WARNING

Theprocedures,drills,andtechniquesoutlinedinthisbookareintendedforofficialmilitaryandlawenforcementuseonly.Itisnottheintentoftheauthor,publisher,ordistributorsofthisbooktoencouragereaderstoperformanyofthetechniquesordrillsinthisbookwithoutproperprofessionaltrainingandsupervision.Attemptingtodosocanresultinsevereinjuryordeathtothereaderorbystanders.Thisbookisforinformationpurposesonly.

AlsobyJohnPlaster:

UltimateSniper(video)

AdvancedUltimateSniper(video)

SOG:TheSecretWarsofAmerica'sCommandosinVietnam

SOG:APhotoHistoryoftheSecretWars

TheUltimateSniper:AnAdvancedTrainingManualforMilitaryandPoliceSnipersbyMaj.JohnL.Plaster,USAR(Ret.)

Copyright1993byJohnL.Plaster

ISBN0873647041

PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica

PublishedbyPaladinPress,adivisionof

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IllustrationsbyBradleyHopkins

Acknowledgments

Preface

CHAPTERI:SniperUnitOrganizationandEquipment

CHAPTERII:TheSniper'sRifle

CHAPTERIII:SniperscopeBasics

CHAPTERIV:UsingaSniperscope

CHAPTERV:BulletsandBallistics

CHAPTERVI:BasicSniperMarksmanship

CHAPTERVII:AdvancedSniperMarksmanship

CHAPTERVIII:SpecialShootingSituations

CHAPTERIX:HeavyRifleSniping

CHAPTERX:BinocularsandSpottingScopes

CHAPTERXI:SpottingandTargetDetection

CHAPTERXII:RangeandWindEstimation

CHAPTERXIII:CamouflageforSniping

CHAPTERXIV:StalkingandMovement

CHAPTERXV:TheSniper'sHide

CHAPTERXVI:Mantracking

CHAPTERXVII:BasicOffensiveandDefensiveTactics

CHAPTERXVIII:SnipinginanUrbanEnvironment

CHAPTERXIX:CountersnipingTacticsandTechniques

CHAPTERXX:SpecialSnipingOperations

CHAPTERXXI:NightSnipingOperations

CHAPTERXXII:SpecialSnipingEnvironments

APPENDIXI:GlossaryofSniping&MarksmanshipTerms

APPENDIXII:CurrentU.S.BasedTrainingPrograms

APPENDIXIII:References

Thisbookisdedicatedtoanexcellentriflemanwhotrustedhisyoungsonaloneinthewoodswitharealrifle,myfather,JamesL.Plaster.Therearemanyothersworthyofthanking,butspacelimitsmetocitingbutafew:

ArvidSimmons,whofirstshowedmethatshootingwasaseriousskillandthewoodsanhospitableenvironment;"S.S.,"alongtimeSpecialOperationsfriendwho'sbothabrighttacticianandaphenomenalshooter(almostasgoodasme),whosharednumerousinsights;LtCol.GarySchraml(Ret.),cofounderofoursniperschoolandalwaysgoodforanargumentoverballisticsormarksmanship;SgtDarrylSchmidt,St.PaulPoliceDepartment,anoutstandingteacherandriflemanwhogavetimeandeffortwheneverasked;AgentFredMacDonald.,MississippiBureauofNarcotics,andTomSlowik,ArizonaCrisis(SWAT)Teams,whohelpedimmersemeinpolicesnipingneedsandskills;FBISpecialAgentMathewBowenJohnson,aSoutherngentlemanandtrueriflemanwhosharedhisEdSanowandSWATmagazine,forallowingmeaccesstogelatinballisticdataanduseofseveralphotographs;Dr.B.R.G.Kaplan,M.D.,ariflemandoctorwhoexpandedmyknowledgeofhumanphysiologyandterminalballistics;OlympiclevelriflemanLancePeters,whooveradecadeopenedmyeyestothefinerpointsofrifleshootingandammoperformance;Brig.Gen.KarlLidberg(Ret.),whoboughtmytreasuredRemington700,neverfiredit,andsolditbackwithoutgainwhenIdecidedtoteachsniping;worldrecord.50calibershooterSkipTalbot,whokeptnotechniqueorideasecret;DaveBush,acustom.50caliberMatchammoloaderwhoshareddataandammo;GaryRayofAMAC,wholoanedourschooloneofhisexcellent.50calsforanentireyear;ThunderbirdCartridge,forprovidinghardtoobtainballisticdata;GeneMayo,mygunsmithfriendwhocorrectedanymisunderstandingsaboutbarrels,actions,andmetallurgy;FederalCartridge'sMilitaryandLawEnforcementliaison,ShepardKelly;DennyValentyn,USAR;RogerKennedy,whosephotographsappearonmanyofthesepages;CharlesFarrow,whoprocessedandprintedallourphotos;theFiftyCaliberShootersAssociation;andJimMorris,afellowGreenBeretvetandaccomplishedauthor,whoconvincedPaladinPressthismanuscripthadmerit.SpecialthankstomyeditoratPaladin,JonFord,whosecommentsandsuggestionshelpedshapethisbook,andPaladinpublisherPederLund,forprintingabookthat'stoospecializedtomakeanybestsellerlistbutofgreatimportancetothoseofusinthesnipingcommunity.

Whileallofthesepeopleandcompanieshelpedme,Ialonemusttakeresponsibilityforthisbook'scontentandtheaccuracyofitsinformation,andinthatveinemphasizethatmyviewsdonotnecessarilyreflectthoseoftheDepartmentofDefense,U.S.Army,ournation'sReserveComponents,oranyparticularlawenforcementagency.

Deservingofrecognition,too,areoursniperschool'spastmilitaryandlawenforcementinstructors,allofwhomcontributeddirectlyorotherwisetothismanuscript.

MILITARYINSTRUCTORS:

Lt.Col.GarySchraml

Lt.Col.DaveLoehr

Capt.WendellDaluge

1stLt.CharlesWeebee

2ndLt.DaveBeckering

WOIJeffLuikart

CSMRobertWagaman

1stSgt.DarrylBrown

M.Sgt.CliftonEvans

M.Sgt.SteveLischalk

M.Sgt.RobertPayne

M.Sgt.CarlPeterson

M.Sgt.DanielPurkat

Sfc.GaryGamradt

Sfc.BlaineNelson

Sfc.MichaelCorrow

S.Sgt.TimothyCole

S.Sgt.RobertSiefert

S.Sgt.TimothyWeber

Sgt.MichaelAnderson

Sgt.BrentHenry

Sgt.JohnLepowski

Sgt.MichaelMalterud

Sgt.LancePeters

Sgt.GaryZacharias

Spec.4BradHopkins

MILITARYSUPPORTPERSONNEL:

SGMRobertRoschen1stLt.JosephSeaquist

M.Sgt.JamesOlson

LAWENFORCEMENTINSTRUCTORS:

Off.LyleBeauchamp,MinneapolisPoliceDepartment

Off.LyleDelaney,MinneapolisPoliceDepartment

Sgt.GaryHill,MinneapolisPoliceDepartment

SpecialAgentKevinCrawford,FBI

Sgt.DanHarshman,St.PaulPoliceDepartment

Sgt.DarrylSchmidt,St.PaulPoliceDepartment

Sgt.SteveCampbell,MississippiBureauofNarcotics

AgentTommySquires,MississippiBureauofNarcotics

TrooperDavidWatson,AlabamaHighwayPatrol

ASPECIALNOTEONOURARTIST

ThecreatorofthesemanyfineillustrationsisBradHopkins,andittakesonlyoneglanceathisrealisticdetailtoconcludehemustknowsomethingaboutsniping.

Indeed,HopkinswasamilitaryReserveComponentstudentatoursniperschoolandlateraguestinstructor.ItwasherethatIrecruitedhistalentedpen.

Asthisprojectgrew,andanestimated100drawingsbecomemorelike250,hisqualityneverdeclined,hisstyleneverwavered.Ifthetechnicaltopicsweaddressseemmuchmoreunderstandablethanatypicalmanual,it'slargelybecauseofBrad'sexcellentartwork.Hiscontributionisimmeasurable.

LittledidaBritishtinkererrealizein1640,whenhefashionedthefirsttelescopicmusketsight,whathavochehadwrought.Formanyyears,hisinventionseemedmerelyacuriosity.

Butafterthreecenturiesofevolutionandrefinement,andwhenplacedatopaqualityrifle,asniperemployingthisopticaldevicetodaycaninflictselective,intentionalhitsagainstaquarrysofarawaythattheunfortunatevictim'scomradeshavedifficultyevenhearingtherifle'sblast.

Throughouthishistory,thesniperhashadaspecialmystique,asubjectbothfearedandrespectedbythosewhopassbeforehiscrosshairs.Partly,heisapsychologicalweapon,foreverymanshiversatthethoughtofbeingtakenbyaninvisible,distantfoewhoreapsthisgrimharvestcoolly,selectively,andunerringly.

Onamorepracticallevel,snipersinflictfargreaterlossesamongthoseunluckyenoughtoappearintheircrosshairsthanhavetheirtargetsbeenabletoincuramongsnipers.Thisisprobablythemostcosteffectivefightingsysteminexistence,averagingonekillforevery1.7roundsexpended.ComparethattoacruisemissileorStealthfighterstrike!

Andthatisthemostinterestingthingaboutmodernsniperssofundamentalandancientafightingtechniqueremainsrelevantinoureraofcomputerguidedsmartbombs.IndeedithasonlybeeninthepastdecadethatAmericansnipersbothpoliceandmilitaryhavereachedthezenithintheirdevelopment.

IwrotethisbookbothtoreflectthisnewstateoftheartandtoaddresstraditionalsnipersubjectstothedepthIthinktheydidn'tattaininpreviousmanualsandguides.Thisbookalsocoverssubjectsnotfoundanywhereelse,suchashowtoescapeapursuingenemyforce,.50caliberlongrangesniping,shootingthroughglass,employingasuppressedsniperrifle,mantracking,andhowtogetthemostoutofamildotreticle.

Butmyconcernequallywastocorrecterrorsthathavecreptintotheliterature,placedtherebyignorantgunwriterswhodidn'tknowofwhattheyspoke.Ican'tclaimtobeallknowing,butwheneverencounteringsomethingIcan'texplain,Ifindanexpertandlearnthefacts.

LikeCapt.H.W.McBride,whoauthoredasnipingbookafterWorldWarI,I'mconcerned,too,thatsnipingskillsandlessonslearnedatgreatcostcanbeeasilyforgottenifnotchronicled,ashasbeentoooftenthecasefollowingAmericanwars.Thisbook'sknowledge,Ihope,willbearoundforalongtime.

Ifnothingelse,Ihopetoinculcateanapprciationforbalanceinsniping:betweentheartandscienceofit;betweenthequalityofarifleanditsscopeandammunition,andthequalityoftherifleman;andbetweensniping'sthreegreatskillareasmarksmanship,fieldcraft,andtactics.AndhereIplacespecialemphasis:aneffectivesnipermastersallthreeskillareasandbalancesthemineverythinghedoes.Likeathreeleggedstool,inadequacyinanyonebringsdowntheothertwo.

Asniperstrives,too,forconsistentshootingandexploitsanyedgeinweaponorammoortechniquetosqueezeoutjustahairmoreaccuracy.Whatdistinguishesthesniperisthismeticulousapplication,doingeverythingmarksmanship,fieldcraft,andtacticsslightlybetterthanhisfoe,whichcumulativelyyieldsadecisiveedge.Thesniperlivesno,thrivesonthisedge.Andattitude?Heplansashotwiththesameprofessionaldetachmentasapoolaceliningupacueball;heshootstechnicallyperfect,withoutemotion,andanalyzeshisresults.

Thisbookalsocontainsahostofinnovations,includingtheSniperRifleDataCard,sniperengagementsequence,rapidreloadingdrill,andspecialshootingsupportsandbodypositions.Sincethere'sno"best"waytodoanything,you'llseeseveraltechniquesforthingslikewindorrangeestimationsoyoucanchoosetheonethatbestfitsyourparticularsituation.Iheartilyencourageyoutoexperiment,todaretotrytheuntestedandattemptthenew.

Tohelpeducateleadersandoperationsofficers,I'veincludednewsnipinggraphicsandatacticssectionthatexplainssniperteamemployment,missionparameters,andfireintegration.Thisshouldevolvesnipingonelargestepforwardintoatruedoctrinethatevencoinsnewconceptslikethe"ballisticadvantage"whileestablishingasolidsniperroleinallsortsofoperations.

Allourhardskillsapplyequallytolawenforcementsnipers,andwhereverapplicable,I'vefurtherrefinedsubjectsforpolicesituations.Purposelyexcludedaredetailsaboutpolicetacticsandshootingtechniquessothatthisbookcouldbecirculatedwidelywithoutcompromisingsomeverycleverhostagerescue,counterterrorist,andantiskyjackmethodsthatvariousagencieshavesharedwithme.Ifthere'ssufficientdemand,Imaypreparearestrictedsupplementcoveringthesesubjects,butitwouldbeavailableonlytolawenforcementandSpecialOperationspersonnelandunits.

Toenhanceyourtraining,PaladinPressgenerouslyallowsyoutoduplicatecertainsectionsofthisbook,providedyoudonotremovethecreditline.Abidebythis,andwithmethankaverycivicmindedpublisher.

Andonanadminnote:SinceU.S.ballistictablesnormallyuseyards,we'reusingyardsexclusivelyinthisbook.Shouldyouneedtoconvertyardstometers,multiplyby1.0936;toconvertmeterstoyards,multipleby0.9144.

Finally,alongwithmanyfirearmsinstructorsandcompetitiveshootersconcernedaboutrecentlegislativetrends,IurgeyoutojointheNationalRifleAssociationandencourageyourfriendsandrelativestodolikewise.ItisforourchildrenandgrandchildrenthatwemustdefendthisgreatAmericanbirthright,theSecondAmendment.Futuregenerationsofgreatriflemenandsnipersarecountingonus.

Maj.JohnL.Plaster,USAR(Ret)January1993

SNIPERTEAMORGANIZATION

Aproperlyorganizedsniperteamconsistsoftwomen,asniperandaspotter.Botharequalifiedandfullytrainedsnipers,butmoreappropriatelyitcouldbesaidateamconsistsoftwosnipers.Inordertofunctioneffectively,however,onewillshoot(thesniper)whilehispartnerwatches(thespotter),witheachrotatingthesedutiesonaregularbasis.

Superblyequippedandspeciallytrainedtoday'smilitarysniperteam.

Also,sinceamilitarysniperisarmedwithaslowfiring,lowcapacity,boltactionrifle,hispartnerneedsahighcapacity,automaticweaponIrecommendtheM16A2withanM20340mm

grenadelauncherforteamdefenseagainstunexpected,shortrangecontacts.Thetwomenswapweaponswhentheyrotateroles.

Giventhattheyareonlytwomen,asniperteammustoperatetrulyasateamtostandanychanceofaccomplishingitsmissionandsurvivinginaverydangerousenvironment.

Compatibility,areadinesstoshare,andawillingnesstorotatedutieswithoutpettinessandgrumblingandshirkingareabsolutelynecessaryqualities.We'velistedthesniper'sandspotter'sdutiesintheboxonthefollowingpage,butitmustbeunderstoodthatthereisalwaysamutualcontributionwithinalistedtask;theresponsibleteammemberultimatelyseesthatit'saccomplished,buttosomedegreehispartnercontributestoeverythingthat'sdone.

Somejobsareshared,likesplittingthesectorsobothcansurveil,butevenheretheremustbesomerotationandrelieforonewillsuffereyestrain.Andattimes,onewillrestwhiletheotherworks,onewillsecurewhilehisteammatedigs,andsoon.It'sgenuineteamwork.

Thememberwiththemostexperienceshouldbeincharge,buthisprimarytaskistoeducatehispartnerandelevatehisskillsonaparwithhisownsotheycanrotatejobscompletelyyetsuffernodeclineincapability.Teamwork.

SNIPER'SDUTIES&RESPONSIBILITIES

WritesOperationsOrder

CoordinateswithOtherUnits

FollowsinMarchandCoversRear

ObscuresBacktrailduringMarch

LeadsWhileStalkingLeadsWhileFollowingEnemyTracks

SelectsSniperHideLocation

SharesHideConstruction

DetectsandAnnouncesTargetIndicators

ObservesHaIfSectorwithBinoculars

AdjustsScopeforWind,Range,andAngle

SharesRangeEstimateswithSpotter

DecidesEngagementPriorities

EngagesHumanandMaterielTargets

DesignatesNightTargetswithTracer

SPOTTER'SDUTIES&RESPONSIBILITIES

ObtainsandPreparesAnySpecialGear

LeadsinMarch,MayFireDefensively

FollowsWhileStalking,ObscuresSign

CoversTeamWhileTrackingEnemy

SharesHideConstruction

DrawsSketchesandRangeCards

SharesRangeEstimateswithSniper

ObservesHalfSectorwithSpottingScope

DetectsandAnnouncesTargetIndicators

IdentifiesTargetsbyPriority

EstimatesWind

TimestheWindandTellsSniperto.Fire

BacksUpSniper'sShot

ObservesandReportsBulletImpact

OperatesRadio

RecordsInformation

VectorsandCoordinatesOtherTeams

OperatesDiversionaryDevices

SterilizesSiteWhenAbandoningHide

Atwomanmilitarysniperteamhastwofullytrainedsniperswhorotateweaponsandsniper/spotterdutiesatregularintervals.

Mostoften,thenewersniperservesastheobserver,butsomeauthoritieswouldarguethatthemoreexperiencedofthetwoshouldspotsinceheprobablyisbetteratestimatingrangeandwindandevaluatingtargets.

Duetoliability,policesnipersdonotrotateweaponseachshouldhavearifleassignedexclusivelytohimself.Butpolicesnipersmustalsorotate/rest/share,ortheywon'tbeabletolastduringaprotractedincident,andfaceit,mostincidentsthateventuallyleadtoapolicesnipertakingashotareprotractedones.

Militaryunitsareconfiguredaccordingtomission,equipment,doctrine,andtheterrainonwhichthey'llfight,balancedagainstflexibilityandsimplicitytokeeptheunitcontrollable.Thesefactorsareasapplicabletoasniperunitorganizationasforanarmordivision.Andfromthesefactorshaveevolvedtwobasicconceptsfororganizingsniperelements:consolidationanddecentralization.

MILITARYSNIPINGORGANIZATION

ThisishowadecentralizedsniperconfigurationappearsinRangerandReserveComponentInfantrybattalions.

ThesniperstructuremostfrequentlyfoundinU.S.militaryorganizationsisaconsolidatedone,withsnipersintheirownbattalionlevelplatoonthatoperatesdirectlyundertheS2IntelligenceOfficerorS3OperationsOfficer.Asthechartshows,thisisthesniperconfigurationfoundinU.S.MarineCorpsunits,aswellasinU.S.ArmyLightInfantryDivisions.Inmostorganizationsusingthisarrangement,thesnipersalsoserveasbattalionscouts,agoodmatchingofskillsandmissions.Infact,theUSMCofficiallycallsthesemen"ScoutSnipers."

Thebenefitsofaconsolidatedsniperplatoonaremany.First,inpeacetimetheycantraintogetherandfocustheireffortsonsniping,underthecontrolofplatoonlevelleaderswhoappreciateandsupporttheirneeds.Second,sincethey'reabattalionlevelasset,theirroleisconsideredandintegratedineverybattalionoperation.

Consolidationaffordsgreatflexibilityincombat,allowingthebattaliontoconcentrateordispersethesniperstofitthesituationandthemission.Forinstance,allsniperscanbefocusedalongoneenemyavenueorapproach,massedwithinonecompany'sareaiftheterrainbestsuitssniping,orsplitevenlywiththreesniperteamsattachedtoeachcompanyoroneteamforeachlineplatoon.Theyalsocanrunindependent,battalioncontrolledoperations.

AdecentralizedorganizationisfoundinU.S.ArmyRangerunitsandsomeReserveComponentelements.Thisconcept,shownintheotherchart,hassniperssplitandpermanentlyassignedwithoneteamineachplatoon.

GiventhatRangersfrequentlyconductplatoonsizeraidsandambushestheyare,afterall,America'spremiercommandoraiderforceitmakessensethattheywouldwanttointegrateasmuchaspossibleattheplatoonlevel.Buildingthisplatoonteamallowsallmemberstobecomeaccustomedtooperatingtogether,honingtheirtacticalandskilledgesinunison.

It'sthecompanycommanderorplatoonleaderwhodetermineshowthesedecentralizedsniperteamsareemployedinhisoperations;thebattaliondoesn'ttakesnipersorsnipingintoaccountwhileplanning.

Thedownsideofsuchaconfigurationisthatsnipingemphasismaydeclineandsniperscannottraintoashighastandardaswhenthey'reinasingleplatoon.Butthisisusuallyremediedbyabattalioncommander'soversightanddirectives.

ThisisaconsolidatedsniperplatoonconfigurationasfoundinUSMCandU.S.ArmyLightInfantrybattalions.

Nottobeforgottenistherealitythatanymilitaryorganizationcanbedramaticallychangedtofitthecircumstancesofcombat,ashashappenedineveryAmericanwar.DuringpeacetimeitseeminglytakesanActofCongresstochangeaunit'stableoforganizationevenslightly,butinwartime,yourunitleadershavetremendouslatitudeforadjustingtothesituation.Whenthebulletsstartflying,whatmattersisonlywhatworks.

SNIPERSELECTION

FrederickRussellBurnham,theAmericanexploreradventurerwholedBritain'sscoutsintheBoerWar,describedhisscoutsas"halfwolfandhalfjackrabbit."WhatafittingdescriptionforthesniperandhowfittingthatBurnhamsaidthis.ForBurnham'smostaccomplishedrecon

soldierswereScotsofaHighlandregimentknownasLovat'sScouts;16yearslater,thesephenomenalwoodsmenbecametheBritisharmy'sfirstsniperunit.Yes,asniperisaboldtempteroffate,buthealsomustbeawisepractitionerofdiscretion:"Hewhoshootsandrunsaway,livestoshootanotherday."

Thiscontradictorynatureaswellasconcernsthatsnipingcanattractsomeunsuitableelementsrequirescareinselectingsnipers.

Whattolookforinsnipercandidates?Sincesnipinginvolvesatriadofskillsmarksmanship,fieldcraft,andtacticsIbelieveasnipercandidateshouldhaveexperience,interest,orademonstratedaptitudewithinatleastoneoftheseareas.Trainingsolidifiesthisfoundationandroundshimoutintheotherskills.

It'sfoolishtothinkyou'rerecruitingtrainedmen;rather,theselectionprocessisgearedtoidentifyingmenwiththebestpotential,whomyouthentraintostandard.I'mmostinterestedinthecandidate'sattitudeandperspective,notnecessarilyhisknowledge,whichcanbeexpandedwithtraining.Isthismanworthtraining?That'stherealquestion.

TheWorldWarIIBritisharmydirectivecreatingsniperteamsplacedproperemphasisonattitudeaswellasskill,requiringthatthecandidatesbe"pickedmen,andfitmen,andproudtobesuch;thebestmarksmen,skilledinfieldcraft,confidentintheirselfreliance,possessedofgreatcourageandunrivalledpatience."

Marksmanship

Whenitcomestomarksmanship,thecandidatemustbeatleastaratedexpertriflemanwhichhesoonlearnsisonlyastartingpointforsniperlevelshooting.

Hisinvolvementwithweaponsideallygoesbeyondserviceriflequalification.MyinterestinfirearmsdatesbacktoachildhoodinwhichIwasexpectedtohandleariflealoneinthewoodsbytheripeageofeight.Perhapsthecandidatehasbeenacompetitiveshooter,ormaybehehasadeepergraspandfascinationwithweaponsthantheaveragelawmanorsoldier.SkipTalbot,theworldrecord.50caliber,1,000yardrifleman,thinks"longrangeshootersarelikebroncriders;they'reborn,notmade."

Thecandidatehadbetterlikeshooting,becausetohoneandmaintainsniperlevelskillshemustshootfrequently.Relatedtothis,thecandidateshouldhaveaninterestinfirearmsandtechnicalsubjectsbeyondthecommonlayman,anaturalcuriosityaboutthingslikeballistics,bullets,andoptics.

Huntingexperienceisespeciallyusefulbecausethesnipercandidatealreadywillhavelearnedtheconsequencesofinaccuracyorsluggishreflexes.

Fieldcraft

Fieldcraftincludesthemanysupportingskillsasnipermustdevelop,thingssuchaswindestimation,camouflage,andobservation.Thevalueofoutdoorsportsandhuntingexperiencecannotbeunderstated,becausehowelsecanayoungmanlearnsuchskills?

Iattachmoresignificancetothosewhohuntelusivegame.Squirrel,turkey,ordeerhunterscandevelopintosuperbsnipers.Bowhuntersknowmuchaboutwoodloreandcamouflage.

Butit'smorethanthesedefinableskills.It'sanattitude,adeeperlevelofconfidenceandcompatibilitywithnatureIcall"closetotheEarth."Aruralyouth,especiallyoneraisedinplaceslikeAlaska,Montana,Maine,Minnesota,orIdahoorjustplainallowedtoroamthewoodsdevelopshisownconceptabouttherelationshipbetweenhimselfandnature,thewoods,weaponsaboutlifeitself.

Someoutdoorsportshelpdevelopasimilarappreciation,includingtrapping,hiking,backpacking,camping,andcanoeing.Thesesportsmenlearntoreadtheweather,seetracksinanaturalsetting,understandfieldmaps,observelivegame,movetoavoidbeingseenmanyapplicableskills.

Butbeforeitseemscityslickershavenoplaceinsniping,don'tforgetthatallourancestorsoncehunteddayinanddayoutforsheersurvival,thatalltheseskillslielatentwithinus,thattheleastexperiencedcityboycanlearntomasterthewoodsifheimmersesandapplieshimself.Theseareforgotten,notlost,arts.

TheultimateSpecialForcesSOG(StudiesandObservationGroup)complimentwas,"He'sgoodinthewoods,"meaningthemanhadmasteredthewholegamutofancientwarriorandwoodsmanskillsdemandedofjunglewarfare.AndthemajorityofSOG'sjunglewarriors,likeyourstruly,hadbeenbroughtupincities.

Butwithinuswasanaturaltalent,aninstinctforhuntingothermen,justlikesomeofourpeerstookreadilytoridingasurfboardorthrowingafootball.It'sfascinatingtowatchayoungsoldierdevelopsuchmartialskillsandfind,oftentohisownsurprise,thatburiedwithinhismindandbodyhavealwaysbeenthemakingsofawarrior.HewasalwaysclosetotheEarthbutdidn'tknowit.

MoreaboutHunters

Butit'sbeenmostlyhuntingexperiencethattraditionallyhasmarkedamanasapotentialsniper.TheGermanshistoricallycalledtheirsnipers"Jgers"or"hunters,"socloseisthislinkage.

TheRussiansespeciallylikedsniperswithhuntingexperience.TheirgreatestsniperofWorldWar.,Sgt.VasilyZaitsev,hadbeenaprewarhunterandtrapperintheUralMountains.

ThebestAustraliansnipersofWorldWarIIwereexperiencedkangaroohunterswhoknewthatabadlyplacedshotruinedapelt,sothey'dgrownaccustomedtomakingheadshotsatlongrange.Stealthandsharpshootingweretheirwayoflife.

WhenitcomestotheUnitedStates,well,moresothananyothermajorpower,firearmsandhuntingareasignificantingredientofthemodernAmericanexperience.TheUnitedStatesprobablyhasmorehunterspercapitatodaythananyothergreatnation.

Butyouneednotbeahuntertobeasniper;indeed,someexpertsnipershavenointerestinhunting.AformerGreenBeretfriendwho'sasniperwithamajormetropolitanpolicedepartmentdecriesthe"needless"harvestingofwildlifebutwouldnothesitatetotakeoutabadguywithhisMcMillanrifle.He'sanexcellentrifleshot,agoodtactician,andappliesotherskillswell,too.SteveandImayargueaboutthemoralityofhunting,butthere'snoquestionhe'sacompetentsniperwithnohuntingexperiencewhatsoever.

Tactics

I'mnotsurehowasnipercandidatecandevelopanappreciationfortacticsotherthanstudymilitaryhistoryandreadbookssuchasthisone.

Thestudyofmilitaryhistoryhelpsdevelopafeelfortherelationshipsbetweenfireandmaneuver,coverversusconcealment,andconcentrationversusdispersion.MostrelevantaresmallunittacticsbelowthelevelofNapoleonorClausewitz.

IstronglyrecommendSunTzu'sTheArtofWar,a300B.C.Chinesetreatiseondeceptionandwarfarethat'susefulforsnipers.SunTzuwrote,forinstance,"Whennearmakeitseemthatyouarefaraway;whenfarawaythatyouarenear."ThisbookisrequiredreadingforCIAandKGBofficers.

AnebulousqualityIlookforinstudentsis"tacticalsense,"theabilitytoseetacticalopportunitiesandthreats,tobeabletoassessasituationwithaglanceanddrawone'splaninthedirt.Someofthiscomeswithexperience,butmuchofit,Ithink,isagiftofGod.

Seriousboxersandmartialartistsperhapshaveabetternaturalgraspoftacticsfundamentals,asshouldchessplayersandparticipantsinsometeamsportslikefootball.I'dgiveacandidateextrapointsifhe'dbeenapaintballcompetitor.

PhysicalCondition

IagreewithSovietCol.R.Minin'srecommendationthatasniperbe"physicallyfitandhardywithsharpvisionandhearing,agoodmemory,andquickreactions."

Afitriflemanmoresteadilyholdshisrifle,solidmusclebetterwithstandsrecoil,hebearsloadswithoutunduefatigue,andoverallhestaysalertlongerandcangofarther,faster.

ManypoliceSWAT(SpecialWeaponsandTactics)unitstrainhardandlongandmaintainhighstandardsofphysicalconditioning.Butwhetheryourtacteamdoesthisornot,youmuststayinshapeoryou'llbeginavoidingstrainsubconsciouslybydashingatalowtrotwhenyoushouldlowcrawl,orwalkingconspicuouslyaroundawallratherthanpullyourselfinvisiblyoverit.Poorshape,laziness,andbadtacticsgohandinhand.

TheU.S.Armyphysicaltraining(PT)testisadequateforpolice,althoughtheSWATteamsI'mmostfamiliarwithhavehigherphysicalstandards,approachingthePTlevelsofSpecialForcesandRangerunits.

Asfaraseyesightgoes,asniperneedsatleast2020visionsincemuchofhisjobisspottingandsurveilling.Eyeglasses?Correctablevisionisacceptableifthesniperhasnonglareeyeglasslensesandkeepsasparesetwithhisgear.

IntelligenceandPersonality

Tounderstandandapplythecomplexitiesofballistics,adjusthisriflescope,planmissions,andjustplainoutsmarthisfoes,asniperneedsbrains.

Heneedswisdom,too,forhistypicalengagementviolentlyteasesanumericallysuperiorfoe.Likeanimblemongoose,hisquicktacticalparriesanddiversionsoutwitthedeadlycobra.Thisrequirescoolnessunderstress.

Theexcitableadrenalinspurting"hoohuh"typesaretheexactoppositeofthecalm,unemotional,thinkingsniper.Theycanadaptwithgreateffort,butit'snoteasy.

Theseobservationsholdforpolicesnipers,too.Anentryteammemberneedstobeboldandaggressive,readytoburstthroughdoorsandengagehisopponentatclosequarters.Hiswholebusinessissmashingthroughriskandhittinghisobjectiveheadon.Butthepolicesnipermustbecautious,methodical,anddeliberate.Hismissionrequiresbypassingrisk,minimizingchance,andturningoddsaround,notconfrontingorchargingasuspect

Thesnipershouldbecompatiblewithhisteammate.Ididn'tsayhavethesamepersonality,Isaidcompatible.Buttheyshouldbethesameapproximatesizesoonecanpulltheotheroutifhe'sincapacitated.TeamingupaHulkHoganwithanaveragesizemanmeansthey'llbothdieifthelargeriseverseriouslywounded.

Andwhenitcomestopersonality,theLoneWolftypeneednotapply.Snipingisateammissioninwhicheachmanmustcontributefully,notfeedofftheendeavorsofhispartner.

Patience

Specialheedmustbepaidtopatience,whichWorldWarIsniperCapt.H.W.McBridesaidwasasniper'smostimportantquality.Whetherhe'sapoliceofficerwaitingoutaterroristduringaprotractedskyjackoraGIcalmlypeeringatanenemytrenchforhoursonend,thesnipermustbeascapableoftakingaperfectshot10minutesafterarrivalas10hoursintoit.

ThemostaccomplishedlongrangeshootersIknoware"slowwalkin',slowtalkin'"kindsofguys,menlikeLancePeters,anOlympiclevelriflemanwho'swonsilvermedalsatthePanAmericanGames.Analytical,patient,unemotional,deliberateintheireverystep.Ofcourse,thesemenhaveemotions,butthey'velearnedtoovercomethem,tomentallychannelstressandanxietyintooblivion.

Asadeterminedformofselfdiscipline,patienceenablesasnipertoliemotionlessinwetandcoldforhours,waitingforashotheknowsmostlikelywon'tevenhappen.Butforjustachanceshot,hegutshiswaythroughthediscomfort,ascalmandreadyasifitwereasurething.

Smoking

It'sbetterthatasnipercandidatenotbeasmoker,butthisisachoicebestleftuptothesniper,nottothosewhowouldselecthim.Smokingshouldnotbeusedasabasisforexclusion,anymorethanconsumingalcoholordrinkingcoffee,allofwhichaffectsniperperformancetosomeextent.

Thesnipermustrecognizehowsmokingimpactshistrade.Indaytimehiscigaretteswillgeneratesmokeandsmell,whileatnighttheycreateavisualsignature.Hismarksmanshipcandeteriorateifhe'sdeniednicotineatacriticalmoment,whilehissenseofsmellmaynotbesufficienttodetectodorsassociatedwithhostileactivityordanger.

Apackadaysmokerbuildshighlevelsofcarbonmonoxideinhisblood,whichreduce20percentofthenormalnightvisionatsealevel,aneffectthatincreaseswithaltitude;by10,000feet,he'slost40percentofhisnightvision.

I'dencouragesniperstoquitsmoking,butI'dalsosuggestthatcoffeedrinkersswitchtodecaffeinatedforsteadiernerves.

PsychologicalScreening

Mostmenbecomesnipersbecausethey'reselfreliant,takeprideintheirskills,andwanttodoandbeonlytheverybest.Theydesiretofightasasmallunitsosuccessorfailure,lifeordeaththeirveryfateisdeterminedlargelybytheirownexertions.Inanenvironmentoftendrivenbyunthinkingviolentmomentum,theywanttofightsmart.TheyepitomizetheAmericanspirit.

Forsomepeculiarreason,though,thesnipingmystiquecanattractthewrongelementdelusionary"wannabes"whothinkglorycomesfromkilling.Basketcasesandpathologicalbraggartsdon'tlastlonginwartimebecausesocalledpleasurekillersusuallyarecowards,withnostomachforthedangersofrealcombat.

Thosewhothinkthey'reonamissionforGodorwhohatetheirmommiesanddaddiesarequicktospotanddisqualify.What'sfarmoredifficultandsubtle,Ithink,isweedingoutthosewhowon'triskitallunderfire;who,whenallthechipsareonthetable,don'ttaketheshotorchokeuporhideinsteadofshoot.Butthepurposeofpsychologicalscreeningistoexcludethecrazies,notdeterminewhohastruegrit.

LawenforcementagenciesoftenhaveaformalpsychologicalinterviewofsnipercandidatesandevenadministerdiagnostictestsliketheMinnesotaMultiPhasicInventory.Giventhegreatliabilityandinherentdangersoffiringahighpoweredrifleinapeacetime,urbansetting,nopoliceagencycanaffordtohaveamantooquicktotakeashot.

Mygreatestconcernaboutpsychologicalscreeningisthatit'sdependentuponthesubjectiveopinionofapsychiatristwhomaynotfullyappreciatethestressesandrealitiesofasniper'senvironment.Hecouldexcludethebestcandidatesbecausetheylikefirearmsorseementhusiastic.

"Bein'Willing"

InJohnWayne'sfinalmovierole,thatofaginggunfighterJ.B.BooksinTheShootist,herecitedamemorablelinethatperfectlyexpressesthegunfighter'scredo:"Itisn'talwaysbein'fastorevenaccuratethatcounts;it'sbein'willing."

MygreatestdisappointmentinSpecialForceswaswitnessingastatesidefriendbecomeacowardinVietnam.Andabastardcowardhetrulywas.ButatFt.Bragghe'dseemedtheepitomeofaGreenBeretalean,mean,fightingmachine,witty,scoringhighintests,andsoon.Hecouldhavemodeledforrecruitingposters.Butwithinitall,hewasaselfcenteredegotistwhoseeveryexertion,inretrospect,actuallyhadbeenintendedtobringhimselfrecognition,includingtheberetcockedjauntilyonhishead.Aswesaidbackthen,hewas"90percentshow,10percentgo."

HUMANNATUREVULNERABILITIES

TheonequalityIsawincombatthatconsistentlygotmenkilledorcausedotherstodiewasarrogantoverconfidencesomefoolthinkingheknewitall.Anyoneofthehumanvulnerabilitieslistedbelowcangetyoukilledorcauseyoutofailtoaccomplishyourmission.Masterthesequalitiesandyouwillhavemasteredyourself.

Overconfidence

Inattention/Indifference

HastyDecisions

LackofPlanning

BadTacticalHabits

Anger/Emotionalism

UndueCuriosity

TooEasilyDistracted

Laziness

UnderestimatingYourOpponent

UnwillingnesstoTrain,Prepare

Howcanyouidentifythesetypes?Ithinkattitudemirrorsthesoul,butthekeyinassessingattitudeiswatchingwhatadevotedmandoes,notwhatabraggartsays.Acts,notwords,havetruevalue.

Willhegoonwhenothersarequitting?Doesheputhismatesaheadofhimself?Willheendurepainanddiscomforttosucceed?Doesheactuallygiveofhimselfordoesheonlytake?Willheriskhimself,willhetakechances?Andultimately,willhefollowordersandtaketheshot?

Unlikemostsoldiersandlawmen,it'stoughtoknowifasniperwillengageatargetthat'sdistantandnoimmediatethreattohimself.HemayevenhavetimetostudythetargetandnoticehowmuchitlookslikehisUncleRalph.I'venever,everknownofanincidentinwhichapoliceofficerorsoldierfoundhecouldnotshootatanearbybadguywhowasshootingathim.Themarksmanshipmayhavebeenpoor,thedrawslow,butnomoralpangsorsocietaltaboosaffectedthegoodguy.

Butsomethinghappenswhenasniperlooksinthatopticalsightandseesapairofrealeyes.It'stheeyesthatdistinguishalivinghumanfromatarget.

I'vebeenunabletocomeupwithameanstodeterminewhowouldnottakeashot,sountilitactuallyhappens,youcanneverbesurewho's"willing."Andthisunderscoresthecriticalityoftrainingrealism,ofmakingasniper'stargetssorealisticthattherealthingwon'tseemmuchdifferent.Especiallyensurethathistargetshaveeyes.

POLICETACTICALUNITORGANIZATION

Lawenforcementsniperteamsareonecomponentofalargertacticalunit,sometimesreferredtoasSWAT.Justasistrueforthemilitary,policetacticalunitsareconfiguredintodistinct

elementsgroupedtogetheraccordingtofunction,thenmixedandmatchedor"tailored"toconductanyspecificoperation.

Alongwithtwomansniperteams,atypicalpolicetacticalunitincludesthefollowingelements:

COMMANDANDCONTROL:Normally,tacunitleadersarenotheavilyinvolvedonsiteduringoperationsbecausethey'requicklyaccomplishedandtheunitwithdrawn.Inmostcases,leadersplanandletthesubelementsexecute.It'sonlyduringprotractedsituationssuchasahostagetakingthatacommandpostisoperatedonsiteandthecommandandcontrolelementisfullyutilized.

ENTRYTEAMS:Composedoffourtosixwellarmedofficers,anentryteamspecializesindynamicallyenteringastructure,quicklyclearingit,retrievinghostages,andneutralizingorarrestingsuspects.Becausetheseofficersbestunderstandthedemandsofanentry,theyusuallyaredeployedastheinnerperimeterforce,aswell.

GASTEAMS:Theefficientemploymentofgasisaspecializedfunctionhandledbytwomangasteams.Moderntacticalunitsusegaswiselytodivertasuspect'sattention,todenyhimaccesstosomepartsofastructure,ortotemporarilydisablehimduringanassault.

HOSTAGENEGOTIATOR:Thiscouldbeadepartmentpsychiatristoranofficertrainedespeciallyinnegotiationskills.Duringprotractedsituations,usuallyinvolvinghostagetakers,anegotiatorcontactsthesuspectsandattemptstouseahostoftechniquestohelpresolvethesituation.

MEDICALTEAMS:Thesecouldbepoliceorfireparamedics,ormedicsfromalocalhospital.What'simportantisthattheytrainregularlywithyourunitandunderstandhowtacteamoperationsareconducted.Theirgearandorientationprimarilyaredirectedtowardtraumainjuries.

Anintegralcomponentofthemodernpolicetacteamthepolicesniper.

POLICETACTICALUNITORGANIZATION

COMMUNICATIONSELEMENT:Thissectionreallycomesintotheforeduringaprotractedincident,whenanonsitecommandpostsuddenlyneedsphones,FAXmachines,secureradios,andphotographicsupport,nottomentiontechnicalsurveillanceofsuspects.

Therecanbeotherattachmentstothetacticalteam.Byattachments,wemeanthesesectionsarenotorganicnotactuallyapartofthetacticalteam.They'reattachedtotheteamandundertheteamcommander'scontrolifneededonaparticularoperation.

BOMBSQUAD:Inadditiontohelpingassess,remove,andpossiblydisableanexplosivedevice,thebombsquadinmanydepartmentsistheonlysectionthatisauthorizedtoprepareanddetonateexplosiveentrycharges.Theseofficersshouldbethelocalboobytrapexpertswhocaninstructsnipersindetectingandbypassingdeviceswhilestalking.

AIRSUPPORT:Anairborneplatformfacilitatescommandandcontrol,reconnaissance,relayofradiomessages,photographicsurveys,aerialsearchesahostofusefulcontributionstotacticalteamoperations.Andaddtothistheabilityofahelicoptertoquicklyairliftofficerslongdistancesortogreatheights.

TheUrbanPoliceCountersniper

Thepolicecountersniperrolewascreatednotonawhimbutinproportionalresponsetoaspecificthreatthatfirstemergedinthe1960saftertheworstmasskillinginAmericanhistory.

InAugust1966,a25yearoldUniversityofTexasstudent,CharlesWhitman,wheeledadollyloadedwithaduffelbagandmilitaryfootlockerontohiscampustowerelevatorinAustin.At11:48A.M.,afterbarricadinghimselfatopthe28storytower,thehuskyexmarineandbiggamehunterraisedaRemington6mmModel700rifletohisandpeeredthroughhisscope.

Afewmonthsearlier,Whitmanhadtoldauniversitypsychiatristhewassoupsetthathe'dbeen"thinkingaboutgoinguponthetowerwithadeerrifleandstartshootingpeople."Henowlivedoutthatgrislyfantasy.

Overthenext90minutes,Whitmanengagedpeopleuptothreeblocksaway,killing13andwoundinganother31forastaggeringtotalof44casualties.Butwhat'sofmostinteresttousishischoiceofdominatingterrainandweapons,aswellashowheexploitedbothtothedetrimentofrespondinglawofficers.

AUSTIN,TEXAS,1966.CharlesWhitmankilled13andwounded31fromhis28storyperch,aghastlynationalrecordformassmurder.

WithinminutesofWhitmanfiringhisfirstshot,morethan100lawmenfromtheAustinpolice,TexasRangers,andlocalSecretServiceofficeswarmedtothecampus,buttheirproblemwasoneofballisticandopticaldisadvantage.Armedonlywithpistolsandshotgunshavinganeffectiverangeofnomorethan50yardsthelawmenweredistinctlyoutclassedbyamanwhocouldhitevenanexposedheadatsixtimesthatdistance.

Whitman'stowerperchwassurroundedbyawaisthighledgeofbrickanddecorativeconcretecolumns,creatingmanynaturalloopholesthroughwhichhefired.ThebestcountersniperweaponsinAustinwerethedeerriflesofcivilianpassersbywhoshotsidebysidewithlocalpolice,buttolittleeffectagainstthewenentrenchedgunman.

Firingfromhisheavilyremforcedhide,Whitmandominatedtheflatsurroundingterrain,easilyhittingseveralpoliceattemptingtorushthebuilding.Whenheneededmorefirepower,Whitmanletloosewitha.30caliberMlcarbine.

For90minutes,thecarnagecontinueduntilfinallytwolawmenandadeputizedcivilianenteredthebuildingthroughasubterraneanpassage,climbedthetower,andrushedWhitman,riddlinghisbodywithslugs.

FollowingtheAustinmassacre,manylocalpolicedepartmentsinstitutedapolicyofassigningoneriflearmedofficertoeachshift.Intheseearlydays,apolicerifleman'sweaponwasaslikelytobea.3030leveractionasanythingelse,sincechoicesfrequentlywerebaseduponpersonalpreferences.IrecalltheSt.LouisPoliceDepartmentused.3006BARsportingriflesintheearly1970s.Still,riflearmedpoliceseemedanodditybarelytoleratedbyadministrators,andthepoliceriflemanremainedarelativelyuntried,seldomcalledshoulderuponadjunct,mobilizedinonlytherarestofcases.

ButthelessonsofAustinwerepoundedinagaininNewOrleansinAugustof1974,whenanexsailor,23yearoldJimmyEssex,beganakillingrampageataHowardJohnson'sMotorLodge.

Aracialextremistwhohadvowedtokillasmanywhitesaspossible,EssexcameclosetoequalingCharlesWhitman'stallyhekilledsevenandwoundedanother21people.Inparticular,Essexhatedpoliceofanyraceandsevenofhisvictimswererespondinglawmen,includingDeputySuperintendentLouisSirgo.

EssexeventuallyoccupiedapositionverysimilartoWhitman'sbarricadedtower,exploitingareinforcedconcreteelevatorstructureonthehotelroof,whereheblastedawaywitha.44MagnumRugerautocarbinefor11hours.Afteranentirenightexchangingfirewithoutgunnedlawmen,aUSMCCH46helicopterfinallyarrivedandletloosewithanM60machinegun,drillingEssexwith"atleastahundredbullets,"accordingtoonepressaccount.

Havingwitnessedthelevelofresponsenecessitatedbynotrespondingproportionallyattheverystart,lawenforcementadministratorsbetterrealizedtheneedforpolicesnipers.

Some15yearsafterEssex'srampage,IencounteredNewOrleanspoliceriflemenamongourstudentsataMississippishootingclinicandcompetition.IcanassureyouthatNewOrleanstodayisservedbysuperbpoliceshooterswholearnedmuchfromthatghastly,tragicincident.

ButittooktheAustinandNewOrleansmassacresandahostoflesserknownoutgunnedshootoutstowashawayanydoubtabouttheneedforpolicecountersnipercapabilities.Andwhatwouldhappeniftoday'sproperlytrainedandequippedpolicesniperencounteredthelikesofaWhitmanorEssex?Theslaughterwouldendwithjustoneshot.

DIFFERENCESBETWEENPOLICEANDMILITARYSNIPERS

Perhapstheworstmistakeapolicesnipercanmakeistoimaginehe'samilitarysniper;equally,amilitarysniperisingraveerrorifhebeginsactinglikehe'Salawofficer.

Thereareconsiderabledifferencesbetweenthetwo,notmerelytheresultoftechnicaldistinctionsorsillyconcernsbyofficialsfearinglawsuits.Wemustclearlyexaminethesedistinctionsbecausetheyimpactyourtactics,organization,equipment,planningeveryareaofasnipersjob.Andkeepingthesedifferencesinmindwillhelpyoufocusontheapplicabledataandtechniquesfoundinthefollowingchapters.

Beforedrawingsuchdistinctions,however,realizethatthemostfundamentalsnipingskillsmarksmanship,fieldcraft,andtacticsareverysimilarforbothpoliceandmilitary.Thedramaticdifferencesareinhowasniperappliesthem.

LegalitiesandPolicies

Themostbasicdifferencebetweenapoliceandamilitarysniperishoweachemploysdeadlyforce.

Nolawofficerwouldevertakeashotwhichisdeadlyforceunlessasuspectisathreattohimself,anotherpoliceofficer,abystander,orahostage.Butquitetheoppositeappliestoamilitarysniperincombat.Hereadilywillengageaconfirmedenemysoldier,andhistargetneednotbeanimmediatethreattoanyone.Thehostilesoldier'smereexistenceisathreattoourforces,itisunderstood,andtheLawofLandWarfareallowsengagingwithoutwarning.

Provideditisaconfirmedenemysoldieranditisatimeofwar,themilitarysniperhasnolegalconcernwhatsoever.Tothedegreehemustusejudgement,itistoanalyzethetacticalsituationandactwiselywhileunderstress.Thepolicesniper,however,mustkeepinmindthathiseverymovemustbejustifiable,andthatheespeciallywillhaveto"articulate"thethreatheperceivedtolegitimizehisshot.

Departmentoragencypolicieswillvary,butitisgenerallyrecognizedthatapolicesniper'sauthoritytofireneednotrequireanorderfromanonscenesupervisor.Itshouldbegeneratedbythesituationitself.Askyourself,"IfIhadapistolandIwas10feetfromthesuspect,canIjustifyusingdeadlyforce?"Shouldtheanswerbe,"Yes,"youronlydistinctionasasniperisthedistance,notthejustification.

Asapracticalmatter,however,youmostlikelywouldnotengagepriortotheonscenecommanderissuinga"GreenLight,"becausethebosswillhavewantedtoexploreotheroptionsusinglessforceorposinglessdangertoahostage.

Policesnipersmaylegallyemploythemosteffectiveammunition,whichiscivilianhollowpointMatchorsoftpointrounds.ThesedelivermoreenergyintothetargetwhilealsocreatinglessdangerofoverpenetrationthanmilitaryballMatchammo.ButmilitarysniperscannotusethistypeofbulletwithoutviolatingtheLawofLandWarfare,ormorespecifically,theHagueConventionof1907,whichoutlawssoftpointandexpandableroundsinwar.

SeveralcategoriesoftargetsarenotencompassedbytheHagueConvention,however.Theseincludeterrorists,domesticcriminals,andarmedrioters,anyofwhomcouldpossiblyappearinamilitarysniper'scrosshairs.

RotatingRifles

Anotherliabilityissueforpoliceriflemenistherotationofriflesamongofficers,whichcancausedoubtsabouttheweapon'scurrentzero,itscondition,andhowreliablyitwillplaceabulletexactlywhereintended.

Somesmalllawenforcementagencieshaveattemptedtoeconomizebyhavingofficersshareoneortwosniperrifles,whichisdistinctfromthemilitarypracticeofrotatingweaponsbetweenspotterandsniper.Inthemilitary,onemanusesthesniperriflewhilehispartnerhasanassaultrifle,whichtheyswapwhenrotatingduties.

Neitherofthesecircumstancessharingarifleorrotatingoneissuitableforthelifeanddeathincidentsinwhichapolicesnipermaybecalledupontofire.Inadditiontoliability,theofficerjustplainwillnotmasteraweaponthatisnothisown.SeveraltimesIhavesentpolitelettersonthissubjecttolawenforcementsupervisorsonbehalfoftheirsnipers,andoncethe

issuesofpotentialliabilityandeffectivenessarefaced,ithasalwaysledtotheofficersgettingtheadditionalriflestheyneeded.

Tworelatedpoliceliabilityissuesaresnipertrainingandthekindofriflehe'sequippedwith.WhHeacompetentpoliceriflemancertainlyshouldbeabletoneutralizeanarmedsuspect,itdoesn'tseemwisetousehiminespeciallydangeroussituationssuchasacomplicatedhostagerescuewithoutspecialtraining.Andequippinghimwithastandardofftherackriflewithconventionalriflescope?It'sdefinitelyworthspendingafewdollarsextraandgettingarealsnipersystem.

EngagementDistances

Evermindfulthathecannotaffordtomissevenonce,apolicesniperattemptstoclosethedistancetohistarget.Heespeciallydesirestobecloserthan100yards,whichtypicallyisthezerodistanceofhisrifle.FBIstatisticsverifythis:thenationalaverageengagementdistanceforapolicesniperhasbeenonly71yards.

Whilesomecrimescenarios,especiallyrooftopcraziesorskyjackers,couldinvolveamuchlongershot,thiswouldbeamostexceptionalsituation.Infact,somepoliceagenciesdonotpermitashotofmorethan200yardswithoutspecialapproval.

Butwhilethepolicesniperattemptstoclosewithhisquarry,themilitarysnipertriestokeephimatarm'slength,sotospeak,somewhatlikealongarmedboxerexploitinghisreachadvantage.Icallthisconceptasniper's"ballisticadvantage,"meaningthesniperriflehasbetteraccuracyandlethalitythantheenemy'sassaultrifleswhenthesniperismorethan400yardsaway.RecaHthattheAK47.'s7.62x39mmroundhasperformancesimilartoa.3030deercartridge,whichmosthunterswouldconsiderineffectivebeyondabout200yards,andyou'llunderstandwhatImean.

NatureoftheTarget

Apolicesniper'stargetisalmostalwaysasingle,armedsuspectwhohasalreadytakenonelifeandprobablythreatenedtotakeanother.Thesuspectisisolatedandfixedinabarricadeofsomesort,perhapsevenshieldinghimselfwithahostageortwo.

Thepolicesniper'schallengeistomaneuvergoodandcloseforaclear,unhinderedshotwithoutthesuspectdetectinghimorrealizingheisabouttobeengaged.Theonlythreatisthesuspect,andhealreadyhasbeensurroundedandfixedbyotherpoliceofficerspriortotheengagement.Thepolicesniperusuallyhasonlyonetargetperoperation,andheneutralizesthattargetwithjustoneround.One"bang"andhegoeshome.

Hismilitarysnipercounterpart,ontheotherhand,usuallyengagesmanytargetsduringasingleoperation,perhapsevenduringasingleengagement.Themilitarysnipermoves,spots,fires;moves,spots,fires;moves,spots,firesinadangeroussettinginwhichpotentialhostilesareallaroundhim.

Theenemyfrequentlyhasmorefirepower,greaternumbers,andcanoutmaneuveroroutrunthemilitarysniperifhispositionisclearlydetermined.Duetotheeverpresentdanger,inadditiontomarksmanshipandtargetdetection,themilitarysnipermustpayequalheedtothefinerpointsofinfiltrationandexfiltrationinordertoaccomplishhisjobandlivetotellaboutit.Somepolicesnipermissionssuchasclandestinedruglabreconorremoteairfieldsurveillancerequiresophisticatedinfiltrationandexfiltration,too.

TakingtheShot

Theworlddoesnotcomecrashingtoahaltifamilitarysnipermissesashot.It'smerelyafactoflifethatimperfectrangeandwindestimation,suddentargetmovement,roughtriggerrelease,orahostofotherreasonswillcausemissesatgreatdistances.

Butthemilitarysniperattemptsimperfectshotsattimesbecausethey'retheonlyshotshehas,orthetarget,ifhit,issovaluablethatitdeservesevenan"ifty"shot.Whenyouhaveanenemyfuncolonelvisibleat800yardsinagustycrosswind,Iassureyou,youwillattempttheshot.

Usually,theselandsofengagementsinvolvenootherfriendlylives,andamissbecomesonlya"learningexperience"forbothsniperandtargetalike.Ifamilitarysniperonlyattempted"surething"shots,hewouldlosealotofeffectivenessbecausemanyofthe"unsure"shotswouldhavebeenhits,too,andagainstdistantorunlikelytargetsthatwouldneverappearassurethingsatcloserange.EnemycolonelsarefarmoreUkelytobefoundat800yardsbeyondtheenemy'sfrontlinethanathisnearestbunker.

Indramaticcontrast,apolicesnipermustneverbeallowedtheleewaytomiss.Whenhemisses,ahostagedies,asuspectescapes,orafellowofficerloseshislife,allonnationaltelevisionwithfollowupinthenewspapers.

Pressure?It'stremendous.AsIwroteinanFBILawEnforcementBulletinarticle,apolicesniper'sdutyplaceshimin"theloneliestspotintheworld."Lives,careers,fate,selfrespectit'sallonthelineanddeterminedbyexerting3pounds'pressureonatrigger.

BeingAbletoSay"No"

Relatedtothisburdensomerequirementnevertomiss,apolicesnipermuchmoresothanhismilitarycounterpartmusthavethecapacitytosay"NO!"

Hemusthavethegutstoassessthesituationhonestly,weighthisagainsthisrifleandhisownabilities,andlethissupervisorknowiftheshotcanbetaken.Often,leadersdonotfullyappreciatearifleman'scapabilities;passivelyaccommodatingtheirdesirescanleadtodisaster.

Itcouldwellbethatthebestchanceforahostagerescuerequiresariskyshot.Thensobeit,providedeveryonerealizesitandlesspracticaloptionshavebeenconsideredanddiscarded.Aftertheprocess,youcanlivewithyourselfeveniftheoperationfails;youdidyourbest.

Butifyouremainedquietandjustwentalongwiththeflow,theresultwillhauntyoutoyourgrave.

TheSniper'sEnvironment

Bothpoliceandmilitarysnipersoperateinstressfilledenvironments,buthowthestressesaregenerated,andhowtheycanaffectyou,arequitedifferent.

Themilitarysniper,dayinanddayout,operatesingreatpersonaldangerbecauseheprobablyisbehindenemylines.Everysinglemove,histiniestact,mustbemodifiedtoremainundetected,forhisonlytruesecurityisinvisibility.Whenheshoots,hemustdisplace,orcertainretaliationwillcrashuponhim.Hecannotrelaxfromthemomenthedepartsfriendlylinesuntilhereturns.

Themilitarysniper'sstresseseventuallyreducehimtobeingcombatineffective.Havingrunmanyoperationsdeepbehindenemylines,Icantellyoufirsthandthatsuch24hourdangers

willwearyoudowninaboutfourorfivedays.InSOG,weweredeadlyeffectiveatsneakingandhidingandevenoutmaneuveringbloodhoundsandspeciallytrainedtrackers,butonlyforlessthanaweek.

Thepoliceofficermustbeabletohandlethestressofbeingthrust,withnowarningandnomentalpreparation,intoalifeanddeathsituation.Hecouldbehavinglunchwithhisfianceoneminuteand10minuteslaterhaveamassmurdererinhiscrosshairs.

Butafterrushingtothescene,resolvedandready,mostlikelyhemustpatientlywaithoursordaysbeforebeingdirectedtotakeonejustoneshot.Anddespiteyearsoftrainingandmanyfalsealarms,thisscenariowilllikelyunfoldonlyonceinhisentirecareer,ifever.Buthemustbereadyforiteverysingledayhe'sapolicetacteamsniper.Unlikeasoldiergoingintocombat,thisengagementfollowsnoschedule.

MissionDuration

Howlongamilitarysnipercanremaininthefieldisdictatedequallybyhowmuchfoodandwaterhecancarryinwithhim.Itworksout,usually,toaboutfivedays'worth,whichisthesameamountoftimehecankeephismindandbodyfocusedinthisstressfulenvironment.

Apolicesnipershouldarrivereadytospendeighthoursinhissniperhidewithoutfurtherresupplyorrestatleastthisseemstobethecurrentreality.Dependingupontheavailabilityofreliefsniperteams,youcouldbeginrotatingassoonasfourorfivehours,butthisisn'ttypical.

Frompersonalobservation,Idon'tthinkalawenforcementsniperwillretainthekeenedgeheneedsformorethanaboutfourhourswithoutabreak.Thatbreakcouldbeonlyanhourortwo,andit'sasmuchamentalneedasaphysicalone.Afterthat,hecouldbefocusedagainforafewhours,butstrainwillsetin.

Aftereighthours,hedefinitelyneedsrestandacompletechangeofpace.ElsewhereIrecommendthatpolicesnipersbringenoughsuppliesforatleast24hoursonsite,butthatdoesn'tmeanyoushouldbestaringthroughyourscopeforafulldaywithoutrest.

Youmustpaceyourselfwithbreaksanddowntimeandrealsleep,becausethehistoryofactualincidentsshowsthatashotistakeneitherwithinanhourortwoornotuntiladayortwolater.Ifyou'reintenseandfocusedatthefrontend,you'llburnoutandwon'tbereadytotakeashot48hourslater.

SNIPERTEAMOPERATIONALEQUIPMENT

Whetherpoliceormilitary,asniperteamrequiresawidevarietyofequipmenttoaccomplishitsmissions,muchofitgearthatordinarylawofficersorGIswouldnotencounter.Thesniperteam'ssecondarysurveillancerole,aswellasselfdefenserequirementsdictatedbyoperatingalone,addsevenmorekindsofgear.

We'regoingtodiscusshoweachpieceofequipmentisemployed,exceptthemostcriticalsnipingitemsweapons,optics,rangefinders,camouflagewhicharecoveredinmuchdetailelsewhere.

Nomattertheitem,keepthethreatofhostilecountersurveillanceinmindandensureyourgeariscoloredinasuitablecamouflageshade.Asnipermuststayinvisible.

Apolicesnipermustbeequallypreparedtoengageuponarrivaloreighthoursintoanincident.

It'sphysicallyimpossibletototeallthegearwe'reabouttodiscuss.Therefore,it'sasimportantforyoutolearnwhenandhowtocarryitasitistorecognizethebasicuseofit.

Tostartwith,understandthatsniperteamoperationsfallneatlyintotwocategories:thoseyouplanandexecute,andthoseinitiatedbytheactsofahostile.Intheformercase,youhavetimetoconsiderusinganygear,thenreconfigureyourrucksackandwebgeartocarryit.Butinthelattercase,there'salmostnotime;you'rerushingtoascenewithfriendlylivesinjeopardy.

Tobepreparedforeithersituation,youneedtodevelopabasicloador"alertload"thatincludestheitemsyou'dalmostalwaysneed.Youcangrabitanddashoutthedoor,andprobably85percentofthetime,you'rereadyforaction.Perhapsyou'dpauseaminutetograbanotheritemortwo,andthatwouldcoveryoufor99percentofmissions.

Ontheotherhand,whenpreparingforpreplannedoperations,youcarefullybalanceanitem'sneedagainstitsweightandrepackagebaseduponyourspecificsituation.

Takingthisconceptastepfurther,let'slookatthekindsofcontainersandcarrierswe'duseinthecontextofwhatgoesintothem.Infact,thisisourfirstcategoryofgear.

CasesandLoadBearingGear

We'vepreparedseparatedataboxesthatlistalltheitemsrecommendedforcarryingineachofthefollowingcontainersandrucksacks.Herewewilldescribejustthefeaturesandrequirementsforthesecontainers.Becausemilitarysnipersspendseveraldaysinthefieldoneachoperation,they'lltendtocarrythelargerucksackmuchmorethanwillalawofficer.Still,though,theprincipleshereapplytobothmilitaryandpolicesnipers.

TACTICALVESTORWEBGEAR:Probablymadeofnylon,thisistheonecarrierthat'salwayswithyou,nomatterthetacticalsituation.Insideitspouchesaretheminimalitemsneededtotakeashot,survive,andcommunicatewithothers.Ifyoumuststripdowntothelightestpossibleload,youstillretainyourvest/webgear,whichhasthebareessentialsneededtoaccomplishyourmission.

CASESANDLOADBEARINGGEAR.Thedittybag(left)isnotasusefulasamilitarytyperucksack,webgear,andriflehardcase.

DITTYBAGORLIGHTRUCKSACK:Thedittybagiscitedbecausemany.....usethem,buthereweurgelawofficerstoswitchtoalightrucksack.toacarrybag,alightruckonyourbackyoutocarryyourrifleinbothhands,enablingclimb,run,andshot.whencombinedwithhiswebgear,a

poUcesniper'slightrucksackcontainseverythingheneedsforeighthoursonsitewithnoresupplyorassistance.Youcarrythislightrucksackyoursniperhideposition,butinafixyoucouldconcealitandstalkforwardandstillaccomplishyourwiththevest/webgearcontents.

LARGERUCKSACK:Thisisactuallyyourreservestowbag,inwhicheverythingelseisstored.GeneraDythere'senoughgearinheretoallow24hoursonsitewithnofurtherassistanceorresupply,whencombinedwiththecontentsofthesmallrucksackandvest/webgear.Policesnipersbringthislargerucksacktothescenebutkeepitlockedintheirsquadortacteamvan.Inthatfewminuteshewastograbgearoncealerted,apolicesnipertransfersanitemortwofromthereservestowbagintothelightrucksackhecarriesonhisback.It'spossibleapolicesnipercouldhaveaspecialmissionlastingseveraldayslikearemoteairfieldsurveillancewhichwoulddemandsomuchextragearandfoodthatthelargerucksackbecomeshisprimarygearcontainer.Heshiftsnonessentialgearintothelightrucksack,whichheleavesbehind.

Thiscustompolicesnipervestwasmadetoauthor'sspecsbySouthernTacticalSupplyandfeaturespouchesfor5roundriflespeedloaders,a20roundammobox,andminibinoculars.(PhotocourtesyofFredMacDonaldIII.)

RIFLEHARDCASE:Wheneverbeingtransportednontactically,yourrifleshouldbekeptinahardcase.Althoughthisprovidescompleteprotection,yourgreatestconcernmustbetopreventdamagetothescope,themostvulnerablecomponentofasnipingsystem.Anyhardcasemeetingairlineluggagestandardsisacceptable,whethermadeofplasticoraluminum.Allarefoamlined,buttheadditionofVelcrointernaltiedownsisexcellentAlargertwoguncaseispreferable,Ithink,becauseyoucanstowandcarryextraitemsalongsideyourrifle.Afteropeningyourcaseinrainorhighhumidity,besuretoallowthefoamtodrybeforerestoringtherifleinit.Arelatedpoint:keeponeortwosilicagelpacketsinthehardcasetoabsorbdampnessandprotecttheweaponfromrust.

MISCELLANEOUSADDITIONALGEAR(AVAILABLEBUTNOTCARRIED)

KevlarHelmet

GhillieSuit

TelephotoLenses

SleepingBag

CamouflageNetting

GasMask

StillCamera

VideoCamera

NightVisionDevices

Ammunition,Weapons,andAccessories

SNIPERRIFLEWITHSCOPEANDBIPOD:We'lldealwiththeseitemsatlengthinalaterchapter.Asniperrifleshouldbeof.308caliberorlarger.Itshouldhaveazoomscopeorfixedpowerscopewithamaximummagnificationnogreaterthan12X.Thebipodattachesnottothebarrelbutatthefrontswivelstudandishighlyadjustable.Aqualityslingcompletesthesnipingsystem.Combined,therifle,scope,bipod,andslingshouldweighbetween13and15pounds.

Therearofauthor'ssnipervesthaspouchesforahanditalkie,rangefinder,spottingscope,andtripodaswellasstrapsforaThermaRestmat.(PhotocourtesyofFredMacDonaldIII.)

SPOTTER'SRIFLE:ThemiHtaryspotterisarmedwithanM16A2rifleandanM20340mmgrenadelauncher.Thishighcapacityassaultrifleprovidesenoughfirepowerforbreakingawayfromshortdistance,unintendedcontacts;the40mmgrenadelauncherallowsfiringofhighexplosiveandsmokerounds,whichgreatlyassistmaskinganddisplacementfollowingasnipingengagement.ThepoHcespotter,too,shouldhaveanassaultriflesohecanaddmassfiretohissniper'sselectivesingleshots,andtherebygivetheteamanantivehiclecapabiHtyaswellastoengagemultiplearmedsuspects.ThetargetgradeSpringfieldArmoryMlA(acopyoftheM14/M21system)fitsthisneedtoatee,andbytoppingitwithagoodscope,thelawenforcementspottercanbackuphissniper'sshotwithaninstantsecondround,ifrequired.

HANDGUNWITHSPAREMAGAZINE:Giventhatthesnipermostlikelyisarmedwithaboltactionriflehavingacapacityoffiveorlessrounds,andrealizingthathisscopemakesshortrangeengagementsslowanddifficult,thenmoresothanmostsoldiersheneedsahighcapacityautomaticpistolandseveralsparemagazines.Havingbeeninseveralshootoutsusing9mmballagainstbadguysandnotbeingsatisfiedwiththeresults,IamnotagreatfanofthatcaHber.The.45caHberpistoloffersmuchgreatercapabilty,andthenew.40S&WisbetterstillbecauseithasbalHsticssimilartothe.45butallowsforalargermagazinecapacity.Therefore,incombatIwouldcarryaGI.45autoorscroungeaGlockin.40S&W.PoHcesnipersfacesimHarconcernstotheirmilitarycounterparts,butdepartmentalpoHcieslikelywilldictatetheirsidearms.Ifyouhavesomeleeway,Iagainwouldrecommenda.45or.40S&W,exceptthe.45wouldbeaSigSauerP220.

AMMO,WEAPONS,ANDACCESSORIES.Thesearethebasictoolsofthesniper'strade.

HANDGUNS.AuthorprefersthisSIGP220in.45Auto,buttheBerettaM92orGlockhandgunsaresuitable,too.

AMMUNITIONBASICLOAD:We'vepreparedaseparateboxthatliststherecommendedtypesandamountsofammunitionforcarryonyourvest/webgearandinyourlightrucksack.ItmustbenotedthatmilitarysnipersemployingcivilianMatchhollowpointroundsforanythingbutcivildisturbancesandcounterterroristoperationswouldbeinviolationoftheHagueConvention.Also,recognizethatpoliceusemilitaryballMatchtobetterpenetratemediasuchasglassandvehicles.Tracersareformarkingtargetsforaircraftandfriendlygroundforces.

CHEMICALMACE:Thisprimarilyistodissuadecuriousanimalsandhostiledogsfrombotheringyouinyoursniperhidepositionorwhilestalking.

CLEANINGROD:Employedinthefieldtoremovebarrelobstructions,particularlyifyou'vepokedthemuzzleintosoftearth.Otherwise,usedtocleanjacketresidueafterfiringeachfiverounds.

COPPERSOLVENT:Forremovingcopperjacketresidueafterfiringeachfiverounds.

CLEANINGPATCHES:Employedwithcoppersolvent.

SMALLBOTTLELUBRICANT:Foremergencyfielduse.

WINDGAUGE:Thesearehelpfulbutoflimitedvaluesinceyoucanonlymeasurewindatyourlocation,whilewindatyourtargetmaybeadifferentspeedanddirection.

CLIPONTHERMOMETER:Smallandlightweight,aminithermometerisusedtomonitortemperature,computeanyresultingvelocitychanges,anddeterminehowitwillaffectbullettrajectory.

18"x18"CANVAS:Laythisbelowyourmuzzletoeliminatethedustsurgekickedupbymuzzleblast.

EMPTYCLOTHBAG:Fillitwithavailablesand,dirt,orgravel,closewithawiretwist,andusetosupportyourrifleforearm.

ImakeminefromoldBDUpantslegs.

BEANBAG:Thisisanoldsock,usedtopreciselyraiseorlowerthebutt'sheelforexact,steadyaiming.It'sfilledwithdriedpeashencethenameorevenbetter,packitwithfinenylon

granulesusedinshotgunreloading,amaterialcalled"buffer,"whichislightweightandwon'tabsorbdampness.

TREESTEPS:Inventedforusebybowhunters,thesearehandybracesforyourfeetifyoumustfirefromapeakedroof.Also,onecanbescrewedintoatreetrunkandpaddedwithagloveforashootingsupport.Useful,too,forboostingyourselfoverawoodenfenceorupthesideofahouseintoawindow.

SPOTTINGANDSURVEILLANCEEQUIPMENT.Thesearetheessential"eyes"ofasniperteam.

SpottingandSurveillanceEquipment

SPOTTINGSCOPE:We'llexaminetheseingreatdetaillater.Thisisoneofthebasicpiecesofsnipingequipment,enablingtheteamtosurveil,detecttargets,readwindspeedanddirectionwithmirage,andconfirmhitsandadjustfire.Spottingscopesareavailableinfixedpowerorzoom.Aqualityspottingscopeiswellworththemoney.

TRIPOD:Usedtosupportthespottingscopesinceahandcannotholditsteadyenoughforlongrangeviewing.Tripodscanbesimple,foldingthreeleggedaffairsorcomplicatedandveryadjustablewithmicrometerlikedials.

BINOCULARS:UsedtogetherwiththespottingscopeforvisualoverlapinbothFieldofViewandmagnificationpower.We'llexaminebinocularsindepth,butnotethatbothminibinocularsandfullsizeonesserveusefulpurposes.

ALCOHOLWIPES:Thesearenotforcleaninglensesbutforwipingglassyoumayhavetolookthroughwhilesurveilling.We'retalkingaboutthefoilsealed,throwawaywipes.Carryseveral.

LENSPAPER:Carryonepackagestowedinaplasticbaganduseonlylenspapertocleanyourriflescope,spottingscope,andbinocularlenses.

MIRROR:Usedtopeekaroundcornersoroveredgeswhilesearchingforahostilesniper.Thiscanbethesamemirrorcarriedforsignalpurposes.

STILLCAMERA:Thisisnotlistedforcarryinginanycontainerbecauseit'sonlyusedonspecialsurveillanceoperations.Yetit'simportantthatyoutrainwithaparticulartypeofcamerathatisavailableforfieldusesoyoudon'thavetoscrambleatthelastminutewhenit'sneeded.

VIDEOCAMERA:Thisisadittoofwhatwe'vesaidforthestillcamera.Sinceyoursniperhideisanexcellentsurveillanceposition,youeasilycouldbetaskedtovideoanobjectivepriortoahostagerescuemissionoradrugraid.Youneedaccesstoavideocamfortraining,andadedicatedoneforsomeoperations.

NIGHTOBSERVATIONDEVICES(NODs):Theseareaddressedindetaillater.AlthoughmilitarysnipersshouldhaveassignedNODswhichtheyusefrequently,we'retreatingthemasspecialmissiongear.NODsareavailableasgogglesorsightingdevicestobeplacedatopyourrifleUkeadaytimescope.

SENSORS:Sincesnipersaremastersofstalkinganddeployinremoteareasorwellinadvanceofthemainbodyofanoperation,theycouldbeusedtoemplacesensorsclandestinely.They'renotUstedascarriedinanycontainerbecausethey'renotnormallyapieceofgearassignedtotheteam.

EdgedTools

FOLDINGSAW:Thisisthehandiestedgedtoolyoucanhave,andevenamoderatelypricedonecanzipthrougha2x4inminutes.UsedtoclearanarrowFieldofVieworfiringport,improvecamouflage,andahostofcuttingneeds.Usefulforbothmilitaryandlawenforcementsnipers.

SNIPS:Smallbutverysharp,usedtoprunejustabitofgrassandleavesawayfromyoursniperhidetoaUowundetectablefiring.AlsohandyforconstructingandmaintainingyourGhUUeSuit.

SMALLKNIFE:Asmallknifeisusefulforcutting,especiallywhenthere'saneedfordexteritythatabigknifecannotaccompUsh.

LARGEKNIFE:Alargeknifelendsitselftohackingandchoppingandshouldbeheavyenoughtogiveyousomeleverageandmomentum.Yes,itcanalsoremoveanenemysentry'shead,butyou'llhavefargreaterneedtoaccompUshmoremundanework.

ENTRENCHINGTOOL:Apermanentsniperhideincludesdiggingforprotectionagainstsmallarmsfireandenemyartillery.Butasurveillancehide,too,mayrequirediggingtobetotallyinvisible.

GLASSCUTTER:Forremovingglasspanesinanurbansnipinghidesoyoucanfirethroughawindowthatappearstobeclosed.

EDGEDTOOLS.Anyorallofthesemaybeneeded,buttheauthorespeciallyvaluesthefoldingsawandFiskarssnipsatleft.

HIGHTECHCLOTHING.ThecivilianstyleGoreTexjacket(left)isuseful,butmediumweightGoreTexwithThinsulateliner(center)ishandier.HeavyweightGoreTexalongwithpolyproTshirtanddoublelayerPolarfleece

liner(right)preparesasniperevenforsubzerocold.ThebootsatcenterbottomcontainaGorelinerandThinsulateinsulation.(PhotobyRogerKennedy.)

Clothing

BASICUNIFORM:MilitarysnipersalreadyusethebattledressuniformorBDU,whichisanexcellentstyleforpolicesnipers,too.Thewoodlandcamouflagepatternbreaksupyouroutline,whileBDUshavereinforcedelbows,knees,andseat,andlotsofpockets.

GORETEXRAINWEAR:It'shardnottobeafanofclothingmadefromthishightechmaterial,whichisderivedfromthesameTeflonusedtolinefryingpans.Containingmillionsofporespersquareinch,GoreTexclothisactuallyamembranethatallowsyourbodyheattopassout,buttheporesaretootinytoallowwatertosoakin.Asniperwho'scomfortablecanremaininpositionmuchlongerthancanawet,miserablemanandifhypothermiasetsin,youcannotholdyourriflesteady.GoreTexasanouterlayeralsoshieldsyouagainstwindandthus

windchill.Availableinseveralweights,thebestforfielduseistheheavytypefoundonthemilitary'sExtremeColdWeatherClothingSystem.TheonlydownsideistheaudiblerustlefromheavyGoreTex,whichisnottoobigaproblemsincesnipersaren'tinthebusinessofsentryremovalanyhow.Still,ifyou'reconcernedaboutrustle,youcanwearBDUsovertheGoreTextosilenceit,whileaspecialnewGoreTexStealthSuitisavailablewithasoftouterlayer.ClothingmadeofmaterialsthatclaimtoworksimilartoGoreTexhavereachedthemarketrecently,butIhaven'ttestedthem.

TORSOINSULATION:Sinceitcontainsyourheart,lungs,kidneys,andliver,youshouldtakespecialcaretokeepyourtorsowarmandinsulated.AwoolsweaterisexcellentbecausewoolretainsmostofitsinsulationpropertiesevenwhenwetAlso,aThinsulatejacketlinerworkswellsinceitprovideswarmthsimilartodown,butwithmuchlessbulk

POLYPROPYLENEUNDERWEAR:PolyproistounderwearwhatGoreTexistoouterwearahightechsolutiontoyourproblems.Becauseitwicksdampnessawayfromyourbody,polyprounderwearkeepsyouwarmwithoutsweataccumulationanddampness.ItworksgreatincombinationwithGoreTex.

HEADGEAR:Youshouldhaveasoft,junglestylehatforwarmweatherbecauseitcreatesanirregular,difficulttodetectoutline.Forcoolertempsandnight,wearawoolnavystylewatchcap.Rememberthatyourbodylosesabout15percentofitsheatthroughyourhead.

GLOVES:Verypopularamongsnipersaremilitaryaviator'sglovesmadefromfireproofNomexandleather.Youneedonlycutoffthetriggerfingertoadaptthesesnugglovesforsniperuse.IfyouuseNomexglovesoranyothertypeyoumustmakeapointofwearingthemduringshootingpractice,too.

BOOTS:Theseareyouroption,withmanytypesandmaterialsavailable.Justbesureyoudon'tmakethemistakeofusinglightweightandcomfortablebootswhenyouneedheavierones.Policesnipersshouldweartheirtacteambootsduringordinaryuniformdutysotheycandeployinstantlywithoutchangingfootgearandsotheirbootsarebrokeninandcomfortable.

DRYSOCKS:Militarysniperscertainlywouldbringdrysockstothefield,butpolicesnipersshouldbringthem,too.Ifyourfeetgetwetduringanoperation,andtheygetcold,it'salmostimpossibletogetthemwarmagainwithoutdrysocks.Coldfeetbecomenumbandclumsy.

SCARF:Iwearatriangulargreenfieldbandageasascarf.Withonequickflick,Icanrunitbelowmybarreltoclearthe1/8inchfreefloatspaceofanytwigsorcrud.Ialsowipemyfacewithit,it'shandyasaquicktiedown,anditcanbeusedasatourniquetorbandage.

PONCHO/GROUNDCLOTH:Asasniper,youmayhavetolieproneforhoursonwetground,whichcanbemademorecomfortablewithacombinationgroundcloth/poncho.Thatsameponchocanbesuspendedaboveyourhidetoshieldyouandyourgearfromsunorrain,provideditwon'tcompromiseyourlocation.Militarystyleponchos,camouflageonesinparticular,dothisjobwell.

CamouflageAids

PASTESANDSTICKS:Designedtobeappliedtoyourhandsandface,camouflagesticksandpastestakeafewminutestoapplybutneedtobetouchedupseveraltimesdaily.Pastesareeasiertoapplyandwashoff.We'llcoverthemextensivelylater.

VEILS:Aveilcamouflagesyourfaceasquicklyasyoucanputiton,butunlessithaseyeholescutinit,itinterfereswithyourscope.Spandoflagetypeveils,though,workwell.Camouflageiscoveredextensivelyinaseparatesection.

CAMOUFLAGETAPE:Handyforcoveringarifle,scope,orotherequipment,camouflagetapeissimpleandfasttouse.Whiteadhesivetapeworkswellinthewinter.

MESHCAMOUFLAGESUIT:Thisisanoutstandingdevelopmentthateachpolicesnipershouldhave.Ameshsuitcanbepulledrightoveryourregularstreetuniformforinstantcamouflage.CombiningthiswithaSpandoflagehood,apolicesnipercancamohimselfinvirtuallyoneminute.

GHILLIESUIT:Thefinestsnipingeverdevised,aGhillieSuitallowstrulyinvisibleaction.However,it'salsohotandcanbeafirehazard.You'lllearntomakeonelater.

OVERWHITES:Everypolicesniperinthesnowbeltneedsoverwhites,eithermilitarysurplusorcivilianonesdesignedforwinterpredatorhunting.Inapinchyoucanmakeanexpedientset,whichwe'llteachinthecamouflagesection.

CAMOUFLAGENETTING:Thisisforpositionalcamouflageorconcealmentofequipment.Militarynettingasusedtodayisthebesteverdeveloped,andamoderatelypricedcivilianversionisavailable,too.Veryusefulforsurveillanceofmarijuanagrowingoperations,suspectedclandestinedruglabs,andremoteairfields.

NavigationAids

MAP:Forrouteplanning,rangeestimation,andterrainanalysisnottomentionjustplainknowingwhereheisasniperneedsamap.Policesnipersmayuseaprecinct,city,orcountymap,possiblyevenaU.S.GeologicalSurveycontourintervalmap.Militarysnipersnormallyusea1:50,000metriccontourintervalmap,althoughtheycouldhaveaerialandevensatellitephotosforspecialoperations.

CAMOUFLAGEAIDS.Theprofessionalsniperpicksandchoosesthecamopatternandaidsthatbestfiteachoperation.

MILITARYACETATE/MAPSEALANT:Acetateisastickybackedbutclearcoveringformapsthatcomesinrolls.Asnipercutsapieceofacetateandverycarefullylaysitacrosshismap,towhichitwiUbindinstantly,forawaterproof,clearsurfaceonwhichhecanwritewithagreasepenciloralcoholmarker.Liquidmapsealanthasthesameeffect,butit'sbrushedacrossthemapinseverallayers.Acetateismoredurable,althoughit'snotusuallyavailableincivilianstores.

ALCOHOLMARKERS:Theseareusedforwritingonawaterproofedmap.Neveruseredtomarkamap;itwon'tbevisibleintheredfilteredlightyouusetopreservenightvision.

COMPASS:Threetypesofcompassesmaybeusedbyasniperteam.Awristcompassishandyforkeepinggeneraltrackofyourdirectionandmatchingthelandmarksaroundyoutoyourmap.Forbetterprecision,theSilvaprismaticcompasshasaclearplasticbaseandfinerdirectiongradients.Themostexactlandnavigationisaccomplishedwithamilitarylensaticcompass.

REFLECTOR/LUMINOUSTACKS:Thesetackscanbeprepositionedtoidentifydropofforrendezvouspoints,especiallywhenconductingvehicularinfilsandexfilsincounternarcoticsandlowintensityconflictoperations.

SignalandIlluminationDevices

RADIOS:Voiceactivated(VOX)radiosleavehandsfreetoaimtherifleandpullthetriggerduringhostagerescuecountdownshooting.TheyVemadeinheadsetstyle,asanadapterunitforordinarypolicehandytalkies,andsomehaveamicrophonebuiltintotheearmikeforamazinglycompactoperation.Stealth/secureradiosarepreferablebutnotalwaysavailable(andifyoudon'thaveasparebattery,that'swhenyou'llneedone).

SIGNALMIRROR:Sincethesignalmirrorisourfirstsignaldevice,itmustbeemphasizedherethatsuchdevicesareeither"passive"theycanbecontrolledsoonlyafriendlywillseeit,likeoursignalmirrororthey're"active"andeveryoneintheareawillnoticeit,whichincludesflaresandsmokegrenades.Signalmirrorscomeintwosizes,buttheimportantthingisthatthey'regoodglassandhaveascreenholeinthecenterforaimingatyourrecipient.They'reonlyuseableindaytimewithdirectsunlight.Mirrorsalsoareusedforpeekingaroundcornersandoveredgestolookforahiddenhostilesniper.

NAVIGATIONAIDS.Thesearejustasimportantforpolicetacticalsnipersasformilitarysnipers.

SIGNALPANELS:Anotherpassivedevicefordaytimeuseonly,aneonorangepanelishighlyvisibletoaircraftanddistantviewers.Tomakeyourown,purchaseoneyardofneonorangeripstopnylonmaterialatafabricstore,thenquarteritandtapetheedges.Forafirstclasspanel,attachcamouflagematerialtotheback.You'llhavefourpanelsforabout$5each.

SMOKEGRENADES:Usableonlyindaylight,asmokegrenadeisvisibletoanyonelookinginyourdirection.They'reavailableaslarge,militarytypesmokesspewinglotsofsmokeorsmallerminismokesyoucancarryinyourpocketthatproducelesssmoke.Onemorekindiswhitephosphorous,fearedforthedangerousflamingfragmentsitproduces,butverymuchappreciatedfortheinstantmushroomburstofwhiteitexudes.

TheWP,thoughdangerous,isthebestpossiblesmoketoemployinthickjungle.

WHISTLE:Awhistleworksfinedayornight,butithasaverylimitedrange,usefulonlytosignalpeoplenearyou.Butawhistlecanbeheardfartherawaythanavoicecan.

PENFLARES:Thesearevisiblebothdayandnightand,becausetheyburstabovetreesandhorizon,areusefultosignalbothairandgroundforces.However,penflaresburnoutquicklyandcaneasilygounnoticedindaylight.

FLASHLIGHTS:Usedbothtosignalandilluminate,flashlightscanbemadepassivebyattachinganinfraredfiltersoonlysomeoneusingaNODcanseethem.Eachflashlightneedsaredfiltersoitwon'tdegradenightvision.Aspottermayusealargeflashlighttoilluminateasuspectupto100yardsawayforhissnipertoengage.Smcealargeflashlightisclumsyandtooeasilylostifcarriedonyourvest/webgear,stowitinyourlightrucksack.

SIGNALANDILLUMINATIONAIDS.VOXradiosandsignaldevicesarecriticaltools,buttheymustbeusedpassivelyandwithoutdetectiontobeeffective.

CHEMLIGHTSANDHOLDER:Chemlightscomeinanamazingvariety:ahalfdozendifferentcolors,aboutthreedifferentlightintensities,multiplehourdurations,andasvisibleorinfraredlight.Usethemtomarkroutesandboundaries,designatewhereFieldsofFirestartorend,signalaircraft,andaidinrecognition.Thenontoxicliquidcanevenbepouredouttomarkasurfacelikeavehicletop.Specialchemlightholdersareavailablethatcancontroltheamountoflightseenandtomakeitdirectional.

STROBELIGHT:Generatingshortburstsoflightinthehundredsofthousandsoflumens,astrobecanbeseenmilesawayandworksgreatinruralareasbutbecomestooeasilyabsorbedintheclutteroflightsinanurbanarea.Astrobelightprimarilyisemployedtosignalfromgroundtoair.Butbeverycautiouswhenusingastrobearoundinexperiencedhelicopterpilotswhocanmistakeitforhostilemuzzleflashes.

PENCILANDNOTEBOOK:Thisshouldbeobvious,butit'stheobviousthingsthattendtobeforgotten.Keepthenotebookinasealableplasticbag.Andrecallthatapencilisbetterforfieldusethanapenbecauseitcanwriteevenonwetpaperandwon'tfreeze.

MINICASSETTERECORDER:It'sdifficulttokeepnotesindarkness,andtheoptionofjustrememberinguntildawnmaynotbefeasible.Aminicassetterecorderisanexcellentsolution,butifyou'reapolicesniper,don'tforgetthatwhateveryourecordcanbetakenoutofcontextinafuturelegalaction,sokeepyourverbalnotesshortandfactual.

RECOGNITIONAIDS:Theseareahostofmaterialsanddevicesluminoustape,scarves,garters,chernlights,brightletteringonjackets,etc.usedtoenablefriendliestoinstantlyrecognizeotherfriendlies,whichcanbecomecomplicatedbydarknessormultipleagenciesorunitspartic.ipatinginanoperation.Dependingupontheoperation,recognitionaidsmayextendtovehicles,aswell;recallthatAlliedvehiclesinOperationDesertStormhadblackandwhite"V"sprominentlydisplayedontheirtopsandsides.Recognitionaidscouldbehelpfulinsomepoliceoperationsthatemployunmarkedcars.

SafetyandComfortItems

KEVLARHELMET:Whetherpoliceormilitary,asniperdoesn'tusuallywearahelmetbecauseitmakesstalkingmoredifficultandsurroundshisheadinadistinctoutline.PolicesnipersusuallyleavetheirKevlarhelmetsattheprecinct,butitmaybeworthbringingalongifrespondingtoahostilesnipingincident.Whenaccompanyingaunit,militarysnipersshouldwearthesameuniform,includingahelmet,toavoiddistinguishingthemselvesandbecomingatargetforenemysnipers.

GASMASK:Militarysnipersshouldbringgasmasksiftheenemyhasatoxicagentcapability.Policesnipersnormallydon'tneedmasksbecauseevenifalocationisgassedduringanassault,thesniperhidewillbetoofarawaytobeaffected.

BODYARMOR:Becauseit'shotandheavy,militarysnipersdon'tusuallywearmilitarybodyarmor,whichisonlyeffectiveagainstshrapnelanyhow.Inprolongeddefenseortrenchwarfare,however,suchaflakjacketcouldwellsaveyourlife.Thepolicesnipershouldwearnobodyarmororonlytheverylightestwhileonasnipingmission,foritwilloverheathimandburdenhismovements.Ifhismissionisoneofcountersnipingorsupportofaraidagainstheavilyarmedsuspects,hemightreconsideranduse.III.heavyvest.

EARPROTECTION:Asnipermusttrainashewillfight,soduringrangepracticehewearsunobstrusive,internalearprotectionratherthanclumsyearmuffs.Thiswayhewon'tchangehisstockspotweldifhemustshootwithoutanyhearingprotectionincombat.

ADHESIVESANDTIEDOWNS.Notsexy,butneededforallsortsoftinytasks,theseshouldbeinyourrucksack.

RAPPELGEAR:Everysniperneedshisownrappellingharness,gloves,carabiners,andfigureeight.Aropeisnotnecessarysinceinapoliceagencyitistacteamgearandinthemilitarybecauseitisanairassaultrigger'sresponsibility.

KNEEANDELBOWPADS:Forlowcrawlingandclimbingoverfencesorkneelinginsharpgravel,asniperneedskneeandelbowpads.ThebestI'veeverseenweremadefromwetsuitrubberandVelcrofasteners,butanystyleisgoodprovideditstaysinpositionandhasasubduedcolor.

GROUNDPAD:Aselfinflatablefoampadisanecessity,notaluxury,forsnipers.Barewinterearthwillsuckwarmthfromyourpronebody,andascaldingsummerrooftopcanprecludestayinginaproneposition.TheThermaRestgroundpadwillinsulateyourbodyandmakecoldorheatmoretolerable.Ipreferthehalfsizebecauseifsmuchmorecompacttocarryyetstillprotectsmostofthebody.

HANDWARMERS:rThesedon'tmerelykeepyoucomfortableinlowtemperatures,theyalsopreserveyourtriggerfinger'scriticalsensitivity.Chemicalhandwarmersminihavealongshelflife,whilesomeareevenreusable.Theyalsocanbeplacedinsideyourshirttokeepyourchestandtrunkareawarm.

INSECTREPELLANT:Eveninurbanareas,mosquitoescanharassyouanddisruptconcentrationwhilesurveillingoraiming.Mostpolicetacteammembershavenoneedforrepellant,butofcourse,theirjobsdon'trequireIyinginahideforhoursonend.

SLEEPINGBAG:Inadditiontoitstraditionaluse,asleepingbagplacedatopagroundpadenablesasnipertoliemotionlesscomfortablyeveninsubzerotemperatures.Somenewfillingsareonaparwithgoosedownineffectiveness.

SANITATIONANDMEDICALITEMS.Thesearejusttheminimum.Addmilitarywounddressings,morphinesyrettes,andotherusefulitems.

INSECTHEADNET:FloridaorLouisianalawmenorGIsservinginatropicalclimatemayappreciateaheadnettokeepbuzzinginsectsawayfromeyes,mouth,andnose.InSOG,weneverworeheadnetsevenintheworstCambodianswamps,butharassinginsectsneedsomegettingusedto,perhapsmoretimethanyouhave,makingaheadnetworthwhile.

AdhesivesandTieDowns

DUCTTAPE:Youcannotanticipatehowmanywaysasniperwilluseducttape.I'vewrappeditaroundathintreetosupportaspottingscope,hemmedorangeneonmaterialwithittocreateasignalpanel,wrappedpantscuffswithtapeforquietermovement,tapedoveralightswitchinanurbanhidesonoonecouldaccidentallyilluminatetheroom,etc.Military"100MileaMinute"tape,whichisverysimilar,worksswell,too.

PARACHUTECORDORBOOTLACES:Anothergoodforjustaboutanythingitemisolivedrabmilitaryparachute550cord,which,ifyoucannotobtainany,canbesubstitutedwithbootlaces.

SUSTENANCE.Policesnipersneedfoodandliquidforatleastoneday.Militarysniperscarryenoughfor57days.

BUNGEECORDS:Thesecanholddoorsopenorholdaflapdowninthewind,becomeinstanthangersforyourhide,etc.They'reallpurposeandbelongineachsniper'srucksack.

PLASTICRESTRAINTS:Asaclosureorclamp,thesecomeinmightyhandy,althoughthey'renormallyusedtocuffhands.

SILICONECEMENT:Fastactingandcapableofbondingdissimilarsurfaces,siliconecementisthebestallpurposeadhesiveavailable.Gluesiliconenubsthesizeofchocolatechipstobootsolesforgreattractionontheslickestsurfaces,mendtearsinyourGhillieSuit,resealseamsonwaterproofclothingandtarps,affixrubberleavestoheadgear,andsoon.Thereareathousanduses.

SanitationandMedicalItems

PIDDLEPACK:IfirstusedthesewhenflyingUSAFForwardAirControlmissionsintheCessnaSkymaster02A,agreatlittleplanethatlackedwhatwasknownasa"pisstube."Whennaturecalled,weurinatedinaplasticbagcontainingasponge,whichwe'veduplicatedhereforurbansniperscompelledtostayhoursinahidethatlacksatoilet.Asniperwithabulgingbladdercanhardlytakeanaccurateshot.

BASICPILLSANDOINTMENTS:You'llhavetodetermineyourownneeds,buttheseprobablyshouldincludenonalcoholiccoughsyrup,eyeointment,aheadacheremedy,coldcapsules,andantidiarrheticpills.

ANTISEPTICSANDBANDAGES:AnAcewrapisamust,plusassortedbandagesandcottonandtape,someBacitracinantibioticointment,aburnointment,andacreamfortreatingpoisonivy.

ANTACIDS:I'velistedtheseseparatebecausethey'resoimportantIfyouareundergreatstress,ateMexicanforlunch,orjustplainhaveanupsetstomach,calmlytakingalifeanddeathshotbecomesanextraordinaryphysicalchallenge.

IODINETABLETS:Militarysniperswouldn'tgoanywherewithoutwaterpurificationtablets,butlawenforcementsniperswillalsoneedthemforruralsurveillancemissionsandsomecounternarcoticsoperations.

TOILETTISSUE:Thisissimilartotheneedforthepiddlepack.It'seasiestjusttokeepasealedpursesizepackageoffacialtissuesinyourruck.TOOTHBRUSHANDTOOTHPASTE:You'llneverrisklifeandlimbtowashorshaveinthefield,butthisbitofcivilizationcanrefreshyoueachmorning.Ifnotthis,atleastgiveyourselfaLifesavertomakeyourmouthlivableatdawn.

Sustenance

Ourrecommendationisthatapolicesnipercarrywithhimenoughsustenanceforeighthoursandhaveadditionalfoodandwaterinhislargerucksackfor24hoursonsitewithoutresupply.Whiletheremaynotseemmuchneedforfood,youwellcouldfindyourselfinaperfecthidewhichyou'veoccupiedmotionlessforhours,thensuddenIyasupportpersonwalksupwithaBigMacandfries,blowingyourcovercompletely.Thishashappenedbefore,realworld.

Militarysnipersobviouslymustbringsufficientrationsfortheentirelengthoftheiroperation.

We'realsocitinganeedforsomethingtomunchonanddispeltension,whilealsopassing

thetimeaway.Thisisactuallymuchmoreapsychologicalneedthanaphysicalone.

Meanwhile,don'tforgetthatliquidsustenanceismoreimportantthanfood.

LIQUIDS:It'sbestthatyouhaveavailableafullrangeofcanteensonequart,twoquart,andfivequartsizessoyoucanpickthebestloadforeachoperation.Theonequartcanteenshouldbefilledandonyourvest/webgearforeachoperation.Ifapolicesniperthinkshe'llneedmorewater,hecanfillthetwoquartandjustslingitoverhisshoulder,butamilitarysniperprobablywouldaddasecondonequartcanteentohiswebgear.Thefivequartcanteenisusuallycarriedemptyandusedtotransportwaterfromresupplyorasourceinthefield.Cannedjuicesaremorenutritiousthanmerewaterandhaveashelflifeofseveralyears.Afewoftheseinyourlightrucksackwillbeverywelcomelater.

SHORTTERMFOOD:Tohelppasstimeandkeepmindandbodyalert,bringalongsunflowerseeds,beefjerky,andchewinggum.

LONGERTERMFOOD:Haveatleastonecompletemealorrationwithyou,eitheramilitaryMREorseveralcansoffoodthatcanbeeatencold,likebeansandwieners.Freezedriedfoodsneedwater,whichmaybeinshortsupply.

UTENSILS:Thesecanbeplastic,metal,orwood.Awoodenservingspoonwithitshandlecutdownisthebestallpurposeeating/cookingutensil,asplasticcanbreakandmetalcanbangagainstyourmetalcookingcup.

CIGARETTES:Ifyou'reasmoker,preventanxietybyensuringyouhaveenoughcigarettesinyouralertgearandwaterproofmatchestolightthem.

THESNIPERGRADERIFLE

Justasslightedgesinmanyskillsgiveasniperacumulativelydecisiveedgeoverhisopponents,soasnipergradeweaponmustbeabitbetterinmanywaysthanitsofftherackcousinstobeanoverallsignificantlymoreaccurateweapon.

Thiscumulativeriflequalitywilldictateonehalftheequationfordeterminingasniperrifle'smaximumeffectiverange.Theotherhalfistheinherentaccuracyandballisticlethalityoftheweapon'sammunition.Ifyoulackqualityineitherammoorweapon,you'renotcapableofsniping.

We'lldealwithbulletperformanceandMatchgradeammunitionlater.Herewe'llexaminehowatargetgraderifleisruggedizedandmodifiedforfielddutyasasniperweapon.

HowAccurateis"Accurate"?

Whenconsideringriflequality,ultimatelythequestionofaccuracyarises,andwhenitdoes,weneedtospecifyastandard:howaccurateshouldasniperriflebe?

Somemanufacturerspromotetheirriflesas1/2MOA(onehalfaMinuteofAngle,or1/2inchat100yards)weapons.Thisisreallyexcellent,butyou'llpayhighlyforsuchperformance.Inordertogetit,you'llhavetoinvestinacustombuiltgunorspecialtuningofafactoryrifle.Ihavenotcomeacrossanyoneclaimingsmallergroups.

Attheotherextreme,somebargainsniperriflesaremerelystandardreceiversdressedupwithheavybarrelsandincapableofgivingeven1inchgroups(oneMinuteofAngle).I'mnottalkingaboutWinchesterorRemingtonfactoryrifles,butthoseatthelowestendofthemarket.Whileyoucansavehundredsofdollarsacquiringsuchpieces,recallthatinthislifeyouusuallygetwhatyoupayfor,andaninaccuratesniperrifleisworthless.

Nomatterwhatyoupay,1MOAistherealisticminimumperformancerequiredforprecisionmarksmanship,astandarddictatedbyhostagerescuescenariosinwhichasingleshotmustbeplacedinthesuspect'sbrainstemmeasuringabout11/2inchwideatupto100yards.This1MOAalsoequatesto8inchesat800yards,whichIthinkisa.308rifle'srealisticmaximumrange;anyworseinherentaccuracywouldleadtomanymissesatthisrange.

Anacceptableaccuracystandardis1MOA,butI'dsaythat3/4MOAisstillareasonablebalanceofcostagainstperformance.Butwhenitcomesto1/2MOA,probably88percentofsniperscannotexploitsuchaccuracy,whiletheseriflestypicallyaretwiceasexpensiveas3/4MOAweapons.

Yes,ariflethatgroups1/2inchisdesirable,butagain,inmanycasesthisismoreaccuracythanashootercanexploit.Takemyself.Onagoodday,whenI'minshapeandhavepracticedsteadily,Icanshoot1/2inchgroups.However,afteraboutsixweekswithoutmarksmanshippractice,Ionlyshoot1inchgroupswiththesamerifle.Unlessyouhavesufficientopportunitytopractice,youcanhardlybenefitfromyourrifle'sinherentaccuracy.

Still,ifyou'reasuperbriflemanandyouragencycanaffordcustombuiltsniperweapons,byallmeans,acquirethebest.You'llneverbedisappointed.

TheBoltAction

Allthingsbeingequal,aboltactionisthemostaccurateactiononecanhaveonarifle.Here'swhy.

Intheearly1960s,Ipooledmoneywithmyboyhoodsquirrelhuntingcompanions,JoeRemarkeandVicEvaschuk,tobuyaboltaction.22rifle.Ourarrangementwasthatoneofusstalkedforwarduntilhehadashot,thenturnedtherifleovertoanother.Ifyoumissed,itcouldbeanhourbeforeitwasyourturnagain,andanybushytailsyousawduringtheinterimlaughedatyourpredicament.Nounarmedboylikesbeingthebuttofsquirrelhumor.

Seriously,though,shootinginsuchdisciplinedcircumstancesmeanteachshotcountedandresultedinonesquirrelbaggedforeach.22roundwefired.Itwasphenomenalshooting.

Ayearorsolater,whenweallhadparttimejobs,wepurchased.22automaticsJoegotaRuger,VichadaBrowning,andIaRemingtonandourshootingwenttohell.We'dlostthementalfocusneededforoneshothunting.

There'ssomethingpsychologicalaboutboltingarifleakindoffinality,abondingofspiritwithtaskthatisn'tpresentwithanyotherrifleaction.

Boltingaweaponalsoresultsinseatingacartridgeinachambermorefirmlyandconsistentlythanotheractions.Thinkabouthowitfeelswhenthelockinglugsengageandyourpalmpressesthatbolthandledownwardthatactiondoesn'tjust"move"intoplace,norisitpushedtherebyspringpressure.No,astheboltrotatesdownward,theactiontensesandlockssnugly.Providedtheactionistrueandstraight,thiscannothelpbutleadtoconsistency,andrememberthataccuracyequalsconsistencyandviceversa.

Whenitcomestotheboltbeingtrueandstraight,thisisoneofthefirstareasforhightoleranceandtuning.Qualityboltgunsshouldhavelockinglugslappedsotheybearperfectlyagainstmatingsurfaces.Alllugsshouldbeuniformlyincontact,andthefacingsurfacespolishedsmooth.

Theboltfaceshouldbeperfectlyflatsothataseatedcartridgeisnotwedgedortwistedoutoflineinthechamberwhenitsbaserestsagainstthebolt.

Behindthatboltfaceisthefiringpin,anditsperformance,too,impactsdirectlyonrifleaccuracy.Locktime,whichisthetimethatpassesbetweenyourfingerreleasingthesearandtheprimerignitingwhenyourfiringpinstrikesit,isareflectionofriflequality.Youwantaveryfastlocktimesotheriflehasnotimetomovebetweentheinstantyoupullthetriggerandasplitsecondlaterwhenitactuallyfires.

Acceptablelocktimeresultsfromboltdesignanduseofproperlubricants.Locktimesmayvaryfrom.0022to.0057ofasecond.Thequalitysniperriflescitedherehaveacceptablelocktimes.

Remington'sModel700Policeisa"bestbuy,"providingreasonableperformanceforareasonableprice.NewestmodelsuseH.S.Precisioncompositestocksandtypicallyshootabout1MOA.

Whenitcomestoextractors,that'stheonlyareaofcriticismI'veeverencounteredforRemington'sModel700boltaction.Rumorshaveaboundedthatthisthin,stampedmetalbladeispronetofailure,butdespiteowningfiveorsix700smyself,andshootingmanyothers,andworkingwithhundredsofpoliceandmilitarysnipersarmedwith700s,Ihaveneverencounteredanyonewhoactuallyhashadsuchafailure.Butjusttoensurethiscannotpossiblyhappen,IknowthatMcMillanreplacesthestandardRemingtonboltonitscustomrifleswithaMausertypeboltfeaturingalargeclawextractor.

Despitequestionsaboutitsextractor,though,Remington's700isundoubtedlythemostpopularboltactionsniperrifleintheUnitedStates.I'dguessthat90percentofpoliceagenciesI'veinstructedorworkedwithuseRemingtons,andne'erhaveIheardadiscouragingword.WhetherencounteredasaVarmintSpecial,PoliceSpecial,USMCM40A1,orArmyM24system,theRemingtonhasprovenitselfadependableandveryaccuraterifle.

ThesomewhatmoreexpensiveRemingtonderivativesarecustomjobsorspecialfactorytunedweapons.TheRemingtonCustomShop40xisemployedbysomelawenforcementagencies,whiletheNavySEALsuseMcMillan'sM86customderivative.Severalcustomriflebuilders,includingthehighlyrespectedRobarandH.S.Precision,employtheRemingtonaction.Thesederivative,customriflesusuallyproduce1/2MOAperformance,whileotherversions,suchasthePoliceSpecial,tendtogroupabout3/4MOA.

TheUSMCusedWinchesterModel70boltgunsforsnipinginKoreaandmuchofVietnam,withthelegendaryM.Sgt.Car