Great shot

[Chaser617]

One thing I forgot to mention is that no two M24A1 or M40A3 is alike. They are both based of the Remington 700 hunting rifle, but many times these weapons are smithed buy their owners, and most snipers I know are also master gunsmiths, a relatively rare breed in these days of mass production, but I have actually held a M24 of Regan-era vintage and this has to be one of the most wonderfully balanced weapons I have ever put hands on. The person who I talked to, and shot with told me of some of the changes he had made to the rifle to suit his personal preferences, and I was awed at the sort of skill he, and most other snipers possessed.

*rummages* I know I had a book about snipers that mentioned what's supposed to be the longest (nonclassified, I'm assuming) sniper shot, titled "One Shot, One Kill". Unfortunately, I can't seem to find it, but hopefully the title should point anyone interested in the right direction.

Hallan

The longest ranged sniper-shot I'm aware of that is de-classified was taken during vietnam, by a USMC sniper, it was logged at about 1.2 miles (this is going off the top of my head, without my resources at hand). What was interesting about this shot was that it was not taken with the standard issue M40A1, but an actual M2 .50 caliber machingun that had been set up for a sniper shot. This is where people started getting ideas for .50 caliber sniper rifles, such as the Barret Arms M82 semi-auto used by the Marines and the McMillian Bolt-action that has found some favor with US Army snipers. Now, these weapons are technically violations of the Geneva Conventions on 'Humane anti-personel weapons.' (I didn't write the clause, I'm just citing it). However, since these weapons are classified as 'anti-material sniper weapons' you can get around that one.

Granted, if our rifleman had been firing a Barret Arms or a McMillian, he would have flown over about three rows of seats from the recoil, can't fire one of those in a sitting position.

And the terrorist thought: You know, nothing like that has ever entered my mind before...

Probably never felt a thing, as soon as the bullet struck him, he was probably standing infront of God wondering what the hell just happened.

[The JAM]

Dude, that's nearly TWO KILOMETERS. How on EARTH did the sniper even get the crosshairs on the target??

[Hallan]

The longest ranged sniper-shot I'm aware of that is de-classified was taken during vietnam, by a USMC sniper, it was logged at about 1.2 miles (this is going off the top of my head, without my resources at hand). What was interesting about this shot was that it was not taken with the standard issue M40A1, but an actual M2 .50 caliber machingun that had been set up for a sniper shot. This is where people started getting ideas for .50 caliber sniper rifles, such as the Barret Arms M82 semi-auto used by the Marines and the McMillian Bolt-action that has found some favor with US Army snipers. Now, these weapons are technically violations of the Geneva Conventions on 'Humane anti-personel weapons.' (I didn't write the clause, I'm just citing it). However, since these weapons are classified as 'anti-material sniper weapons' you can get around that one.

That's the one. Darn it, book, where'd you go!?

Hallan

[Chaser617]

Beleive it or not, from what I can determine, it was a 'lobbed' shot, IE, the aim point was much higher than the actual point of impact, I'm still trying to work out the siting mechanics for that sort of shot though, and how the heck he took the wind into his shot.

Again though, this is off the top of my head, so that number of 1.2 might be an exageration, but I am about 97% sure that someone during vietnam tooka mile-shot with an M2. I will research this more and post whatever findings I have when I get them.

Safe to say though, that the only round that could do a mile shot would be the big .50 caliber(12.7mm) round form the M2/M82/McMillian

[IronFox]

Technically, the Barret Light Fifty and the McMillan's are classified as anti-materiel rifles, typically used to disable vehicles, missiles, etc. But that's nothing. Steyr, an Austrian company, has a 6'6" anti-materiel rifle called the AMR that's chambered for a unique 15 mm round.

[Sharuuk]

I'm too branded with pun symbology to appreciate calling someone 'gun nutz,' bad enough I saw the dragonballz (s<--) connotations, so whats a afroconzo, or whatever?

Aficionado....."An enthusiastic admirer of".

And I am definetly an enthusiastic admirer of finely crafted firepower.

S'aaruuk

[Sharuuk]

Chaser....

The Marine sniper's name was Carlos Hathcock, also known as "The White feather" because of the small white feather he wore in his hat....and yes he made that shot with a .50BMG set up. He was so "in tune" with the weapon that he was able to fire single rounds for effect.

He was so effective and deadly that the V.C. put a $50,000 bounty out on him.....noone ever collected on it.

S'aaruuk

[Sharuuk]

Granted, if our rifleman had been firing a Barret Arms or a McMillian, he would have flown over about three rows of seats from the recoil, can't fire one of those in a sitting position.

A bolt action McMillan absolutely not....(sitting position)....a Barrett..yes, quite easily. I have a friend that has one, we shoot it on a fairly regular basis and it since it's semi-auto, and has a massive forward thrusting muzzle-brake, it has less felt recoil than my Remington 870 with 1 3/4oz magnum slugs. I can shoot it all afternoon and not get beaten as nearly hard as I would with the shotgun. HOWEVER, the sheer size of a Barrett, nearly 5' long and weight, 28Lbs, only Schwartznegger could hoist it up and shoot off-hand as our sniper in the panel. And the muzzle-blast alone would take out at least 6-7 protesters on either side....not that that's a bad thing IMHO.

S'aaruuk

[Alaskawolf]

do people still say yankee down there?

[Jaydub]

do people still say yankee down there?

sure and Dodges, Mets, Redsocks, Mariners, Giants and many other names for Pro Baseball Teams not to mention the Football and Basketball Pro Teams.

[Chaser617]

Granted, if our rifleman had been firing a Barret Arms or a McMillian, he would have flown over about three rows of seats from the recoil, can't fire one of those in a sitting position.

A bolt action McMillan absolutely not....(sitting position)....a Barrett..yes, quite easily. I have a friend that has one, we shoot it on a fairly regular basis and it since it's semi-auto, and has a massive forward thrusting muzzle-brake, it has less felt recoil than my Remington 870 with 1 3/4oz magnum slugs. I can shoot it all afternoon and not get beaten as nearly hard as I would with the shotgun. HOWEVER, the sheer size of a Barrett, nearly 5' long and weight, 28Lbs, only Schwartznegger could hoist it up and shoot off-hand as our sniper in the panel. And the muzzle-blast alone would take out at least 6-7 protesters on either side....not that that's a bad thing IMHO.

S'aaruuk

Gah, your right, I forgot about the Barret's recoil-suppression system(more than the muzzle-break goes into it). Granted this weapon is if I remember right designed to be employed by a three man team, each person handling a peice of the broken-down weapon and trading off shooting/spotting duties. The Berret is probably one of the few sniper rifles that isn't customized by their owners, because three people usually fire the thing, that I am aware of.

Gunny Hathcock, thanks for the mental jar. I would still love to know how he took the wind into account in that shot, though I'm betting there were a few classified shots that were just as long.

And good lord the Steyr AMR 15.2mm, I usually don't think there is such a thing as overkill but my lord.....

[Sharuuk]

Oh yeah, there's a lot more than just the muzzle brake that makes this beast such a sweetheart to shoot. On cartridge ignition, the barrel begins to telescope back into the receiver approximately 2 inches. This unlocks a massive triangle-faced 8Lb slug of steel that is the bolt and drives it rearward against 4 beefy recoil springs set at apexes of the hexagonal reciever. By now the bullet is already well on it's way downrange and the propellant gasses are blasting out and slightly rearward from he brake effectively trying to pull the barrel back forward into battery pretty much soaking up the remainder of the recoil. Marvelous piece of engineering. While I wouldn't want to stick the butt of this thing against my chin or in my crotch and punch off a round , but for what it fires, it's one soft shooting rifle. I think the H&K 91 (.308) may actually kick a bit harder....the 91 has a 'slap' to it while the Barrett is more of a determined push.

As to Gunny Hathcock....the M2 had a huge Unertl 10x scope mounted on it for him....now there's an interesting mental image for you...a scoped, tripod mounted .50 BMG....sniping "rifle". As to his "wind-doping", Hathcock was a county boy who hunted all the time as he grew up. His tracking/stalking skills let him actually become part of the environment thus rendering him essentially invisible. He simply watched the foliage for wind direction/speed all the way to his target and was so totally "linked" to both the weapon and the environment that his instincts told him the optimal time to press the trigger. Hathcock's skills bordered on devine gifts.

S'aaruuk

[Chaser617]

I've target shot since my father first taught me to fire a rifle, usually its bolt-action 30-06 but I have access to some 'stronger' stuff every once and a while, I still am amazed at his windage acount in that shot.

[Sharuuk]

Without trying to sound trite or cliche', that's what legends are made of. And this man was a true legend in the finest of the tradition.

S'aaruuk

[StrangeWulf13]

And good lord the Steyr AMR 15.2mm, I usually don't think there is such a thing as overkill but my lord.....

Oh please...

There is no such thing as "overkill". There is only "Open fire" and "Time to reload".

And another favorite of mine:

If you're leaving scorch marks, you need a bigger gun.

[IronFox]

And good lord the Steyr AMR 15.2mm, I usually don't think there is such a thing as overkill but my lord.....

Oh please...

If you're leaving scorch marks, you need a bigger gun.

a)I should also mention at this point that the 15mm round is a flechette. For those of you who don't know what that entails, (and correct me if I'm wrong, those of you who do) it means that the round breaks into lots and lots of smaller projectiles a short distance before hitting their intended target. Think of it like combining the best qualities of a rifle and a shotgun. And b) If you're not leaving craters, you need a larger gun.

On another note, am I the only one who would think it absolutely awesome if someone took the concept for the old LeMat Revolvers and re-worked them to be more ergonomic for today's market?

[Alaskawolf]

do people still say yankee down there?

sure and Dodges, Mets, Redsocks, Mariners, Giants and many other names for Pro Baseball Teams not to mention the Football and Basketball Pro Teams.

sure for sport teams but for people in general its kinda odd for me. damn you southerners well your all southerners to me

[Sharuuk]

On another note, am I the only one who would think it absolutely awesome if someone took the concept for the old LeMat Revolvers and re-worked them to be more ergonomic for today's market?

COOOOL!!! Somebody else who knows what a LeMat is!!! Actually, my version would be based on the Century Arms revolvers that were actual SSA's on steroids since they came factory chambered for 45-70! You should have seen the cylinder for this thing. I'd have a hip howitzer with a 12Ga center surrounded by six 45-70's just to make things interesting. It'd be completely impractical and heavier than an anvil to carry all day.....but what a handful of firepower!!!

S'aaruuk

[IronFox]

On another note, am I the only one who would think it absolutely awesome if someone took the concept for the old LeMat Revolvers and re-worked them to be more ergonomic for today's market?

COOOOL!!! Somebody else who knows what a LeMat is!!! Actually, my version would be based on the Century Arms revolvers that were actual SSA's on steroids since they came factory chambered for 45-70! You should have seen the cylinder for this thing. I'd have a hip howitzer with a 12Ga center surrounded by six 45-70's just to make things interesting. It'd be completely impractical and heavier than an anvil to carry all day.....but what a handful of firepower!!!

S'aaruuk

I dunno, I think LeMat had the right idea, they just needed to make things easier. Although, I think the most awesome thing to do would be to chamber the cylinder for .44-40 and set it for around 7 rounds, the shotgun barrel for 14Ga and load it with slugs. But if you really wanted some serious firepower, consider the following elements fused in a personal firearm: Revolver, Double Action, Belt Fed, .50 Browning.

Post Script: I would love to see the new FN SCAR chambered for .50 Browning or Beowulf