Monday 10 August 2009

Don't think so.....

...while I applaud the dedication and skill of this brilliant sniper I am pretty sure there have been longer kills than this. Anyone who knows of better let us know.

SCOTS SNIPER KILLS TALIBAN LEADER WITH LONGEST SHOT

H/T Paul B

7 comments:

duke said...

Not to diminish this feat but I do recall a Canadian sniper (a year ago or so) that had a "long-distance-take-out" as well. I do seem to recall the distance being a mile. Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Anonymous said...

After reading the article, it appeared the sniper was only claiming the longest shot in the Afghanistan conflict. And, that sounds like a hell of a shot, even if it took a couple of tries.

ZF said...

Not even close. A Canadian sniper in Afghanistan had the longest-ever kill at I believe 2574 meters a year or two ago. The previous record holder was Carlos Hathcock with a kill in Vietnam at around 2500 meters. Both were using .50 BMG rifles, the more recent one a Barrett, Hathcock an M2 Browning machinegun modified for sniping.

ZF said...

This is from Wikipedia:

"In 1967 Hathcock set the record for the 20th century's longest combat kill with a Browning M2 .50 BMG machine gun mounting a telescopic sight. The distance was 2,286 meters (2,500 yd / 1.420 mi). Hathcock was one of several individuals to utilize the Browning M2 machine gun in the sniping role. This success led to the adoption of the .50 BMG cartridge as a viable anti-personnel and anti-equipment sniper round. Sniper rifles have since been designed around and chambered in this caliber.

The record was broken twice 35 years later, in 2002, during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan by a Canadian sniper team consisting of MCpl. Graham Ragsdale (Team Commander), MCpl. Tim McMeekin, MCpl. Arron Perry, Cpl. Dennis Eason and Cpl. Rob Furlong from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). The first to break Hathcock's record was Master Corporal Arron Perry with a 2,310 meters (2,526 yd / 1.435 mi) shot. Shortly after that this record was surpassed by Corporal Rob Furlong with a shot of 2,430 meters (2,657 yd / 1.509 mi) from a McMillan TAC-50 Long-Range Sniper Weapon on a Taliban fighter."

duke said...

Theo,

As per Google, a Canadian sniper (in Afghanistan) had the "longest recorded and confirmed sniper shot in history"....2,310 metres/7565 ft/1.43 miles. That record lasted one day when another Canadian recorded a hit @ 2,400 metres/76860 ft/1.48 miles. Dates aren't listed.

Cheers.

Roger J said...

I don't think it matters that much, still excellent shooting and one less TB. However, I do question the publishing of the snipers' and spotters' names, there are some bad guys in the UK who might try to seek out relatives, even the skilled guys on home leave.

ajdshootist said...

Being a Scotish Regt he would most likely be using the L115A3 Rifle in 8.59mm or 338Lapua Mag as most people know it and at that distance he would be almost at max range most of the other long kills have been with .50BMG from Barrett's.So damn good shot!