# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/61 "2010-05-08T00:46:20Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > 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. FYI, and FTR, this means you have your gun sighted in for zero at TWO different distances…100y and then again farther out, where the bullet drops past your zero point…I have my 30.06 zeroed at 100y because that is the exact distance from my stand to my feeder…but it also means that my .06 is zeroed at somewhere around 550y, as well, if my math is correct. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/62 "2010-05-08T00:50:26Z")
> [@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 can’t speak for others, but I think 9/11 was brilliant. Also, there’s a Nazi unit that’s quite impressive: [Brandenburgers - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburgers) About as close to a whole unit of James Bonds as ever existed (to my knowledge). I find those two examples admirable in terms of being impressed by their skill, ingenuity etc, not by the ends they served. In the case of the British sniper though, I find it admirable for both skill and the ends it serves. On a side note, with a shot at such long distance, I fear that the Taliban will complain to the UN that Britain is “gay” and “has auto-aim on”. Ballistics question: At such a long distance, is the bullet still supersonic? Perhaps that’s why the Taliban fighters didn’t hear the shots. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/63 "2010-05-08T01:30:11Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Ballistics question: At such a long distance, is the bullet still supersonic? Perhaps that’s why the Taliban fighters didn’t hear the shots. [According to this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.338_Lapua_Magnum#Performance_with_standard_cartridges), the standard .338 Lapua round goes subsonic around 1500 meters, 1800 for special low drag ammo. ---
**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 8, 2010, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/64 "2010-05-08T09:25:36Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > I wasn’t inferring anything about him at all, actually. Would you like to elaborate on the meaning of this sentence, then? > [@fubbleskag](#): > > I would like to encourage Ivan to express his discontent to this soldier’s face. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/65 "2010-05-08T09:55:58Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > 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. Watch which way the first body flies to see where the shot came from. Even after a mile and a half there’s still a lot of energy in the round. I’d post youtube examples but I’m at work and it’s blocked. It’s just horrible. Bodies shred like a ragdoll… ---
**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 8, 2010, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/66 "2010-05-08T11:45:24Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > Bodies shred like a ragdoll… Yes, but they are Afghani’s or other brown-skinned people, so it doesn’t really matter. Stop trying to take the gloss of this man’s achievement! ---
**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, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/67 "2010-05-08T12:12:21Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Yes, but they are Afghani’s or other brown-skinned people, so it doesn’t really matter. Stop trying to take the gloss of this man’s achievement! Reported for threadshitting. ---
**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 8, 2010, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/68 "2010-05-08T12:16:13Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Reported for threadshitting. Well, maybe now an OP glorifying the deaths of our enemies can be moved from Mundane Pointless Shit, into a forum more worthy of the subject? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/69 "2010-05-08T12:48:30Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Well, maybe now an OP glorifying the deaths of our enemies can be moved from Mundane Pointless Shit, into a forum more worthy of the subject? I’m not going to move the thread – the discussion of the ballistics, luck vs., skill, etc., is fine here. The discussion of the morality of the sniper’s actions, and the morality of celebrating his actions, and of the war as a whole, etc. – take it to GD or the Pit, whichever you prefer. Feel free to link here to that new thread, wherever it is. And by “you,” I mean everyone who has participated in that part of the discussion, pro and con. Thanks, **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/70 "2010-05-08T13:21:26Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Regardless, the rifle manufacturers themselves say they were “lucky shots” — do people get records for being lucky? > > And why would someone want a record associated with the death of a human being who just happens to have different viewpoints to you? Firstly two shots in a row can be coincidence, three ? highly unlikely to be pure luck. Secondly I don’t think that these people were actually killed because they wish to convert all other people to their own particular brand of militant religion by force.(Or failing that, kill them) Or for that matter turn women into virtual chattels and censor all viewpoints/science that differ from or undermine their own doctrine. Or because they’re instrumental in growing and supplying opium in large quantities for export to people who are , or soon will be , addicts with their lives and probably those of their loved ones ruined. Though its very noble of you to be so concerned for them. No they were killed because they were out to kill other people themselves, probably innocent people. So the sniper ultimately saved lives, more then likely innocent ones. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/71 "2010-05-08T13:22:55Z")
Whoops, sorry **Twickster** ,I posted that without reading the whole thread. ---
**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 8, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/72 "2010-05-08T13:44:35Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Firstly two shots in a row can be coincidence, three ? highly unlikely to be pure luck. The third was an inanimate piece of machinery. Not exactly a difficult target. And would it really have been destroyed by a rifle bullet from a mile and a half away? Oh, and did someone go to the site and verify they were dead and the machine gun disabled? ---
**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, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/73 "2010-05-08T14:51:00Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > The third was an inanimate piece of machinery. Not exactly a difficult target. And would it really have been destroyed by a rifle bullet from a mile and a half away? > > Oh, and did someone go to the site and verify they were dead and the machine gun disabled? No, I’m sure they just flipped a coin, it came down heads, and they decided to call it a win. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/74 "2010-05-08T15:44:58Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > The third was an inanimate piece of machinery. Not exactly a difficult target. And would it really have been destroyed by a rifle bullet from a mile and a half away? > > Oh, and did someone go to the site and verify they were dead and the machine gun disabled? Once again, **ivan** , you have proved that you know absolutely nothing. About anything. The amount of ignorance in the quoted post is staggering. If we could only harness it for Good, instead of Evil. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/75 "2010-05-08T15:55:34Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > The third was an inanimate piece of machinery. Not exactly a difficult target. And would it really have been destroyed by a rifle bullet from a mile and a half away? > > Oh, and did someone go to the site and verify they were dead and the machine gun disabled? With you all the way buddy. Give me a big gun and I could hit inanimate objects miles away, no problem. They should get us over there, we could just sit in HQ, sniping away at guns and shit miles away, we would win this war by teatime. It really aint difficult, why dont they have hundreds of guys perched in trees, sniping away at innocent civilians? Bloody generals, why cant they see this? ---
**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 8, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/76 "2010-05-08T17:08:46Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Once again, **ivan** , you have proved that you know absolutely nothing. About anything. The amount of ignorance in the quoted post is staggering. If we could only harness it for Good, instead of Evil. Hey, at least I can do complete sentences. ---
**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 8, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/77 "2010-05-08T17:37:31Z")
Is it worth continuing this argument guys? ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/78 "2010-05-08T19:45:21Z")
I’m with Ivan on at least one thing: would a bullet fired over a mile and a half away have the requisite kinetic energy to do significant damage to a machine gun by the time it hit? What sort of damage must one inflict on a machine gun to disable it? Also, are there many snipers in the Household Cavalry? Aren’t they the ones with the spiffy shiny helmets? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/79 "2010-05-08T20:31:05Z")
I saw a program on a long range sniper. He had to compensate over 5 feet for drop and 6 feet for the wind. That is some complicated shooting. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640/80 "2010-05-08T20:39:00Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Camper noob. > [@si\_blakely](#): > > This guy killed [5 Taliban in 28 seconds](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1273679/Gone-28-seconds-Rapid-sniper-takes-Taliban-soldiers-protect-British-patrol.html) That’s good for a predator missile or a sentry gun, unless he’s got hardline. In which case he gets a precision airstrike! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sniper-sets-record/538640.md?page=5)