Thread: A shot for the record books

Originally Posted by Cincinnatus

Absolute incredible shot - one less bad guy in the world. It seems funny that the Brits and the Canadians keep trading places for the longest shot. All of these shots have been made with the 50 BMG which makes you wonder why our soldiers are not using the 50 cal instead of the smaller rifle calibers? Either we are getting the shots at shorter ranges that are not making the news or we are just using our snipers as forward observers.

Not all the record shots in the top 5 were made with the 50 BMG round. The former top record holder, British, used the 338 Lapua round. I would not underestimate the 338 Lapua round as it was developed in the early 1980s specifically as a sniping round. The US is employing the 50 BMG round too.

Keep in mind that these record shots are only the officially recognized/admitted to ones.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longes...d_sniper_kills

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Not all the record shots in the top 5 were made with the 50 BMG round. The former top record holder, British, used the 338 Lapua round. I would not underestimate the 338 Lapua round as it was developed in the early 1980s specifically as a sniping round. The US is employing the 50 BMG round too.

Keep in mind that these record shots are only the officially recognized/admitted to ones.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longes...d_sniper_kills

Bob

I just saw that in another article. It would seem like there is a little international competition going on and each country would want bragging rights.

Either way this was a great shot and glad they are taking these guys out!

Originally Posted by Cincinnatus

I just saw that in another article. It would seem like there is a little international competition going on and each country would want bragging rights.

Either way this was a great shot and glad they are taking these guys out!

Naw, no competition. I think 3 out of 5 proves who produce the best shooters. Yea, I know that was very un Kanuckistani of me.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Naw, no competition. I think 3 out of 5 proves who produce the best shooters. Yea, I know that was very un Kanuckistani of me.

Bob

With an American made 50 cal....

Props to all these guys. At this point I don't care who is taking the bad guys out. As a former Marine my hat is off to anyone that helps keep the world safe.

Just visited the Citadel in Quebec City two weeks ago - home of the 22nd Regiment - and then saw them at the Formula 1 race in Montreal with one of the armored personnel carriers. They were doing a little recruiting and thanked each one for their service.

Originally Posted by Cincinnatus

With an American made 50 cal....

Props to all these guys. At this point I don't care who is taking the bad guys out. As a former Marine my hat is off to anyone that helps keep the world safe.

Just visited the Citadel in Quebec City two weeks ago - home of the 22nd Regiment - and then saw them at the Formula 1 race in Montreal with one of the armored personnel carriers. They were doing a little recruiting and thanked each one for their service.

Well, someone has to show the way to use the 50 BMG.

Yea, the Van Doos are a good bunch of guys to have in your corner.

Hope you enjoyed Quebec City as well as the Formula 1 race.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Well, someone has to show the way to use the 50 BMG.

Yea, the Van Doos are a good bunch of guys to have in your corner.

Hope you enjoyed Quebec City as well as the Formula 1 race.

Bob

Old School 50 cal. Sniper - Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Norman Hathcock, United States Marines



Hathcock once rigged an optic to an M2 machine gun and used it to record a confirmed kill at 2,500 yd, which is still the 5th longest confirmed sniper kill in history. Hathcock amassed 93 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War.

All in the days before windage computers and lasers.

Originally Posted by Cincinnatus

Old School 50 cal. Sniper - Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Norman Hathcock, United States Marines


Hathcock once rigged an optic to an M2 machine gun and used it to record a confirmed kill at 2,500 yd, which is still the 5th longest confirmed sniper kill in history. Hathcock amassed 93 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War.

All in the days before windage computers and lasers.

Yes, his record stood for a very long time relative to today's time frames for records being set and broken. He did point the way to the future of sniping using the 50 BMG round.

Thanks to American manufacturers like Barrett and McMillan who have made far more refined weapons for 50 BMG sniping we now have far better tools of the trade. Then there is the refinement of the cartridge itself loaded specifically for sniping and not for general BMG use.

Even with the best weapons, ammunition and training the opportunity to put into practice those skills must present itself to the sniping team. Even then there is also the luck factor in the mix to be able to get a confirmed record shot.

I think we Canadians have been very fortunate to have well trained sniper teams, with top notch equipment and ammo, presented with these opportunities to set record shots. They were able to use all that, plus had luck, to get it all together more frequently than others may have been.

Personally, I do not think any one country holds a lock on shooting prowess. Even the best shooters cannot exploit a situation if it is not presented to them. Even if presented only the very best, with a bit of luck, can take advantage of it.

Considering the size of our population and hence the small size of our military there is a very limited pool to draw talent from. Under those condition the Canadian Army, I think, has done a terrific job of being able to field these outstanding sniping teams.

Bob

My congratulations to the Canadian Sniper on an outstanding shot! : My cousin was a sniper while in the Corp and we were talking about the advances in the weaponry and he said there were such fantastic improvements in everything involved, the weapon the propellants Everything.

I not posting this link to in anyway take anything away from the fantastic Canadian Snipers, in fact I want you to only watch starting at about 5:30 minutes as it will show what just one of those above mentioned improvements in weaponry is. What a Round to have at your side!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSBE7AJubQ0

Yes - considering the size of the Canadian military which totals 146,000 for reserves and active duty drawing from a pool of 13 million eligible people.

Put in perspective the state of Ohio has 574,000 active concealed carry permit holders and over 800,000 veterans out of a population of 11 million total people.

Originally Posted by Cincinnatus

Yes - considering the size of the Canadian military which totals 146,000 for reserves and active duty drawing from a pool of 13 million eligible people.

Put in perspective the state of Ohio has 574,000 active concealed carry permit holders and over 800,000 veterans out of a population of 11 million total people.

Can't argue those stats. I just wonder what having concealed weapons permits has to do with sniping. In Canada it is virtually impossible for a citizen to get approval for a concealed carry permit anyway. You can apply under certain circumstances for one but I wouldn't hold my hand over my backside waiting for approval to be granted.

I don't think Canadians in general consider a career in the military a first choice option when looking for employment. That makes it even harder to get suitable personnel recruited on a voluntary basis.

A different country with a different mind set that on a few occasions can punch above weight given all the conditions that go against our military being able to that.

Bob