Free Republic

Earlier this year, as part of the tools of war series, At War published photographs of Taliban small arms from Helmand province, along with data on the types of firearms in insurgent use. The photographs included images of bolt-action rifles, including one, a Lee-Enfield rifle, that dated to 1915. In spite of their advanced age, Lee-Enfield rifles, along with Soviet Mosin-Nagant bolt-action arms, have seen continued service in Afghanistan for two reasons: they offer greater range and accuracy than the assault rifles in more common circulation, and their ammunition remains available on Afghan black markets. Many readers wrote with questions...

Draper » Ronnie Lee Gardner's head, covered by a black hood, remained upright. His body sat straight in the chair to which it was strapped. As my eyes traveled down Gardner's left arm, past his dark blue jumpsuit, I saw his pale white skin appear below his elbow. Half a faded blue tattoo, some kind of diamond shape, stuck out from the restraint around his wrist. At the bottom of his restraint, I focused on his fist. Gardner died much the way he lived -- with a clenched fist. Yes, this was my first time witnessing an execution. I...

Here's a great 30 second video of an Oregon sharpshooter hitting the target at 327 yards. They shot the video 4 times, and he hit it every time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc99SiKqoJo