Dull target
Shooting in the sun
Hot gun
Dirty gun
Cold day
Bright or shining sight
Cloudy day
12 o'clock wind

_Lower elevation for_--

Bright target
Target in sun
Cold gun
Clean gun
Hot day
Moist day
Full sights
6 o'clock wind

=1402. Firing with bayonet fixed.= In firing with bayonet fixed
usually a lower point on the target will be struck, corresponding to a
reduction of about 50 yards in the range.

=1403. Care of rifle.= Since the accuracy of a soldier's rifle has a
most important bearing on his shooting, and since the proper care of a
rifle affects its accuracy, the care of the rifle is an important
subject in which every soldier should be thoroughly instructed. The
subject is fully covered in the preceding chapter. (Chapter XV, Part
I).

COLLECTIVE INSTRUCTION

(Combat practice)

=1404. General scheme.= While individual instruction is most
important, it is not everything. The maximum effect of fire in battle
is obtained when a command, as a whole, is a pliable, manageable,
effective instrument in the hands of a commander who can use it
intelligently and efficiently. Therefore, the two objects to be
obtained are:

1. To make the command a pliable, manageable, effective instrument in
the hands of its commander.

2. To train and instruct the commander so that he will know how to use
this instrument in an intelligent and efficient manner.

=1405. To make the fire unit a pliable, manageable, efficient
instrument.= In order that a unit may be a pliable, manageable,
efficient instrument in the hands of its commander, he must be able to
control the unit absolutely,--that is to say, not only must the
individuals composing the unit be so trained that they will respond at
once, even in the din and confusion of battle, to the will of the
commander, as expressed by his orders, but they must also be so
instructed and disciplined that they can, as individual parts of the
unit, perform their functions efficiently. This is accomplished by
_fire discipline_.

=1406. Fire discipline.= By _fire discipline_ is meant a habit of
obedience, a control of the rifle, and a display of intelligence, all
the result of training, which will enable the soldier in action to
make hits instead of misses. It embraces taking advantage of the
ground; care in setting the sight and delivery of fire, including
proper fire distribution; constant attention to the o