# British Sniper Sets Record **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 7, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640 "2010-05-07T15:50:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/41 "2010-05-07T22:02:01Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > There’s got to be something morally wrong with celebrating something that involves the death of another human being, surely? IMO, the death a terrorist is always worth celebrating. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/42 "2010-05-07T22:02:44Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > You aim at empty air. You set your scope for a specific distance (mine are set to 300 feet only). However, my scope sits higher than the barrel, so by doing that I am shooting at a angle. At 100 yards / 300 feet my scope and the bullet path link up. After that, the round keeps rising then starts to drop as it loses velocity. Before that, it will hit below my aim. > > Scopes have all those extra lines in them so that you can aim high or low as needed. > > VERY interesting, and complicated stuff. You can get an iPhone App to help you though! Incredible skill. Thanks for fighting my ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/43 "2010-05-07T22:04:16Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > The issue of skill disappeared the moment he took shots almost double the rifle’s range limits. The fact that the manufacturer of the rifle claimed it’s range was X is irrelevant. There are many factors involved that they didn’t take into account are weren’t aware of. People frequently take items (cars, skateboards, etc) and do amazing things with them that the makers could never have dreamed was possible. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/44 "2010-05-07T22:08:09Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Let me guess: you’re Canadian, aren’t you, **ivan**? 😃 WTF? I’m Canadian and I think it shows remarkable skill. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/45 "2010-05-07T22:16:17Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > WTF? I’m Canadian and I think it shows remarkable skill. Calm down. It was a joke. The sniper broke a record set by a Canadian marksman. I was jokingly implying that he objected out of Canadian nationalism. I was just ribbing him. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/46 "2010-05-07T22:24:08Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Calm down. It was a joke. The sniper broke a record set by a Canadian marksman. I was jokingly implying that he objected out of Canadian nationalism. I was just ribbing him. Ok, I understand that. I’m calming down. Still feeling a bit “Well! I never!” but I’ll get over it. Sorry to be so snappy. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/47 "2010-05-07T22:28:19Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > IMO, the death a terrorist is always worth celebrating. Particularly if the dead person was manning a machine gun fully intent on killing as many of your fellow soldiers (including you) as he possibly could. ETA I can understand the distaste in some people’s mouths at the idea of celebrating death, but the point is a guy did something that broke a record, and it was significant enough to become newsworthy. Also factual is that people have been known to lap up this kind of thing in times of war. It is naive not to expect a large number of people to woop and cheer when a soldier of their country does something _impressive_ (lucky or not) particularly if it also contributes to the safety of more soldiers of their country. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/48 "2010-05-07T22:54:55Z")
I’m amazed that he would have taken the shot in the first place. The article says his fellow troops were under attack, bit it seems remarkable that he had a high enough expectation of success to have taken the shots anyway. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/49 "2010-05-07T23:00:48Z")
> [@Maeglin](#): > > I’m amazed that he would have taken the shot in the first place. The article says his fellow troops were under attack, bit it seems remarkable that he had a high enough expectation of success to have taken the shots anyway. I’m guessing you havn’t met too many special forces type guys. The kind of guys who excel tend to be the type for who missing never really enters their mind. The expectation of success in anything is usually 100% The phrase “Nobody on earth could ever XXXXXX that” is a good way to get things going. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/50 "2010-05-07T23:05:05Z")
I would like to encourage Ivan to express his discontent to this soldier’s face. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/51 "2010-05-07T23:15:57Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > And why would someone want a record associated with the death of a human being who just happens to have different viewpoints to you? Because the target was firing an automatic weapon at friendly troops. Fuck his viewpoint. If he’s trying to kill friendly troops, he needs to die. Making him dead is the sniper’s job, which he did magnificently. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/52 "2010-05-07T23:21:38Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > I would like to encourage Ivan to express his discontent to this soldier’s face. Why, what would he do? Kick my ass? You think because he can shoot someone from a mile and a half away that he can fight as well? And why would a normal human being want to physically correct someone, just because they objected to him being made out to be some kind of superman for doing a job? ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/53 "2010-05-07T23:28:53Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Why, what would he do? Kick my ass? You think because he can shoot someone from a mile and a half away that he can fight as well? > > And why would a normal human being want to physically correct someone, just because they objected to him being made out to be some kind of superman for doing a job? He would probably laugh at you, in reality. Most of the guys I have known who are combat vets don’t let the comments of civilians bother them too much. As for his ability to kick your ass, he is active duty British Army (Household Cavalry per the article). I will assume that makes him at least slightly trained in hand-to-hand combat, though I am not familiar with UK training requirements. Your objections, however, seemed to be more about him killing humans than making an amazing shot. If he has lost friends in Afghanistan, he might take issue with your moralizing about the proper killing of someone shooting a machine gun at his mates. Whether that would turn into a situation where asses were kicked would be dependent on the situation. He made an amazing shot, set a record, and should be recognized for it. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/54 "2010-05-07T23:37:38Z")
Quick question - say it had been a Taliban sniper who had made the shots? Would it still be as admirable a feat? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/55 "2010-05-07T23:44:45Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Quick question - say it had been a Taliban sniper who had made the shots? Would it still be as admirable a feat? As impressive yes, as admirable, to me, no. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/56 "2010-05-07T23:47:57Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Quick question - say it had been a Taliban sniper who had made the shots? Would it still be as admirable a feat? I would see it like an amazing quarterback on the other team. Someone with skill that we need to shut down pronto. I would recognize their skill (“Shit, the Taliban has picked up the necessary equipment, training and skill to field quality snipers”) along with the need to ensure that their skill is not easily leverage against us (“pop some drones with IR and lets track him down.”) ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/57 "2010-05-08T00:01:18Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Quick question - say it had been a Taliban sniper who had made the shots? Would it still be as admirable a feat? In fact, there is a Taliban sniper who has accomplished a different feat. He has killed a number of British troops over the past few months, and has remained uncaught. This is another guy with remarkable skills, and while I am impressed with his abilities, I look at it as **Algher** says: this is a guy we must shut down ASAP. He’s too dangerous. Hey, I’m not a Taliban supporter. They represent an oppressive regime that was instrumental in the biggest terrorist attack in US history. They need to be removed, and we have every moral reason to do so. They attacked us first. Fuck them. I admit to being frankly partisan in this case, and flatly reject the implication of moral equivalence. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/58 "2010-05-08T00:03:44Z")
> [@Maeglin](#): > > I’m amazed that he would have taken the shot in the first place. The article says his fellow troops were under attack, bit it seems remarkable that he had a high enough expectation of success to have taken the shots anyway. I think he had to take the shot. Even if he missed he would have probably made those guys start scrambling for cover rather than continue to set up the ambush. Unless they were in the midst of a bunch of civilians, there was no downside to taking the shot. Though I’ll bet we wouldn’t be reading headlines that say, “British Soldier Misses Record Breaking Kill Shot.” ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/59 "2010-05-08T00:21:41Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Why, what would he do? Kick my ass? You think because he can shoot someone from a mile and a half away that he can fight as well? > > And why would a normal human being want to physically correct someone, just because they objected to him being made out to be some kind of superman for doing a job? I wasn’t inferring anything about him at all, actually. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/60 "2010-05-08T00:32:58Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > Amazing that they didn’t notice the rounds buzzing round them. They must have been too focused on the patrol they wanted to ambush. In 28 seconds, being fired on from someone too far away to hear the direction of the shots, you wouldn’t even have time to figure out what direction to take cover from. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640.md?page=4)