New 'World record'?

[ovenpaa]

This is dated October 29 2012 however I certainly do not remember reading about the event.

Earlier this year a Commando sniper team was secreted in Helmand. Through binoculars at a distance invisible to the naked eye they spotted a group of Taliban. The soldiers having means of identifying targets went through a process of obtaining verification and permission to engage.

Two marksmen using Barrett M82A1 50 calibre rifles simultaneously fired. The bullets were six seconds in the air. One killed the Taliban commander. It is not known for certain which sniper fired the fatal shot.

While there have been no triumphant press releases, in the tight global Special Forces sniper community the shot is much discussed, because it seems certain to be a world record.

As the bullet yawed through the thin air on a windless morning, GPS aids measured the distance at 2815m. That amounts to 2 1/2 times the length of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The targeted Taliban would not have heard the gunfire.

The previous world record achieved by British Corporal Craig Harrison occurred also in Helmand in November 2009. Firing from a distance of 2475m, Harrison killed two Taliban.

http://www.examiner.com/article/new-wor ... fghanistan

[northumbrian]

clapclap clapclap clapclap Bravo

[meles meles]

There are lots of rumours about this, but no confirmation. The opinion seems to be that it's a myth. There are a few oddities in the story too: the range would have been measured with a laser rangefinder, not a GPS unit. If a GPS unit had been used, it would have been required to take a position fix at both the firing and target points.

ps. Craig Harrison was Corporal of Horse, not a Corporal.

[DanTheMan]

2815m would surely be a 3 second flight time ? Maybe a bit more since it will be slowing down, anyone have a .50 ballistic calculator ?

[ovenpaa]

There are a few anomalies in the report, most incredible of all two simultaneous shots with Barrett M82A1's at 1.75 miles that both hit the chosen target. This is not a dig at the M82A1 either.

[DanTheMan]

I stand corrected on the flight time, 5.6 seconds to 3,000yds with a 375ft bullet drop.

[Blackstuff]

There are a few anomalies in the report, most incredible of all two simultaneous shots with Barrett M82A1's at 1.75 miles that both hit the chosen target. This is not a dig at the M82A1 either.

"Two marksmen using Barrett M82A1 50 calibre rifles simultaneously fired. The bullets were six seconds in the air. One killed the Taliban commander. It is not known for certain which sniper fired the fatal shot."

Does that not imply that 2 shots were fired but only one hit the mark? I'd imagine that a 50cal hit anywhere on the body would be fatal

[ovenpaa]

Good point, and a 50 Cal just passing in close proximity would probably spoil your day.

[Dahonis]

I doubt a "commando" sniper team would have taken the shots at that distance....it took Craig Harrison 9 shots to walk onto target, mind he was in the Blue's n Royals.......but he saved a team of guys :cheers:

[Polchraine]

Even if they had heard the shot being fired, the sound would have arrived 2 second after the target died!

A 50 cal on the body may not be (immediately) fatal though- the case of the Royal Marine recently stated that the insurgent was mortally wounded after being hit by two 30mm rounds.