Hotshot sniper in one-and-a-half mile double kill [two Taliban machinegunners.......]

timesonline ^

[NVDave]

Well, the article said he had a spotter, so if they’re a liar, there’s more than one here.

I don’t doubt that it is difficult - but I think it is possible. The .338 Lapua is still supersonic (barely) at that range...

As for repeatability: I think it is within the realm of possibility. The rifle in question is capable of half-MOA groups or better. There’s some ferociously accurate rifles out there now. The Intl’ Benchrest Light Rifle category record set in 2007 was under 1.5” at 1000 yards with a .338 Lapua necked down to .30. For those who want to pay up for the quality, it is a heck of a time to be a rifleman...

[JD91]

bench rest shot at 1.5” at 1000 is a far cry from a 20” kill at 2700 yards with “duty ammo” which might shoot one MOA. Like I said - two shots concecutivly? That bullet is decending nearly verticle at that range - no wind at all in 1.54 miles?. Something just doesn’t sound right to me.

[NVDave]

The wind issue, I’ll agree on. I find the idea of “dead calm” over the whole path of 2700 yards to be.... beyond lucky. Especially if this was in mountainous terrain.

BTW - The pill isn’t coming down near vertical - my ballistics computations show it dropping something like 350 to 500 inches (depending on the Bc we’re using) per 100 yards at 2700 yards. If it were coming down at a even a 45 degree angle, then the drop would be equal to the run, ie, you’d drop 3600 inches over a run of 3600 inches.

[oneolcop]

In one of my previous posts I told the story of a sniper in Vietnam. I was so impressed by that shooting that in 1973 or 74 I bought a German manufactured Mauser. Over the years I've messed with it. It now has a Douglas air-gauged .308 caliber barrel and a very good scope and composite stock. When I got it back from the gunsmith I took it to the range to get the scope dialed in. Once done, the rifle put one hole at 100 meters. It's my new favorite rifle.

I spent a lot of bucks getting it to where it is now, but it's worth it.

[NVDave]

That’s testament to your gunsmith. Mausers aren’t as easy to clean up as a rifle like, say, a Remington 700 or clone. The Mausers usually make great (and fine, expensive, beautifully engraved/inlaid/etc) hunting rifles. Rarely does someone put the money and effort into making them a “bug-holer.”

[Redcitizen]

That was close. I’m glad you’re around to tell the tale.