Rifle Shooting

Merit Badge Workbook

This workbook can help you but you still need to read the merit badge pamphlet.
This Workbook can help you organize your thoughts as you prepare to meet with your merit badge counselor.
You still must satisfy your counselor that you can demonstrate each skill and have learned the information.
You should use the work space provided for each requirement to keep track of which requirements have been completed,
and to make notes for discussing the item with your counselor, not for providing full and complete answers.
If a requirement says that you must take an action using words such as "discuss", "show",
"tell", "explain", "demonstrate", "identify", etc, that is what you must do.
Merit Badge Counselors may not require the use of this or any similar workbooks.
No one may add or subtract from the official requirements found in Scouts BSA Requirements (Pub. 33216 – SKU 653801).
The requirements were last issued or revised in 2019 • This workbook was updated in June 2020.

Scout’s Name:__________________________________________ Unit: __________________________________________

Counselor’s Name: ____________________ Phone No.: _______________________ Email: _________________________

http://www.USScouts.Org • http://www.MeritBadge.Org
Please submit errors, omissions, comments or suggestions about this workbook to: [email protected]
Comments or suggestions for changes to the requirements for the merit badge should be sent to: [email protected]
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Do the following:
a. Explain why BB and pellet air guns must always be treated with the same respect as firearms.

b. Describe how you would react if a friend visiting your home asked to see your or your family's firearm(s).

c. Explain the need for, and use and types of, eye and hearing protection. Demonstrate their proper use.

Workbook © Copyright 2020 - U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
Requirements © Copyright, Boy Scouts of America (Used with permission.)
This workbook may be reproduced and used locally by Scouts and Scouters for purposes consistent with the programs of the
Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) or other Scouting and Guiding Organizations.
However it may NOT be used or reproduced for electronic redistribution or for commercial or other non-Scouting
purposes without the express permission of the U. S. Scouting Service Project, Inc. (USSSP).
Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________
d. Give the main points of the laws for owning and using guns in your community and state.

e. Explain how hunting is related to the wise use of renewable wildlife resources.

f. Successfully complete a state hunter education course or obtain a copy of the hunting laws for your state. Then do the
following:
1. Explain the main points of hunting laws in your state and give any special laws on the use of guns or ammunition.

2. • List the kinds of wildlife that can be legally hunted in your state.

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Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________

g. Identify and explain how you can join or be a part of shooting sports activities.

h. Explain to your counselor the proper hygienic guidelines used in shooting.

i. Give to your counselor a list of sources that you could contact for information on firearms and their use.

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Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________
2. Do ONE of the following options:
c OPTION A --- RIFLE SHOOTING (Modern Cartridge Type)
a. Identify the three main parts of a rifle, and tell how they function.

b. Identify and demonstrate the three fundamental rules for safe gun handling.
c 1.
c 2.
c 3.
c c. Identify the two types of cartridges, their parts, and how they function.

1.

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Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________

2.

d. Explain to your counselor what a misfire, hangfire, and squib fire are, and explain the procedures to follow in
response to each.
Misfire:

Hangfire:

Squib fire:

Explain the procedures to follow in response to each.

Misfire:

Hangfire:

Squib fire:

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Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________
e. Identify and demonstrate the five fundamentals of shooting a rifle safely.
c 1.
c 2.
c 3.
c 4.
c 5.
f. Explain to your counselor the fundamental rules for safe gun handling.

Explain each rule for using and storing a gun.

Identify and explain each rule for safe shooting.

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Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________
c g. Explain the range commands and range procedures.

c h. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to safely shoot a rifle from the bench rest position or
supported prone position while using the five fundamentals of rifle shooting.
i. Identify the basic safety rules for cleaning a rifle, and identify the materials needed

c j. Demonstrate how to clean a rifle properly and safely.

c k. Discuss what points you would consider in selecting a rifle

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Groups
Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________
c l. Using a .22 caliber rimfire rifle and shooting from a bench rest or supported prone position at 50 feet, fire five
groups (three shots per group) that can be covered by a quarter. Using these targets, explain how to adjust
sights to zero a rifle.
cm Adjust sights to center the group on the target* and fire five groups (five shots per group). According to the
target used, each shot in the group must meet the following minimum score:
c 1. A-32 targets - 9
c 2. A-17 or TQ-1 targets - 7
c 3. A-36 targets - 5.
* Note: It is not always practical to adjust the sights (i.e. when using a borrowed fixed-sight rifle). For
requirement 2l (2m), you may demonstrate your ability to use the shooting fundamentals by shooting five shot
groups (five shots per group) in which all shots can be covered by a quarter and then explain how to adjust the
sights to zero the rifle used. (Editorial note: The 2020 requirements book omitted this note, which should
reference requirement 2m instead of 2l.)

c OPTION B --- AIR RIFLE SHOOTING (BB or Pellet)

a. Identify the three main parts of an air rifle, and tell how they function.

b. Identify and demonstrate the three fundamental rules for safe gun handling.
c 1.
c 2.
c 3.
c c. Explain the range commands and range procedures.

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Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________
c d. Identify the two most common types of air rifle ammunition.
1.
2.
e. Identify and demonstrate the five fundamentals of shooting a rifle safely.
c 1.
c 2.
c 3.
c 4.
c 5.
f. Identify and explain each rule for shooting an air rifle safely.

c g. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to safely shoot a target from the bench rest position
or supported prone position while using the five fundamentals of rifle shooting.
h. Identify the basic safety rules for cleaning an air rifle, and identify the materials needed.

c i. Demonstrate how to clean an air rifle safely.

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Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________
j. Discuss what points you would consider in selecting an air rifle.

c k. Using a BB gun or pellet air rifle and shooting from a bench rest or supported prone position at 15 feet for BB
guns or 33 feet for air rifles, fire five groups (three shots per group) that can be covered by a quarter.
c l. Adjust sights to center the group on the target and fire five groups (five shots per group). According to the
target used, each shot in the group must meet the following minimum score:
c 1. BB rifle at 15 feet or 5 meters using TQ - 5 targets - 8.
c 2. Pellet air rifle at 25 feet using TQ - 5 target - 8,
at 33 feet or 10 meters using AR-1 targets - 6.
c OPTION C --- MUZZLE - LOADING RIFLE SHOOTING
a. Discuss a brief history of the development of muzzle-loading rifles.

b. Identify principal parts of percussion and flintlock rifles and discuss how they function.

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Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________
c. Demonstrate and discuss the safe handling rules of muzzle-loading rifles.

d. Identify the various grades of black powder and black powder substitutes and explain their proper use.

e. Discuss proper safety procedures pertaining to black powder use and storage.

f. Discuss proper components of a load.

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Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________
g. Identify proper procedures and accessories used for loading a muzzle-loading rifle.

c h. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to safely shoot a muzzle-loading rifle on a range,
including range procedures.
Explain what a misfire, hangfire, and squib fire are, and explain the procedures to follow in response to each.

c i. Shoot a target with a muzzle-loading rifle using the five fundamentals of firing the shot.
j. Identify the materials needed to clean a muzzle- loading rifle safely. Using these materials, demonstrate how to
clean a muzzle loading rifle safely.

k. Identify the causes of a muzzle-loading rifle's failure to fire and explain or demonstrate proper correction
procedures.

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Rifle Shooting Scout's Name: ________________________
l. Discuss what points you would consider in selecting a muzzle-loading rifle.

c m. Using a muzzle-loading rifle of .45 or .50 caliber and shooting from a bench rest or supported prone position,
fire three groups (three shots per group) that can be covered by the base of a standard-size soft drink can.
c n. Center the group on the target and fire three groups (five shots per group). According to the target used, each
shot in the group must meet the following minimum score:
c 1. at 25 yards using NRA A-23 or NMLRA 50-yard targets - 7;
c 2. at 50 yards using NRA A-25 or NMLRA 100 yard targets - 7.

When working on merit badges, Scouts and Scouters should be aware of some vital information in the current edition of
the Guide to Advancement (BSA publication 33088).Important excerpts from that publication can be downloaded from
http://usscouts.org/advance/docs/GTA-Excerpts-meritbadges.pdf.
You can download a complete copy of the Guide to Advancement from http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf.

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