WELCOMETO LESSON 2 OF THE NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING
COURSE
NO LIVE AMMUNITION IN THE CLASSROOM!
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-2
AMMUNITIONTo fire a rifle, Ammunition must be placed in the chamber at the breech end of the barrel
All modern Ammunition is made up of 4 basic parts to form a cartridge:
• Case (Rimfire and Centerfire)• Primer (Rimfire and Centerfire)
• Powder (Black Powder and Smokeless)• Bullet (Projectile)
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-3
AMMUNITIONCase
The case is the container in which all the other ammunition components are assembled. They come in many sizes and most are made of brass
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-4
AMMUNITIONPrimer
The primer is an impact sensitive compound that ignites when hit by the firing pin, which then ignites the powder. The 2 types are Centerfire and Rimfire
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-5
AMMUNITION
Centerfire
Primer
Case
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-6
AMMUNITIONPowder Charge
The powder is a chemical compound that is designed to burn rapidly and produce a high volume of expanding gas which propels the bullet (projectile) out of the muzzle.
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-7
AMMUNITIONBullet (Projectile)
The Bullet is the projectile that is shot out of the gun to the target. The bullet is made of lead and is sometimes covered with copper called a jacket
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-8
AMMUNITION IDENTIFICATION
The bottom of the Case will Identify the size of the Cartrige in most cases. Some exceptions are Military and Rimfire ammunition. In these cases look on the box or seek assistance from a gunsmith.
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-9
AMMUNITION IDENTIFICATION
Ammunition must match what is stamped on the barrel
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-10
HAND LOADING AMMUNITION
•Only Centerfire ammunition can be reloaded. •Use manufacturers reloading manuals for
proper reloading specifications•Take a NRA Reloading Class
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-11
CARTRIDGE MALFUNCTIONS•Misfire- Failure of the cartridge to fire•Hang fire- Delay in the ignition of the Cartridge•Squib Load- Failure of the bullet to leave the
gun due to lack of powder burn
•With all 3 of these WAIT at least 30 Seconds with the muzzle pointed down range
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-12
SAFE HANDLING RULES•ALWAYS Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction•ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until
you are ready to shoot•ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to
use
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-13
EYE DOMINANCEWith both Eyes open extend your arms and place one hand over the other making a hole with your fingers and thumbs
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-14
EYE DOMINANCEWith both eyes open look an object through the hole. Close one eye then the other. Which ever eye you can still see the object with is your dominant eye
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-15
SHOOTING POSITION
What is Shooting position?•The way you hold your body•The way you hold the rifle while firing a shot•The platform which all shooting fundamentals are executed
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-16
SHOOTING POSITION
Position of the body•Comfortable•Balanced•Relaxed•Provide maximum bone to bone support
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-17
BENCH SHOOTING POSITION•Shooter sits behind the bench facing the
target.
•Both elbows on the Bench
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-18
BENCH SHOOTING POSITION•The non-shooting hand rests on the sandbag gripping the forearm•The shooting hand grasps the grip
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-19
BENCH SHOOTING POSITION•The but of the rifle is positioned against
the shoulder.•The check pressed
against the comb•Now acquiring a sight picture and ready for the first shot
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAEDUCATION & TRAINING DIVISION
NRA BASIC RIFLE SHOOTING COURSE SLIDE 2-20
FIRING THE FIRST SHOT
Using the Shotgun as a Rifle