With this round? 300+ yards, maybe 200+ with open sights. I've taught people to shoot my .223 Daewoo and non shooters are commonly hitting milk jug sized targets with open sights at 100+ meters in less than 20 rounds. I'm certainly not impressed with less than 100 yard shots where a man sized target has been picked for ease of the shot. The TV station was making the point, with which I agree, that this was not an uncommon of feat of marksmanship and millions of americans easily have the skills to make these shots.
Did the reporter try shooting moving targets?
These targets ahven't been realy moving targets have they? I mean, filling a car at a gas station hardly qualifies as a moving target when compared to, say, a jogger. If he starts making Oswald style shots I will be extremely impressed.
The police snipers rarely sight in anything over 100 yards, and they regularly use 10x optics on a .308.
I've known a number of police snipers. Several police swat teams practice on the private range I regularly shoot at. They all use .223, not 308. The range they shoot at is generally less than 100 yards, usualy as close to the target as possible without detection. They are not concerned with avoiding detection after the shot. They are concerned with absolute success of a single shot. I don't know of any departments that would condone 100+ yards shots for police work. Think FBI if you think 308, not your local police. This guy seems to be using more of a police sniper tactic, if he is actually a trained sniper (which I am doubting).
My comments are only speculation, just like everyone elses. If the sniper is caught, it will be interesting to see who it actually is and what his training was, and where/how he was trained.