LESSON 1. Weapon Safety.

Start. Rifles complete with all accessories to be laid out on ground. Participants in field gear. The aim is to ensure pouches are inspected visually and manually and the weapon inspected to see if it is unloaded. Weapons should be laid out at the first training session a recruit attends after being inspected by the safety officer. Never assume someone knows how to check if a weapon is clear. Have the students take up the rifle in the right hand and stand at the order. After this lesson all events and training will start with EXERCISE 1. With participants bearing arms themselves. It should be stressed that a weapon should be inspected whenever it is picked up or handed over to another member. Whenever a rifle is handed to another person it should be done with the action open.

EXERCISE 1. For inspection port arms. Rifle is raised to 60 degrees and 45 degrees to the left. Bolt is to be grasped with the fingers, the action opened and the hand placed on the stock. NCO to inspect chambers both visually and physically and declare CLEAR.

NCO weapon to be inspected by first student.

EXERCISE 2. Ease springs. Trigger is to be depressed and bolt closed. Rifle is to be returned to the order position.

EXERCISE 3. Inspect pouches. Rifle muzzle to be supported in the crook of left arm cartridge carriers to be opened and held open. NCO to inspect pouches both visually and manually and declares CLEAR

NCO pouches to be inspected by first student.

SECURE POUCHES The cartridge carrier is to be closed and secured and the rifles returned to the order.

This time can also be utilised to educate the dangers of pointing the weapon at anyone and your legal obligations (per the reenactors permit) when using the rifle in approved shows and scenarios.

LESSON 2. The rifle, parts and maintenance.

Standard safety preparation. Each student will require rifle complete, including cleaning rod, cleaning kit, and cleaning materials. Regular weapon cleaning at shows and events (apart from giving the public something to see) promotes confidence and comfort in how a reenactor handles a rifle. Your aim is to recreate a soldier to whom the rifle is an extension of their body, rather than a costume prop.

Lesson to start with CLEARING OF WEAPONS.

EXERCISE 1. An introduction to the rifle, its history, ammunition, and parts.

Students will learn to identify features of the weapon, and its operation and what not to do with rifle including dry firing and firing with oil in the barrel. Ammunition types such as light and heavy ball, wooden tipped and crimped blank to be discussed. The corrosive properties of mercuric primers to be stressed.

EXERCISE 2. Stripping the weapon, cleaning, and reassembling of the weapon.

EXERCISE 3. Dismantling of the rifle for preparation for storage or preparation of a new rifle.

Lesson to end with CLEARING OF WEAPONS.