Rifle Qualification - And The Winner Is...

We all held our breath.

My room mates, all soaked in sweat and dusted with dirt from our 6 mile hike from the range, sat in the room waiting. Friday afternoon usually created high spirits. However we all leaned forward in our chairs, elbows resting on our knees, to relieve the soreness from our shoulders and our lower backs. Pure exhaustion and relief engulfed us, as Rifle qualifications were finally concluded. We sat there, waiting impatiently for two pieces of information;

The final word from our squad leaders for what the plan was for Monday. And more importantly...


The scores for rifle range.


As in my previous post, the room had a bet established for scores on the rifle range. The highest total score would be able to spend all the money that we had put into the bet on drinks that evening at the bar. The lowest would have to wear a set of glasses to the bar called BCG's, or birth control goggles.

It had been a tight race. The scores were finally in. And the break down is as such

There are a possible 5 points for every one shot. 5 is a bull's eye, 4 is on the ring outside of that, 3 points for the next ring and so on. We shot from different positions from the 200 yard, 300 yard, and 500 yard lines. A total of 50 shots for the entire course of fire.

The pistol is scored much the same way. 10 and 9 points for a bull's eye. 8 for the 2 inch ring outside of that, then 7 and so forth. A total of 40 shots for the course of fire for the pistol.

Then for the second stage of the rifle, a series of rapid fire at a human target from 36 yards away. Also to include a moving target.

So, the total scores are as such for the rifle.

305 to 350 is Expert
280 to 305 is Sharp Shooter
280 and below is Marksman

For the pistol

345 to 400 is expert
305 to 345 is sharp shooter
305 and below is marksman.

"ok fellas." I said sitting down in my chair. "Give me your table two scores and I'll add them up."

Lt. Texas, Lt. Jimmy, and Lt. Pittsburgh gave me their last scores, and I began to add them up in my black writing pad. I had to double check my math because i could not believe how the scores came out.

"With a score of 661, coming in first place and taking home the 25 dollars for the bar, as well as earning the title of double expert (Pause for effect), Lt. Texas!"

There were hoots and hollers among the room. Several jokes and big smiles went back and forth, mostly pertaining that it was unfair that a Texan won the bet.

"And... with a bottom feeder score of 568 and the man who will wear the BCG's.... Lt. Jimmy!"

More laughs all the way around. Lt. Jimmy had been boasting about his qualification as expert the first time he qualified when he was in his previous company. However, he managed to barely get marksman in both.


To my relief, I did much better on the range than expected. I qualified expert in the rifle and scraped by with a sharpshooter in the pistol.


I told you that i wouldn't wear the BCG's :-)