British snipers kill four Iraqis amid the rubble of Basra

The Daily Telegraph ^ | April 3, 2003 | Martin Bentham

[JSteff]

Santa, I want one! Any firearms fan has got to be loving the chance to see so many cool rifles... I know I am.

In one of the video clips on one of the channels I saw an American using a .50 cal. He was shooting to a "target" on a ridge line that looked like it was about .5 to .75 miles away. Even a near miss by a .50 cal would make your stomach cramp up - if you were the one it near-missed.

And all I have is my Mauser 48.

[JSteff]

"(I can attest that it'll certainly go through the equivalent of a railroad tie or wooden phone pole at something less than that.) "

A couple of months back there was an article in the American Rifleman written by a colonel (or something) telling how they used to do just that in Vietnam with M14's. They would "dig out" VC snipers from behind trees by starting on edges of the trunk and work inward until the enemy sniper fell over from behind the tree.

[Francohio]

O, it'll still kill you at over 900 yards (or meters, it's just that your chances of precisely calling the shot start to go down at those extreme ranges.

If you miss, you might hit the wrong guy, or hit the right guy in the wrong place, or just plain make the area too hot to inhabit. Dead by accident or a shot intended for another target, is still dead.

[gaucho]

Nice Rifle. I like the Barrett M82A's .50 cal

[merak]

Thanks for the info, sounds like they've gotten better at that sort of thing since the last time I read about it. The impression I had was that you couldn't really load a 308 subsonic and produce reasonable accuracy at the same time since you'd be looking at a case which was half empty. Sounds like they must have devised powders specifically for the purpose.

[RangerVetNam]

Kudos to you Brits....and thanks

[RangerVetNam]

Kudos to you Brits....and thanks

[archy]

In one of the video clips on one of the channels I saw an American using a .50 cal. He was shooting to a "target" on a ridge line that looked like it was about .5 to .75 miles away. Even a near miss by a .50 cal would make your stomach cramp up - if you were the one it near-missed.

And all I have is my Mauser 48.

There's bnothing wrong at all with the old Model '98 Mauser action, and most of the Yugo Model 48 versions that I've run across are fine examples of the breed. The things saw considerable use in their homeland during the 1990-1991 sniper duels between Serb and Croat [with a few strays thrown in] both in their original 7,92 chambering and rebarrelled to the 7,62 NATO cartridge; the 7,92mm boattailed 198-grain bullet is a fine performer at longer ranges.

And too, the Israelis are still using them as well, mostly also rebarrelled to 7,62, though a few of the 8mm versions soldier on still. It's easy to find a serious affection for those nice old Mausers. Yours one of the *sterile* ones built for Egypt?

-archy-/-

[archy]

Thanks for the info, sounds like they've gotten better at that sort of thing since the last time I read about it. The impression I had was that you couldn't really load a 308 subsonic and produce reasonable accuracy at the same time since you'd be looking at a case which was half empty. Sounds like they must have devised powders specifically for the purpose.

They've gotten sneaky, using heavier bullets, though still capable of developing sufficient accuracy from the same rate of twist as a more usual 150-200 grain .308 load. But 220 and 230-grain bullets for quiet work with a .308 are possible, and can also be made to work nicely in semiauto rifles in the .300 Whisper chambering suitable for use in .223/5,56mm-length actions.

The Berger and Hornady VLD bullets offer particularly interesting possibilities, particularly moly-coated examples, clear out to 1200 meters.

And going the other way, the kissinavistas loads popularized by the late Finnish gunwriter PT *Pete* Kekkonen offer very useful closer range results, even with a non-silenced or soundsuppressed rifle.

-archy-/-

[VOA]

I do hope that in a few days our boys will extend to your chaps and invite to
a little tea party in Baghdad.

"The Baghdad Tea Party"
-- for all coalition snipers
But of course, the greatest irony/yuks would be for the U.K./USA contingents!

Works for me!

[JSteff]

"Yours one of the *sterile* ones built for Egypt?"

No, it has the yogo crest on it. The bore is excellent and looks like nothing was fire through it. Bolt, stock, bayonett, trigger guard, etc (if I remember right) all have matching SN's. Stock has a few nicks, and there is a dark spot from a knot in the wood. Other wise it is beautiful. I just got it a few weeks ago and finished the de-coz on it.
I can't wait to shoot it, but also sort of don't want to shoot it because it is so gorgeous.

[archy]

I can't wait to shoot it, but also sort of don't want to shoot it because it is so gorgeous.

Shoot it. That's what it was meant for, and it's fortunate to have wound up in the hands of one who'll both appreciate its capabilities and make use of them.

If you need info on some particularly accurate 7,92x57mm reload data, just let me know. I've owned a couple of dozen, mostly pretty good ones, over the years. I've got four at present, three of which share the 7,92 chambering. And I'm thinking about a related project for another one or two.

-archy-/-

[archy]

In one of the video clips on one of the channels I saw an American using a .50 cal. He was shooting to a "target" on a ridge line that looked like it was about .5 to .75 miles away. Even a near miss by a .50 cal would make your stomach cramp up - if you were the one it near-missed.

Doesn't seem to affect the shooter much though.

Maybe a bruise on his sholder, maybe a little ringing in his ears.

-archy-/-

[SBprone]

The .50 is a more specialized arm for use against sensitive equipment at longer ranges. Urban snipers work at distances well under 300m most of the time and for this the 7.62mm NATO is ideal.

The weight and muzzle blast of the .50 would be a disadvantage in an urban environment.

[agincourt1415]

Thanks for the info.

[JSteff]

Thanks archy. I will shoot it but I am going to get another nice one just to keep. I also just picked up a Mosin Nagant 38 that is in great shape also. Matching numbers on everything also. Is that ever a fun rifle!
Kicks like a mule, but seems pretty accurate.
I have shot for years (with a friends weapons) but I am relatively new into owning rifles so I am not at the reloading stage yet. I am trying to buy only guns in excellent shape. I am having a ball.

[JSteff]

Cool pic. Just another day at the office.

[JSteff]

Cool pic. Just another day at the office.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Pray tell. Where is the obligatory 'sad, dejected' photo of Tommy Daschle that is supposed to accompany such 'gloomy news' as this?