longest confirmed sniper shot.

[Chako]

http://globalnews.ca/news/3549621/canadian-sniper-in-iraq-makes-longest-confirmed-kill-shot-in-military-history/

Seriously? 

[Okie Shyster]

Amazing!  That's 2.2 miles.   

A large measure of the credit has to be given to the spotter.  It's mostly the spotter that "reads" all the factors that go into a shot like this, i.e., wind, temps, humitidy, optical distortion, even rotation of the earth at this distance.  The spotter figures out all the variables and then tells the shooter what to dial in on the rifle scope.  Not minimizing the shooter's role at all.  That takes a huge amount of skill also.

This shot beat the old record by a lot. 

Kudos to Canuck snipers.  Well done!   

[Grant Lamontagne]

This is the third record set by a Canadian sniper in recent times.  And here I thought two and a half kilometers was damned impressive- almost three and a half is just mind boggling.

Def

[Old Boy]

I had to read it 2x! Much respect and glad he's on our side. I heard that Canada is mentioned on the top5 sniper shots.

[AlephZero]

Well we knew JTF2 were ninjas to begin with, so...

[pfrsantos]

Yeah, well...







Not saying it's not impressive, not saying these "smart bullets" really do what the pics show, just saying...

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah, well...

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

Not saying it's not impressive, not saying these "smart bullets" really do what the pics show, just saying...

 

And some people believe that kind of thing.

 

Reminds me of this one:



I suppose you wouldn't want to let facts get in the way of a perfectly good rant, right?

Def

[pfrsantos]

Facts?! Pff...

[Don Pablo]

If you're wondering how he eats and breathes and other science facts... Repeat to yourself, its just the internet, I really should relax.

[Aloha]

Impressive. 

[Smashie]

Making the assumptions that the sniper was using US military M33 ball ammunition with a 647 grain bullet (nearly 42g), and with the average temperature, altitude and humidity data for Baghdad at the beginning of June (30C, 34 metres and 21 per cent humidity, respectively) entered into the calculator, a notional muzzle velocity of 3,000ft per second, and a scope height of an inch and a half over the centre of the bore, we can estimate that a range of 3,750yds – near enough the 3,773yds at which the shot was taken – the sniper had to correct his sights and aim off by more than 12 thousand inches, or 327 arc-minutes of angle, to compensate for the drop of his bullet over such a great distance. The bullet was in the air for 9.7 seconds.

In plain English, the sniper had to point his rifle at a spot slightly higher than London’s Shard skyscraper, which measures 310 metres to its tip, in order to hit his mark. None of this takes into account the wind speeds across that distance, which are liable to push the bullet all over the place, or the Coriolis effect, or even the Earth’s curvature.

People trying to hit extreme long-range targets for fun on a flat range where nobody's shooting back or liable to do other accuracy-impairing things, like take cover or call in air strikes against you, seriously struggle even with highly customised equipment. Although a team of American enthusiasts managed to shoot a static range target at 4,500yds last year, they were trying to hit a 45" bullseye on an eight foot square board – not a man trying to harm others. They scored just four hits over two days.

[Grathr]

Very impressive!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Making the assumptions that the sniper was using US military M33 ball ammunition with a 647 grain bullet (nearly 42g), and with the average temperature, altitude and humidity data for Baghdad at the beginning of June (30C, 34 metres and 21 per cent humidity, respectively) entered into the calculator, a notional muzzle velocity of 3,000ft per second, and a scope height of an inch and a half over the centre of the bore, we can estimate that a range of 3,750yds – near enough the 3,773yds at which the shot was taken – the sniper had to correct his sights and aim off by more than 12 thousand inches, or 327 arc-minutes of angle, to compensate for the drop of his bullet over such a great distance. The bullet was in the air for 9.7 seconds.

In plain English, the sniper had to point his rifle at a spot slightly higher than London’s Shard skyscraper, which measures 310 metres to its tip, in order to hit his mark. None of this takes into account the wind speeds across that distance, which are liable to push the bullet all over the place, or the Coriolis effect, or even the Earth’s curvature.

People trying to hit extreme long-range targets for fun on a flat range where nobody's shooting back or liable to do other accuracy-impairing things, like take cover or call in air strikes against you, seriously struggle even with highly customised equipment. Although a team of American enthusiasts managed to shoot a static range target at 4,500yds last year, they were trying to hit a 45" bullseye on an eight foot square board – not a man trying to harm others. They scored just four hits over two days.

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take....

It's very likely this was one of those shots that someone really didn't expect to find it's mark, but did.  It's also entirely possible the round was aimed at another bad guy near him, but the same goal was achieved.

And who knows how many shots they took before this one found it's way home?

I seem to recall one of the earlier records was a second shot, with the first having taken out a bag or something in the bad guy's hand, and a follow up round making the kill.

Def

[gregozedobe]

I can't say anything about this that won't upset some MTo members, so I won't.

[Chako]

Well, I posted because that is an astounding feet. The skill involved is simply awe-inspiring regardless of the nationality of the shooter. Frankly, we Canadians have been told that our troops are only over there as overseers and trainers for the Iraqi army. I was a bit surprised at this news to be honest, as I do think are most Canadians.  We have been repeatedly told that our troops are not over there to fight. I guess we now know the truth on that matter. Here is a current news article about the NDP opposition leader talking about the sniper news...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/sniper-iraq-combat-mission-mulcair-1.4175799

This does not detract from the feat however, and I would have posted this info regardless of nationality. 

[Chako]

[Pacu]

Wonder what the longest unconfirmed length is?  Some sniper saying did you see that??  Sorry but we can confirm that.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Wonder what the longest unconfirmed length is?  Some sniper saying did you see that??  Sorry but we can confirm that.

I wondered that as well!

Def

[Smashie]

I've often wondered about the 'celebratory' gunfire that is common in some parts of the world. Now when they are on their way back down the velocity will be lower than muzzle velocity. But that's still a heavy object falling at terminal velocity.

[Don Pablo]

I've often wondered about the 'celebratory' gunfire that is common in some parts of the world. Now when they are on their way back down the velocity will be lower than muzzle velocity. But that's still a heavy object falling at terminal velocity.

Can't imagine that its much worse than a pound coin falling at terminal velocity. 

Now, bullets on a ballistic trajectory... More common and more dangerous.

[Aloha]

I've often wondered about the 'celebratory' gunfire that is common in some parts of the world. Now when they are on their way back down the velocity will be lower than muzzle velocity. But that's still a heavy object falling at terminal velocity.

Sadly people are killed as a result of said "celebratory" gun fire.  There are gunfire detection systems areas of my city now.

When I lived in a certain part of my city we'd hear machine gun fire especially on New Years. It was pretty scary to think those bullets would eventually rain down.  I still hear the random shot fired on New Years but not as much as the 80's/90s.     

[Don Pablo]

I've often wondered about the 'celebratory' gunfire that is common in some parts of the world. Now when they are on their way back down the velocity will be lower than muzzle velocity. But that's still a heavy object falling at terminal velocity.

Sadly people are killed as a result of said "celebratory" gun fire.  There are gunfire detection systems areas of my city now.

When I lived in a certain part of my city we'd hear machine gun fire especially on New Years. It was pretty scary to think those bullets would eventually rain down.  I still hear the random shot fired on New Years but not as much as the 80's/90s.   

As far as I know, such deadly "Celebratory" gunfire would have been on a ballistic trajectory with extra speed, not falling straight down at terminal velocity?

[Smashie]

I've often wondered about the 'celebratory' gunfire that is common in some parts of the world. Now when they are on their way back down the velocity will be lower than muzzle velocity. But that's still a heavy object falling at terminal velocity.

Sadly people are killed as a result of said "celebratory" gun fire.  There are gunfire detection systems areas of my city now.

When I lived in a certain part of my city we'd hear machine gun fire especially on New Years. It was pretty scary to think those bullets would eventually rain down.  I still hear the random shot fired on New Years but not as much as the 80's/90s.   

As far as I know, such deadly "Celebratory" gunfire would have been on a ballistic trajectory with extra speed, not falling straight down at terminal velocity?

Over a long enough distance, ie straight up in the air, the round will eventually stop and then start falling

[Aloha]

I've often wondered about the 'celebratory' gunfire that is common in some parts of the world. Now when they are on their way back down the velocity will be lower than muzzle velocity. But that's still a heavy object falling at terminal velocity.

Sadly people are killed as a result of said "celebratory" gun fire.  There are gunfire detection systems areas of my city now.

When I lived in a certain part of my city we'd hear machine gun fire especially on New Years. It was pretty scary to think those bullets would eventually rain down.  I still hear the random shot fired on New Years but not as much as the 80's/90s.   

As far as I know, such deadly "Celebratory" gunfire would have been on a ballistic trajectory with extra speed, not falling straight down at terminal velocity?

"But we do. Bullets fired at angles less than vertical are more dangerous, as the bullet
maintains its angular ballistic trajectory, is far less likely to engage in tumbling motion, and so
travels at speeds much higher than a bullet in free fall.1
Hatcher studied falling bullets in the 1920s and his study showed that .30 calibre rounds can
Firearms expert Julian
reach terminal velocities of 300 feet per second as they fall."

source.
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebratory_gunfire
2 "New Year's Eve Injuries Caused by Celebratory Gunfire --- Puerto Rico, 2003". Retrieved2007-07-31.
3 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/24/how-dangerous-is-celebratory-gunfire
4 http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/02/us-usa-texas-death-idUSKBN0KB1B420150102

[Grant Lamontagne]

As I recall, the Mythbusters did this as well.  I can't recall the results though.

Def

[pfrsantos]

THIS is more impressive:



 

[Don Pablo]

THIS is more impressive:

(Image removed from quote.)

 

With how many bullets there were in the air at times...
The chance of it happening at least once must have been fairly high....

[pfrsantos]

THIS is more impressive:

(Image removed from quote.)

 

With how many bullets there were in the air at times...
The chance of it happening at least once must have been fairly high....

Considering the speed of bullets and the probability of them just bouncing off each other, due to the pointy tip? Not so much...

I have managed to make a "robin" but it was only once in over 15 years of training/competing in archery.

(I'll try to get a pic posted soon)

[Don Pablo]

THIS is more impressive:

(Image removed from quote.)

 

With how many bullets there were in the air at times...
The chance of it happening at least once must have been fairly high....

Considering the speed of bullets and the probability of them just bouncing off each other, due to the pointy tip? Not so much...

I have managed to make a "robin" but it was only once in over 15 years of training/competing in archery.

(I'll try to get a pic posted soon)

Consider how unlikely it might be to find a particular bullet out of 10000's laying on the ground. 

[ducttapetech]

As I recall, the Mythbusters did this as well.  I can't recall the results though.

Def

I see that episode and had read a few articles about bullets falling at terminal velocity, nothing to worry about. Hell, we shoot paintball guns and airsoft at each other that shoot faster that a falling bullet. However, bullets fired at normal to 75/80 degees, are deadly. Don't quote on the those numbers as far as degrees though.