely against the top of the holster4 ,see figure #h-ad on page #h-h4 ,maintain downward pressure on the pistol and slide the left hand around the pistol grip to establish a firing grip4 ,see figure #h-ae4 ,grasp the pistol and continue to withdraw the pistol until the muzzle clears the holster and rotate the muzzle toward the target4 ,sweep the safety off with the thumb of the left hand while moving the pistol out toward the target4 ,at the same time1 place the trigger finger on the trigger and establish sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area4 ,continue trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-aa4 ,method ,one3 ,release ,d-,ring4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-ab4 ,method ,one3 ,grasp the ,pistol4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-ac4 ,method ,one3 ,clearing ,trigger ,guard4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-ad4 ,method ,one3 ,rotating the ,pistol4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-ae4 ,method ,one3 ,establishing the ,firing ,grip4 ,method ,two3 ,hand ,rotation ,unfasten and release the ,d-ring with the left hand4 ,push the holster flap up and out of the way with the back of the left hand4 ,push the right hip out to facilitate grasping the pistol grip4 ,grasp the pistol grip between the holster flap and the pistol grip1 the thumb is wrapped around the other side of the pistol grip against the backstrap4 ,see figure #h-af4 ,note3 ,the cartridge belt may be pulled with the left hand to bring the holster closer to the body's center to facilitate grasping the pistol4 ,draw the pistol straight up while rotating the pistol so the magazine well faces inboard4 ,continue to remove the pistol until the trigger guard rests on the holster4 ,see figure #h-ag4 ,establish a firing grip and rotate the thumb to a position to operate the safety4 ,see figure #h-ah4 ,continue to withdraw the pistol until the muzzle clears the holster and rotate the muzzle to the target4 ,see figure #h-ai4 ,sweep the safety with the thumb of the left hand while moving the pistol out toward the target4 ,at the same time1 place the trigger finger on the trigger and establish sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area4 ,continue trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-af4 ,method ,two3 ,grasping the ,pistol4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-ag4 ,method ,two3 ,trigger ,guard ,rests on ,holster4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-ah4 ,method ,two3 ,establish ,firing ,grip4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-ai4 ,method ,two3 ,rotating the ,muzzle4 ,method ,three3 ,knee ,placement ,this method is particularly effective when firing from the two-knee kneeling position and the standing position4 ,unfasten and release the ,d-ring with the left hand4 ,wrap the fingers and thumb around the pistol grip so the index finger and thumb are around the base of the pistol grip4 ,draw the pistol straight up until the muzzle clears the holster and rotate the muzzle forward4 ,the magazine well should face upward4 ,place the pistol between the thighs1 applying enough tension to keep the pistol in place4 ,the ,marine must ensure that he does not disengage the safety while performing this motion and that the muzzle of the pistol is clear of the body4 ,in the standing position1 the ,marine bends slightly at the knees to facilitate securing the pistol between the thighs4 ,remove the left hand from the pistol grip and rotate the hand around the pistol grip to facilitate establishing a firing grip4 ,grasp the pistol grip and remove the pistol from the thighs1 rotating the pistol until the muzzle is pointed toward the target4 ,sweep the safety with the thumb of the left hand while starting to punch the pistol out toward the target4 ,establish a firing grip and continue to punch the pistol out toward the target4 ,at the same time1 place the trigger finger on the trigger and establish sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area4 ,continue trigger pressure until the shot is fired4 ,transferring the ,pistol ,from ,one ,hand to the ,other ,situations may arise in combat where the ,marine must transfer the pistol to the left hand to engage a target because the right hand or arm is injured4 ,to safely transfer the pistol from one hand to the other1 perform the following steps3 ,note3 ,this procedure is written to transfer the pistol from the right hand to the left hand4 ,point the muzzle in the direction of the target and place the trigger finger straight along the receiver4 ,see figure #h-bj4 ,place the web of the left index finger and thumb under the backstrap of the pistol4 ,see figure #h-ba4 ,wrap the fingers of the left hand around the pistol grip while releasing the right hand grip4 ,establish a firing grip with the left hand on the pistol4 ,see figure #h-bb4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-bj4 ,transferring the ,pistol--,step #a4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-ba4 ,transferring the ,pistol--,step #b4 ,illustration3 ,figure #h-bb4 ,transferring the ,pistol--,step #c4 ,,chapter #i ,,advanced ,,techniques ,some tactical situations are quite complex and require ,marines to apply advanced pistol engagement techniques in order to effectively engage the enemy and survive4 ,the ability of the ,marine to rapidly shoot on the move and to turn and fire will be critical to a successful engagement4 ,note3 ,the procedures in this chapter are written for right-handed ,marines2 left-handed ,marines should reverse directions as needed4 ,shooting on the ,move ,when moving from one area of cover to another1 the ,marine may engage a target that presents an immediate threat4 ,in this situation1 the ,marine relies on accurate fire to serve as his cover4 ,moving ,with the ,pistol ,the likelihood of encountering a threat dictates how the pistol is carried while the ,marine is moving4 ,but regardless of the method of carry1 the pistol's muzzle is pointed in the same direction that the head and eyes are looking--the eyes and muzzle move as one4 ,when carrying the pistol in the ,alert position1 the pistol is tucked in close to the body1 finger off the trigger4 ,this position allows the ,marine freedom of movement and still allows for a quick presentation of the pistol4 ,if there is a high probability of encountering a threat1 the ,marine carries the pistol in the ,ready position while moving4 ,moving3 ,the ,glide ,technique ,to shoot accurately while moving1 the ,marine cannot run or walk fast4 ,a normal running movement produces too much bounce in the ,marine's body and makes it extremely difficult to use the sights of the pistol or to achieve the needed level of stability for accurate shooting4 ,therefore1 the proper movement technique is similar to a glide and allows for accurate target engagement3 ,a lower center of gravity is achieved by keeping the knees bent and the upper body erect4 ,the bent knees also serve to absorb the shock generated by movement4 ,the feet are not lifted as high as in a normal walk or run1 allowing obstructions to be kicked out of the way4 ,the feet and knees point in the direction of travel4 ,if there is a need to engage a target off to the side1 the ,marine rotates at the waist to move the upper body in the desired direction4 ,the upper body shooting position does not change4 ,the glide is not a technique that can be used for a long period of time or for long distances4 ,rather1 the ,marine can move in a normal manner until it becomes necessary to engage a target1 he then slows and assumes the glide4 ,engaging ,targets3 ,using the ,pistol ,sights ,when the ,marine fires the pistol1 he must concentrate on the pistol's front sight4 ,the adherence to the fundamentals of marksmanship becomes even more vital when both the ,marine and the enemy may be moving4 ,continuing to ,move ,a ,marine continues to move no matter what happens4 ,continuing to move makes it difficult for the threat to engage the ,marine and can be one of the ,marine's best defensive assets4 ,when moving to cover or to a different position1 the ,marine should not stop to engage a target4 ,reloading and ,stoppages ,if a stoppage occurs or a reload is required while moving1 the ,marine's primary consideration is to keep moving and seek cover4 ,ideally1 reloads and clearing stoppages are performed behind cover4 ,turn and ,fire ,the techniques for turn and fire allow a ,marine to engage a target that is not directly in front of him4 ,the key to turn and fire is smoothness and quickness of pivoting and presentation of the pistol to engage the threat4 ,turn and fire is based on the principle that wherever the head goes1 the body follows4 ,engaging ,targets #ij ,degrees to the ,right and ,left ,the ,marine turns the head toward the threat and identifies the target4 ,once the target is identified1 the ,marine maintains focus on the target for the rest of the presentation4 ,if engaging a target #ij degrees to the right1 the ,marine turns toward the target by raising the left foot while pivoting on the ball of the right foot4 ,the ,marine plants the left foot once he is facing the target squarely4 ,the stance is natural4 ,see figure #i-a4 ,the ,marine then engages the target4 ,if engaging a target #ij degrees to the left1 the ,marine turns toward the target by raising the right foot while pivoting on the ball of the left foot4 ,the ,marine plants the right foot once he is facing the target squarely4 ,the stance is natural4 ,see figure #i-b4 ,the ,marine then engages the target4 ,illustration3 ,figure #i-a4 ,engaging ,targets #ij ,degrees to the ,right4 ,illustration3 ,figure #i-b4 ,engaging ,targets #ij ,degrees to the ,left4 ,engaging ,targets #ahj ,degrees to the ,rear ,the ,marine turns the head toward the target1 looking over either the right or left shoulder1 and identifies the target4 ,once the target is identified1 the ,marine maintains focus on the target for the rest of the presentation4 ,see figure #i-c on page #i-d4 ,if the ,marine pivots to the right to engage the target1 pick up the left foot1 move it across the right foot1 while pivoting #ahj degrees on the ball of the right foot1 plant the left foot1 and squarely face the target in a natural stance4 ,see figure #i-d on page #i-d4 ,if the ,marine pivots to the left to engage the target1 pick up the right foot1 move it across the left foot1 while pivoting #ahj degrees on the ball of the left foot1 plant the left foot1 and squarely face the target in a natural shooting stance4 ,see figure #i-e on page #i-d4 ,the ,marine then engages the target4 ,illustration3 ,figure #i-c4 ,engaging ,targets #ahj ,degrees to the ,rear4 ,illustration3 ,figure #i-d4 ,engaging ,targets #ahj ,degrees to the ,rear 7,right ,shoulder74 ,illustration3 ,figure #i-e4 ,engaging ,targets #ahj ,degrees to the ,rear 7,left ,shoulder74 ,,chapter #aj ,,low ,,light ,,and ,,darkness ,,techniques ,an effective combat marksman must be prepared to detect and engage targets under a variety of conditions4 ,factors such as terrain and opportunity often dictate that the ,marine engage combat targets at night or under low-light conditions4 ,the fundamentals of marksmanship are employed for engagement of targets in low light and darkness just as they are in daylight4 ,however1 the principles of night vision and target detection when engaging targets at night must be applied4 ,combat ,mindset ,in the stress of the combat environment1 ,marines must eliminate any hesitation1 fear1 or uncertainty of action and focus on the actions to fire well-aimed shots4 ,this is important during low light and darkness when attention is more easily diverted because the sense of vision is reduced4 ,this may create a shock of awareness as the ,marine relies more heavily on his other senses4 ,every noise1 movement1 and muzzle blast appears intensified at night4 ,the physical acts of shooting must become second nature to the ,marine1 so his focus will not be diverted from firing well-aimed shots4 ,this is accomplished through mental preparedness and training until shooting actions become instinctive4 ,night ,vision ,adaptation and ,maintenance ,night ,vision ,adaptation ,there are two methods for acquiring night vision4 ,the first method is to remain in an area of darkness for about #cj minutes4 ,this area can be indoors or outdoors4 ,the major disadvantage of this approach is that a ,marine is not able to perform any tasks while acquiring night vision in total darkness4 ,the second method is to remain in a darkened area under a low intensity red light 7similar to the light in a photographer's darkroom7 for about #bj minutes1 followed by about #aj minutes in darkness without the red light4 ,this method produces almost complete night vision adaptation while permitting the performance of some tasks during the adjustment period4 ,night ,vision ,maintenance ,because the eyes take a long time to adjust to darkness1 it is important to protect night vision once it is acquired4 ,to maintain night vision1 the ,marine avoids looking at any bright light and shields the eyes from parachute flares1 spotlights1 or headlights4 ,when using a flashlight to read a map or other material-- ,put one hand over the glass to limit the area illuminated and the intensity of the light4 ,keep one eye shut to reduce the amount of night vision lost4 ,cover the light with a red filter to help reduce the loss of night vision4 ,target ,detection ,techniques ,once the ,marine has acquired night vision1 he is prepared to locate targets4 ,some of the daylight observation techniques1 such as searching for target indicators1 also apply at night or in low light4 ,but night observation techniques must allow for the limitations of night vision and the need to protect it4 ,off-,center ,vision ,because of the placement of the cones in the center of the retina and the rods around the edges1 the angle at which the ,marine observes an object at night affects how well it is seen4 ,off-center vision is the technique of keeping the attention focused on an object without looking directly at it4 ,to maximize the use of the eye's rods that provide night vision-- ,never look directly at the object being observed4 ,look slightly to the left1 right1 above1 or below the object4 ,each ,marine must experiment and practice this technique to find the best off-center angle4 ,typically1 the best off-center angle is #f to #aj degrees away from the object or about a fist's width at arm's length4 ,see figure #aj-a4 ,illustration3 ,figure #aj-a4 ,off-,center ,vision4 ,scanning_/,figure ,eight ,scan ,scanning is the use of off-center vision to observe an area or object and involves slowly moving the eyes in a series of separate movements across the objective area4 ,see figure #aj-b4 ,to execute a figure eight scan1 move the eyes in a figure eight pattern in short1 abrupt1 irregular movements over and around the area4 ,once a target indicator has been detected1 focus should be concentrated in that area1 but not directly at it4 ,it is more effective to scan from a prone position or a position closer to the ground than the object being observed1 creating a silhouetted view of the object4 ,when scanning an area1 look and listen for the same target indicators as in daylight3 movement1 sound 7which seems louder at night than during daylight71 and improper camouflage4 ,also1 objects in bright moonlight_/starlight cast shadows just as in sunlight4 ,illustration3 ,figure #aj-b4 ,figure ,eight ,scan4 ,effects of ,illumination ,both ambient 7natural7 light and artificial illumination can affect a ,marine's perception of the target's distance and size and his night vision4 ,the following situations produce less of an effect at the close ranges that pistol engagements occur1 but they still affect target detection and engagement3 ,light behind or between the ,marine and the target illuminates the front of the target and makes it appear closer than it actually is4 ,light beyond the target displays the target in silhouette and makes it appear farther away than it actually is4 ,the introduction of light requires the eyes to make a sudden1 drastic adjustment to the amount of light received1 causing a temporary blinding effect that occurs when night vision is interrupted abruptly4 ,ambient light can also have the same blinding effect2 e4g41 when a bright moon suddenly appears from behind clouds4 ,acquiring ,targets at ,night ,the ,marine must keep both eyes open to get maximum visual coverage of the target area4 ,keeping both eyes open also improves depth perception and peripheral vision4 ,sight ,alignment_/,sight ,picture ,sight alignment and sight picture are obtained the same way in darkness as in daylight4 ,there is normally enough ambient light to perceive objects as far away as #ej meters1 especially if they are moving4 ,however1 when pistol sights are placed on a dark background1 such as a camouflaged target1 the ,marine may not be able to acquire and align the sights clearly4 ,instead1 the ,marine may have to rely almost entirely on his presentation1 firing position1 and grip to get the pistol on target4 ,to check for sight alignment or acquire the sights3 ,move the pistol just off the edge of the target to an area that provides a good contrast4 ,acquire sight alignment4 ,bring the sights back on line with the target while applying pressure to the trigger so the shot breaks once the sights are on target4 ,flashlights ,a flashlight can be used in low light and darkness to identify and illuminate targets4 ,it is also used to acquire sight picture4 ,types of ,flashlights ,there are a variety of flashlights used throughout the ,marine ,corps4 ,they come in many different shapes and sizes2 however1 they are either straight_/tubular or ,l-shaped4 ,straight_/,tubular ,the straight_/tubular flashlight is the most common4 ,the body of the flashlight is a straight_/tubular shape with the lens at the head of the flashlight4 ,the on_/off mechanism is located along the body or at the base of the flashlight4 ,l-,shaped ,the ,l-shaped flashlight has a straight_/tubular body1 with the head_/lens of the flashlight positioned at a #ij-;degree angle to the body of the flashlight4 ,the on_/off mechanism is located along the body or at the base of the flashlight4 ,activation ,devices ,depending on the type of flashlight1 there are several ways that it can be activated4 ,on_/,off ,button ,on_/off buttons are located either along the body of the flashlight or at the base4 ,on_/off buttons are operated in a number of ways1 depending on the flashlight4 ,on_/,off ,switch ,on_/off switches are mounted on the body of the flashlight4 ,this switch has three settings that allow the flashlight to be either on1 off1 or in manual mode4 ,in the manual mode1 the flashlight is turned on by pressing and holding the button located next to the on_/off switch4 ,rotating ,head ,rotating the head of the flashlight1 either clockwise or counterclockwise1 turns the flashlight on4 ,continuing this motion allows the width and intensity of the beam to be adjusted4 ,types of ,lenses ,clear ,lenses ,clear lenses are used primarily for target detection and to illuminate the pistol sights4 ,they are the most commonly used lens4 ,colored ,lenses ,colored lenses include red1 amber1 and blue4 ,these lenses are used primarily for map reading and signaling1 but can be used to illuminate the pistol's sights4 ,target ,detection ,when a target is illuminated1 the front sight may become silhouetted against the target1 providing the sight picture needed to engage the target4 ,during target detection1 the ,marine's focus should be twofold3 to scan the area to identify possible targets and to assess the area to formulate a plan for engagement or cover 7e4g41 identifying the quickest route to cover1 determining the best method for engagement based on terrain74 ,searches ,the ,marine executes a hasty search immediately upon entering a new area in order to identify a threat that poses immediate danger4 ,to execute a hasty search-- ,quickly scan the area with the flashlight taking note of obvious points throughout the area that could cover or conceal the enemy4 ,wherever the eyes move1 the flashlight should move4 ,aim the flashlight beam on the ground about #h to #aj feet in front of the ,marine's location1 this allows the eyes to follow the beam and quickly establishes a reference point for the light4 ,aiming the beam at the outer edge of the search area strains the eyes to find the beam and decreases the field of view4 ,the ,marine executes a detailed search after the hasty search4 ,a detailed search focuses on target indicators identified during the hasty search4 ,to conduct the detailed search-- ,focus the most direct or intense portion of the flashlight beam on the target indicators4 ,move the beam of light slowly across the target indicator from right to left or left to right4 ,wherever the eyes move1 the flashlight should move4 ,considerations ,during night operations1 the ,marine should use a flashlight whenever possible4 ,a flashlight not only helps the ,marine locate targets at night1 but the beam can be aimed directly at the target once it is detected and temporarily blinds the target4 ,this gives the ,marine the advantage to react before the target does4 ,however1 the ,marine must consider the following3 ,anytime a flashlight is on1 the location may be revealed to the enemy4 ,the ,marine should keep the flashlight pointed out in front of his body to help avoid illuminating himself and revealing his position4 ,light shined directly from in front of the ,marine at the target obscures the ,marine4 ,light shined from the side of the ,marine at the target illuminates the ,marine4 ,light can bounce off surfaces and reflect back onto larger areas that the light is not focused on4 ,therefore1 whenever a ,marine shines a flashlight onto a surface1 some of the light may reflect back and illuminate the ,marine4 ,when positioned at the outside corner of a room1 building1 or other cover1 the ,marine should avoid pointing the flashlight beam directly at the corner because the beam reflects off the corner and illuminates the ,marine4 ,to prevent this1 the head of the flashlight should extend just beyond the corner4 ,many flashlights have adjustable beams that aid in target detection4 ,the beam's intensity must be adjusted to provide the best illumination of the area depending on the distance between the ,marine and the area of observation4 ,diffused light from a wide beam creates a softer light and illuminates a greater area1 but the beam does not travel a great distance4 ,a wide beam is best for observing larger areas at close range4 ,concentrated light from a narrow beam illuminates a smaller field of view1 but the beam travels a greater distance4 ,a concentrated beam is effective for observing a specific area or an area that is further away4 ,concentrated light blinds the enemy and prevents him from focusing on the ,marine or determining his location4 ,when searching an area1 the ,marine can alter the position where he is holding his flashlight so that the beam is perceived as coming from various locations4 ,for example1 the ,marine can turn the flashlight on from a standing position1 quickly search for targets1 turn the flashlight off1 assume a kneeling position1 and search again4 ,this keeps the enemy from obtaining an exact location of the ,marine's position4 ,keep both eyes open to get maximum visual coverage of the target area4 ,keeping both eyes open also improves depth perception and peripheral vision4 ,target ,engagement ,once a target is detected using a flashlight1 the flashlight can be used to acquire sight picture and facilitate engagement of the target4 ,the fundamentals of marksmanship are employed for engagement of targets in darkness just as they are in daylight4 ,however1 the ,marine must apply the principles of night vision and target detection and must be able to employ a flashlight properly when engaging targets at night4 ,grip ,to engage a target accurately while using a flashlight1 the flashlight must be held to maintain the pistol's stability1 control1 and recoil during firing4 ,normally1 the left hand 7two-handed grip7 provides the pistol's stability and ability to manage recoil4 ,however1 when firing with a flashlight1 the left hand holds and operates the flashlight4 ,therefore1 some stability1 control1 and management of recoil is lost4 ,securing the ,flashlight ,most flashlights come equipped with a retaining loop located at the base for ease of transportation4 ,to position the cord properly3 ,feed one end of the cord through the retaining loop of the flashlight and tie the ends of the cord together4 ,slip the left hand through the cord loop4 ,the loop should be just big enough so that1 if the flashlight needs to be dropped1 it can be retained on the wrist4 ,rotate the flashlight until the cord is twisted to the desired tension and length necessary to best stabilize the rear end of the flashlight in the hand4 ,grasp the flashlight with the left hand in a position that allows it to be operated easily4 ,if the flashlight has a retaining loop1 attaching a cord to the loop helps support and stabilize the flashlight when the ,marine must fire the pistol with the flashlight in his left hand4 ,the cord also helps retain the flashlight4 ,acquiring ,sight ,alignment_/,sight ,picture ,when holding a flashlight on a target1 the tendency is to look at the target rather than the sights4 ,sight alignment is still necessary for effective target engagement4 ,using a flashlight to illuminate a target allows the ,marine to-- ,acquire sight picture by silhouetting the sights against the target4 ,the ,marine establishes sight picture by focusing the sights in the soft1 diffused light area of the target4 ,at close ranges1 colored lenses produce enough light on the target to silhouette the sights2 at long ranges1 colored lenses will not provide enough light off the target to illuminate the pistol sights4 ,the ,marine must be able to see the target by some other means1 7e4g41 contrast1 moonlight74 ,acquire sight picture by illuminating the sights4 ,a colored lens can be held directly over the sights to shine light on the top of the pistol to illuminate the sights4 ,this allows sight alignment to be established without revealing the ,marine to the enemy4 ,this method can also be used with a clear lens to make a precision shot at long ranges but the ,marine risks being illuminated by the light4 ,a colored lens can be shined from directly behind the pistol sights to illuminate them4 ,this allows sight alignment to be established1 but reveals the ,marine's position to the enemy4 ,target ,engagement ,techniques ,two-,handed ,grip ,technique4 ,this technique is typically used with a straight_/tubular flashlight4 ,the pistol and flashlight must be side by side and level so the ,marine can engage a target without making adjustments to the pistol or the flashlight4 ,this technique is also effective for firing multiple shots because the flashlight and pistol recoil as a unit4 ,whenever possible1 the flashlight is just in front of the muzzle of the pistol so that it does not illuminate the pistol4 ,placement of the flashlight alongside the pistol may need to be adjusted depending on the size of the flashlight or the location of the on_/off mechanism4 ,this technique is most often used with an ,isosceles position 7see fig4 #aj-c73 ,grasp the flashlight with the left hand1 lens pointing down range4 ,wrap the thumb and index finger of the left hand around the body of the flashlight1 thumb resting on the on_/off switch to allow easy operation of the on_/off switch without disrupting the grip on the flashlight4 ,extend both arms toward the target and bring the flashlight alongside the pistol so the fingers of the left and right hands touch4 ,wrap the bottom three fingers of the left hand around the fingers of the right hand1 incorporating the flashlight into a two-handed grip4 ,apply isometric pressure against both hands to aid in stabilizing the pistol4 ,this technique can also be incorporated into a ,weaver position2 the more the left hand wraps around the right1 the more the body can be angled and the left elbow bent4 ,apply push-pull pressure on the grip to stabilize the pistol4 ,see figure #aj-d4 ,cross-,hand ,technique4 ,the cross-hand technique is used primarily with a ,weaver position and can be used with either a straight_/tubular flashlight or an ,l-shaped flashlight 7see fig4 #aj-e73 ,grasp the flashlight with the left hand1 fingers wrapped around the top of the flashlight and thumb wrapped around the bottom4 ,place the thumb on the on_/off button while maintaining a firm grip on the flashlight4 ,extend both arms toward the target and bring the left hand under the pistol so that the back of the left hand is resting firmly against the back of the right hand4 ,apply isometric pressure against both hands to aid in stabilizing the pistol4 ,extend the right arm fully and bend the left arm at the elbow4 ,illustration3 ,figure #aj-c4 ,two-,handed ,grip ,technique ,with ,flashlight 7,side and ,front ,view74 ,illustration3 ,figure #aj-d4 ,two-,handed ,grip ,technique ,with ,flashlight 7,weaver ,position74 ,illustration3 ,figure #aj-e4 ,flashlight ,cross-,hand ,technique4 ,considerations for the ,carry_/,transport ,when searching an area for targets1 the ,marine moves with the pistol at the carry or transport dictated by the threat level4 ,the ,ready4 ,if enemy contact is expected 7contact imminent71 the ,marine carries the pistol at the ,ready and carries the flashlight in his left hand and incorporates it into his firing grip4 ,in the ,ready1 the ,marine can search for targets and readily present the pistol and flashlight to the target for engagement without making adjustments to either the grip or the flashlight4 ,see figure #aj-f on page #aj-h4 ,the ,alert4 ,if enemy contact is likely1 the ,marine carries the pistol at the ,alert and the flashlight in his left hand and incorporates it into his firing grip4 ,the ,marine must ensure the flashlight is not pointed at the deck because it illuminates the ,marine4 ,if necessary1 the head of the flashlight may have to be tilted up to elevate the beam to increase the field of view4 ,if the flashlight has been tilted1 it has to be lowered so it is level with the pistol muzzle and the light shines directly on the target in order to establish sight picture4 ,see figure #aj-g on page #aj-h4 ,holster ,transport4 ,if there is no immediate threat1 the pistol is holstered and the ,marine carries the flashlight with his left hand to search for targets4 ,should a target present itself1 the ,marine presents the pistol from the holster and engages the target4 ,time and distance to the target dictate whether the ,marine incorporates the flashlight and his left hand into the firing grip4 ,illustration3 ,figure #aj-f4 ,flashlight ,ready ,carry 7,cross-,hand and ,two-,handed ,grip74 ,illustration3 ,figure #aj-g4 ,flashlight ,alert ,carry 7,two-,handed ,grip and ,cross-,hand74