Sniper's skills keep buddies alive

USA TODAY ^ | 12/26/03 | Matthew Cox

[kattracks]

SAMARA, Iraq — The sun was sinking at the desert's edge when Sgt. Randall Davis, an Army sniper, spotted his target: an armed Iraqi on a rooftop about 300 yards away.

"It was just getting dark. I saw a guy step in front of the light," Davis, 25, recalls.

[Iris7]

I have sincere admiration for Sergent Davis. War is not a game, not even a tiny little bit. War is not even like a game, not even a tiny little bit.

I could say a lot more, but those that know, already know. Those that don't, won't understand me. No point in talking further.

[martin_fierro]

Davis fired one shot. "I hit him in the chest. He fell back. His rifle flew out of his hands."

Atta boy. One shot, one kill. That chump got own3d.

[agitator]

ping

[reloader]

It seems that every generation relearns the value of one well placed shot. Well done Sargent.

[harpu]

Hoorah! May your targets continue to be swift and clean kills.

[LouisianaLobster]

Davis says the toughest part of the deployment is that it means a year away from his wife and 6-year-old son. But serving in a war zone is the opportunity to fulfill a dream he's had since he was a kid. "It's one of those things I wanted to do since I was 12," he says. Reading about famous snipers was a favorite pastime. Among his role models: Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock, a Marine sniper in Vietnam with 98 confirmed kills; and Sgt. 1st Class Randy Shugart and Master Sgt. Gary Gordon, two Delta Force snipers who died in Somalia in 1993 trying to rescue the crew of a downed Black Hawk helicopter.

I honestly don't know what i would think if my 12 year old kid would say 'when i grow up i want to shoot people through their heads'.

[tbpiper]

he killed one sniper with a single shot from a .50-caliber XM-107 rifle

Ouch! Bet that's gonna leave a mark.

[sd-joe]

>> "I honestly don't know what i would think if my 12 year old kid would say 'when i grow up i want to shoot people through their heads'." <<

I would think that if you were involved with your kid and raised him/her right, you would understand exactly where the kid was coming from.

It depends on the intentions, doesn't it. There is a world of difference between a criminal serial killer and a professional military person doing his job to protect his country and his civilization.

[Imal]

I honestly don't know what i would think if my 12 year old kid would say 'when i grow up i want to shoot people through their heads'.

Hey, at least he was willing to wait until he grew up.

[Pharmboy]

Say hello to my leetle fren'.

Even I could hit something with this baby...

[Maigrey]

I'm glad to see this article picked up by USA Today.

[Pharmboy]

ping to the picture...

[Maigrey]

But it sounds like this "kid" as you call it understands that he is good at something, and wants to do his part protecting his country.

If taking out the enemy in secret saves 10 lives, so be it.

[Buffalo Head]

Good post. Thank you.

7.62x51mm vs. 7.62x39mm. Skill and finesse vs. hate and bumbling. Soldier vs. murderer. American vs. scumbag.

[Leisler]

Well, you can always hope he'll tell you he wants to wear designer pumps and go to hairdressing school.

[TalBlack]

I honestly don't know what i would think if my 12 year old kid would say 'when i grow up i want to shoot people through their heads'.

7 posted on 12/26/2003 5:20:20 AM PST by LouisianaLobster


The likes of George S. Patton spent their entire working lives in service to their country and preached effectivness in battle to the nth degree with out ever saying anything sick or pathological as you ascribe to those who were and are Men and who have secured for you your freedom.

You, being on such a high moral plane may have missed this. No, no...no need to thank me.

[11th Earl of Mar]

One shot, one kill.

"Aim small, miss small."

[LouisianaLobster]

Well, you can always hope he'll tell you he wants to wear designer pumps and go to hairdressing school.

Hehe, point taken. Anyway, i'm proud of this man and of all our soldiers serving in Iraq and anywhere in the world.

[rageaholic]

I honestly don't know what i would think if my 12 year old kid would say 'when i grow up i want to shoot people through their heads'.

Ask him to define "people." If he mentions the Home Depot parking lot or anything like that, you'll know you raised a bad kid.

[11th Earl of Mar]

From his own rooftop position, Davis tracked the man through the sight of his M-14 rifle.

OK, I am confused.

Who had the M-14 rifle, our guy or the Iraqi?

This sentence is so poorly written, I spent the rest of the article wondering why our snipers would be using a 40 year old weapon.

[LouisianaLobster]

The likes of George S. Patton spent their entire working lives in service to their country and preached effectivness in battle to the nth degree with out ever saying anything sick or pathological as you ascribe to those who were and are Men and who have secured for you your freedom.

I was not saying that sniping is not a valid tactic in warfare. Our troops must do whatever it takes.

[happydogx2]

They aren't using 40 year old weapons...they are using new weapons with superior accuracy with a caliber and name that have been around for 40 years.

happydogx2

[Imal]

"Who had the M-14 rifle, our guy or the Iraqi?"

It may very well have been an M-14 rifle that Sgt Davis was using, but if so, it was most likely the match-grade sharpshooter version designated M-21.

[tillacum]

Civilians just don't understand.

[budwiesest]

spotted his target: an armed Iraqi on a rooftop about 300 yards away.

Now that's gettng down-range!

.50-caliber XM-107 rifle

Cool, a .50 cal. radio-rifle!

[neverdem]

BANG TO THE TOP

GOOD HUNTING, MUST BE COOL HUNTING BEFORE SUNRISE AND AFTER SUNSET

HAPPY NEW YEAR

[mrs tiggywinkle]

Excellent response.

For Christmas I bought my husband the book *Marine Sniper-93 confirmed kills* by Charles Henderson. It's the story of Sgt Carlos Hathcock. He's on vacation for a week and looking forward to delving into it.

[Cogadh na Sith]

pwn3d!

[ballplayer]

Try Thinking he is not a wuss like you

[LouisianaLobster]

Nah i'll just think "oh well, there are enough asswipes that the world needs to get rid of"

[Keith]

...you sound like a fellow Counter-Strike player...

Storm the Front!

[jerri]

"It's kind of a professional insult to get shot at by another sniper."

I guess it is!

[Publius6961]

I honestly don't know what i would think if my 12 year old kid would say 'when i grow up i want to shoot people through their heads'.

I do now what I think of a so-called adult who would invent those words and ascribe them to a 12-year-old.
Unless I missed it in the narrative? Help me out here.

[Texas2step]

Even I could hit something with this baby...

From the article, On Dec. 20, he killed one sniper with a single shot from a .50-caliber XM-107 rifle from 750 yards away.

Yeah, something. But at 750 yards?

[Criminal Number 18F]

It may very well have been an M-14 rifle that Sgt Davis was using, but if so, it was most likely the match-grade sharpshooter version designated M-21.

M21 is a Vietnam era sniper system. What Davis has is a regular grade M14. A quantity of them have been supplied to the Stryker units for designated marksmen. The only modification is a rails system for mounting optics and other ancillary devices.

They were also given special training using a contract instructor who is an expert combat shot (and retired officer). Sgt Davis attended this training last year.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Uncle Jaque]

RE:

" 7.62x51mm vs. 7.62x39mm. Skill and finesse vs. hate and bumbling..."

Bear in mind, some of these jihhadists are known to carry 7.62 X 54R in various configurations, including the "Druganov" sniper rifle, which seems to have earned a modicum of respect in Afghanistan.

Although an antique by today's standards, there are still a few of the old Russian Moisin-Nagant M-91/30s floating around, and they have been picking people off from Stalingrad to Vietnam quite effectively for over a Century now.

Our Troops in VN quickly developed a healthy respect for the old M/N in the hands of a competent enemy Rifleman.
Given the abundance of all sorts of odd old weaponry in the Middle-East, I would be surprised if some of the Islammonazis are not toting a few of them around yet.

Anyone attempting to "snipe" at anything beyond about 100 meters with an AK would be, IMHO, quite the optomist - and probably a rather stupid one at that!

[xm177e2]

I honestly don't know what i would think if my 12 year old kid would say 'when i grow up i want to shoot people through their heads'.

Military snipers generally go for shots to the center of the chest. Police snipers are the ones who try for headshots.

[sd-joe]

It's a great book. I am sure your husband will enjoy it.

[Criminal Number 18F]

Previous thread, army times version of same story, with photographs;

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1046129/posts

Note the .50 weapon someone posted here is not the XM-107; the military weapon is a new version of the Barret semi-auto, not too different from the weapons Barrret has made for 20 years. It does give you a feeling of power to take the prone behind that thing. I've only shot it on the range. It's not unusually accurate.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Uncle Jaque]

RE:

" I spent the rest of the article wondering why our snipers would be using a 40 year old weapon."

Because it WORKS.

A whole lot better than our aluminum beercan and plastic "Jammin' Jenny" the M-16 or any of it's buttugly, overpriced varients ever did in a real combat environment - that's why.

Word has it that Troops in Iraq are clamoring for re-issue of any of the mothballed/warehoused US M-14s that the Klinton Syndicate didn't have torched to pieces or sold to China.

Once again, the Jenny has proved itself a failure where the boots meet the elephant.
"Surprise".

They are going to need some REAL RIFLES over there - and Real Riflemen like this Sgt. who know how to use them - and the sooner the better! I'd feel a lot better armed with a good old shoulder-whallopin' .30 cal. '03 Springfield over there than with a "Jenny" any day.

[7MMmag]

dear mr. lobster,

i reckon you may get a few more replys for;
"I honestly don't know what i would think if my 12 year old kid would say 'when i grow up i want to shoot people through their heads."

yes, a statement like that would cause me some worry, too, from a twelve year-old.
now if it were a more mature fellow, whom understood more fully what potentially may be at stake, one might tell them, "no, not for the head (unless that's all that is or will become visible), shoot for center of body mass, instead.---See rule .308---

[Uncle Jaque]

" But at 750 yards?"

Shucks; I'd be doing well to hit a boxcar at that range, if it was standing still on a siding!

But I shooore would like to TRY!

We have been told that the old "Ma-Deuce" can be set up with a scope and from it's tripod mount, is quite capable of picking off individual enemies at a thousand yards or better.

Apparently they are good for a lot more than just chewing stuff up on full-auto mode!

[Buffalo Head]

"....competent enemy Rifleman."

That is an oxymoron since WWII, particularly in the Mid-East, after the introduction of the AK-47 and it's variants. The Arabs find them particularly useful for saluting and attaching surrender flags. The target on the rooftop was probably a mercenary from somewhere.

[Criminal Number 18F]

Bear in mind, some of these jihhadists are known to carry 7.62 X 54R in various configurations, including the "Druganov" sniper rifle, which seems to have earned a modicum of respect in Afghanistan.

It's "Dragunov." I never saw one there, although there were some ROmanian FPKs (an AK-47 type weapon for the 54 rimmed, styled to look like a Dragunov -- a piece of junk).

The only thing people were using in 7.62 x 54R was the PKM general purpose machine gun.

A few rusty, shot out Mosin-Nagants were turned in by warlords looking to rotate stock in their arsenals, and a few Lee-Enfields, and some real oddities like a Canadian straight-pull Ross. Never saw a scoped rifle among the Hadjis, or any other optic (even their RPGs, they shot with iron sights). We did recover one mortar sight from the southwest of the country, the desert north of Kandahar.

The Afghan sniper is a mythical figure that was manufactured by the press and old Kipling stories. The fact of the matter is, they get no eye treatments, everyone over 35 has bad cataracts from UV exposure, they all fire AKs on "crowd control" and they hit their targets only by pure luck.

One reason that they got their clocks cleaned on Anaconda was that at the 400 and 500 yard engagement ranges they could only bring effective fire with crew served weapons where our infantry riflemen were able to plink them with M-4s and ACOG optical sights.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Lurker]

The design may be 40 years old, but the weapon I assure you is quite capable of lethal hits at ranges exceeding 600 meters with relative ease.

I know. I own one. Best damn rifle in my safe.

L

[Buffalo Head]

"Word has it that Troops in Iraq are clamoring for re-issue of any of the mothballed/warehoused US M-14s...."

That is a fact, but because of the ammunition, not the weapon. The performance of the VN era 5.56mm (with a barely stabilized Ball M193 round) was greatly diminished by the adoption of the Ball M855 round that launches an over-stabilized bullet. The M193 tumbled upon impact with the VC or NVA and caused much disruption of flesh and bones. The M855 simply bores a hole through the terrorists without inflicting an immediate incapacitation.

Both the 30 BALL M2 (.30-06) or 7.62x51mm (.308 Win) are much better combat rounds than current 5.56mm ammunition.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

It was Davis' eighth confirmed kill. Earlier, he had killed seven enemy fighters in a single day.

That must have been the day there was a $3/share jump in the stock of 72 Virgins Dating Service, Inc.

[Pharmboy]

At 750 yards, the side of a barn, mebbe?

[Uncle Jaque]

RE:

"It's 'Dragunov'."

Thanks for the correction there, Mate;

My English spelling is sufficiently atrocious; Russian is a complete non-starter! {8^{D~

Thanks also for your insight from "up front".

Saw an article in Shotgun News recently that was an interview with a Russian Veteran of the Afghani Wars - discussed weapons, tactics, terrain etc..; very interesting.

His team was issued a couple of Dragunovs and special "Match" ammo for them, which they apparently used to good effect.

I would think that at least some of these rifles would have fallen into Hadji hands somewhere along the way.

This chap mentioned how they dreaded the .303 british Enfields, as they could frequently hit a guy a couple of hundred yards off with one, and it would defeat any of their body armor that would usually stop a 7.62 X 39. He said that if their patrol found so much as a single .303 shell casing in a village, the whole village was "doomed".

Not long ago there was a report on TV about how a US convoy returned fire on a bunch of rags holed up in apartment buildings, and that the locals (as well as the TV reporter, it seems) were whining that they had fired "indiscriminately".

This charge was of course denied by the Commander involved, who retorted that the US fire was "carefully aimed".

All the while they're showing the sides of these white stucco apartments just spattered with impact pockmarks from baseboard to ridgepole and everything in between... the lawn was all dug up and half the roof was blown off.

And I'm thinking; "Helluvva GROUP there, guys! Suppose we can tighten it up a little next time?"

Not to be critical; I think they would have been well within their rights to MOAB the whole stinkin' rat-hole.
It just didn't look terribly "professional" from a marksmanship standpoint, y'see.