Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society

Demonstrate An Understanding Of Basic Internal And External Ballistics Training

SAQA US 119778 | NQF 4 | Credits 7 | Duration 4 Days
From $1,107 per delegate

Description

This course provides learners with foundational knowledge of internal and external ballistics, enabling them to understand the behaviour of projectiles from ignition to target impact. It is designed to enhance safety and technical competence in environments where firearms or ballistic systems are used, such as security, law enforcement, and military operations.

Learning Outcomes

  • Explain the principles of internal ballistics, including ignition, propellant combustion, and projectile acceleration within the barrel.
  • Describe the factors affecting external ballistics, such as gravity, air resistance, and atmospheric conditions.
  • Apply basic ballistic calculations to predict projectile trajectory and impact points.
  • Analyze the relationship between cartridge components and ballistic performance.
  • Evaluate safety considerations related to ballistic forces and projectile behaviour.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the key differences between internal and external ballistics.

Target Audience

This course is intended for security personnel, firearms trainers, law enforcement officers, and anyone requiring a practical understanding of ballistics for occupational safety or operational effectiveness.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Ballistics and Firearm Safety

Objectives:
• Define internal and external ballistics and their importance in firearm use.
• Identify the key components of a firearm and their roles in ballistics.
• Explain the principles of firearm safety and safe handling procedures.
• Describe the basic physics concepts (force, energy, motion) relevant to ballistics.
• Recognise the legal and ethical responsibilities of firearm ownership in South Africa.

Topics:
• Introduction to ballistics: internal, external, and terminal.
• Firearm anatomy: barrel, chamber, action, and sights.
• Firearm safety rules: safe direction, trigger discipline, and storage.
• Basic physics: velocity, kinetic energy, and momentum.
• Overview of SA Firearms Control Act and range etiquette.

Day 2: Internal Ballistics – From Ignition to Muzzle Exit

Objectives:
• Describe the sequence of events from primer strike to bullet exit.
• Explain how propellant combustion generates pressure and accelerates the bullet.
• Identify factors affecting internal ballistics: barrel length, twist rate, and chamber pressure.
• Interpret pressure-time curves and their significance for safety and performance.
• Discuss the effects of ammunition components (primer, powder, bullet) on internal ballistics.

Topics:
• Ignition, propellant burn, and pressure build-up.
• Bullet engagement with rifling: spin and stability.
• Measuring chamber pressure and velocity.
• Influence of barrel length and twist rate on velocity and accuracy.
• Ammunition selection: bullet weight, shape, and powder charge.
• Muzzle velocity and its variability.

Day 3: External Ballistics – The Bullet’s Flight Path

Objectives:
• Explain the forces acting on a bullet in flight: gravity, drag, and wind.
• Describe the concept of trajectory and factors that affect bullet drop.
• Calculate and interpret bullet drop and wind drift using basic formulas.
• Understand the role of ballistic coefficients and sectional density.
• Apply external ballistics principles to adjust sights for distance and wind.

Topics:
• Trajectory components: line of sight, line of departure, and drop.
• Drag and deceleration: drag coefficient and velocity decay.
• Ballistic coefficient (BC) and its effect on flight.
• Wind deflection: crosswind and headwind effects.
• Sight adjustment: minutes of angle (MOA) and mil-radians.
• Practical exercises: using ballistic tables and software.

Day 4: Practical Application, Integration, and Assessment

Objectives:
• Integrate internal and external ballistics knowledge to predict shot placement.
• Apply safety and ballistics principles in a live-fire or simulated shooting exercise.
• Analyse environmental effects (altitude, temperature, humidity) on trajectory.
• Demonstrate proficiency in adjusting sights based on ballistics calculations.
• Complete a formative assessment covering all ballistics concepts.

Topics:
• Environmental effects on ballistics: air density and temperature.
• Practical shooting exercises with varying distances and wind conditions.
• Using ballistic calculators and data books.
• Troubleshooting common accuracy issues.
• Review of key concepts and Q&A session.
• Written and practical assessment for Unit Standard 119778.

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Thu 10 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,107 Register
Tue 29 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,107 Register
Mon 19 Oct 2026 Thu 22 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,107 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Thu 10 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,107 Register
Tue 12 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,107 Register
Mon 15 Feb 2027 Thu 18 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,107 Register
Tue 02 Mar 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,107 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Thu 11 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,107 Register
Tue 16 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,107 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Thu 10 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,107 Register
Tue 29 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,107 Register
Mon 19 Jul 2027 Thu 22 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,107 Register
Tue 07 Sep 2027 Fri 10 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,107 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Thu 30 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,107 Register
Tue 19 Oct 2027 Fri 22 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,107 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Thu 09 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,107 Register
Tue 28 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,107 Register
Mon 17 Jan 2028 Thu 20 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,107 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 492 sessions across 26 venues
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Tue 11 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,581 Register
Tue 11 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE Winter 2026 $4,903 Register
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Tue 11 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Cape Town, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,743 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Tue 15 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,436 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Thu 08 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,436 Register
Tue 27 Oct 2026 Fri 30 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,436 Register
Tue 15 Dec 2026 Fri 18 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,436 Register
Mon 18 Jan 2027 Thu 21 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,436 Register
Tue 23 Feb 2027 Fri 26 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,436 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Thu 11 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,436 Register
Tue 16 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,436 Register
Mon 22 Mar 2027 Thu 25 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,436 Register
Tue 15 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,436 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Thu 08 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,436 Register
Tue 27 Jul 2027 Fri 30 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,436 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Thu 16 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,436 Register
Tue 05 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,436 Register
Mon 25 Oct 2027 Thu 28 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,436 Register
Tue 14 Dec 2027 Fri 17 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,436 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Thu 06 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,436 Register
Tue 25 Jan 2028 Fri 28 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,436 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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