U.S. Army and Pellet Rifles

[swt5]

I read a posting (on another forum that I can't find anymore ) from someone that claimed a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army Sniper program maybe?) used .177 cal 14ft/lb air rifles at some point in their training program. The claim was that wind drift and trajectory were an approximate scale representation of the .308 and allowed classroom type training to take place due to lesser requirements for backstop, fallout area, hearing protection etc.
Can anyone confirm this?

 

[Minesweeper3433]

I can confirm that motivated soldiers get together when things are slow at work and shoot pellet rifles in the motor pool with their own supplies and rifles. As far as snipers training with pellets they always had a shit load of funding and at least 2 rifles getting barrels replaced because of all there practice. this is what I have seen and I was limited to one view of my squadron so doesn't mean they dont use it.

 

[wapiti25]

22LR at 200yds will give you some of the wind reading practice. You need a good 22 not the out of the box wal-mart stuff. The match ammo is also required. I found that a wolf match ammo will shoot 5/8" 5shot groups in my Anchutz at 100yds.

 

[Travelor]

The Army National Guard Sniper Training facility is locate at Camp Robinson, North Little Rock, AR, just 15 minutes from my house. I have never heard of them using pellet guns in their traing, but I have heard of them having their instructors being subjected to them in a humbling exercise in reinforcing the importance of follow through.

Although they are here, the instructors do not shoot at our Club's at 600 and 1000 yards. The instructors I have talked with say they are too busy training new snipers to shoot with us.

We have has some of the Marksmanship Training Unit (MTU) who are also members of the President's 100 shoot with us.

George

 

[artbosco]

Years ago, many years ago, when I was supporting the Navy's Special Warfare Group 1 in San Diego, BB guns were used for point and shoot practice because you can actually follow the BB from the muzzle to the target with the naked eye. BB guns really aided the technique of point and shoot, without the time required for aim and shoot, and the saving were huge.

 

[swt5]

Thanks for the replies. Although it seems not to be true, the concept as explained sounded viable to me. A 50 to 60 yard shot with an airgun is considered to be pretty long and come ups/correction for wind is essential to getting on target. All this without people working the butts, no noise, practise almost anywhere, increased trigger time, no cleaning up brass and almost no maintenance of the gun...etc. Just thought it might be so?

 

[Johnboy]

its tooo cheap for uncle Sam thats all.he loaves to spend out tax money on better higher praced stuff. :-[

 

[VYD]

I have read it too, but it wasn't the U.S. military. I believe it was UAE. They purchased several thousands of Weihrauch HW95 pellet guns (high quality German break-barrel spring-piston rifle) for training purposes. If I am not mistaken, it was 3 years ago or so. The airgunners in the U.S. were not too happy about it; there was a long wait before the Weihrauch could fulfill all the orders from U.S. dealers. I believe I've read it in one of the British airgun magazines...