| A "sniper" is someone who strikes at a target | | | | with this rifle. The U.S.M.C. sniper school |
| from an undisclosed location. A sniper rifle, | | | | requires shots to 1000 meters. |
| therefore, would be any rifle a sniper uses. | | | | |
| But commonly, a "sniper rifle" is the name | | | | Those are extraordinarily long shots. If the |
| given to any rifle with inherent accuracy, | | | | average rifle can shoot into 1/2" MOA (= 1/2" |
| and modifications made to wring the most | | | | at 100 yards), that means that it can (all |
| accuracy out of it. Most common sniper rifles | | | | this is predicated on the operator doing his |
| are built from a Remington 700 bolt action | | | | part perfectly, and taking out variables such |
| rifle. That gun is readily available at most | | | | as wind, etc.) shoot into 100 at 200 yards, |
| gun shops as an well made and accurate | | | | 400 at 800 yards, 500 at 1000 yards. Beyond |
| hunting rifle. | | | | that distance, drop and velocity become such |
| | | | a factor as to make the round fairly |
| Modifications may include a cryo-stress | | | | ineffective. The "2 mile" shots are typically |
| relieved heavy barrel, a composite | | | | done with .50 BMG sniper rifles. These huge |
| dimensionally stable stock with aluminum | | | | cartridges and projectiles are not |
| bedding blocks to "free float" the barrel | | | | anti-personnel rounds they are used to take |
| (the barrel is not touched by the stock, so | | | | out equipment (communications, truck engines, |
| that there is no stress placed on it, and | | | | etc.) |
| each shot is allowed to harmonically resonate | | | | |
| without interference), and a good quality | | | | The mission of the military sniper is |
| scope. | | | | different from that of the police sniper. The |
| | | | military sniper often looks for targets of |
| Each rifle is an individual, but I have seen | | | | opportunity; the police sniper a specific |
| some capable of shooting into a 1/4" at 100 | | | | target. The military sniper tries to take his |
| yards if the operator can do his part. Last I | | | | shot from as far away as he can (once he |
| checked,our military generally does not use | | | | gives away his presence by the shot, the |
| night vision scopes. Rather, they use night | | | | enemy will be looking for him); the police |
| vision headgear through which they look when | | | | sniper tries to get as close as he can; the |
| operating at night. The only purpose for | | | | military sniper operates in less than ideal |
| which non-combatants or police would need | | | | conditions; the police sniper usually has a |
| such equipment would be if they had a serious | | | | matte to lay on, a flat surface to shoot |
| coyote or other nocturnal predator problem | | | | from, etc. The military sniper is at the |
| (the distances you cite will be discussed | | | | mercy of his environment; the police sniper |
| presently, but they are fairly unrealistic). | | | | is in control of his environment. A miss by a |
| | | | military sniper usually causes no immediate |
| Scopes don't make rifles accurate. They don't | | | | harm; a miss by a police sniper means likely |
| help you shoot better. They help you see | | | | that a hostage will die. |
| better and seeing can be an aid to shooting. | | | | |
| But people who don't know how to shoot won't | | | | Because of their different operational |
| be helped much by any scope, regardless of | | | | situations, the military sniper's equipment |
| the cost of it. Some years ago the military | | | | will trade some accuracy for ruggedness and |
| was experimenting with propriety technology | | | | dependability; because the police sniper |
| in regard to a sighting system, but to the | | | | shoots "on his terms" his equipment can be |
| best of my knowledge, the project has been | | | | the most accurate available, and ruggedness |
| abandoned. The cost was very prohibitive, and | | | | is not an issue (e.g. until very recently, |
| somewhere along the line someone figured out | | | | U.S.M.C. snipers had fixed power scopes, |
| that seeing better does not equal shooting | | | | because variable power was just too fragile |
| better. | | | | for the field). |
| | | | |
| Although the military has experimented with | | | | To get specifically, unless you are talking |
| other cartridges, you will still find the | | | | about 50 gallon "can," you're not going to |
| .308 (7.62mm), in use since Korea, to be the | | | | hit them from 2 miles away. If that's what |
| most common "sniper" cartridge. It is a good | | | | you want to do, you'll need a rifle chambered |
| cartridge, but it has more to do with the | | | | in .50 BMG. If you want to do it in the dark, |
| fact that we have guns chambered in it, and | | | | you'll have to get night vision equipment. |
| has more data on the effects of wind and | | | | Obsolete Soviet stuff is readily available, |
| drops that for any other cartridge. The army | | | | but modern manufacture is also, if you're |
| sniper school requires shots to 800 meters | | | | willing to pay for it. |