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Members from Boy Scout Troops 313 & 322 Earn Rifle Merit Badges
Members of Boy Scout Troops 313 and 322 of Greenville, Texas participated in rifle shooting in order to earn their Rifle Merit Badge. The adults pictured are all Firearm Safety Instructors or Range Safety Officer of Majors Gun Club, Greenville, Texas.

A Boy Scout must do the following before they are able to acquire their Rifle Merit Badge:
  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, use, and types of eye and ear protection.
    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. Explain the main points of hunting laws in your state and give any special laws on the use of guns or ammunition.
    7. List the kinds of wildlife that can be legally hunted in your state.
    8. Identify and explain the rifle sports shot in the Olympic Games. Identify places in your community where you could shoot these sports.
    9. List the sources that you could contact for information on firearms and their use.

  2. 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. Identify and explain each rule for safe shooting.
    7. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to safely shoot a rifle from the benchrest position or supported prone position while using the five fundamentals of rifle shooting.
    8. Identify the basic safety rules for cleaning a rifle, and identify the materials needed.
    9. Demonstrate how to clean a rifle properly and safely.
    10. Discuss what points you would consider in selecting a rifle.
    11. Using a .22 caliber rimfire rifle and shooting from a benchrest 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.
    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. A-32 targets -- 9;
      2. A-17 or TQ-1 targets -- 7;
      3. A-36 targets -- 5.
A total of 12 boys participated and earned their Badge. Majors Gun Club provided the ammo and some of the rifles used were purchased from the CMP or provided by individuals for the scouts to use.

Congratulations to all the Boy Scouts for acquiring their Rifle Merit Badge. Additional information on BSA Merit Badges can be found on the web at http://www.meritbadge.com/bsa/mb/123.htm. Special thanks goes out to James Sukenik, President of the Majors Gun Club, for submitting this article and photos. If you have an interesting article to share, please let us know!