[NVDave]

Snipers will have range cards (or more likely now) little computers/PDA’s with the ballistics computations in them.

What they have to know is the range - very accurately. At that distance, the bullet is coming down on a very steep angle; if you didn’t range the target correctly (as in, you’re off even a few meters close or far), the bullet will drop into the ground in front of, or behind the target.

Once they have the range to the target, their scopes are calibrated in either mil-dot (milliradians of subtended arc) or “minutes of angle” to allow them to do a little math (or have the PDA do it for them) and they dial in the required number of clicks on the scope to account for the required increase in elevation.

Sounds easy, right? Well, now we have to dope the wind. And that’s not easy. Either it was dead calm (which I doubt), or they were very, very good about doping the wind and dialing in a wind correction.

These fellas had some awesome range-finding skill or equipment in addition to some impressive wind-doping ability.

[Future Snake Eater]

Laser range finders and PDA ballistic calculators could make the job a lot easier, but how do you account for wind over such a long distance?

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Thanks for that. You gave me about 4 or 5 terms to go google. It will fill my Sunday afternoon.

INBN

[Mac1]

“Well, now we have to dope the wind. And that’s not easy. Either it was dead calm (which I doubt), or they were very, very good about doping the wind and dialing in a wind correction.”

The artical says:

“Conditions were perfect, no wind, mild weather, clear visibility. I rested the bipod of my weapon on a compound wall and aimed for the gunner firing the machinegun.”

Full details on the rifle (and everthing else they make) on the company’s website:

http://www.accuracyinternational.com/agents_distributors.php#industry_3

And we CAN own them in the UK as it’s a bolt action rifle, albeit a very sophisticated, powerful one. About $7500...start saving :-)

[Grimmy]

There’s also altitude and temperature to factor in, since those affect air density.

[JD91]

Snipers will have range cards (or more likely now) little computers/PDA’s with the ballistics computations in them....

Still a .338 at 2700+ yards with two concecutive one shot kills - I could beleive one center mass shot but two? - sounds like a B.S. story to me!