The chances of hitting a moving helicopter at 1K ft. even with a semiautomatic rifle must be very, very small. Given those unlikely odds, it is just as possible that this was a random shot fired into the air, or a shot fired at something else, and the helicopter was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
or maybe it was a isamic a hole that knows to lead the target
Wishful thinking. A military helicopter, domestic terrorists everywhere
it is just as possible that this was a random shot fired into the air
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Or...multiple shots fired that were not random.
It seems to be that it would be very hard target to hit, but I would defer to an expert on this one. I am certain that someone on FR can authoritatively answer this question.
Hard to imagine many random rifle shots into the air in the afternoon around Manassas, though it's possible. It's not that unusual for helicopters to take small arms fire, particularly if delivered by a trained rifleman. But both you'd think would be very unlikely outside of a combat zone.
Golden BB.
The Viet Cong got pretty good at wing shooting Hueys back in the day.
I wouldn’t say just hitting an target as large as an military helicopter isn’t hard. I’m a an old farm boy who hunts occasional(more occasionally as I age)(Deer, quail, dove, groundhog and occasional nuisance dog, coyote etc.)that lives near Fort Campbell and we see them flying every day. A thousand feet is very doable.
Now, that’s just hitting it.
Hitting it with the idea to bring it down is another subject and even my basic skill (as a civilian) shooter wouldn’t dare to offer advice on how to bring one of these ‘birds’ down.
These pilots fly pretty low so you can see their faces and they can see yours so you keep you weapon at a respectful position when you hear them approach.
Nowadays with their optics i daresay they can see you at a far distance and in all conditions so getting a wild hair up your a$$ and try shooting at one of these aircraft ain’t the smartest idea one can come up with.