Question regarding the longest sniper kill shot.

[30Three]

I have a question for those more knowledgeable than myself regarding long range shooting.
Regarding the Canadian sniper that is reported to have killed an Islamic State fighter at a distance of 3.5 kms, using a McMillan TAC50.
Would you actually be able to see the target in the scope? Due to the amount of bullet drop; would the target not be off the field of vision in the scope?

Reading Craig Harrisons account of his 2.4 km kill shot, he explains that the target was on the absolute limit of his scope visual. I realise that he was not using the same equipment.
But add 1 km to that; plus the details reported for the canadian shot are a bit sketchy due to operational secrecy. If the bullet is nearly 10 seconds in flight. How do we know someone else didn't shoot the guy closer up?

I have no doubt about the ability and dedication of the Canaduian Snipers; but I would just like to understand the mathematics of the shot.

Information

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[Atticus Thraxx]

I'm guessing he had a spotter with optics capable of that reach. And I suspect it probably wasn't a one-shot kill. Gravity, wind and possibly the earths rotation are what you are fighting. The Corolis effect I think it's called. Heck, I don't like driving that far let alone try and hit anything with a bullet. Some true long range shooters will be along I'm sure.

[Daan Kemp]

Good spotter. Watch the hits [dust, etc] and aim off. Many meters high. The stuff good snipers are made of.

[30Three]

A ballistic's calculator for .50 calibre M33 ball ammunition shows a drop of approximately 1100 feet at 3500 yards and an elevation requirement of around 350 MOA. Obviously without any known data from event, these are just ball park figures.
To be honest, I don't know much about long range shooting or the specification of the scopes used; but I do find it interesting. How much elevation adjustment do you get in a modern military sniper scope?
At what range would you zero a .50 calibre sniper rifle?
I understand that the "spotter " will have better optics and be able to relay information on point of impact; but can you actually see the target in the rifles scope at that distance if it's 350 MOA below the line of zero (if zero was 200 yards for example)

[RASelkirk]

A ballistic's calculator for .50 calibre M33 ball ammunition shows a drop of approximately 1100 feet at 3500 yards and an elevation requirement of around 350 MOA. Obviously without any known data from event, these are just ball park figures.
To be honest, I don't know much about long range shooting or the specification of the scopes used; but I do find it interesting. How much elevation adjustment do you get in a modern military sniper scope?
At what range would you zero a .50 calibre sniper rifle?
I understand that the "spotter " will have better optics and be able to relay information on point of impact; but can you actually see the target in the rifles scope at that distance if it's 350 MOA below the line of zero (if zero was 200 yards for example)

You sure that drop is in feet? Most drops are given in inches, which would still be an improbable 92 ft...

Russ

[Atticus Thraxx]

I got a drop of over 22' with a .50 cal (750gr) at 1000 yds. Check for yourself: ShootersCalculator.com | Ballistic Trajectory Calculator

[30Three]

This shot was just over 3500 metres, which is actually just over 3800 yards (1 metre = 1.094 yards).

[Gil Boyd]

Lucky shot IMHO. Blitzed the area with several separate rounds and was spotted until a round got near the target. Easy in Afghanistan with all the dust, but the heat haze would be the compunding factor in all of this at that range, unless it was in the cool of the evening, and his spotter just let the rounds creep up onto target. Seen that done a couple of times with a sharpshooter rifle.

I remember a painter up a ladder several miles from Ash Ranges once, he was hit by a 7.62 round, which did not penetrate his skin but the force knocked him off his ladder. Big enquiry nothing proved, but that was an "unlucky" shot at best!!

[GeeRam]

Easy in Afghanistan with all the dust, but the heat haze would be the compunding factor in all of this at that range, unless it was in the cool of the evening, and his spotter just let the rounds creep up onto target.

We've had trouble at 900 yrds at Bisley with No.4T's on a very hot day, on the bloody new electronic targets, as with no human marker in the butts the spotters couldn't see jack through the heat haze, and we have no idea where the rounds were going, so gave up.

Means we are limited to booking our long range club shoots when we can book a human marking on the remaining non-leccy targets as those of us old gits with old milsurp rifles are at a disadvantage to those with target rifles.

Longest WW2 sniper kill must be Matthaus Hetzenauer's 1200 yrds with a K98k with 6x scope with BDC only adjustment.

[vykkagur]

The scope used by Canadians is either (earlier) the Leupold 4-16x40mm LR/T M1 or (later) Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56 PMII. The standard M33 ball is not used. The kills were made with an undisclosed match-grade round specifically developed for the purpose, so we can't actually be sure of the velocity or bullet weight. And yes, ALL long range kills involve a certain amount of luck. However, 3 of the 5 longest confirmed kills to date have been made by various Canadians. They seem to be especially "lucky".