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14-00000 104-10216-10234 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

SECRET AMLASH-1

1 July 1964

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: Test of Open Sight Hood for 7.62um Belgium (FAL) Rifle REFERENCE: A) Meno for Red. dated 25 May 1964, Subject: FAL- Silencers/8ights, from C/WH/SA/MOB/PN B) Meno for Rcd. dated 10 June 1964, Subject: Tests of Modified Bights for 7.62 Belgium (FAL) Rifle

  1. On 15 and 16 June 1984, the undersigned and Mr. Bob Ricker, TSD/SDB went to Isolation to test an open sight hood for the 7.62mm Belgium (FAL) Rifle developed in answer to Ref. A. The Modified Williams peep sight developed previously in answer to Ref. A and reported on in Ref. B. proved unsatisfactory to the requester. The snap-on sight hood was then developed on a quick reaction basis to be simpler to install and easier to use than the Williams sight. In addition some improved underloaded 7.62mm NATO rounds having soft. annealed cases and cream of wheat filler vere tested for performance. These were developed in hopes of correcting the erratio azmunition performance, noted a B

  2. The open sight hood snaps over the existing rear sight of the FAL rifle, and in theory makes shooting in poor light or at night easier. It can be used with either standard factory loads or the underloaded ammunition in conjunction with the muzzle attachment silencer. The notch on the rear sight hood is "U" shaped and raised to compensate for the more curving trajectory of the low velocity ammunition. The hood is easily detached making the con- ventional peep sight available any time it is desired.

  3. The attached data sheet summarizes the test results. It was found that some familiarization vas necessary to get used to the open sight. Under ideal conditions the sight was as easy to use as the peep sight although it was more difficult to maintain uniform vertical grouping. The relationship between the eye and rear sight was found to be very critical. As the tests proceeded a change was noted in the point of impact vs. point of aim which was thought to be due to a change in sight picture on the part of the undersigned.

  4. The improved ansunition was found to be quite consistant in performance. The use of crean of wheat filler to tamp the powder charge against the primer vas an attempt to get more even ignition with correspondingly improved accuracy. The expended cartridge cases vere checked periodically and no evidence vas found of the soft annealed cases not expanding properly. During the tests the rifle and ammunition combination instilled a degree of confidence in the undersigned not present in the previous teste. SECRET : な صححفرة

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i 5. Tests were conducted in the evening to determine the degree of usefulness of the sight in poor light. In this respect a 22 Caliber Hi-Standard pistol with folding shoulder stock and Bushnell 1.3X Phantom scope was tested in comparison. The scope was equipped with yellow filters to brighten the sight picture for low light level use. It was the opinion of both test personnel that the scope vas superior to either the peep sight or open sight for as long as their was some illumination on the silhouette targets. Once the light failed the scope was completely useless although the undersigned could still discern targets with the naked eye out to 50 yds. All actual shooting was done with the open sight and some difficulty was experienced in hitting the targets at ranges of 100 yds, or more even at dusk. The closer targets could be easily hit up until it became too dark to see them at all. A large rain cloud moving from behind the firing position gradually obscured all available light. For the final shooting at 25 yds. occasional lightning flashes gave only a vague awareness of the target location. At no time during the night trials was there any muzzle flash visible from the under loaded azmunition and muzzle silencer combination. The gas port which was in the off position during the daylight trials was turned on at night but no flash was visible at the breech. A fine white cloud of cream of wheat powder was visible in front of the muzzle at almost full darkness but could not be seen more than 30 feet avay.

  1. Listener trials were conducted the following day to deter- mine how far away an alert listener could discern the mechanical noise of the mechanism and that of the round being fired. Mr. Ricker walked away downwind at an angle of 90 degrees to the line of fire and stopped to listen every 25 paces. The undersigned fired single rounds, (hand actuating the pechanism) each time Nr. Ricker stopped. At 335 paces, or roughly 275 yds., Er. Ricker reported. he could still hear the mechanisa being actuated, the round being fired, and the bullet striking a concrete pillar 200 yds. down- range. However, he stared that he might not have noticed the sound at that range had he not been listening for it specifically.

  2. One of the major causes for concern at the start of the tests was that the cream of wheat filler might clog the silencer and render it ineffective. A total of 200 rounds were fired with the silencer in place and the noise level did seem to be higher at the finish of the second day. (Round numbers 180 to 200 were the ones expended during the previously mentioned listener trials). Inspection of the silencer at a later date revealed considerable crean of wheat residue in the screening. Sound level measurements made in the AMF sound lab showed that while the total noise level vas no higher, the duration was relatively longer. This would make the silencer seen louder to near by observers but not increase the range at which it could be heard. However, from a stand- point of the ability for a listener to discriminate a silencer being fired from random noise, the longer duration gives him a better chance to recognize what he hears. SECRET

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Thi 8. On 19 June 1964, the undersigned went to the warehouse at Franconia to try to fit the sight hood to other 7.65mm FAL rifles. It was suspected that the fit might be a problem when it would not fit over the rear sights of three FAL rifles at Isolation. Although it was later determined that the three rifles. vore of a different lot and may therefore have different tolerances on the rear sight casting, it was felt that further checking was necessary. Nine FAL rifles from the same lot as those obtained by WH/SA/MOB/PM were unpackaged and the sight hood tried on the rear sight. Of the nine, two were perfect fits and the other seven too thick for the hood to fit. This created a problem in that the sight hoods had to fit rifles which for operational reasons could not be measured before hand to determine the thickness of the rear sight blade. Providing adjustment in the slot of the sight hood would have complicated the fixture to the point where it could become operationally unsuitable. Therefore it was determined that the best solution was to provide several small files with the hoods. The peep sight on the rifles, a soft casting, was found to be quite easy to file. In most cases it would be necessary only to file several thousandths to obtain a proper fit. This procedure was explained to C/WH/SA/MOB/FM and he stated that it would be acceptable.

  1. On 24 June 1964, three open sight hoods with accessories consisting of two files and a small screwdriver were turned over to C/WH/SA/MOB/PM. In addition, 400 rounds of improved under- loaded ammunition with cream of wheat filler were provided as a bf replacement for the original 400 underloaded rounds.

  2. On 29 June 1964, it was discovered that a scope was availabl 451 for the 7.62mm Belgium (FAL) Rifle (Sniper Version) and in the Agency supply system. Steps are being taken to obtain a scope for evaluation. The results will be forwarded to C/CH/SA/MOB.

DDP/TSD/EB/DJH/EC

cc: C/TSD C/TH/SA/MOB/PH DANIEL J. BOGAN TSD/EB SECRET

14-00000 RANGE RAMP SETTING SIGHT TYPE STANDARD VELOCITY AMMUNITION, DAYLIGHT: POINT OF IMPACT (RELATIVE TO POINT OF AIM) 100 yds. No. 2 Peep On 100 yds. No. 3 Peap On 100 yds. No. 2 Open Hood 24" high 100 yds. No. 8 Open Hood 26" high EXTREME SPREAD NO. OF ROUNDS 6844 5 5 க 【 ERLOADED AMMUNITION, OPEN SIGHT HOOD, DAYLIGHT: POINT OF IMPACT EXTREME RANGE RAMP SETTING (RELATING TO POINT OF AIM) SPREAD HORIZONTAL SPREAD VERTICAL SPREAD NO. OF ROUNDS 41 25 yds. No. 2 3" high 25 yds. No. 6 3" low 1 3/4" 3/4" -- 5 -- 50 yds. No. 6 5" 8 : 75 yds. No. 6 4" loft 4" low 3" 5 100 yds. Full Elevation 6" loft, 8" low 9" -- 10 : 100 yds. Full Elevation On (Diff. Shooter) 5" 13" 5 100 yds. 125 yds. Full Elevation No 2 8" left, 8" low -- -- 6" 9" 10 8" loft, 18" low -- 31 125 yds. Full Elevation On (Changed sight. Picture) -- 6 20" 8 (2 missed target) 150 yds. Jull Elevation On (Changed Sight Picture) -- 6" 18" 8 (2 missed target) Jyds. Pull Elevation 6" low (Changed Sight Pic- ture) -- 8" 26" 10

14-00000 UNDERIOADED AMMUNITION, OPEN SIGHT HOOD, DUSH: RANGE NO. OF ROUNDS NO. OF HITS 300 усв. 10 yds. 10 HORIZONTAL SPREAD VERTICAL SPREAD REMARKS 15" 85 6 Could ocs target more clearly through Peep sight at no rounde woro fired. Could soo target very clearly with 1.3X scope. UNDER'OADED AMMUNITION, ALMOST FULL DARK, OPEN SIGHT HOOD: NO. OF ROUNDIS NO. OF HITS BORIZONTAL SPREAD VERTICAL SPREAD RANGE 75 yds. 10 25 yds. 10 10 9" 14 " 85" REMARKS Poop sight useless Could see targets out to 200 yds, with filtered scope at start of firing, could not se at; all w/scope at finishi τα POERIOADED AMMUNITION, OPEN BIGHT HOOD, PULLE DARK: RANGE 35 yds. NO. OF ROUNDIS 10 NO. OF HITS REMARKS 5 (scattered) Target in total darkness, rain cloud overhead, inter- mittant lightning flashes gave a vague awareness of target location.