Prince William has joined army veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq for live firing exercises at Sydney's Holsworthy Barracks.
The 27-year-old, who was an officer in the Royal Household Cavalry and is training to become an RAF Search and Rescue pilot, shot about 23 live rounds from an F88 Austeyr rifle and about 100 rounds from a F89 Minimi machine gun.
He joined about 30 members of Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, on the marksmanship training range on Wednesday morning, shooting static and moving targets.
"We do keep score, just between ourselves, so we'll be keeping scores on how he does, for sure," Private Jace Barnett said.
"It would be a bit embarrassing if he beat us. But I'm sure he's very good."
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The prince, who had shed the tie and jacket he wore during his first day of engagements in Sydney on Tuesday, was greeted at about 9.20am by commanding officers including Lieutenant Colonel Trent Scott, before chatting with diggers.
Among those he met were about a dozen soldiers who saw active service in Afghanistan during a six-month tour of duty last year. During their deployment, the soldiers came under rocket attack from the Taliban and faced a close-quarters ambush.
There were no casualties in either incident, a defence spokesman said.
Iraq soldiers
Other soldiers who met the prince on Wednesday have seen service in Iraq.
"It's great that someone that is so famous has bothered to become a soldier. It's pretty special," Lance Corporal Chris Finn said.
Lance Corporal Matthew Ferndale, 22, said the prince seemed like a normal guy.
"He was asking us about how long we have been in and what we've been doing in the army," he told reporters.
"He just seemed very chilled and just wanted to mix it with the boys."
He added that the prince should have had no trouble firing the guns because he had previously trained on the F89 machine gun and that the F88 rifle was very user-friendly.
Before leaving, the prince posed for photographs with the Battalion.
Royal barbecue
Later, hundreds of well-wishers greeted Prince William as he arrived for a barbecue in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens.
The 27-year-old thrilled onlookers by shaking hands, smiling, laughing and thanking them for coming.
"Welcome Willie Wombat", one person cheered in a reference to the nickname his mother Diana gave him during his only previous visit to Australia - when he was aged just nine months.
Another waved a placard at the second in line to British throne saying: "Welcome Future King".
About six boatloads of keen sightseers dropped anchor on the harbour near Mrs Macquarie's Chair to catch a glimpse of the prince, who was accompanied by NSW Premier Kristina Keneally as he spent time greeting well-wishers.
Ms Keneally hosted the lunch with other invited guests at Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
Swimming great Ian Thorpe and broadcaster Alan Jones were also cheered by the crowd as they arrived in a silver Audi.
Charming the crowds
Many of those greeting the prince had been waiting for up to two hours for his arrival.
"We believe in the monarchy and he is a lovely young man," Sydneysider Margaret Adams said.
"I'm going to invite him round to my place for a barbecue tomorrow, stuff those Melbournites."
The prince is due to fly to Victoria on Thursday after spending two days in the harbour city.
Sydneysider Kath Allan was also thrilled at the prince's arrival.
"He was very charming and everything I had heard about him through the TV reports were true," she said. "He was a real gentleman."
After arriving at the barbecue, the prince mingled with about 100 guests in a fenced-off area dotted with umbrellas with stunning views of the harbour and foreshore.
Casually dressed in a button-up blue shirt, brown slacks and white sneakers, Prince William looked at ease as he chatted with guests, including many young people.
The barbecue is the final scheduled event of his Sydney visit.
