USMC Sniper stops insurgents from 950 yards

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/m...58?opendocument ^

[InfantryMarine]

USMC Sniper stops insurgents from 950 yards

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/m...58?opendocument

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 27, 2004) -- A U.S. Marine sniper waited patiently inside a one-story house deep within the city. Lying in the prone position for several hours, he scanned the area through his scope before he finally found the three insurgents responsible for two previous mortar attacks.

Sgt. Memo M. Sandoval, a platoon sergeant with Scout Sniper Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, needed to positively identify the insurgents before he could take his shot.

Sandoval, 26, saw that one of the men was about to place a mortar in a mortar tube. He knew he had to make a well-aimed shot before the insurgent gunner launched the deadly round. Sandoval cleared his thoughts and slowed his breathing as he gently squeezed the trigger of his M-40A3 sniper rifle. The 7.62 mm round covered the 950 yards in a flash, slamming into the chest of the first insurgent.

"The battalion (executive officer) ordered me to 'make the mortars stop,'" said Sandoval, a native of El Paso, Texas. "I took it personally and went out specifically to stop the insurgents." With two more insurgents still alive and ready to continue the mortar attack, Sandoval composed himself for the next shot at the assistant gunner. The last two shots took out the driver of the vehicle that carried the weapon.

"When I finally spotted them along a tree line, I realized how far they were but it was surprising how easy it was," said Sandoval.

Those four shots were the longest in Sandoval has taken since he became a scout sniper.

"It was very impressive of Sandoval to shoot from so far away and be on target with all four shots," said 1st Lt. Samuel Rosales, a platoon commander with Scout Sniper Platoon, H&S Co., 3/5.

"When you are being mortared you never know where they will land, to be able to stop them from shooting anymore felt good," said Sandoval.

He joined the Marine Corps straight out of high school in 1997 and has been with 3/5 since April. His leadership ability has reflected on the Marines around him and allowed Sandoval to accomplish his mission.

"(Sandoval) is filling a staff noncommissioned officer's billet, He is a great Marine to work with," said Rosales, 32, a native of San Clemente, Calif.

After recently reenlisting for four more years, Sandoval, who has been in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since September, hopes to represent the United States in the Olympics in competition shooting.

Sandoval says a fellow Marine, Staff Sgt. Jared M. Casanova, with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, helped him improve his skills with the rifle, which has become a valuable commodity in Iraq.

"We have always been in competitions against each other, one day he would win and the next day I would win," said Sandoval. "Out here in Iraq it is a two way rifle range, with insurgents shooting at you. You have to make well aimed shots."

[ApplegateRanch]

I thought 'folded up bipods' was what you call the three Ragheads he left in the dust with it.

No, wait; those are 'folded up bipeds'.

Sorry; I just wasn't been able to help it, after reading one too many 'anti assault weapon' stories & editorials regarding Vang's (mis)use of his so-called SKS (really a Saiga) in WI.

[DuncanWaring]

... - and they also give his home town....

There's probably several pages of "Sandoval" in the El Paso phone book.

In this case, probably not a big risk.

However, as a general principal, you're right.

[Cheapskate]

wouldn't the sharps round have a lot less drop though?

[going hot]

How much does a 7.62 drop at 950 yards?

At 1000 yds, when the sights are dead on, the bullet trajectory goes up to 19 1/2 feet while describing an arc that is more steep at the far end. Assuming a muzzle velocity of 26 hundred fps.

[Dustbunny]

Atta Boy Sgt. Memo M. Sandoval. GOD Bless you, GOD Bless our Military and those fighting with us.

[Cold Heat]

Wow!

950 beats me, that is for sure.

Must be the motivation factor!:-)

[The South Texan]

How about a Texas and good job Marine ping for this one!

[OKSooner]

No, the Sharps buffalo rifle fired a big ol' cast lead bullet at a lower velocity with a black powder charge. (Someone help me out with the particulars here.) The .308 (civilian nomenclature) has a muzzle velocity of about 2400-2600 fps, faster than the sharps. Thus it will have less drop at any point of impact.

[HP8753]

The old buffalo rounds would drop more because they were slower.(longer flight time,more time for gravity it work)

Try this link Buffalo Cartridges of the American Frontier

[ajolympian2004]

Next time I'm out on the golf course standing on the green of a hole that is over 500 yards I will look back at the tee box with a new appreciation of that distance knowing that our skilled marksmen are accurate from twice that far!

I'm curious to know if there are plans to incorporate a laser range finder into the sniper rifle used by our Marines?

[hosepipe]

A 1000 yards... get out of here..
Shoulda scared hell out the mortar team..
Unless they were doped up..

[Fruitbat]

Way to put one right in the numbers!

Good work!

[dumpdaschle]

Try this web site to calculate bullet drop. Enter muzzle velocity and weight. It drops a lot more at that distance than a person thinks.

http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/calculations/traj_basic/traj_basic.html

[Nachoman]

.308 holes leave invisible souls.

[dennisw]

They got their terrorists but we got our warriors.

[Blue Jays]

Hi ApplegateRanch-

The vision of folded-up bipeds vs. folded-up bipods is hilarious! I'm still laughing!

~ Blue Jays ~

[Squantos]

When lives are at stake serious men get damn deadly and when provided the proper skills and tools it is an awesome sight to behold when those skills are applied properly to render their enemies ........dead.

Stay safe Eeeek !

[csvset]

Awesome.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It was in another city, I was 20 years younger and my son and I had just brought home his first .22 rifle. We had a brick of .22s and it seemed like the right thing to do.

[MeekOneGOP]

How about a Texas and good job Marine ping for this one!

Oh, yeah! What a shot! (FOUR shots, actually!). Way to go, Tex!! .....

USMC Sniper stops insurgents from 950 yards

Excerpt:

Sandoval, 26, saw that one of the men was about to place a mortar in a mortar tube. He knew he had to make a well-aimed shot before the insurgent gunner launched the deadly round. Sandoval cleared his thoughts and slowed his breathing as he gently squeezed the trigger of his M-40A3 sniper rifle. The 7.62 mm round covered the 950 yards in a flash, slamming into the chest of the first insurgent.

"The battalion (executive officer) ordered me to 'make the mortars stop,'" said Sandoval, a native of El Paso, Texas. "I took it personally and went out specifically to stop the insurgents." With two more insurgents still alive and ready to continue the mortar attack, Sandoval composed himself for the next shot at the assistant gunner. The last two shots took out the driver of the vehicle that carried the weapon.

"When I finally spotted them along a tree line, I realized how far they were but it was surprising how easy it was," said Sandoval.

Those four shots were the longest in Sandoval has taken since he became a scout sniper.

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!