ACT 235 235 Marksmanship & Target Practice Skills 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under ACT 235, what is the correct definition of 'muzzle discipline' on the range and in the field?
- Keeping the muzzle clean and free of obstructions
- Never allowing the muzzle to cover anything the officer is not willing to destroy (Correct answer)
- Pointing the muzzle downward at all times when not firing
- Keeping the muzzle below the shoulder when holstered
Correct answer: Never allowing the muzzle to cover anything the officer is not willing to destroy
Muzzle discipline — never pointing the firearm at anything you are not prepared to shoot — is a core range safety rule integral to ACT 235 training.
Question 2: What effect does a high grip (riding the beaver tail) have on pistol performance in ACT 235 training?
- Increases trigger reach and slows the trigger press
- Lowers the bore axis relative to the hands, reducing muzzle flip and improving recoil management (Correct answer)
- Increases the risk of slide bite but improves accuracy
- Has no measurable effect on practical accuracy
Correct answer: Lowers the bore axis relative to the hands, reducing muzzle flip and improving recoil management
Gripping as high as possible on the back strap lowers the bore axis in relation to the shooter's hands, which reduces the leverage that causes muzzle flip.
Question 3: During low-light shooting exercises in ACT 235 training, which technique pairs a handheld flashlight with a pistol for the highest level of control?
- Hip-shooting with the flashlight pointed forward
- The Harries technique — pressing the backs of the hands together to brace the shooting hand (Correct answer)
- Holding the flashlight above the head to shadow the threat
- Placing the flashlight on the ground aimed at the threat
Correct answer: The Harries technique — pressing the backs of the hands together to brace the shooting hand
The Harries technique uses isometric tension between the two hands to create a stable shooting platform while directing the flashlight beam on the threat.
Question 4: An ACT 235 officer must fire accurately while moving laterally. What is the most important adjustment to footwork?
- Use a high-stepping motion to avoid tripping
- Keep the knees bent and use a heel-to-toe shuffle or athletic glide step to absorb movement and stabilize the upper body (Correct answer)
- Cross the feet to maximize speed
- Stop completely before every shot
Correct answer: Keep the knees bent and use a heel-to-toe shuffle or athletic glide step to absorb movement and stabilize the upper body
A bent-knee athletic shuffle isolates the upper body from the movement of the lower body, allowing the officer to maintain a stable shooting platform while moving.
Question 5: What does the ACT 235 curriculum identify as 'flinching' and what causes it?
- A mechanical failure causing erratic ejection patterns
- An involuntary physical response — closing the eyes, pushing forward, or tensing — triggered by anticipation of the shot's sound and recoil (Correct answer)
- A legal term for shooting past the prescribed time limit
- An incorrect holster draw that causes the gun to point downward
Correct answer: An involuntary physical response — closing the eyes, pushing forward, or tensing — triggered by anticipation of the shot's sound and recoil
Flinching is a conditioned anticipatory response to the noise and recoil of a gunshot; it disrupts sight alignment and trigger control just before the shot breaks.
Question 6: According to ACT 235 training, at what distance range is the two-handed Isosceles or Weaver stance most effectively used for aimed precision fire?
- 0–3 feet
- 3–25 yards (Correct answer)
- 50–75 yards
- Beyond 100 yards
Correct answer: 3–25 yards
The 3–25 yard range encompasses the majority of practical law enforcement shooting scenarios where a two-handed aimed stance provides the best balance of speed and accuracy.
Question 7: In ACT 235 qualification, what is the consequence if an officer's firearm malfunctions during a timed string of fire and cannot be cleared?
- The string is scored as a perfect score
- The officer is given a re-shoot of that string using a loaner firearm or after clearing the malfunction (Correct answer)
- The entire qualification course is forfeited and must be retaken on another day
- Only the rounds fired before the malfunction are counted
Correct answer: The officer is given a re-shoot of that string using a loaner firearm or after clearing the malfunction
Range officers under ACT 235 protocols typically allow a re-shoot of a malfunctioned string to ensure the qualification score reflects the officer's actual marksmanship ability, not equipment failure.
ACT 235 235 Marksmanship & Target Practice Skills 5
Under ACT 235, what is the correct definition of 'muzzle discipline' on the range and in the field?