Rifle Shooting

1. Do the following:
   1. Explain why BB and pellet air guns must always be treated with the same respect as firearms.
   2. Describe how you would react if a friend visiting your home asked to see your or your family's firearm(s).
   3. Explain the need for, and use and types of, eye and hearing protection. Demonstrate their proper use.
   4. Give the main points of the laws for owning and using guns in your community and state.
   5. Explain how hunting is related to the wise use of renewable wildlife resources.
   6. 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.
   7. Identify and explain how you can join or be a part of shooting sports activities.
   8. Explain to your counselor the proper hygienic guidelines used in shooting.
   9. Give to your counselor a list of sources that you could contact for information on firearms and their use.
2. Do ONE of the following options:
   • OPTION A --- RIFLE SHOOTING (Modern Cartridge Type)
     1. Identify the three main parts of a rifle, and tell how they function.
     2. Identify and demonstrate the three fundamental rules for safe gun handling.
     3. Identify the two types of cartridges, their parts, and how they function.
     4. Explain to your counselor what a misfire, hangfire, and squib fire are, and explain the procedures to follow in response to each.
     5. Identify and demonstrate the five fundamentals of shooting a rifle safely.
     6. 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.
     7. Explain the range commands and range procedures.
     8. 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.
     9. Identify the basic safety rules for cleaning a rifle, and identify the materials needed
     10. Demonstrate how to clean a rifle properly and safely.
     11. Discuss what points you would consider in selecting a rifle
     12. 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.
     13. 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:
         1. A-32 targets - 9
         2. A-17 or TQ-1 targets - 7,
         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 or touch a quarter and then explain how to adjust the sights to zero the rifle used.
   • OPTION B --- AIR RIFLE SHOOTING (BB or Pellet)
     1. Identify the three main parts of an air rifle, and tell how they function.
     2. Identify and demonstrate the three fundamental rules for safe gun handling.
     3. Explain the range commands and range procedures.
     4. Identify the two most common types of air rifle ammunition.
     5. Identify and demonstrate the five fundamentals of shooting a rifle safely.
     6. Identify and explain each rule for shooting an air rifle safely.
     7. 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.
     8. Identify the basic safety rules for cleaning an air rifle, and identify the materials needed.
     9. Demonstrate how to clean an air rifle safely.
     10. Discuss what points you would consider in selecting an air rifle.
     11. 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.
     12. 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:
         1. BB rifle at 15 feet or 5 meters using TQ - 5 targets - 8.
         2. Pellet air rifle at 25 feet using TQ - 5 target - 8, at 33 feet or 10 meters using AR-1 targets - 6.
   • OPTION C --- MUZZLE - LOADING RIFLE SHOOTING
     1. Discuss a brief history of the development of muzzle-loading rifles.
     2. Identify principal parts of percussion rifles and discuss how they function.
     3. Demonstrate and discuss the safe handling rules of muzzle-loading rifles.
     4. Identify the various grades of black powder and black powder substitutes and explain their proper use.
     5. Discuss proper safety procedures pertaining to black powder use and storage.
     6. Discuss proper components of a load.
     7. Identify proper procedures and accessories used for loading a muzzle-loading rifle.
     8. 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.
     9. Shoot a target with a muzzle-loading rifle using the five fundamentals of firing the shot.
     10. Identify the materials needed to clean a muzzle- loading rifle safely. Using these materials, demonstrate how to clean a muzzle-loading rifle safely.
     11. Identify the causes of a muzzle-loading rifle's failing to fire and explain or demonstrate proper correction procedures.
     12. Discuss what points you would consider in selecting a muzzle-loading rifle.
     13. 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 soft drink can.
     14. 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:
         1. at 25 yards using NRA A-23 or NMLRA 50-yard targets - 7;
         2. at 50 yards using NRA A-25 or NMLRA 100 yard targets - 7.

---

The reference to requirement 2l in the note at the end of Requirement 2-Option A was inadvertently not changed to refer to requirement 2m when the requirements were revised in 2017.
It appears that in the 2020 Scouts BSA Requirements booklet, the note was omitted by an editorial error.

---

Note to the Merit Badge Counselor:

Shooting Sports Merit Badge Counselor Requirements and Registration

In the 2021 Guide to Advancement (BSA Publication 33088 - SKU 648216), Under Section 7.0.1.0 Merit Badge Counseling Risk Management and Quality Control - Section 7.0.1.1 Supervisory Qualifications and Certifications has specific special qualifications or certifications for either the merit badge counselor or the supervisor of certain activities that may be involved with this merit badge, as follows:

The qualifications below for shooting sports-related merit badge counseling and supervision not only assist in managing risk, but also give counselors credibility. Current policies are found at at www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss08 and supersede any other publications or literature. See the Guide to Safe Scouting and the BSA National Shooting Sports Manual for further details on shooting sports.

Rifle Shooting. The merit badge counseloris responsible for ensuring that all instruction or other activities involving any handling of firearms or live ammunition is consistent with state and federal law and supervised by a certified BSA National Camping School (NCS) shooting sports director, or National Rifle Association (NRA) Rifle Shooting Instructor or Coach. Instruction or other activities involving handling muzzleloaders must be supervised by an NCS shooting sports director or NRA/National Muzzleloader Rifle Association (NMLRA)-certified muzzleloader firearms Instructor. Shooting must be supervised by an NRA certified Range Safety Officer (RSO). If instruction and shooting are to occur at the same time, both the RSO and qualified instructor must be present. The supervisor and instructor may not be the same person. Note that commercial shooting ranges may provide RSOs.

To qualify as a shooting sports merit badge counselor, a volunteer must:

• Register annually with the Boy Scouts of America.
• Be at least 21 years old.
• Be of good character.
• Be proficient in the merit badge subject by vocation, avocation, or special training.
• Be certified by the National Rifle Association as an instructor for the merit badge discipline or be currently certified as a National Camping School shooting sports director with the NRA rifle and shotgun instructor certification. For example, a Rifle Shooting merit badge counselor must be a certified NRA rifle instructor.
• Be able to work with Scout-age youth.
• Be approved by the council shooting sports committee.
• Be currently trained in BSA Youth Protection.

---

BSA Advancement ID#: 123
Scoutbook ID#: 66
Requirements last updated in: 2019
Pamphlet Publication Number: 35942
Pamphlet Stock (SKU) Number: 35823
Pamphlet Revision Date: 2012

Worksheets for use in working on these requirements: Format Word Format PDF Format

Blanks in this worksheets table appear when we do not have a worksheet for the badge that includes these requirements.