At the shooting range, located within the operational logistics base of the "Luigi Razza" Military Airport, the 8.30 have just passed. It is a structure indoor (indoors) controlled by expert personnel who supervise compliance with safety regulations.
In addition to the director of the polygon, the gunsmith, the nucleus of health care (consisting of a volunteer nurse and a doctor), both of the Italian Red Cross, arrive the lieutenant (shooting director) commander of the 1 ° platoon of the carabinieri hunters of Calabria and Marshal Rocco, the instructor. It is up to the marshal, to indoctrinate the groups of the Carabinieri Cacciatori on various shooting techniques that will alternate in various sessions during the morning.
All shooters who will have to train are in the room in front of the range's observation area. It is the first active part of the structure and is located behind the actual shooting station, separated by a bulletproof glass.
Start preparing the weapons to be used during the exercise: they are the MP5 A5 (ward arms in assignment) and the Beretta 92 FS guns (such as personal ones or individual assignments).
The lieutenant, director of the shooting, is in the control post: one of the main units of the plant area. It allows a clear, undisturbed and complete vision of the shooting area and the shooting area.
The "director of the shot" is responsible for the correct execution of all operations, can control and intervene on the security conditions through the control and command unit that consists of appropriate equipment: a light signal to open / close all doors, the microphone of the amplification system, the intercom that connects the shooting control post, a telephone for any emergency requests and a plan of the "firing system" area.
The access door from the observatory area to the shooting station is protected by a closure equipped with an opening / closing indicator light. To the right of the observatory area, there are also two other access doors that allow entry and exit of personnel in safe conditions, always under the control of the shooting director. They are equipped with an electrically operated lock, monitored and connected to a control unit installed in the command and control unit. An acoustic alarm signal warns of the eventual opening of the door during shooting (phase of prohibition of access to the shooting area).
The instructor Rocco describes to the first group of carabinieri hunters how to perform the first exercise which consists of an operational shot under stress: both from a physical and psychological point of view. In fact, the operators start from outside the shooting range: following a leader, they make two running laps of the structure and one by one they will go inside the station and precisely in the shooting area which includes the boxes and the shooting areas. entrance and exit. The marshal has assigned a position to each.
The shooting boxes allow you to easily perform all the operations related to the execution of the shot in the positions provided and to check the results immediately.
The instructor supports the shooter to give the necessary instructions and check their execution. The shooting director, on the other hand, controls all the operations carried out by shooters.
All the boxes are separated from each other by panels, whose central core is made up of a steel sheet. Each station is equipped with a folding top in wood (or other material) covered with non-slip rubber. A progressive numbering is visible above.
The walls of the plant are covered with sound-absorbing panels. The use of hearing protection devices such as headphones, ear plugs, etc. is a must for personnel undergoing training. The noise in the shooters area, during the simultaneous shooting exercise of all shooting boxes must not exceed a certain value in decibels.
Access to the shooting area (which is part of the shooting station) is allowed with the obligation to wear headphones. The floor is made of smooth rubber, to hold back the bullets that hit it accidentally. The walls and the floor are absolutely imperforable and do not produce splinters.
The end part of the shooting area is the "parapalle" area which includes the bottom closing wall and the backstop. The first is the stretch of the closing wall of the polygon, transversal to the shooting lines. The backstop it serves to intercept and retain all the bullets that impact the targets. It is located behind the last line of targets, immediately behind it or a few meters away.
Once they reach the pits, the shooters prepare the first weapon, a Beretta 92 FS, with which they must shoot: they insert the magazine with 5 rounds, aim at the target (silhouette representing a man pointing a gun at the shooter, with barilozzo, a black or colored disk.
The movement of the target-shapes is ensured by a mechanism which allows the target to be displaced longitudinally to the shooting area, until it is brought into direct contact with the shooter. Stops the target at the set distance and exposes it to the shot for the pre-set time.
With this type of installation there is a rapid set-up of the target line and at any shooting distance. It allows both the possibility of obstruction of the holes and / or replacement of the target by the shooter itself, and the detection of shots from the shooting station.
The purpose of the first exercise is neither speed nor execution time: the shooter must be able to make a targeted shot on the sticker (fixed on the target by the instructor), continuing to shoot until it is centered. A shot is left in the barrel, and the gun is returned to the holster. The shooter holds the MP5, with a magazine from 15 shots, to shoot a shotgun to the head. The remaining shots, however, must be addressed to the barilozzo.
In addition to the two laps of the race, Marshal Rocco has created a further difficulty for the Carabinieri hunters in training: he disassembled the gun. This unforeseen serves to accustom the operator to possible obstacles.
No operator, even with a slight breathlessness, panics: in sequence and coordinated, they reassemble the weapon and shoot almost simultaneously at the targets. A sharp sound: the weapon change is performed with speed.
After the first exercise, the instructor approaches all the shapes, counts the shots fired on the target and evaluates the accuracy of the shot.
After the immediate and brief debriefing on the first exercise, Marshal Rocco immediately goes on to describe the second test.
It is a timed shot to evaluate the speed of execution. You shoot 10 meters from the target. This exercise is based on the "transition" method, a "weapon change".
It is assumed that the shooter is firing a long gun which at some point jams or ends shots. We need to switch to the short weapon: the pistol. The exercise is repeated several times to simulate the jamming or the end of the shots available. The goal is to hit the target in the head.
Simulated the jam of the long gun is performed the "transition". The folding shelf is raised. With the gun with a magazine from 10 shots, one must aim at the barrel. Hit the gun in holster and return to shoot with the MP5. Once the exercise is finished, both the long gun and the pistol are unloaded.
Also at the end of this second test the instructor, in a debriefing with each operator, analyzes the shots made and the way of execution.
The training includes a final operational shooting exercise: the use of the pistol alone, making ten magazine changes. We start with the weapon in the holster, magazine inserted and shot in the barrel. The flap of the box remains raised. Each shooter assumes a readiness position. When the instructor whistles, the weapon must be drawn and a shot exploded. I change magazine and the second shot explodes. The dog is knocked down, remaining in position. The instructor's whistle makes it clear to the operators that after the shot at the barrel, there is a magazine change.
This technique has a purpose: to accustom and speed the operator to change the loader and to operate calmly. It is moving because every time they have to take the shippers from their gibernum, they must always remember where they are positioned.
When shooting in addition to headphones to protect the ears from the sound of gunfire, all operators wear protective goggles to prevent shells, gases and other particles from injuring their eyes.
Weapons are handled safely: the loading operation is always carried out with the weapon facing the target. The fingers are kept away from the trigger, extended and resting on its side.
The firing position is the operative one (considering the type of equipment): the left leg is placed forward and slightly lowered to maintain balance.
In firing it is important to synchronize the shot with breathing: holding your breath can cause trembling and imprecision. The best time is after exhalation and just before inhaling.
After the training, all weapons are carried safely, pointing down and disarmed. The magazine is removed and the slide slides to eject any shots in the barrel.
The Carabinieri of the Squadron with the hunters of Calabria are highly trained men: in addition to daily and weekly training at the headquarters, they are subjected to an annual training - which we will document - with the staff of the 1 ° regiment carabinieri paratroopers Tuscania of the training department.
(photo of the author)
Read also the first part: "Carabinieri squadron. Calabrian hunters: from the armory to the shooting range"
