GSI Marksmanship Fundamentals & Shooting Techniques 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes correct sight alignment?
- Front sight centered horizontally and vertically in the rear sight notch (Correct answer)
- Front sight flush with the top of the rear sight
- Both sights blurred while focusing on the target
- Rear sight centered on the target
Correct answer: Front sight centered horizontally and vertically in the rear sight notch
Proper sight alignment requires the front sight post to be centered both horizontally and vertically within the rear sight notch so shots land where aimed.
Question 2: What is the primary focus of a shooter's eye during a precision shot?
- The target
- The rear sight
- The front sight (Correct answer)
- The trigger
Correct answer: The front sight
The shooter's eye should be focused sharply on the front sight, allowing the target and rear sight to appear slightly blurred for accurate alignment.
Question 3: Which of the following describes the 'surprise break' in trigger control?
- Quickly jerking the trigger to fire before the target moves
- Pressing the trigger smoothly so the shot fires without the shooter anticipating it (Correct answer)
- Releasing the trigger immediately after each shot
- Snapping the trigger back to reset as fast as possible
Correct answer: Pressing the trigger smoothly so the shot fires without the shooter anticipating it
A surprise break means the shooter applies steady pressure until the shot fires unexpectedly, preventing the anticipatory flinch that degrades accuracy.
Question 4: What is 'natural point of aim' (NPA)?
- The direction a shooter faces when standing at rest, relaxed, with the firearm indexed on target (Correct answer)
- The angle at which the barrel points when held at the hip
- The position where the sights are perfectly aligned with no effort
- The automatic tracking of a moving target without deliberate adjustment
Correct answer: The direction a shooter faces when standing at rest, relaxed, with the firearm indexed on target
Natural point of aim is where the body and firearm naturally point when fully relaxed; aligning NPA to the target reduces muscle strain and improves consistency.
Question 5: Which grip error most commonly causes shots to group low and to the left for a right-handed shooter?
- Limp-wristing the support hand
- Heeling — pushing the gun forward in anticipation of recoil (Correct answer)
- Over-gripping with the trigger hand causing muzzle rise
- Incorrect thumb placement on the slide
Correct answer: Heeling — pushing the gun forward in anticipation of recoil
Heeling occurs when the shooter pushes the gun hand forward before the shot breaks, causing the muzzle to dip and shots to land low-left for right-handed shooters.
Question 6: In the Isosceles shooting stance, how are the shooter's feet typically positioned?
- Feet parallel, shoulder-width apart, body squared to the target (Correct answer)
- Strong-side foot forward, bladed approximately 45 degrees to the target
- Strong-side foot back, support-side knee slightly bent
- Feet together with weight shifted entirely to the support side
Correct answer: Feet parallel, shoulder-width apart, body squared to the target
The Isosceles stance positions the feet parallel and shoulder-width apart with the body facing the target squarely, forming a triangle shape with extended arms.
Question 7: What does follow-through involve in the context of marksmanship?
- Racking the slide after the shot to chamber the next round
- Maintaining trigger pressure and sight alignment after the shot fires (Correct answer)
- Quickly shifting aim to a secondary target after the first shot
- Lowering the firearm to low-ready immediately after firing
Correct answer: Maintaining trigger pressure and sight alignment after the shot fires
Follow-through means holding trigger pressure and keeping the sights aligned through the shot and immediately afterward to prevent disrupting bullet travel during the firing sequence.
GSI Marksmanship Fundamentals & Shooting Techniques 1
Which of the following best describes correct sight alignment?