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We travel the country training drill teams of all experience levels. Almost everywhere we go, we find one of these 10 key mistakes in the set up of their drill rifles.

OUR TOP 10 LIST OF DRILL RIFLE MISTAKES:

10. Tightening Screws:

You should ALWAYS check the tension of each screw on your drill rifle before practice and performance! This can be accomplished by designating a team of cadets responsible for the care and upkeep of your school’s drill rifles.

9. The Wrong Tape:

The best tape for your drill rifle is definitely not duct tape! We recommend electrical tape, specifically Scotch Brand Super 33 or Super 88 electrical tape. You can find this tape at your local hardware store.

8. Too Much Tape:

Any colored tape you add to your rifles should be tasteful. Don’t get carried away; focus on what looks good in motion and serves a clear purpose.

7. Metal Buttplates:

Metal buttplates drastically reduce the durability of your drill rifle and drastically increase the chances of lacerations to your hands during practice. We recommend removing the metal buttplate and replacing it with a rubber one.

6. No Sound:

Out of the box, a drill rifle will make almost no noise or sound when caught or struck. Simply take your rifle apart and sand down the inside of the upper handguard and top portion of the stock to create a slightly “looser” fit that will generate more sound.

5. No Sling:

You should have a sling on your drill rifle! Most competitions require it!

4. Incorrect Slinging:

The sling should be strung through the lower sling swivel and upper sling swivel, NOT the Stacking Swivel located just below the barrel of the rifle.

3. Incorrect Sling Keeper Placement:

The clasp that holds the sling tight should be placed out of the way and should be placed facing INWARD towards the rifle. The best spot for it is nearest to the buttplate of the rifle. The “J-Bar” that affixes the bottom of the sling to the lower swivel should face inward so that the flat surface faces outwards, not the sharp edge of the clasp.

2. Front Sights:

You should remove the front sight on each drill rifle. This blade becomes extremely dangerous when spinning at high speeds and can become jagged with use posing even more of a threat.

And the number 1 drill rifle mistake is…

1. Rear Sights:

THE REAR IRONSIGHT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED BEFORE DRILLING! This part serves no purpose and is the cause of many avoidable drill injuries!

Is your school making one of these critical mistakes? Check out our Drill Rifle Set-Up video to learn more about setting up any drill rifle for Exhibition Drill!

Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. provides on-site drill team training for drill team units looking to take their experience to the next level! You can CLICK HERE to learn more about our services OR you can simply watch our staff of Drill Team Coaches in action: