252 MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 



hammer again falls. The great difficulty in quick firing with 

 the pistol lies in the fact that when the front sight is brought 

 upon the mark the rear sight is often found to be outside the 

 line joining the eye with the mark. This tendency to hold the 

 pistol obliquely can be overcome only by a uniform manner of 

 holding and pointing. This uniformity is to be attained only 

 by acquiring a grip which can be taken with certainty each 

 time the weapon is fired. It is this circumstance which makes 

 the position and aiming drills so important. The soldier 

 should constantly practice pointing the pistol until he acquires 

 the ability to direct it on the mark in the briefest interval of 

 time and practically without the aid of sights. 



The soldier then repeats the exercises with the pistol in the 

 left hand, the left side being turned toward the target. 



142. To draw and fire quickly — Snap shooting. — With the 

 squad formed as described in paragraph 141 except that the 

 pistol is in the holster and the flap, if any, buttoned, the in- 

 structor cautions " Quick-fire exercise." And gives the com- 

 mand, 1. SQUAD, 2. FIRE. At this command each soldier, 

 keeping his eye on the target, quickly draws his pistol, un- 

 locks it, thrusts it toward the target, squeezes the trigger, 

 and at the instant the weapon is brought in line with the eye 

 and the objective increases the pressure, releasing the sear. 

 To enable the soldier to note errors in pointing, the weapon 

 will be momentarily held in position after the fall of the ham- 

 mer. Efforts at deliberate aiming in this exercise must be 

 discouraged. 



Remarks under paragraph 141 are specially applicable also 

 to this type of fire. When the soldier has become proficient in 

 the details of this exercise, it should be repeated at will; the 

 instructor cautions, "At will; quick-fire exercise." The exer- 

 cise should be practiced until the mind, the eye, and trigger 

 finger act in unison. 



To simulate this type of fire mounted, the instructor places 

 the squad so that the simulated bull's-eyes are in turn, to the 

 RIGHT, to the LEFT, to the RIGHT FRONT, to the LEFT 

 FRONT, to the RIGHT REAR. With the squad in one of these 

 positions, the instructor cautions, " Position and aiming drill, 

 mounted." At this caution the right foot is carried 20 inches 

 to the right and the left hand to the position of the bridle hand 

 (par. 145, Cavalry Drill Regulations). The exercise is carried 



