Insurgent Sniping In Iraq

[m25operator]

This is 1 dimensional, and we cannot see what he is seeing.

1) prone is best if possible.
2) sitting is second best if possible
3) kneeling is next best if possible
4) standing unsupported is worst case, unless we include 1 handed/1armed shooting.

Bone on Bone does not move, muscle is flexible and in the best case scenario does move. No offense to your teachers. Build your platform out of wood not rubber, even if it is good rubber.

Why would you not go prone? best defense, you cannot see over something, same for the next 2, and I have shot in courses like this. Standing supported is at least as good as kneeling.

In the picture we cannot see the whole scene, He might be a big dumbass, with a marginal rifle, or he might be using the best cover that he has. He is in uniform and that's what he was issued and someone told him to take the shot from there.

The surrounding fauna is forest, but I don't see really high grass, prone could easily be out, it looks to me like he is sitting on something, not kneeling, but he is slung against a tree, against the stock not the barrel, in kneeling the grip arm is out, not in, it looks like he has it supported. There was a position called " rice paddy prone" that looked like this, but the grip arm is definitely supported.

Look it over again and use the pictures I have tried to paint.

[fightingquaker13]

This is 1 dimensional, and we cannot see what he is seeing.

1) prone is best if possible.
2) sitting is second best if possible
3) kneeling is next best if possible
4) standing unsupported is worst case, unless we include 1 handed/1armed shooting.

Bone on Bone does not move, muscle is flexible and in the best case scenario does move. No offense to your teachers. Build your platform out of wood not rubber, even if it is good rubber.

Why would you not go prone? best defense, you cannot see over something, same for the next 2, and I have shot in courses like this. Standing supported is at least as good as kneeling.

In the picture we cannot see the whole scene, He might be a big dumbass, with a marginal rifle, or he might be using the best cover that he has. He is in uniform and that's what he was issued and someone told him to take the shot from there.

The surrounding fauna is forest, but I don't see really high grass, prone could easily be out, it looks to me like he is sitting on something, not kneeling, but he is slung against a tree, against the stock not the barrel, in kneeling the grip arm is out, not in, it looks like he has it supported. There was a position called " rice paddy prone" that looked like this, but the grip arm is definitely supported.

Look it over again and use the pictures I have tried to paint.

Thanks operator. The no bone on bone thing does seem a bit weak with your metaphor.I also did not notice the support on the stock from the tree. Much appreciated.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

He may be sitting on his right foot, can't tell for sure, I would have the sling set up different, but even with a "hasty" sling I would have the fore end portion of the sling over my hand, not the other way around.,

[twyacht]

I count four myself.  But he's got the boys from france beat hands down!


Somebody let that poor guy know he's pulling the trigger on an open bolt!  France 

LMAO!

I would have to give this "butt's" up french guy a million dollar wound,  what happened to the utilizing your fellow soldier to stand or sit in FRONT of you and using his shoulder as a rest? I'd want to be looking forward, not volunteering my ass in the air,...

Oh, I almost forgot, it's the French,...

[Badgersmilk]

I wonder if the french guy looks so scared because he heard return fire???  

"Is that a bannana in your pocket?"

france  

As far as the sling position in the first picture.  I have heard the way he's using it to be a plus.  You can tighten your grip on the forearm to tension the sling where you want it...  I've tried it myself in the past...  Didnt like it, but it IS a legit hold.  My primary quesiton for this guy would be why the heck isnt he on the right side of the tree!?!  Would provide about 70% cover while still giveing an equally solid rest.  From his red face I'm guessing he took this position in quite a hurry.

[Sponsor]

[fightingquaker13]

I wonder if the french guy looks so scared because he heard return fire???  

"Is that a bannana in your pocket?"

france  

As far as the sling position in the first picture.  I have heard the way he's using it to be a plus.  You can tighten your grip on the forearm to tension the sling where you want it...  I've tried it myself in the past...  Didnt like it, but it IS a legit hold.  My primary quesiton for this guy would be why the heck isnt he on the right side of the tree!?!  Would provide about 70% cover while still giveing an equally solid rest.  From his red face I'm guessing he took this position in quite a hurry.

He's Russian. It might also be from last night's vodka.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

I wonder if the french guy looks so scared because he heard return fire??? 

"Is that a bannana in your pocket?"

france 

As far as the sling position in the first picture.  I have heard the way he's using it to be a plus.  You can tighten your grip on the forearm to tension the sling where you want it...  I've tried it myself in the past...  Didnt like it, but it IS a legit hold.  My primary quesiton for this guy would be why the heck isnt he on the right side of the tree!?!  Would provide about 70% cover while still giveing an equally solid rest.  From his red face I'm guessing he took this position in quite a hurry.

Looking around his left foot it LOOKS like there is a scuffed up area where he is, while the ground cover on the other side of the downed tree seems to be completely undisturbed, so I'm GUESSING that it may have been an assigned position, either specificly for the photo or maybe to give him practice with less than ideal positioning.

[Combat Diver]

Most Iraqi insurgent sniper fire is less the 200m from a cover and concealed position.  AK47s work most of the time.  Here's a pic of an SVD that I picked up in Baghdad last year.  SVD are not that common here.


Most common is the PSL (or Iraq locally manufactured variant) as shown here.  It is based off of the RPK light machine gun reciever(squad auto AK47 variant lengthen to 7.62x54R) and not the RPD which is a belt fed light machine gun and different gas system.  Can you recognize the shooter?  Pic from Baghdad in Dec 03'


Second most common is a Iraqi Tabuk chambered in 7.62x39.  This is based off the Yugo RPK reciever and barrel but in semi only.  Rear reciever sight is adjustable for windage.  Has side rail for a PSO-1 scope or equivalant.   Rifle is on bottom, all three captured in Baghdad last year.


I was a CAT II sniper for the Army before I retired.

Iraq 91,03-06,08 and 09
Afganistan 09

[Pathfinder]

Great pictures, Diver. No, I don't know the shooter in the second picture - interesting camo mix though, woodland and Eastern block mix?

What's the top rifle in the last photo, the black one? I don't recognize that one.

[Badgersmilk]

Glad their out of enemy hands!

Have you smoked a camel today?    (Written on nearly every bomb our planes went up with when I was there)