Canadian sniper makes record shot

Canadian Press via Globe and Mail (Toronto) ^ | July 9, 2002 | Stephen Thorne

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

When I read of taliban throwing rocks at our military and our neding to call in air strikes to deal with it, it tells me what I need to know. Were it me, about the second time some jackass bent over to pick up a rock, he's have a new 30 caliber asshole. In the accounts of the middle east operation consistently show lack of tactical and marksmanship ability.

Your paint brush is way too broad. How about the particulars: date, time, units involved, etc. Proficiency can vary widely amongst different riflemen in the same squad and among the same platoon or rifle company. As to your engaging in braggadocio and telling us all what you would do and how many 30 caliber rectums you'd be providing, I can guarantee that if you were playing John Wayne and violated the ROE your butt would be in a sling pretty quick. That's the way the game gets played today, like it or not. Rest assured, our side has killed a whole lot more of the bad guys.

[Snowyman]

taliban throwing rocks

It brought to mind another event were throwing coke bottles became part of navel warfare.I guess you use what ever is handy. http://www.nt.net/~toby/oakville.html

[disgustedvet]

"Shooting skills begin early as a civilian. Back in the 40s when we were kids the NRA put us through a rifle shooting class with the cooperation of the local police department and their firing range. I was a crack shot long before I went into the army. We have wimpy civilians going into a watered-down military."

To a certain extent, I agree. However, it was much easier for me to teach precision shooting to individuals that didn't have a lot a prior shooting experience. They learn the proper techniques out of the gate, and they do not have to overcome bad habits/form/technique that they learned from grandpa (like I did).

[harpseal]

IMHO this story like most sea and war stories should start out with the classic beginning "This ain't no sh*t."

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[wardaddy]

Hathcock could have hit a gnat on the moon with the right longarm!!!

Seriously...he was the best...RIP.

I have never hit anything smaller than a deer's chest past 400 yards and I will freely admit it. The way my eyes are now going rather quickly...the future for my sniping promise looks bleak. Has anyone else noticed it takes longer arms to read a book? LOL

[wardaddy]

Nice shooting, but Carlos Hathcock didn't use a .50 caliber rifle

I think Hathcock did make some LD hits with a modified .50 machine gun....

Squantos??

[dcwusmc]

Impressive as all get-out. I was sure Gunny Hathcock's record was unbeatable for a long time to come... maybe improvements in ammo since his time... Nice work for the Canadians, eh!

[dcwusmc]

Carlos Hathcock used a standard .50 M2 with a scope attached. That was the only mod. He did sight it in, of course, but it waa a gun he got straight from the grunts he was supporting that day. Fired single shot, it was more than capable of doing the job. When he left, he took the scope. I think it was a Unertl (sp?) scope he used...

[Consort]

Is he better than Stephen Hunter's "Bobby Lee Swagger?"

[wardaddy]

Thanks.

[RLK]

Carlos Hathcock used a standard .50 M2 with a scope attached. That was the only mod.

--------------------

Hatcock used a variety of arms to achieve somethin in the order of 93 confirmed kills at phenomenal yardage. Most of his targets were dead before the report of the shot was heard. The trick with Hathcock is that he would spend half a day or a day inching through horrible enemy terrain to position himself for his shot. The brusing of his body during these craws left him arthritic as time went on.

[gonzo]

Thanks, Clive............FRegards

[dcwusmc]

This is true. Mostly he used a Winchester Model 70 in .308, but for LONG range he'd go to a grunt unit and borrow Ma Deuce as I mentioned. When he did the NVA general, he low-crawled for THREE DAYS to get within 800 yards for his shot. That was with the Model 70 at about the max range for .308. He took another whole day to crawl back out.... However, another sniper DID come forward and PROVE that he had more confirmed than Whitefeather did... at least, that's my understanding. Hathcock DID put Marine Snipers on the map permanently, however.

[dcwusmc]

Yes... though he was the model for Bob Lee. You see mention (in the first book, Point of Impact, of a "Carl Hitchcock," a pseudonym for Whitefeather...

[RLK]

A lot of Hathcocks kills were unconfirmed because they were at great distance and under strenuous circumstances.

[MindBender26]

Remember when they taught 11Bs going to RVN to "snapshoot." Don't use the sights, just point in the target's general direction and PULL the trigger. Dumb 101

Much better when it was "Son, just SQUEEEEZE that trigger like it was your girlfriend's ______" as said by SFC Joe B. Frick, Ft. Benning, GA, 1965.

[Snowyman]

THREE DAYS

I don't know the specifics of the story. I'd like to know how did Hathcock know where the General would be in 3 days time?

[dcwusmc]

It was made at the General's home and headquarters. CIA (the Christians In Action as we called them) apparently knew and it was their show.

[dcwusmc]

It was made at the General's home and headquarters. CIA (the Christians In Action as we called them) apparently knew and it was their show.

[US Does it the Best]

"Nope. Sandbagged M2 "Ma duece" .50 cal. machine gun with a 8X Unertl scope fired single shot. The first shot hit the kid's bicycle front wheel hub and the second hit him in the chest."

Hatcock shot the kids wheel hub to warn him off, but he got back up and picked up one of the AK-47's he was carrying. Then he shot him with the 1967 .50 cal., not the 50 cal. that the Canadian sniper used that was probably in better shape overall. The best sniper still stands as Carlos Hatcock. 93 confirmed kills Two seperate tours in Vietnam with 93 confirmed kills. " There have been many Marksmen. But there has been only one sniper. " USA all the way!