US Army · TC 3-22.9 · May 2016, with changes through November 2019
The Army's rifle marksmanship manual for the M16 and M4 family: 252 pages on safe handling, the shot process, stability, aim, control and zeroing.
The Army PDF is free and in the public domain. The field guide comes with membership, or it's $10 as a PDF. All 9 manuals
- 252pages
- 9chapters
- 6appendixes
- 4safety rules
- 8steps in the cycle
- 12firing positions
Searches all 252 pages of the Army PDF and opens it at the page you pick.
Two versions of this manual
The official Army PDF
TC 3-22.9 exactly as the US Army published it. It's a work of the US government, so it's in the public domain, and it's marked "Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited."
- All 252 pages: nine chapters and six appendixes
- Covers optics, ballistics and drills as well as fundamentals
- The Army's file, unedited
The Buckhorn Cliffs field guide
My 7-page overview of the same manual: safe handling, how it works, a steady position, aiming and control, stoppages, and zeroing. It's written from the Army's text and is not an Army publication.
- 7 pages in place of 252
- The four rules and the shot process
- Immediate and remedial action
- Leaves out optics, ballistics tables and tactical drills
- Boxes, charts, steps and checklists you can use at a glance
- Every section gives the page in the Army PDF
- Downloads as a PDF and saves to My Manual
Only want this one? Buy the field guide PDF for $10. This page is the free breakdown of the Army PDF. The field guide is the short version to print and keep.
- It breaks every shot into the same steps, which makes problems easy to find.
- The stability chapter explains why a position works.
- The zeroing appendix is clear about confirming at distance.
- Written for the M16 and M4. Other rifles differ.
- A large share covers military optics, lasers and engagements.
- Reading does not replace range time with a good instructor.
- You are new to rifles and want the fundamentals in order.
- You teach someone else to shoot.
- You want to understand zeroing.
How the 252 pages break down
Stability and aiming devices are the longest chapters. The appendixes on ammunition, ballistics and zeroing fill the back third. Each bar opens the PDF at that part.
Part by part
Overview
14 pages, starts on PDF page 21
Safe handling: the four rules, weapon safety status and control status.
Principles of Operation
14 pages, starts on PDF page 35
The parts of the rifle and the eight-step cycle of function.
Aiming Devices
28 pages, starts on PDF page 49
Minutes of angle and mils, iron sights, optics, thermal sights and lasers.
Mountable Equipment
6 pages, starts on PDF page 77
Rails and accessories.
Employment
8 pages, starts on PDF page 83
The shot process and its four functional elements.
Stability
28 pages, starts on PDF page 91
Support, muscle relaxation, natural point of aim, carry positions and the twelve firing positions.
Aim
20 pages, starts on PDF page 119
Sight alignment, sight picture, common errors, and holds for range, movement and wind.
Control
14 pages, starts on PDF page 139
Trigger and breathing control, calling the shot, follow-through and malfunctions.
Movement
4 pages, starts on PDF page 153
Shooting while moving.
Ammunition
20 pages, starts on PDF page 157
Cartridge types and markings.
Ballistics
12 pages, starts on PDF page 177
Internal, external and terminal ballistics.
Zeroing
16 pages, starts on PDF page 215
The zeroing process from boresight to confirmation at distance.
Numbers worth knowing
These are the manual's own figures. Each tile opens the page it comes from.
The four rules of firearms safety
Chapter 1 sets out four rules that apply to any weapon, in training and out of it.
| Rule | In the manual's words |
|---|---|
| 1 | Treat every weapon as if it is loaded |
| 2 | Never point the weapon at anything you do not intend to destroy |
| 3 | Keep finger straight and off the trigger until ready to fire |
| 4 | Ensure positive identification of the target and its surroundings |
Open safe weapons handling, PDF page 22 · Home Security and Defense on this site
The shot process
Chapter 5 breaks every shot into three phases.
| Phase | What happens |
|---|---|
| Pre-shot | Position, natural point of aim, sight alignment and sight picture, hold |
| Shot | Refine aim, breathing control, trigger control |
| Post-shot | Follow-through, recoil management, call the shot, evaluate |
Edition and history
TC 3-22.9, Rifle and Carbine, was published on 13 May 2016 and has been changed three times, most recently on 20 November 2019. It replaced FM 3-22.9 of August 2008.
As of November 10, 2026 the Army lists it as the current edition.
TC 3-22.9 is a US Army publication, in the public domain as a work of the US government and marked "Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited." The Buckhorn Cliffs field guide is my own summary of it and is not an Army publication. BuckhornCliffs.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US Army or the Department of Defense.
Questions this answers
Tap a question for the short answer.
What is the army rifle marksmanship manual
TC 3-22.9, Rifle and Carbine, published May 2016 with changes through November 2019. It is 252 pages and approved for public release.
What are the four rules of firearms safety in the army
Treat every weapon as if it is loaded. Never point it at anything you do not intend to destroy. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until ready to fire. Be sure of the target and its surroundings.
How many inches is one moa at 100 yards
1.047 inches, which the manual says can be rounded to 1 inch.
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