Robot vs. Sniper The effectiveness of sniper operations inevitably prompts a search for countermeasures. At one time, periodicals wrote about the methods of combating snipers used by UN forces in Yugoslavia. The principle of action is quite simple: immediately

Psychology of a sniper A characteristic sign of the times is the lack of a clear conviction among many combatants in the rightness of their cause, which, against the backdrop of inevitable combat psychological trauma, leads to stress and psychological illnesses among combatants.

Lures for the enemy sniper The sniper has a constant task - to process the enemy's front line every day. The sniper goes to position every night because he has to work every day. The sniper is looking for a target every minute, and it is better to show him this target, that

Sniper against sniper Proof of the highest class of shooting skill at all times was the destruction of the enemy sniper. It is always very difficult to detect the location of another sniper - an experienced shooter carefully disguises his position. Therefore ultimately

A nightmare for a sniper In our age of electronics, special forces have acquired tools for pinpointing a sniper’s nest, similar to devices for determining the location of an enemy artillery battery, but only much more

Chekist snipers Few people know about this, but even before the Great Patriotic War Sniper squads were added to the staff of units for the protection of railway structures, especially important industrial enterprises and convoy troops. And in 1942, a massive

Combat psychophysiology of a sniper Combat sniper is a responsible occupation that requires special precision and concentration. This process requires not only a certain amount of physical endurance and hellish patience, but also a large expenditure of nervous energy. Accurate

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 a large number of targets, 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 area and draws up a report on the operation, monitors the battlefield and target designation, maintains radio communications, uses sabotage equipment ( anti-personnel mines and smoke bombs).

Most effective tactical method 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. Having opened fire, the sniper in many cases reveals his “prone position”, 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: 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. 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 hostages are taken in buildings or residential buildings, the first action of a special anti-terrorism 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 up 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.

A special operation when terrorists hijack an aircraft is 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 Armor-piercing incendiary bullets with a steel core cannot be used.

The sniper opens fire only when he is completely confident of hitting the target. Such an evil as “air terrorism” is currently 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 side of 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 filled up, 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 imperative to take into account the duration of the upcoming work - for example, the green leaves on cut branches will wither by the end of a hot day and will unmask the “laying”, 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. Go to the front line, 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 the 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, sculptures reinforced with armored shields), 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 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.

So that the rifle barrel does not glare in the sun and heats up less in hot weather, it is wrapped with shaggy camouflage tape, a piece of KZS masknet or ordinary fabric electrical tape. Among other things, this will protect the barrel from accidental impacts.

It is necessary to regularly check the strength of the optical sight mount: 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 move 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: you can attach a rubber butt pad from the GP-25 to the butt, and a folding bipod from the RPG-7 can be attached to the fore-end 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 areas equal to the field of view of an optical sight, binoculars or periscope. You need to work slowly and carefully, blocking the field of view.

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. Under 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, you should use them 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, so 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 of local objects, 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 or 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 shooting, 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.
- when going out to a firing position, you cannot occupy it immediately: 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 good vision under heavy loads, the 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 your closed eyes with circular movements of your 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 swabs 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 point 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 possible options, in general, manufacturing should ensure:

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 such a position for a long time, therefore, when staying 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 (neck of the butt), the butt plate in the shoulder recess, the cheek on the butt stop. 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 the desired position of the belt in the future, 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 the index finger, while moving the 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. The large supporting surface area of ​​the shooter's body with a low height of his center of gravity makes it possible to create 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 landing 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 it, the right leg is bent at the knee, and 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.

Seated shooting is not very common in our country, although it is highly respected and practiced a lot in Western armies. 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, knees bent, his heels resting on the ground (so that his legs do not slip when firing), and his elbows, as in previous case, rest on the 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 direct all his attention to 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 oscillations 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 your 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.

Unfavourable 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, sun glare on the surfaces of weapons and sights. 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 to create favorable conditions for the eye to work while aiming and to preserve his 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 hood and eyecup protect against direct and lateral sunlight from entering the lens or eyepiece, 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 lie 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 simple thing: When pressing 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 drawing 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... Nerve endings are concentrated in the kidneys and there are 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 are amazing internal organs, moving along different trajectories. This point is especially important for snipers to remember. special units during 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.

The area of ​​the human body where the probability of instant death is highest is approximately 10% of the total body surface (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 cerebellar area, 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 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.

Among all modern soldiers, the sniper is in a special position. The very name of this military profession evokes respect bordering on fear. This man with a gun can do what others cannot, namely, hit a target from a long distance with pinpoint accuracy. Sometimes, when the target itself does not even suspect that it is at gunpoint.

But here, I think, a small disclaimer should be made. Sniper is different from sniper. Who is considered a sniper? For example, in Soviet army there was a sniper in every motorized infantry squad. This was the name of the position in the staff list. One of the fighters was assigned an SVD sniper rifle, but subsequently this fighter did not undergo any special training other than a shooting course. An equally sad situation was observed in the landing force, and only in the GRU units the situation was better.

Afghanistan and then Chechnya made their own adjustments. Now in the Russian army, and after it in some others, they began to approach the training of snipers more responsibly. Allocate separate time at the shooting range and conduct tactical training. But not every one of these “men with a gun” can be called a sniper. Formally, there were many snipers, but in reality, not everyone met the standards. Therefore, in the future, in this article we will call a sniper a professional who has made sniper craft his profession.

Translated from English, “sniper” means “sharp snipe shooter.” In reality, no matter how cruel it sounds, a sniper is a hunter of people, invisible, elusive and merciless. A sniper is a representative of a special breed of people. He does not have that boorish arrogance, ready to result in a scandal for any reason, so valued in sergeants and corporals, whose task is to keep the soldiers in obedience, dripping on their brains every second. A sniper is a very calm and balanced person, not prone to loss of self-control and manifestation of negative emotions. Even if a nervous, impulsive, touchy, irritable person, prone to panic and loss of self-control, is an excellent shooter and has excellent physical characteristics, he will be eliminated already at the initial stage of selection. There is no point in training a person who, due to natural character abilities, can suffer a nervous breakdown and fail a combat mission. In addition, the sniper must have an above average level of intelligence, as well as good physical training, but if physical training can be raised to the required level, then the character cannot be corrected. As they say, blood is a great thing.

So, at the initial selection they take on the following people as snipers:

• good shooters
• having good vision (preferably one hundred percent)
• responsible, disciplined, emotionally balanced
• no contraindications for health

Snipers are trained both individually and as part of a tactical assault group.

The main skill required is the ability to shoot accurately.

Without this skill, everything else becomes meaningless. First of all, the cadet is taught to shoot from a prone position from a rest position. Since in practice a sniper has to shoot from different positions, he is taught to shoot while lying down without resting, shooting from his knees, shooting while standing and sitting.

The instructors teach the technique - they teach you how to aim correctly, teach you how to hold your breath correctly, and teach you the correct descent technique. Eliminate technical errors, such as blinking at the moment of shooting, delaying aiming (aiming), excessive tension of individual muscle groups and other flaws.

Below we present one of the programs for improving marksmanship.

Accuracy training exercises

Exercise 1
Shot from a cold barrel

Shooting is carried out at two head targets at a distance of 100 meters from a prone position/from a rest position. The sniper may use a weapon belt, bipod, sandbags, or other equipment he may have during the operation. After the command, the sniper has unlimited time to fire a shot at the center of the left target, reload and shoot at the right target. During an operation, the sniper does not have the opportunity to fire a sighting or test shot, so a shot from a cold barrel tests both the shooter and his weapon and their ability to hit the target with the first shot. The second shot is intended to develop the sniper's skill in reloading the weapon and firing the shot automatically if the target does not fall after the first shot.

Exercise 2
Group

While in the same shooting position (prone/rest position), the sniper has unlimited time to fire a group of five shots. The target should have a small but clearly visible point of aim when performing this exercise. It is designed to test the stability of the rifle, scope, ammunition, and shooter.

A group with a radius of more than 2.5 cm should alarm a good shooter with an excellent weapon, but for a beginning shooter with an average weapon, a result of less than 5 cm is quite satisfactory. It is necessary to strive to ensure that the radius of the group is less than 2.5 cm

Common causes of scatter are loose screws in the sight and mechanisms, unbalanced barrel, malfunction of the trigger mechanism and insufficient shooting skills of the shooter.

Exercise 3
Lying without support

During this exercise, snipers must fire five shots from a prone position without support (without a bipod or sandbags) at a reduced-size silhouette target. During the exercise, we observe the ability of snipers to fire using a belt. During an operation, the sniper's firing position may not always allow the use of a rest.

Experienced snipers with properly fitted belts, gloves and shooting jackets are able to shoot a group with an accuracy of less than 7.5 cm. Less experienced shooters may be satisfied with a result of less than 15 cm. Comfort of position and breathing control play an important role in this exercise.

Exercise 4
Shooting on command

The shooters load five rounds and fire one shot at the head target for each command. This drill is performed from a prone/rest position, and the sniper must fire within a second of the command being given. At the moment the command is given, the sniper is already in position and aims at his target.

The instructor ensures that the center of the target is consistently hit on command. Again, good shooters should stay within a 5 cm circle. At the same time, bullets hitting a 10 cm circle will result in the “death” of the enemy.

Exercise 5
Shooting in one gulp

Each shooter in the line is assigned a target (paper or 3D head target). A countdown is given from 5 to 1. On the count of 1, all snipers must simultaneously fire one shot. This exercise is repeated five times.

All targets must be hit with five shots to the center and each volley must sound like one loud shot. The instructor observes the shooting to identify shooters who shoot too early or, conversely, too late. Such shooters “don’t know their trigger.”

Volley shooting is important when conducting ambushes and in situations where several terrorists must be eliminated immediately. A premature shot can warn the criminals and they will have time to take cover or start killing hostages.

Exercise 6
Shooting at 200 meters

After moving to the 200 meter range, snipers should prepare positions for prone/rest shooting as quickly as possible. Using known sight settings or aiming distances, snipers fire five shots at the head target. Shooting can be carried out with a time limit or by command

An acceptable result would be a center of the head hit with a scattering diameter of 7.5 - 10 cm. Some shooters will be satisfied with just hits to the head, while others may get a scattering group less than 5 cm in diameter.

Exercise 7
Shooting at 300 meters

After moving to the shooting area at a range of 300 meters, snipers fire five shots, aiming for the chest area. The shooting position is prone/rest position. Snipers must be given sufficient time to make a well-aimed shot. The firing range of 300 meters is practically the maximum for a police sniper due to the fact that identifying a target by face at long ranges is very difficult.

When shooting in ideal conditions at a range of 300 meters, the standard is a group of hits in the center of the chest with a diameter of 12 - 15 cm. Wind speed of 18 km/h (5 m/s), blowing at an angle of 90 degrees to the shooting plane, deflects the bullet by 12 - 17 cm from the aiming point when shooting at a distance of 300 meters.

Exercise 8
Shooting after load

A popular exercise is shooting after a load. The shooters quickly run 100-300 meters to the firing line, after which, again, they fire at the target at a fast pace. Push-ups, sit-ups, and rope climbs can also be used to increase your breathing and heart rate.

When the shooter is “ripe” to work in difficult conditions, they move on to special types of shooting, such as

• Shooting in a limited time at a normal pace (rapid shooting)
• High-speed shooting with transfer of fire into depth
• Rapid fire with fire moving along the front
• Rapid shooting with dash
• High-speed shooting with dashing in an extremely limited time, the so-called “fuss”.

Regardless of shooting experience, each sniper must periodically retake a marksmanship course. Even experienced snipers at times experience deficits in the application of marksmanship fundamentals as a result of practicing other skills and abilities.

Disguise

Another important skill is the ability to camouflage on terrain.

A sniper is a hunter, and therefore must be invisible. Working without disguise, the sniper himself becomes a victim instead of a hunter. Positions often have to be selected and equipped close to enemy positions. Therefore, the camouflage of the sniper’s position should be natural and not stand out from the surrounding landscape.

The position should only be occupied and equipped at night. And you need to crawl into position. When setting up a position, you cannot stand not only at full height, but even on all fours.

In the army, in peacetime, snipers sometimes devote more than half of their time to arranging and camouflaging cover, both the main one and the backup one. In addition, they are required to train covertly and unnoticed to cover distances of 200-300 meters on their bellies, squeezing into the folds of the terrain. Training in selection, equipment and camouflage of positions at night is mandatory. During the day, a visual demonstration of the errors, errors and shortcomings of such camouflage is made.

Such training takes place in various places - in a field, in a forest, at the intersection of ravines, on the outskirts of abandoned villages, landfills, construction sites, in any ruins, at different times of the day and under different weather conditions. Training sniper work in a constantly changing environment with the obligatory achievement of real results develops tactical thinking in the sniper.

Developed tactical thinking among snipers of any branch of the military - both military and operational special forces - allows them to quickly navigate in an unfamiliar environment, aggressively take the combat initiative into their own hands and not release it in the most unexpected turns of events.

The work of a sniper as part of a unit

During tactical training, snipers practice actions as part of units, and also learn to perform specific combat missions, such as:

• destruction of enemy command personnel
• disruption of the work organization of the enemy's front line
• sniper terror and demoralization of the enemy
• observation of events on the enemy’s side, study of the location of his fire weapons, observation, correction and command posts and other tactically important objects.

Snipers can operate alone, in pairs, in small sniper groups, or as part of a unit.

For example, Chechen militants during the first and second Chechen wars They used small tactical groups, which included a sniper, a machine gunner or grenade launcher and several machine gunners. While the submachine gunners and machine gunner fired heavily, the sniper hit selected targets, and the grenade launcher hunted for equipment.

During a sniper attack, the enemy sniper is hit first, then the officer, signalman and machine gunners. After this, the enemy unit becomes uncontrollable for some time.

As part of police units, snipers face slightly different tasks than army snipers. Destruction of terrorists, hunting for terrorist snipers, operational cover for police or military, and so on, depending on the operational situation and instructions from above. In addition, snipers in police units sometimes have to justify their actions in court.

Wherever a sniper serves, he is a special forces soldier due to his unique combat profile. A smart commander gives snipers almost complete freedom of action, of course, with careful coordination of tactical aspects of solving a common task. And then, in no man's land, behind enemy lines or in the city, the sniper acts independently, at his own peril and risk. The cruel necessity of life forces the sniper to work on the principle of “one shot - one dead.”

What to Remember in a Possible Sniper Threat

• a sniper usually operates as part of a group
• at night, snipers use night vision devices that allow them to detect targets up to 500 meters
• The first stage of a sniper’s work is to detect (detect) the target, so equip 2-3 firing positions and change them more often
• in the city, a sniper occupies dominant heights, located in a building, chooses a firing position in the depths of the room, which makes it difficult to detect
• a sniper fires under cover of small arms fire
• aimless shooting from small arms may indicate the beginning of a sniper's work
• sniper groups with a cover group provoke return fire, forcing fire weapons to reveal themselves
• harassing fire can only be conducted from camouflaged firing positions
• The favorite tactics of snipers is to operate from an ambush, secretly, at night, in pre-prepared (targeted) areas of the terrain
• use active night vision devices carefully
• a sniper often uses the wounded as “live bait”, to whom they will definitely come to help. In such cases, it is necessary to use limited visibility, smoke in the area, armor protection, and military equipment
• When searching for a sniper among the local population, you should remember that a distinctive feature of a sniper is characteristic bruises on the shoulder
• in a sniper war there is no rear, flank or front, the enemy can be expected from everywhere (during the day he is a civilian, and at night he is a killer of our soldiers)

Read the continuation of the article

Selection options for the US Army and police units, selection for ATS snipers, Ground Forces RF, divisions of the Special Forces RF Air Force.

Selection of candidates for sniper training in the US Army

In the US Army, snipers are trained at the Army Infantry Center and School (Fort Benning, Georgia).
In the US Army, only men are candidates for training as snipers. Recruitment is on a voluntary basis, followed by careful selection. There are increased requirements for recruitment and selection.

Candidates must:

• have a rank in shooting sports or be hunter-athletes and annually confirm their qualifications in competitions
• have excellent physical shape above all-Russian standards and good health
• have 100% vision in both eyes (or correctable to 100%, wearing glasses is not allowed)
• do not smoke, do not use drugs, do not abuse alcohol
• be proactive, disciplined and emotionally stable
• pass a special test to determine the level of mental development
• have the rank of private first class to sergeant first class
• be a member of the regular army or reserve components of the ground forces
• have excellent performance characteristics
• have no disciplinary actions
• have at least one year until the end of the contract term
• pass a physical fitness test (at least 70% of the marks are “excellent”)

Selection of candidates for sniper training in US police forces

A candidate for a tactical team sniper must be a member of a rapid response unit who has demonstrated specific skill in the use of rifles. These skills can be acquired through competition, hunting, or during appropriate training in the army. The sniper must be in excellent condition physical fitness. He must run, climb walls and rappel on par with the best fighters, as he will have to carry heavier weapons than others in addition to standard equipment. A good sniper must also be able to control his heart and breathing. If his heart is pounding and he is out of breath after a difficult climb to the roof of a building, you can hardly expect him to be a marksman.

There is only one way to determine physical condition - a physical fitness test. At a minimum, a tactical team sniper must be able to:

• Run 1 mile in 8 minutes. 30 sec
• From a prone start, run the 40 yard dash in 8 seconds.
• Climb a knotted rope without using your feet to a height of 25 feet
• In full assault gear, climb a rope with knots tied to a height of 14 feet
• Do 50 squats in 60 seconds
• Bend over and, without bending your knees, touch the ground with your palms
• While holding a friend in any way, climb a flight of 30 steps in 30 seconds

Requirements for the personality of an ATS sniper and the selection of sniper candidates

When selecting candidates for the position of sniper, professional and psychological selection is very important. In its process, two main tasks are solved. The first is the identification of persons who, due to professional, moral, psychological and psychophysiological qualities, are not capable of performing the functions of a sniper. This ensures the prevention of a significant part of professional errors and neuropsychic breakdowns during combat operations or special operations, and the subsequent development of neuropsychic disorders and diseases.

Psychological and psychophysiological contraindications to appointment as a sniper:

• chronic diseases
• condition after poisoning and acute illnesses
• belonging to a “risk group”, reduced psychological stability, tendency to mental maladjustment
• insufficient level of development of professionally important qualities
• increased anxiety, worry, fear
• excessive impulsiveness, tendency to react spectacularly, lack of self-control
• emotional-vegetative instability (frequent redness or paleness of the face, sweating, constant trembling of the hands or eyelids)
• irritability, touchiness, tendency to negative emotional-evaluative reactions

The second task is to determine the degree of professional, moral, psychological and psychophysiological readiness of these individuals to perform combat sniper work.
All candidates are assessed for the following qualities:

• value-legal orientation (determination, professional sense of duty)
• moral principles
• intensity of motivation (voluntary readiness to solve a complex professional problem)
• intellectual abilities (general intelligence, operational and heuristic thinking)
• level of aspirations, adequacy of self-esteem, self-confidence, social maturity(responsibility, decisiveness in difficult situations, realism, flexibility of behavior)
• resistance to mental and physical stress
• level of self-control (restraint, poise, self-control)

The ability to quickly navigate in a complex and dynamically changing environment, well-developed perceptual functions, spatial orientation and coordination of movements, and speed-strength endurance are important.

There are peculiarities in the training of snipers for groups fighting armed criminals, the main one of which is that, unlike training snipers in the army, where the main shooting distance is 600-800m, here this distance is usually 2-3 times less . A police sniper is also required to: correctly identify the target; take into account the presence of random persons, hostages or members of their group who may be close to the criminal; be in one position, possibly for several hours; the need to subsequently answer before the court for their actions.

Based on this, the selection for internal affairs snipers must be strict.
First of all, the sniper must be selected on a voluntary basis. However, just wanting to be a sniper is not enough. It is preferable to select snipers from participants in shooting competitions or from people with obvious shooting ability and also a working knowledge of ballistics. In addition, the sniper candidate must have significant experience in law enforcement agencies have a good understanding of all areas of police activity. It is preferable that the selected candidate be a mature, calm, patient and emotionally balanced person, a non-smoker and not prone to drinking alcoholic beverages.

Preference should be given to a person with good physical fitness who is able to bear heavy loads. Good health means a quick reaction, the ability to clearly control muscles, control breathing. It is very important that the sniper has excellent vision and increased stamina. A sniper with lost or broken glasses will become helpless; in addition, the lenses of the glasses can cause a glare in the sun and give away the sniper's location. A sniper must be interested in constantly improving himself and increasing his professionalism.

It is desirable that a sniper candidate have an above-average level of intelligence and be able to express his thoughts clearly and clearly when communicating over a walkie-talkie. He will need the ability to understand ballistics, optics, communications, navigation, etc. It is also necessary to check the degree of observation of the future sniper, visual memory and ability to collect and analyze useful information and use it when necessary.

It is advisable to divide the selection into two stages. At the beginning, the available data on the degree of development of abilities, health, physical, business, moral, psychological and psychophysiological qualities of the candidate are analyzed. Then testing is carried out to determine the level of development of the above qualities.

It should be noted that not every good shooter is suitable for sniper activity. In assessing candidates it is necessary to show sufficient firmness and integrity.

In order for the sniper to have a constant high psychological tone and good ability to perform the assigned task, a regular psychodiagnostic examination (testing, conversation, observation) is necessary. Regular relaxation training is recommended for the prevention of stress-related diseases. It is also necessary before going into surgery - to build self-confidence, reduce inhibition and combat specific fear and anxiety.

Qualification requirements and standards

Certification of snipers for professional suitability should be carried out every 3-4 months, sniper rifles must be checked and brought into normal combat monthly, as the seasons of the year and weather conditions change. Passing the standards will allow you to maintain your weapon in a state of combat readiness and constantly improve your shooting skills.

Marksmanship standards:

• shooting from a prone position at 100 meters, 6 shots at a 4x4 (cm) square target (all bullets must be on the target)
• shooting from a prone position from a rest at 300 meters, a head target measuring 30 x 20 cm, appearing in the window opening for 5-6 seconds (kill with the first shot)

• shooting from a distance of 200 meters, at a target measuring 12x12 cm from a prone position with support
• shooting from a distance of 300 meters, shots to the chest, at the chest figure, 150 cm high, from a prone position with support

Physical standards:

• running a distance of 3 km in a time not exceeding 13 minutes
• push-ups, 40-50 times in 60 seconds
• pulling legs to chest, 50-60 times in 60 seconds
• pull-ups on the horizontal bar, 16 times

Methodological recommendations for the selection of snipers in units and formations of the Russian Ground Forces

Sniper training includes the selection of military personnel who meet the requirements for a sniper and their subsequent special training in methods of action, taking into account weapons, equipment and tactics of action in battle.

The selection begins with the study of documents of military personnel, personal conversations, observation of military personnel during training and in everyday life. The main attention should be paid to those military personnel who have sports categories, primarily in shooting, have been involved in hunting since childhood, are observant, unhurried, self-possessed and calm in nature, have good physical fitness at the final stage of single soldier training and, based on the results, shown in the main subjects of training, and primarily in shooting, candidates for snipers are designated by the commander of the combined unit and submitted to the headquarters of the unit.

Qualification requirements for the candidate

1. Fit for health reasons to serve in the reconnaissance units of the Airborne Forces (Airborne Forces)
2. For military personnel undergoing military service upon conscription - at least 1 year of service in deployed motorized rifle, reconnaissance (reconnaissance and airborne), airborne units, units Marine Corps, special forces units who have expressed a desire to continue serving under a contract after completing the courses
3. For military personnel serving under a contract, in addition to those listed in the previous paragraph, it is preferable to have experience of combat operations in local conflict zones. First age group
4. Sports category of at least second, preferably:
   Biathlon, athletics, bullet shooting, orienteering, fox hunting, skiing, all-around GTO, tourism, mountain tourism
5. Not being the only children in the family or the sole breadwinner
6. Preferably single
7. Preferably non-Muslims
8. Preferably non-smokers
9. Those who have successfully passed the psychological aptitude test for their future specialty
10. Those who have successfully passed tests on:
    • physical training in the amount and according to the standards of the VSK 1 st.
    • shooting from SVD (AK)
    • general education base (Option: 45 minutes for an essay on the topic: “Why do I want to become a sniper?”)

Testing observation and visual memory

Ten low-visibility targets are set in an observation band of 200x1000 meters. Candidates are given 10 minutes to observe and detect targets, after which they are asked to take cover.
At this time, half of the targets are moved to other places and are additionally camouflaged. If, upon repeated observation and study of this strip, the candidate finds all the targets (ten) and discovers a rearrangement of at least three targets, the exercise is considered completed.

Lack of reaction to a shot

Having such a reaction is the most common mistake among shooters. Its manifestation can be of a very diverse nature (closing the eyes before firing, pushing the weapon with the shoulder, sharply jerking the trigger, relaxing the muscle group involved in holding the weapon, etc.).

The reason for the reaction to a shot should be sought in the psychological processes occurring in the shooter before the shot. The shooter, knowing that the shot is accompanied by a loud sound and the recoil of the weapon in the shoulder, decocking the hammer, smoothly pressing the trigger, involuntarily prepares for these unpleasant sensations for him, anticipating the moment when they are about to happen, involuntarily makes them towards some kind of compensating movement. If this movement occurs before the trigger is released, it will disrupt the aiming of the weapon and the shot will not be accurate. Moreover, the smaller the time difference between this movement and the release of the trigger, the less noticeable this error is, both for the shooting director and for the shooter himself. The reaction to a shot manifests itself differently in all people involved in shooting, and this is quite natural. Experience shows that eliminating this reaction is the most difficult problem in training good shooters.

When selecting candidates for the initial exercise, the shooting director should take note of those who, in his opinion, most correctly performed all technical actions with weapons on the firing line, and only then compare the results of their observations with the results of shooting at targets.

You can also determine the reaction to a shot as follows. Load one training cartridge into the magazine. The shooter, not knowing whether the weapon is loaded or not, takes aim and pulls the trigger, involuntarily preparing for the shot, makes a movement towards it. Since the shot does not occur, the leader and the shooter himself can clearly see this movement, which disrupts the aiming of the weapon.

Physical Fitness Test

The level of development of the basic physical qualities of candidates is determined by three NFP exercises:

• 100m run – 13 seconds
• Pull-ups on the bar – 17 times
• 3 km run – 12 min. 30 sec. (field uniform)

The assessment of candidates' physical fitness is made up of the marks they received for these exercises and is determined in accordance with the requirements of the NFP.

“Excellent” - two “excellent”, one “good”
“Good” – one is “satisfactory”, the rest are not lower than “good”
“Satisfactory” - if more than two are “satisfactory” in the absence of unsatisfactory grades, or if one grade is “unsatisfactory” in the presence of other positive grades and at least one of them is “good”
“Unsatisfactory” – two or more “unsatisfactory” ratings
It is recommended to enroll candidates who receive a grade of at least “good.”

Selection of snipers in special forces units of the Internal Troops of the Russian Federation.

In special operations, snipers support the actions of capture groups with fire or lead to the destruction of terrorists. As a rule, a sniper with a partner, who ensures his safety and adjusts the fire, acts autonomously, maintaining constant communication with the commander of the cover group and the leadership headquarters special operation. The destruction of terrorists who may be in close proximity to ordinary people and hidden by them, using them as a human shield, requires the highest professionalism and endurance from the sniper, and the mobilization of all personal qualities.

The sniper must have the temperament of a sanguine person, prone to phlegmatic behavior, must be decisive, independent in judgment, and not have uncontrollable emotions.

Not everyone can become a sniper, even if he is a good shooter.
The commander of a special forces unit is obliged to personally select snipers and conduct testing of volunteer candidates.
The candidate group includes former bullet shooting athletes, hunters, and military personnel (employees) who show consistent positive results when shooting from a machine gun.

Testing is carried out on one day without a break for 6 hours in three stages, shooting is carried out from machine guns at targets No. 4 (chest target with circles) without using a hand rest.

1st STAGE
Shooting - testing under normal conditions without load (obtaining background comparative results).

Exercise No. 1 Shooting from a prone position without using a rest.
Target: Target No. 4
Range: 100 m
Number of cartridges: 10 pcs
The test taker is given 10 rounds of ammunition, the target number is indicated, the command “To the firing line - to battle” is given, he lies down on the firing line, loads the magazine and opens fire at the specified target. The time to complete the exercise is 60 s (time with the magazine equipped).

Exercise No. 2 Shooting with transfer of fire from one target to another
Targets: 5 targets No. 4 at a distance of 1 m from each other
Range: 100 m
Number of cartridges: 25 pcs.
Features of the exercise:
The conditions of the exercise are explained to the test takers, they are given 25 rounds of ammunition, and the command is given to “equip the magazine.” After loading the magazine, the command “For battle”, the shooter is prepared for battle, puts a cartridge into the chamber and waits for the command to open fire. The shooting director calls the target number, the shooter opens fire on it, the time to shoot is 2 s.
Target numbers are called in a random sequence.
For example: 1; 3; 5; 4; 2 5; 3; 4:2; 15; 1; 4; 2; 3 3; 1; 2; 5; 4 2; 4; 1; 3; 5

Exercise No. 3 Shooting from standby
Target: Target No. 4
Range: 100 m
Number of cartridges: 5 pcs.
Features of the exercise:
The person being tested loads the magazine with 5 rounds. On the command “to the firing line for battle,” it is prepared to fire, sends a cartridge into the chamber and awaits the “Fire” command. The shooting director gives the command “Fire” at various intervals:
For example: 1st shot at 6 minutes 2nd shot at 7 minutes 3rd shot at 9 minutes 4th shot at 20 minutes 5th shot at 30 minutes
Only 5 shots in 30 minutes.
Time for a shot is no more than 2 seconds.

2nd STAGE
Those tested in NIB (personal armor protection equipment) with weapons make a 20 km march under the leadership of a special forces officer, given an order by the unit senior on the march. To assist him, 3-4 special training instructors and a paramedic are assigned.
Each instructor is assigned several test takers.
Instructors observe the behavior of the subjects and evaluate their actions.
During the march, the following standards are worked out:

• upon exiting from enemy artillery fire
• to overcome a section of terrain by crawling
• to overcome a section of terrain by dashing

• for overcoming water obstacles
• for crossing swampy areas
• for carrying the wounded

STAGE 3
The march ends at the firing line, shooting is carried out on the move - testing after the physical and psychological stress received on the march. The same 3 exercises are performed.

All results of the three stages are studied by officers and warrant officers of the unit. Preference is given to candidates who have shown stable shooting results without load and against a background of fatigue, who have shown initiative and creativity when solving introductory questions, who have quickly become involved in the situation, and who have drawn up sniper cards most accurately.

If the subject’s background results are excellent, and after the load there is a significant deterioration, these are symptoms of a weak nervous system that is not able to withstand heavy loads and stress. In the event of a slight deterioration in the results or their stability, the subject’s nervous system is able to maintain the body in a normal state, which is necessary for a sniper.

Combat psychophysiology is the science of attracting unclaimed potential reserves of the human body to dramatically increase the effectiveness of combat activities. A sniper must have acute vision and hearing, an increased level of observation and a kind of “animal sense” that allows him to predict the enemy’s movements, behavior, movements and tactical plans.

Observation is the same natural psychophysiological ability to perceive information as vision, hearing, and smell. It can and should be developed, and there are no limits to improving this development.

Observation training is carried out using very simple methods.

The instructor places several objects on the table: cartridges from various weapons, buttons, insignia, camouflage patches, stones, cigarettes different varieties and definitely a compass. The cadet is allowed to look at all this for a few seconds, then the composition is covered with a tarpaulin and the cadet is asked to list everything presented on it.

The cadet, not warned about anything, lists, at best, half of what he saw. Correction from the instructor is required. “You didn’t say what kind of weapon the cartridges were from and how many of them, how many stones, what sizes and what origin they were, how many cigarettes and what types they were, how many spots there were on the camouflage, and you didn’t list what kind of insignia there were.” For slow-wittedness and negligence, the cadet receives an outfit out of turn. Further training progresses a little more progressively. Display time is reduced. The number of items and their range vary. When the cadet begins to accurately describe everything that is shown to him, the lessons are transferred to nature.

At a distance of 100 meters, the cadet is allowed to look at the landscape with the naked eye, then he turns his back and an assistant (the same cadet) makes minor changes near the target field. The cadet is turned to face the targets, and he is commanded to talk about the changes that have occurred there. Gradually, training distances increase to 300 meters. At this distance, the sniper must detect with the naked eye changes in the position of objects - broken branches, trampled grass, swaying bushes, smoke from a cigarette, the appearance and disappearance of small objects (the size of a tin can). Precisely with the naked eye, because during such training, vision becomes noticeably sharper. Then the cadets take turns setting up camouflaged positions and, again with the naked eye at the same distances of up to 300 meters, train in detecting signs of these positions (crushed grass, cleared firing sectors, shaded areas at the edge of the forest, etc.). Then the same thing is done while moving in a car - the cadets determine from a distance places in the landscape of the area suitable for setting up sniper ambushes by the enemy. It is difficult to overestimate snipers trained in this way in mobile operations - in the head marching outpost, when accompanying columns, in a reconnaissance or search-jaeger group. Anyone who has equipped such positions in training will be able to predict where they will be placed in combat conditions. This is quite real - a person who is waiting for an attack while moving has a very heightened sensitivity.

In the above-described training, a psychophysiological technique known to medical practitioners is used to mobilize the reserve of a living organism. During everyday activities, a person needs to constantly receive a certain amount of vital everyday information. It is known that in deaf people who do not receive part of the everyday operational information, this loss is compensated by the increased development of visual observation. Therefore, a knowledgeable instructor will force the cadet to plug his ears tightly when faced with a strict requirement to fulfill educational task target detection at distances of 300 meters or more. The results are noticeably progressing, and vision is also noticeably sharpened.

To develop visual observation, in the old days, snipers were forced to spend hours watching... construction workers. In this case, the observer had to be at such a distance that the wind would carry snatches of spoken language. The content of the conversation had to be guessed from the articulation of the lips of the speakers and from their gestures. This enormously developed the so-called audiovisual observation and allowed the sniper to study the patterns of human behavior and the system of his movements in a confined space. These were a kind of classes to study human habits. The observer himself, as a training exercise, had to determine how and where this or that builder disappeared in the labyrinth of a building under construction, where, in what place, from what angle and after what period of time he should appear. As floor after floor grew, the architecture of the building appeared to the observer “in cross-section” and it became easier and easier for the observer to predict the movements of possible targets. Then the classes were transferred to the field, to large-scale military exercises. A disguised sniper close to the positions of the mock enemy observed the life of his trenches, dugouts, and communication passages. At the same time, snipers learned to intuitively “turn on” to the target and feel in advance its appearance in some open and unprotected place. When approaching such a place, the enemy had not yet assumed anything, and the sniper already had this place in his sights with the trigger previously “squeezed.” Trained observation allowed the sniper to determine by the slightest signs that the target was approaching dangerous place, and press the trigger before she appears there. As a result, a fascist who moved slightly out of cover immediately received a bullet in the head. Such things were taught at special courses of the NKVD before the war. During the war, snipers learned such combat foresight right in their positions. There was no need to teach such things to snipers recruited from Siberian riflemen and eastern peoples - Nanais, Nivkhs, Yakuts, who sensed nature and sensed changes in it from a distance - they knew how to do this from childhood. At the front, they kept a note of all the artificially made depressions in the parapets of the enemy’s defense, knowing that it was there that sooner or later someone would have to stick his head out to see what was happening at the front line. And whoever stuck his head out received a bullet in the forehead.

A more or less trained sniper always strives to catch the moment when the enemy, crawling on his bellies in shallow folds of the terrain, raises his head. Sooner or later he has to pick it up to look around. After a sniper shot, the one who raised his head lowered it once and for all. Knowledgeable and trained snipers who have learned to feel nature, the slightest changes in it and the slightest, even the most insignificant falsehood in the landscape, will always calculate the open or closed position of the sniper. Moreover, they will figure out in their minds exactly where it is more convenient, advantageous and inconspicuous for the enemy to place an open sniper position, which does not require much time to equip or occupy. A knowledgeable sniper will always determine from what position, at what time of day, under what lighting and position of the sun the enemy will shoot. And a knowledgeable sniper will expect at this very time that it is at this position that the enemy will raise his head to shoot. And with the beginning of this ascent, the sniper will press the descent so that the “raised forehead”, a colleague on the other side, “catch” the sniper bullet. And in no case will a knowledgeable sniper be curious about the results of his shot - he bit and disappeared. It will be more reliable this way. If the enemy is killed, intelligence will report this. If he is not killed, then he will manifest himself.

After the proper level of observation has been developed, the sniper must “open his ears” and train his hearing. On the battlefield, especially in ambushes at night and in operational searches, a sniper must not only see well, but also hear well.

Hearing develops very well when working at night, and in extreme conditions at night it develops even faster.

From time immemorial, there has been a very simple and affordable way to train your hearing using a hand or pocket watch. Lie on your back and place the watch at arm's length from you. Try to hear the mechanism working. Gradually move the clock away from you. Having clearly caught the sounds of a working clock, count its strikes to one hundred - this trains operational attention. If you don’t hear them the next time you move the clock away, don’t strain your ears - sharpen your “auditory attention” and you will soon hear them. There is a direct physiological connection between heightened attention and hearing acuity. Remember! Hearing works at its best when a person is in a calm state. An angry and enraged person hears very poorly.

Start training your hearing at night, when it is sharper in itself, physiologically, and gradually move on to daytime training.

A person hears better when the area is illuminated, even if it is weak and dim. Green color also makes your hearing sharper. This is a feature of the nervous system.

Lying on your back worsens sound orientation, while lying on your stomach, on the contrary, improves it. To improve hearing, a pressing massage of the ears is performed. It is performed as follows: clench your hands into fists and, with the backs of your fists, slowly press on the ears and quickly release. It is important that air passes through the knuckles and there is no “smacking” in the ears. Do 10-15 such presses, and you will feel that your ears have noticeably “cleared up”.

Despite trained vision and hearing, scouts and snipers necessarily use additional techniques to increase visual and hearing acuity. It is known that sugar and glucose are energy substances necessary for the functioning of the heart, brain and nervous system as a whole, and therefore the senses.

A piece of sugar placed under the tongue significantly increases the effectiveness of night vision and hearing. Chewing sweet and sour tablets increases their severity.

One of the simplest and most accessible remedies in practice is chewing a pinch of tea with a pinch of sugar (but do not swallow it right away!). Theine contained in tea has a tonic effect, and sugar is an energy source for the brain. This method causes a significant increase in vision sensitivity at night and reduces the adaptation time in the dark from 30-40 to 5-7 minutes. When chewing sweet tea, a person’s energy potential sharply increases compared to his normal state. The same effect is achieved by the simplest procedural technique - wiping the forehead, temples, neck cold water.

Night vision is enhanced when sitting. Nobody knows why this happens, but this method is effective and proven.

Focused attention increases night vision and hearing by 1.5-2 times.

The eye is the main working organ of a sniper. In shooting sports, shooting with glasses from all types of sporting weapons is allowed. Brutal combat practice places increased demands on the shooter, and therefore the sniper's vision must be impeccable.
To sharpen his vision, a sniper needs a diet, namely, vitamin A, the source of which is carrots, but it must be eaten with something fatty - with any butter or sour cream, because the carotene contained in carrots (provitamin A), from which the vitamin itself is synthesized, It is fat soluble and is absorbed much better in a fatty environment.

This point is well known to practical snipers who nibble carrots at every opportunity and in any quantity. Blueberries in any form are even more useful.

The author still remembers those times when special forces snipers were strictly forbidden to read while lying down and watch TV - from an hour of reading on their back and an hour and a half to two hours of watching TV, their vision noticeably worsens for three days.

As already mentioned, a conventional optical sight makes it possible to see a target in poor lighting conditions, that is, at dawn, in rain, fog, pre-sunset twilight, and even a little in the dark.

In a combat situation, a sniper quite often has to work in precisely such conditions, and this has its own characteristics for the shooter’s vision

When visibility deteriorates (twilight, rain, etc.), one should not concentrate vision on the target in the desire to see it better, in this case excessive tension occurs in the aiming eye and the nervous system is exhausted due to general tension. Tension of the nervous system leads to reflexive uncontrollable tension in almost all the muscles of the shooter , even those that are not usually involved in the shooting process. The pulse reflexively increases, and all this leads to a decrease in the stability of the weapon. If you need to shoot at dusk and the target looks like a gray, half-blurred, shapeless silhouette, there is no need to shoot it strictly at the bridge of the nose - aim somewhere in the middle of the target's silhouette, concentrating your vision on the aiming element - the tip of a stump or aiming square. In this case, your vision does not strain and, accordingly, the body does not strain.

Remember! Usually, when working with an optical sight, the shooter does not notice a deterioration in visibility until it has decreased to a significant level. Looking through the sight, the shooter is sure that he sees normally, and involuntarily strains his vision with the consequences described above, trying to see the target better After the shot, even with Under normal visual load, visual acuity is restored 4-5 times longer than the time spent shooting.

If visual fatigue occurs after a shot in the dark or at dusk, you need to “rest your eyes” until visual acuity is completely restored and the discomfort in the eyes disappears. Otherwise, your vision can simply be damaged.

At night, you should not peer long and closely into the darkness, so as not to tire your eyesight. It is recommended to periodically close your eyes for 5-10 seconds. Such a short rest will help you get rid of fatigue.

When working at night, you may need to look at a map, some document, or simply shine a light near you. To do this, you need to use only red light with a narrow beam, covering the aiming eye with your hand so as not to disturb its accommodation.

At night, do not look at the flashes of signal and illumination flares. Look not at the flare, but at what is under it, in the field of its illumination. One beautiful rocket that you admire while it's burning is enough to reduce your ability to see clearly for half an hour. If you need to look at something glowing, take a button and look through its holes, closing the aiming eye. Never look at the fire at night - you still won’t see those who are behind it. Cover your eye from the flame with your hand and look around the periphery of the illuminated area, then you will see what will be there

Try to “put down” a target that appears during the flash of a rocket or other lighting immediately, because a competent target will try to immediately disappear from view after it is illuminated.

With an optical sight you can “see a little” in the dark, and if you develop the acuity of the so-called “night vision”, then you can see even more with the scope. Night vision is not a supernatural phenomenon, but a normal function of the body, inherited from our distant ancestors and remaining in an unclaimed state of dormant atavism. For snipers and scouts of the last war, night vision was an everyday tool for ongoing combat work.

To awaken and develop night vision, look at the stars more often at night. After looking at them for ten minutes without stopping, you notice that there seem to be more of them. This intensified and my night vision “tuned in.”

Excessive “looking” into observation devices significantly reduces visual acuity. Therefore, when working in a sniper pair, the sniper “rests his eyes,” and his partner constantly conducts observation through a periscope or stereo scope, determines distances to targets and performs ballistic calculations.

In the dark, try to enrich your brain with oxygen and take 10-12 deep breaths per minute through your nose for 4-5 minutes. This sharpens the acuity of night vision and hearing. For the same purposes, you can make chewing movements that increase cerebral circulation. The same effect is achieved by using a 0.1% solution of atropine. Place a piece of sugar under your tongue and let it gradually dissolve there. Keep it in your mouth longer and do not swallow right away. Night vision and hearing are sharpened by one and a half times.

A sniper who is in a sniper ambush must listen not only to the atmosphere, but also to the ground. Sounds from footsteps, movement of equipment, dropping loads, entrenching work, and in some cases even human speech are well transmitted in the ground. A sniper, forced to be tied to a rifle and visually monitor the situation, can listen to the ground in two practical ways: stick a small shovel into the ground and listen with his ear pressed to the handle, or bury a bottle or flask in the ground, half filled with water, into the neck of which through insert a rubber tube into the hole in the plug. Insert the other end of the tube into your ear and listen.

Remember! A sniper is not allowed to smoke! Nicotine “pinches” blood vessels, reduces visual acuity and increases pulsation. After one cigarette smoked for 2-3 hours, the quality of sniper shooting deteriorates by 15-20%. In addition, constant smoking reduces overall sensitivity and susceptibility.

The sniper has no right to be angry. Anger is useful in a direct attack, but with accurate shooting it only brings harm. Anger increases the pulsation and this significantly worsens the quality of shooting. A sniper has no right to negative emotions at all. Fear “de-energizes” the shooter and deprives him of nervous and physical energy, and excitement causes increased “jitters.” Therefore, professional snipers gradually wean themselves off worry, anger and anxiety in general, introducing themselves into a state of “combat indifference.” This ends with complete insensitivity to stressful situations. And therefore, a sniper shoots at a living target just like at a paper target, without experiencing any emotions. The snipers' composure borders on indifference.

There have been numerous cases where snipers from reconnaissance groups fell asleep on planes before parachute drops, and were woken up just before the drop.

The best sport that promotes shooting is swimming, preferably at a calm pace over long distances. Swimming very well develops the muscle groups necessary for shooting, and effectively and quickly “introduces shooting breathing.” As is already known, the quality of breathing when shooting is difficult to overestimate. Dumbbell gymnastics and training the vestibular apparatus in any available way are very useful.

Running, cross-country, stayer's jerks, and karate classes negatively affect accurate rifle shooting. And therefore, if a sniper works in a reconnaissance and sabotage group, where everything is based on the speed of movement, it is preferable for him to move at a fast athletic pace, and in hand-to-hand combat to work not with his fists, but with a silent pistol, which is good for Russian army They've made enough of them.

Women shoot better than men. It's not even that they don't drink or smoke. Psychophysiologically, women are much more adapted to work in extreme conditions than men. Women's patience threshold is higher than men's. The physiological endurance and adaptability of the female body is not comparable in effectiveness to that of the male. Women have more heightened perception systems, in particular, potentially increased night vision, hearing and smell. Their combat intuition, originally inherent in nature, is instantly triggered. Women are incredibly observant.

A woman who is psychologically prepared in advance for combat operations does not experience a feeling of confusion on the battlefield. When fulfilling the assigned combat mission, women work (they work) collectedly, purposefully and ruthlessly. Combat work is carried out clearly, efficiently and accurately. Women military personnel are very strict about following service instructions, without deviating one step from them. Women treat the process of sniper shooting very carefully and carefully, just like following constant instructions, so they are more trained in shooting than men. Women approach the process of camouflage creatively, with incredible ingenuity; this process is very organic for them. The performance of a female sniper will always be higher than that of a male sniper. In combat practice, women are more careful, and when wounded, they are more tenacious.

Taking these features into account, the Central Women's Sniper School was formed in Moscow in mid-1943. In two years, more than 1,800 female snipers were trained, who by the end of the war had destroyed, according to rough estimates, more than 18,000 Germans, that is, one German division of a full front-line composition.

A. A. Potapov The art of the sniper
(Alexey Andreevich Potapov - lieutenant colonel, master of sports in shooting from military weapons, instructor of the anti-terrorist unit. His military profession is scout and sniper. Books by Alexey Potapov are practical manuals on combat small arms and shooting techniques. In them he summarizes his experience real work and describes in detail the material, theory and tactics of combat.)