'Deadly' Canadian snipers cut down enemy fighters

The Globe and Mail ^ | March 14, 2002 | DANIEL LEBLANC

[Cap'n Crunch]

Murder Incorporated

I must admit to being a bit jealous, and,

I wonder how our snipers did.

[Snowyman]

land military doesn't add up to what you'd find in the 82nd Airborne down here at Ft. Bragg alone.

Right , that's why the 82nd is in Ft. Bragg and the Canadians are killing in Afghanistan. They also might be dying for you. And for guys like you who have your attitude, that would be a shame.

[Cap'n Crunch]

When I went through 2nd Mar Div sniper school we used 173 grain Lake City Match ammo. When I was lucky enough to go back to Lejeune in 1995 for a law enforcement sniper school, the Marines said they were still using it. One of the Marine instructors said he really liked the Federal 168 grain ammo so before I left I made sure I gave him 'several' boxes. Don't know if they've switched since 95.

When I went through we used Redfield 3x9 scopes, so you know how long ago that was. I'm getting old.

[NMC EXP]

I dug thru my stash and came up with 3 types of Lake City match ammo:

Caliber .30 Match, M72, bullet 173 grain (FMJ), velocity 2640 FPS.

7.62MM NATO Special Ball, M118, bullet 173 grain (FMJ), velocity not shown.

7.62MM Match, M852, bullet 168 grain (BTHP), velocity 2550 FPS.

I believe US snipers used the M118 special ball with the FMJ bullet until the DoD decided that the 168 grain BTHP did not meet the Hague definition of a hollow point so they switched to M852. I heard Lake City no longer makes match ammo so they have switched to Federal commercial (good stuff -- wish I could afford it).

Hold em' and squeeze em' and may all your nines be tens.

J.R.

[Cap'n Crunch]

One of the benefits I enjoy at the police station is being able to go out and shoot as often as I like. At the station right now there are 15 cases of Federal 168 grain ammo, just waiting for me. The dept. also got me qualified to carry my M1A on duty so I can load that up and shoot whenever I want.

Ah, rapture...

Too bad we only have a 200 yard range.

[LonePalm]

Way to go guys! Long Trang (aka White Feather) would be proud.

In Memory of Gunnery Sargeant Carlos N. Hathcock II, USMC. Semper Fi for one of the finest ever.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LoanPalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[NMC EXP]

The thought of free ammo is almost enough to get me to apply for a job at the local cop shop. I hate reloading. The wife and I both compete in NRA highpower rifle. We shoot M1A match guns. Starting to feel like a dinosaur - everybody else went to mouse guns after they got a bullet that would handle the wind at 600 yards. I have an AR15 H-Bar, but just don't like it near as much as the M1A. Given the choice between the AR15 and her M1903 Springfield, my wife will shoot the '03.

Don't know where you are located, but here in the peoples republic of Illinois, there is one 600 yard range, and one 1000 yard range. If there are any military installations near you check out their range policy re police and civilians. I used to go to Camp Atterbury in Indiana for matches. It has four 50 firing point ranges out to 500 yards, and one that goes to 600 and 1000 yards.

Regards

J.R.

[NC_Libertarian]

Cool!

[Cap'n Crunch]

I'm about a 45 minute drive from Camp Perry. Some of our guys went there about 2 years ago and because of an 'oversight' they forgot about me. I was not happy. I've been trying to get out there for quite awhile.

I've always wanted an '03, I hear they shoot nice.

You interested in once fired Federal brass?

[NMC EXP]

I shot in the Nationals at Perry a few times. That is quite a range. They conduct a lot of matches other than the Natl. Championships there. You might check with the Ohio State Rifle Association re: match schedules.

We enjoy shooting the 03's. If they have a good bore, they shoot well. I prefer the 03-A3 WW2 version because the rear sight is closer to the eye.

Yes, I am interested in once fired brass. Send me a private e-mail if you want.

Regards

J.R.

[FreePaul]

maximum velocity to be 3480 feet/sec.

Actually calculates out to slightly over 3800 fps. Pretty high.

[Shooter 2.5]

I've been shooting High Power for about ten years now. I started with the Garand and tried to get this one particular Garand to shoot. No luck. I must have a sign over my head that says, "cheat me and wreck my rifle" to these so called accurizing shops.

I started to shoot the M1A and it wasn't bad but I found out that it takes a lot of maintenance, the mags are way too expensive and would always get stuck in the well.

A friend wanted to get into high power with an AR and I was given a good price because he was a dealer. The first time out I shot a Master score but after, that the scores kept on getting lower and lower. I think my worst was a 455. I went to the Texas State Match and after losing a hundred points[really!] off my average, the range officer told me that the reason I couldn't adjust to the 300 and 600 stages was because the rear sight had 1/3 clicks on the early Eagles. I sent the rear sight back to Armalite and they sent me the correct National Match sight base. 1/2 elevation and 1/4 windage. The next thing that my son mentioned was whether the front sight was correct. I found out that the front sight was reversed. I had the taper facing the wrong way and it was creating a shadow. It was also loose. I locked the sight using a 8/36 set screw on the bottom and I'm knocking on the door of the Master scores again. I know I can shoot, I just didn't know enough to blame the rifle.

[ISonnet]

I'm sure he's a good shot, but doesn't the Canadian military require haircuts? : )

[Cap'n Crunch]

I'd love to get back out on a rifle range and spend the whole day there. I'd like to take that M1A out and shoot it for a few days. I haven't had any problems with mine so far.

[Koblenz]

and can pick off human prey with rifles from as far away as 900 metres, or the length of nine football fields.

Is that Canadian football fields or American football fields? Because an American football field is 100 yards, not 100 metres or meters. Well, 120 with the end zones.

[ArrogantBustard]

haircuts?

He's from their Swamp-Thing Brigade. It saves money, since they don't need to make ghillie suits.

[Shooter 2.5]

" 7.62MM NATO Special Ball, M118, bullet 173 grain (FMJ), velocity not shown."

For your records: 2550 FPS plus minus 30FPS at 78 feet.

[Shooter 2.5]

I've had problems with every gun I've ever shot in competition. The AR is fixed and I can't believe the accuracy. It's a dream to shoot it again. My last match score was a 468 and that was even with missing 90% in the standing. As soon as I get to Master, I'll start playing with the other toys like the Garand again. I might even pick up an "03A3.

I'm a die hard devotee of competition. If anyone wishes to get better at anything, I believe that competition is the only way. It pushes your limits, it provides the knowledge needed and teaches techniques a person wouldn't try on their own. I asked one time if there were any Masters on this site and so far, only one person has replied.