{"id":51166,"date":"2020-05-12T14:33:16","date_gmt":"2020-05-12T14:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/05\/12\/what-the-hell-is-this-shooting-grip\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T21:01:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T21:01:22","slug":"what-the-hell-is-this-shooting-grip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/2020\/05\/12\/what-the-hell-is-this-shooting-grip\/","title":{"rendered":"What the hell is this shooting grip?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some recent images from boot camp and a Marine shooting a simulator in Australia depict an obscure shooting grip not officially taught by any Marine Corps program of instruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The images show a recruit at Parris Island, South Carolina, and a Marine in Darwin, Australia, shooting in the standing and prone respectively, but holding the rifle in a manner not commonly done by Marines undergoing marksmanship training across the school houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cpl. Isaiah Fraser, a Marine with Marine Rotational Force \u2013 Darwin, shoots an M4 carbine at Robertson Barracks in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, April 29, 2020. (Lance Cpl. Natalie Greenwood\/ Marine Corps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The images were posted to Facebook and the Defense Department\u2019s imagery website known as DVIDS. Stars and Stripes reporter Chad Garland posted the images on Twitter sparking a conversation in a thread discussing the strange grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marine Corps Times reached out to Marine Corps Combat Development Command to inquire whether the Corps had adopted a new shooting grip or stance in its program of instruction across the recruit depots and the fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe grip you saw is not part of any of our doctrine (Marksmanship Order) and not part of any of our POIs (Combat Marksmanship Coaches \u2013 CMC courses),\u201d MCCDC said in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost likely, the Marine is either trying a different position on his own or something they may have learned from civilian competitive shooting competitions,\u201d MCCDC explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strange rifle grip appears to be used in competition shooting, but it\u2019s best suited for the standing position and not the prone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A former member of the Marine Corps Shooting Team told Marine Corps Times that the technique has been taught within the Corps\u2019 shooting team. The MCST participates in a number of shooting competitions throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Images posted to the MCST<\/a>\u2019s Facebook page depict variations of the grip while in the standing position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is used by many in the standing position for competition. Everyone is built differently, and each shooting position is unique for everyone. If it gives him a stable platform, it\u2019s worth it,\u201d the former MCST member said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n