Snipers on a 2,345-yard shot that took nearly 10 seconds to land

This preview clip from the Shawn Ryan Show pulls together interviews with former snipers and operators on long-range combat shooting in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. The centerpiece is an account of a confirmed hit at 2,345 yards on a target riding a motorcycle, with a flight time of nearly 10 seconds.

Key points

• The 2,345-yard shot: The sniper describes missing four times before connecting, calling it a case of "blind squirrel finds a nut."
• Time of flight: One operator explains that at that range, a target that moves during a nearly 10-second flight can make the shot useless.
• Range by theater: Veterans note that urban engagements in Baghdad rarely exceeded 50 yards, against the 1,500-meter-plus shots common in Afghanistan.
• Volume of fire: One account describes firing nearly 800 rounds of 77-grain Mark 262 from a sniper rifle in a single sustained engagement, about four loadouts.
• The toll: Several speak candidly about the weight of killing, and about what stays with them afterward.

Quick take

The clip argues that real combat shooting often looks little like sniper school, and the testimony backs that with specifics on distance, ammunition and decisions under pressure. It is a preview, so expect short excerpts rather than full interviews.

Watch the full video: Shawn Ryan Show