Methods of shooting training and shooting course for training snipers. Sniper shooting training Sniper shooting training

The sniper is the military elite. Sniper shooting is one of the most difficult military disciplines. A lot of related factors need to be taken into account. Starting from the characteristics of the rifle and bullet, and ending with wind, humidity and terrain features. The further the target is from the shooter, the more difficult it is to accurately calculate all the nuances. Therefore, outstanding snipers are real computers, capable of performing many calculations at a very enviable speed. But there may not be a second shot.

Training in sniper shooting is a kind of art. In general, there are 3 reasons why people come to study at sniper rifle.

Let's look at the reasons in more detail:

1. Sniping. It is still a little-known, but very, very interesting shooting sport. Its main feature is the use of sniper rifles during tournaments. There is a sniping federation in Russia. Although in our country access to long-range precision weapons is severely limited. In addition to exclusively sporting use, sniping has proven itself well in hunting. Based on this sport, it is quite possible to raise professional hunters who will be able not only to reduce, if necessary, the populations of certain species of animals, but also to carefully select targets for hunting, thereby minimizing damage to nature.
2. To work as a sniper in the army or police. Those who have chosen the difficult path of a sniper should understand that training in sniper shooting is only one stage of training a sniper. To become a true professional in this area, you must possess tactical skills, have excellent physical fitness, and be a master of covert movement and camouflage. And this is far from full list skills.
3. For my own pleasure. Let's be honest, a sniper rifle always holds a special place in the heart of most men. Therefore, many take a few hours out of their schedule and spend them on mastering the skill of sniper shooting.

Where can I get sniper training?

For amateurs, combat shooting ranges with sniper rifles in their arsenal are also suitable. There are quite a few sniper schools for professionals, and for amateurs. Well, athletes and hunters should contact the Russian Sniping Federation.

If you decide for yourself that you want to learn the basics of marksmanship, then you have at least two options: join the army or enroll in a sniper rifle shooting course. But not everyone has the opportunity to serve in the army. Also, if you have your own weapon, it is quite possible to learn how to shoot with a sniper rifle. This process aims to teach you how to take the correct stance, aim and fire a shot. After some time, with desire and persistence, you will be able to successfully hit any target in the bull's eye.

Required accessories

Before you start learning how to shoot a sniper rifle you need to decide on the place where you will practice. Subject to availability firearms Shooting is permitted only in designated areas. See photo.

If you have an air rifle, then it will be enough to retire to some deserted area, for example, a forest. The main thing you should have with you is, of course, a weapon, ammunition for it and several targets.

Sniper shooting involves using an optical sight, with which the weapon should be equipped. Therefore, this is another device that you cannot do without when learning. The weapon can also be equipped with a bipod at your request, which is intended to increase the stability of the weapon and minimize vibrations.

This video will tell you the basics of shooting with an SVD rifle.

For convenience, it won’t hurt to take a camping mat, since the main position when shooting will be a prone position. When using a combat rifle, it is worth having special ear protection - headphones. Devices for cleaning/lubricating weapons after shooting are not superfluous. For shooting, you can choose Gamo products; see prices for Gamo rifles. In addition, popular models are, and.

Safety precautions

The main safety requirement is preventing harm to the life and health of people and animals, as well as the safety of other people’s property in the target field area.

The use of a specialized range/shooting range simplifies the implementation of this rule, since the shooting range has clearly defined boundaries. When shooting from air guns, you need to be equally careful.

The main rules when handling any type of weapon are:

1. Regardless of whether the weapon is loaded or not, hold the rifle only in the direction of fire.
2. When people/animals are on the firing line, shooting is prohibited.
3. It is prohibited to fire from a faulty rifle.
4. Use only specified ammunition for this type of weapon.
5. Do not remove a loaded combat rifle from the firing line.
6. If an instructor is available, strictly follow his commands to open and cease fire.
7. Upon completion of shooting, inspect the weapon and put the safety on.

Both athletes and army snipers use almost identical rules for shooting, which allow them to be guaranteed to hit targets at any distance. The only difference is in the type of target.

About the training of army snipers, watch the following video:

The main stages of firing a shot are: taking a shooting pose, aiming and pulling the trigger. This will be enough for a novice shooter.

Snipers of the armed forces also study methods of camouflage and stealth movement and many other disciplines that are not necessary for a civilian.

Therefore, we will analyze only the basics of marksmanship and the technical part directly related to it. We'll leave the rest to the professionals.

Rules

Shooting position

The posture for firing a shot must ensure that the arrow stability to successfully hit the target. The main way to achieve this is to adopt a prone position, in which the weapon is placed on some kind of support.

This position allows you to almost completely eliminate barrel vibrations, which is important for an accurate shot. It is important to achieve full contact of the body with the ground, which increases the support area. Feet should be spread 1.5 shoulder widths apart, heels pressed firmly to the ground.

To avoid accidents, follow safety precautions when shooting from PM, about them at:

The right leg and the barrel of the weapon should ideally form a straight line. At the initial stage, this needs to be monitored. The position of the body should be stress-free, the muscles should be relaxed if possible. Adjustment of the direction for shooting is carried out by moving the legs left and right.

For beginners, the preferred method of shooting is from a rest, in which the left hand supports the butt at the right shoulder, and the elbow touches the ground. It is also necessary to place something soft on the stop to prevent the barrel from bouncing when firing.

Successful shooting from a sniper rifle is unthinkable without the correct attachment. Proper emphasis of the butt on the shoulder can eliminate discomfort during recoil when firing from large-caliber weapons. The butt also affects the accuracy of the shots fired, so it should not be neglected.

The butt is pressed tightly against the shoulder and is not too low and not too high. When firing a series of shots, it is necessary to maintain uniformity in the application, which will increase the average accuracy.

Aiming

One of the most important moments in making a shot. It determines what position the barrel will take and, accordingly, where the bullet will fly. An important rule to remember is to keep both eyes open.

When you close your left eye, muscle tension is transferred to the right eye, which causes rapid fatigue, which directly affects shooting performance. In a combat situation, this is especially important, since binocular vision makes it easier to determine distances “by eye.”

In addition, the viewing angle increases. When using an optical sight, aiming is achieved by moving the aiming mark to the aiming point, taking into account external factors (distance, wind speed). The eye must be kept on the optical line of the sight.

One of the most important rules is to prevent the weapon from falling over when the sight reticle is not in a horizontal position. The actual aiming is divided into two periods. The first is checking the workmanship, eliminating inconveniences in position.

The second is holding your breath, increasing the pressure on the trigger, intensively observing the sight reticle relative to the target, right up to the moment of shooting. It is important to remember to rest your eyes between shots.

If you are unable to hold your left eyes open, you can use a piece of fabric or paper that is used as a shield.

No less important than aiming is a process. Errors in trigger release can negate even excellent aiming of the barrel at the target. For sports systems, the trigger force ranges from 50 to 150 grams, while for combat systems it is at least 1.5 kg.

To overcome this moment, the shooter must create a similar force in the index finger. But, since, strain the muscles right hand prohibited, the shooter more energetically clings to the neck of the rifle butt with the remaining fingers of his right hand. So those same 1.5 kg are evenly distributed on the fingers holding the hand on the butt.

After the shot, the 1.5 kg that held the trigger goes away, but the tension in the hand remains, as a result of which it twitches along with the rifle. At this moment, the weapon moves away from the aiming line, sending the bullet to the wrong place.

This is called “failure” of the trigger with “pulling” of the weapon. The problem described above is “treated” this way: only the trigger is pressed index finger, and everyone else just keeps their hand on the butt.

The finger is placed on the hook with a bend between the first and second phalanges. This is a rule that has been tested over the years. If you place your finger incorrectly, the rifle will oscillate slightly from side to side, which can result in a serious miss when shooting at long distances.

Breath

Experienced shooters tend to fire during the interval between exhalation and inhalation, since the chest, when completely filled with air, lifts the shooter’s body, and with it the butt. The trunk goes down.

Shooting with a pause between exhalations allows you to hold the weapon aimed precisely at the target. Also, during breath holding, the blood accumulates carbon dioxide, dilates blood vessels and relieves tension from muscles.

When prepared correctly and following all the rules of the shot, holding your breath should not take more than 8 seconds.

Conclusion

Now you can imagine how to shoot with a sniper rifle. Practice and conscious control of one’s actions at the initial stage are of no small importance. Go ahead. If the rifle breaks down, then read the material about repairing air guns.

About the book: Benefit. A training manual for training snipers, a book on the tactics of army and police snipers. 2006 edition.
Book format: pdf file in zip archive
Pages: 618
Language: Russian
Size: 98.6 MB
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The book “Training Manual for Snipers” by US Special Operations Forces veteran, retired Major John Plaster is considered in the West to be one of the most complete and competent sources on all issues related to. For this reason alone, it is of great practical interest to anyone interested in sniping and precision shooting.

Although the first edition of The Ultimate Sniper presented the best that was known about sniping as of 1993, the art and science of sniping has advanced so much in the last dozen years that a second edition has become necessary. With improvements, changes and comments, the new edition will help advance sniping into the 21st century and will prove to be just as revolutionary as the first publication.

The publication was revolutionary. For example, questions have never been addressed in a sniper manual before. And although the manuals provide data on wind corrections, they do not give simple advice on how to neutralize the influence of the wind by reducing the distance to the target or positioning itself to windward or leeward of it.

The sniper training manual did not even address the issue of shooting up/down at an angle to the horizon. Having spent years in combat operations behind enemy lines and years as an instructor, Major John Plaster knew that the acquired knowledge and combat experience was much richer than what was written in the manuals. He feared that this knowledge, paid for in blood, might be lost, only for it to be learned anew and paid for in more blood.

— Organization and armament of the sniper unit.
— Sniper rifle.
— Fundamentals of the design of sniper optical sights.
- Using a sniper scope.
— Bullets and ballistics.
— Basics of sniper marksmanship.
- Advanced sniper marksmanship skills.
— Special cases shooting.
— Sniper shooting from large-caliber rifles.
— Binoculars and spotting scopes.
— Surveillance and target detection.
— Ranging and wind estimation.
- Sniper disguise.
- Moving and sneaking.
— Sniper position ().
— Pathfinding.
— Basics of sniper tactics.
— Sniping in urban environments.
— Tactics and methods of countersniping.
— Counter-sniper operations in Iraq.
— Special sniper operations.
— Sniper operations at night.
— Actions in special conditions.

Sniper tactics

Today, in most armies there are two main concepts of sniping:
1. A sniper pair or a single shooter work in the “free hunt” mode, i.e. their main task is to destroy enemy personnel on the front line and in the immediate rear.

2. A sniper-reconnaissance patrol, consisting of four to eight shooters and two observers, constrains enemy actions in its area of ​​​​responsibility and collects information about the organization of the enemy’s front line. 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 camouflaged position. When a target appears, the shooter must quickly assess its significance (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 located as far as possible from the front line: a well-aimed shot “out of nowhere” that hits 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. Under these conditions, three main forms of combat work are applicable:
1. The sniper (sniper group) is located among his positions and does not allow the enemy to move freely, conduct observation and reconnaissance;
2. A sniper (sniper group) conducts a “free hunt” far from their positions; the main task is to destroy high-ranking command, create nervousness and panic in the immediate rear of the enemy (i.e. “sniper terror”);
3. “Group hunting”, i.e. work of a group of snipers of four to six people; tasks - disabling key objects when repelling enemy attacks, ensuring secrecy during the movements of friendly troops, simulating an increase in combat activity in a given sector of the front. In some situations, it is advisable to use company- or battalion-scale snipers centrally. This makes it possible to strengthen fire counteraction to the enemy in the main battle area.

When working in pairs, one of the snipers conducts observation, targeting and reconnaissance (spotter or observer), and the other conducts fire (fighter). After 20-30 minutes, snipers can change roles, because long observation dulls the acuity of perception of the surrounding situation. When repelling attacks in cases where a large number of targets appear in the area of ​​responsibility of the sniper group, and in the event of a sudden collision with the enemy, both snipers fire simultaneously.

Sniper groups, including 4-6 shooters and the crew of a single machine gun (PKM type), can be used to enter the enemy’s flank and rear and inflict a sudden fire defeat on him.

It is extremely important not only the work of the sniper himself, but also of his partner, the spotter. It solves the following tasks: carries and prepares optical surveillance equipment for work, determines the route and methods of movement, provides fire cover for the sniper using a machine gun ( assault rifle) with an under-barrel grenade launcher, masks and eliminates traces along the route of movement, helps the sniper in setting up a shooting position, monitors the terrain and draws up a report on the operation, conducts battlefield surveillance and target designation, maintains radio communications, uses sabotage equipment (anti-personnel mines and smoke checkers).

The most effective tactical technique in sniping is a long daytime ambush. It is carried out at pre-designated positions in the area where targets are most likely to appear. The main purpose of an ambush is to restrict the enemy's movement, demoralize him and collect intelligence information.

When choosing a location for an ambush, all available intelligence information must be used. In cases of enemy activity in this area, snipers must be accompanied by a cover group. Before going into an ambush, the sniper pair must specify the coordinates of their “layout”, the time and approximate routes of approach and departure, passwords, radio frequencies and call signs, and forms of fire support.

The ambush is usually carried out at night in order to be in place by morning. 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 in the dark, all work must be completed at least an hour before dawn, when the enemy’s night vision devices begin to work. As daylight approaches, the sniper pair begins observing and searching for targets. As a rule, in the early morning and at dusk, soldiers lose their vigilance and can expose themselves to gunfire. During observation, areas where targets are likely to appear are determined, wind speed and direction are constantly assessed, and landmarks and distances to them are outlined. At the same time, throughout the day, snipers must maintain complete immobility and strict camouflage.

When targets appear, the team must quickly assess their importance and determine whether to open fire on them. By opening fire, the sniper in many cases unmasks his position, so he only needs to shoot at the most important and clearly visible targets. Aiming at the target is usually carried out by both snipers: if the shooter misses, the observer will either open fire too, or will be able to correct the shooting of his number one.

The decision on whether to remain in position further is made by the senior sniper pair after the shooting. If nothing suspicious happens at the enemy positions after the shot, then the group can remain in position until dark. Leaving the position is carried out only at night, as unnoticed as possible. In this case, the ambush site is given its original appearance, all traces of the “laying ground” 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 installed at the position being left.

Special mention should be made of the tactics of snipers serving at checkpoints. When organizing a checkpoint, it must include a group of snipers who perform specific tasks to ensure the safe operation of the post. Therefore, a position for observation and fire, which would provide a maximum field of view and fire, and concealment from enemy observation, should be chosen not only on the territory of the checkpoint, but also behind it. The specifics of the checkpoint do not guarantee maximum secrecy, so the sniper must remain constantly vigilant so as not to give himself away. To do this, he must observe the following precautions: be always prepared for the fact that the position may be under surveillance; 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 shift covertly.

All-round defense is organized at each checkpoint. Therefore, snipers set up main positions in the center of the defense area, but do not use them in everyday work. Special attention focuses on 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 hostages are taken in buildings or residential buildings, the first action of a special anti-terrorist unit is to block the scene of the crime. In this case, snipers are sent to the most dangerous directions, i.e. places where criminals can break through or try to escape secretly through attics and roofs. After studying the situation: the territory adjacent to the object, the location of premises inside the object, taking into account their reconstruction, 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 criminals without detecting themselves.

If this is a multi-story building and the windows of the apartment or office where the criminals are located face one side, then the snipers take a position opposite, but not below the floor where the criminals are located. The position is chosen so that each room is under 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 look through them.

The position should be taken at the back of the room, the light should not be turned on. If the curtains are light and it is possible to see through them, then they do not need to be touched. In attics, positions are also sought in the depths of the room, but here it is necessary to ensure that light through the cracks does not fall on the sniper’s silhouette, since this will give him away when moving. On the roof, the sniper takes positions behind hood pipes, roof ridges, or makes neat holes in the roofs along the length downwards, allowing observation and fire.

Snipers constantly maintain contact with the leader of the operation and with each other: if one has discovered a criminal, the other sniper must also try to detect him and determine from what position it is more convenient to hit him.

Special Operation when terrorists hijack an aircraft - the most difficult. Aircraft have a high degree of danger when they are hit by fire, therefore the use of standard sniper rifles is limited, since when hitting the target, the bullet may not remain in the body of the criminal, damaging the aircraft as well, so the sniper must know the design of the aircraft, helicopter and the location of the fuel in them tanks and pipelines. When shooting at aircraft you cannot use armor-piercing incendiary, with steel core, tracer bullets.

The sniper opens fire only when he is completely confident of hitting the target. Such an evil as “air terrorism” has now found 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 hijacked aircraft lands, special forces can reach it unnoticed. If there are no underground communications, then you need to use all possible options for covert approaches to the aircraft. To do this, you need to 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's wheel struts, covering the assault group as it enters the aircraft, and then controls the actions of the group inside the cabin. It takes a position in the rear section and, using a 9-mm cartridge (such as “Cypress”, “Kedr”, PP-93, etc.) with a target designator and a silencer, hits armed terrorists who are preventing the assault.

Observation posts or towers are installed on the roofs and upper floors of air terminals where a sniper can be positioned. Posts and towers must be placed so that during observation it is possible to view the aircraft from both sides along the hull and from the cockpit. One sniper should be with the assault group, covering it from the rear. The sniper's job is primarily to gather information and coordinate the actions of the entire team.

When eliminating mass riots organized with the aim of seizing power, the primary task of snipers is to study the security object, identify the leaders of the group and the area adjacent to the object.

A diagram of the area adjacent to the object and the buildings located near it is drawn up, where the sectors of fire by snipers, their main and reserve positions are indicated. The most likely locations of enemy snipers, command posts, and directions of a possible assault are also plotted on the diagram. In the event of a threat of assault, firing positions are equipped at all levels of the building in the building itself, taking into account camouflage; if necessary, loopholes are made in the walls of the building and camouflaged. Snipers work separately, maintaining contact with each other. At the same time, observation is carried out, the main enemy forces, their numbers, weapons are identified, and the movement of transport and people is controlled, leaders are identified and photography and filming of what is happening is provided.

During an assault, riflemen primarily destroy assault group commanders, leaders, snipers, grenade launchers, and machine gun crews.

In preparation for the defense of an object, a sniper carries out the following activities:
- an accurate measurement of the entire fire space 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 covered, if necessary, they are mined or signal mines are placed if there is an assumption that they will be used as firing points;
- at the defense site itself, the sniper personally checks all possible positions and marks the location of the loopholes;
- when equipping a firing position, all objects that reflect light are removed, chandeliers and light bulbs, if they are located above the sniper, are removed.

Camouflage and surveillance

Enough has been written about the laws and techniques of camouflage and surveillance. Nevertheless, once again about the most important thing. You need to observe very carefully, not missing any little details. Anything that may be suspicious must be carefully examined and checked in the responsibility sector. However, this should be done very carefully, without giving away your location in any way.

To camouflage means to blend into the terrain. In the middle of a meadow, a 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. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the duration of the upcoming work - for example, green leaves on cut branches will wither by the end of a hot day and will unmask the “bed”, and it will be very difficult to replace them without revealing themselves by movement.

On a sunny day, reflections from the lens of optics - sights and observation devices - are very insidious. This moment killed many snipers - remember the fate of Major Konings. In general, it is best to observe using a periscope.

If there is no wind, the position may be given away by the smoke from the shot, so if possible, try to shoot from a short distance behind sparse bushes or behind a building, tree, or boulder. Among other things, a bullet flying past such an obstacle makes a sound as if coming from a place away from the shooter.

The enemy, especially in trench warfare, knows the terrain in front of him very well. Therefore, every new hillock, crumpled grass, freshly dug earth will inevitably arouse his suspicion and 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, you should not use the illumination of the reticle of the PSO optical sight: at dusk, from the side of the lens, the light bulb can be seen a hundred meters away.

Even when you are in your rear, you do not need to show that you belong to a sniper group: you should not show off in front of everyone with a sniper rifle and equipment, since the enemy is watching everything that happens in your camp. Sniper - worst enemy for him, destroying him has always been and will be the number one task for him.

Another excerpt from Zaitsev’s notes: “Every exit to a position must be ensured by strict camouflage. A sniper who does not know how to observe camouflaged is no longer a sniper, but simply a target for the enemy. Went to leading edge, disguise yourself, lie down like a stone and observe, study the area, make a card, put special signs on it. If, during the process of observation, you showed yourself with some careless movement of your head, exposed yourself to the enemy and did not manage to hide in time, remember, you made a mistake, for your mistake you will only receive a bullet in your head. Such is the life of a sniper."

Weapons and applied ballistics

In connection with the tasks assigned to the shooter, a modern sniper rifle must be able to hit a living target at ranges of up to 900 meters, with a high probability (80%) of hitting a waist target with the first shot at distances of up to 600 meters and in the chest - up to 400 meters. It is desirable that snipers, in addition to a general-purpose sniper rifle (for example, SVD), have at their disposal a combat rifle with an accuracy close to a sporting weapon (for example, SV-98). Such a rifle with a special live cartridge, while ensuring high accuracy, should be intended to solve special problems. In cases where shooting is carried out at short distances (150-200 meters), especially in urban conditions, it is advisable to use silent sniper rifles (type VSS and VSK-94). Silent sniper guns are especially good because they allow the “hunter” to leave a position unnoticed after destroying an enemy target. However, the short range of aimed fire greatly 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 not always possible. At these same short distances, small-caliber rifles with optical sights are quite suitable.

SVD, for all its advantages, does not have the highest accuracy. Therefore, during counter-sniper operations, it is preferable to use high-quality weapons (MTs-116, SV-98) and ammunition - a must! - sniper or target. If you are forced to use only SVD, try to put a higher magnification sight on it - for example PSP-1 or Hyperon - this will increase the effectiveness of the fire and the likelihood of hitting the target with the first shot.

When designing a sniper operation, you need to carefully consider the capabilities of your weapons and ammunition. In particular, the dispersion diameter (i.e., the distance between the centers of the holes furthest from the average point of impact) 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 size 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 targets: 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 12.7-mm sniper 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, sculpt models reinforced with armored shields) large caliber rifle may be very useful. Even during the Second World War, Soviet snipers used 14.5 mm anti-tank rifles to hit protected targets and shoot at embrasures.

It must be remembered that the rifle should always be zeroed, then you will not have to doubt the accuracy of your weapon. It is necessary to regularly check the zeroing of your weapon at the main effective fire distances, even if no one is shooting from the rifle: it happens that the aiming is lost during the process of storing the weapon. Zeroing is carried out only with the type of cartridges that will continue to be used: different types bullets have different ballistics, and therefore different flight trajectories.

You need to carefully study the table of average elevations of trajectories above the aiming line and memorize it. In a combat situation, always use this table, especially when transferring fire from one target to another and when shooting without moving 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.

Before going out for surgery, you should always wipe the barrel and chamber dry. If there is oil or moisture in the barrel, the bullets will go higher, and when fired there will be smoke and a bright flash - this will reveal the position.

In heavy rain and fog, bullets also go higher, so you need to move the aiming point down.

When working on particularly 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 you have to conduct intense fire during a battle, it is worth considering that when the barrel warms up, the bullets will go lower.

If you are using a rifle with a sliding bolt, then when unloading you should not push the bolt back too much: this will loosen the bolt and quickly wear out the cylinder. After the shot, if there is no need to continue shooting, leave the shutter open; this will prevent powder gases from “sweating” in the barrel and will allow the barrel to cool faster.

To prevent the rifle barrel from glare in the sun and heat up less in hot weather, it is wrapped with shaggy camouflage tape, a piece of KZS mask net or ordinary fabric tape. Among other things, this will protect the barrel from accidental impacts.

It is necessary to regularly check the strength of the mounting of the optical sight: whether there is any lateral movement, whether the handwheels rotate too freely. The quality of the fitting of the sighting mechanism and the fastening of the drums is checked as follows: point the central square (the tip of the stump) at some landmark and, alternately pressing the drums, monitor the sight reticle. If the square moves when you press the drums, it means that the sighting mechanism has large gaps and the aiming reticle will inevitably shift with each shot.

Some sights have some free play on the screws. To determine it, firmly fix the sight bracket (for example, in a vice), point the central square at some point and turn the handwheel several notches to the side and back. If the sight has free play of screws, then the square will not coincide with the original position, not reaching it. In order to compensate for the free movement of the screws, all turns of the handwheels must be completed 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 mark, finally set the sight by rotating clockwise.

It is always necessary to make handling the weapon as convenient as possible: a rubber butt pad from the GP-25 can be hung on the buttstock, and a folding bipod from the RPG-7 can be attached to the forend if desired. An ordinary rubber band from an expander, draped over the barrel in a double sliding loop and tied to any vertical object (tree trunk, pole, etc.) in an ambush, will allow you not to load your hands with the weight of the weapon in an 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 put a regular condom on the trunk; after the first shot it will burn out without interfering with the flight of the bullet.
Weapons require careful handling, so you need to clean them regularly, and most importantly, do not let anyone shoot from 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 distances every time, much less set the sight on them. In anticipation of such a situation (as a rule, it arises during enemy attacks), it is necessary to zero the rifle at the maximum range in your line of responsibility (for example, 400 meters), remember a noticeable landmark in the area of ​​​​this range and in further shooting be guided by it. Now you can estimate by eye how far the target is further or closer than the reference point in the amount of “swing” vertically 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 sighted. You can check the firing of a rifle in the field quite simply: mark a landmark and fire a series of shots at it - the amount of deflection of the bullets is determined by the ricochets. However, it must be taken into account that one should not get carried away with such non-standard zeroing: it is used only in the most urgent cases, when there is a need to hit the target with the first shot. The shooting should be masked by the noise of the battle and conducted from reserve positions.

For high-speed shooting at short distances (up to 300 meters), a direct shot is usually used, i.e. a shot in which the bullet's trajectory does not rise above the target's height. In particular, in urban conditions, the fire range rarely exceeds 200-250 meters, therefore, by installing sight 2, you don’t have to make vertical adjustments: up to 200 meters, the height of the trajectory does not exceed 5 cm, which means the bullet will hit 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 observation skills, to do this intensively and systematically, each time taking small sectors to study. You should not wander your gaze aimlessly throughout the observation area - this is a common mistake.

You need to look at everything that happens on foreign territory with suspicion. It is advisable to mentally transport yourself to the enemy’s position 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 periscope. You need to work slowly and carefully, blocking the field of vision.

If during observation a suspicion arises regarding any object, then you need to examine everything around it, because The sharpest part of vision lies not in the center, but at the edge of the eye's field of vision. This is especially noticeable when observing at dawn and dusk.

Slow motion is also easier to detect if you don't look directly at the object: look above, below, or slightly to the side of the object - then the sharpest part of the eye's vision is used.

If possible, you should try not to observe through binoculars, but use a periscope: this will protect you from detection and bullets from an enemy sniper.
If observation is carried out through an optical sight in conditions of poor visibility (early twilight, haze, etc.), then it is worth using a light filter - it is included in the SVD kit; yellow-orange glass significantly increases visual acuity and contributes to a clearer perception of the boundaries of the contour of an object by the retina.

Often a sniper has to shoot at targets that appear unexpectedly. In these conditions, there is no time to determine distances, so at the most likely boundaries and directions, select 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 different conditions, therefore, it is necessary to constantly diversify and invent new camouflage means, depending on the task at hand and the conditions for its implementation. The main rules of camouflage:

- any activities must 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 near any local object, you need to use it as cover 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 inspected by the enemy first;
- in any case, the position must be taken so that there is a masking background behind;
- you can use the shadow from local items, but you need to remember that during the day the shadow changes its position;
- it camouflages vegetation (grass, branches, etc.) well, but it must be taken into account that it retains its natural color for only 2-3 days; then the leaves will wither and give away the position;
- to paint the face and hands, you can use herbal juice mixed with the “milk” of plants such as milkweed - all this is kneaded in the recess of the butt of the SVD and then applied to the skin; however, you need to be careful in choosing herbs so as not to come across poisonous plants that can cause itching and even burns;
- when entering the position, all traces must be carefully destroyed;
- if possible, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate the unmasking effect of shots: when setting up a position in the field, you can arrange a “bed” behind a sparse 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 shooting from a building, the position should be in the depths of the room - in this case, the flash and sound of the shot almost do not come out;
- here is the easiest way to create a prone shooting position in the field: to create a camouflaged parapet, you need to cut about eight pieces of turf measuring approximately 20 by 30 cm, while the lower, “ground” part of the turf is cut into a pyramid, at an angle of 45 degrees; then a parapet of 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 laid in place and lightly watered;
- when in a position in winter, you should remember that steam from breathing can easily unmask your position, so you only need to breathe through a scarf or mask. To prevent the snow from blowing up when firing, you can sprinkle the snow before “lying down” with water from a flask;
- when moving around the area, you need to make maximum use of vegetation and all kinds of shelter.
- going out to firing position, you cannot occupy it right away: first you need to crawl up, stopping not far away and carefully looking around - the position may be mined or an ambush may be waiting there;
- you should always stay in the lowlands, never go out into open areas and onto the horizon line; if possible, bypass all places where the sniper can be noticed by enemy observers;
- movement should be kept to a minimum; rapid movement of the hand or foot is very dangerous; but in some cases, while remaining completely still, you can be invisible, being almost in plain sight;
- it is necessary to master the art of walking so that the effort comes from the hip, and not from the knee; first, you need to place the ends of your toes and the front of your foot on the ground; Usually the noise is made by the heel, especially where there are stones, branches, etc.
- in damp weather and light fog, the shot gives away the sniper’s position especially strongly (however, in damp weather improved visibility is possible);
- if possible, it is better to work in tandem with a machine gunner: he will muffle your shots with bursts and cover you in case of a sudden retreat.

Vision

We must always remember that the eyes are the main tool of a sniper. Ideally, vision should be excellent, but in principle a slight decrease in its acuity is acceptable, but with the obligatory use of glasses or contact lenses.
In order to maintain under heavy loads good eyesight, eyes need support. Here simple exercises for the prevention of vision (from the experience of sports shooters).

1. Close your eyes tightly for 3-5 seconds, and then hold 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 closed eyes circular movements of the finger for a minute (this relaxes the eye muscles and improves their blood circulation).

3. Stretch your hand forward and look at the tip of your finger, then slowly move 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 severe strain on the eyes, you can use lotions made from weak tea or sage decoction: moistened warm tampons are applied to the eyes and held until they cool down.

Secrets of an accurate shot

Making an accurate shot requires the sniper to perform certain actions - positioning, 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 connection with each other.

In order for the shot to be accurate, first of all, the shooter must ensure that the weapon remains as motionless as possible during its production. Manufacturing must solve the problem of imparting the greatest stability and immobility to the entire system consisting of the shooter’s body and weapon. Since the very meaning of sniper shooting is to hit a small target at a great distance, it is absolutely clear that the shooter must give the weapon a strictly defined direction, i.e. aim it at the target; this is achieved by aiming. It is well known that breathing is accompanied by rhythmic movements 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 while firing 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 during preparation, the trigger must be pulled under conditions of greater or lesser vibration of the weapon. Therefore, to achieve a well-aimed shot, you need to press the trigger not only smoothly, but also in strict coordination with aiming.

Let's try to analyze separately the main elements of an accurate shot.
Currently, in combat shooting there are a wide variety of types of preparation. When shooting from a sniper rifle, four main types are used: prone, sitting, kneeling and standing.

Considering the direct dependence of shooting accuracy on the degree of immobility of the weapon during the firing of a shot, the sniper must pay the most serious attention to selecting for himself such a weapon that ensures the best stability and immobility of the “shooter-weapon” system. In addition, the “super marksman” should always be faced with the task of selecting for himself such a rational pose (for each type of preparation), 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 the production should provide:

The necessary degree of balance in the “shooter-weapon” system;
- achieving balance of this system with the least tension in the shooter’s muscular system;
- the most favorable conditions for the functioning of the senses, primarily the eyes and vestibular apparatus;
- conditions for the normal functioning of internal organs and proper blood circulation.

Of course, it is necessary to make allowances for the specific conditions of sniper work (in some situations it is simply impossible to adopt the correct position), however, in general, the laws of positioning are the same for everyone.

Since each person has individual physical characteristics, it is natural that there is no template or universal recipe for making that would suit all shooters. This means that the sniper himself, in accordance with his physical characteristics, must choose the best preparation options for different conditions.

Sometimes you have to search for the most convenient manufacturing options for a long time and unsuccessfully, every sports shooter knows this. In order not to go down the wrong path and not waste time, a novice shooter must take a closer look 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 manufacturing option; this should be approached from a common sense perspective.

In a combat situation, a sniper often has to fire in very difficult and uncomfortable conditions. However, despite this, it must try to be prepared for firing in such a way that its position maximizes the possibility of conducting accurate fire from the selected position. Not only shooting results depend on the correct and comfortable position, but also comfort when spending a long time on a camouflaged “prone”.
Of course, the most advantageous position for shooting is lying down, using a rest. The use of a rest greatly facilitates shooting conditions; in addition, it contributes to better camouflage and shelters from enemy fire.

As a support, it is best to use as soft a material as possible - turf, a bag of sand or sawdust, a backpack. The height of the rest depends on the body type, so the sniper must adjust the rest himself.

There are usually two recommended methods for using a shooting rest. The main one is when the rifle does not touch the rest, 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 stop is hard. However, it is difficult to be in this position for a long time, so if you are in a position for a long time, I recommend another technique: the rifle is placed directly on the rest 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 ensures a secure hold of the weapon.

The rifle is attached at four points: the left hand on the fore-end, the right hand on the pistol grip (butt neck), the butt plate in the shoulder recess, the cheek piece 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, and the absence of trembling and the weapon falling to the side. Almost all muscles, with the exception of those directly involved in shooting, remain relaxed. When shooting, a gun belt can be used to secure the shooter-rifle system. It is advisable to use the belt in all positions - lying down, sitting, kneeling, standing, with the exception of those cases when you can use a stop. When firing from SVD and AK-74 with an optical 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 in the future desired position belt, you can sew a large hook (for example, from an overcoat) onto the left sleeve of your outerwear - 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 convenient length.

When firing a shot, it is very important not to jerk the weapon. To do this, you need to grasp the pistol grip (neck of the butt) tightly, but without unnecessary effort, press the trigger with the first joint of your index finger, while moving your finger smoothly straight back parallel to the axis of the barrel bore. Trigger processing should be completed immediately after aiming the weapon at the aiming point.

The position for prone shooting, compared to other types of position, is the most stable, since the shooter’s body lies almost completely on the ground and both elbows rest on the ground. Large area the supporting surface of the shooter’s body at a low height of his center of gravity allows for the creation of the most stable equilibrium of the “shooter-weapon” system.

The most important thing is that the prone position should ensure not only good stability of the rifle with the least strain on the sniper’s muscles, but also a long stay of the body in the same position during shooting, and a position of the head in which there will be the most favorable conditions for the work of the eye during shooting. aiming.

The difficulty in choosing a convenient and correct design for yourself is that the requirements mentioned above are not only interconnected, but also in some contradiction. For example, if you increase your body turn to the left, it will be easier for you to breathe, but the conditions for placing and working your leading eye while aiming will worsen. If you begin to move your left hand, which supports the weapon, as far forward as possible, the position will become lower and, naturally, more stable; but at the same time, breathing conditions will worsen and the load on the left arm will increase, which entails rapid fatigue of its muscles.

Based on all this, the sniper must find for himself the most acceptable version of the preparation, taking into account the characteristics of his physique.
The stability of the posture and the length of time the shooter's body remains 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 shooting plane. Practice has shown that it is best to turn the body in relation to the shooting 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 breathing is relatively free. At the same time there will be favorable conditions for attachment and aiming.

By the way, in contrast to the standard position recommended by all instructions, the so-called “Estonian” position turns out to be quite convenient for high-speed shooting. With her right leg bent at the knee, the shooter himself does not lie flat on his stomach, but slightly on his left side. In this position, the chest is not constricted, breathing is deeper, it becomes easier to reload the weapon and work with the handwheels of the optical sight.
Kneeling shooting by snipers is most often used when fighting in urban conditions, when the shooter provides fire cover for assault groups. In such conditions, fire is fired from short stops, when there is no time to lie down comfortably. Just as when preparing while lying down, it is advisable to use a gun belt here.

The left leg should be strictly under the left elbow, 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 to the body.

You can shoot from your knees, for example, in thick tall grass that obscures your view in a prone position, but you need to remember that this position is not suitable for particularly accurate shooting, as well as for long periods of time in this position.

Shooting while sitting is not very common in our country, although in Western armies it is highly respected and practiced a lot. There are two options for this preparation: sitting cross-legged and Bedouin. When shooting while sitting cross-legged, the sniper tucks his legs under him (probably everyone knows how to sit cross-legged), the foot of one leg is passed between the thigh and shin of the other, and the elbows rest on the knees or, if it is more convenient, drop behind the knees.
In the Bedouin method, the shooter sits with his legs spread wide, his knees bent, his heels resting on the ground (so that his legs do not slip when firing), and his elbows, as in the previous case, rest on his knees.

Both methods are quite stable and convenient; after some training, you can conduct sniper fire even with some comfort. However, it is difficult to sit in both positions for more than half an hour (especially in Turkish) and it is difficult to move from them quickly and unnoticed in case of an emergency change of position.

Shooting from a rifle while standing is the last type of positioning for a sniper, because it is very difficult to perform 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 (as before); secondly, hold the rifle by the pads so that the magazine rests on your left hand just below the hand; and thirdly, do not complicate the situation and try to find some vertical object (tree trunk, corner of a building) to rest your left forearm against.
How to aim correctly using an optical sight? The optical sight design provides for aiming without the participation of the front sight and 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 located in the focal plane of the lens, and therefore the sniper’s eye perceives both the target image and the reticle with equal 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 your 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 eye relief distance 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 the weapon recoils.

While aiming, the shooter must carefully ensure that there are no shadows in the field of view; it must be completely clear.
If the eye is closer or further than the eye distance, then a circular darkening occurs in the field of view, which reduces it, interferes with observation and complicates aiming. However, if the darkening is the same on all sides, then there will be no deflection of the bullets.

If the eye is positioned 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 any side, depending on the position of the eye axis. If there are moon-shaped shadows, bullets will deflect in the direction opposite to them. If you notice shadows while aiming, find a head position that allows your eye to clearly see the entire field of view of the scope.

In other words, to ensure accurate aiming with a telescopic sight, the sniper must focus all his attention on keeping his eye on the optical axis of the sight and aligning the central square with the aiming point.

The technique of releasing the trigger is of great and sometimes decisive importance when firing a shot. Firstly, pulling the trigger should not displace the weapon aimed at the target, i.e. should not disrupt the aiming; To do this, the shooter must be able to press the trigger very smoothly. Secondly, the trigger must be pulled in full accordance with visual perception, i.e. timed to coincide with a certain moment when the “flat front sight” is at the aiming point.

This means that to achieve an accurate shot, the sniper must perform two actions - aiming and smoothly pressing the trigger - strictly coordinated with each other.

However, a difficulty arises: the weapon is never stationary when aiming, it always fluctuates 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 pull of the trigger exactly at the moment when the central square of the sight reticle is at the aiming point. Since the vibrations of the rifle for many, especially untrained shooters, are arbitrary, it is very difficult to predict exactly when the square will pass through the desired point. Mastery in the production of a descent lies in 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 in such a way as not to disrupt the aim, i.e. very smooth.

Producing a smooth trigger places special demands on the work of the index finger when pressing the trigger. The quality of the shot largely depends on this, because the most careful and subtle aiming will be disrupted by the slightest incorrect movement of the finger.

In order not to disturb the aim, the right hand must correctly grasp the neck of the butt (pistol grip) and create the necessary support so that the index finger can overcome the tension of the trigger. You need to grip the handle fairly tightly, but without unnecessary force, because muscle tension in the hand will lead to 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 handle. Only then will the movement of your finger when pressing the trigger not cause lateral shocks, displacing the weapon and disrupting aiming.

The trigger should be pressed with the first phalanx of the index finger or the first knuckle - only this press requires the least movement of the finger. You need to press so that the index finger moves along the axis of the barrel bore, straight back. If you press slightly to the side, at an angle to the axis of the bore, this will lead to an increase in trigger tension and jerky movement of the trigger caused by the misalignment. This can also throw off the lead.

To make an accurate shot, the sniper must learn to increase the pressure on the trigger smoothly, gradually and evenly. This does not mean slowly, but smoothly, without jerking. The descent should take between 1.5 and 2.5 seconds.

In addition, you must press the trigger not only smoothly, but also at the right time, choosing the most favorable moments when the vibrations of the rifle will be minimal.

The “shooter-weapon” system experiences complex vibrations during aiming and firing. The reason here is the action and reaction of the muscles during 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 had time to properly balance the weapon, the fluctuations will be large. As aiming becomes more precise, the vibrations of the weapon die out somewhat, and after a while, when the muscles begin to tire, the vibrations increase again.

From this it is clear that under such circumstances it is necessary to begin smoothly pressing the trigger during the period of rough aiming of the weapon; then, refining the aiming, gradually 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.

Adverse conditions lighting makes aiming very difficult. The sniper's eyes are blinded by the sun, snow cover on a sunny day, excessively bright target lighting, and solar glare on the surfaces of weapons and sighting devices. Under such conditions, the unprotected eye becomes irritated, tears appear, pain appears, involuntary squinting - all this not only makes it difficult to aim, but can lead to irritation of the mucous membrane and eye disease. Therefore, the sniper must take care of creating favorable conditions for the functioning of the eye while aiming and about preserving your vision.

When shooting with the PSO-1 optical sight, it is necessary to protect the objective part of the sight from the sun with a retractable hood, and the ocular part with a rubber eyecup. The lens hood and eyecup protect against direct and side impacts from entering the lens or eyepiece. sun rays, causing reflection and light scattering in the sight lenses, which makes working with it very difficult.

To prevent the surface of the barrel from shining, you can stretch a cloth tape over it, but it is best to simply wrap it with shaggy camouflage tape - this will both remove the shine and camouflage 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 illuminated, it is imperative to use a light filter, placing it on the eyepiece of the sight. The yellow-orange light filter included in the PSO-1 kit effectively eliminates the violet part of the spectrum, which contributes to the formation of unclear images on the retina. In addition, periodically give your eyes a rest 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 an optical sight.

Always “insert” the butt tightly into your shoulder and use the rest in the same way: if you do this every time in a new way, then due to the variety of launch angles, the dispersion of bullets in the vertical plane will increase. Remember that when the butt is resting on the shoulder with the lower angle, the bullets will go higher, and the upper angle will go lower.

When you shift your left elbow during the process of firing a series of shots, individual holes will tear down and up, and there will be as many gaps as the number of times you shifted your elbow.

When preparing to shoot, do not place your elbows very wide; This arrangement of the elbows disrupts the stability of the rifle, tires the shooter and causes bullet scatter. However, too narrow the position of the elbows compresses the chest and restricts breathing, which also impairs shooting accuracy. If you lift the butt with your right shoulder as you pull the trigger or press your cheek too hard against the butt, the bullets will deflect to the left.

Sometimes the shooter, having taken an incorrect turn of the body in relation to the target, strives to direct the rifle at the target with a muscular effort of the arms to the right or left. As a result, when firing, the muscles and the rifle are weakened, which means that the bullets are deflected in the direction opposite to the applied force. The same thing happens if the sniper uses his hands to raise or lower the rifle to the aiming point. Checking that the weapon is pointing correctly at the target can be quite simple: point the rifle at the target, close your eyes, then open them and look where the aiming line has deviated. If the aiming line deviates to the right or left, move the entire body to the right or left accordingly; When deflecting the weapon up or down, without moving your elbows, move forward or backward accordingly. The stability of the rifle is ensured by the correct position of the arms, legs and body - with emphasis on the bones, but not due to excessive muscle tension.

The accuracy of shooting is affected when you remove the cheek from the butt when pulling the trigger. At the same time, you still lose your line of sight. This habit leads to the fact that over time you will raise your head before the firing pin breaks the cartridge primer. Train yourself to keep your head loose 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 rest on the fingers of the left hand, but on the palm - 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 rests on your fingers, then its stability is disrupted and the bullets go to the right and down, i.e. the weapon falls down. The fingers of the left hand should not tightly squeeze the fore-end; you should hold the weapon like a bird - gently so as not to strangle it, but also firmly so as not to fly away.

The position of the body when preparing for prone shooting should be free, without the slightest tension and without bending in the lower back. Bending the body causes muscle tension, as a result of which the correct positioning, hand position, etc. are disrupted, and as a result, the dispersion of bullets increases. Incorrect body position can be corrected by moving the legs to the left or right.

The distance of the shooter's eye from the eyepiece of the optical sight should be constant, depending on the body type. It should be approximately 6-7 centimeters (in accordance with the design of the sight).

Remember a simple thing: when you press the trigger, you must hold your breath. Some novice shooters take in air to do this and then release the trigger, although this creates general tension for the shooter. You will get used to following this breathing pattern: after taking in air and exhaling almost all of it, hold your breath and only then begin to press the trigger, i.e. the shot must occur while exhaling. The first seconds after holding your breath are the most favorable for firing a shot.

Some shooters incorrectly react to the inevitable slight fluctuations of the central square of the optical sight reticle near the aiming point: they try to fire the shot at the exact moment when the point of the square is aligned with the aiming point. As a rule, in this case there is never a smooth descent and abrupt bullet separations are obtained. Wean yourself from this habit: such fluctuations have very little effect on the accuracy of the shot.

Affected area

It is generally accepted that business card the sniper is shot in the head. 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, resulting in loss of consciousness and 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 carefully aim at the head. In addition, the head is the most mobile part of the human body, and getting into it is not so easy. In this case, aiming should be done at the central part of the enemy’s body. There are three most important affected areas - the spine, solar plexus and kidneys. Closer to the central axis of the body (i.e., to the spine) are large blood vessels - the aorta and vena cava - as well as the lungs, liver, kidneys and spleen. If it hits the spine, the spinal cord is affected, most often causing paralysis of the legs. The solar plexus is located directly under the chest; if it gets into it, it causes severe damage to internal organs, causing the person to bend sharply at the waist. A shot in the kidneys leads to shock, and then to death, because... the kidneys contain nerve endings and a large number of blood vessels. A rifle bullet hitting a 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, 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 being hit is the formation of secondary fragments - particles of crushed bones. These fragments affect internal organs, moving along different trajectories. This point is especially important to remember for snipers of special units when conducting operations to free hostages, since a hostage located at a very close distance from a terrorist can be injured by secondary bone fragments. In such conditions, it is advantageous to fire the shot at the moment when the terrorist is behind the hostage, and not in front of him or to the side.

On the other hand, an army sniper can only wound his victim, because then several enemy soldiers will be forced to deal with the wounded man, and perhaps one of them will be exposed to the shot; In addition, the appearance of a wounded man in a 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 effect is the ability of a bullet to immediately incapacitate a living target; lethal effect - 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 incapacitate an enemy must be at least 80 J. For the SVD rifle, the range at which the bullet retains such lethal force is about 3800 meters, i.e. far exceeds the range of an aimed shot.

Square human body, when hit, the probability of instant death will be the highest, is approximately 10% of the entire surface of the body (when using conventional ammunition).

At one time, American military doctors, following the results of the Vietnam War, established that when using conventional small arms ammunition death occurs when the head is damaged - in 90% of cases; when the chest is affected - in 16% of cases; if the bullet hits the heart area, death occurs in 90% of cases; when it gets into the abdominal area - in 14% of cases (subject to timely medical care). The head is the most vulnerable part of the human body from the point of view of wound ballistics. A bullet hitting parts of the brain such as the medulla oblongata and cerebellum leads to the death of the victim in almost 100% of cases - when they are hit, breathing and blood circulation immediately stop and the human neuromuscular system is paralyzed. In order to hit an enemy with a bullet in the cerebellum area, you need to aim at top part 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 most advantageous point to be the area between the nose and upper lip - the bullet destroys the upper part of the spinal column, causing a severe wound, in most cases incompatible with life. And yet, the size of the head is only one-seventh of a person’s height, so it is very difficult to hit it from a long distance.

In general, the most effectively affected area of ​​the human body is limited from above by a line passing two fingers below the level of the collarbones, and from below - two fingers above the navel. A bullet wound to the abdominal area below this zone leads to painful shock, and if timely medical care is not provided, to death, but in most cases does not deprive the enemy of the ability to resist immediately after the defeat - this is a particularly important point for snipers of anti-terrorist units.