"This research examined the Laser Marksmanship Training System's (LMTS's) capability to establish a valid weapon (i.e., M16A2 rifle) battlesight zero. A multi-phased approach was used to (a) examine the validity of an LMTS-established zero under live-fire conditions, (b) reexamine this validity using an alternative (presumably more accurate), manufacturer-recommended, LMTS zero calibration procedure, and (c) assess the degree of correspondence between LMTS point of aim and live bullet strike location under stabilized weapon conditions. Only 27% of LMTS-zeroed weapons were found to have confirmable live-fire zeroes, with no benefit resulting from use of the alternative zero calibration procedure. LMTS's aiming point also did not correspond to bullet strike location. Weapon quality was suggested to be a major factor contributing to this lack of correspondence. These findings indicate that an LMTS-established weapon zero may not always correspond to, and thus should not be substituted for, a live-fire-established weapon zero. Consequently, soldiers should not attempt record fire qualification with an LMTS-zeroed weapon without first confirming zero with live ammunition. Range time and ammunition savings resulting from the use of LMTS-zeroed weapons should be modest at best, given the relatively low percentage of LMTS-zeroed weapons found to have valid zeroes. Additional research is underway to examine the feasibility of using LMTS for marksmanship training and evaluation."--Stinet.

This research examined the Laser Marksmanship Training System's (LMTS's) capability to establish a valid weapon (i.e., M16A2 rifle) battlesight zero. A multi-phased approach was used to (a) examine the validity of an LMTS-established zero under live-fire conditions, (b) reexamine this validity using an alternative (presumably more accurate), manufacturer-recommended, LMTS zero calibration procedure, and (c) assess the degree of correspondence between LMTS point of aim and live bullet strike location under stabilized weapon conditions. Only 27% of LMTS-zeroed weapons were found to have confirmable live-fire zeroes, with no benefit resulting from use of the alternative zero calibration procedure. LMTS's aiming point also did not correspond to bullet strike location. Weapon quality was suggested to be a major factor contributing to this lack of correspondence. These findings indicate that an LMTS-established weapon zero may not always correspond to, and thus should not be substituted for, a live-fire-established weapon zero. Consequently, soldiers should not attempt record fire qualification with an LMTS-zeroed weapon without first confirming zero with live ammunition. Range time and ammunition savings resulting from the use of LMTS-zeroed weapons should be modest at best, given the relatively low percentage of LMTS-zeroed weapons found to have valid zeroes. Additional research is underway to examine the feasibility of using LMTS for marksmanship training and evaluation.

"It is absolutely unique--without question the most fascinating Civil War novel I have ever read." Professor James M. McPherson Pultizer Prize-winning BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM January 1864--General Robert E. Lee faces defeat. The Army of Northern Virginia is ragged and ill-equpped. Gettysburg has broken the back of the Confederacy and decimated its manpower. Then, Andries Rhoodie, a strange man with an unplaceable accent, approaches Lee with an extraordinary offer. Rhoodie demonstrates an amazing rifle: Its rate of fire is incredible, its lethal efficiency breathtaking--and Rhoodie guarantees unlimited quantitites to the Confederates. The name of the weapon is the AK-47.... Selected by the Science Fiction Book Club A Main Selection of the Military Book Club

In the years since 9/11 Special Forces of many nations have been in almost constant action in covert, high risk operations around the globe. These include the two long conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, fighting nationalist insurgents and jihadist terrorists, as well as other lesser known operations. The weapons used by SF are a constant source of interest and speculation, as are SF training, methods and vehicles. The armories of these elite units have developed rapidly to meet their demands and the ever more sophisticated threat. They include for example suppressed piston-driven carbines, programmable grenade launchers that airburst behind hidden enemy and sniper rifles of extreme accuracy and range. This highly researched book gives the reader a privileged insight into this secret world exploring the custom-built weapons that operators carry on capture/kill missions in the 21st Century.

To determine the relation between simulation- (Laser Marksmanship Training System LMTS) and live-fire-based rifle marksmanship performance, 186 Reserve Component (RC) soldiers from Idaho and Oregon fired for qualification on a scaled LMTS version and live-fire version of the Army's standard pop-up target qualification course. LMTS was fired under either a dry-fire mode or a Blazer (i.e., sound/recoil replicator) mode. Statistically significant positive linear relations were found (and then validated) between first-run live-fire scores and both LMTS dry-fire- (r = .50) and Blazer-based (r = .55) scores. These relations were of sufficient strength to permit development of easy-to-use tools for accurately predicting soldier chances of first-run, live-fire qualification. With these tools, RC marksmanship trainers can implement a competency- based training program where soldiers most in need of remedial training (i.e., poor shooters) can be quickly identified, and the point at which sufficient training has been provided (i.e., when first-run live-fire qualification is likely) easily determined. These tools also provide RC unit commanders with empirically derived live-fire performance standards needed to support use of LMTS in place of live-fire for rifle marksmanship proficiency validation purposes when standard pop-up target course range facilities are not readily available. Although both tools will serve these purposes, that based on LMTS dry-fire is recommended because of the added expense of firing with Blazer without an accompanying statistically significant increased predictive benefit.