Possibly the best sniper ?

[Muti]

Yes, it's him

http://www.snipercentral.com/snipers.htm

[Eddie]

I always hate claims like this for one simple reason.

It's inaccurate to label someone "the best" because they operated in the most target rich environment ever.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by Eddie

I always hate claims like this for one simple reason.

It's inaccurate to label someone "the best" because they operated in the most target rich environment ever.

At what point do you stop discounting a sniper's accomplishments then? If you don't consider the sniper with the highest kill total the best, how do you determine the best? Remember Simo was using a standard-issue rifle without a scope and without benefit of a spotter -- and he did it all in 100 days. It's not his fault he made the best of the situation.

[Eddie]

Originally Posted by copeab

At what point do you stop discounting a sniper's accomplishments then? If you don't consider the sniper with the highest kill total the best, how do you determine the best? Remember Simo was using a standard-issue rifle without a scope and without benefit of a spotter -- and he did it all in 100 days. It's not his fault he made the best of the situation.

Read through Jester's reply. You could add in the ability to get a consistent sight picture, grouping size, any number of other metrics besides a target is up, now it's down.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by Eddie

Read through Jester's reply. You could add in the ability to get a consistent sight picture, grouping size, any number of other metrics besides a target is up, now it's down.

In the end, all that really matters is "sniper kills target, sniper gets away to kill another target".

[Eddie]

Yeah, but any member of the XBox generation can bet taught to shoot a target and crawl away. But skill comes in with the ability to do it without relying on luck, i.e., the ability to hit the same spot over and over and over. Or realistically speaking, relatively close to the same spot. Or being able to hit the part that you want and not just hoping for a hit. Because when you're shooting at a person versus a paper target, that extremity shot doesn't achieve the same effect. Your opinion obviously varies.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by Eddie

Yeah, but any member of the XBox generation can bet taught to shoot a target and crawl away. But skill comes in with the ability to do it without relying on luck

I'd hardly call killing over five Russians a day for 100 days with an unscoped infantry rifle "relying on luck"

As he was a hunter for many, many years, I'm sure most of his sniper kills came from fairly short range (100-200m) while well-hidden from the enemy.