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