Sniper tactics
Today in most armies there are two main concepts of sniping:
1. A sniper pair or a single shooter operates in the "free hunt" mode, ie. Their main task is to destroy enemy manpower on the front line and in the immediate rear.
2. A sniper-reconnaissance patrol, consisting of four to eight riflemen and two observers, fetters the enemy's actions in its zone of responsibility and collects information about the organization of the enemy's forward edge. If necessary, such a group can be reinforced with a single machine gun or grenade launcher.
To carry out the combat missions assigned to him, the sniper must be located in a separate, carefully disguised position. When a target appears, the shooter must quickly assess its value (i.e. determine whether it is worth shooting at this object at all), wait for the moment and hit the target with the first shot. In order to produce the greatest psychological effect, it is advisable to hit targets that are as far away from the front line as possible: a well-aimed shot "out of nowhere", hitting a person who felt completely safe, plunges other enemy soldiers into a state of shock and stupor.
Sniper operations are most effective in positional battles. In these conditions, three main forms of combat work are applicable:
1. A sniper (sniper group) is located among its positions and does not allow the enemy to move freely, conduct surveillance and reconnaissance;
2. The sniper (sniper group) conduct a "free hunt" away from their positions; the main task - the destruction of high-ranking command, the creation of nervousness and panic in the immediate rear of the enemy (ie "sniper terror");
3. "Group hunting", ie. the work of a group of snipers of four to six people; tasks - disabling key objects when repelling enemy attacks, ensuring secrecy when moving their troops, simulating an increase in combat activity in a given sector of the front. In some situations, it is advisable to use snipers on a company or battalion scale centrally. This allows you to strengthen fire resistance to the enemy in the main battle area.
When working in pairs, one of the snipers conducts observation, target designation and reconnaissance (spotter or observer), and the other - fire (fighter). After 20-30 minutes, snipers can switch roles, because long observation dulls the acuity of the perception of the environment. When repelling attacks in cases where a large number of targets appear in the zone of responsibility of the sniper group, and in a sudden collision with the enemy, both snipers are firing at the same time.
Sniper groups, including 4-6 shooters and the calculation of a single machine gun (type PKM), can be used to reach the flank and rear of the enemy and inflict a sudden fire defeat on him.
Extremely important is not only the work of the sniper himself, but also his partner - the spotter. It solves the following tasks: transfers and prepares optical surveillance equipment for operation, determines the route and methods of movement, provides fire cover for the sniper using an assault rifle (assault rifle) with an under-barrel grenade launcher, disguises and eliminates traces on the route of movement, helps the sniper when arranging a shooting position, monitors the terrain and draws up a report on the operation, monitors the battlefield and target designation, maintains radio communications, uses sabotage equipment (antipersonnel mines and smoke bombs).
The most effective sniping tactic is a long daytime ambush. It is carried out at predetermined positions in the area of the most probable appearance of targets. The main task of the ambush is to restrict the movement of the enemy, demoralize him and collect intelligence information.
All available intelligence information should be used when choosing an ambush site. In cases of enemy activity in this area, snipers must be accompanied by a cover group. Before going into an ambush, a sniper pair must agree on the coordinates of their "prone", the time and approximate routes of approach and departure, passwords, radio frequencies and call signs, forms of fire support.
An ambush is usually carried out at night, so that by morning it is already in place. During the transition, complete secrecy must be observed. At the ambush site, reconnaissance of the area is carried out, the position is equipped and camouflaged. All this is done after dark, all work must be completed at least an hour before dawn, when the enemy's night vision devices will start working. With the onset of day, the sniper pair begins to observe and search for targets. As a rule, in the early morning and at dusk, soldiers lose their vigilance and can expose themselves to a shot. During the observation, the areas of probable appearance of targets are determined, the speed and direction of the wind are constantly assessed, landmarks and the distance to them are outlined. At the same time, throughout the day, snipers must observe complete immobility and strict camouflage.
When targets appear, the group must quickly assess their importance and determine whether to open fire on them. Having opened fire, the sniper in many cases unmasks his "prone", so you need to shoot only at the most important and clearly visible targets. Aiming at the target is usually carried out by both snipers: in case of a miss, the observer will either also open fire, or will be able to correct the shooting of his first number.
The decision on whether to stay in position further is made by the senior sniper pair after the shooting. If nothing suspicious happens at the enemy's positions after the shot, then the group can remain in position until dark. Leaving the position is carried out only at night, as imperceptibly as possible. In this case, the ambush site is given its original appearance, all traces of "lying" are carefully eliminated in order to reuse it if necessary (although this is done only in exceptional cases). In some situations, a surprise mine may be placed on the abandoned position.
Special mention should be made of the tactics of snipers serving at checkpoints. When organizing a checkpoint, it must necessarily include a group of snipers performing specific tasks to ensure the safe operation of the post. Therefore, a position for observation and fire, which would provide the maximum sector of view and shelling, secrecy from enemy observation, should be chosen not only on the territory of the checkpoint, but also behind it. The specifics of the checkpoint's work does not guarantee maximum secrecy, so the sniper must remain constant vigilance so as not to betray himself. To do this, he must observe the following precautions: be always prepared for the position to be monitored; do not make unnecessary movements; do not use observation devices without protection from direct sunlight on the lenses; maintain a natural position; take a position or make a change in secret.
A circular defense is organized at each checkpoint. Therefore, snipers equip the main positions in the center of the defense area, but they are not used in day-to-day work. Particular attention is paid to the interaction of snipers. If there are several checkpoints in one direction, then snipers will definitely organize interaction with them.
Sniper tactics in special operations
When taking hostages in buildings or residential buildings, the first action of the special anti-terrorist unit is to block the scene of the crime. In this case, snipers are directed to the most dangerous directions, i.e. places where criminals can make a breakthrough or try to sneak away through attics and roofs. After studying the situation: the territory adjacent to the object, the location of the premises inside the object, taking into account their rearrangements, communications (garbage chute, heating main), and determining the location of the criminals, snipers take up firing positions that allow them to monitor the actions of the criminals without revealing themselves.
If this is a multi-storey building and the windows of the apartment or office where the criminals are located face to one side, then the snipers take a position opposite, but not below the floor where the criminals are. The position is chosen so that each room is under the crossfire: this allows you to view the entire apartment. If the windows are tightly curtained, you need to try to find the gaps between the curtains and observe through them.
The position should be taken in the back of the room, the light should not be turned on. If the curtains are light and can be viewed through them, then they do not need to be touched. In attics, positions are also looked for in the depths of the room, but here you need to make sure that the light does not fall on the silhouette of the sniper through the slits, since this gives it away when moving. On the roof, the sniper takes positions behind exhaust pipes, roof ridges, or makes neat holes in the roofs down the length, allowing observation and fire.
Snipers constantly keep in touch with the leader of the operation and among themselves: if one detects a criminal, the other sniper must also try to find him and determine from what position it is more convenient to hit him.
A special operation when a terrorist hijacks an aircraft is the most difficult. Aircraft have a high degree of danger when they are struck by fire, therefore the use of standard sniper rifles is limited, since when a bullet hits a target, the bullet may not remain in the criminal's body, damaging the aircraft, so the sniper must know the design of the aircraft, helicopter and the location of fuel in them. tanks and pipelines. When firing at aircraft, it is impossible to use armor-piercing incendiary, with a steel core, tracer bullets.
The sniper opens fire only when he is fully confident in hitting the target. Such evil as "air terrorism" is now widespread. Therefore, special forces should devote more time to training in this direction. All airports and air terminals must be equipped so that when a captured aircraft lands, special forces can quietly go out to it. If there are no underground communications, then you need to use all possible options for stealthy approaches to the aircraft. To do this, you must have a specially equipped fuel tanker for the assault team and the sniper.
At the beginning of the assault, the sniper takes a position behind the aircraft wheel racks, covering the assault group when entering the aircraft, and then controls the actions of the group inside the cabin. He takes a position in the tail section and, using a weapon chambered for a 9-mm cartridge (such as Cypress, Kedr, PP-93, etc.) with a target designator and a silencer, hits armed terrorists who prevent the assault.
Observation posts or towers are installed on the roofs and upper floors of the air terminals, where a sniper can be located. Posts and towers should be located so that during observation it was possible to view the aircraft from both sides along the hull and from the side of the cockpit. One sniper should be with the assault group, covering it from the rear. The sniper's task is mainly to gather information and coordinate the actions of the entire group.
When eliminating riots organized with the aim of seizing power, the primary task of snipers is to study the object of protection, identify the leaders of the group and the area adjacent to the object.
A diagram of the area adjacent to the object and buildings located near it is drawn up, where the sectors of fire by snipers, their main and reserve positions are indicated. The locations of the most possible location of enemy snipers, command posts, and the direction of a possible assault are also plotted on the diagram. In the facility itself, when there is a threat of assault, firing positions are equipped at all levels of the building, taking into account camouflage, if necessary, loopholes are punched through the walls of the building and camouflaged. Snipers work separately, keeping in touch with each other. At the same time, observation is carried out, the main forces of the enemy, their strength, weapons are identified, and the movement of vehicles and people is controlled, leaders are identified, and photographs and filming of what is happening are provided.
During the assault, the arrows first of all destroy the commanders of the assault groups, leaders, snipers, grenade launchers, machine-gun crews.
In preparation for the defense of an object by a sniper, the following measures are taken:
- an accurate measurement of the entire fire area is made with a mark on the diagram and certain signs are placed on buildings, pavements, etc.;
- all entrances to the attics and basements of neighboring buildings are tightly clogged and filled up, if necessary, mines are mined or signal mines are placed, if there is an assumption that they will be used as firing points;
- in the very object of defense, the sniper personally checks all the alleged positions and marks the locations of the loopholes;
- when equipping a firing position, all objects that reflect light are removed, chandeliers and electric bulbs, if they are located above the sniper, are removed.
Disguise and surveillance
Enough has been written about the laws and techniques of camouflage and observation. Nevertheless, once again about the most important thing. You need to observe very carefully, not missing any trifles. Anything that may turn out to be suspicious should be carefully examined and checked in the sector of responsibility. However, this should be done very carefully, without giving away your location.
To disguise means to blend in with the terrain. In the middle of the meadow, the sniper should be grass, in the mountains - a stone, in a swamp - a hummock. Camouflage should not stand out in any way from the surrounding background. At the same time, it is imperative to take into account the duration of the upcoming work - for example, green leaves on cut branches by the end of a hot day will fade and will unmask the "lying", and it will be very difficult to replace them without giving themselves away with movement.
The reflections from the lens of the optics - sight and observation devices - are very insidious on a sunny day. This moment killed many snipers - remember the fate of Major Conings. In general, it is best to observe with a periscope.
In the absence of wind, smoke from a shot can give out the position, so if possible, try to shoot from a short distance because of rare bushes or because of a building, tree, or boulder. Among other things, a bullet, flying past such an obstacle, makes a sound, as if coming from a place to the side of the shooter.
The enemy, especially in trench warfare, knows the terrain in front of him very well. Therefore, each new bump, crumpled grass, freshly dug earth will inevitably arouse his suspicion and will cost the sniper his life.
At dusk and at night, additional unmasking factors are the flash from the shot and the reflection on the face from the eyepiece of the night sight. Also, do not use the illumination of the PSO telescopic sight reticle: at dusk, from the side of the lens, the light bulb can be seen a hundred meters away.
Even being in your rear, you don't need to show your belonging to a sniper group: you shouldn't show off in front of everyone with a sniper rifle and equipment, since the enemy is watching everything that happens in your camp. The sniper is the worst enemy for him, to destroy him has always been and will be the number one task for him.
Another excerpt from Zaitsev's notes: “Each entry to a position must be provided with strict camouflage. A sniper who cannot observe in disguise is no longer a sniper, but simply a target for the enemy. I went to the front line, disguise myself, lie down like a stone and observe, study the area, draw up a card, put special signs on it. If, in the process of observing, he showed himself with some careless movement of his head, opened himself to the enemy and did not have time to hide in time, remember, you made a mistake, for your mistake you will only get a bullet in your head. This is the life of a sniper."
Weapons and applied ballistics
In connection with the tasks assigned to the shooter, a modern sniper rifle must ensure the defeat of a live target at ranges of up to 900 meters, with a high probability (80%) of hitting a belt target at distances of up to 600 meters with the first shot and up to 400 meters into a chest target. It is desirable that in addition to a general-purpose sniper rifle (for example, SVD), snipers have at their disposal a combat rifle with an accuracy close to that of a sporting weapon (for example, SV-98). Such a rifle with a special live cartridge, while ensuring high accuracy, should be designed to solve special problems. In cases when shooting is carried out at short distances (150-200 meters), especially in urban conditions, it is advisable to use silent sniper rifles (such as VSS and VSK-94). Sniper "noisemakers" are especially good in that they allow the "hunter" to leave the position unnoticed after the destruction of the enemy target. However, the short range of aimed fire severely limits their use. The range of guaranteed destruction of the head figure (the most common type of target for a sniper) from both rifles is 100-150 meters. That is, you need to approach the enemy's position exactly at this distance, and this is far from always possible. At the same close range, small-bore rifles with an optical sight are quite suitable.
SVD, with all its advantages, does not have the highest accuracy. Therefore, during counter-sniper operations, it is preferable to use high-quality weapons (MC-116, SV-98) and ammunition - a must! - sniper or target. If you are forced to use only SVD, try to put on it a sight with a higher magnification - for example, PSP-1 or "Hyperon" - this will increase the effectiveness of fire and the likelihood of hitting the target from the first shot.
When designing a sniper operation, you need to carefully consider the capabilities of your weapon and ammunition. In particular, the dispersion diameter (i.e., the distance between the centers of the holes farthest from the midpoint of hitting) for a cartridge with an LPS bullet at a distance of 300 meters is approximately 32 cm, and for a sniper cartridge - 16-20 cm. With the dimensions of a standard head target 20x30 cm, this difference plays an important role. Look at the table and compare with the average sizes of the main goals: head - 25x30 cm, chest figure - 50x50 cm, waist figure - 100x50 cm, height figure - 170x50 cm.
The effectiveness of the OSV-96 large-caliber rifle is a controversial issue, since special sniper 12, 7-mm cartridges are produced in small batches, and the dispersion of conventional machine-gun cartridges of this caliber is too great for sniper shooting. However, when processing stationary sniper positions (pillboxes, bunkers, reinforced with armored sculpt models), a large-caliber rifle can be very useful. Even during the Second World War, Soviet snipers used 14.5 mm anti-tank rifles to hit protected targets and fire at embrasures.
It must be remembered that the rifle must always be shot, then there is no need to doubt the accuracy of your weapon. It is required to regularly check the zeroing of your weapon at the main effective ranges of fire, even if no one is shooting from the rifle: it happens that the aiming also gets lost in the process of storing the weapon. Zeroing is carried out only with the type of cartridges that will continue to be used: different types of bullets have different ballistics, and therefore different flight paths.
It is necessary to carefully study the table of average elevations of trajectories over the aiming line and learn it by heart. In a combat situation, always use this particular table, especially when transferring fire from one target to another and when firing without rearranging the remote handwheel (using the "direct shot" method). For convenient use in a combat situation, such a table is glued to the butt of a weapon or sewn onto the left sleeve of outerwear.
Always wipe the barrel and chamber dry before entering an operation. If there is oil or moisture in the barrel, then the bullets will go higher, and when fired there will be smoke and a bright flash - this unmasks the position.
In heavy rain and fog, the bullets also go higher, so you need to move the aiming point down.
When working on especially important targets, it is imperative to remember that the optimal sniper fire mode is one shot every two minutes, because the barrel should not heat up more than 45 degrees. If during the battle you have to conduct intense fire, it is worth considering that when the barrel warms up, the bullets will go lower.
If a bolt-action rifle is used, then when unloading, you must not send the bolt back too hard: this loosens the bolt and quickly wears out the larva. After firing, if there is no need to continue firing, leave the bolt open; this will prevent the powder gases from “sweating” in the barrel and allow the barrel to cool faster.
So that the rifle barrel does not glare in the sun and heats up less in hot weather, it is wrapped in shaggy camouflage tape, a piece of KZS mask net or ordinary cloth tape. Among other things, this will protect the barrel from accidental impacts.
It is necessary to regularly check the strength of the fastening of the optical sight: whether there is lateral rolling, whether the handwheels rotate too freely. The quality of the adjustment of the aiming mechanism and the fastening of the drums is checked as follows: they direct the central square (the tip of the hemp) to a landmark and, alternately pressing the drums, follow the reticle of the sight. If the square shifts when you press the drums, it means that the sighting mechanism has large gaps and the reticle will inevitably shift with each shot.
Some scopes have some propeller free play. To determine it, the sight bracket is firmly fixed (for example, in a vice), the central square is brought to some point and the handwheel is turned several divisions to the side and back. If there is a free movement of the screws in the sight, then the square will not coincide with the initial position, without reaching it. In order to compensate for the free movement of the screws, it is necessary to end all turns of the handwheels in the same direction, for example, clockwise. Then, if you need to turn the handwheel counterclockwise, then shift it two or three divisions further, and then, returning to the desired risk, finally set the sight by rotating clockwise.
It is always necessary to make the handling of the weapon as convenient as possible: you can hang a rubber butt plate from the GP-25 on the butt, if you wish, you can attach a folding bipod from the RPG-7 to the forearm. An ordinary rubber band from an expander, with a double sliding loop draped over the trunk, and tied with its ends to any vertical object (tree trunk, pole, etc.), will allow you not to load your hands with the weight of the weapon in ambush.
The rifle barrel must be protected from dirt, dust and other foreign objects. If you have to work in dusty conditions (for example, in the steppe or in the mountains), then a regular condom is put on the trunk; after the first shot, it will burn without interfering with the flight of the bullet.
Weapons require careful treatment, so you need to clean them regularly, and most importantly, do not let anyone shoot them.
Sometimes the situation can change quickly, targets can appear over a wide area with a spread in range and quickly disappear. In such conditions, it is simply unrealistic to determine the distances every time, and even more so to set the sight along them. In anticipation of such a situation (as a rule, it occurs during enemy attacks), it is necessary to aim the rifle at the maximum range in its zone of responsibility (for example, 400 meters), remember a noticeable landmark in the area of this range and navigate along it in further shooting. Now you can estimate by eye how much the target is farther or closer to the reference point in the amount of "swing" along the vertical of the aiming point. To do this, you need to have a very good idea of the trajectory of the bullet at the distance at which the rifle was aimed. It is quite simple to check the battle of a rifle in the field: to outline a landmark and make a series of shots at it - the deflection of the bullets is determined by ricochets. However, it should be borne in mind that one should not get carried away with such a non-standard zeroing: it is used only in the most urgent cases, when there is a need to hit the target from the first shot. Zeroing should be masked by the noise of the battle and carried out from reserve positions.
For high-speed shooting at short distances (up to 300 meters), as a rule, a direct shot is used, i.e. shot in which the trajectory of the bullet does not rise above the target height. In particular, in urban conditions, the range of fire rarely exceeds 200-250 meters, therefore, having installed sight 2, you can not make vertical adjustments: up to 200 meters, the height of the trajectory does not exceed 5 cm, which means that the bullet will fall on the target; at distances from 200 to 250 meters, the aiming point should be taken 10-11 cm higher.
Observation
It is necessary to master the skills of observation, do it intensively and systematically, taking small sectors each time to study. You should not wander aimlessly across the entire observation area - this is a common mistake.
You need to look at everything that happens in someone else's territory with suspicion. It is advisable to mentally transfer to the position of the enemy and think about what he could do in such conditions.
When examining the terrain in a given sector, you can divide it into sections equal to the field of view of an optical sight, binoculars or a periscope. You need to work slowly and carefully, blocking the field of view.
If, during observation, a suspicion arose about an object, then you need to inspect everything around it, because the sharpest part of vision does not lie in the center, but at the edge of the eye's field of view. This is especially true when viewed at dawn and dusk.
Slow motion is also easier to detect if you do not look directly at the object: you must look higher, lower, or slightly away from the object - then the sharpest part of the eye's vision is used.
If possible, you should try not to conduct observations through binoculars, but to use a periscope: this will protect against detection and bullets of an enemy sniper.
If observation is carried out through an optical sight in conditions of deterioration of visibility (early twilight, haze, etc.), then it is worth using a light filter - it is included in the SVD kit; yellow-orange glass significantly improves visual acuity and contributes to a clearer perception of the edges of the object contour by the retina.
Often the sniper has to shoot at targets that appear unexpectedly. In these conditions, there is no time to determine distances, therefore, at the most probable boundaries and directions, choose noticeable landmarks in advance. In the future, they should be used to count and determine the position of targets and the distance to them.
Disguise
There is no universal camouflage suitable for camouflage in various conditions, therefore, it is necessary to constantly diversify and invent new camouflage means, depending on the task and the conditions for its implementation. The main rules of disguise:
- any measures should be preceded by a thorough reconnaissance of the area and its assessment in terms of camouflage;
- having chosen camouflage equipment, you need to carefully adjust it, not missing the smallest details; you can ask a friend to check if there are any unmasking spots;
- having taken a position at any local object, you need to use it as a shelter only from the side, but in no case from above;
- you should not choose places for a firing position near noticeable landmarks: they will be examined by the enemy in the first place;
- in any case, the position must be taken so that there is a masking background behind;
- you can use the shadow from local objects, but you need to remember that during the day the shadow changes its position;
- well masks vegetation (grass, branches, etc.), but it must be taken into account that it retains its natural color for only 2-3 days; then the leaves will wither and will give out the position;
- for coloring the face and hands, you can use the juice of herbs mixed with the "milk" of plants such as milkweed - all this is kneaded in the recess of the SVD butt and then applied to the skin; however, you need to be careful in choosing herbs so that poisonous plants do not get caught, which can cause itching and even burn;
- when entering a position, all traces must be carefully destroyed;
- whenever possible, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate the unmasking effect of shots: when equipping a position in the field, you can arrange a "prone" behind a rare bush or stick several branches three to four meters away from you. When fired, the smoke will remain behind them and the flash will not be so visible; when firing from a building, the position should be in the depths of the room - in this case, the flash and the sound of the shot almost do not come out;
- here is the simplest way to make a prone position in the field: for a camouflaged parapet, you need to cut about eight pieces of turf about 20 by 30 cm in size, while the lower, "earthen" part of the turf is cut with a pyramid, at an angle of 45 degrees; then a parapet with grass is laid out of these bricks towards the enemy; at the end of the work, if there is a need to hide the shooting site, the turf is put in place and lightly watered with water;
- being in position in winter, it should be remembered that the steam from breathing easily unmasks the location, so you need to breathe only through a scarf or mask. To prevent the snow from blowing up when fired, you can sprinkle the snow before "lying down" with water from a flask;
- moving around the terrain, it is necessary to make the most of vegetation and all kinds of shelters.
- leaving the firing position, you cannot take it immediately: first you need to crawl, stopping not far away and carefully looking around, - the position can be mined or there can be an ambush;
- you should always stay in the lowlands, never go out into open places and on the horizon; if possible, bypass all places where the sniper can be seen by enemy observers;
- movement should be minimized, rapid movement with an arm or leg is very dangerous; but in some cases, while maintaining complete immobility, one can be invisible, being almost in sight;
- it is necessary to master the art of walking so that the effort comes from the hip, and not from the knee; first, the ends of the toes and the front of the foot should be placed on the ground; usually the heel makes noise, especially where there are stones, twigs, etc.
- in wet weather and in light fog, the shot gives out the sniper's position especially strongly (however, in wet weather, an improved view is possible);
- if possible, it is better to work in tandem with a machine gunner: he will muffle your shots with bursts and cover in case of a sudden withdrawal.
Vision
We must constantly remember that the eyes are the main tool of the sniper. Ideally, vision should be excellent, but in principle, some reduction in its acuity is permissible, however, with the obligatory use of glasses or contact lenses.
In order to maintain good vision under heavy loads, the eyes need support. Here are some simple eye prevention exercises (from the experience of sports shooters).
1. Close your eyes tightly for 3-5 seconds, and then keep your eyes open for 3-5 seconds; repeat 8-10 times (this strengthens the muscles of the eyelids and improves blood circulation in the eyes).
2. Massage your closed eyes with a circular motion of your finger for a minute (this relaxes the muscles of the eyes and improves their blood circulation).
3. Stretch your hand forward and look at the tip of your finger, then slowly bring your finger closer, without taking your eyes off it, until it begins to double; repeat 6-8 times (this strengthens the oblique muscles of the eyes and facilitates visual work).
After a heavy load on the eyes, you can use lotions from a weak tea or sage broth: moistened warm swabs are applied to the eyes and hold until they cool down.
Secrets of an accurate shot
Making an accurate shot requires the sniper to perform certain actions - ready, aiming, holding his breath and pulling the trigger. All these actions are mandatory elements of a well-aimed shot and are in a certain, strictly coordinated relationship with each other.
For a shot to be accurate, first of all, the shooter must ensure the greatest immobility of the weapon during its production. Manufacturing must solve the problem of giving the greatest stability and immobility to the entire system, consisting of the shooter's body and weapons. Since the very meaning of sniper shooting is to hit a small-sized target at a great distance, it is quite clear that the shooter must give the weapon a strictly defined direction, i.e. aim him at the target; this is achieved by aiming. It is well known that breathing is accompanied by rhythmic movement of the chest, abdomen, etc. Therefore, in order to ensure the greatest immobility of the weapon and maintain its direction, achieved as a result of aiming, the shooter must hold his breath for the duration of the shot.
If the sniper is you, then to fire a shot, you need to press the trigger with your index finger; in order not to displace the weapon aimed at the target, you need to press the trigger smoothly. However, due to the fact that you cannot achieve complete immobility at the ready, the trigger has to be triggered in conditions of more or less vibration of the weapon. Therefore, to achieve a well-aimed shot, you need to press the trigger not only smoothly, but also necessarily strictly in coordination with aiming.
Let's try to disassemble the main elements of an accurate shot separately.
Currently, there are a wide variety of types of fabrication in combat shooting. When shooting with a sniper rifle, four main types are used: lying, sitting, kneeling and standing.
Taking into account the direct dependence of the accuracy of shooting on the degree of immobility of the weapon during the production of a shot, the sniper must pay the most serious attention to the selection for himself of such a fit that provides the best stability and immobility of the "shooter - weapon" system. In addition, the "super-sharp shooter" should always be faced with the task of choosing such a rational posture (for each type of positioning), in which keeping the body with the weapon in the same position will require the most economical expenditure of physical strength and nervous energy. Therefore, despite the abundance of possible options, in general, manufacturing should ensure:
- the required degree of equilibrium of the "shooter - weapon" system;
- achieving equilibrium of this system with the least tension of the shooter's muscular apparatus;
- the most favorable conditions for the functioning of the sense organs, primarily the eyes and the vestibular apparatus;
- conditions for the normal functioning of internal organs and proper blood circulation.
Of course, you need to make allowances for the specific conditions of sniper work (in some situations, it is simply impossible to take the correct position), nevertheless, in general, the laws of preparation are the same for everyone.
Since each person has individual physical characteristics, it is natural that there is no template or universal recipe in production that would suit all shooters. This means that the sniper must himself, in accordance with his physical characteristics, choose the best preparation options for different conditions.
Sometimes it is necessary to search for the most convenient options of preparation for a long time and unsuccessfully, every shooter-sportsman knows about it. In order not to go down the wrong path and not waste time, a novice shooter must look closely and carefully study the shooting technique of experienced snipers, adopting everything valuable and useful. At the same time, there is no need to blindly copy any one production option; should be approached from the standpoint of common sense.
In a combat situation, a sniper often has to fire in very difficult and uncomfortable conditions. However, despite this, he must try to be made for shooting so that his position maximizes the ability to conduct accurate fire from the selected position. Not only the results of shooting depend on the correct and comfortable position, but also the comfort during a long stay on a camouflaged "prone".
By far the most advantageous shooting position is prone, using the support. The use of a stop greatly facilitates the shooting conditions; in addition, it contributes to better camouflage and covers from enemy fire.
As a stop, it is best to use as soft material as possible - turf, a bag of sand or sawdust, a backpack. The height of the stop depends on the physique, so the sniper must adjust the stop for himself.
There are usually two ways to use the stop when shooting. The main one is when the rifle does not touch the stop, but lies on the palm of the left hand; in this case, the forearm and hand are on the support, and the elbow (left) rests on the ground. This method is especially beneficial if the emphasis is firm. However, it is difficult to stay in this position for a long time, therefore, when you are in position for a long time, I recommend another technique: the rifle is placed directly on the stop with its part under the sight, and the butt is supported by the left hand from below at the left shoulder. In this case, the hands form a kind of "lock" that provides a secure hold of the weapon.
The rifle is applied at four points: the left hand on the forend, the right hand on the pistol grip (butt neck), the butt plate in the shoulder recess, and the cheek on the butt rest. This method of holding was not chosen by chance: this is the only way to ensure reliable fixation of the position of the rifle when aiming and firing, the absence of tremors and the collapse of the weapon to the side. Almost all muscles, with the exception of those directly involved in shooting, remain relaxed. When shooting, a rifle strap can be used to secure the “shooter-rifle” system. It is advisable to use the belt in all positions - lying, sitting, kneeling, standing, except for those cases when you can use the support. When firing from SVD and AK-74 with a telescopic sight, the belt is passed through the forearm and thrown behind the magazine. The tension of the belt should be such that the weight of the weapon falls on the tensioned belt, but at the same time the left hand should not become numb. During training, the shooter must find for himself the most convenient and comfortable position of the belt on his hand and the degree of its tension. To make it easier and faster to find the desired position of the belt in the future, you can sew a large hook on the left sleeve of the outer garment (for example, from an overcoat) - among other things, the hook will prevent the belt from slipping. It is best to make marks on the belt itself that correspond to the position of its buckle at the most comfortable length.
When firing a shot, it is very important not to "jerk" the weapon. To do this, you need to grip the pistol grip (butt neck) tightly, but without unnecessary effort, press the trigger with the first joint of the index finger, while moving the finger smoothly straight back and forth parallel to the barrel bore axis. The processing of the descent should be finished immediately after aiming the weapon at the aiming point.
The position for prone shooting, in comparison with other types of shooting, is the most stable, since the shooter's body lies almost completely on the ground and both elbows rest on the ground. The large area of the support surface of the shooter's body at a low height of its center of gravity allows creating the most stable balance of the "shooter - weapon" system.
The most important thing is that the prone position should provide not only good stability of the rifle with the least tension of the sniper's muscles, but also a prolonged stay of the body in the same position during shooting, and such a position of the head, in which the most favorable conditions for the work of the eye during aiming.
The difficulty in choosing a convenient and correct fabrication for yourself is that the requirements mentioned above are not only interconnected, but also in some contradiction. For example, if you increase the turn of the body to the left, then it will be easier for you to breathe, but the conditions for attachment and work of the leading eye during aiming will worsen. If you begin to bring your left hand, supporting the weapon, as far forward as possible, the position will become lower and, naturally, more stable; but at the same time, the conditions for breathing will worsen and the load on the left arm will increase, which entails a rapid fatigue of its muscles.
Proceeding from all this, the sniper must find the most acceptable option for himself, taking into account the characteristics of his physique.
The stability of the position and the duration of the shooter's body in the same position depend primarily on the position of the body, and in particular on the orientation of the body in relation to the firing plane. Practice has shown that it is best to turn the body in relation to the firing plane at an angle of 15-25 degrees. With such a turn, his position will be comfortable, the chest is not very constrained, which means that breathing is relatively free. At the same time, there will be favorable conditions for applying and aiming.
By the way, in contrast to the standard fit, recommended by all the manuals, the so-called "Estonian" fit turns out to be quite convenient for high-speed shooting. With her, the right leg is bent at the knee, while the shooter himself is not lying flat on his stomach, but slightly on his left side. In this position, the chest is not constrained, breathing is deeper, it becomes easier to reload the weapon and work with the handwheels of the optical sight.
Shooting from the knee by snipers is most often used in combat in urban conditions, when the shooter provides fire cover for assault groups. In such conditions, the fire is fired from short stops when there is no time to lie down comfortably. As well as when making lying down, it is advisable to use a rifle strap here.
The left leg should be strictly under the left elbow with the elbow resting on the knee. In this case, the elbow of the right hand does not need to be set aside, on the contrary, it is better to try to press it against the body.
You can shoot from your knee, for example, in thick, tall grass that blocks your view in a prone position, but you need to remember that for particularly accurate shooting, as well as for a long stay in this position, this position is not suitable.
Sitting shooting is not very common in our country, although it is highly respected and practiced in the Western armies. There are two options for this fabrication: sitting in Turkish and Bedouin. When shooting while sitting in Turkish, the sniper pulls his legs under him (probably everyone knows how to sit in Turkish), the foot of one leg is passed between the thigh and lower leg of the other, and the elbows rest on the knees or, if it’s more convenient, drop behind the knees.
In the Bedouin method, the shooter sits with his legs wide apart, bent at the knees, the heels rest on the ground (so that the legs do not slip during the shot), and the elbows, as in the previous case, rest on the knees.
Both methods are quite stable and convenient, after some training, you can sniper fire this way even with some comfort. However, in both positions it is difficult to sit for more than half an hour (especially in Turkish) and from them it is difficult to move quickly and imperceptibly during an emergency change of position.
Rifle shooting while standing as a form of preparation for a sniper is the last thing to do, because it is very difficult to execute and, most importantly, unstable. But if in some difficult circumstances you still have to fire from a sniper rifle while standing, then, firstly, use a belt (in the previous version); secondly, hold the rifle by the pads so that the magazine rests on the left hand just below the hand; and thirdly, do not complicate the situation and try to find some kind of vertical object (tree trunk, corner of a building) to rest against it with your left forearm.
How to aim correctly using a telescopic sight? The device of the optical sight provides for aiming without the participation of the front sight and the sight slot installed on the rifle barrel, because the aiming line in this case is the optical axis of the sight, passing through the center of the lens and the tip of the central square of the sight reticle. The aiming reticle and the image of the observed object (target) are in the focal plane of the lens, and therefore the sniper's eye perceives both the target image and the reticle with the same sharpness.
When aiming with an optical sight, the position of the shooter's head should be such that the line of sight passes along the main optical axis of the sight. This means that you need to align the eye with the exit pupil of the eyepiece and then bring the point of the square to the aiming point.
The eye should be at the distance of the exit pupil removal from the outer lens of the eyepiece (eye distance). Depending on the design of the sight, this distance is 70-80 mm, it is necessary for safety when recoiling the weapon.
During aiming, the shooter must carefully ensure that there are no darkening in the field of view, it must be completely clean.
If the eye is closer or farther than the eye distance, then a circular blackout is obtained in the field of view, which reduces it, interferes with observation and makes aiming difficult. However, if the darkening on all sides is the same, then there will be no bullet deflections.
If the eye is located incorrectly relative to the main optical axis of the sight - shifted to the side, then moon-shaped shadows will appear at the edges of the eyepiece, they can be on either side, depending on the position of the axis of the eye. In the presence of moon shadows, the bullets will deflect in the opposite direction. If you notice shadows while aiming, find a position for the head where the eye can clearly see the entire field of view of the scope.
In other words, in order to ensure accurate aiming with an optical sight, the sniper must direct all attention to keeping the eye on the optical axis of the sight and aligning the central square with the aiming point.
Triggering technique is of great and sometimes decisive importance in firing a shot. First, the trigger should not shift the weapon aimed at the target, i.e. should not knock down the tip; for this, the shooter must be able to pull the trigger very smoothly. Secondly, the trigger must be pulled in full accordance with visual perception, i.e. to coincide with a certain moment when the "straight front sight" is at the aiming point.
This means that in order to achieve an accurate shot, the sniper must perform two actions - aiming and smoothly pressing the trigger - in strict coordination with each other.
However, a difficulty arises: when aiming, the weapon is never stationary, it always vibrates continuously (depending on the stability of the shooter's position). As a result, the "flat front sight" constantly deviates away from the aiming point. The shooter must complete a smooth trigger pull at the very moment when the central square of the reticle is at the aiming point. Since the fluctuations of the rifle for many, especially untrained shooters, have an arbitrary character, it is very difficult to predict when exactly the square will pass through the desired point. Mastery in the production of a descent is the development of skills aimed at improving the coordination of movements and control over their implementation.
Regardless of what type of trigger the shooter will use, it is very important that he observes the basic requirement: the trigger must be released so as not to knock down the aiming, i.e. very smoothly.
The production of a smooth escapement places special demands on the function of the index finger when the trigger is pressed. The quality of the shot depends to a greater extent on this, because the most careful and fine aiming will be disrupted at the slightest wrong movement of the finger.
In order not to disturb the aiming, the right hand must correctly encircle the butt neck (pistol grip) and create the necessary support so that the index finger can overcome the trigger pull. It is necessary to cover the handle sufficiently tightly, but without unnecessary effort, because muscle tension in the hand will entail increased vibration of the weapon. In addition, it is necessary to find a position for the hand so that there is a gap between the index finger and the grip. Only then the movement of the finger when pressing the trigger will not cause lateral shocks, displacing the weapon and knocking down the aiming.
The trigger should be pressed with the first phalanx of the index finger or with the first joint - only such pressing requires the least finger movement. It is necessary to press so that the index finger moves along the axis of the barrel bore, straight back. If you press a little to the side, at an angle to the axis of the barrel, this will lead to an increase in trigger tension and an abrupt movement of the trigger caused by skew. This can also confuse the lead.
To produce an accurate shot, the sniper must learn to increase the trigger pressure smoothly, gradually and evenly. This does not mean slowly, but precisely smoothly, without jerks. The descent should take from 1.5 to 2.5 seconds.
In addition, it is necessary to pull the trigger not only smoothly, but also in time, choosing the most favorable moments when the oscillations of the rifle will be the smallest.
The system "shooter - weapon" during aiming and firing a shot undergoes complex vibrations. The reason for this is the action and reaction of the muscles during the work to hold the shooter's body in a certain position, as well as the pulsation of the blood. At first, when the shooter makes a rough aim and has not yet managed to properly balance the weapon, the fluctuations will be large. As the aiming is refined, the oscillations of the weapon diminish somewhat, and after a while, when the muscles begin to get tired, the oscillations increase again.
From this it is clear that under such circumstances, it is necessary to start a smooth pull on the trigger during the period of rough aiming of the weapon; then, refining aiming, smoothly increase the pressure on the trigger, trying to complete it at the moment when the rifle experiences small vibrating vibrations or seems to have stopped altogether.
Unfavorable lighting conditions make aiming very difficult. The sniper's eyes are blinded by the sun, snow cover on a sunny day, excessively bright target illumination, sun glare on the surfaces of weapons and sights. In such conditions, the unprotected eye becomes irritated, tears appear, pain appears, involuntary squinting - all this not only makes aiming difficult, but can lead to irritation of the mucous membrane and eye disease. Therefore, the sniper must take care of creating favorable conditions for the eye during aiming and preserving his vision.
When shooting with a PSO-1 optical sight, it is necessary to protect the objective part of the sight from the sun with a retractable hood, and the eyepiece - with a rubber eyecup. The hood and eyecup prevent direct and lateral sunlight from entering the lens or eyepiece, causing reflection and light scattering in the scope lenses, which makes it very difficult to work with it.
To prevent the surface of the barrel from shining, you can stretch a cloth tape over it, but it is best to just wrap it with shaggy camouflage tape - this will remove the shine and disguise the weapon.
To protect your eyes from bright sunlight, you can successfully use the visor of a field cap.
In cases where targets are very brightly lit, be sure to use a light filter, putting it on the eyepiece of the sight. The yellow-orange light filter included in the PSO-1 kit well removes the violet part of the spectrum, which contributes to the formation of indistinct images on the retina. Also, periodically rest your eyes by looking into the distance - it's simple and effective.
In conclusion, we can formulate the basic rules for accurate shooting from a rifle with a telescopic sight.
Always firmly "insert" the butt into the shoulder and use the stop in a monotonous manner: if you do it every time in a new way, then due to the variety of departure angles, the dispersion of bullets in the vertical plane will increase. Remember that when the stock is resting on the shoulder, the lower corner of the bullet will go higher, and the upper corner - lower.
When the left elbow is displaced during the production of a series of shots, separate holes are broken up and down, and there will be as many breaks as you have displaced the elbow.
When preparing to shoot, do not place your elbows very wide; such an arrangement of the elbows disturbs the stability of the rifle, tires the shooter and entails the spread of bullets. However, too narrow a position of the elbows compresses the chest and restricts breathing, which also impairs shooting accuracy. If you lift the stock with your right shoulder at the moment of triggering or press your cheek too hard against the stock, then the bullets are deflected to the left.
Sometimes the shooter, having taken the wrong turn of the body in relation to the target, seeks to direct the rifle at the target with the muscular effort of the arms to the right or to the left. As a result, when fired, the muscles are also weakened by the rifle, which means that the bullets are deflected in the direction opposite to the applied force. The same happens if the sniper uses his hands to raise or lower the rifle to the aiming point. Checking the correct direction of the weapon at the target can be quite simple: aim the rifle at the target, close your eyes, then open them and see where the aiming line has deviated. If the line of sight deviated to the right or left, move the entire body to the right or left, respectively; when deflecting the weapon up or down, without moving your elbows, move forward or backward, respectively. The stability of the rifle is ensured by the correct position of the arms, legs and body - with an emphasis on the bone, but not at the expense of great muscle tension.
The accuracy of fire is affected when you take your cheek away from the butt when you pull the trigger. In this case, you still lose the aiming line. This habit leads to the fact that over time you will begin to raise your head before the drummer breaks the cartridge primer. Train yourself to keep your head free and your cheek firmly attached to the left side of the butt, but without tension. In addition, you will get used to the fact that for a certain period of time
(2-3 seconds) maintain the position of the aiming line.
The rifle should not lie on the fingers of the left hand, but on the palm of the hand, so that the palm is turned with four fingers to the right. In this case, the thumb should be on the left, and the other four on the right. If the rifle lies on the fingers, then its stability is disturbed and the bullets go to the right and down, i.e. the dumping of the weapon occurs. The fingers of the left hand should not grip the fore-end very much, you need to hold the weapon like a bird - gently so as not to strangle, but also firmly so as not to fly away.
The position of the body when ready for prone shooting should be free, without the slightest tension and without bending in the lower back. The bending of the body causes muscle tension, as a result of which the correct attachment, position of the hands, etc., is disturbed, and as a result, the dispersion of bullets increases. Incorrect body position is corrected by moving the legs to the left or right.
The removal of the shooter's eye from the eyepiece of the optical sight should be constant, depending on the physique. It should be approximately 6-7 centimeters (in accordance with the design of the sight).
Remember a simple thing: when you pull the trigger, you must hold your breath. Some novice shooters take some air for this, and then release the trigger, although this creates general tension for the shooter. You will get used to observing such a breathing regime: after taking in the air and exhaling almost all of it, hold your breath and only then start pulling the trigger, i.e. the shot must take place on the exhale. The first seconds after holding the breath are the most favorable for firing a shot.
Some shooters react incorrectly to the inevitable small fluctuations of the telescopic sight reticle center square near the aiming point: they try to fire a shot exactly at the moment when the point of the square aligns with the aiming point. As a rule, in this case, there is never a smooth descent and sharp bullet separations are obtained. Unlearn yourself from this habit: such fluctuations have very little effect on the accuracy of the shot.
Affected area
It is generally accepted that a sniper's trademark is a headshot. This is quite justified, since a bullet hitting any part of the skull leads to damage to the brain as a whole due to hydrostatic shock. Damage to the skull leads to very serious consequences, the result of which is loss of consciousness and the cessation of all vital functions. If a bullet hits the face, it usually affects the brain or spinal cord; when shot in the back of the head, the central part of the brain is affected and the person immediately falls.
However, in some situations, the sniper has to shoot from a long distance, when it is difficult to accurately aim at the head. In addition, the head is the most mobile part of the human body, and it is not so easy to get into it. In this case, aiming should be carried out at the central part of the enemy's corps. There are three most important areas of damage - the spine, solar plexus and kidneys. Closer to the central axis of the body (i.e., to the spine) are the large blood vessels - the aorta and vena cava - as well as the lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen. When injected into the spine, the spinal cord is affected, which most often causes paralysis of the legs. The solar plexus is located directly under the chest, getting into it causes severe damage to the internal organs, while the person bends sharply in the belt. A shot in the kidneys leads to shock, and then to death, tk. in the kidneys, nerve endings are concentrated and there are a large number of blood vessels. A rifle bullet hitting the human body causes hydrostatic shock, because a pressure wave is formed due to the displacement of water-saturated tissues. As a result, a temporary cavity is formed, which is many times larger than the size of the inlet. The pressure wave can cause damage to internal organs not directly affected by the bullet.
In addition, another result of a bullet hit is the formation of secondary fragments - particles of shattered bones. These fragments hit the internal organs, moving along different trajectories. This point is especially important to remember for snipers of special units when carrying out operations to free hostages, since a hostage who is at a very close distance from a terrorist can be injured precisely by secondary fragments of bones. In such conditions, it is advantageous to fire a shot at the moment when the terrorist is behind the hostage, and not in front of him or from the side.
On the other hand, an army sniper can only injure his victim, because then several enemy soldiers will be forced to deal with the wounded, and, perhaps, one of them will stand in front of a shot; in addition, the appearance of the wounded in the position undermines the enemy's morale.
In addition to other characteristics of the weapon, a professional sniper must know what the stopping and lethal effect of a rifle bullet is. Stopping action is the ability of a bullet to immediately incapacitate a living target; lethal action - the ability to inflict fatal damage on the enemy. It is usually believed that the minimum kinetic energy of a normal caliber bullet required to disable the enemy should be at least 80 J. For an SVD rifle, the range at which the bullet retains such destructive power is about 3800 meters, i.e. far exceeds the range of an aimed shot.
The area of the human body, with the defeat of which the probability of instant death will be maximally high, is approximately 10% of the entire body surface (when using conventional ammunition).
At one time, American military doctors, following the results of the Vietnam War, found that when using conventional rifle ammunition, death occurs when the head is struck - in 90% of cases; with chest lesions - in 16% of cases; if the bullet hits the heart area, death occurs in 90% of cases; in case of contact with the abdomen - in 14% of cases (subject to the provision of timely medical care). The head is the most vulnerable part of the human body in terms of wound ballistics. A bullet hitting such parts of the brain as the medulla oblongata and the cerebellum leads to the death of the victim in almost 100% of cases - if they are damaged, breathing immediately stops, blood circulation and the neuromuscular system of a person is paralyzed. In order to hit the enemy with a bullet in the region of the cerebellum, you need to aim at the upper part of the bridge of the nose. If the target is turned sideways - under the base of the ear. In cases where the enemy is standing with his back, - at the base of the skull. However, some snipers consider the zone between the nose and upper lip to be the most advantageous point - the bullet destroys the upper part of the spinal column, causing a severe injury, in most cases incompatible with life. And yet, in size, the head occupies only one-seventh of a person's height, so it is very difficult to get into it from a long distance.
In general, the most effectively affected area of the human body is limited from above by a line that runs two fingers below the level of the collarbones, and from below - two fingers above the navel. A bullet wound to the abdomen below the specified zone leads to painful shock, and if timely medical care is not provided, to death, but in most cases it does not deprive the enemy of the ability to resist immediately after a defeat - this is an especially important moment for snipers of anti-terrorist units.
