IBX2000

The term 'rifleman' is frequently brought up in posts regarding shtf rifles, survival rifles, and battle rifles. But what are the skills required, besides the obvious one of marksmanship, to become truly proficient as a 'rifleman'?

How does someone who does not have experience as a military rifle man or infantry man develop the ability to defend his hearth and home regardless of rifle type?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks for any input.

IBX2000

JRWnTN

Once you have the basics of safe gun handling and marksmanship, I recommend taking a course in learning how to fight with the rifle/carbine. There are several excellent instructors who teach at ranges around the country. I can personally recommend http://www.eagtactical.com/ and http://www.yfainc.com/

Snake45

I'd suggest reading Jeff Cooper's book The Art of the Rifle. It will give you an excellent idea of what a rifleman is and how to go about becoming one.

Basically, if you can make the rifle do whatever you want and/or need it to do (within its own capabilities), you are a rifleman.

cowboy513

Not to hijack the thread, but I believe this is kind of on the same note. Where would one go for pistolero skills? Is there an equivalent to Art of The Rifle for Pistols?

Steve M1911A1

...And then you need to learn practical self-defense decision making, tactical movement, the practical use of the rifle in self-defense, and how to retreat quietly.
It helps to get together with rifle-shooting friends, and set practical rifle-skill tests on each other. Each time you go out to shoot, one of you devises a skills test for the others (and himself) to accomplish. These tests should include multiple shots at a few different distances, and should also include tactical movement. As your skills advance, you should mix in difficult-to-discern no-shoot targets, and impractical targets (too hard to hit, too far away, and so on). Shoot/no-shoot decisions should be presented, addressed practically, and then discussed after the day is over.
There's more, but that's a good beginning.

Pike Bishop

EXCUSE ME! EXCUSE ME! There is only one "Rifleman", and he lives in North Fork!

Nuff said!

Snake45

Have reread your original post, and have a different take on it this morning.

If your primary interest is "defending hearth and home," it probably isn't necessary to become a "rifleman" as that might be defined by Jeff Cooper, the Appleseed organization, the USMC, etc.

There's a better than 95% chance that your "hearth and home" defensive needs would actually be better served by a shotgun or even a handgun. A pistol-caliber carbine (including the "cowboy type" lever actions) might also be useful. Up one step from that would be a semiautomatic rifle in .223/5.56mm. But there are very, very few of us anymore whose "home and hearth" would demand the capabilities of a full-on battle rifle, or the skill to get maximum performance out of one.

On the other hand, perhaps you meant something very different by "hearth and home."

IBX2000

Well I guess what are the skills needed to function as a rifleman in a shtf or other situation? Obviously shtf will be very different from a self defense grid up world with law scenario.

I see it as:

Marksmanship
Fieldcraft
Navigation
Being able to run your weapon system whether it is bolt, single shot, semi, whatever.
Being able to gunsmith your system and ammo.

People talk about the weapon more than what or how to do with it. There are endless debates on which is best and what gear to have. But what happens after you make that selection? How can I/you as an individual with a limited budget and no military training make the best of whatever gun we run so to speak?


Thanks for any thoughts.

IBX2000

ExSarge

A hitch in the Marine Corps should do it....

Snake45

Fieldcraft and navigation? I might be wrong, but I don't think that most people put those things into the basic "rifleman" skillset. That would be more of a scout/sniper thing, I'm thinking. John Plaster has a book or two out on The Complete Sniper or something of the kind, but I don't know exactly what's included.

There are all kinds of fieldcraft/survival books available, but I'd advise you to check out used book stores, flea markets, and eBay for (I'm not kidding) old Boy Scout Manuals, the older the better (pre-1970 at least). I have one from 1940 or so that would be a darn good survival manual all by itself.

For rifle marksmanship, I'll still recommend Jeff Cooper's The Art of the Rifle.

For running some particular weapon system, maintaining it, and gunsmithing it, the net is great, if you can pick the wheat from the chaff. AR15.com, for example, is jam-packed with mall ninjas and wannabes, but the M14 firing line forum is a no-BS place with plenty of old pros and good help. Where you are right now is a GREAT starting point--we have our own share of experts in various systems, including Patrick Sweeney, Kevin Gibson, Charlie Petty, to name just three (there are others, too). Ask specific questions about specific guns and you'll get good answers here, or will be directed to good answers.

Hummer

Basic Drills
Courses of Fire

Above are two good sources. The USMC does a fine job of marksmanship instruction and as a combat force they are the most proficient of all the services.

You didn't say where in midwest you are but there are a fair number of high power rifle matches around. You will learn to shoot standing, sitting, and prone from 200-600 yards and on some ranges 1000 yards.

You can start off with something as simple as a 1903A3 Springfield. If you are not into reloading that is a priority.

With a bolt rifle you will need a detachable 5 shot mag (2 of them) or stripper clip reload capability such as the 1903.

PM me and maybe I can give you some places to check with as I know lots of shooters across the country.

The Appleseed Clinics are good if there is one near you by all means give it a go.