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