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

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

[Uncle Jaque]

Re your #29 - "..., even when velcroed on the front of the vest as this one is."

This strikes me as being a bit odd; that flag patch makes a dandy aiming point for an enemy sniper - almost daring one to take a crack at it.

I don't think I'd do that - at least I'd use a subdued one.

Maybe he just sticks it on for dress up occasions or to get his picture took.

When he's at the office I assume they ditch all that stuff and put on the cammie war paint.
It's important that they see the bad guy before he sees them, obviously.

We've heard that Al Qida (or whoever) has hired a few crack Chechnian Snipers who are really quite proficient with their Dragunov 7.62 X 54Rmm rifles - and that old 1891 vintage round is quite as capable as our 7.62 X 51MM NATO when it comes to dealing death at a distance.

Although they bear a resemblance, the Dragunov (or one of its many derivatives) is NOT an AK-47, nor does it use the same round. The X54R is significantly more powerful than the 7.62 X 39mm used in the Kalisnakov.

If one of those Chechnian boys is tasked to take out some of our best snipers, as well they may be, then I hope our guys keep their heads down and watch their six.

And that we keep 'em in our prayers back here at home.

[papertyger]

The photo gives far too much info for my comfort zone. I can't imagine the U.S. military wanting that out but who knows.

Maybe they're trying to bait up this "Juba" character.

[Marine_Uncle]

" The man himself said as much. Still, luck favors the prepared, or in this case native talent and great training."
And how could I argue with your conclusion. This sargeant knew exactly how many click beyond the range of his scope's elevation to raise the barrel. He obviously is an expert marksmen and deserves full credit. I should have really said this to begin with, for I did not mean to diminish his accomplishment. Being an old vermint hunter and owner of a Remington 700 Custom .243 rifle with fixed 12X scope, I can to some degree appreciate just how good these guys are.
After phrasing things as I did I was sorry I did. Thanks for the required correction.

[TexasTransplant]

I say BZ and...
NEXT!

TT

[anonsquared]

I just had a thought...
You know how they now have game hunting via the Internet? Why doesn't the U.S. Army set up rifles in all the Iraq hot spots and let us taxpayers help them out by picking off insurgents over the Internet every time one of them is dumb enough to get in range? The Army could keep moving the rifles around to keep them guessing.

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

"Loose lips sink ships."

"ROFL .... I suspect if some rag head turns up in Double Springs, Alabama asking for the Sgt., said rag head is in a world of sh!!. I think the Sgt is safe."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Al Qaida is busy recruiting European Muslims from the Balkans, so the assassin who shows up to go after not only the Sgt, but perhaps members of his immediate family, need not be a "raghead", and could well speak excellent English as well as visually blending in with the locals.

Of course, the careless disclosure of personal information will continue until something like this happens (or, more likely, several "somethings" almost simultaneously for maximum media impact). Maybe the border will get more attention after that, however, and the security on names and home towns of our troops will tighten up. Maybe.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Well if there is ever a case like that, ping me.

[HangThemHigh]

"And they raised the most selfish generation."

Not completely coincidental IMO. The great generation had hardships most of us can barely imagine much of their lives and wanted to make sure their kids had it easier. But the strategy backfired in many cases, you don't make good steel without a hot fire.

[MindBender26]

Vietnam sniper slogans

"7.62 - Reach out and touch someone."

".50 Cal. - When you care enough to send the very best."

"Dont try to run. You'll only die tired."

[Americanexpat]

Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier from WWII, suffered from PTSD when he came home and had a problem with drugs and alcohol. So did So did Charles (Machine gun) Kelley, a soldier that killed at least 100 Germans single handedly. And like Murphy won the Medal of Honor, in fact, a lot of Medal of Honor winners suffered from PTSD. Back in those days no one called it PTSD, they called it battle fatigue and the government didn't do anything for them because they didn't know it was a problem. A lot of them became drunks and drug abusers and had trouble with the law and holding a job and keeping a family together. A lot of combat veterans have a problem with PTSD in different degrees and they shouldn't be mocked for it.

[de Buillion]

I also would not volunteer to serve under Roggeman. He sounds like he does NOT back up his snipers. He sounds like a total AH. God bless Gilliland and Remington Arms, and Leupold.

[billhilly]

You saw a movie in 1937 (68 years ago), and you remembered it, as well as the stars? I was born in 1937 and I can't remember who starred in last nights TV movie. God bless you.

[de Buillion]

"I love my .308 but am happy with a saucer sized 20 round (peepsight) group at 100 yds. "

You hang in there, and keep up the practice, and just maybe you can get those patterns down to groups!

[Felis_irritable]

"Of course, the careless disclosure of personal information will continue until something like this happens..."

Bingo, and it's not just personal information. There are far too many blabbermouths these days allowing too much information out that people just don't need to know.

Yes I find all the disclosure interesting, but if people keeping their pie holes shut saves a few lives or prolongs the effective lifespan of a multi-gazillion dollar weapon system, I say stop wowing the unwashed and get back to work.

[de Buillion]

I do have similar perceoptions to you, this all sounds "unreal" or like "hype" , and I am not sure that I believe any of this BS.

[RouxStir]

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

Hmm,Alabama?.....first state I heard of that allowed hunting of people. Is that just for residents? Or do they sell out-of state licenses?

[indthkr]

"A single shot hit the Iraqi in the chest and killed him instantly."

Great Shot!

...but the "killed instantly" part seems a little hard to believe. The now-deceased Islamofacist could have been on the pavement, fully conscious, contemplating how he had been "paid back in full" for a minute or two before bleeding-out.

[de Buillion]

"The Remmington model 700 rifle is probablly the best all around rifle made. "

I agree absolutely, and apparently so do the US military. The 308 Win. round (7.62 mm Nato) is a very effective round out to posibly 1000 yards.

[de Buillion]

"Sometimes I can't tell if a poster is kidding or not. "

This absolutely does not pass the "smell test". A miss is a miss. "Inches" are not a problem.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Tree rats are tricky little varmints, but cook up good with biscuits and speckled gravy.