Sniper shot that took out an insurgent killer from three quarters of a mile

telegraph ^ | 01/01/2006 | Toby Harnden in Ramadi

[Fido969]

A twelve foot offset is still a HELL of a shot. After a certain distance and as more factors start to figure in then a random element will start to take over.

Secondly, there is an intrinsic problem with shots that far - the bullet travel time (that's 3600 feet). A bullet traveling 2900ft/sec will take more than a second to get there, and it is a guess whether the target will be where you aimed at that time. That's why long range hostage shots are a bad idea, the target moves a half step during the half-second a bullet will travel a relatively manageable 500 yard shot, and you've missed and now have a pissed-off target.

This looks to be a no-lose shot, though. And this guy had to be incredible just to identify the target and get a bullet that close.

[USNBandit]

However, I do not think it is in the best interest of the mission or of the individual snipers to disclose their names.

Disclose there names...Heck, this article diclosed their name, where they were shooting from, everything. Whoever cleared this story needs to do some time on the point.

[JoeBob]

Staff Sgt Gilliland, 28, who hunted squirrels in Double Springs, Alabama from the age of five before progressing to deer - and then people.,

The ultimate prey!!

[Maigrey]

I agree completely, but I don't think they would have allowed him to give the interview if someone else didn't approve it.

Besides, if they bad guys know that you can reach out and touch them at 3000m and kill with a single shot, it makes the good guys into preternaturally good - enough to scare the baddies. (i.e psychological warfare)

[ghitma]

I wish that the reports would not post the names of the snipers.

[Chickensoup]

I agree. What is wrong with the press.

[M203M4]

Here's hoping for another 50.

[Domestic Church]

Eagle eye!!!

[Southack]

I say hey man "Nice Shot!"

[Fido969]

[yarddog]

Well he is doing a lot of good.

[MediaAnalyst]

"This is the kind of s**t that has been going on for 3 years now,"

Please watch what you say on this site, we are not the DU.

Regardless of the way the MSM ignores this subject, This is the kind of s**t that has been going on for 30 years now, with the Palestinians and other Arabs - just ask Israel. They (the bad guys) consider it a legitimate form of warfare.

[USNBandit]

I shot the 1000yd match at the inter-service championships one year and some of the guys were shooting M-14s in the service rifle category. At that range some of the bullets were leaving oblong holes.

I was shooting the standard bolt action caliber for 1000yd, 300 Winchester Magnum. 20 shots prone with that caliber starts to hurt.

I'm sure these guys could be wrecking machines with a magnum, witout having to lug around the added weight of the Barret.

[databoss]

Actually the fifty is too noisy and leaves a directional echo back to the shooting team... the M24 is harder to back track on the signature...

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Col John Gronski, the overall United States commander in Ramadi, said there could not be a military solution. "You could spend years putting snipers out and killing IED emplacers and at the political level it would make no difference."

Sorta reminds me of the battle with the squirrels in my bird feeders. On a different level, of course.

[ThreePuttinDude]

Does this guy resemble Supreme Court Justice John Roberts to anyone else?

[Marine_Uncle]

"I say hey man "Nice Shot!"
He probably was a bit surprised when he saw the guy slump over. Holding high at 12' is whoooh. Sure says something for the rifle barrel and matched ammo, as well as the soldier.
But lets face it. It was a luck shot.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

"He was visible only from the waist up. It was a one in a million shot. I could probably shoot a whole box of ammunition and never hit him again."

Don't let that fool ya i'll bet in a pinch he could do it every time !

God Bless him.

[nicko]

second that...go Redleg- incidently, did you finish your studies? Additionally, thanks for your service, military and non-secular; here's to a great New Year for you and yours- I'm holding one up for you right now...