النسخة الأولى من كتاب القناص الأفضل
DESCRIPTION
كتاب القناص الأفضلTRANSCRIPT
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WARNING
Theprocedures,drills,andtechniquesoutlinedinthisbookareintendedforofficialmilitaryandlawenforcementuseonly.Itisnottheintentoftheauthor,publisher,ordistributorsofthisbooktoencouragereaderstoperformanyofthetechniquesordrillsinthisbookwithoutproperprofessionaltrainingandsupervision.Attemptingtodosocanresultinsevereinjuryordeathtothereaderorbystanders.Thisbookisforinformationpurposesonly.
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AlsobyJohnPlaster:
UltimateSniper(video)
AdvancedUltimateSniper(video)
SOG:TheSecretWarsofAmerica'sCommandosinVietnam
SOG:APhotoHistoryoftheSecretWars
TheUltimateSniper:AnAdvancedTrainingManualforMilitaryandPoliceSnipersbyMaj.JohnL.Plaster,USAR(Ret.)
Copyright1993byJohnL.Plaster
ISBN0873647041
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
PublishedbyPaladinPress,adivisionof
PaladinEnterprises,Inc.,
GunbarrelTechCenter
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Boulder,Colorado80301USA
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Directinquiriesand/ororderstotheaboveaddress.
PALADIN,PALADINPRESS,andthe"horsehead"designaretrademarksbelongingtoPaladinEnterprisesandregisteredinUnitedStatesPatentandTrademarkOffice.
Allrightsreserved.Exceptforuseinareview,noportionofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformwithouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofthepublisher.
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Neithertheauthornorthepublisherassumesanyresponsibilityfortheuseormisuseofinformationcontainedinthisbook.
VisitourWebsiteatwww.paladinpress.com
IllustrationsbyBradleyHopkins
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Acknowledgments
Preface
CHAPTERI:SniperUnitOrganizationandEquipment
CHAPTERII:TheSniper'sRifle
CHAPTERIII:SniperscopeBasics
CHAPTERIV:UsingaSniperscope
CHAPTERV:BulletsandBallistics
CHAPTERVI:BasicSniperMarksmanship
CHAPTERVII:AdvancedSniperMarksmanship
CHAPTERVIII:SpecialShootingSituations
CHAPTERIX:HeavyRifleSniping
CHAPTERX:BinocularsandSpottingScopes
CHAPTERXI:SpottingandTargetDetection
CHAPTERXII:RangeandWindEstimation
CHAPTERXIII:CamouflageforSniping
CHAPTERXIV:StalkingandMovement
CHAPTERXV:TheSniper'sHide
CHAPTERXVI:Mantracking
CHAPTERXVII:BasicOffensiveandDefensiveTactics
CHAPTERXVIII:SnipinginanUrbanEnvironment
CHAPTERXIX:CountersnipingTacticsandTechniques
CHAPTERXX:SpecialSnipingOperations
CHAPTERXXI:NightSnipingOperations
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CHAPTERXXII:SpecialSnipingEnvironments
APPENDIXI:GlossaryofSniping&MarksmanshipTerms
APPENDIXII:CurrentU.S.BasedTrainingPrograms
APPENDIXIII:References
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Thisbookisdedicatedtoanexcellentriflemanwhotrustedhisyoungsonaloneinthewoodswitharealrifle,myfather,JamesL.Plaster.Therearemanyothersworthyofthanking,butspacelimitsmetocitingbutafew:
ArvidSimmons,whofirstshowedmethatshootingwasaseriousskillandthewoodsanhospitableenvironment;"S.S.,"alongtimeSpecialOperationsfriendwho'sbothabrighttacticianandaphenomenalshooter(almostasgoodasme),whosharednumerousinsights;LtCol.GarySchraml(Ret.),cofounderofoursniperschoolandalwaysgoodforanargumentoverballisticsormarksmanship;SgtDarrylSchmidt,St.PaulPoliceDepartment,anoutstandingteacherandriflemanwhogavetimeandeffortwheneverasked;AgentFredMacDonald.,MississippiBureauofNarcotics,andTomSlowik,ArizonaCrisis(SWAT)Teams,whohelpedimmersemeinpolicesnipingneedsandskills;FBISpecialAgentMathewBowenJohnson,aSoutherngentlemanandtrueriflemanwhosharedhisEdSanowandSWATmagazine,forallowingmeaccesstogelatinballisticdataanduseofseveralphotographs;Dr.B.R.G.Kaplan,M.D.,ariflemandoctorwhoexpandedmyknowledgeofhumanphysiologyandterminalballistics;OlympiclevelriflemanLancePeters,whooveradecadeopenedmyeyestothefinerpointsofrifleshootingandammoperformance;Brig.Gen.KarlLidberg(Ret.),whoboughtmytreasuredRemington700,neverfiredit,andsolditbackwithoutgainwhenIdecidedtoteachsniping;worldrecord.50calibershooterSkipTalbot,whokeptnotechniqueorideasecret;DaveBush,acustom.50caliberMatchammoloaderwhoshareddataandammo;GaryRayofAMAC,wholoanedourschooloneofhisexcellent.50calsforanentireyear;ThunderbirdCartridge,forprovidinghardtoobtainballisticdata;GeneMayo,mygunsmithfriendwhocorrectedanymisunderstandingsaboutbarrels,actions,andmetallurgy;FederalCartridge'sMilitaryandLawEnforcementliaison,ShepardKelly;DennyValentyn,USAR;RogerKennedy,whosephotographsappearonmanyofthesepages;CharlesFarrow,whoprocessedandprintedallourphotos;theFiftyCaliberShootersAssociation;andJimMorris,afellowGreenBeretvetandaccomplishedauthor,whoconvincedPaladinPressthismanuscripthadmerit.SpecialthankstomyeditoratPaladin,JonFord,whosecommentsandsuggestionshelpedshapethisbook,andPaladinpublisherPederLund,forprintingabookthat'stoospecializedtomakeanybestsellerlistbutofgreatimportancetothoseofusinthesnipingcommunity.
Whileallofthesepeopleandcompanieshelpedme,Ialonemusttakeresponsibilityforthisbook'scontentandtheaccuracyofitsinformation,andinthatveinemphasizethatmyviewsdonotnecessarilyreflectthoseoftheDepartmentofDefense,U.S.Army,ournation'sReserveComponents,oranyparticularlawenforcementagency.
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Deservingofrecognition,too,areoursniperschool'spastmilitaryandlawenforcementinstructors,allofwhomcontributeddirectlyorotherwisetothismanuscript.
MILITARYINSTRUCTORS:
Lt.Col.GarySchraml
Lt.Col.DaveLoehr
Capt.WendellDaluge
1stLt.CharlesWeebee
2ndLt.DaveBeckering
WOIJeffLuikart
CSMRobertWagaman
1stSgt.DarrylBrown
M.Sgt.CliftonEvans
M.Sgt.SteveLischalk
M.Sgt.RobertPayne
M.Sgt.CarlPeterson
M.Sgt.DanielPurkat
Sfc.GaryGamradt
Sfc.BlaineNelson
Sfc.MichaelCorrow
S.Sgt.TimothyCole
S.Sgt.RobertSiefert
S.Sgt.TimothyWeber
Sgt.MichaelAnderson
Sgt.BrentHenry
Sgt.JohnLepowski
Sgt.MichaelMalterud
Sgt.LancePeters
Sgt.GaryZacharias
Spec.4BradHopkins
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MILITARYSUPPORTPERSONNEL:
SGMRobertRoschen1stLt.JosephSeaquist
M.Sgt.JamesOlson
LAWENFORCEMENTINSTRUCTORS:
Off.LyleBeauchamp,MinneapolisPoliceDepartment
Off.LyleDelaney,MinneapolisPoliceDepartment
Sgt.GaryHill,MinneapolisPoliceDepartment
SpecialAgentKevinCrawford,FBI
Sgt.DanHarshman,St.PaulPoliceDepartment
Sgt.DarrylSchmidt,St.PaulPoliceDepartment
Sgt.SteveCampbell,MississippiBureauofNarcotics
AgentTommySquires,MississippiBureauofNarcotics
TrooperDavidWatson,AlabamaHighwayPatrol
ASPECIALNOTEONOURARTIST
ThecreatorofthesemanyfineillustrationsisBradHopkins,andittakesonlyoneglanceathisrealisticdetailtoconcludehemustknowsomethingaboutsniping.
Indeed,HopkinswasamilitaryReserveComponentstudentatoursniperschoolandlateraguestinstructor.ItwasherethatIrecruitedhistalentedpen.
Asthisprojectgrew,andanestimated100drawingsbecomemorelike250,hisqualityneverdeclined,hisstyleneverwavered.Ifthetechnicaltopicsweaddressseemmuchmoreunderstandablethanatypicalmanual,it'slargelybecauseofBrad'sexcellentartwork.Hiscontributionisimmeasurable.
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LittledidaBritishtinkererrealizein1640,whenhefashionedthefirsttelescopicmusketsight,whathavochehadwrought.Formanyyears,hisinventionseemedmerelyacuriosity.
Butafterthreecenturiesofevolutionandrefinement,andwhenplacedatopaqualityrifle,asniperemployingthisopticaldevicetodaycaninflictselective,intentionalhitsagainstaquarrysofarawaythattheunfortunatevictim'scomradeshavedifficultyevenhearingtherifle'sblast.
Throughouthishistory,thesniperhashadaspecialmystique,asubjectbothfearedandrespectedbythosewhopassbeforehiscrosshairs.Partly,heisapsychologicalweapon,foreverymanshiversatthethoughtofbeingtakenbyaninvisible,distantfoewhoreapsthisgrimharvestcoolly,selectively,andunerringly.
Onamorepracticallevel,snipersinflictfargreaterlossesamongthoseunluckyenoughtoappearintheircrosshairsthanhavetheirtargetsbeenabletoincuramongsnipers.Thisisprobablythemostcosteffectivefightingsysteminexistence,averagingonekillforevery1.7roundsexpended.ComparethattoacruisemissileorStealthfighterstrike!
Andthatisthemostinterestingthingaboutmodernsniperssofundamentalandancientafightingtechniqueremainsrelevantinoureraofcomputerguidedsmartbombs.IndeedithasonlybeeninthepastdecadethatAmericansnipersbothpoliceandmilitaryhavereachedthezenithintheirdevelopment.
IwrotethisbookbothtoreflectthisnewstateoftheartandtoaddresstraditionalsnipersubjectstothedepthIthinktheydidn'tattaininpreviousmanualsandguides.Thisbookalsocoverssubjectsnotfoundanywhereelse,suchashowtoescapeapursuingenemyforce,.50caliberlongrangesniping,shootingthroughglass,employingasuppressedsniperrifle,mantracking,andhowtogetthemostoutofamildotreticle.
Butmyconcernequallywastocorrecterrorsthathavecreptintotheliterature,placedtherebyignorantgunwriterswhodidn'tknowofwhattheyspoke.Ican'tclaimtobeallknowing,butwheneverencounteringsomethingIcan'texplain,Ifindanexpertandlearnthefacts.
LikeCapt.H.W.McBride,whoauthoredasnipingbookafterWorldWarI,I'mconcerned,too,thatsnipingskillsandlessonslearnedatgreatcostcanbeeasilyforgottenifnotchronicled,ashasbeentoooftenthecasefollowingAmericanwars.Thisbook'sknowledge,Ihope,willbearoundforalongtime.
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Ifnothingelse,Ihopetoinculcateanapprciationforbalanceinsniping:betweentheartandscienceofit;betweenthequalityofarifleanditsscopeandammunition,andthequalityoftherifleman;andbetweensniping'sthreegreatskillareasmarksmanship,fieldcraft,andtactics.AndhereIplacespecialemphasis:aneffectivesnipermastersallthreeskillareasandbalancesthemineverythinghedoes.Likeathreeleggedstool,inadequacyinanyonebringsdowntheothertwo.
Asniperstrives,too,forconsistentshootingandexploitsanyedgeinweaponorammoortechniquetosqueezeoutjustahairmoreaccuracy.Whatdistinguishesthesniperisthismeticulousapplication,doingeverythingmarksmanship,fieldcraft,andtacticsslightlybetterthanhisfoe,whichcumulativelyyieldsadecisiveedge.Thesniperlivesno,thrivesonthisedge.Andattitude?Heplansashotwiththesameprofessionaldetachmentasapoolaceliningupacueball;heshootstechnicallyperfect,withoutemotion,andanalyzeshisresults.
Thisbookalsocontainsahostofinnovations,includingtheSniperRifleDataCard,sniperengagementsequence,rapidreloadingdrill,andspecialshootingsupportsandbodypositions.Sincethere'sno"best"waytodoanything,you'llseeseveraltechniquesforthingslikewindorrangeestimationsoyoucanchoosetheonethatbestfitsyourparticularsituation.Iheartilyencourageyoutoexperiment,todaretotrytheuntestedandattemptthenew.
Tohelpeducateleadersandoperationsofficers,I'veincludednewsnipinggraphicsandatacticssectionthatexplainssniperteamemployment,missionparameters,andfireintegration.Thisshouldevolvesnipingonelargestepforwardintoatruedoctrinethatevencoinsnewconceptslikethe"ballisticadvantage"whileestablishingasolidsniperroleinallsortsofoperations.
Allourhardskillsapplyequallytolawenforcementsnipers,andwhereverapplicable,I'vefurtherrefinedsubjectsforpolicesituations.Purposelyexcludedaredetailsaboutpolicetacticsandshootingtechniquessothatthisbookcouldbecirculatedwidelywithoutcompromisingsomeverycleverhostagerescue,counterterrorist,andantiskyjackmethodsthatvariousagencieshavesharedwithme.Ifthere'ssufficientdemand,Imaypreparearestrictedsupplementcoveringthesesubjects,butitwouldbeavailableonlytolawenforcementandSpecialOperationspersonnelandunits.
Toenhanceyourtraining,PaladinPressgenerouslyallowsyoutoduplicatecertainsectionsofthisbook,providedyoudonotremovethecreditline.Abidebythis,andwithmethankaverycivicmindedpublisher.
Andonanadminnote:SinceU.S.ballistictablesnormallyuseyards,we'reusingyardsexclusivelyinthisbook.Shouldyouneedtoconvertyardstometers,multiplyby1.0936;toconvertmeterstoyards,multipleby0.9144.
Finally,alongwithmanyfirearmsinstructorsandcompetitiveshootersconcernedaboutrecentlegislativetrends,IurgeyoutojointheNationalRifleAssociationandencourageyourfriendsandrelativestodolikewise.ItisforourchildrenandgrandchildrenthatwemustdefendthisgreatAmericanbirthright,theSecondAmendment.Futuregenerationsofgreatriflemenandsnipersarecountingonus.
Maj.JohnL.Plaster,USAR(Ret)January1993
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SNIPERTEAMORGANIZATION
Aproperlyorganizedsniperteamconsistsoftwomen,asniperandaspotter.Botharequalifiedandfullytrainedsnipers,butmoreappropriatelyitcouldbesaidateamconsistsoftwosnipers.Inordertofunctioneffectively,however,onewillshoot(thesniper)whilehispartnerwatches(thespotter),witheachrotatingthesedutiesonaregularbasis.
Superblyequippedandspeciallytrainedtoday'smilitarysniperteam.
Also,sinceamilitarysniperisarmedwithaslowfiring,lowcapacity,boltactionrifle,hispartnerneedsahighcapacity,automaticweaponIrecommendtheM16A2withanM20340mm
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grenadelauncherforteamdefenseagainstunexpected,shortrangecontacts.Thetwomenswapweaponswhentheyrotateroles.
Giventhattheyareonlytwomen,asniperteammustoperatetrulyasateamtostandanychanceofaccomplishingitsmissionandsurvivinginaverydangerousenvironment.
Compatibility,areadinesstoshare,andawillingnesstorotatedutieswithoutpettinessandgrumblingandshirkingareabsolutelynecessaryqualities.We'velistedthesniper'sandspotter'sdutiesintheboxonthefollowingpage,butitmustbeunderstoodthatthereisalwaysamutualcontributionwithinalistedtask;theresponsibleteammemberultimatelyseesthatit'saccomplished,buttosomedegreehispartnercontributestoeverythingthat'sdone.
Somejobsareshared,likesplittingthesectorsobothcansurveil,butevenheretheremustbesomerotationandrelieforonewillsuffereyestrain.Andattimes,onewillrestwhiletheotherworks,onewillsecurewhilehisteammatedigs,andsoon.It'sgenuineteamwork.
Thememberwiththemostexperienceshouldbeincharge,buthisprimarytaskistoeducatehispartnerandelevatehisskillsonaparwithhisownsotheycanrotatejobscompletelyyetsuffernodeclineincapability.Teamwork.
SNIPER'SDUTIES&RESPONSIBILITIES
WritesOperationsOrder
CoordinateswithOtherUnits
FollowsinMarchandCoversRear
ObscuresBacktrailduringMarch
LeadsWhileStalkingLeadsWhileFollowingEnemyTracks
SelectsSniperHideLocation
SharesHideConstruction
DetectsandAnnouncesTargetIndicators
ObservesHaIfSectorwithBinoculars
AdjustsScopeforWind,Range,andAngle
SharesRangeEstimateswithSpotter
DecidesEngagementPriorities
EngagesHumanandMaterielTargets
DesignatesNightTargetswithTracer
SPOTTER'SDUTIES&RESPONSIBILITIES
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ObtainsandPreparesAnySpecialGear
LeadsinMarch,MayFireDefensively
FollowsWhileStalking,ObscuresSign
CoversTeamWhileTrackingEnemy
SharesHideConstruction
DrawsSketchesandRangeCards
SharesRangeEstimateswithSniper
ObservesHalfSectorwithSpottingScope
DetectsandAnnouncesTargetIndicators
IdentifiesTargetsbyPriority
EstimatesWind
TimestheWindandTellsSniperto.Fire
BacksUpSniper'sShot
ObservesandReportsBulletImpact
OperatesRadio
RecordsInformation
VectorsandCoordinatesOtherTeams
OperatesDiversionaryDevices
SterilizesSiteWhenAbandoningHide
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Atwomanmilitarysniperteamhastwofullytrainedsniperswhorotateweaponsandsniper/spotterdutiesatregularintervals.
Mostoften,thenewersniperservesastheobserver,butsomeauthoritieswouldarguethatthemoreexperiencedofthetwoshouldspotsinceheprobablyisbetteratestimatingrangeandwindandevaluatingtargets.
Duetoliability,policesnipersdonotrotateweaponseachshouldhavearifleassignedexclusivelytohimself.Butpolicesnipersmustalsorotate/rest/share,ortheywon'tbeabletolastduringaprotractedincident,andfaceit,mostincidentsthateventuallyleadtoapolicesnipertakingashotareprotractedones.
Militaryunitsareconfiguredaccordingtomission,equipment,doctrine,andtheterrainonwhichthey'llfight,balancedagainstflexibilityandsimplicitytokeeptheunitcontrollable.Thesefactorsareasapplicabletoasniperunitorganizationasforanarmordivision.Andfromthesefactorshaveevolvedtwobasicconceptsfororganizingsniperelements:consolidationanddecentralization.
MILITARYSNIPINGORGANIZATION
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ThisishowadecentralizedsniperconfigurationappearsinRangerandReserveComponentInfantrybattalions.
ThesniperstructuremostfrequentlyfoundinU.S.militaryorganizationsisaconsolidatedone,withsnipersintheirownbattalionlevelplatoonthatoperatesdirectlyundertheS2IntelligenceOfficerorS3OperationsOfficer.Asthechartshows,thisisthesniperconfigurationfoundinU.S.MarineCorpsunits,aswellasinU.S.ArmyLightInfantryDivisions.Inmostorganizationsusingthisarrangement,thesnipersalsoserveasbattalionscouts,agoodmatchingofskillsandmissions.Infact,theUSMCofficiallycallsthesemen"ScoutSnipers."
Thebenefitsofaconsolidatedsniperplatoonaremany.First,inpeacetimetheycantraintogetherandfocustheireffortsonsniping,underthecontrolofplatoonlevelleaderswhoappreciateandsupporttheirneeds.Second,sincethey'reabattalionlevelasset,theirroleisconsideredandintegratedineverybattalionoperation.
Consolidationaffordsgreatflexibilityincombat,allowingthebattaliontoconcentrateordispersethesniperstofitthesituationandthemission.Forinstance,allsniperscanbefocusedalongoneenemyavenueorapproach,massedwithinonecompany'sareaiftheterrainbestsuitssniping,orsplitevenlywiththreesniperteamsattachedtoeachcompanyoroneteamforeachlineplatoon.Theyalsocanrunindependent,battalioncontrolledoperations.
AdecentralizedorganizationisfoundinU.S.ArmyRangerunitsandsomeReserveComponentelements.Thisconcept,shownintheotherchart,hassniperssplitandpermanentlyassignedwithoneteamineachplatoon.
GiventhatRangersfrequentlyconductplatoonsizeraidsandambushestheyare,afterall,America'spremiercommandoraiderforceitmakessensethattheywouldwanttointegrateasmuchaspossibleattheplatoonlevel.Buildingthisplatoonteamallowsallmemberstobecomeaccustomedtooperatingtogether,honingtheirtacticalandskilledgesinunison.
It'sthecompanycommanderorplatoonleaderwhodetermineshowthesedecentralizedsniperteamsareemployedinhisoperations;thebattaliondoesn'ttakesnipersorsnipingintoaccountwhileplanning.
Thedownsideofsuchaconfigurationisthatsnipingemphasismaydeclineandsniperscannottraintoashighastandardaswhenthey'reinasingleplatoon.Butthisisusuallyremediedbyabattalioncommander'soversightanddirectives.
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ThisisaconsolidatedsniperplatoonconfigurationasfoundinUSMCandU.S.ArmyLightInfantrybattalions.
Nottobeforgottenistherealitythatanymilitaryorganizationcanbedramaticallychangedtofitthecircumstancesofcombat,ashashappenedineveryAmericanwar.DuringpeacetimeitseeminglytakesanActofCongresstochangeaunit'stableoforganizationevenslightly,butinwartime,yourunitleadershavetremendouslatitudeforadjustingtothesituation.Whenthebulletsstartflying,whatmattersisonlywhatworks.
SNIPERSELECTION
FrederickRussellBurnham,theAmericanexploreradventurerwholedBritain'sscoutsintheBoerWar,describedhisscoutsas"halfwolfandhalfjackrabbit."WhatafittingdescriptionforthesniperandhowfittingthatBurnhamsaidthis.ForBurnham'smostaccomplishedrecon
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soldierswereScotsofaHighlandregimentknownasLovat'sScouts;16yearslater,thesephenomenalwoodsmenbecametheBritisharmy'sfirstsniperunit.Yes,asniperisaboldtempteroffate,buthealsomustbeawisepractitionerofdiscretion:"Hewhoshootsandrunsaway,livestoshootanotherday."
Thiscontradictorynatureaswellasconcernsthatsnipingcanattractsomeunsuitableelementsrequirescareinselectingsnipers.
Whattolookforinsnipercandidates?Sincesnipinginvolvesatriadofskillsmarksmanship,fieldcraft,andtacticsIbelieveasnipercandidateshouldhaveexperience,interest,orademonstratedaptitudewithinatleastoneoftheseareas.Trainingsolidifiesthisfoundationandroundshimoutintheotherskills.
It'sfoolishtothinkyou'rerecruitingtrainedmen;rather,theselectionprocessisgearedtoidentifyingmenwiththebestpotential,whomyouthentraintostandard.I'mmostinterestedinthecandidate'sattitudeandperspective,notnecessarilyhisknowledge,whichcanbeexpandedwithtraining.Isthismanworthtraining?That'stherealquestion.
TheWorldWarIIBritisharmydirectivecreatingsniperteamsplacedproperemphasisonattitudeaswellasskill,requiringthatthecandidatesbe"pickedmen,andfitmen,andproudtobesuch;thebestmarksmen,skilledinfieldcraft,confidentintheirselfreliance,possessedofgreatcourageandunrivalledpatience."
Marksmanship
Whenitcomestomarksmanship,thecandidatemustbeatleastaratedexpertriflemanwhichhesoonlearnsisonlyastartingpointforsniperlevelshooting.
Hisinvolvementwithweaponsideallygoesbeyondserviceriflequalification.MyinterestinfirearmsdatesbacktoachildhoodinwhichIwasexpectedtohandleariflealoneinthewoodsbytheripeageofeight.Perhapsthecandidatehasbeenacompetitiveshooter,ormaybehehasadeepergraspandfascinationwithweaponsthantheaveragelawmanorsoldier.SkipTalbot,theworldrecord.50caliber,1,000yardrifleman,thinks"longrangeshootersarelikebroncriders;they'reborn,notmade."
Thecandidatehadbetterlikeshooting,becausetohoneandmaintainsniperlevelskillshemustshootfrequently.Relatedtothis,thecandidateshouldhaveaninterestinfirearmsandtechnicalsubjectsbeyondthecommonlayman,anaturalcuriosityaboutthingslikeballistics,bullets,andoptics.
Huntingexperienceisespeciallyusefulbecausethesnipercandidatealreadywillhavelearnedtheconsequencesofinaccuracyorsluggishreflexes.
Fieldcraft
Fieldcraftincludesthemanysupportingskillsasnipermustdevelop,thingssuchaswindestimation,camouflage,andobservation.Thevalueofoutdoorsportsandhuntingexperiencecannotbeunderstated,becausehowelsecanayoungmanlearnsuchskills?
Iattachmoresignificancetothosewhohuntelusivegame.Squirrel,turkey,ordeerhunterscandevelopintosuperbsnipers.Bowhuntersknowmuchaboutwoodloreandcamouflage.
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Butit'smorethanthesedefinableskills.It'sanattitude,adeeperlevelofconfidenceandcompatibilitywithnatureIcall"closetotheEarth."Aruralyouth,especiallyoneraisedinplaceslikeAlaska,Montana,Maine,Minnesota,orIdahoorjustplainallowedtoroamthewoodsdevelopshisownconceptabouttherelationshipbetweenhimselfandnature,thewoods,weaponsaboutlifeitself.
Someoutdoorsportshelpdevelopasimilarappreciation,includingtrapping,hiking,backpacking,camping,andcanoeing.Thesesportsmenlearntoreadtheweather,seetracksinanaturalsetting,understandfieldmaps,observelivegame,movetoavoidbeingseenmanyapplicableskills.
Butbeforeitseemscityslickershavenoplaceinsniping,don'tforgetthatallourancestorsoncehunteddayinanddayoutforsheersurvival,thatalltheseskillslielatentwithinus,thattheleastexperiencedcityboycanlearntomasterthewoodsifheimmersesandapplieshimself.Theseareforgotten,notlost,arts.
TheultimateSpecialForcesSOG(StudiesandObservationGroup)complimentwas,"He'sgoodinthewoods,"meaningthemanhadmasteredthewholegamutofancientwarriorandwoodsmanskillsdemandedofjunglewarfare.AndthemajorityofSOG'sjunglewarriors,likeyourstruly,hadbeenbroughtupincities.
Butwithinuswasanaturaltalent,aninstinctforhuntingothermen,justlikesomeofourpeerstookreadilytoridingasurfboardorthrowingafootball.It'sfascinatingtowatchayoungsoldierdevelopsuchmartialskillsandfind,oftentohisownsurprise,thatburiedwithinhismindandbodyhavealwaysbeenthemakingsofawarrior.HewasalwaysclosetotheEarthbutdidn'tknowit.
MoreaboutHunters
Butit'sbeenmostlyhuntingexperiencethattraditionallyhasmarkedamanasapotentialsniper.TheGermanshistoricallycalledtheirsnipers"Jgers"or"hunters,"socloseisthislinkage.
TheRussiansespeciallylikedsniperswithhuntingexperience.TheirgreatestsniperofWorldWar.,Sgt.VasilyZaitsev,hadbeenaprewarhunterandtrapperintheUralMountains.
ThebestAustraliansnipersofWorldWarIIwereexperiencedkangaroohunterswhoknewthatabadlyplacedshotruinedapelt,sothey'dgrownaccustomedtomakingheadshotsatlongrange.Stealthandsharpshootingweretheirwayoflife.
WhenitcomestotheUnitedStates,well,moresothananyothermajorpower,firearmsandhuntingareasignificantingredientofthemodernAmericanexperience.TheUnitedStatesprobablyhasmorehunterspercapitatodaythananyothergreatnation.
Butyouneednotbeahuntertobeasniper;indeed,someexpertsnipershavenointerestinhunting.AformerGreenBeretfriendwho'sasniperwithamajormetropolitanpolicedepartmentdecriesthe"needless"harvestingofwildlifebutwouldnothesitatetotakeoutabadguywithhisMcMillanrifle.He'sanexcellentrifleshot,agoodtactician,andappliesotherskillswell,too.SteveandImayargueaboutthemoralityofhunting,butthere'snoquestionhe'sacompetentsniperwithnohuntingexperiencewhatsoever.
Tactics
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I'mnotsurehowasnipercandidatecandevelopanappreciationfortacticsotherthanstudymilitaryhistoryandreadbookssuchasthisone.
Thestudyofmilitaryhistoryhelpsdevelopafeelfortherelationshipsbetweenfireandmaneuver,coverversusconcealment,andconcentrationversusdispersion.MostrelevantaresmallunittacticsbelowthelevelofNapoleonorClausewitz.
IstronglyrecommendSunTzu'sTheArtofWar,a300B.C.Chinesetreatiseondeceptionandwarfarethat'susefulforsnipers.SunTzuwrote,forinstance,"Whennearmakeitseemthatyouarefaraway;whenfarawaythatyouarenear."ThisbookisrequiredreadingforCIAandKGBofficers.
AnebulousqualityIlookforinstudentsis"tacticalsense,"theabilitytoseetacticalopportunitiesandthreats,tobeabletoassessasituationwithaglanceanddrawone'splaninthedirt.Someofthiscomeswithexperience,butmuchofit,Ithink,isagiftofGod.
Seriousboxersandmartialartistsperhapshaveabetternaturalgraspoftacticsfundamentals,asshouldchessplayersandparticipantsinsometeamsportslikefootball.I'dgiveacandidateextrapointsifhe'dbeenapaintballcompetitor.
PhysicalCondition
IagreewithSovietCol.R.Minin'srecommendationthatasniperbe"physicallyfitandhardywithsharpvisionandhearing,agoodmemory,andquickreactions."
Afitriflemanmoresteadilyholdshisrifle,solidmusclebetterwithstandsrecoil,hebearsloadswithoutunduefatigue,andoverallhestaysalertlongerandcangofarther,faster.
ManypoliceSWAT(SpecialWeaponsandTactics)unitstrainhardandlongandmaintainhighstandardsofphysicalconditioning.Butwhetheryourtacteamdoesthisornot,youmuststayinshapeoryou'llbeginavoidingstrainsubconsciouslybydashingatalowtrotwhenyoushouldlowcrawl,orwalkingconspicuouslyaroundawallratherthanpullyourselfinvisiblyoverit.Poorshape,laziness,andbadtacticsgohandinhand.
TheU.S.Armyphysicaltraining(PT)testisadequateforpolice,althoughtheSWATteamsI'mmostfamiliarwithhavehigherphysicalstandards,approachingthePTlevelsofSpecialForcesandRangerunits.
Asfaraseyesightgoes,asniperneedsatleast2020visionsincemuchofhisjobisspottingandsurveilling.Eyeglasses?Correctablevisionisacceptableifthesniperhasnonglareeyeglasslensesandkeepsasparesetwithhisgear.
IntelligenceandPersonality
Tounderstandandapplythecomplexitiesofballistics,adjusthisriflescope,planmissions,andjustplainoutsmarthisfoes,asniperneedsbrains.
Heneedswisdom,too,forhistypicalengagementviolentlyteasesanumericallysuperiorfoe.Likeanimblemongoose,hisquicktacticalparriesanddiversionsoutwitthedeadlycobra.Thisrequirescoolnessunderstress.
Theexcitableadrenalinspurting"hoohuh"typesaretheexactoppositeofthecalm,unemotional,thinkingsniper.Theycanadaptwithgreateffort,butit'snoteasy.
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Theseobservationsholdforpolicesnipers,too.Anentryteammemberneedstobeboldandaggressive,readytoburstthroughdoorsandengagehisopponentatclosequarters.Hiswholebusinessissmashingthroughriskandhittinghisobjectiveheadon.Butthepolicesnipermustbecautious,methodical,anddeliberate.Hismissionrequiresbypassingrisk,minimizingchance,andturningoddsaround,notconfrontingorchargingasuspect
Thesnipershouldbecompatiblewithhisteammate.Ididn'tsayhavethesamepersonality,Isaidcompatible.Buttheyshouldbethesameapproximatesizesoonecanpulltheotheroutifhe'sincapacitated.TeamingupaHulkHoganwithanaveragesizemanmeansthey'llbothdieifthelargeriseverseriouslywounded.
Andwhenitcomestopersonality,theLoneWolftypeneednotapply.Snipingisateammissioninwhicheachmanmustcontributefully,notfeedofftheendeavorsofhispartner.
Patience
Specialheedmustbepaidtopatience,whichWorldWarIsniperCapt.H.W.McBridesaidwasasniper'smostimportantquality.Whetherhe'sapoliceofficerwaitingoutaterroristduringaprotractedskyjackoraGIcalmlypeeringatanenemytrenchforhoursonend,thesnipermustbeascapableoftakingaperfectshot10minutesafterarrivalas10hoursintoit.
ThemostaccomplishedlongrangeshootersIknoware"slowwalkin',slowtalkin'"kindsofguys,menlikeLancePeters,anOlympiclevelriflemanwho'swonsilvermedalsatthePanAmericanGames.Analytical,patient,unemotional,deliberateintheireverystep.Ofcourse,thesemenhaveemotions,butthey'velearnedtoovercomethem,tomentallychannelstressandanxietyintooblivion.
Asadeterminedformofselfdiscipline,patienceenablesasnipertoliemotionlessinwetandcoldforhours,waitingforashotheknowsmostlikelywon'tevenhappen.Butforjustachanceshot,hegutshiswaythroughthediscomfort,ascalmandreadyasifitwereasurething.
Smoking
It'sbetterthatasnipercandidatenotbeasmoker,butthisisachoicebestleftuptothesniper,nottothosewhowouldselecthim.Smokingshouldnotbeusedasabasisforexclusion,anymorethanconsumingalcoholordrinkingcoffee,allofwhichaffectsniperperformancetosomeextent.
Thesnipermustrecognizehowsmokingimpactshistrade.Indaytimehiscigaretteswillgeneratesmokeandsmell,whileatnighttheycreateavisualsignature.Hismarksmanshipcandeteriorateifhe'sdeniednicotineatacriticalmoment,whilehissenseofsmellmaynotbesufficienttodetectodorsassociatedwithhostileactivityordanger.
Apackadaysmokerbuildshighlevelsofcarbonmonoxideinhisblood,whichreduce20percentofthenormalnightvisionatsealevel,aneffectthatincreaseswithaltitude;by10,000feet,he'slost40percentofhisnightvision.
I'dencouragesniperstoquitsmoking,butI'dalsosuggestthatcoffeedrinkersswitchtodecaffeinatedforsteadiernerves.
PsychologicalScreening
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Mostmenbecomesnipersbecausethey'reselfreliant,takeprideintheirskills,andwanttodoandbeonlytheverybest.Theydesiretofightasasmallunitsosuccessorfailure,lifeordeaththeirveryfateisdeterminedlargelybytheirownexertions.Inanenvironmentoftendrivenbyunthinkingviolentmomentum,theywanttofightsmart.TheyepitomizetheAmericanspirit.
Forsomepeculiarreason,though,thesnipingmystiquecanattractthewrongelementdelusionary"wannabes"whothinkglorycomesfromkilling.Basketcasesandpathologicalbraggartsdon'tlastlonginwartimebecausesocalledpleasurekillersusuallyarecowards,withnostomachforthedangersofrealcombat.
Thosewhothinkthey'reonamissionforGodorwhohatetheirmommiesanddaddiesarequicktospotanddisqualify.What'sfarmoredifficultandsubtle,Ithink,isweedingoutthosewhowon'triskitallunderfire;who,whenallthechipsareonthetable,don'ttaketheshotorchokeuporhideinsteadofshoot.Butthepurposeofpsychologicalscreeningistoexcludethecrazies,notdeterminewhohastruegrit.
LawenforcementagenciesoftenhaveaformalpsychologicalinterviewofsnipercandidatesandevenadministerdiagnostictestsliketheMinnesotaMultiPhasicInventory.Giventhegreatliabilityandinherentdangersoffiringahighpoweredrifleinapeacetime,urbansetting,nopoliceagencycanaffordtohaveamantooquicktotakeashot.
Mygreatestconcernaboutpsychologicalscreeningisthatit'sdependentuponthesubjectiveopinionofapsychiatristwhomaynotfullyappreciatethestressesandrealitiesofasniper'senvironment.Hecouldexcludethebestcandidatesbecausetheylikefirearmsorseementhusiastic.
"Bein'Willing"
InJohnWayne'sfinalmovierole,thatofaginggunfighterJ.B.BooksinTheShootist,herecitedamemorablelinethatperfectlyexpressesthegunfighter'scredo:"Itisn'talwaysbein'fastorevenaccuratethatcounts;it'sbein'willing."
MygreatestdisappointmentinSpecialForceswaswitnessingastatesidefriendbecomeacowardinVietnam.Andabastardcowardhetrulywas.ButatFt.Bragghe'dseemedtheepitomeofaGreenBeretalean,mean,fightingmachine,witty,scoringhighintests,andsoon.Hecouldhavemodeledforrecruitingposters.Butwithinitall,hewasaselfcenteredegotistwhoseeveryexertion,inretrospect,actuallyhadbeenintendedtobringhimselfrecognition,includingtheberetcockedjauntilyonhishead.Aswesaidbackthen,hewas"90percentshow,10percentgo."
HUMANNATUREVULNERABILITIES
TheonequalityIsawincombatthatconsistentlygotmenkilledorcausedotherstodiewasarrogantoverconfidencesomefoolthinkingheknewitall.Anyoneofthehumanvulnerabilitieslistedbelowcangetyoukilledorcauseyoutofailtoaccomplishyourmission.Masterthesequalitiesandyouwillhavemasteredyourself.
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Overconfidence
Inattention/Indifference
HastyDecisions
LackofPlanning
BadTacticalHabits
Anger/Emotionalism
UndueCuriosity
TooEasilyDistracted
Laziness
UnderestimatingYourOpponent
UnwillingnesstoTrain,Prepare
Howcanyouidentifythesetypes?Ithinkattitudemirrorsthesoul,butthekeyinassessingattitudeiswatchingwhatadevotedmandoes,notwhatabraggartsays.Acts,notwords,havetruevalue.
Willhegoonwhenothersarequitting?Doesheputhismatesaheadofhimself?Willheendurepainanddiscomforttosucceed?Doesheactuallygiveofhimselfordoesheonlytake?Willheriskhimself,willhetakechances?Andultimately,willhefollowordersandtaketheshot?
Unlikemostsoldiersandlawmen,it'stoughtoknowifasniperwillengageatargetthat'sdistantandnoimmediatethreattohimself.HemayevenhavetimetostudythetargetandnoticehowmuchitlookslikehisUncleRalph.I'venever,everknownofanincidentinwhichapoliceofficerorsoldierfoundhecouldnotshootatanearbybadguywhowasshootingathim.Themarksmanshipmayhavebeenpoor,thedrawslow,butnomoralpangsorsocietaltaboosaffectedthegoodguy.
Butsomethinghappenswhenasniperlooksinthatopticalsightandseesapairofrealeyes.It'stheeyesthatdistinguishalivinghumanfromatarget.
I'vebeenunabletocomeupwithameanstodeterminewhowouldnottakeashot,sountilitactuallyhappens,youcanneverbesurewho's"willing."Andthisunderscoresthecriticalityoftrainingrealism,ofmakingasniper'stargetssorealisticthattherealthingwon'tseemmuchdifferent.Especiallyensurethathistargetshaveeyes.
POLICETACTICALUNITORGANIZATION
Lawenforcementsniperteamsareonecomponentofalargertacticalunit,sometimesreferredtoasSWAT.Justasistrueforthemilitary,policetacticalunitsareconfiguredintodistinct
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elementsgroupedtogetheraccordingtofunction,thenmixedandmatchedor"tailored"toconductanyspecificoperation.
Alongwithtwomansniperteams,atypicalpolicetacticalunitincludesthefollowingelements:
COMMANDANDCONTROL:Normally,tacunitleadersarenotheavilyinvolvedonsiteduringoperationsbecausethey'requicklyaccomplishedandtheunitwithdrawn.Inmostcases,leadersplanandletthesubelementsexecute.It'sonlyduringprotractedsituationssuchasahostagetakingthatacommandpostisoperatedonsiteandthecommandandcontrolelementisfullyutilized.
ENTRYTEAMS:Composedoffourtosixwellarmedofficers,anentryteamspecializesindynamicallyenteringastructure,quicklyclearingit,retrievinghostages,andneutralizingorarrestingsuspects.Becausetheseofficersbestunderstandthedemandsofanentry,theyusuallyaredeployedastheinnerperimeterforce,aswell.
GASTEAMS:Theefficientemploymentofgasisaspecializedfunctionhandledbytwomangasteams.Moderntacticalunitsusegaswiselytodivertasuspect'sattention,todenyhimaccesstosomepartsofastructure,ortotemporarilydisablehimduringanassault.
HOSTAGENEGOTIATOR:Thiscouldbeadepartmentpsychiatristoranofficertrainedespeciallyinnegotiationskills.Duringprotractedsituations,usuallyinvolvinghostagetakers,anegotiatorcontactsthesuspectsandattemptstouseahostoftechniquestohelpresolvethesituation.
MEDICALTEAMS:Thesecouldbepoliceorfireparamedics,ormedicsfromalocalhospital.What'simportantisthattheytrainregularlywithyourunitandunderstandhowtacteamoperationsareconducted.Theirgearandorientationprimarilyaredirectedtowardtraumainjuries.
Anintegralcomponentofthemodernpolicetacteamthepolicesniper.
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POLICETACTICALUNITORGANIZATION
COMMUNICATIONSELEMENT:Thissectionreallycomesintotheforeduringaprotractedincident,whenanonsitecommandpostsuddenlyneedsphones,FAXmachines,secureradios,andphotographicsupport,nottomentiontechnicalsurveillanceofsuspects.
Therecanbeotherattachmentstothetacticalteam.Byattachments,wemeanthesesectionsarenotorganicnotactuallyapartofthetacticalteam.They'reattachedtotheteamandundertheteamcommander'scontrolifneededonaparticularoperation.
BOMBSQUAD:Inadditiontohelpingassess,remove,andpossiblydisableanexplosivedevice,thebombsquadinmanydepartmentsistheonlysectionthatisauthorizedtoprepareanddetonateexplosiveentrycharges.Theseofficersshouldbethelocalboobytrapexpertswhocaninstructsnipersindetectingandbypassingdeviceswhilestalking.
AIRSUPPORT:Anairborneplatformfacilitatescommandandcontrol,reconnaissance,relayofradiomessages,photographicsurveys,aerialsearchesahostofusefulcontributionstotacticalteamoperations.Andaddtothistheabilityofahelicoptertoquicklyairliftofficerslongdistancesortogreatheights.
TheUrbanPoliceCountersniper
Thepolicecountersniperrolewascreatednotonawhimbutinproportionalresponsetoaspecificthreatthatfirstemergedinthe1960saftertheworstmasskillinginAmericanhistory.
InAugust1966,a25yearoldUniversityofTexasstudent,CharlesWhitman,wheeledadollyloadedwithaduffelbagandmilitaryfootlockerontohiscampustowerelevatorinAustin.At11:48A.M.,afterbarricadinghimselfatopthe28storytower,thehuskyexmarineandbiggamehunterraisedaRemington6mmModel700rifletohisandpeeredthroughhisscope.
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Afewmonthsearlier,Whitmanhadtoldauniversitypsychiatristhewassoupsetthathe'dbeen"thinkingaboutgoinguponthetowerwithadeerrifleandstartshootingpeople."Henowlivedoutthatgrislyfantasy.
Overthenext90minutes,Whitmanengagedpeopleuptothreeblocksaway,killing13andwoundinganother31forastaggeringtotalof44casualties.Butwhat'sofmostinteresttousishischoiceofdominatingterrainandweapons,aswellashowheexploitedbothtothedetrimentofrespondinglawofficers.
AUSTIN,TEXAS,1966.CharlesWhitmankilled13andwounded31fromhis28storyperch,aghastlynationalrecordformassmurder.
WithinminutesofWhitmanfiringhisfirstshot,morethan100lawmenfromtheAustinpolice,TexasRangers,andlocalSecretServiceofficeswarmedtothecampus,buttheirproblemwasoneofballisticandopticaldisadvantage.Armedonlywithpistolsandshotgunshavinganeffectiverangeofnomorethan50yardsthelawmenweredistinctlyoutclassedbyamanwhocouldhitevenanexposedheadatsixtimesthatdistance.
Whitman'stowerperchwassurroundedbyawaisthighledgeofbrickanddecorativeconcretecolumns,creatingmanynaturalloopholesthroughwhichhefired.ThebestcountersniperweaponsinAustinwerethedeerriflesofcivilianpassersbywhoshotsidebysidewithlocalpolice,buttolittleeffectagainstthewenentrenchedgunman.
Firingfromhisheavilyremforcedhide,Whitmandominatedtheflatsurroundingterrain,easilyhittingseveralpoliceattemptingtorushthebuilding.Whenheneededmorefirepower,Whitmanletloosewitha.30caliberMlcarbine.
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For90minutes,thecarnagecontinueduntilfinallytwolawmenandadeputizedcivilianenteredthebuildingthroughasubterraneanpassage,climbedthetower,andrushedWhitman,riddlinghisbodywithslugs.
FollowingtheAustinmassacre,manylocalpolicedepartmentsinstitutedapolicyofassigningoneriflearmedofficertoeachshift.Intheseearlydays,apolicerifleman'sweaponwasaslikelytobea.3030leveractionasanythingelse,sincechoicesfrequentlywerebaseduponpersonalpreferences.IrecalltheSt.LouisPoliceDepartmentused.3006BARsportingriflesintheearly1970s.Still,riflearmedpoliceseemedanodditybarelytoleratedbyadministrators,andthepoliceriflemanremainedarelativelyuntried,seldomcalledshoulderuponadjunct,mobilizedinonlytherarestofcases.
ButthelessonsofAustinwerepoundedinagaininNewOrleansinAugustof1974,whenanexsailor,23yearoldJimmyEssex,beganakillingrampageataHowardJohnson'sMotorLodge.
Aracialextremistwhohadvowedtokillasmanywhitesaspossible,EssexcameclosetoequalingCharlesWhitman'stallyhekilledsevenandwoundedanother21people.Inparticular,Essexhatedpoliceofanyraceandsevenofhisvictimswererespondinglawmen,includingDeputySuperintendentLouisSirgo.
EssexeventuallyoccupiedapositionverysimilartoWhitman'sbarricadedtower,exploitingareinforcedconcreteelevatorstructureonthehotelroof,whereheblastedawaywitha.44MagnumRugerautocarbinefor11hours.Afteranentirenightexchangingfirewithoutgunnedlawmen,aUSMCCH46helicopterfinallyarrivedandletloosewithanM60machinegun,drillingEssexwith"atleastahundredbullets,"accordingtoonepressaccount.
Havingwitnessedthelevelofresponsenecessitatedbynotrespondingproportionallyattheverystart,lawenforcementadministratorsbetterrealizedtheneedforpolicesnipers.
Some15yearsafterEssex'srampage,IencounteredNewOrleanspoliceriflemenamongourstudentsataMississippishootingclinicandcompetition.IcanassureyouthatNewOrleanstodayisservedbysuperbpoliceshooterswholearnedmuchfromthatghastly,tragicincident.
ButittooktheAustinandNewOrleansmassacresandahostoflesserknownoutgunnedshootoutstowashawayanydoubtabouttheneedforpolicecountersnipercapabilities.Andwhatwouldhappeniftoday'sproperlytrainedandequippedpolicesniperencounteredthelikesofaWhitmanorEssex?Theslaughterwouldendwithjustoneshot.
DIFFERENCESBETWEENPOLICEANDMILITARYSNIPERS
Perhapstheworstmistakeapolicesnipercanmakeistoimaginehe'samilitarysniper;equally,amilitarysniperisingraveerrorifhebeginsactinglikehe'Salawofficer.
Thereareconsiderabledifferencesbetweenthetwo,notmerelytheresultoftechnicaldistinctionsorsillyconcernsbyofficialsfearinglawsuits.Wemustclearlyexaminethesedistinctionsbecausetheyimpactyourtactics,organization,equipment,planningeveryareaofasnipersjob.Andkeepingthesedifferencesinmindwillhelpyoufocusontheapplicabledataandtechniquesfoundinthefollowingchapters.
Beforedrawingsuchdistinctions,however,realizethatthemostfundamentalsnipingskillsmarksmanship,fieldcraft,andtacticsareverysimilarforbothpoliceandmilitary.Thedramaticdifferencesareinhowasniperappliesthem.
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LegalitiesandPolicies
Themostbasicdifferencebetweenapoliceandamilitarysniperishoweachemploysdeadlyforce.
Nolawofficerwouldevertakeashotwhichisdeadlyforceunlessasuspectisathreattohimself,anotherpoliceofficer,abystander,orahostage.Butquitetheoppositeappliestoamilitarysniperincombat.Hereadilywillengageaconfirmedenemysoldier,andhistargetneednotbeanimmediatethreattoanyone.Thehostilesoldier'smereexistenceisathreattoourforces,itisunderstood,andtheLawofLandWarfareallowsengagingwithoutwarning.
Provideditisaconfirmedenemysoldieranditisatimeofwar,themilitarysniperhasnolegalconcernwhatsoever.Tothedegreehemustusejudgement,itistoanalyzethetacticalsituationandactwiselywhileunderstress.Thepolicesniper,however,mustkeepinmindthathiseverymovemustbejustifiable,andthatheespeciallywillhaveto"articulate"thethreatheperceivedtolegitimizehisshot.
Departmentoragencypolicieswillvary,butitisgenerallyrecognizedthatapolicesniper'sauthoritytofireneednotrequireanorderfromanonscenesupervisor.Itshouldbegeneratedbythesituationitself.Askyourself,"IfIhadapistolandIwas10feetfromthesuspect,canIjustifyusingdeadlyforce?"Shouldtheanswerbe,"Yes,"youronlydistinctionasasniperisthedistance,notthejustification.
Asapracticalmatter,however,youmostlikelywouldnotengagepriortotheonscenecommanderissuinga"GreenLight,"becausethebosswillhavewantedtoexploreotheroptionsusinglessforceorposinglessdangertoahostage.
Policesnipersmaylegallyemploythemosteffectiveammunition,whichiscivilianhollowpointMatchorsoftpointrounds.ThesedelivermoreenergyintothetargetwhilealsocreatinglessdangerofoverpenetrationthanmilitaryballMatchammo.ButmilitarysniperscannotusethistypeofbulletwithoutviolatingtheLawofLandWarfare,ormorespecifically,theHagueConventionof1907,whichoutlawssoftpointandexpandableroundsinwar.
SeveralcategoriesoftargetsarenotencompassedbytheHagueConvention,however.Theseincludeterrorists,domesticcriminals,andarmedrioters,anyofwhomcouldpossiblyappearinamilitarysniper'scrosshairs.
RotatingRifles
Anotherliabilityissueforpoliceriflemenistherotationofriflesamongofficers,whichcancausedoubtsabouttheweapon'scurrentzero,itscondition,andhowreliablyitwillplaceabulletexactlywhereintended.
Somesmalllawenforcementagencieshaveattemptedtoeconomizebyhavingofficersshareoneortwosniperrifles,whichisdistinctfromthemilitarypracticeofrotatingweaponsbetweenspotterandsniper.Inthemilitary,onemanusesthesniperriflewhilehispartnerhasanassaultrifle,whichtheyswapwhenrotatingduties.
Neitherofthesecircumstancessharingarifleorrotatingoneissuitableforthelifeanddeathincidentsinwhichapolicesnipermaybecalledupontofire.Inadditiontoliability,theofficerjustplainwillnotmasteraweaponthatisnothisown.SeveraltimesIhavesentpolitelettersonthissubjecttolawenforcementsupervisorsonbehalfoftheirsnipers,andoncethe
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issuesofpotentialliabilityandeffectivenessarefaced,ithasalwaysledtotheofficersgettingtheadditionalriflestheyneeded.
Tworelatedpoliceliabilityissuesaresnipertrainingandthekindofriflehe'sequippedwith.WhHeacompetentpoliceriflemancertainlyshouldbeabletoneutralizeanarmedsuspect,itdoesn'tseemwisetousehiminespeciallydangeroussituationssuchasacomplicatedhostagerescuewithoutspecialtraining.Andequippinghimwithastandardofftherackriflewithconventionalriflescope?It'sdefinitelyworthspendingafewdollarsextraandgettingarealsnipersystem.
EngagementDistances
Evermindfulthathecannotaffordtomissevenonce,apolicesniperattemptstoclosethedistancetohistarget.Heespeciallydesirestobecloserthan100yards,whichtypicallyisthezerodistanceofhisrifle.FBIstatisticsverifythis:thenationalaverageengagementdistanceforapolicesniperhasbeenonly71yards.
Whilesomecrimescenarios,especiallyrooftopcraziesorskyjackers,couldinvolveamuchlongershot,thiswouldbeamostexceptionalsituation.Infact,somepoliceagenciesdonotpermitashotofmorethan200yardswithoutspecialapproval.
Butwhilethepolicesniperattemptstoclosewithhisquarry,themilitarysnipertriestokeephimatarm'slength,sotospeak,somewhatlikealongarmedboxerexploitinghisreachadvantage.Icallthisconceptasniper's"ballisticadvantage,"meaningthesniperriflehasbetteraccuracyandlethalitythantheenemy'sassaultrifleswhenthesniperismorethan400yardsaway.RecaHthattheAK47.'s7.62x39mmroundhasperformancesimilartoa.3030deercartridge,whichmosthunterswouldconsiderineffectivebeyondabout200yards,andyou'llunderstandwhatImean.
NatureoftheTarget
Apolicesniper'stargetisalmostalwaysasingle,armedsuspectwhohasalreadytakenonelifeandprobablythreatenedtotakeanother.Thesuspectisisolatedandfixedinabarricadeofsomesort,perhapsevenshieldinghimselfwithahostageortwo.
Thepolicesniper'schallengeistomaneuvergoodandcloseforaclear,unhinderedshotwithoutthesuspectdetectinghimorrealizingheisabouttobeengaged.Theonlythreatisthesuspect,andhealreadyhasbeensurroundedandfixedbyotherpoliceofficerspriortotheengagement.Thepolicesniperusuallyhasonlyonetargetperoperation,andheneutralizesthattargetwithjustoneround.One"bang"andhegoeshome.
Hismilitarysnipercounterpart,ontheotherhand,usuallyengagesmanytargetsduringasingleoperation,perhapsevenduringasingleengagement.Themilitarysnipermoves,spots,fires;moves,spots,fires;moves,spots,firesinadangeroussettinginwhichpotentialhostilesareallaroundhim.
Theenemyfrequentlyhasmorefirepower,greaternumbers,andcanoutmaneuveroroutrunthemilitarysniperifhispositionisclearlydetermined.Duetotheeverpresentdanger,inadditiontomarksmanshipandtargetdetection,themilitarysnipermustpayequalheedtothefinerpointsofinfiltrationandexfiltrationinordertoaccomplishhisjobandlivetotellaboutit.Somepolicesnipermissionssuchasclandestinedruglabreconorremoteairfieldsurveillancerequiresophisticatedinfiltrationandexfiltration,too.
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TakingtheShot
Theworlddoesnotcomecrashingtoahaltifamilitarysnipermissesashot.It'smerelyafactoflifethatimperfectrangeandwindestimation,suddentargetmovement,roughtriggerrelease,orahostofotherreasonswillcausemissesatgreatdistances.
Butthemilitarysniperattemptsimperfectshotsattimesbecausethey'retheonlyshotshehas,orthetarget,ifhit,issovaluablethatitdeservesevenan"ifty"shot.Whenyouhaveanenemyfuncolonelvisibleat800yardsinagustycrosswind,Iassureyou,youwillattempttheshot.
Usually,theselandsofengagementsinvolvenootherfriendlylives,andamissbecomesonlya"learningexperience"forbothsniperandtargetalike.Ifamilitarysniperonlyattempted"surething"shots,hewouldlosealotofeffectivenessbecausemanyofthe"unsure"shotswouldhavebeenhits,too,andagainstdistantorunlikelytargetsthatwouldneverappearassurethingsatcloserange.EnemycolonelsarefarmoreUkelytobefoundat800yardsbeyondtheenemy'sfrontlinethanathisnearestbunker.
Indramaticcontrast,apolicesnipermustneverbeallowedtheleewaytomiss.Whenhemisses,ahostagedies,asuspectescapes,orafellowofficerloseshislife,allonnationaltelevisionwithfollowupinthenewspapers.
Pressure?It'stremendous.AsIwroteinanFBILawEnforcementBulletinarticle,apolicesniper'sdutyplaceshimin"theloneliestspotintheworld."Lives,careers,fate,selfrespectit'sallonthelineanddeterminedbyexerting3pounds'pressureonatrigger.
BeingAbletoSay"No"
Relatedtothisburdensomerequirementnevertomiss,apolicesnipermuchmoresothanhismilitarycounterpartmusthavethecapacitytosay"NO!"
Hemusthavethegutstoassessthesituationhonestly,weighthisagainsthisrifleandhisownabilities,andlethissupervisorknowiftheshotcanbetaken.Often,leadersdonotfullyappreciatearifleman'scapabilities;passivelyaccommodatingtheirdesirescanleadtodisaster.
Itcouldwellbethatthebestchanceforahostagerescuerequiresariskyshot.Thensobeit,providedeveryonerealizesitandlesspracticaloptionshavebeenconsideredanddiscarded.Aftertheprocess,youcanlivewithyourselfeveniftheoperationfails;youdidyourbest.
Butifyouremainedquietandjustwentalongwiththeflow,theresultwillhauntyoutoyourgrave.
TheSniper'sEnvironment
Bothpoliceandmilitarysnipersoperateinstressfilledenvironments,buthowthestressesaregenerated,andhowtheycanaffectyou,arequitedifferent.
Themilitarysniper,dayinanddayout,operatesingreatpersonaldangerbecauseheprobablyisbehindenemylines.Everysinglemove,histiniestact,mustbemodifiedtoremainundetected,forhisonlytruesecurityisinvisibility.Whenheshoots,hemustdisplace,orcertainretaliationwillcrashuponhim.Hecannotrelaxfromthemomenthedepartsfriendlylinesuntilhereturns.
Themilitarysniper'sstresseseventuallyreducehimtobeingcombatineffective.Havingrunmanyoperationsdeepbehindenemylines,Icantellyoufirsthandthatsuch24hourdangers
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willwearyoudowninaboutfourorfivedays.InSOG,weweredeadlyeffectiveatsneakingandhidingandevenoutmaneuveringbloodhoundsandspeciallytrainedtrackers,butonlyforlessthanaweek.
Thepoliceofficermustbeabletohandlethestressofbeingthrust,withnowarningandnomentalpreparation,intoalifeanddeathsituation.Hecouldbehavinglunchwithhisfianceoneminuteand10minuteslaterhaveamassmurdererinhiscrosshairs.
Butafterrushingtothescene,resolvedandready,mostlikelyhemustpatientlywaithoursordaysbeforebeingdirectedtotakeonejustoneshot.Anddespiteyearsoftrainingandmanyfalsealarms,thisscenariowilllikelyunfoldonlyonceinhisentirecareer,ifever.Buthemustbereadyforiteverysingledayhe'sapolicetacteamsniper.Unlikeasoldiergoingintocombat,thisengagementfollowsnoschedule.
MissionDuration
Howlongamilitarysnipercanremaininthefieldisdictatedequallybyhowmuchfoodandwaterhecancarryinwithhim.Itworksout,usually,toaboutfivedays'worth,whichisthesameamountoftimehecankeephismindandbodyfocusedinthisstressfulenvironment.
Apolicesnipershouldarrivereadytospendeighthoursinhissniperhidewithoutfurtherresupplyorrestatleastthisseemstobethecurrentreality.Dependingupontheavailabilityofreliefsniperteams,youcouldbeginrotatingassoonasfourorfivehours,butthisisn'ttypical.
Frompersonalobservation,Idon'tthinkalawenforcementsniperwillretainthekeenedgeheneedsformorethanaboutfourhourswithoutabreak.Thatbreakcouldbeonlyanhourortwo,andit'sasmuchamentalneedasaphysicalone.Afterthat,hecouldbefocusedagainforafewhours,butstrainwillsetin.
Aftereighthours,hedefinitelyneedsrestandacompletechangeofpace.ElsewhereIrecommendthatpolicesnipersbringenoughsuppliesforatleast24hoursonsite,butthatdoesn'tmeanyoushouldbestaringthroughyourscopeforafulldaywithoutrest.
Youmustpaceyourselfwithbreaksanddowntimeandrealsleep,becausethehistoryofactualincidentsshowsthatashotistakeneitherwithinanhourortwoornotuntiladayortwolater.Ifyou'reintenseandfocusedatthefrontend,you'llburnoutandwon'tbereadytotakeashot48hourslater.
SNIPERTEAMOPERATIONALEQUIPMENT
Whetherpoliceormilitary,asniperteamrequiresawidevarietyofequipmenttoaccomplishitsmissions,muchofitgearthatordinarylawofficersorGIswouldnotencounter.Thesniperteam'ssecondarysurveillancerole,aswellasselfdefenserequirementsdictatedbyoperatingalone,addsevenmorekindsofgear.
We'regoingtodiscusshoweachpieceofequipmentisemployed,exceptthemostcriticalsnipingitemsweapons,optics,rangefinders,camouflagewhicharecoveredinmuchdetailelsewhere.
Nomattertheitem,keepthethreatofhostilecountersurveillanceinmindandensureyourgeariscoloredinasuitablecamouflageshade.Asnipermuststayinvisible.
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Apolicesnipermustbeequallypreparedtoengageuponarrivaloreighthoursintoanincident.
It'sphysicallyimpossibletototeallthegearwe'reabouttodiscuss.Therefore,it'sasimportantforyoutolearnwhenandhowtocarryitasitistorecognizethebasicuseofit.
Tostartwith,understandthatsniperteamoperationsfallneatlyintotwocategories:thoseyouplanandexecute,andthoseinitiatedbytheactsofahostile.Intheformercase,youhavetimetoconsiderusinganygear,thenreconfigureyourrucksackandwebgeartocarryit.Butinthelattercase,there'salmostnotime;you'rerushingtoascenewithfriendlylivesinjeopardy.
Tobepreparedforeithersituation,youneedtodevelopabasicloador"alertload"thatincludestheitemsyou'dalmostalwaysneed.Youcangrabitanddashoutthedoor,andprobably85percentofthetime,you'rereadyforaction.Perhapsyou'dpauseaminutetograbanotheritemortwo,andthatwouldcoveryoufor99percentofmissions.
Ontheotherhand,whenpreparingforpreplannedoperations,youcarefullybalanceanitem'sneedagainstitsweightandrepackagebaseduponyourspecificsituation.
Takingthisconceptastepfurther,let'slookatthekindsofcontainersandcarrierswe'duseinthecontextofwhatgoesintothem.Infact,thisisourfirstcategoryofgear.
CasesandLoadBearingGear
We'vepreparedseparatedataboxesthatlistalltheitemsrecommendedforcarryingineachofthefollowingcontainersandrucksacks.Herewewilldescribejustthefeaturesandrequirementsforthesecontainers.Becausemilitarysnipersspendseveraldaysinthefieldoneachoperation,they'lltendtocarrythelargerucksackmuchmorethanwillalawofficer.Still,though,theprincipleshereapplytobothmilitaryandpolicesnipers.
TACTICALVESTORWEBGEAR:Probablymadeofnylon,thisistheonecarrierthat'salwayswithyou,nomatterthetacticalsituation.Insideitspouchesaretheminimalitemsneededtotakeashot,survive,andcommunicatewithothers.Ifyoumuststripdowntothelightestpossibleload,youstillretainyourvest/webgear,whichhasthebareessentialsneededtoaccomplishyourmission.
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CASESANDLOADBEARINGGEAR.Thedittybag(left)isnotasusefulasamilitarytyperucksack,webgear,andriflehardcase.
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DITTYBAGORLIGHTRUCKSACK:Thedittybagiscitedbecausemany.....usethem,buthereweurgelawofficerstoswitchtoalightrucksack.toacarrybag,alightruckonyourbackyoutocarryyourrifleinbothhands,enablingclimb,run,andshot.whencombinedwithhiswebgear,a
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poUcesniper'slightrucksackcontainseverythingheneedsforeighthoursonsitewithnoresupplyorassistance.Youcarrythislightrucksackyoursniperhideposition,butinafixyoucouldconcealitandstalkforwardandstillaccomplishyourwiththevest/webgearcontents.
LARGERUCKSACK:Thisisactuallyyourreservestowbag,inwhicheverythingelseisstored.GeneraDythere'senoughgearinheretoallow24hoursonsitewithnofurtherassistanceorresupply,whencombinedwiththecontentsofthesmallrucksackandvest/webgear.Policesnipersbringthislargerucksacktothescenebutkeepitlockedintheirsquadortacteamvan.Inthatfewminuteshewastograbgearoncealerted,apolicesnipertransfersanitemortwofromthereservestowbagintothelightrucksackhecarriesonhisback.It'spossibleapolicesnipercouldhaveaspecialmissionlastingseveraldayslikearemoteairfieldsurveillancewhichwoulddemandsomuchextragearandfoodthatthelargerucksackbecomeshisprimarygearcontainer.Heshiftsnonessentialgearintothelightrucksack,whichheleavesbehind.
Thiscustompolicesnipervestwasmadetoauthor'sspecsbySouthernTacticalSupplyandfeaturespouchesfor5roundriflespeedloaders,a20roundammobox,andminibinoculars.(PhotocourtesyofFredMacDonaldIII.)
RIFLEHARDCASE:Wheneverbeingtransportednontactically,yourrifleshouldbekeptinahardcase.Althoughthisprovidescompleteprotection,yourgreatestconcernmustbetopreventdamagetothescope,themostvulnerablecomponentofasnipingsystem.Anyhardcasemeetingairlineluggagestandardsisacceptable,whethermadeofplasticoraluminum.Allarefoamlined,buttheadditionofVelcrointernaltiedownsisexcellentAlargertwoguncaseispreferable,Ithink,becauseyoucanstowandcarryextraitemsalongsideyourrifle.Afteropeningyourcaseinrainorhighhumidity,besuretoallowthefoamtodrybeforerestoringtherifleinit.Arelatedpoint:keeponeortwosilicagelpacketsinthehardcasetoabsorbdampnessandprotecttheweaponfromrust.
MISCELLANEOUSADDITIONALGEAR(AVAILABLEBUTNOTCARRIED)
KevlarHelmet
GhillieSuit
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TelephotoLenses
SleepingBag
CamouflageNetting
GasMask
StillCamera
VideoCamera
NightVisionDevices
Ammunition,Weapons,andAccessories
SNIPERRIFLEWITHSCOPEANDBIPOD:We'lldealwiththeseitemsatlengthinalaterchapter.Asniperrifleshouldbeof.308caliberorlarger.Itshouldhaveazoomscopeorfixedpowerscopewithamaximummagnificationnogreaterthan12X.Thebipodattachesnottothebarrelbutatthefrontswivelstudandishighlyadjustable.Aqualityslingcompletesthesnipingsystem.Combined,therifle,scope,bipod,andslingshouldweighbetween13and15pounds.
Therearofauthor'ssnipervesthaspouchesforahanditalkie,rangefinder,spottingscope,andtripodaswellasstrapsforaThermaRestmat.(PhotocourtesyofFredMacDonaldIII.)
SPOTTER'SRIFLE:ThemiHtaryspotterisarmedwithanM16A2rifleandanM20340mmgrenadelauncher.Thishighcapacityassaultrifleprovidesenoughfirepowerforbreakingawayfromshortdistance,unintendedcontacts;the40mmgrenadelauncherallowsfiringofhighexplosiveandsmokerounds,whichgreatlyassistmaskinganddisplacementfollowingasnipingengagement.ThepoHcespotter,too,shouldhaveanassaultriflesohecanaddmassfiretohissniper'sselectivesingleshots,andtherebygivetheteamanantivehiclecapabiHtyaswellastoengagemultiplearmedsuspects.ThetargetgradeSpringfieldArmoryMlA(acopyoftheM14/M21system)fitsthisneedtoatee,andbytoppingitwithagoodscope,thelawenforcementspottercanbackuphissniper'sshotwithaninstantsecondround,ifrequired.
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HANDGUNWITHSPAREMAGAZINE:Giventhatthesnipermostlikelyisarmedwithaboltactionriflehavingacapacityoffiveorlessrounds,andrealizingthathisscopemakesshortrangeengagementsslowanddifficult,thenmoresothanmostsoldiersheneedsahighcapacityautomaticpistolandseveralsparemagazines.Havingbeeninseveralshootoutsusing9mmballagainstbadguysandnotbeingsatisfiedwiththeresults,IamnotagreatfanofthatcaHber.The.45caHberpistoloffersmuchgreatercapabilty,andthenew.40S&WisbetterstillbecauseithasbalHsticssimilartothe.45butallowsforalargermagazinecapacity.Therefore,incombatIwouldcarryaGI.45autoorscroungeaGlockin.40S&W.PoHcesnipersfacesimHarconcernstotheirmilitarycounterparts,butdepartmentalpoHcieslikelywilldictatetheirsidearms.Ifyouhavesomeleeway,Iagainwouldrecommenda.45or.40S&W,exceptthe.45wouldbeaSigSauerP220.
AMMO,WEAPONS,ANDACCESSORIES.Thesearethebasictoolsofthesniper'strade.
HANDGUNS.AuthorprefersthisSIGP220in.45Auto,buttheBerettaM92orGlockhandgunsaresuitable,too.
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AMMUNITIONBASICLOAD:We'vepreparedaseparateboxthatliststherecommendedtypesandamountsofammunitionforcarryonyourvest/webgearandinyourlightrucksack.ItmustbenotedthatmilitarysnipersemployingcivilianMatchhollowpointroundsforanythingbutcivildisturbancesandcounterterroristoperationswouldbeinviolationoftheHagueConvention.Also,recognizethatpoliceusemilitaryballMatchtobetterpenetratemediasuchasglassandvehicles.Tracersareformarkingtargetsforaircraftandfriendlygroundforces.
CHEMICALMACE:Thisprimarilyistodissuadecuriousanimalsandhostiledogsfrombotheringyouinyoursniperhidepositionorwhilestalking.
CLEANINGROD:Employedinthefieldtoremovebarrelobstructions,particularlyifyou'vepokedthemuzzleintosoftearth.Otherwise,usedtocleanjacketresidueafterfiringeachfiverounds.
COPPERSOLVENT:Forremovingcopperjacketresidueafterfiringeachfiverounds.
CLEANINGPATCHES:Employedwithcoppersolvent.
SMALLBOTTLELUBRICANT:Foremergencyfielduse.
WINDGAUGE:Thesearehelpfulbutoflimitedvaluesinceyoucanonlymeasurewindatyourlocation,whilewindatyourtargetmaybeadifferentspeedanddirection.
CLIPONTHERMOMETER:Smallandlightweight,aminithermometerisusedtomonitortemperature,computeanyresultingvelocitychanges,anddeterminehowitwillaffectbullettrajectory.
18"x18"CANVAS:Laythisbelowyourmuzzletoeliminatethedustsurgekickedupbymuzzleblast.
EMPTYCLOTHBAG:Fillitwithavailablesand,dirt,orgravel,closewithawiretwist,andusetosupportyourrifleforearm.
ImakeminefromoldBDUpantslegs.
BEANBAG:Thisisanoldsock,usedtopreciselyraiseorlowerthebutt'sheelforexact,steadyaiming.It'sfilledwithdriedpeashencethenameorevenbetter,packitwithfinenylon
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granulesusedinshotgunreloading,amaterialcalled"buffer,"whichislightweightandwon'tabsorbdampness.
TREESTEPS:Inventedforusebybowhunters,thesearehandybracesforyourfeetifyoumustfirefromapeakedroof.Also,onecanbescrewedintoatreetrunkandpaddedwithagloveforashootingsupport.Useful,too,forboostingyourselfoverawoodenfenceorupthesideofahouseintoawindow.
SPOTTINGANDSURVEILLANCEEQUIPMENT.Thesearetheessential"eyes"ofasniperteam.
SpottingandSurveillanceEquipment
SPOTTINGSCOPE:We'llexaminetheseingreatdetaillater.Thisisoneofthebasicpiecesofsnipingequipment,enablingtheteamtosurveil,detecttargets,readwindspeedanddirectionwithmirage,andconfirmhitsandadjustfire.Spottingscopesareavailableinfixedpowerorzoom.Aqualityspottingscopeiswellworththemoney.
TRIPOD:Usedtosupportthespottingscopesinceahandcannotholditsteadyenoughforlongrangeviewing.Tripodscanbesimple,foldingthreeleggedaffairsorcomplicatedandveryadjustablewithmicrometerlikedials.
BINOCULARS:UsedtogetherwiththespottingscopeforvisualoverlapinbothFieldofViewandmagnificationpower.We'llexaminebinocularsindepth,butnotethatbothminibinocularsandfullsizeonesserveusefulpurposes.
ALCOHOLWIPES:Thesearenotforcleaninglensesbutforwipingglassyoumayhavetolookthroughwhilesurveilling.We'retalkingaboutthefoilsealed,throwawaywipes.Carryseveral.
LENSPAPER:Carryonepackagestowedinaplasticbaganduseonlylenspapertocleanyourriflescope,spottingscope,andbinocularlenses.
MIRROR:Usedtopeekaroundcornersoroveredgeswhilesearchingforahostilesniper.Thiscanbethesamemirrorcarriedforsignalpurposes.
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STILLCAMERA:Thisisnotlistedforcarryinginanycontainerbecauseit'sonlyusedonspecialsurveillanceoperations.Yetit'simportantthatyoutrainwithaparticulartypeofcamerathatisavailableforfieldusesoyoudon'thavetoscrambleatthelastminutewhenit'sneeded.
VIDEOCAMERA:Thisisadittoofwhatwe'vesaidforthestillcamera.Sinceyoursniperhideisanexcellentsurveillanceposition,youeasilycouldbetaskedtovideoanobjectivepriortoahostagerescuemissionoradrugraid.Youneedaccesstoavideocamfortraining,andadedicatedoneforsomeoperations.
NIGHTOBSERVATIONDEVICES(NODs):Theseareaddressedindetaillater.AlthoughmilitarysnipersshouldhaveassignedNODswhichtheyusefrequently,we'retreatingthemasspecialmissiongear.NODsareavailableasgogglesorsightingdevicestobeplacedatopyourrifleUkeadaytimescope.
SENSORS:Sincesnipersaremastersofstalkinganddeployinremoteareasorwellinadvanceofthemainbodyofanoperation,theycouldbeusedtoemplacesensorsclandestinely.They'renotUstedascarriedinanycontainerbecausethey'renotnormallyapieceofgearassignedtotheteam.
EdgedTools
FOLDINGSAW:Thisisthehandiestedgedtoolyoucanhave,andevenamoderatelypricedonecanzipthrougha2x4inminutes.UsedtoclearanarrowFieldofVieworfiringport,improvecamouflage,andahostofcuttingneeds.Usefulforbothmilitaryandlawenforcementsnipers.
SNIPS:Smallbutverysharp,usedtoprunejustabitofgrassandleavesawayfromyoursniperhidetoaUowundetectablefiring.AlsohandyforconstructingandmaintainingyourGhUUeSuit.
SMALLKNIFE:Asmallknifeisusefulforcutting,especiallywhenthere'saneedfordexteritythatabigknifecannotaccompUsh.
LARGEKNIFE:Alargeknifelendsitselftohackingandchoppingandshouldbeheavyenoughtogiveyousomeleverageandmomentum.Yes,itcanalsoremoveanenemysentry'shead,butyou'llhavefargreaterneedtoaccompUshmoremundanework.
ENTRENCHINGTOOL:Apermanentsniperhideincludesdiggingforprotectionagainstsmallarmsfireandenemyartillery.Butasurveillancehide,too,mayrequirediggingtobetotallyinvisible.
GLASSCUTTER:Forremovingglasspanesinanurbansnipinghidesoyoucanfirethroughawindowthatappearstobeclosed.
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EDGEDTOOLS.Anyorallofthesemaybeneeded,buttheauthorespeciallyvaluesthefoldingsawandFiskarssnipsatleft.
HIGHTECHCLOTHING.ThecivilianstyleGoreTexjacket(left)isuseful,butmediumweightGoreTexwithThinsulateliner(center)ishandier.HeavyweightGoreTexalongwithpolyproTshirtanddoublelayerPolarfleece
liner(right)preparesasniperevenforsubzerocold.ThebootsatcenterbottomcontainaGorelinerandThinsulateinsulation.(PhotobyRogerKennedy.)
Clothing
BASICUNIFORM:MilitarysnipersalreadyusethebattledressuniformorBDU,whichisanexcellentstyleforpolicesnipers,too.Thewoodlandcamouflagepatternbreaksupyouroutline,whileBDUshavereinforcedelbows,knees,andseat,andlotsofpockets.
GORETEXRAINWEAR:It'shardnottobeafanofclothingmadefromthishightechmaterial,whichisderivedfromthesameTeflonusedtolinefryingpans.Containingmillionsofporespersquareinch,GoreTexclothisactuallyamembranethatallowsyourbodyheattopassout,buttheporesaretootinytoallowwatertosoakin.Asniperwho'scomfortablecanremaininpositionmuchlongerthancanawet,miserablemanandifhypothermiasetsin,youcannotholdyourriflesteady.GoreTexasanouterlayeralsoshieldsyouagainstwindandthus
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windchill.Availableinseveralweights,thebestforfielduseistheheavytypefoundonthemilitary'sExtremeColdWeatherClothingSystem.TheonlydownsideistheaudiblerustlefromheavyGoreTex,whichisnottoobigaproblemsincesnipersaren'tinthebusinessofsentryremovalanyhow.Still,ifyou'reconcernedaboutrustle,youcanwearBDUsovertheGoreTextosilenceit,whileaspecialnewGoreTexStealthSuitisavailablewithasoftouterlayer.ClothingmadeofmaterialsthatclaimtoworksimilartoGoreTexhavereachedthemarketrecently,butIhaven'ttestedthem.
TORSOINSULATION:Sinceitcontainsyourheart,lungs,kidneys,andliver,youshouldtakespecialcaretokeepyourtorsowarmandinsulated.AwoolsweaterisexcellentbecausewoolretainsmostofitsinsulationpropertiesevenwhenwetAlso,aThinsulatejacketlinerworkswellsinceitprovideswarmthsimilartodown,butwithmuchlessbulk
POLYPROPYLENEUNDERWEAR:PolyproistounderwearwhatGoreTexistoouterwearahightechsolutiontoyourproblems.Becauseitwicksdampnessawayfromyourbody,polyprounderwearkeepsyouwarmwithoutsweataccumulationanddampness.ItworksgreatincombinationwithGoreTex.
HEADGEAR:Youshouldhaveasoft,junglestylehatforwarmweatherbecauseitcreatesanirregular,difficulttodetectoutline.Forcoolertempsandnight,wearawoolnavystylewatchcap.Rememberthatyourbodylosesabout15percentofitsheatthroughyourhead.
GLOVES:Verypopularamongsnipersaremilitaryaviator'sglovesmadefromfireproofNomexandleather.Youneedonlycutoffthetriggerfingertoadaptthesesnugglovesforsniperuse.IfyouuseNomexglovesoranyothertypeyoumustmakeapointofwearingthemduringshootingpractice,too.
BOOTS:Theseareyouroption,withmanytypesandmaterialsavailable.Justbesureyoudon'tmakethemistakeofusinglightweightandcomfortablebootswhenyouneedheavierones.Policesnipersshouldweartheirtacteambootsduringordinaryuniformdutysotheycandeployinstantlywithoutchangingfootgearandsotheirbootsarebrokeninandcomfortable.
DRYSOCKS:Militarysniperscertainlywouldbringdrysockstothefield,butpolicesnipersshouldbringthem,too.Ifyourfeetgetwetduringanoperation,andtheygetcold,it'salmostimpossibletogetthemwarmagainwithoutdrysocks.Coldfeetbecomenumbandclumsy.
SCARF:Iwearatriangulargreenfieldbandageasascarf.Withonequickflick,Icanrunitbelowmybarreltoclearthe1/8inchfreefloatspaceofanytwigsorcrud.Ialsowipemyfacewithit,it'shandyasaquicktiedown,anditcanbeusedasatourniquetorbandage.
PONCHO/GROUNDCLOTH:Asasniper,youmayhavetolieproneforhoursonwetground,whichcanbemademorecomfortablewithacombinationgroundcloth/poncho.Thatsameponchocanbesuspendedaboveyourhidetoshieldyouandyourgearfromsunorrain,provideditwon'tcompromiseyourlocation.Militarystyleponchos,camouflageonesinparticular,dothisjobwell.
CamouflageAids
PASTESANDSTICKS:Designedtobeappliedtoyourhandsandface,camouflagesticksandpastestakeafewminutestoapplybutneedtobetouchedupseveraltimesdaily.Pastesareeasiertoapplyandwashoff.We'llcoverthemextensivelylater.
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VEILS:Aveilcamouflagesyourfaceasquicklyasyoucanputiton,butunlessithaseyeholescutinit,itinterfereswithyourscope.Spandoflagetypeveils,though,workwell.Camouflageiscoveredextensivelyinaseparatesection.
CAMOUFLAGETAPE:Handyforcoveringarifle,scope,orotherequipment,camouflagetapeissimpleandfasttouse.Whiteadhesivetapeworkswellinthewinter.
MESHCAMOUFLAGESUIT:Thisisanoutstandingdevelopmentthateachpolicesnipershouldhave.Ameshsuitcanbepulledrightoveryourregularstreetuniformforinstantcamouflage.CombiningthiswithaSpandoflagehood,apolicesnipercancamohimselfinvirtuallyoneminute.
GHILLIESUIT:Thefinestsnipingeverdevised,aGhillieSuitallowstrulyinvisibleaction.However,it'salsohotandcanbeafirehazard.You'lllearntomakeonelater.
OVERWHITES:Everypolicesniperinthesnowbeltneedsoverwhites,eithermilitarysurplusorcivilianonesdesignedforwinterpredatorhunting.Inapinchyoucanmakeanexpedientset,whichwe'llteachinthecamouflagesection.
CAMOUFLAGENETTING:Thisisforpositionalcamouflageorconcealmentofequipment.Militarynettingasusedtodayisthebesteverdeveloped,andamoderatelypricedcivilianversionisavailable,too.Veryusefulforsurveillanceofmarijuanagrowingoperations,suspectedclandestinedruglabs,andremoteairfields.
NavigationAids
MAP:Forrouteplanning,rangeestimation,andterrainanalysisnottomentionjustplainknowingwhereheisasniperneedsamap.Policesnipersmayuseaprecinct,city,orcountymap,possiblyevenaU.S.GeologicalSurveycontourintervalmap.Militarysnipersnormallyusea1:50,000metriccontourintervalmap,althoughtheycouldhaveaerialandevensatellitephotosforspecialoperations.
CAMOUFLAGEAIDS.Theprofessionalsniperpicksandchoosesthecamopatternandaidsthatbestfiteachoperation.
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MILITARYACETATE/MAPSEALANT:Acetateisastickybackedbutclearcoveringformapsthatcomesinrolls.Asnipercutsapieceofacetateandverycarefullylaysitacrosshismap,towhichitwiUbindinstantly,forawaterproof,clearsurfaceonwhichhecanwritewithagreasepenciloralcoholmarker.Liquidmapsealanthasthesameeffect,butit'sbrushedacrossthemapinseverallayers.Acetateismoredurable,althoughit'snotusuallyavailableincivilianstores.
ALCOHOLMARKERS:Theseareusedforwritingonawaterproofedmap.Neveruseredtomarkamap;itwon'tbevisibleintheredfilteredlightyouusetopreservenightvision.
COMPASS:Threetypesofcompassesmaybeusedbyasniperteam.Awristcompassishandyforkeepinggeneraltrackofyourdirectionandmatchingthelandmarksaroundyoutoyourmap.Forbetterprecision,theSilvaprismaticcompasshasaclearplasticbaseandfinerdirectiongradients.Themostexactlandnavigationisaccomplishedwithamilitarylensaticcompass.
REFLECTOR/LUMINOUSTACKS:Thesetackscanbeprepositionedtoidentifydropofforrendezvouspoints,especiallywhenconductingvehicularinfilsandexfilsincounternarcoticsandlowintensityconflictoperations.
SignalandIlluminationDevices
RADIOS:Voiceactivated(VOX)radiosleavehandsfreetoaimtherifleandpullthetriggerduringhostagerescuecountdownshooting.TheyVemadeinheadsetstyle,asanadapterunitforordinarypolicehandytalkies,andsomehaveamicrophonebuiltintotheearmikeforamazinglycompactoperation.Stealth/secureradiosarepreferablebutnotalwaysavailable(andifyoudon'thaveasparebattery,that'swhenyou'llneedone).
SIGNALMIRROR:Sincethesignalmirrorisourfirstsignaldevice,itmustbeemphasizedherethatsuchdevicesareeither"passive"theycanbecontrolledsoonlyafriendlywillseeit,likeoursignalmirrororthey're"active"andeveryoneintheareawillnoticeit,whichincludesflaresandsmokegrenades.Signalmirrorscomeintwosizes,buttheimportantthingisthatthey'regoodglassandhaveascreenholeinthecenterforaimingatyourrecipient.They'reonlyuseableindaytimewithdirectsunlight.Mirrorsalsoareusedforpeekingaroundcornersandoveredgestolookforahiddenhostilesniper.
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NAVIGATIONAIDS.Thesearejustasimportantforpolicetacticalsnipersasformilitarysnipers.
SIGNALPANELS:Anotherpassivedevicefordaytimeuseonly,aneonorangepanelishighlyvisibletoaircraftanddistantviewers.Tomakeyourown,purchaseoneyardofneonorangeripstopnylonmaterialatafabricstore,thenquarteritandtapetheedges.Forafirstclasspanel,attachcamouflagematerialtotheback.You'llhavefourpanelsforabout$5each.
SMOKEGRENADES:Usableonlyindaylight,asmokegrenadeisvisibletoanyonelookinginyourdirection.They'reavailableaslarge,militarytypesmokesspewinglotsofsmokeorsmallerminismokesyoucancarryinyourpocketthatproducelesssmoke.Onemorekindiswhitephosphorous,fearedforthedangerousflamingfragmentsitproduces,butverymuchappreciatedfortheinstantmushroomburstofwhiteitexudes.
TheWP,thoughdangerous,isthebestpossiblesmoketoemployinthickjungle.
WHISTLE:Awhistleworksfinedayornight,butithasaverylimitedrange,usefulonlytosignalpeoplenearyou.Butawhistlecanbeheardfartherawaythanavoicecan.
PENFLARES:Thesearevisiblebothdayandnightand,becausetheyburstabovetreesandhorizon,areusefultosignalbothairandgroundforces.However,penflaresburnoutquicklyandcaneasilygounnoticedindaylight.
FLASHLIGHTS:Usedbothtosignalandilluminate,flashlightscanbemadepassivebyattachinganinfraredfiltersoonlysomeoneusingaNODcanseethem.Eachflashlightneedsaredfiltersoitwon'tdegradenightvision.Aspottermayusealargeflashlighttoilluminateasuspectupto100yardsawayforhissnipertoengage.Smcealargeflashlightisclumsyandtooeasilylostifcarriedonyourvest/webgear,stowitinyourlightrucksack.
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SIGNALANDILLUMINATIONAIDS.VOXradiosandsignaldevicesarecriticaltools,buttheymustbeusedpassivelyandwithoutdetectiontobeeffective.
CHEMLIGHTSANDHOLDER:Chemlightscomeinanamazingvariety:ahalfdozendifferentcolors,aboutthreedifferentlightintensities,multiplehourdurations,andasvisibleorinfraredlight.Usethemtomarkroutesandboundaries,designatewhereFieldsofFirestartorend,signalaircraft,andaidinrecognition.Thenontoxicliquidcanevenbepouredouttomarkasurfacelikeavehicletop.Specialchemlightholdersareavailablethatcancontroltheamountoflightseenandtomakeitdirectional.
STROBELIGHT:Generatingshortburstsoflightinthehundredsofthousandsoflumens,astrobecanbeseenmilesawayandworksgreatinruralareasbutbecomestooeasilyabsorbedintheclutteroflightsinanurbanarea.Astrobelightprimarilyisemployedtosignalfromgroundtoair.Butbeverycautiouswhenusingastrobearoundinexperiencedhelicopterpilotswhocanmistakeitforhostilemuzzleflashes.
PENCILANDNOTEBOOK:Thisshouldbeobvious,butit'stheobviousthingsthattendtobeforgotten.Keepthenotebookinasealableplasticbag.Andrecallthatapencilisbetterforfieldusethanapenbecauseitcanwriteevenonwetpaperandwon'tfreeze.
MINICASSETTERECORDER:It'sdifficulttokeepnotesindarkness,andtheoptionofjustrememberinguntildawnmaynotbefeasible.Aminicassetterecorderisanexcellentsolution,butifyou'reapolicesniper,don'tforgetthatwhateveryourecordcanbetakenoutofcontextinafuturelegalaction,sokeepyourverbalnotesshortandfactual.
RECOGNITIONAIDS:Theseareahostofmaterialsanddevicesluminoustape,scarves,garters,chernlights,brightletteringonjackets,etc.usedtoenablefriendliestoinstantlyrecognizeotherfriendlies,whichcanbecomecomplicatedbydarknessormultipleagenciesorunitspartic.ipatinginanoperation.Dependingupontheoperation,recognitionaidsmayextendtovehicles,aswell;recallthatAlliedvehiclesinOperationDesertStormhadblackandwhite"V"sprominentlydisplayedontheirtopsandsides.Recognitionaidscouldbehelpfulinsomepoliceoperationsthatemployunmarkedcars.
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SafetyandComfortItems
KEVLARHELMET:Whetherpoliceormilitary,asniperdoesn'tusuallywearahelmetbecauseitmakesstalkingmoredifficultandsurroundshisheadinadistinctoutline.PolicesnipersusuallyleavetheirKevlarhelmetsattheprecinct,butitmaybeworthbringingalongifrespondingtoahostilesnipingincident.Whenaccompanyingaunit,militarysnipersshouldwearthesameuniform,includingahelmet,toavoiddistinguishingthemselvesandbecomingatargetforenemysnipers.
GASMASK:Militarysnipersshouldbringgasmasksiftheenemyhasatoxicagentcapability.Policesnipersnormallydon'tneedmasksbecauseevenifalocationisgassedduringanassault,thesniperhidewillbetoofarawaytobeaffected.
BODYARMOR:Becauseit'shotandheavy,militarysnipersdon'tusuallywearmilitarybodyarmor,whichisonlyeffectiveagainstshrapnelanyhow.Inprolongeddefenseortrenchwarfare,however,suchaflakjacketcouldwellsaveyourlife.Thepolicesnipershouldwearnobodyarmororonlytheverylightestwhileonasnipingmission,foritwilloverheathimandburdenhismovements.Ifhismissionisoneofcountersnipingorsupportofaraidagainstheavilyarmedsuspects,hemightreconsideranduse.III.heavyvest.
EARPROTECTION:Asnipermusttrainashewillfight,soduringrangepracticehewearsunobstrusive,internalearprotectionratherthanclumsyearmuffs.Thiswayhewon'tchangehisstockspotweldifhemustshootwithoutanyhearingprotectionincombat.
ADHESIVESANDTIEDOWNS.Notsexy,butneededforallsortsoftinytasks,theseshouldbeinyourrucksack.
RAPPELGEAR:Everysniperneedshisownrappellingharness,gloves,carabiners,andfigureeight.Aropeisnotnecessarysinceinapoliceagencyitistacteamgearandinthemilitarybecauseitisanairassaultrigger'sresponsibility.
KNEEANDELBOWPADS:Forlowcrawlingandclimbingoverfencesorkneelinginsharpgravel,asniperneedskneeandelbowpads.ThebestI'veeverseenweremadefromwetsuitrubberandVelcrofasteners,butanystyleisgoodprovideditstaysinpositionandhasasubduedcolor.
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GROUNDPAD:Aselfinflatablefoampadisanecessity,notaluxury,forsnipers.Barewinterearthwillsuckwarmthfromyourpronebody,andascaldingsummerrooftopcanprecludestayinginaproneposition.TheThermaRestgroundpadwillinsulateyourbodyandmakecoldorheatmoretolerable.Ipreferthehalfsizebecauseifsmuchmorecompacttocarryyetstillprotectsmostofthebody.
HANDWARMERS:rThesedon'tmerelykeepyoucomfortableinlowtemperatures,theyalsopreserveyourtriggerfinger'scriticalsensitivity.Chemicalhandwarmersminihavealongshelflife,whilesomeareevenreusable.Theyalsocanbeplacedinsideyourshirttokeepyourchestandtrunkareawarm.
INSECTREPELLANT:Eveninurbanareas,mosquitoescanharassyouanddisruptconcentrationwhilesurveillingoraiming.Mostpolicetacteammembershavenoneedforrepellant,butofcourse,theirjobsdon'trequireIyinginahideforhoursonend.
SLEEPINGBAG:Inadditiontoitstraditionaluse,asleepingbagplacedatopagroundpadenablesasnipertoliemotionlesscomfortablyeveninsubzerotemperatures.Somenewfillingsareonaparwithgoosedownineffectiveness.
SANITATIONANDMEDICALITEMS.Thesearejusttheminimum.Addmilitarywounddressings,morphinesyrettes,andotherusefulitems.
INSECTHEADNET:FloridaorLouisianalawmenorGIsservinginatropicalclimatemayappreciateaheadnettokeepbuzzinginsectsawayfromeyes,mouth,andnose.InSOG,weneverworeheadnetsevenintheworstCambodianswamps,butharassinginsectsneedsomegettingusedto,perhapsmoretimethanyouhave,makingaheadnetworthwhile.
AdhesivesandTieDowns
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DUCTTAPE:Youcannotanticipatehowmanywaysasniperwilluseducttape.I'vewrappeditaroundathintreetosupportaspottingscope,hemmedorangeneonmaterialwithittocreateasignalpanel,wrappedpantscuffswithtapeforquietermovement,tapedoveralightswitchinanurbanhidesonoonecouldaccidentallyilluminatetheroom,etc.Military"100MileaMinute"tape,whichisverysimilar,worksswell,too.
PARACHUTECORDORBOOTLACES:Anothergoodforjustaboutanythingitemisolivedrabmilitaryparachute550cord,which,ifyoucannotobtainany,canbesubstitutedwithbootlaces.
SUSTENANCE.Policesnipersneedfoodandliquidforatleastoneday.Militarysniperscarryenoughfor57days.
BUNGEECORDS:Thesecanholddoorsopenorholdaflapdowninthewind,becomeinstanthangersforyourhide,etc.They'reallpurposeandbelongineachsniper'srucksack.
PLASTICRESTRAINTS:Asaclosureorclamp,thesecomeinmightyhandy,althoughthey'renormallyusedtocuffhands.
SILICONECEMENT:Fastactingandcapableofbondingdissimilarsurfaces,siliconecementisthebestallpurposeadhesiveavailable.Gluesiliconenubsthesizeofchocolatechipstobootsolesforgreattractionontheslickestsurfaces,mendtearsinyourGhillieSuit,resealseamsonwaterproofclothingandtarps,affixrubberleavestoheadgear,andsoon.Thereareathousanduses.
SanitationandMedicalItems
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PIDDLEPACK:IfirstusedthesewhenflyingUSAFForwardAirControlmissionsintheCessnaSkymaster02A,agreatlittleplanethatlackedwhatwasknownasa"pisstube."Whennaturecalled,weurinatedinaplasticbagcontainingasponge,whichwe'veduplicatedhereforurbansniperscompelledtostayhoursinahidethatlacksatoilet.Asniperwithabulgingbladdercanhardlytakeanaccurateshot.
BASICPILLSANDOINTMENTS:You'llhavetodetermineyourownneeds,buttheseprobablyshouldincludenonalcoholiccoughsyrup,eyeointment,aheadacheremedy,coldcapsules,andantidiarrheticpills.
ANTISEPTICSANDBANDAGES:AnAcewrapisamust,plusassortedbandagesandcottonandtape,someBacitracinantibioticointment,aburnointment,andacreamfortreatingpoisonivy.
ANTACIDS:I'velistedtheseseparatebecausethey'resoimportantIfyouareundergreatstress,ateMexicanforlunch,orjustplainhaveanupsetstomach,calmlytakingalifeanddeathshotbecomesanextraordinaryphysicalchallenge.
IODINETABLETS:Militarysniperswouldn'tgoanywherewithoutwaterpurificationtablets,butlawenforcementsniperswillalsoneedthemforruralsurveillancemissionsandsomecounternarcoticsoperations.
TOILETTISSUE:Thisissimilartotheneedforthepiddlepack.It'seasiestjusttokeepasealedpursesizepackageoffacialtissuesinyourruck.TOOTHBRUSHANDTOOTHPASTE:You'llneverrisklifeandlimbtowashorshaveinthefield,butthisbitofcivilizationcanrefreshyoueachmorning.Ifnotthis,atleastgiveyourselfaLifesavertomakeyourmouthlivableatdawn.
Sustenance
Ourrecommendationisthatapolicesnipercarrywithhimenoughsustenanceforeighthoursandhaveadditionalfoodandwaterinhislargerucksackfor24hoursonsitewithoutresupply.Whiletheremaynotseemmuchneedforfood,youwellcouldfindyourselfinaperfecthidewhichyou'veoccupiedmotionlessforhours,thensuddenIyasupportpersonwalksupwithaBigMacandfries,blowingyourcovercompletely.Thishashappenedbefore,realworld.
Militarysnipersobviouslymustbringsufficientrationsfortheentirelengthoftheiroperation.
We'realsocitinganeedforsomethingtomunchonanddispeltension,whilealsopassing
thetimeaway.Thisisactuallymuchmoreapsychologicalneedthanaphysicalone.
Meanwhile,don'tforgetthatliquidsustenanceismoreimportantthanfood.
LIQUIDS:It'sbestthatyouhaveavailableafullrangeofcanteensonequart,twoquart,andfivequartsizessoyoucanpickthebestloadforeachoperation.Theonequartcanteenshouldbefilledandonyourvest/webgearforeachoperation.Ifapolicesniperthinkshe'llneedmorewater,hecanfillthetwoquartandjustslingitoverhisshoulder,butamilitarysniperprobablywouldaddasecondonequartcanteentohiswebgear.Thefivequartcanteenisusuallycarriedemptyandusedtotransportwaterfromresupplyorasourceinthefield.Cannedjuicesaremorenutritiousthanmerewaterandhaveashelflifeofseveralyears.Afewoftheseinyourlightrucksackwillbeverywelcomelater.
SHORTTERMFOOD:Tohelppasstimeandkeepmindandbodyalert,bringalongsunflowerseeds,beefjerky,andchewinggum.
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LONGERTERMFOOD:Haveatleastonecompletemealorrationwithyou,eitheramilitaryMREorseveralcansoffoodthatcanbeeatencold,likebeansandwieners.Freezedriedfoodsneedwater,whichmaybeinshortsupply.
UTENSILS:Thesecanbeplastic,metal,orwood.Awoodenservingspoonwithitshandlecutdownisthebestallpurposeeating/cookingutensil,asplasticcanbreakandmetalcanbangagainstyourmetalcookingcup.
CIGARETTES:Ifyou'reasmoker,preventanxietybyensuringyouhaveenoughcigarettesinyouralertgearandwaterproofmatchestolightthem.
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THESNIPERGRADERIFLE
Justasslightedgesinmanyskillsgiveasniperacumulativelydecisiveedgeoverhisopponents,soasnipergradeweaponmustbeabitbetterinmanywaysthanitsofftherackcousinstobeanoverallsignificantlymoreaccurateweapon.
Thiscumulativeriflequalitywilldictateonehalftheequationfordeterminingasniperrifle'smaximumeffectiverange.Theotherhalfistheinherentaccuracyandballisticlethalityoftheweapon'sammunition.Ifyoulackqualityineitherammoorweapon,you'renotcapableofsniping.
We'lldealwithbulletperformanceandMatchgradeammunitionlater.Herewe'llexaminehowatargetgraderifleisruggedizedandmodifiedforfielddutyasasniperweapon.
HowAccurateis"Accurate"?
Whenconsideringriflequality,ultimatelythequestionofaccuracyarises,andwhenitdoes,weneedtospecifyastandard:howaccurateshouldasniperriflebe?
Somemanufacturerspromotetheirriflesas1/2MOA(onehalfaMinuteofAngle,or1/2inchat100yards)weapons.Thisisreallyexcellent,butyou'llpayhighlyforsuchperformance.Inordertogetit,you'llhavetoinvestinacustombuiltgunorspecialtuningofafactoryrifle.Ihavenotcomeacrossanyoneclaimingsmallergroups.
Attheotherextreme,somebargainsniperriflesaremerelystandardreceiversdressedupwithheavybarrelsandincapableofgivingeven1inchgroups(oneMinuteofAngle).I'mnottalkingaboutWinchesterorRemingtonfactoryrifles,butthoseatthelowestendofthemarket.Whileyoucansavehundredsofdollarsacquiringsuchpieces,recallthatinthislifeyouusuallygetwhatyoupayfor,andaninaccuratesniperrifleisworthless.
Nomatterwhatyoupay,1MOAistherealisticminimumperformancerequiredforprecisionmarksmanship,astandarddictatedbyhostagerescuescenariosinwhichasingleshotmustbeplacedinthesuspect'sbrainstemmeasuringabout11/2inchwideatupto100yards.This1MOAalsoequatesto8inchesat800yards,whichIthinkisa.308rifle'srealisticmaximumrange;anyworseinherentaccuracywouldleadtomanymissesatthisrange.
Anacceptableaccuracystandardis1MOA,butI'dsaythat3/4MOAisstillareasonablebalanceofcostagainstperformance.Butwhenitcomesto1/2MOA,probably88percentofsniperscannotexploitsuchaccuracy,whiletheseriflestypicallyaretwiceasexpensiveas3/4MOAweapons.
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Yes,ariflethatgroups1/2inchisdesirable,butagain,inmanycasesthisismoreaccuracythanashootercanexploit.Takemyself.Onagoodday,whenI'minshapeandhavepracticedsteadily,Icanshoot1/2inchgroups.However,afteraboutsixweekswithoutmarksmanshippractice,Ionlyshoot1inchgroupswiththesamerifle.Unlessyouhavesufficientopportunitytopractice,youcanhardlybenefitfromyourrifle'sinherentaccuracy.
Still,ifyou'reasuperbriflemanandyouragencycanaffordcustombuiltsniperweapons,byallmeans,acquirethebest.You'llneverbedisappointed.
TheBoltAction
Allthingsbeingequal,aboltactionisthemostaccurateactiononecanhaveonarifle.Here'swhy.
Intheearly1960s,Ipooledmoneywithmyboyhoodsquirrelhuntingcompanions,JoeRemarkeandVicEvaschuk,tobuyaboltaction.22rifle.Ourarrangementwasthatoneofusstalkedforwarduntilhehadashot,thenturnedtherifleovertoanother.Ifyoumissed,itcouldbeanhourbeforeitwasyourturnagain,andanybushytailsyousawduringtheinterimlaughedatyourpredicament.Nounarmedboylikesbeingthebuttofsquirrelhumor.
Seriously,though,shootinginsuchdisciplinedcircumstancesmeanteachshotcountedandresultedinonesquirrelbaggedforeach.22roundwefired.Itwasphenomenalshooting.
Ayearorsolater,whenweallhadparttimejobs,wepurchased.22automaticsJoegotaRuger,VichadaBrowning,andIaRemingtonandourshootingwenttohell.We'dlostthementalfocusneededforoneshothunting.
There'ssomethingpsychologicalaboutboltingarifleakindoffinality,abondingofspiritwithtaskthatisn'tpresentwithanyotherrifleaction.
Boltingaweaponalsoresultsinseatingacartridgeinachambermorefirmlyandconsistentlythanotheractions.Thinkabouthowitfeelswhenthelockinglugsengageandyourpalmpressesthatbolthandledownwardthatactiondoesn'tjust"move"intoplace,norisitpushedtherebyspringpressure.No,astheboltrotatesdownward,theactiontensesandlockssnugly.Providedtheactionistrueandstraight,thiscannothelpbutleadtoconsistency,andrememberthataccuracyequalsconsistencyandviceversa.
Whenitcomestotheboltbeingtrueandstraight,thisisoneofthefirstareasforhightoleranceandtuning.Qualityboltgunsshouldhavelockinglugslappedsotheybearperfectlyagainstmatingsurfaces.Alllugsshouldbeuniformlyincontact,andthefacingsurfacespolishedsmooth.
Theboltfaceshouldbeperfectlyflatsothataseatedcartridgeisnotwedgedortwistedoutoflineinthechamberwhenitsbaserestsagainstthebolt.
Behindthatboltfaceisthefiringpin,anditsperformance,too,impactsdirectlyonrifleaccuracy.Locktime,whichisthetimethatpassesbetweenyourfingerreleasingthesearandtheprimerignitingwhenyourfiringpinstrikesit,isareflectionofriflequality.Youwantaveryfastlocktimesotheriflehasnotimetomovebetweentheinstantyoupullthetriggerandasplitsecondlaterwhenitactuallyfires.
Acceptablelocktimeresultsfromboltdesignanduseofproperlubricants.Locktimesmayvaryfrom.0022to.0057ofasecond.Thequalitysniperriflescitedherehaveacceptablelocktimes.
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Remington'sModel700Policeisa"bestbuy,"providingreasonableperformanceforareasonableprice.NewestmodelsuseH.S.Precisioncompositestocksandtypicallyshootabout1MOA.
Whenitcomestoextractors,that'stheonlyareaofcriticismI'veeverencounteredforRemington'sModel700boltaction.Rumorshaveaboundedthatthisthin,stampedmetalbladeispronetofailure,butdespiteowningfiveorsix700smyself,andshootingmanyothers,andworkingwithhundredsofpoliceandmilitarysnipersarmedwith700s,Ihaveneverencounteredanyonewhoactuallyhashadsuchafailure.Butjusttoensurethiscannotpossiblyhappen,IknowthatMcMillanreplacesthestandardRemingtonboltonitscustomrifleswithaMausertypeboltfeaturingalargeclawextractor.
Despitequestionsaboutitsextractor,though,Remington's700isundoubtedlythemostpopularboltactionsniperrifleintheUnitedStates.I'dguessthat90percentofpoliceagenciesI'veinstructedorworkedwithuseRemingtons,andne'erhaveIheardadiscouragingword.WhetherencounteredasaVarmintSpecial,PoliceSpecial,USMCM40A1,orArmyM24system,theRemingtonhasprovenitselfadependableandveryaccuraterifle.
ThesomewhatmoreexpensiveRemingtonderivativesarecustomjobsorspecialfactorytunedweapons.TheRemingtonCustomShop40xisemployedbysomelawenforcementagencies,whiletheNavySEALsuseMcMillan'sM86customderivative.Severalcustomriflebuilders,includingthehighlyrespectedRobarandH.S.Precision,employtheRemingtonaction.Thesederivative,customriflesusuallyproduce1/2MOAperformance,whileotherversions,suchasthePoliceSpecial,tendtogroupabout3/4MOA.
TheUSMCusedWinchesterModel70boltgunsforsnipinginKoreaandmuchofVietnam,withthelegendaryM.Sgt.Car