GCA-Newsletter_12_12.. - Gun Club of America

S n i p e r s
Part 2 of 2
Contributed by Robert Dunn,
AGI/GCA Video Producer, AGI Pro Course Graduate, GCA
Charter Member, and a Certified Law Enforcement Armorer
As with military sniper teams, police snipers operate in
two-man teams. Police snipers are usually part of a SWAT
division and will go where they are needed to provide support
for their unit. Countersniping tactics are also utilized by the
Police Sniper.
Different operations demand different weapons systems to
accomplish the sniper’s mission. In most Law Enforcement
scenarios, the range of engagement is usually inside 100
yards. The Police Sniper must consider the many legal ramifications
and laws before taking a shot.
A display of different models of Remington Sniper Weapon Systems
A common chambering for a police sniper rifle is the .223
Remington (equivalent to the military’s 5.56x45mm NATO
cartridge), as it is a round that will not overpenetrate. The .308
Winchester (equivalent to the military 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge)
is a cartridge that would be good for shooting through
glass or for a longer engagement distance. Some SWAT units
and other agencies employ the .50 BMG cartridge, however,
the need to stop a bus or a train does not come up very often.
The Military, on the other hand, can utilize the energy
unleashed by the .50 BMG cartridges on a daily basis! In a
war zone, it may be very necessary to disable a car, a bus, a
train, or even an aircraft.
The .50 caliber round is used for ordnance disposal and
detonating IEDs and car bombs from a safe distance, as well
as taking out soft and hard targets. If you need penetration,
the .50 BMG and a Barrett Model 82A1 (M107) rifle would be
a good choice!
Some of the other firearms and chamberings currently used
by the military are: the M14 in 7.62x51mm NATO, the M24 bolt
action rifle (the US Army’s equivalent of the Remington
Model 700) in 7.62x51mm NATO, the M40 bolt-action rifle (the
10
US Marine Corps’ equivalent of the Remington Model 700) in
7.62x51mm NATO, and the M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic
Sniper System) rifle, which is manufactured by Knight’s
Armament Company. Other cartridges in use are the .338
Lapua Magnum and the .300 Winchester Magnum.
A sniper’s rifle, first and foremost, must be extremely accurate
and reliable. The optics must be just as good as the rifle itself.
Leupold, Nightforce and Schmidt & Bender come to mind
when it comes to quality scopes. A bipod can be a handy
addition to a sniper rifle, as it offers stability for accuracy and
follow up shots. A suppressor can aid in masking your shooting
position or hide and should be considered for certain missions.
Muzzle brakes certainly have their place in taming
recoil, however, steps must be taken to hide the dust and
debris from the increased muzzle blast and the report of the
rifle is significantly louder.
Before being selected for sniper school, you must be found to
be both mentally and physically fit. A sociopath or someone
hung up on "thou shall not kill" would not make a good candidate.
As you might suspect, a sniper's training first consists
of being taught expert marksmanship. Without scoring high
in this category, further teaching becomes a moot point. All
types of shooting are taught, from handguns to the Barrett .50
caliber rifle. Snipers learn about firearms maintenance,
design and function, ballistics, bullets, optics, wind and range
estimation, man-tracking, survival techniques, and shot
placement. Scope sight picture, shooting position, breathing
patterns, grip, trigger control, and follow-through are all
emphasized to achieve the best accuracy.
Good physical conditioning is always a requirement. You have
to be able to make an accurate shot, even when you are
exhausted. It might be really physically challenging to get
yourself into an optimal shooting position. Once you are in
position to make the shot, it might be hours or days before
you can actually take the shot. This takes a person that is
patient and one who is physically capable of staying in a
cramped position for a really long period of time.
Camouflage and concealment are important factors in
sniping. When people can see you, they will kill you! One of
the most useful tools for camouflage is the Ghillie suit. This is
a type of clothing used for concealment and incorporates the
colors, shapes and foliage of the environment the sniper is
working in. The full Ghillie suit includes a hat (sometimes with
a veil), gloves, a jacket, a pair of pants and usually some type
of camo wrap for your rifle. A Ghillie suit can be made by
attaching strips of burlap, jute twine and cloth to a BDU (battle
dress uniform) or to some coveralls. The strips of cloth can
be painted the colors that will enable you to blend in with