Sniper shot that took out an insurgent killer from three quarters of a mile

telegraph ^ | 01/01/2006 | Toby Harnden in Ramadi

[Blood of Tyrants]

And they raised the most selfish generation.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Don't think that PTSS hasn't been a problem from the very first war. Good men cannot easily forget the horrors they saw.

[El Gato]

ll told, the 10-strong Shadow sniper team, attached to Task Force 2/69, has killed just under 200 in the same period (5 months).

That has to have made quite a dent in the terrorist population, especially the most dangerous semiskilled ones.

Salute!

[El Gato]

Still, I like the snipers using the .50 caliber Barrets. They really reach out and get ya.

But tactically they aren't always very practical. If the snipers have to more or less keep up with the infantry, be it from vehicles or on foot, that big old .50 gets to be a bit much to lug around. It also gives away your position big time, because of the blast from the muzzle brake.

The Barret, the M-24 that these guys were using, and the M-21 (an accurrized M-14) are all tools of the trade, with each having it's place and function. There's a fair amount of overlap of course.

[Jet Jaguar]

Nice shot...

[El Gato]

how to tell what the distance was, he didn't look and say mmmmmm ah guess it's about 1232 yards.

He may well have used a laser range finder to get it to the nearest meter, rather than the nearest 10 or so, which I would expect from an estimate at that range.

[Beagle8U]

The marlin mr-7 comes with a timney trigger, and if you can find one used you will likely get it for under $300.

I don't think you could get a better shooting rifle for less than $1500

[MarkL]

First off, I'm quite angry that any news organization would publish the names of any soldiers in combat, but doing so with the name of a sniper is beyond the pale.

Historically, being a "well known" sniper is a very bad thing, at least, while they're working. Remember that Carlos Hathcock had a bounty placed on his head. And giving the name and home town of a sniper is dispicable.

That said, a shot at that distance with a .308 is really something else. Usually, for those distances, .300 WinMag or .50BMG is used.

Being a sniper takes a very special person. Thank G-d that there are such men who are willing to take on the responsibility.

Mark

[Lancer_N3502A]

I wonder if he wasn't using the M24 .300 Winchester Magnum variant. Not that a .308 can't hit at 1,250 yards, the energy at that range is next to nothing.

[shield]

Those insurgents better look out with military snipers like him. ;o)

[El Gato]

I agree. Gone is his anonymity. It's terrific to know we have snipers dropping these a$$holes. However, I do not think it is in the best interest of the mission or of the individual snipers to disclose their names. Didn't the north Vietnamese offer a reward for the head of Hathcock after his name appeared in a Stars & Stripes article?

But the situation is different now. The snipers aren't sent out on lone missions (lone meaning one team, not one person). They go out with the regular grunts, providing them with local fire support and over-watch. Read Shooter : The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper

As you can tell by the article, the change in employment tactics has really paid off.

[Loud Mime]

The way I shoot, anything over 50m. is for artillery.

[F16Fighter]

"Every shot has to be measured against the Rules of Engagement [ROE], positive identification and proportionality."

The New York Times ought to be measured for "positive ID and proportionality."

[McGavin999]

These guys are real heros. There is absolutely no way to count all the lives they have saved. No matter how Al Qaeda trains, they will never have snipers like these men, because they do not kill out of hate, most of them have been hunting since they were small children, and they all have a well developed sense of right and wrong.

[skimask]

"And they raised the most selfish generation."

This is true but these youngsters now days don't take second place to anyone. At least we were respectful and had a modicum of courtesy

[El Gato]

But lets face it. It was a luck shot.

The man himself said as much. Still, luck favors the prepared, or in this case native talent and great training.

[yarddog]

The barret can cause damage even if the round misses the target. If the round passes within inches of the intended target, it can sever a limb.

Sometimes I can't tell if a poster is kidding or not.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

ROFL .... I suspect if some rag head turns up in Double Springs, Alabama asking for the Sgt., said rag head is in a world of sh!!. I think the Sgt is safe.

[Beagle8U]

A standard 308 at 500 yds. would be aprox. 1500 F.P.E.

I don't have charts that would go to 1200 yds.

Even if it was down to 700 FPE it would still likely knock the stuffing out of them.

[papertyger]

Dude. There aren't that many clicks on a leupold scope, and the further you get from mechanical center (o,o, on the crosshairs) the greater the cumulative error from adjustment.

His training got him close, but I promise you, that shot was all shooter.