FM 23 35 Basic Field Manual Automatic Pistol Caliber 45 M1911 and M1911A1 Dated 1940

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    M I FM23-35CopyW R DEP R T M E NT

    B SIC F IELDM NU Lj

    AUTOMATICPISTOLCALIBER 45 M1911 ANDM1911A

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    FM 23-35BASIC FIEL MANUAL

    AUTOMATIC PISTOL CALIBER .45M1911 AND M1911A1

    Preparedunder direction oftheChief of v lry

    UNITED STATESGOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

    WASHINGTON 19 40

    orsale by heSuperintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C - Price 15cents

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    WAR DEPARTMENTWASH INGTON pril30 1940.

    FM 23-35 Automatic Pistol Caliber .45 M1911 and1911A1 is published for the information and guidance of allconcerned.[A G 062 11 3-1-40).]

    BY O R D E R O P T H E SE C R E T R Y O P WAR:G. C. M RSH LLChief of Staff

    O F F I C I L E. S. ADAMSMajor GeneralThe djutant General.

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    TABLE OP CONTENTSC H A P T E R 1 . M E C H A N I C A L T R A I N I N G . Paragraphs PageS E C T IO N I . Description___________ 1- 2 1 -5n. Disassembling and assembling. _ 3- 4 5-8III. Care and cleaning_____ 5- 1 1 8-11

    I V . Functioning_______ 12 1 4 1 1 - 1 4V. Spare parts and accessories___ 1 5- 1 6 14-1 5V I . Ammunition____________ 1 7- 2 4 1 5-1 8VII Individual safetyprecautions_ 25-26 18-20C H A P T E R 2. M A N U A L O P T H E P I S T O L , L O A D I N G A N DF I R I N G , D IS M O U N T E D A N D M O U N T E D .S E C T I O N I. General____.._ ___. 27 21 IL Dismounted______ 28-37 2 2 -2 4III. Mounted______________ 38- 44 24-25C H A P T E R 3. M A R K S M A N S H I P , K N O WN - D I S T A N C ET A R G E T S D I S M O U N T E D .S E C T IO N I. Preparatory tr ain ing 45 51 2 6 -50n. Courses to be fired________ 52 54 50-52in.Conduct of rangepractice___ 55 6 1 52- 61I V. Known-distance t rgets andranges; range precautions__ 62- 6 4 6 1 -6 5V. Small-bore practice_______ 65 6 9 6 5 - 6 6C H A P T E R 4. M A R K S M A N S HIP , K N O W N - D I S T A N C ET A R G E T S M O U N T E D .S E C T I O N I. Preparatory training.__ 70 - 72 67-73II. C ourses to be fired________ 73- 74 73HI. Conduct ofrange practice____ 75 78 74-79I V . Known-distance t rgetsandranges; range precautions._ 79 81 79 -80V. Small-bore practice 82-84 80C H A P T E R 5. F IR I N G A T F I E L D T A R G E T S .S E C T I O N I. Dismounted____________ 85-88 81 -6 2II. Mounted______.________ 89 93 82 -85C H A P T E R 6 . A D V I C E T O I N S T R U C T O R S .S E C T IO N I. General_______________. 94-95 86-87n. Mechanicaltraining________ 96-1 01 88-89

    III Manual of the pistol 102 89IV M arksmanship 103-106 90-9 2

    in

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    FM 23 35

    BASIC FIELD M A N U A LAUTOMATIC PISTOL, CALIBER .45, H1911 AND

    M1911A1(The matter containedherein supersedes TR 1 3 0 0 4 5 A , January3 , 1938 , and chapter 3 , part one, Basic Field Manual, volume III.April 5 , 1 9 3 2 .)

    CHAPTER 1MECHANICAL TRAINING ParagraphsS E C T I O N I.Description..____________- 1-2H . Disassembling and assembling_______ 3 -4HI. Care and cleaning______________ 5-11IV. Functioning.___________ 12-14V . Spare parts and accessories______ 15-16VI. mmunition_____________ 17-24VII. Individual safety precautions______ 25-26

    S E C T I O N IDESCRIPTION

    . G E N E R A L . a The automatic pistols, caliber .45, M1911and M1911A1, are recoil-operated, magazine-fed, self-loadinghand weapons (figs. 1 and 2). The gas generated ina cartridge firedin the pistol is utilized to perform the functionsof extracting and ejecting the em ptycartridge case, cockingthe hammer and forcing the slide to the rearmost position, thereby compressing the recoil spring. The action ofthe recoil spring forces the slideforward, feeding a livecartridge from the m agazine into the chambers leaving theweapon ready to fire again.b. The M1911A1pistol is a modification of the M1911pistol. The operation of both models ofpistols is exactlythe same. The changes consist of the fo llowing (fig. 2):(1) The tang of the grip safety is extended better to protect the hand.(2) A clearance cut is made on the receiver for the trigger finger.

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    1 AUTOMATIC PISTOL CAL .45 M1911 AND M1911A1

    3) Theface of thetrigger is cut back andknurled4) The mainspringhousing is raised in the orm of acurve tofitthe palm of thehand and is knurled. 5) Thetop of the front sight is widened.

    c The pistol is designed to fire cartridge,ball, caliber .45,M 1911. Themagazine holds seven cartridges. The uppercartridgeis stripped from themagazine and forced intothechamber by the forward motion of the slide. The pistolfires but onceat eachsqueeze of the trigger. When the last

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    AUTOMATIC PISTOL CAL .45 M 9 AND M9 A

    cartridge in the magazine has been fired the slide remainsopen. The magazinecatchis thendepressed andthe emptymagazine falls out. A loaded m agazine is then insertedmaking seven more shots available.

    d The rate of fire is limited by the dexterity of theoperator in inserting magazines into the pistol and theability of the firer toaim and squeeze.

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    2 AUTOMATIC PISTOL CAL .45 M 9 AND M 9 A

    0.456165.03

    G E N E R A L D A T A a1)Caliber of bore_________-inches_Number of grooves_____ _Twist in rif ling, uniform L H ., one turn ininches-Length of barrel ___ do__ 2) Overall length ofpistol______inches.. 8.593Height of front sightabove axisof boredo_ 0.5597Weight of pistol withmagazine-._pounds_2 437Weight of loadedmagazine, 7 rounds (approximate)_________do__ 0.481Weight of empty magazine.___do_ 0156Pistols, new or repaired-_pounds__ to (Pistols, in hands of troops do1)The figures indicated below represent the mean variations forseveral targets.

    Range

    575

    Meanradius

    0.881 362.24

    Mean vertical deviation

    0.620.9114 2

    2) driftor deviation due to the rifling in thispistol is to the left, but is m ore thanneutralized by thepullof the triggerwhen the pistol is fired fromtheright hand.The drift is slight atshort ranges and that for long rangesis immaterial, inasmuch as the pistol is a com parativelyshort-range weapon.

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    (3)Kange

    025507 5

    1125

    Velocity

    8027 8 87 7 37 5 87 4 4730

    Energy

    3293 1 73 52 9 42 8 3272

    Range

    1501 7 52 2 2 5250

    Velocity

    7177 46 9 16 7 86 6 6

    Energy

    2622 5 32 4 42 3 52 2 6

    (4)Range

    2 55 7 5

    1

    Depth

    6.05 .86.65.5

    Range

    1 5 2 2 5

    Depth

    24 .64.0

    A penetrationof inchin white pine correspondstoadangerous wound. The penetration inmoist loam at 25 yardsis about 10 inches. Thepenetrationin dry sandat2 5 yardsis about 8 inches.(5 ) heelevation required for100 yards is2 4 andfor200 yards about 1 . The elevation for 2 50yards is about 1 13 ; themaximumordinatebeing approximately 130 yards distance from themuzzle and about 5 1 inches inheight The maximum range is approximately1 ,600 yardsatanangle of elevation of 30. Themaximum ordinate for the maximum range is approximately 2 ,000feet.

    S E C T IO N IIDISASSEMBLINGAND ASSEMBIJNG

    3. D I S A S S E M B L IN G (see fig . 3). Remove the magazineby pressing themagazine catch.b. Press therecoil spring plug inward and turnthe barrelbushing to therightuntil therecoil spring plug and the end

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    3 A U T O M ATIC PISTO L, CAL. .45,Ml911 AND M1911A1of the recoil spring protrude from their seat, re leasing thetension of the recoil spring. As the recoil spring plug is allo wed to pro trude from its seat, the finger or thum b shouldbe kept over it so that it will not jump aw ay and be lostor strike the operato r. Draw the slide rearward until thesm aller rear recess in its lower le ft edge stands above thepro jection on the thumbpiece of the slide stop; press gentlyagainst the end of the pinof the slide stop which pro trudesfrom the right side of the receiver above the trigger guardand remove the slide stop.c. This releases the barrel link, allowing the barrel withthe barrel link and the slide to be draw n fo rward togetherfrom the receiver, carrying with them thebarrel bushing,recoil spring, recoil spring plug, and recoil spring guide.R emove these parts from , the slide by withdrawing therecoil spring guide from the rear of the recoil spring anddrawing therecoil spring plug and the reco il spring fo rwardfrom the slide. Turnrecoil spring plug to right to removefrom recoil spring. Turn the barrel bushing to the left until it m ay be drawn forw ard from the slide. T his releasesthebarrel w hich w ith the barrel link may be draw n fo rwardfro m the slide, and by pushing out the barrel link pin thebarrel link is released from the barre l.Press the rear end of the firing pin forw ard until itclears thefiring pinstop w hich is thendraw n dow nward from its seat in the slide; the firing pin, firing pin spring, and extractor are then removed from the rear of the slide./. The safety lock is readily w ithdrawn from the receiverby cocking the ham m er and pushing from the right o n thepin part or pulling outward on the thumbpiece of the safetylock w hen it is midw ay betw een its upper and low er positions. T he cocked ham mer is then low ered and removedafterremoving the ham mer pin from theleft side of thereceiver. The m ainspring housing pin is then pushed outf rom theright side of the receiver w hich allows the mainspring housing to be w ithdraw n dow nw ard and the gripsafety rea rward f rom the handle. The sear spring maythen be removed. B y pushing out the sear pin from theright to the le ft side of the receiver, the sear and thedisconnector are released.

    6

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    AUTOM ATIC PISTOL CAL. .45 M1911 AND M1911AI 4

    Torem ovethem ainspring,m ainspringcap,andhousingpin retainer from the m ainspring housing, com press them ainspring and push out the sm all m ainspring cap pin.To rem ove the m agazine catch from the receiver, itscheckered le ft end must be pressed inward, w hen the rightend of the m agazine catch will project so far from theright sid e of the receiver that it may be rotated one-halfturn. This m ovem ent will release the magazine-catch lockfrom its seat inthe receiv er, w hen the m agazine catch,the m agazine catch lock, and the m agazine catch springm ay beremoved.W ith the im proved design of m agazine catch lock theoperation of dism ounting the m agazine catch is sim plified.W hen the m agazinecatch has beenpressedinw ard the m agazine catch lockis turned aquarter turn to the left by m eansof ascrewdriver, or theshort leaf of thesear spring. Them agazinecatch with its conte nts canthenbe rem oved. Theim proveddesignwill be recognizedfrom thefact thattheheadof them agazinecatch lockisslotted.

    7 The tr igger can then be rem oved rearward from thereceiv er.f c .The ham m er strut or thelong arm of the screw drivercan be used to push out all the pins except the m ainspringcap pin, lanyard loop pin, and eje ctor pin.The slidestopplunger, thesafety lockplunger, and theplunger sprin g may be pushed to the rear out of theplunger tube. hem agazine should not be disassem bled except forcleaning or to replace the m agazine follower or m agazinespring. To disassem ble proceed as follows: Push the magazine follower downward about one-fourth inch; this com presses the m agazine spring. Insert the end of a drift

    through one of the sm all holesin the side of the m agazineto hold the m agazine spring, then slide out the m agazinefollower. H old hand over end of the m agazine before rem oving drift from hole to prevent m agazine spring from jum ping away. . ASSE MB LING. a. Proceed in the reverse order.

    . It should be noted that the disconnector and sear areassembled as follows: Place thecylindrical part of the dis-

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    AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL. .45 M1911 AND M1911A1

    connector in its hole in the receiver with the flat face ofthe lower part of the disconnector resting against the yokeof the trigger. Then place the sear, lugs downward, so thatit straddles the disconnector. Thesear pinis then insertedin place so that it passes through both the disconnector andthe sear.c. The sear, disconnector, and hammer being in placeand the hammer down, to replace the sear spring, locateits lower end in the cut in the receiverwith the end of thelong leaf resting on the sear; then insert the mainspringhousing until itslower end projects below the frame aboutone-eighth inch, replace the grip safety, cock the hammer,and replace thesafety lock; thenlower the cocked hammer,push the mainspring housing home, and insert the mainspringhousing pin.In assembling the safety lock to the receiver use thetip of the magazine follower or the screw driver to pressthesafety lock plunger home, thus allowing the seatingofthe safety lock. It should be remembered that when assembling the safety lock the hammer must be cocked.When replacing the slide and barrel on the receivercare must be taken that thebarrel link is tiltedforward asfar as possible and that the barrel link pin is in place.

    S E C T I O N nCARE A N D CI^EANIN G

    . G E N E R A L . Careful, conscientious work is required tokeep automatic pistols in a conditionthat will insure perfectfunctioning of the mechanism and continued accuracy ofthe barrel. It is essential that the entire mechanism iskeptcleaned and oiled toavoid jams.b. The mechanism also requires care to prevent rust oran accumulation of sand or dirt in the interior. Pistols areeasily disassembled for cleaning and oiling.

    6 . C A R E A N D C L E A N I N G . a . Care and cleaning of the pistolinclude the ordinary case of the pistol to preserve its condit ion and appearance in garrisons, posts, and camps, and incampaign.

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    A U T O M A T I C PISTOL, CAL. .45, M1911 AND M1911A1 6-7b. Damp air and sweaty hands are great prom oters o frust. The pistols should be cleaned and protected after

    every drill or handling. Special precautions are necessaryw h e n the pisto ls have been used on rainy days and aftertours of guard duty.c. T o clean the pistol rubit with a rag which hasbeenlightly oiled and then cleanw ith a perfectly dry rag. Swabthe bore w ith an oily flannel patchand then with a perfectly dry one. Dust out all crevices with a sm all, cleanbrushImmediately after cleaning, to protect the pistol swabthe bo re thoroughly with a flannel patch saturated withsperm oil, w ipe over all metal parts with an oily rag applying a f ew drops of light oil (sperm oil) to all cams and working surfaces of the m echanism .After cleaning and protecting thepistol, place it in thepistol rack without any covering whatever. The use of can

    vas or similar covers is prohibited, as they collect moistureand rust the metal parts. W hile barracks arebeing swept,pistol racks w ill be covered with a piece of canvas to protectthe pistols from dust. . C A R E N D C L E A N I N G A F T E R FIRING. a. When a pistolhas been fired the bo re will be c leaned tho ro ughly not laterthanthe evening o f the day on w hich it is fired. Thereafterit will be cleaned and oiled each day for at least thenextthree succeeding days.b. T o clean the bore after firing, first remove theslide andbarrel insert the m uzzle o f the barrel in a vessel containinghot waterand issue soap, hot water alone, or cold water; thec leaning rod witha cloth patch assem bled is inserted in thebreech and moved forward and back for about 1 minutepumping the waterin and outof the bore . Whenthebore iswet, a brass or bronze wire brush, if available, should be runall the w ay through thebore, then all thewa y back three orfour tim es. Water sho uld again be pum ped through the bore .Then wipe the cleaning rod dry, rem ove thebarrel from thewate r, and using dry, clean flannel patches thoroughly sw abthe bore until it is perfectly dry andclean. Examine the borecareful ly for metal fouling.

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    A U T O M A T IC PISTOL, CA L. .45, M1911 AND M19I1A1A fter firing do not oil the bore before cleaning.c. Saturate a clean flannel patch with sperm oil and swab

    the bore and chamber w ith the patch, making certain thatthe bore and all metal parts of thepistol are covered w ith athinco at of oil. . R U L E S F O R C A R E O F P I S T O L O N T H E R A N G E . Alwaysclean at the end of each day s shooting. A pistol thathasbeen fired should not be left over night w ithout cleaning.b. N ever fire a pistol with any dust, dirt, mud, or snowin thebore.c. Before loading, the pistol make sure thatno patch, rag,o r other object has been le ft in the barrel.During range firing a noncommissioned officer w ill beplaced incharge of the cleaning of pistols in the cleaningracks. . C A R E D U R I N G C O L D W E A T H E R . U s e oil sparingly on thew orking parts. 0 . C A R E D U R I N G G A S A T T A C K S a Pistols should becleaned as soon as possible aftera gas attack.b. Oil w ill prevent corrosion for about 1 2 hours.c. Clean all partsin boiling water co ntaining a little soda,if available.All traces of gas must be removed from am m unition witha slightly oiled rag; then thoroughly dry the ammunition.Rust-preventive compound resists gas corrosion m orethan light oil. In m any exposures, especially those of longduration, am m unition treated with sperm oil evidences moresevere corrosion thanunprotected cartridges. 1 . I M P O R T A N T P O I N T S T o BE O B S E R V E D After firing thepistol, never leave it uncleaned over night. T he damage doneis then irreparable.

    b. Keep the pistol clean and lightly lubricated, but do notlet it become gummy w ith oil.c. D o not place the pistol on the ground where sand o rdirt may enter the bore o r mechanism.D o not plug the m uzzle o f thepistol with a patchorplug. One may forget to remo v e it before firing, in whichcasethe dischargemay bulgeor burst the barrel at the muzzle.A pistol kept in a leather holster may rust due to mois-10

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    AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL. .45, M1911 AND M1911A1ture absorbed by the leather from the atm osphere, eventhough the holster m ayappear to be perfectly dry. If theholster is wet andthe pistol must be carried therein, coverthe pisto lwith a thick coat of oil./. The ham mer should not be snapped when the pistol ispartially disassembled.Thetrigger should be pulled withthe forefinger. Ifthe trigger is pulled with the second finger, the fo refingerextending alo ng the side of the receiver is apt to pressagainstthe projecting pin of the slide stop and cause amalfunctionwhen the slide recoils.Pressure on the trigger m ustbe released sufficientlyafter each shot to permit the trigger to reengage the sear.To remove cartridges not fired, disengage them agazineslightly and then extract the cartridge in the barrel bydrawing back theslide.Care should be taken to seethat the m agazine is notdented or otherwise damaged.Care m ust be exercised in inserting the magazine toinsure its engaging with the magazinecatch. Never insertthe magazine andstrike it smartly with the hand to forceit home, as this m ay spring the base or the inturninglipsat thetop. It should be inserted by a quick continuousmovement.

    S E C T I O N IVFUNCTIONING

    1 2 . M E T H O D O F O P E R A T I O N . a . A loaded m agazine is placedin the receiver and the slide drawn fully back and released,thus bringing the firstcartridge into the chamber. (If theslide is open push downthe slide stop to let the slide go forward.) The hammer is thus cocked and the pistol isreadyfo r firing.b . If it is desiredto make the pistol ready for instant useand for firing the m axim um number of shotswith the leastpossibledelay,draw back theslide, insert a cartridge by handinto the chamber of the barrel, allow the slide to close, thenlockthe slide and the cocked ham mer by pressing the safetylock upward and insert a loaded m agazine. Theslide andhammer being thus positively locked, the pistolm aybe carried

    1 1

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    safely at full cock and it is only necessarytopress down thesafety lock (which is lo cated w ithin easy reach of the thumb)when raising the pistol to the firing position.c . The grip safety is provided with an extending hornwhich not only servesas a guard to prevent the hand of theshooter from slipping upward and being struck orinjuredbythe hammer, but also aids in accurate shoo ting by keepingthe hand in the same positionfor each shot and,furthermore, permits the lowering of the cocked hammer with onehand by autom atically pressing in the grip safety whenthehammer is drawn slightly beyond the cocked position, inorder to release the hammer, the grip safety must be pressedin before the trigger is squeezed. 3 . S A F E T Y D E V I C E S . It is impossible for the firing pinto discharge or even touch the prim erexcept on receiving thefull blowof the hammer.b. The pistol is provided with two automaticsafety devices:

    1 ) The disconnector, whichpositively preventsthe releaseof the hammer unlessthe slide and barrel are in the forwardposition and safely interlocked. This device alsocontrols thefiring and prevents m orethan one shot from following eachsqueeze ofthe trigger. 2 ) The grip safety which at alltimes locksthe triggerunless the handle is firmly grasped and the grip safetypressed in.c . In addition, the pistol is providedwith a safety lock bywhich the closed slide and the cocked hammer can be positively lockedin position. 4 . D E T A I L E D F U N C T I O N I N G . a . The magazine m aybecharged with any number of cartridges from one to seven.b . Thecharged m agazine is inserted in the receiver andthe slide drawnonce to the rear. This movement cocks theham mer, compresses the recoil spring, and when the slidereaches the rear position the magazine followerraises theupper cartridgeinto the path of theslide. The slide isthenreleased andbeing forced forward bythe recoil springcarriesthe firstcartridge into the chamber of the barrel. A s theslide approaches its forward position,it encountersthe rearextension of the barrel and forces the barrel forward; therear end of the barrel swings upward on the barrel link, turn-1 2

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    ing on the m uzzle end as on a fu lcrum. Whenthe slide andbarrel reach their forward position they are positively lockedto gether by the locking ribs on the barrel and their joint forward movement is arrested by the barrel lug encountering thepin on the slide top. The pistol is then ready for firing.c. When the ham mer is cocked the hammer strut movesdownward, com pressing the mainspring, and the sear underaction of the long leaf of the sear spring engages its noseinthe notch on the hamm er. In order that the pistol may befired the following conditions must exist:

    (1) Thegrip safety must be pressed in , leaving the triggerfreeto m ove.(2) The slidem ust be in its forward position, properly interlocked with the barrel so that the disconnector is held in therecess on the u nder side of the slide under the action of thesear spring, transmitting in th is position any motion of thetrigger to the sear.(3) he safety lock m ust be down in the unlocked positionso that the sear will be unblocked and free to release theh a m m er and the slide will be free to moveback.On squeezing the tr igger, the sear is moved and the released hamm er strikes the firing pin which transmits theblow to the prim er of the cartridge. The pressure of thegases generatedin the barrel by the explosion of the powderin thecartridge is exerted in a forward direction againstthe bullet, driving it through the bore, and in a rearwarddirection against the face of the slide, driving the latter andthe barrel to the rear to gether. The downward swingingm ovement of the barrelunlocks it f rom the slide and thebarrel is then stopped in its lowest position. he slidecontinues to move to the rear, opening the breech, cocking theham m e r, extracting and ejecting the em pty shell, and compressing the recoil spring until the slide reaches its rearm ost position when another cartridge is raisedin front of itand forced into the chamber of the barrel by the returnm ovement of the slide under pressure of the recoil spring.The weight and consequently the inertia of the slideaugmented by those of the barrel are so many times greaterthan the weight and inertia of the bullet that the latterhasbeen givenits m axim um velocity and has been driven f romthe muzzle of the barrel before the slideand barrel have re-223906- 4 0 3 13

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    coiled to the point where the barrelcommences its unlockingmovement. This construction thereforedelays theopeningof the breech of the barrel until after the bullet has left themuzzle andtherefore practically prevents the escape of anyof the powder gases tothe rear after the breech has beenopened. This factor of safety is further increased by thetensionof the recoil springand mainspring, bothof whichoppose the rearward movement of theslide./. W hile the comparatively great weight of the slide of theipistolinsures safety against prematu re opening of the breech,it also insures operationof the pistol because at the pointof the rearward opening movement where the barrel is unlocked and stopped the heavy slidehas attained a momentum,which is sufficient to carry it through its complete openingmovement and makes the pistol ready for anothershot.When the magazine has been emptied, the pawl-shapedslide stop is raised by the magazine follower underactionof the magazine spring into the front recess on the lowerleft side of the slide, thereby locking the slidein the openposition and serving as an indicator to remind the shooterthat the empty magazine must be replaced by aloaded onebefore the firing can be continued. Pressure upon the magazine catch quickly releases the. empty magazine from thereceiver and permits the insertion of a loaded magazine.To releasethe slide from the open position, it is onlynecessary to press upon the thumbpiece of theslide stop,then the slidewill go forward toits closed position, carryinga cartridge from the previously inserted magazine into thebarrel and makingthe pistol ready forfiring again,

    S E C T I O N VSPARE PARTS AND ACCESSORIES

    5 . S P A R E P A R T S . I n time certain parts of the pistol becomeunserviceable through breakage or wear resu lting fromcontinuous usage. For this reason spare parts are providedfor replacement purposes. They should be kept clean andlightly oiled to prevent rust. They are divided into twogroups; spare parts and basic spare parts.These are extra parts provided with thepistol for replacement of the parts most likely to fall, for14

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    AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL. .45, M1911 A N D M1911A1 15 19use in m aking m inor repairs, and in general care of thepistol. Sets ofspare parts should be kept complete at alltimes. Whenever aspare part is taken to replace a defectivepart in the pistol, the defective part should be repaired ora new one substituted in thespare part set as soon as possible. The allowance of these spare parts is prescribed inSNL B-6 .

    . aresets of parts provided forthe use of ordnance maintenance companies and includeall parts necessary to repair the pistol. The allowance ofbasic spare parts is prescribed in the addendum to SNL B-6. 6 . A C C E S S O R I E S . T h e names or general characteristics ofmanyof the accessories required with the au to matic pistolindicate their use and application. They consist of theholster, lanyard, and pistol cleaning kit, and for post, camp,or station issue, arm lockers and arm racks. The pistolcleaning kit contains cleaning brushes and rods,pistol screwdrivers, an oiler, and a small brass can in which the set ofspareparts is carried.

    S E C T I O N VIAMMUNITION

    1 7 . G E N E R A L . T h e informationin this section pertainingto the ammunition authorized for use inthe automatic pistol,cal. . 4 5 , M 1911 and M 1 9 1 1 A 1 ,includes a description of thecartridges, means of identification, care, use, and ballisticdata. 1 8 . C L A S S I F I C A T I O N . T h e types of ammunition providedfor this pistol area. Ball, for use against personnel and light m ateriel targets.b . D umm y, for training (cartridges are inert). 1 9 . A M M U N I T I O N L O T N U M B ER . W he n ammunition is manufactured an am m unition lot num ber which becomes anessential part of the marking is assigned in accordance withpertinent specifications. This lot number ismarkedon allpacking containers and on the identificationcard inclosed ineach packing box. It is required for all purposes of record,.

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    A U TO M A TIC PISTOL, CAL. .45 M1911 AND M1911A1 22to handle. However, care must be observed to keep theboxes from becoming broken or damaged. All broken boxesmust be immediately repaired and careful attention givenso that all markings are transferred to the new parts of thebox. The metal liner should be air-tested and sealed ifequipm ent for this work is available.

    GILDING METAL

    1 .275 M Xr R A F S D ZF IGURE 4.Cartridge, ball, cal. .45 , M 1 9 11.

    A m munition boxes should not be opened until the ammunition is required for use. A m m unition removed fromthe airtightcontainer, particularly in damp climates, is aptto corrode, thereby causing the ammunition to become unserviceable.CARTRIDGE CASE T INNED LD |NG METAL

    1275 M X R F S D 4 8

    P I G T J H E 5.Cartr idge, dummy, cal. .45, M 1921.Carefully protect the ammunition from mud, sand, dirt,and water. If it gets wet or dirty wipe it off at once.If veridigris or light corrosion forms on cartridges, it shouldbe w iped off. However, cartridges should not be polishedto make them look better or brighter.The use of oil or grease on cartridges is dangerous andis prohibited.D o not fire dented cartridges, cartridges with loose bullets,

    or otherwise defective rounds.17

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    6. A lwaysunloadthe pistol If it is tobe left w here som eoneelse may handle it.c. A lw ays point the pistol up w hen snapping it afterexam ination. Keep the hammer fullydow n w hen the pistolis notloaded.Never place the fingerwithinthe trigger guard until youintendto fire or tosnap for practice.O n the range, do not snap for practice w hile

    standing back ofthe firing line./. Before loadingthe pistol, draw back the slide and lookthrough the bore to see that it is free from obstruction.f i r On the range do not insert a loadedmagazine until thetim e forfiring.Never turn around at the firing point w hileyou hold aloaded pistol in y our hand because byso doing you m a y pointit atthe man firing alongside of you.

    O n the range, do not loadthe pistol witha cartridge inthe chamber until immediateuse isanticipated. If there isanydelay, lock the pistoland only unlock it w hile extendingthe arm to fire . D o not low er the hammer on a loadedcartridge; the pistol is much safer cocked and locked.Inreducinga jamrem ove a cartridge not firedand then extract the cartridge from the chamber bydrawing backthe slide.In campaign, w hen early use of the pistol is not foreseen, it should be carried with a fully loaded m agazine inthesocket, chamberem pty, hammerdow n. W hen early useof the pistol isprobable, it should be carried loaded andlocked in the holster or hand. In campaign, extra m agazines should be carried fully loaded.W hen the pistol is carried in the holster loaded,cocked, and locked the butt should be rotated aw ay fromthe bodyw hen draw ing thepistol in order toavoid displacingthe safety lock.Safety devicesshould be frequently tested. A safety de-V iceis a dangerous device if it does not w ork w henexpected.

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    A U T O M A T IC PISTOL, CAt. MI91I AND M19I1A1 6 . TESTS .a . Cock the hammer and thenpress the safety lock upward into the safe position. Graspthe stock so that the grip safety is depressed and squeezethe trigger three or four tim es. If the hammer falls, thesafety lock is not safe and must be repaired.b. Cock thehammer and, being careful notto depress the grip safety, point pistol downward and squeezethe trigger threeor four tim es. If the hammer falls or thegrip safety is depressed by its own weight, the grip safetyis not safe and must be repaired.

    Draw back the hammer until the searengages the half-cock notch and squeeze the trigger. Ifthe hammer falls, the hammer or sear must be replacedor repaired. D raw the hammer back nearly to full cockand then let it slip. It should fall only to half cock.C ock the hammer. Shove the slide one-quarter inch to the rear; hold slide in that position andsqueeze the trigger. Let the slide go forward, maintainingthe pressure on the trigger. If the hammer falls, the disconnector is wornon top and must be replaced. Pull theslide all the way to the rear and engage the slide stop.Squeeze the trigger and at the sametime release the slide.The hammer should not fall. Release the pressure on thetrigger and then squeeze it. The hammer should then fall.The disconnector prevents the re lease of the hammer unlessthe slide and barrel are in the forward position safely interlocked. It also prevents m ore than one shot following eachsqueeze of the trigger.

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    CHAPTER 2M A N U A L OP THE PISTOL LOADING A ND FIRING

    DISMOUNTED A N D MOUNTED ParagraphsS E C T I O N ? 1 . General____________________ 27II. Dismounted __________^_______28-37IH. Mounted _____________________ 38-44SECT ION IGENERAL

    7 . G E N E R A L . The movements herein described differin purpose from the manual of arm s for the rifle in that theyare not designed to be executed in exact unison. Furtherm ore, with only a few exceptions, there is no real necessityfor their simultaneous execution. They are not thereforeplanned as a disciplinary drill to be executed in cadencewith snap and precision, but merely as simple, quick, andsafe m ethods of handling the pistol. C o m m ands are prescribed only for such movements as may be occasionallyexecuted simultaneously by thesquad orlarger unit.b. In general, movements begin and end at the positionOf RAISE PI STOL.c. Commands for firing, when required, are lim ited toC O M M ENCE FIRING and CEASE FIRING.O fficers and enlisted men armed with the pistol remainat the position of A T T E N T I O N during the manual of arms,except w hen their units arepresented to their com m andersor are presentedduring ceremonies, at retreat andat guardm ounting. In such cases they execute the hand salute atthe comm and of execution A RM S of 1 . P R E S E N T , 2. ARMS,and resume the position of attention at the command ofexecution of the next command.The lanyard is used w henever the pistol is carriedm ounted. The lanyard should be of such length that thearm may be fully extended without constraint.

    223906 4 04 21

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    AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL. .45, M19H AND M1911A1SE C T I O N II

    D IS M OU NTED 28. To R A I S E P I S T O L fig. 6) .The commands are: 1 . R A I S E ,2 . PISTOL. At the command P I S T O L , unbutton the flap of theholster withthe righthand and grasp the stock, back of thehand outward. Draw the pistol fromthe holster; reverse it,muzzle up, the thumb and last three fingers ho lding the stock,the forefingerextended outside the trigger guard,the barrelof the pistol to therear and inclined to the front at an angleof 30, the hand ashigh as, and 6 inches in front of, thepoint of the right shoulder. This is the position of R A I S EP I S T O L .29. To W I T H D R A W T H E M A G A Z I N E (fig. 6 .Without lowering the right hand, turnthe barrel slightly to the right; pressthe magazinecatch withthe rightthumb and withthe lefthandremove the magazine. Place it in the belt or pocket. 0 . To O P E N T H E C H A M B E R f ig. 6).Withdraw the magazine and resume the position o f R A I S E P I S T O L . W ithout lowering the right hand , grasp the slide with thethumb and thefirst two fingers of the left hand (thumb on left side of slideand pointingdownward); keeping the muzzle elevated, shiftthe grip of the right hand so that the right thumb engageswith the slide stop. Pu sh the slide downward to its full extent and force theslide stop into itsnotch with the rightthumb without lowering themuzzle of the pistol.31. To C L O S E T H E CH AMBER.With the right thumbpressdownthe slide stop and let the slide go forward. Squeeze thetrigger. 2 . To I N S E R T A M A G A Z I N E . W i thout lowering the righthand turn thebarrel to theright. Grasp a magazine withthe first two fingers and thumb o f the left hand; withdraw itfrom the belt and insert itin the pistol. Pressit fully home.3 3 . To L O A D P IS T O L . T h e commands are: 1 . L O A D 2 . PISTOL. At the command P I S T O L , if a loaded magazine is notalready in the pistol, insert one. Without lowering the righthand turn the barrel slightly to the left. Grasp the slide withthe thumb andfingersof the left hand ( thumb onright side ofslide and pointing upward). Pull the slide downward to its

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    AUTOMATIC PIS TOL, CAL. .45, M1911 A N D M1911A1fullextent (fig. 6). Release the slide and engage the safetylock. 4 . To U N L O A D PISTOL.The c o m m ands are: 1 . U N L O A D ,2. PISTOL. At the commandP I S T O L , withdraw the m agazine. O pen the chamber as prescribed in paragraph 30 .Glance at the chamber to verify that it is em pty. Closethechamber. Take the position of R A I S K P I S T O L and squeeze thetrigger. Then insert an empty magazine.

    To raise the Towithdraw To pull the Toopen the To inspectpistol. the maga- slide down- chamber. the pistol,zine. ward inloading.F I G U R E 6. Manual of the pistol dismounted).

    5. To I N S P E C T PIST O L (fig. 6) . The commands are: 1 .I N S P E C T I O N , 2. PISTOL. A t the command P I S T O L , withdrawthe magazine. Open the chamber as prescribedin paragraph 30 . Take the position ofR A I S E P I S T O L . The withdrawn magazineis held in the open left hand at the heightof the belt. Afterthe pistol has beeninspected, or at thecommand 1 . R E T U R N , 2 . PISTOL, close the chamber, take theposition of R A I S E P I S T O L , and squeeze the trigger. Insert anem pty magazine and execute R E T U R N P I S T O L .

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    AUTOMATIC PISTOL, C A L . .45, M1911 A N D M1911A1 6 . To R E T U R N P I S T O L . T h e commands are: 1 . R E T U R N ,2 . PISTOL. At the commandP I S T O L , lower thepistol to theholster, reversing it, muzzle down, back of the hand to theright; raise the flap of the holster with the right thumb;insert the pistol in the holster and thrust it home; button,the flapof the holster with the right hand. 7 . To EIRE T H E P I S T O L . F U L L Y L O A D E D W I T H B A L L A MM U N I T I O N . S queeze the trigger for each shot. When thelast cartridge has been fired the slide will remain in therear position with the chamber open.S E C T I O N HI

    MOUNTED 8 . G E N E R A L R U L E S . T h e following movements are execu ted as when dismounted: R A I S E P I S T O L , R E T U R N P I S T O L , C L O S EC H A M B E R , T O F I R E T H E P I S T O L . The mounted movements maybe practiced when dismounted by first cautioning, Mountedposition. The right foot is then carried2 0 inches to theright and the left hand to the position of the bridle hand.W henever the pistol is lowered into the bridle hand, themovement is executed by rotating the barrel to the right.Grasp the slide in the full gripof the left hand thumb extendingalong the slide, back of the hand down,barrel downand pointing upward and to the left front. 9 . To W I T H D R A W T H E M A G A Z I N E . L o w e r the pistol into thebridle hand. Press themagazine catch with the forefingerof the right hand, palm of the hand over the base of themagazine to prevent it from springing out; withdraw themagazine andplace it in the belt or pocket. 0 . To O P E N T H E C H A M B E R . W ithdraw the magazine.Graspthe stock with theright hand, back of thehand down,thrustforward and upward withthe right hand and engagethe slide stop by pressure of the rightthumb. 1 . ToI N S E R T A M A G A Z I N E . L o w e r the pistolinto the bridlehand. Extra magazines should be carried in the belt withthe projection on the base pointing to the left. Grasp themagazinewith the tip of the right forefinger onthe projection,withdrawit from the belt, and insert it in the pistol. Pressit fully home. 24

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    AUTOMATIC PISTO L, CAL. .45, M1911 A N D M1911A1 42-44 2 . To L O A D P I S T O L . T h e commands are: 1 . L O A D 2 . PISTOL.At the command P I S T O L , lower the pistol into thebridle hand.If a loaded magazine is not alreadyin the pistol, insert one.Grasp the stock with the right hand,backof the hand down,and thrustupward and to the leftfront; release theslide andengage the safety lock. 3 . To U N L O A D P I S T O L . T h e commands are: 1 . U N L O A D ,2 . PISTOL. A t the command P I S T O L , withdraw the magazine.Open the chamber. Glanceat the chamber to verify that itis empty. Close the chamber. Take the position of R A IS EP I S T O L and squeeze the trigger. Then insert an emptymagazine. 4 . To I N S P E C T P I S T O L . Th e commands are: 1 . I N S P E C T I O N ,2 . PISTOL. (The pistol is inspected mounted onlyat mountedguard mounting. The magazine is not withdrawn.) A t thecommand P I S T O L , take the positionof R A I S E P I S T O L . After thepistol has been inspected,or oncommand, it is returned.

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    CHAPTER 3MARKSMANSHIP, KNOWN-DISTANCETARGETS,

    DISMOUNTED Paragrap h sS E C T I O N I . Preparatory training _ 45-51II. C oursestobe fired___________ 52 -54

    III. C onduc tof range practice--________ 55-6 1IV . Known-distance targets and ranges; rangeprecautions__________________ 62-64V. S m a ll-borepractice_________ 6 5-69S E C T I O N I

    PREPARATORYTRAINING 5. I N S T R U C T I O N A N D P R A C T I C E . (1 ) Pistolfiring is apurelymechanical operationthat any man w h o isp h ysically and mentally fit to bea soldier canlearnto dowell if p roperlyinstructed. The methodsof instruction mustbe the same asare used inteaching anymechanical op eration. The sold ier mustbetaught the various step s in theirproper order andmust be c arefully watchedand correctedw h eneverhe m ak es a m ista k e.(2) G ood sh ooting ism ore the result ofcareful instructionthan of m ere practic e. U nless p rop erly instructed, men instinctively do the wrong thingin firing the pistol. They instinctively jerk the trigger w h ic h is the cause of flinching.H en c e,mere practice fixes the instinctivebad habits.(3) If,h o w ever, a man has been first thoroughlyinstructedinthe mechanism of correct sh ooting andisthen carefullyandp r o p erly c oac h e d w h e n hebeg in s fir ing,correct shootinghabits rapidlybecom e fixed.(4) The ultimate object of the trainingis to develop theability tofire one or m ore accurate shots quic k l y, but trainingmust begin withc arefully c oac h e d slowfire toattain accuracyand befollowed by practice that will graduallyshorten thetime withoutsacrific ing the a c c u rac y.b. (1 )Pistol instructionisdividedinto two p h ases, preparatory instruction andrange firing .26

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    AUTOMATICIn the preparatory instruction the soldier learns practicallyall the principles of good shooting. In range firing he cultivates the will power to apply these principles when using ballammunition until proper, fixed habits have been acquired.(2) The principles of good shooting are simple and easy tolearn except the trigger squeeze, which is difficult to apply toa loaded pistol. To this important item most of the instructor s time will be devoted during the period of range practice.(3) The six distinct steps in the preparatory instructionare

    (a) Aiming exercises.(6) Position exercises.(c) Trigger-squeeze exercises.Rapid-fire exercises.Quick-fire exercises.(/) Examination on preparatory work.(4) The steps are progressive and must always be taughtin proper sequence.(5) Each of the first five steps begins with a talk by theinstructor and a demonstration by a squad which the instructor puts through the exercises that are to constitute theday s work. He shows how the corporal organizes the workin the squad so that no men are idle and how the members ofeach pair coach one another when they are not under instruction by an officer or a noncommissioned officer. Heshows exactly how to execute each of the exercises about tobe taken up and explains its purpose and application in pistolshooting.(6) The instructor who gives these very essential talks anddemonstrations may be the organization commander, or hemay be a specially qualified officer who has been detailed asinstructor. But the actual application of the demonstratedexercises to the men of the command must be by the officersand noncommissioned officers of the organization undergoinginstruction(7) Instruction must be thorough and must be individual.General instruction of groups of men is not enough. The instructors must see that each man understands each and everypoint and can apply it.

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    AS8 ) In peacetimetraining and in war, when time is available for acomplete course of instruction and practice, theblank form shown in paragraph 46o (which should be explained in thefirst talk) must be kept by each squad leaderand by each platoon leader independently. This blank formshows at a glance just how much each man knows abouteach featureof training and permits concentratio n ofinstructionwhere m ost needed. 9 ) Interest and enthusiasm must be sustained and everything possible should be done tostimulatethem . If the

    exercises are carried out in a manner approximately correctand as a routine pieceof work, results will be verydisappointing. 10 ) It is of utmost im portance that the triggersqueezebe explained in such a mannerasto give the soldier a clearunderstanding of how it should be executed. 1 1 ) All authorities on shooting agree that the triggermust be squeezed with a steady increase of pressure. If aman knows when, his pistol will go off it is because he suddenly gives the trigger all the pressure necessary. Conversely,if theincrease of pressureis steady the man cannotknow when the pistonwill be discharged. Hence, heisinstructed to This does not mean thatthe processis necessarily a slow oneandthat it will take acomparatively longtime to fire a shot. Through training,a m an can reducethe t ime used in pressing the trigger toas brief a period as 1 second and still press it in such amannerthat he does not know justwhat part of the secondthe discharge will take place. When the soldier-has -ac-,quired the ability to squeeze the trigger properly,eventhough it be very slowly, hesoon learns to shorten the t imewithout changing the process.

    12 ) Whenever a man is ina firing position, whether itbe a preparatory Instruction or during practice firing, hem ust have a coach beside him to watch him and point outhis errors. 13) None of the preparatory exercises are executed bycommand or inunison by a group of m en. Instruction isindividual at all times. The m en are placed in pairs and

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    46 A U TOMATIC PISTOL, CAL. .45, M1911 AND M1911A1One sighting bar.Onepistol rest.Two small aim ing disks.One 5-inch aiming disk.Two small boxes, with paper tacked on one side.One piece ofpaper at least 2 feet square and tackedon a wallor frame.

    N OTE.Men who have once been instructed in the aiming exercises, either in preparation for rifle or for pistol firing, willrequire very little instruction in aimingduring subsequent seasons. They will, however, go through the aiming exercises atleast once to verify their knowledge of this subject and to assignthem a mark in the proper column on the blank form shownin below.

    (1) (a) The sighting bar is illustrated infigure 7 .(b) Carefully blacken all pieces of tin or cardboard andthe top of the bar. Nail the bartoa box about 1 foothighand place the box on the ground, table, or other suitableplace.(c) The sighting bar is used in instruction for two reasons,the sights arelarger than on thepistol and errors inaim-Ing can be seen m ore easily and pointedout to the beginner,and the eyepiece of the sighting bar forcesthe m anunderinstruction to place his eye so that he sees the sights inproper alinement andthus he learnshowto aline properlythe sights of the pistol. W ithout an eyepiece the instructorcannot know whether or not the recruit has his eye inproper position.(2) (c) To construct a sighting rest for thepistol (f ig. 8) use a piece of wood about 1 0 inches long, iyinches wide and e inch thick. Shape one end so that it w i l l fit snugly inthe handle ofthe pistol when them agazinehasbeen removed. Screw or nail this stickto the top of apost or other object at such an anglethat the pistol whenplaced on the stickwill have its barrel approximately horizontal. A suitable sighting rest for the pistolmay be easilyimprovised bycutting an additional notch tohold the pistolin 'one endofthe box used as a rifle rest.(b) Having first learned the principles of aiming by meansof the sightingbar, the soldier is taught to apply themto thepistol on its rest.

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    AUTOMATIC PISTOL CAL M1911AND M1911A1 46

    Front Sight paintedblachRear Sight-PeeporO penpainted bfe c

    yepieceta intedbla c

    W oodenBarpa in tedb lach

    TopVieai

    HTarget

    FrontSight

    ' V iea io

    Open Sightfe

    -a 6-

    tyepiecer-3-^ r-3H

    Cc;Fold on dottea lines

    FolaedTShape

    i

    Hols V z fromT&pCenter

    onstruc tio nP IGUEE7.Constructionofsightingbar.

    Wooden bar1 by 2Inches by 4feet 6inches (approximate).EyepieceThin metal,3by 7inches; hole,0.03-inchdiameter.BearsightThinmetalorcardboard,3 by3 inches;holein.center, -inchdiameter.FrontsightThinmetal, by3 inches, bent L shape.TargetThin metal, orcardboard,3 by3inches, paintedwhiteBlackbull's-eye, -inchdiameterincenter.Silts1 inch deep maybe linedwiththinmetalstrips.31

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    46 A U T O M A T I C PISTOL, CAL . .45 M1911 AND M1911A1(3) (a) For each sighting bar and eachpistol rest a sm all disk 3 inches in diameter is made of

    white cardboard or of tin w ith white paper pasted on it andwith a small bull s-eye in the center. In the exact centerof the bull s-eye is a sm all hole just large enough to admitthe point of a pencil. For indoor or close-range w ork thebu ll s-eye should not be larger than a50 cent piece.( ) There should be one 5-inch aiming disk for each squadforshot-group exercise at 25 yards. The large disk shouldbe of tin painted black, with a handle 4 or 5 feet long and

    F IGURE 8. The pistol rest.of the same color as the paper on which the shot groupsare to be m ade. (1) (a) The squadleader or instructor shows a sighting bar to his squad orgroup and points out the front and rear sights, the eyepiece,and the removable target. H e explains the use of thesighting bar as follow s:

    The frontand rear sights on the sighting bar representenlarged pistol sights.

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    2 . The sighting bar is used inthe first sighting exercise

    because with it small errors can be easily seen andexplained to the pupi l .3 . The eyepiece requires the pupil to place his eye insuch position that he sees the sights in exactly thesame alinement as seen by the coach.There is no eyepiece on the pistol, but the pupillearns by useof the sighting barhow to aline thesights properly when using the pistol.5 . The removable target attached to the end of thesighting bar is a s imple method of readilyaliningthe sights on a bull 's eye.(b) The instructor explains the open sight to the assembled group, showing each man the illustration of a correctsight alinement (fig. 9).

    F I G U R E 9 .N orma l open sight.(c) The instructor, using the open sight, adjusts the sightsof the sighting bar with target removed to illustrate acorrectalinement of the sights. He has each man of the assembledgroup look through the eyepiece at each ofthe sight adjustments.( < i ) The instructor adjusts the sights of thesightingbarwith various small errors in sight alinement and has eachman of theassembled group endeavor to detect theerrors.The instructor describes a correct aim, again showingthe illustration to each man (fig. 9). He explains that thetop of the front sight isseen through themiddle of theopensight and is raised to a height so that its top is level withthe outside edges of the open sight and just touches thebottom of the bulls-eye so that all of the bull s-eye can beclearly seen.

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    A UTO M A TIC PIST O L, CAL. .45 M1911 AN D M1911A1(/) T he instructorexplains thattheeye should be focusedon the bull s-eye in aiming, and he assures himself by q uestioning thepupils thateach man understands what is meantby focusing the eye on the bull s-eye.T he instructor adjusts the sights of the sighting barand the removable targetso as to illustrate a correct aim andhas each man of the group look through the eyepiece toobserve thiscorrect aim .T he instructor adjusts the sights and the removabletarget of the sighting bar so as to illustrate various small

    errors andhas each manin the group attempt todetect theerror. T he exerc ise described above having been completedb y the squad leader or other instructor, the men are placed inpairs and the exercise is repeated by the coach-and-pupil method.(2 ) (a) W ith thepistol on thepistol restand the sights pointing ata blank sheet of paper on a boardor on thewall, standwith the head in thesame relative position as infiring thepistol and look throughthesights (fig.10). Thenby signal or byword have thedisk moveduntilthebottom edge o f the bull s-eye is in exact alinement with thesights. T hencommandH OLD andmove away from thepisto land let the man undergoing instruction look through thesights to see theproper aim.(b) H ave the man under instruction look through thesights while hedirects the disk to be m oved until the sightsare alined on the bottom of the bull s-eye. T he instructorthen looks through t he sights to see if an y error has beenmade.(c) H ave thesights adjusted on the bulls- eye with variousvery slight errors and see if the man under instruction candetect them readily .3 ) the sighting rest forthepisto l,require the man under in struction to direct the mark er tomove thedisk until thesights are aimed at thebottom edgeofthe bull s-eyeandto command HOIJD . heinstructor thenlooks at the aim, and afternoticing whether the aim is rightor wrong commands: M A RK . T he marker, without movingthe disk, makes apencil markon thepaper throughthe liole

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    A U T O M A T IC PIST OL, CA L MI9I1 AND M1911A1 46 47in the center of the bull s-eye. Repeat the operation untilthree marks have been made. The instructor looks at theaim each time, buthe says nothingto the manuntil all threemarks have been made and joined together so as to make ashot group. The faults, if any, are then pointed out. Thesiz eandshapeof theshotgroupare discussed and theexerciseIs repeated several time s. At 30 feet, using the small bull s-eye, the shot group should be small en ough to be covered bya dime. This form, is used duringthe period of preparatory instruction. Its object is to show atall times thestate of instruction of each man and to insurehis thoroughinstruction in all necessary points before range practicebegins.

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    Method of marking: Fair. X G ood.X

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    Excellent.

    7 S E C O N D STEP ; PO S IT ION aT o assume theproper position for firing it is necessary35

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    to know how to aim, how to grasp the pistol, how to hold thebreath properly, and the correct position of the body withrelation Jo the target.(1) T o take the grip, holdthepistol in the left hand and force the grip safety devicedown and back into the crotch form ed between the thumband forefinger of the right hand. The thumb is carriedparallel with or slightly higher than the forefinger; it should

    F IGURE 10.Sighting exercise.never be lower. C lose the three lower fingers on the stockfirmly but not w ith a te nse grip fig, 11).(b) The thum b and forefinger squeeze the frame of thepistol, but theball of the thumb does not always touch thepistol, depending on the conformation of the m an s hand.B y this pressure movement to the right or left is controlled,and the trigger squeeze can be better applied andcoordinated. 36

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    47

    c) Themuscles of the armare firm without being rigid.There should be nobending of thearmat the elbow whenthe pistol is fired. On the other hand, the arm should notbe locked at the elbow . When the firer is shooting properly, after recoil the pistol arm should automatically carrythe pisto l backto the position show nin figure 1 2 . 2) a) The propermethod o fholding thebreath is important because without instructionmanymen hold thebreath in the w rong w ay or do not holdit at all. b) To ho ld the breath, draw into the lungs a little m oreair thanan ordinary breath, let a littleof the air out andsto p therest by clo sing the throat. D o no t ho ld the breath

    P I G U E E 11.H ow tograsp the pistol.w ith the throat o pen o r by the muscular effort of thediaphragm. 3) 12) . a) Thepositio n of thebody is a little more thanhalffaced to the left, the feet 1 2or 1 8 inches apart, depending on the man, the head erect,and the body perfectly balanced whenthe pistol is held inthesho oting position. b) The w hole po sition should be natural andcomfortable.Upo n assumingthe position there issome point to whichthepistol points naturally andw ithout effort. If this point isno t the center o f thetarget thewhole body must be shiftedso as to bring thetarget intoproper alinement. Otherwisethe firer w ill be f iring undera strain because hewill be pullin g

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    the pistol on thetarget by m uscular effort for each shot. A nyunnecessary tensing of any of the muscles of thehand, arm ,or body w ill cause trem ors and should therefore be avoided. . (1) Required or this exercise: A lineofL targetsw ith firing points at 1 5 and 25 yards, or a line ofsm all aiming bulls-ey es placed at theheight of the shoulder.(2) The m en, armed with the pistol, areplaced in one line at 1 -pace in tervals. G ive the com m and: 1 I N S P E C T I O N , 2 .PISTOL, and verify the fact thatall pistols are unloaded.

    F IG U R E 3.2 .Position of the body.(3) Dem onstrate the position of the hand ingripping thestock and describe the grip in detail.4 ) Require eachman to grip thestock of his pistol intheprescribed manner, using the free hand to grasp the barreland set the stock w ell back in the pistol handbetw een thethumband the first ringer.(5) Describe the correct method of holding the breath

    while aiming and require eachmantopractice ita few times.

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    (6) Demonstrate the correct position of the whole bodywhen firing, explaining in detail the position of the feet, legs,body muscles, arms, and head.(7) Require each man to assume the correct firing position.The officers and noncommissioned officers of the organization,correct individuals who are at fault.(8) he above exercises having been completed, instruction becomes individual under a coach. The men are placed,in pairs opposite L targets or opposite small aiming bull's-eyes and take turns coaching each other.(9) The details of the position exercises are(a) Grasp the stock with the correct grip.(b) Face target, then face half left.(c) Separate the feet 1 2 to 1 8 inches.(d) Aline the sights on the bottom edge of the bull's-eye,arm extended.Hold the breath.(/) As soon as the arm becomes tired or the aim becomes

    Unsteady, assume the position of R A I S E P I S T O L .( f l r ) The pistol should be removed from the right hand andthe muscles of the hand, arm, and shoulder relaxed andexercised before resuming the grip. This should also be donebetween shots in slow fire.(10) After the firer has completed the position exercise hemay repeat it with a weight, such as a pair of field glasses in.a case suspended from the right arm. The weight is suspended first between shoulder and elbow, then from the forearm, then from the wrist, and finally from the barrel of thepistol, interspersed with short rests. The value of this exercise lies in developing the muscles of the shoulder and arm.(11) (a) he hammer is not raised during the positionexercises and the trigger is grasped very lightly with thefinger.

    (b) After a short rest repeat the exercise.(c) The man acting as coach watches carefully andcorrects all errors.The man under instruction and the coach changeplaces as the officer in charge of the instruction desires.This should be every 3 to 5 minutes.

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    (e) Only a few hours in all shou ld be devoted to theposition exercises, as all of its details are included in thetr igger-squeeze exercise. 8 . T H I R D STEP ; T R I G G E R S Q T J E E Z E . (1) The recruit can readily learntoaim and hold the aim either on the bu ll's-eye or very closeto it for atleast 1 0 seconds. When he has learned to pressthe trigger in such a manner as not to spoil his hold hebecomes a good shot. All men flin h in firing the pistol ifthey know the exact instant at which the discharge is totake place. This isan involuntary actionwhich cannot becontrolled. A sudden pressure ofthe trigger may derangethe aim slightlybut the extremeinaccuracy of a shot firedin this way is duemainly to the flinch;that is, the thrustingforward ofthe hand to meet the sho k of recoil. Any manwho holds the sights of the pistol asnearly on the bull's-eyeas possible and continues to press on the trigger with auniformly increasing pressureuntil the pistol goes off isAny man w hohas learned to increase the pressure onthe trigger only w henthe sights are in alinementwith thebull's-eye, who holdsthe pressure when the muzzleswerves, and who continues with the pressure when thesights are again in line with the bull's-eye is anAny man who tries to catch his sights as they touchthe bull's-eyeand to set the pistol off at that instant is a

    (2) Theapparent unsteadinessof the pistol while beingheld on the bu ll's-eye does not causemuch variation in thestriking place of the bullet due to the fact that the movement isof the whole extended arm and pistol. But the.sudden pressure of the trigger which always accompaniesthe flin hdeflects the muzzle of the pistol and causes thebullet to strike far from the mark. In squeezing the triggerthe pressure must be tothe rear. Thereis a tendency on thepart of some men topress the trigger also tothe left.b . call the shot is to state wherethe sights were pointed at the instant the hammer fell;thus, high, a little low, to the left, slightly to thelight, bu ll's-eye, etc. If the soldier cannot call his shot

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    A U TO M A T IC PIST O L, CAL. .45 M1911 AND M1911A1 48correctly in range practice he did not press the triggerproperly and consequently did not know where the sightsw ere pointed w hen the ham m er fell .c. 1) a) R equired for this exercise: A line of L targets w ith a firingpoint at25 yards.( ) G ive the command: 1 . I N S P E C T I O N . 2 PIST O L, andverify the fact that allpistols areunlo aded.c) T he squad leader explains to his squad the details ofthis exercise w hich are

    C ock and lock the piece.T ake the correct grip.T ake the correct positio n.A line thesights on the target andstartthe squeeze,gradually increasingthe pressure on the triggeruntil allthe strengthof the hand is employed.5 . Rest the hand.R epeat the above operation w ith thepiece unlocked.7 C all the shot.T he squad leader assures himself that all the m enunderst ndthe details of this exercise. T he w ork is thencarried on by pairs w orking together, coach and pupil.M embers of the squad should change over frequently toavoid tiring the muscles of the arm. Extended trigger-squeezeexercise is necessaryand the periods should be short

    but frequent.T he duties of the coach are toSee that the flrer takes thecorrect grip.2 Seethat the flrer takes acorrect position.3 . W atch thehand of the firer tosee that he is gradually increasing the pressureonthe trigger.See that the f lrer rests his shooting hand after

    having unlocked the piece.5 See that the firer calls the shot w hen the exerciseisrepeated w ith thepiece unlocked. 2) a) G iv e the command: 1 . I N S P E CT I O N , 2 PIST O L, and verify the fact that all pistols areunloaded. b) T he squad leader explains tohissquad the details ofthis exercise, w hich are C ock the piece. 4 1

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    A U T O M A T I C PISTOL, CAL. .45, M1911 A N D M1911A1

    2 . Take the correct grip .3 . Take the correct position.Aline thesights on the target and start the squeeze.C lose the eyes andcontinue to squeeze until thehammer falls.5 . When the hammer falls, open the eyes and checkthe aim to see if ithas been deranged.

    N O T E. The firer should be able to keepon the target. If he isoff persistently he should check on his grip and position to seethat they are correct.c) T he duties of the coach in this exercise are the sameas in the first trigger-squeeze exercise . 3 ) learning to fire the pistol, the average man has a tendency to push or punch forward withthe arm or shoulder to meet the force of recoil of the piece.To assist the firer in overcoming this tendency the follow ing exercise is prescribed: By command, verify the fact that

    all pistols are unloaded. T he firer cocksand locks the piece,takes his firing position, alines the sights under the bull s-eye, and squeezes the trigger. The coach stands in frontof the firer, facing him, and strikes the muzzle of the piecewith the palm of his hand. A t irregular intervals his handmisses the muzzle. T he firer should hold the piece on thetarget and make no forw ard punchingmovem ent to meet theshock of the blow. If he does push forward with the arm orshoulder it will be apparent when the coach misses the muzz le. 9 . F O U R T H STEP ; R A P I D FIRE. a.(1) Training for rapid fire is taken up after the trigger-squeeze exercise hasbeen practiced sufficiently to be understood thoroughly , butthe trigger-squeeze exercise practice inslow fire should be resumed and continued duringtheentireperiod of preparatory training.(2) The time consumed in pressing the trigger must necessarilybeshorterinrapid fire than inslow fire , but the pro cessis the sam e.(3 ) To fire the first sho t, the pisto l should be brought fromthe positionof R A I S E P I S T O L by theshortest route to theaimingpositio n with the sights alined o n themark. This is done bya sm ooth, rapidextensio n of the right arm straight fromthe

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    AUTOMATIC PISTOL , C A L . .45, M1911 AND M1911A1 49shoulder, inserting theright forefinger in the trigger guardduring the m ovement and holding the breath. To bring thepistol through the arc of a circle to the aiming positio n is anunnecessary loss of valuable time.(4 ) For succeedingshots the sights shou ld beheld as nearlyon the mark aspossible and thebreathheld throughout thescore. Therecoil aftereach shot will throw thesights out ofalinement, but they shouldbe brought back im mediately tothe mark by the shortest route. The recoil should cause averticalm ovement of the firing arm upward, the hand movingonly 6 to8 inches. There should be no snapping or bendingof the wrist or elbow. The sights will then come back automatically on the mark after each shot. To give the pistol aflourish between shots is a useless loss of time.(5) To simulate the self-loading action of the automaticpistol take astrong cord about 4feet long and tie oneend tothe thumbp ie ce of thehammer, Takea fewturns of the other end of the cord around the thumb orfingers of theleft hand. The cordshould be long enough topermit the left hand to hang naturally at the side while aiming the pistol with the right hand, right arm fully extended.(6) Each time the hammer falls aquick, backward jerkofthe left hand recocksthe pistol and at the same time jerksthe sights out of alinementwiththe bull's-eye. This derangement of the alinement corresponds veryclosely to the jump ofthe pistol whenactually firing.(7) If the knot is underneath the hammer orif a verythick cord is used the hammer will not remain cocked whenjerked back . (1) Required for this exercise: Apiece of strong cord 4 J/ feet long for each man; a row ofL targets or a row of aiming bull's-eyes.

    (2) Give the command: 1 . I N S P E C T I O N , 2 . PISTOL, andverify the factthat all pistols are unloaded.(3 ) Explain to the assembled command that the triggersqueeze is the samein rapid fire as in slow fire.(4 ) Demonstrate the correct method of bringing the pistolby the shortest route to the aiming position. Show howthis is donefrom R A I S E P I S T O L and in drawing the pistol fromthe holster in an emergency .

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    ATJTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL . .45 M1911 AND M1911A1 5 ) Show how to tie the cord to the thumbpiece of thehammer and cause each m an to adjust his cord. 6) D emonstrate the method of cocking the pistol bymeans of the cord and explain how this sim ulates the self-loading action of the pistol. 7 ) Show how the pistol is kept as nearly on the mark aspossible during the whole score. Caution the men to avoidunnecessary flourishes or m ovements between shots. 8 ) D em onstrate(a) T he action of the pistol in recoil when a shot is fired.(b) How thearm should not be permitted to bend at theelbow. c) H ow the pistol should move upward through a smallarc and be deflected from the original point of aim only ashort distance.How the forefinger should move forward after theexplosion only far enough to allow the sear to become re

    engaged and immediately thereafter startpressing the trigger forthe nextshot.How the eye should not be allow ed to close w hen theexplosion occurs.(/) How the breath should be held for each shot. 9) (a) The above demonstrations having been completed,the m en are placed in frontof the line of targets in. pairs,one to practice and one to coach. T he exercise is thencarried on exactly the sam e as rapid fire in range practice.If a line of disappearing targets has been arranged for thisexercise the targets appear, remain in sight the allotted time,and then disappear. While the targets are in sight eachman undergoing instruction attempts to fire five shots (simulated fire), cocking the piece for each shot except thefirstby a jerkof the cord with the left hand.

    (b) If the targets are stationary the exercise begins withthe command: 1 . C O M M E N C E , 2. FIRING, andends with thecommand: 1 . C E A S E , 2. FIRING.(c) After each three or four scores of simulated fire them en of each pair are directed to change places, the flrerbecoming the coach and the coach becoming the flrer. 10 ) (a) In this exercise the coach carefully watches theman and corrects all errors in grip, position, trigger squeeze,

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    A U T O M ATIC PIST OL, CAL. .45 M1911 AND M1911A1and manipulation of the piece, paying particular attentionto the trigger squeeze.

    ( ) Rapid-fire exercises should be frequent but not oflong duration.(c) It is advisable to extend the time limits several seconds w hen rapid-fire exercise is first taken up. The timelim it is then gradually reduced until it corresponds to thetime prescribed for range firing, record practice. 0. F IFTH S T E P ; Q U I C K FIRE. 1 ) The training for quick fire is taken up after the rapid-fire exercise has been practiced sufficiently to be understoodthoroughly. Thereafter, exercises in slow fire, rapid fire, andquick fire should all be continued until the end of the periodof preparatory training. 2 ) For each shot the pistol is brought from R A I S E P I S T O Lto the aiming position by the shortest route after the targetappears.

    3 ) T he pistol may be cocked after each shot in this exercise either by m ans of a cord as in rapid-fire exercise, or byusing the left hand to pull the hammer backafter the positio nof R A K E P I S T O L is resumed.b . (1) Required for this exercise: Aline of E targets that can be operated as bobbing targets froma pit or screen, or a line of E targets so arranged on piv otsthat the edge canb e turned toward the firer when the targetis not exposed.(2) Give the command: 1 . I N S P E C T I O N , 2. PISTOL, andverify the fact that all pistols are unloaded. 3 ) E xplain to the assembled command that the triggersqueeze is the same in quick fire as in slow fire. 4 ) D em onstrate the correct method of bringing the piecefrom R N G E P I S T O L to the aiming position.

    5 ) Show how the pistol is cocked between shots when theleft hand is used instead of the cord. 6 ) T he above demonstrations having been completed, themen are placed in pairs in front of the line of bobbing targets,one m an of each pair to act as coach for the other m an.The exercise is thencarried on exactly the same as quick firein range practice. The targets appear, remain in sight theallotted time, and then disappear. After the targets appear22390640 7 45

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    each man undergoing instruction brings his pistol fromR A I S E P I S T O L to the aiming position, aims, fires one shot(simulated fire), and returns hispiece tothe position of R A I S E P I S T O L . After threeor fou r scores of simulatedfire the menofeach pair are directed to change places.(7) The coach watches carefully the man going th roughthe exercises and corrects all errors in the grip, position, holding thebreath, trigger squeeze, and the manipulation of thepiece, paying particular attention to the trigger squeeze. Itis advisable to extend the time lim it about two seconds foreach shot when quick-firing exercise is first taken up. Thetime is then gradually reduced until it corresponds tothetime prescribed for range firing,record practice.(8 ) W hen disappearing targets cannot be provided for thisexercise it may be held with station ary Etargets. The command T I P is given to signify that thetargets are in sight, andthe command D O W N to signifythat they have beenwithdrawn.

    9 ) Practice in quick fire should be held frequently, butthe periods of practice shouldnot be of longduration. 10) If the range is some distance from the area designated for preparatory exercises, or it is impracticable toarrange for aline of bobbing targets, Ltargets may be substituted for the bobbing targets. 1 . S I X T H ST E P ; E X A M I N A T I O N . A t the completion of thepreparatory instruction, the instructor should assure himselfby anexamination that every man understands thoroughlyand can explain every phase of the preparatory training.The questions and answers given below are merely examples.Each manshould be required to explain each item in his ownwords.Instructor: Examine your pistol to see that it is unloaded.

    Q . What arethe safety devicesof the pistol? The safetylock, the gripsafety, the half-cock notch, and the disconnector.Q . Show me how youtest the safety lock. I cock thepistol, move the safety lock up into place, and then grip thestock and see if thehammerremainsup when pressure isappliedto the trigger.Q . Show me how youtest the grip safety . cock thepistol, see that thesafety lock Is down and then , withoutpu tting any pressure on the grip safety, I seeif the hammer

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    AUTOMATIC PISTOL, C A L . .45, M1911 A N D M1911A1will remain up when a strong pressure is applied to thetrigger.Q . Show me how you test thehalf-cock safety device.half cock the pistol, grip the stock, and see if the hammerremains at half cock when pressure is applied to thetrigger.Then I takemyfinger off the trigger, pull thehammer backalmost to full cock, and let go of it to see if it stopsat halfcockas it falls.Show me how you test the disconnector. I cock thepistol and grip the stock; then with my left hand I move theslide to the rear a quarter of aninch ; I then apply a strongpressure on the trigger and release the slide to see if thehammer will remain up. I also pull the slide fully backuntil it is held in place by the slide stop; I then gripthe stock,apply a strong pressure on the trigger and release theslide by pressing down the slidestop with my left hand. Thehammer shouldremain upafter the slide moves forward intoplace.Q . If thehammer does not remain up after the slide movesforward into place,what does it indicate? That with ballammunition the pistol would continue to fire automaticallyas long as pressure is maintained on the trigger, which isvery dangerous.Q . If any of the tests of the safety devices fail at any time,what should you do? I should reportthe matter at onceto my platoon or company commander.Q . What is this(indicating a sighting bar) ? A sightingbar.Q . What is it used for? To teach men how to aim.Q . W hy is it better than a pistol for this purpose?Because the sights are much larger and slight errors can beseen more easily andpointed out.Q . What does this represent? The front sight.Q . What does this represent? The rear sight.Q . What is this? The eyepiece.Whatis it for? To make the man hold his headin the right place so that he will see the sights properlyalined.Q . Is there an eyepiece on the pistol? N o . A manlearns bythe sighting bar howthe sights look when properly

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    AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL. .45, M1911 AND M1911AIalined, and he must hold the pistol while aiming so as tosee the sights in the same way.

    Q. Adjust the sights of this sighting bar so that they arein proper alinement with each other. (Verified by instructor.)Q. Now that the sights are properly adjusted, have thesmall bull's-eye moved until the sights are aimed at itproperly. (Verified by instructor.)Q. Tell me what is wrong with this aim. (The instructornow adjusts the sights of the sighting bar on the bull's-eyewith various very slight errors, requiring the man to pointout the error.)Q. Show me how you grip the stock of the pistol.Q. Show me the position you take when you are going toshoot.Q. H o w do you squeeze the trigger? I squeeze it withsuch a steady increase of pressure as not to know exactlywhen the hammer will fall.If the sights get slightly out of alinement while you aresqueezing the trigger, what do you do? hold the pressure I have on the trigger and only go on with the increaseof pressure when the sights become alined again.Q. If you do this can your shot be a bad one? N o.Q. Why? Because I cannot flinch for I do not knowwhen to flinch, and the sights will always be lined up withthe bull's-eye when the shot is fired because I never increasethe pressure on tine trigger except when the sights areproperly alined.Q. When you are practicing in slow fire and your armbecomes unsteady and your aim uncertain, what should youdo? I should come back to R A I S E P I S T O L without firingthe shot and then try again after a short rest.Q. If it is impossible for you to hold the pistol very steady,can you still do good shooting? Yes; if I press the triggerproperly.Q. Tell me why that is. Because the natural unsteadiness of the arm moves the whole pistol and the barrelremains nearly parallel to the line of sight. But if I givethe trigger a sudden pressure the front end of the barrelwill be thrown out of line with the target, and the bulletswill strike far out from the mark.

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    AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL. .45 M1911 A ND M1911A1 51Q . What causes this deflection of one end of the pistolwhen the trigger isgiven a sudden pressure? suddenpressure itself causes some of it, but most ofit is caused by

    the flinch that always accompanies this kind of a triggerpressure.Q . What does a man do when he flinches in shooting apistol? H e usually thrusts his hand forward is if tryingto meet the shock by suddenly stiffening all his muscles.Q . Must the trigger always be squeezed slowly in order todo it correctly? No. I squeeze it the sameway in rapidflre and quick fire. The time is shorter but the process isthe same.Q . What is meant by calling the shot? To say whereyou think the bulletwill hit assoon as you shoot and beforethe shot is marked.Q . How can you do this? By noticing exactly wherethesights point atthe time the pistol is fired.Q . If a mancannot call his shot correctly, what does itindicate? Thathe did not squeeze the trigger properlyandconsequently did not know where the sights were pointedat the instant the discharge tookplace.Show me howyou hold your breath while aiming.Q . Take your pistol. Aim at that bull's-eye and squeezethe trigger a few times, calling the shot each time. (Theinstructor particularly notes the holding of the breath.)

    Q . Showme how you come toa positionof aimfrom R A I S EP I S T O L .Q . Showme how you come tothe aiming positionin drawing the pistol from theholster in anemergency.Q . Take thispistol with the cord tied to the hammer andfire a rapid-fire score at that target (simulated fire .Q . Fire a score (simulated fire) at that qu ick-fire target.I will give the command U P when it is supposed to come intosight, and thecommand D O W N when it is supposed to bewithdrawn from view.Q . What do you do in case a cartridge misses fire? Ibring the piece to R A I S E P I S T O L , grasp the slide with my leftthumb and finger, pull the slide fully back and let go of it.

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    51-53 A t r r o M A T i c P I S T O L , C A L .45, Mi9ii A N DThis throws out the faulty cartridge and loads in anothercartridge.Q .Are there any points abou t pistol firing thatyou donot understand?N O T E . I n all the demonstrations by the manundergoing examination the instructor carefully notes all points thatare coveredin thepreparatory exercises. E ach man isput through a thoroughtest along the line indicated in these questions andanswers beforehe is allowed to fire.

    S E C T I O N IICOURSES TO BE FIRED

    2.G E N E R A L . A R 775-10 prescribes details as to who willfireand am m unition allowances. 3. I N S T R U C T I O N P R A C T I C E . T h e following tables prescribethe firing in instruction practice in the order followed by theindividual soldier. Target L is used in m uch of the practiceas thebull's-eye m akes com petition keener and shows uperrors as no other target can.

    T A B L E I.Range Time

    _.__.do-

    Scores(5 shotseach),minim um

    U nlimited time is permitted for slow fire in order to permitproper explanation of the causes oferrors and indication ofcorresponding rem edies. It is intended to be the elementaryphase of instruction in the propermanipulation of the weaponand for determiningand correcting the personal errors ofthe firer.

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