Fireman78
Expedition Leader
I was thinking it was more of a "News Item" then a gun carry topic. It only kinda morphed into a caliber discussion.
New Sniper Record
- Thread starter jeepmedic46
- Start date
I was thinking it was more of a "News Item" then a gun carry topic. It only kinda morphed into a caliber discussion.
kletzenklueffer
Adventurer
Just to put it in context, flight time of the bullet at that range was just under the 5.5 second mark. (I entered a 300gr Scenar with an BC of .795 at 2,750fps- certainly altitude plays an unknown role in ballistic calculation in this case, let's say 5,000'ASL. If the shots were fired over the 15,000ASL, they may have remained supersonic to target, which could certainly be possible in Afghanland)
Some figures:
a man typically walks around 3 mph, that calculates to 4.4fps, so in the flight time, the target could have been near 24.2 feet away if he'd starting walking as soon as the shot was fired (not that he had any idea- unlikely they ever heard the shot at 1.7 miles)
The earth had rotated near 8403 feet from the time the shot was fired until it hit the target (25K/24=1041.667mph=1527.778fps*5.5sec flight time). Depending on the direction of fire with regards to earths rotation, the Coriolis Effect comes into play and must be considered in the firing solution, so keep in mind, the shot was likely a two man deal with a spotter giving a firing solution. (I did know about Coriolis before seeing "Shooter" I've been shooting long range for about 12 years now)
So given these tidbits, the role of luck may have been less, since the shooter was doing far more than hitting the needle in a haystack. He put three bullets through the eye of the needle.
Some figures:
a man typically walks around 3 mph, that calculates to 4.4fps, so in the flight time, the target could have been near 24.2 feet away if he'd starting walking as soon as the shot was fired (not that he had any idea- unlikely they ever heard the shot at 1.7 miles)
The earth had rotated near 8403 feet from the time the shot was fired until it hit the target (25K/24=1041.667mph=1527.778fps*5.5sec flight time). Depending on the direction of fire with regards to earths rotation, the Coriolis Effect comes into play and must be considered in the firing solution, so keep in mind, the shot was likely a two man deal with a spotter giving a firing solution. (I did know about Coriolis before seeing "Shooter" I've been shooting long range for about 12 years now)
So given these tidbits, the role of luck may have been less, since the shooter was doing far more than hitting the needle in a haystack. He put three bullets through the eye of the needle.
kletzenklueffer
Adventurer
The spotter is often the more experienced sniper and fills the role of spotting because the firing solution is such a critical calculation that an error in range estimation of even 20-50 yards (and much less error the further the target range) can result in a miss. In this case, the shooter was aiming somewhere around 10 feet over the targets, the scope was near it's maximum adjustment range (130.2 MOA) and the target would have appeared somehere under 1 inch.
This shooter may have done his own homework, and since the targets were manning a machine gun, and therefore a likely fixed position, he certainly may have had plenty of time to check and double check all his figures. It certainly doesn't mention whether he made prior shots, and the targets could have been under fire from him and not known that he was walking his rounds to them.
Something on Hathcocks shot- he was shooting a modified Bronwing M2, and was sighting the scope in when a VC walked to the river bank he was shooting at. So he was already dialed in for range.
If anyone interested has not read Marine Sniper: 93 comfirmed kills, get it. It's much more than just the hunts he went on, but an insight into a self proclaimed country boy's hunting of the most dangerous game. He was once put under arrest and confined to his tent with a case of beer and an MP at the door for having been stalking and sniping for three weeks alone, and having lost several pounds of bodyweight.
This shooter may have done his own homework, and since the targets were manning a machine gun, and therefore a likely fixed position, he certainly may have had plenty of time to check and double check all his figures. It certainly doesn't mention whether he made prior shots, and the targets could have been under fire from him and not known that he was walking his rounds to them.
Something on Hathcocks shot- he was shooting a modified Bronwing M2, and was sighting the scope in when a VC walked to the river bank he was shooting at. So he was already dialed in for range.
If anyone interested has not read Marine Sniper: 93 comfirmed kills, get it. It's much more than just the hunts he went on, but an insight into a self proclaimed country boy's hunting of the most dangerous game. He was once put under arrest and confined to his tent with a case of beer and an MP at the door for having been stalking and sniping for three weeks alone, and having lost several pounds of bodyweight.
J*C*M
Traveller
I work with them all indiscriminately, in fact the first time i was embedded with a Canadian unit, about a month ago, we had a F-ing blast... Right up till one of our ANP units flipped their Ranger and for some reason this caused them to open fire as they started to roll over?!?!?! Actually come to think of it, that was just funny it didn't damper my mood at all.
Anyway, we're going to catch some **** for letting a brit take the record...
Wander
Expedition Leader
I used to work with a guy that was also a sniper in the same company as Hathcock. When we could get him to talk (very rarely) it was very impressive. After his 4th tour he didn't touch a weapon again until a coyote got one of his horses (20 years later) so he bought a .270 and dropped the coyote as he was stalking another colt, about 1,200 yrds out-the next morning.
I guess you don't loose your touch when you've been trained that well.
I guess you don't loose your touch when you've been trained that well.
Hazzard
Observer
http://www.impactguns.com/store/accuracyinternational.html
Cool video about the gun manufacturer.
http://www.impactguns.com/store/AI-AWSM338.html
This is on my list of guns to have shot (if not owned) at some point. Does everyone want to chip in to get me one?
Cool video about the gun manufacturer.
http://www.impactguns.com/store/AI-AWSM338.html
This is on my list of guns to have shot (if not owned) at some point. Does everyone want to chip in to get me one?
SunTzuNephew
Explorer
Some more fancy shooting:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...soldiers-protect-British-patrol.html?ITO=1708
I think I understand why the Brits refer to this as an 8.59mm weapon. The magazine in the AI rifle is too short to accept standard sized 300gr .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges. The barrel twist in the Brit version also is a bit too slow (1:11) to stabilize the 300gr bullets, at least at sea level (1:10 is more acceptable)...
At any rate, good for the Brits...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...soldiers-protect-British-patrol.html?ITO=1708
I think I understand why the Brits refer to this as an 8.59mm weapon. The magazine in the AI rifle is too short to accept standard sized 300gr .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges. The barrel twist in the Brit version also is a bit too slow (1:11) to stabilize the 300gr bullets, at least at sea level (1:10 is more acceptable)...
At any rate, good for the Brits...
SunTzuNephew
Explorer
Looks like they need to re-educate their rifles. Don't know their own capabilities.
Well, the Brits are using a somewhat hotter than standard load too....And the way the diameters/lengths of the bullets work out, the .338 is close to the perfect size and shape for long range and accuracy.
Fantastic book
http://www.amazon.com/Marine-Sniper...=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273516056&sr=8-3
as well as this one
http://www.amazon.com/Shooter-Autob...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273516271&sr=1-1
both are about 2 guys who are incredible at what they do, but the big part is the whole story. How difficult it is to do what they do and the mind games behind it.
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Black Dog
Makin' Beer.
Also they are at a pretty high elevation in the Afghanistan mountains, up high like that the air is thinner so your range is extended and your trajectory gets flatter. Less air density means less resistance on your bullet.