Evaluation of Rifle-Firing Behavior of Troops Equipped with Body Armor: A Pilot Study

Abstract : TIONTwenty enlisted men, equipped with two types of body armor fired the M16 at pop-up targets. The range was electronically instrumented to record shots and hits, as well as relationships between these events. Each subject fired 180 rounds at targets which appeared for two, four and six-second presentation intervals. The results showed no significant difference between standard nylon vest, nylon titanium vest or no-vest conditions as subjects fired from the standing position. Further, it was evident that the shooter's performance during two-second presentations differed significantly from performance during four and six-second exposures. It was concluded that body armor alone does not affect rifle-firing behavior for either accuracy or firing time, that subsequent investigations need not include four or six second presentation times, and that further research on rifle-firing behavior should explore complete equipment ensembles, including load-carrying gear.