MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 249 



bar with open si;:cht will be used to teach the normal sight 

 and to demonstrate errors likely to be committed. 



To construct a sighting rest for the pistol (see PI. VI) take 

 a piece of wood about 10 inches long, 1^ inches wide, and iHt 

 inch thick. Shape one end so that it will fit snugly in the 

 handle of the pistol when the magazine has been removed. 

 Screw or nail this stick to the top of a post or other object at 

 such an angle that the pistol when placed on the stick will be 

 approximately horizontal. A suitable sighting rest for the 

 revolver may be easily improvised. 



140. ( a ) How to cock the pistol. — The pistol should be cocked 

 by the thumb of the right hand and with the least possible 

 derangement of the grip. The forefinger should be clear of 

 the trigger when cocking the pistol. Some men have difficulty 

 at first in cocking the pistol with the right thumb. This can 

 be overcome by a little practice. Jerking the pistol forward 

 while holding the thumb on the hammer will not be permitted. 



(&) How to cock the revolver: The revolver should be 

 cocked by putting the thumb on the hammer at as nearly a 

 right angle to the hammer as possible, and by the action of 

 the thumb muscles alone bringing .the hammer back to the 

 position of full cock. Some men w^ith large hands are able to 

 cock the revolver with the thumb while holding it in the posi- 

 tion of aim or raise pistol. Where the soldier's hand is small 

 this can not be done, and in this case it assists the operation 

 to give the revolver a slight tilt to the right and upward (to 

 the right). Particular care should be taken that the forefinger 

 is clear of the trigger or the cylinder will not revolve. Jerk- 

 ing the revolver forward while holding the thumb on the 

 hammer will not be permitted. 



141. Position and aiming drills, dismounted: For this in- 

 struction the squad will be formed with an interval of 1 pace 

 Between files. Black pasters to simulate bull's-eyes will be 

 pasted opposite each man on the barrack or other wall, from 

 which the squad is 10 paces distant. 



The squad being formed as described above, the instructor 

 gives the command: 1. Raise, 2. Pistol (par. 147, Cavalry Drill 

 Regulations), and cautions, "Position and aiming drill, dis- 

 mounted." The men take the positions described in paragraph 

 136, except that the pistol is held at " Raise pistol." 



