Popular Courses-Of-Fire For Young Rifle Shooters

In basketball, you begin by learning how to dribble, pass and shoot, but your goal is to put those skills together so you can play a game of basketball. In shooting, the game or event that is played is called a course-of-fire. One or more targets, usually for three or four different positions, are shot in a series and the scores are added together to give an event total.

One of your goals in competitive shooting should be to develop the skills you need to be able to shoot a regular course-of-fire with the rifle you are using.

In shooting a course-of-fire, the positions are normally shot in a fixed order. Usually this is done with a time limit. Time limits can vary from an average of one minute per shot to two minutes per shot. More time is usually allowed to change targets and positions. Check the correct rulebook to determine exact time limits. Some popular courses-of-fire for young shooters are below.

• BB Gun, 5 meters. 40 shots; 10 in each position. Prone, sitting, kneeling, standing.
• Air Rifle, 10 meters. 30 or 60 shots; 10 or 20 in each position. Prone, standing, kneeling.
• Air Rifle, 10 meters. 40 or 60 shots. Standing only.
• Smallbore Rifle, 50 feet, Natl. Target. 40 shots; 10 in each position. Prone, standing, sitting, kneeling.
• Smallbore Rifle, 50 feet, Intl. Target. 30 or 60 shots; 10 or 20 in each position. Prone, standing, kneeling.

To shoot a full course-of-fire, you have to be well organized. Get ready for your first target, usually prone. When you are finished with that position, change targets and get ready for the next position. This goes on until the course-of-fire is through. To successfully complete a course-of-fire, you must know how to change your rifle sling and other equipment so that you can get into the same position and shoot the same way each time. Careful notes in your shooter's diary will help you as you change positions.

Shooting Activity: Complete a Shooting Event

Choose a course-of-fire for the rifle you are using and begin shooting the complete course. Remember to apply the shooting fundamentals that you have learned. All targets in a course-of-fire must be shot together in sequence. Individual targets or positions may not be repeated or replaced.