ART OF THE SHOT

An in-depth look at the role of a sniper

THE RIFLE 

Scroll to assemble the rifle.

M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle

The M2010 enhanced sniper rifle is a bolt-action, magazine-fed weapon system that uses .300 Winchester magnum ammunition and is built around a rechambered M24 sniper weapon system receiver. It can be tailored to accommodate a range of shooter preferences, and its folding stock provides flexibility for transport. 

Barrel

The M2010 uses a 24-inch, hammer-forged, carbon steel barrel. Inside the barrel, it has a “twist,” which are spiral grooves that give the bullet a spinning motion to improve accuracy. 

Bipod

Bipods are highly adjustable and enhance stability. The bipod is an additional means to stabilize the weapon in various shooting positions. Despite primarily being used in the prone position, bipods can be used for additional support in alternate shooting positions and provides additional support to stabilize the sniper’s aim.

Scope

The M2010 is fielded with a Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20×50 mm extended range/tactical riflescope with a scalable ranging and targeting reticle. The scope enhances precision targeting in daylight and limited visibility. It provides a waterproof, fog-proof, full-clear-sight picture that fills the eyepiece. Blackened lens edges reduce light diffusion.

Suppressor (not a silencer)

Suppressors are a nonlethal firearm accessory that lowers the sound of a rifle shot and eliminates the muzzle flash. Suppressors lower the sound to about 130 decibels at most, which is about the same sound level as a chainsaw.

THE ROLE 

They don’t work by themselves.

Snipers usually work with a spotter in teams of two – they’re rarely in the field alone. The role of the spotter is often left out of movies, but it’s actually the more important of the two. The spotter is the team leader.

“[The spotter] has already done the job as a shooter,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Rance, the sniper course team leader. “He already has a mastery of the shot process.”

Spotters have to identify all of the gear they need to take out on a mission, link up with the command team and go over mission prep. Once they’re in the field, he’s in control. 

“He’s the one who’s identifying the actual target,” Rance said. “He’s … relaying that information to the shooter, giving him those proper firing commands, and basically assessing that the sniper team is firing on target so, if they were to miss, he’s making that quick second-shot correction, relaying that info to the shooter, and hopefully eliminating that threat as they see fit.”

They’re not ready to shoot as soon as they get into place.

Snipers don’t just hit the deck and start firing right away. They have what they call their direct fire engagement process. “We have a seven-week course for a reason. You are detecting, identify, deciding, engaging and assessing,” Turner said. 

“What I’m teaching these guys to do is … use their perspective,” said senior sniper instructor Staff Sgt. Rueben Keenan. “What do you see? What’s the percentage of what you see? Give me size, color, shape – I need all of that kind of information, down to almost a molecular level. The attention to detail is astronomical.”

There’s a lot of waiting, which requires discipline and attentiveness. 

“They’re some of the most patient people I’ve ever met in my life,” said Sgt. Maj. Brett Johnson, an Army Ranger who was saved by a sniper during a mission in Iraq in 2006. 

But that patience can get tested.

“It’s like a roller coaster,” Turner said. “It goes from excitement to misery to wondering why you did this to, ‘Oh, this is exciting again,’ all the way down to, ‘I love my job.’”

Hitting the target requires more than just good aim. 

There are several technical aspects, with a big focus on math. For instance, they need to analyze the wind and distance. It’s a multifaceted job that includes a lot of reconnaissance, which is about 90% of what they do. They’re often operating without the help of their unit for long periods of time and with limited supplies, so they have to manage their resources correctly. 

“There are a lot of things that go into this job that a lot of people don’t think about. I have guys that come here and have no idea of their surroundings, but by the time they leave here, they’re hearing gnats,” Keenan said. “Things they’ve never seen in their entire lives have been brought to life. It’s a whole new level of attention.”

They’re not all aiming for a headshot.

Think about it. Heads are small, and they move around a LOT. They aren’t a reliable target. Instead, snipers usually aim for something they’ll have a better chance of hitting.

“If you did miss your target, his first reaction is probably to seek cover,” Rance explained. “So, as a sniper, the reality is you generally have that one chance to put that target down before he skirts away.”

Sniper instructors teach their students to aim for two triangular-shaped areas on the body – from the chest to neck, and the hip bones to the pelvis.

They’re not all aiming for a headshot.

Think about it. Heads are small, and they move around a LOT. They aren’t a reliable target. Instead, snipers usually aim for something they’ll have a better chance of hitting.

“If you did miss your target, his first reaction is probably to seek cover,” Rance explained. “So, as a sniper, the reality is you generally have that one chance to put that target down before he skirts away.”

Sniper instructors teach their students to aim for two triangular-shaped areas on the body – from the chest to neck, and the hip bones to the pelvis.

Contributors: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Sean Gallagher, EJ Hersom, Katie Lange, Marv Lynchard, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric Malone, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jen Martinez, Army Staff Sgt. Edwin Pierce, Sebastian Sciotti.

Their skills DO translate to the civilian world.

Civilian and government organizations and agencies recruit snipers when they leave the military. 

“Your knowledge, skill set and subject-matter expertise is going to be highly sought-after. They’re going to look at you as somebody with a skill that they need and they want to know about – and it’s a cool-guy skill, too,” Turner said, smiling. “I mean ultimately – come on now – it’s a cool-guy skill.”

Contributors: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Sean Gallagher, EJ Hersom, Katie Lange, Marv Lynchard, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric Malone, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jen Martinez, Army Staff Sgt. Edwin Pierce, Sebastian Sciotti.