Five Things You Do Not Know About Sniper Rifles

[Medic505]

Huh?

 

[Uthink Uknow]

As a Vietnam sniper, I can tell you going into the Army was not my choice. The letter said my friends and neighbor had selected me. Yes, I was paid but the pay was far short of what it should be for a person who puts their life on the line. That theatre was very different from what I understand of the Gulf War. I was given general co-ordinates and sneaked off alone. The Vietnam sniper was a loner. He made no contact with another human being for the better part of a month. There were plenty of places to hide, both for me and for the other guys. You would pick and choose targets according to what you saw in getting there and to how you could escape the area after the shot or hide well for perhaps four days and nights. One big fear was that they would smell you. Thank God they ate their dogs. I never saw a dog. You line up for one 8X30 inch target and take one, just one, shot. It’s tough to figure out where ONE shot comes from in the spur of the moment. And if I encounter someone at the range today and they want to wear fancy pants and tell people that they did this or that in Pakkieland, Aphhieland, Iran, or Iraq so be it. Who am I to question their background or their choice of rifle on this day? Just let me compare my targets to theirs. And congratulations if they beat me.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Anyone have load data for the Raufoss...

 

[Nature Boy]

A two time zombie thread!

You gotta shoot 'em in the head

 

[Bamban]

Match shooters have the luxury of debating barrel brands, rifling designs, twist rates, BC, etc. Snipers have none of those. Yes, it's a precision rifle they use and the ammo is highly developed and precisely loaded. But it's entirely beyond the sniper's control.

Fairly good ammo for killing. 1.0 inch average of fourteen 5 shot groups at 200 yards.

I've watched some kids in competition shoot with their issued M2010s at unknown distances. Actually most of the credit goes to the spotters with their mildot spotters. Then the teams switch roles.

I would not want to be in their crosshairs.

 

[Ccrider]

As a Vietnam sniper, I can tell you going into the Army was not my choice. The letter said my friends and neighbor had selected me. Yes, I was paid but the pay was far short of what it should be for a person who puts their life on the line. That theatre was very different from what I understand of the Gulf War. I was given general co-ordinates and sneaked off alone. The Vietnam sniper was a loner. He made no contact with another human being for the better part of a month. There were plenty of places to hide, both for me and for the. You would pick and choose targets according to what you saw in getting there and to how you could escape the area after the shot or hide well for perhaps four days and nights. One big fear was that they would smell you. Thank God they ate their dogs. I never saw a dog. You line up for one 8X30 inch target and take one, just one, shot. It’s tough to figure out where ONE shot comes from in the spur of the moment. And if I encounter someone at the range today and they want to wear fancy pants and tell people that they did this or that in Pakkieland, Aphhieland, Iran, or Iraq so be it. Who am I to question their background or their choice of rifle on this day? Just let me compare my targets to theirs. And congratulations if they beat me.

Thank you for your service. Many could learn from the humility you show. Last, thanks of posting this. My family members that served in that war do not like to comment or think about it much.

 

[mousegunner]

I met a Border Patrol who said he was a BORTAC sniper when I noticed his Pellican rifle case. Didn't seem very talkative and never opened his case to look at his rifle. I asked him something about practicing cold bore shots at unknown distances after ranging the target. He said "No, I just fire a round, look at the trace and then make my adjustment."

Now I've heard of one shot one kill but never two shots, adjust then kill. I guess the bad guys will just stand around and wait for him to get dialed in.

 

[JSH]

You can tell winter is here with boredom, old threads get the cobwebs and dust off of them.

 

[D-4297]

Would like all you folks to consider something for a moment . The best bullet we had in the "Nam" was a 168gr SMK ; and most , if really lucky , had a 10 x 50 "Fixed" Leupold . Most Army shooters were using slightly modified M-14's , and a few really lucky ones got the XM-21 later on . Good accurate range was about 450 to pushin 650 / 700 yards , which means you had to be able to get inside the "circle" to take the shot . And the "shot" was a Center-mass , kill-shot . Then ; Dee-dee Mau .....Head shot , my ass .

 

[heydogman]

As a Vietnam sniper, I can tell you going into the Army was not my choice. The letter said my friends and neighbor had selected me. Yes, I was paid but the pay was far short of what it should be for a person who puts their life on the line. That theatre was very different from what I understand of the Gulf War. I was given general co-ordinates and sneaked off alone. The Vietnam sniper was a loner. He made no contact with another human being for the better part of a month. There were plenty of places to hide, both for me and for the other guys. You would pick and choose targets according to what you saw in getting there and to how you could escape the area after the shot or hide well for perhaps four days and nights. One big fear was that they would smell you. Thank God they ate their dogs. I never saw a dog. You line up for one 8X30 inch target and take one, just one, shot. It’s tough to figure out where ONE shot comes from in the spur of the moment. And if I encounter someone at the range today and they want to wear fancy pants and tell people that they did this or that in Pakkieland, Aphhieland, Iran, or Iraq so be it. Who am I to question their background or their choice of rifle on this day? Just let me compare my targets to theirs. And congratulations if they beat me.

You need to be born with the temperament to enjoy being alone, to face a challenge alone.
A friend and range member went and watched a PRS comp ,came back and said it was like being a sniper. I have nothing against PRS, at all but sir I can help you take a little camping trip to the middle of the Wateree swamp for a few days. You will have a grid map and a compass, no bug spray, fires, light, stove or shelter. You will lay on the wet ground and if it rains the complete time your bad luck. There's no cell service and it's you alone with the mosquitoes, hogs, snakes and gators. We can plan three days but I may not get around to getting you out for five.
This is the part that doesn't sell rifles, scopes etc.

 

[davidjoe]

The Army and Marines view it dryly as an infantry combat assignment. The armed services don’t gin up enthusiasm about sniping. I choose to view it the way the services do. It’s a legit, relatively modern battlefield function that’s saved American lives, not better not worse.

Edit: There are seven and even eight figure rewards offered by the U.S. for information on the arrest of some heinous individuals. My whole lifetime. Lots of kowtows on this thread to a certain tough, patient, get-your-man skill set. This or that costs too much, didn’t get paid enough, guys all you have to do is find them.