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I think I was watching the same show and they implied that extremely long range shots (1,000 yards plus) was common and guaranteed.
I felt they were exaggerating.
I read somewhere that in the Korean war that they used to jerry-rig scopes onto their .50 cal machine guns and use them to snipe at the Koreans on the mountains across from their position.
I think I was watching the same show and they implied that extremely long range shots (1,000 yards plus) was common and guaranteed.
I felt they were exaggerating.
The pessimist in me was thinking ... a couple of British PhD's who have probably never fired a center fire high powered rifle.
Bill
When I was in basic training back in early 67, we had to shoot the M14 at silhouette targets out to 1,000 yds and if you wanted to qualify as Expert, you had to hit them. If you were good enough, the gun would do the job for you, so you could say, they were guaranteed, if you did your part. If the M14 could do it, the '03 sure could.
So yes, 1,000 yd shots are (were) common with a .30 cal. (in this case a .308)
I've never heard of a regular qualification course in the USMC that required shooting at 1000 yards. Are you sure that is wasn't 500M?
B
I was in the Army, man, not the frickin Marines !
And you were shooting qualifications at 1000 yards?
B
********I had the record for break down and set up of the M2 in my infranty school
You would be right.
The number of military and civilian riflemen in the US who can reliably deliver accurate fire from field positions at 1000 yards or slightly beyond is only in the low thousands by my guesstimate.
That number drops off exponentially at 1500 yards and beyond.
I think you are being generous. I would put that number in the high hundreds.
With a couple of days training, I think a much larger number would be capable.
The Stryker Brigades - the new look Army TO&E - have sniper teams assigned down to the company level and equipped with a .50 Cal (as well as 7.62). In addition, there is a Squad Designated Marksman in each squad of a platoon that is equipped with the M24 (7.62) rifle. Finally, the RSTA AKA Cavalry Squadron (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, & Target Acquisition) has snipers as well, although I couldn't find the exact number. 19D's - Cavalry Scouts - can now to attend the Army's Sniper School. It historically was a position restricted to an 11 (Infantry) or 18 (Special Forces) MOS.I guess I didn't reallise there were that many currently in the service that are long-range capable. I had mentally put that number at 3-400.
I was thinking of the LR Championship at Camp Perry with just over 300 shooters. I figured probably 50 of those really were just there to shoot it and don't really fall into the category of "reliable, accurate fire" and maybe a couple hundred more who are capable, who didn't show up.///
When I was in basic training back in early 67, we had to shoot the M14 at silhouette targets out to 1,000 yds and if you wanted to qualify as Expert, you had to hit them. If you were good enough, the gun would do the job for you, so you could say, they were guaranteed, if you did your part. If the M14 could do it, the '03 sure could.
So yes, 1,000 yd shots are (were) common with a .30 cal. (in this case a .308)
Yes, I qualified as Expert. Today I wouldn't be able to see the targets.
When I was in basic training back in early 67, we had to shoot the M14 at silhouette targets out to 1,000 yds and if you wanted to qualify as Expert, you had to hit them. If you were good enough, the gun would do the job for you, so you could say, they were guaranteed, if you did your part. If the M14 could do it, the '03 sure could.
So yes, 1,000 yd shots are (were) common with a .30 cal. (in this case a .308)
Yes, I qualified as Expert. Today I wouldn't be able to see the targets.
I can't remember the name of that expert on Weaponology, but he's the short stalky guy with the extremely bulbous head - I believe he's an Army curator at West Point, but I could be wrong.
You are wrong, but close. His name is William Atwater and he's the director of the US Army Ordnance Museum.
Thanks Jim - that's him. He seems to know what he is talking about and glows about all service branches and their weapons. I was surprised to see him make the 2700-yard claim the other night.
I just saw this very show last night. He did indeed make that very claim, and he said it very slowly, clearly, and seriously.