# Scottish sniper kills Taliban leafer from 1500 yards away. What rifle and ammo was he using? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817 "2009-08-09T06:09:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/1 "2009-08-09T06:09:57Z")
Story here [SCOTS SNIPER KILLS TALIBAN LEADER WITH LONGEST SHOT](http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/119427/Scots-sniper-kills-Taliban-leader-with-longest-shot/) What sort of rifle and ammunition was he likely using to make this shot? ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/2 "2009-08-09T06:18:02Z")
To kill a \*leafer \*you probably need herbicide. Or just wait til Fall. ---
**Author:** ![dynamitedave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@dynamitedave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dynamitedave)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/3 "2009-08-09T06:31:09Z")
Perhaps the [L115A3](http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/british-army-unveils-new-sniper-rifle/) It’s a 8.59mm. Can’t say I’ve heard of it before. ---
**Author:** ![dynamitedave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@dynamitedave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dynamitedave)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/4 "2009-08-09T06:39:59Z")
Ah, 8.59mm is .338. That makes more sense. There are also .50 BMG sniper rifles. Though my understanding is they are more suited to “hard” targets (vehicles etc). ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/5 "2009-08-09T07:21:19Z")
Wow. Great sniper. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/6 "2009-08-09T12:48:14Z")
It’s not the longest shot by a sniper in Afghanistan, though. [Not even close, in fact.](http://www.snipercountry.com/articles/killingshot_2430metres.asp) ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/7 "2009-08-09T14:35:05Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s not the longest shot by a sniper in Afghanistan, though. > > [Not even close, in fact.](http://www.snipercountry.com/articles/killingshot_2430metres.asp) You mean, “not by a long shot”? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/8 "2009-08-09T14:42:17Z")
As usual a a false story from the Sunday/Daily Express group. These papers are paying out libel settlements on an almost weekly basis. My rule of thumb is never to believe any story published in either the Daily Mail of the Express. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/9 "2009-08-09T18:57:35Z")
What isn’t true about the story – that it was the longest shot, or that it was a Scottish sniper? If any part of it was true, it’d be extra motivation for the Marine sniper teams. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/10 "2009-08-09T19:06:10Z")
> [@The\_Scrivener](#): > > What isn’t true about the story – that it was the longest shot, or that it was a Scottish sniper? > > If any part of it was true, it’d be extra motivation for the Marine sniper teams. From this Wiki [article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sniper). > [@](#): > > Canadian soldier Corporal Rob Furlong, formerly of the PPCLI (Operation Anaconda, Afghanistan) - holds the record for the longest-ever recorded and confirmed sniper kill at 2,430 meters (1.509 miles) using a .50 caliber (12.7 mm) McMillan TAC-50 rifle.[11][43] ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/11 "2009-08-09T19:26:46Z")
It’s interesting that Cpl Furlong (and if ever there was a name for a long distance sniper…) beat the record of 2310 m set just weeks before by Arron Perry from the same Regiment. Those Princess Pats apparently really know their long range shooting. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/12 "2009-08-09T19:39:17Z")
Those kinds of ranges would suggest a .50 caliber. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/13 "2009-08-09T20:20:37Z")
> [@Rayne\_Man](#): > > As usual a a false story from the Sunday/Daily Express group. These papers are paying out libel settlements on an almost weekly basis. My rule of thumb is never to believe any story published in either the Daily Mail of the Express. So you are totally denying the actions of a very brave and very skilled man serving in a very dangerous theatre of operations without any evidence whatsoever; apart from your own apparently uninformed opinion which appears to arise out of some irrational prejudice against a particular newspaper? Would this be for political reasons perhaps or have you actually have any factual basis for your attempted smear on this soldier? If you have please share it with the rest of us. In this case I choose to believe the news item,not you. ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/14 "2009-08-09T20:38:51Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > So you are totally denying the actions of a very brave and very skilled man serving in a very dangerous theatre of operations without any evidence whatsoever; apart from your own apparently uninformed opinion which appears to arise out of some irrational prejudice against a particular newspaper? > > Would this be for political reasons perhaps or have you actually have any factual basis for your attempted smear on this soldier? > > If you have please share it with the rest of us. > > In this case I choose to believe the news item,not you. I think his point of contention was not with the fact that this shot happened, or the skill required to accomplish it, but rather the false claim that it’s a record. I sure as hell know I wouldn’t want to be the one in this sniper’s sights… S^G ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/15 "2009-08-09T21:23:07Z")
> [@Satellite\_Guy](#): > > I think his point of contention was not with the fact that this shot happened, or the skill required to accomplish it, but rather the false claim that it’s a record. > > I sure as hell know I wouldn’t want to be the one in this sniper’s sights… > > S^G Thank you, that’s exactly the point I was making. I wasn’t belittling the soldier’s actions, Just that, going on that paper’s record, I take with a very large pinch of salt anything it reports. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/16 "2009-08-14T00:58:07Z")
Aside from actual combat kills, what’s the world record for a “kill” in target shooting? ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/17 "2009-08-14T23:56:39Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Aside from actual combat kills, what’s the world record for a “kill” in target shooting? I’m not sure what you are asking for. The [Palma Matches](http://www.palma.org/USA/basics.htm) are regularly held at 800, 900 and 1000 meters with a 20 inch bullseye. 1000 yard matches are held annually at [Camp Perry, Ohio](http://www.nrahq.org/compete/champ3.asp). I believe the current 1000 yard benchrest record is 1.403 inches, which is just silly. [Cite.](http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/2007/07/09/sarver-shoots-1403-group-at-1000-yards/) I know there must be longer range target shooting matches, but my GoogleFu is too weak to easily find them. Certainly the testing that Cheyenne Tactical and Lost River Ammo conducted to develop the CheyTac .408 must have involved significant long range testing. Other accounts of long range rifle shooting include: A group of forensic scientists tried to mythbust the ~1000-1500 yard shot by buffalo hunter Billy Dixon at the [Second Battle of Adobe Walls](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Adobe_Walls) in 1874. According to [this blog post](http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2006/10/calibers-and-range-part-1.html) , Mike Venturino wrote the article, “_Sharps Rifles, just how far will they shoot?_” in the April 2000 issue of **Shotgun News** describing tests at the Yuma Proving Ground demonstrating a .50 inch bullet similar to that used by Mr. Dixon, travelling over 3500 yards. The military in 1879 tested the 45-70 cartridge’s efficacy at two miles distance. Cited [here.](http://www.researchpress.co.uk/longrange/sandyhook.htm) The goal was to evaluate claims of effective volley fire by similar weapons during the Russo-Turkish war of 1877. Finally, for some longer range target shooting, [this article](http://www.navweaps.com/index_inro/INRO_BB-Gunnery_p1.htm) details battleship gunnery evaluation at ranges between 12,000 and 18,000 yards, with before and after pictures of the target rafts. And [this youtube clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8n59S8j2C0) shows impacts from Minuteman ICBM RVs at Kwajalein Atoll. Other than NASA missions like Deep Impact, that’s the longest range target shooting I know of. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2009, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/18 "2009-08-15T00:39:37Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > I’m not sure what you are asking for. The farthest distance at which someone has shot a lifesize silhouette target and scored a hit that would be considered fatal in real life. Let’s say within a 10cm radius of dead center in the chest. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scottish-sniper-kills-taliban-leafer-from-1500-yards-away-what-rifle-and-ammo-was-he-using/505817/19 "2009-08-15T15:39:14Z")
It’s not a record anymore, but I just needed to mention Carlos Hathcock of the USMC, who with a 2,500 yard kill in Vietnam set a record that lasted 35 years until those enterprising gents over in Afghanistan got to work (tip of the hat to them too). If he were not a badass for shooting a guy from that distance, the case would be clinched by his documented feat of shooting an opposing North Vietnamese sniper **through his rifle scope and into his eye.** Semper Fi, Marine. > **[Carlos Hathcock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Hathcock)** > > Carlos Norman Hathcock II (May 20, 1942 – February 22, 1999) was a United States Marine Corps (USMC) sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was honored by having a rifle named after him: a variant of the M21 dubbed the Springfield Armory M25 White Feather, for the nickname "White Feather" given to Hathcock by the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN...