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