Re: LE Snipers Using Semi-Auto
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PalouseOps</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SniperCJ</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What do you mean by a 'different training standard'?
Obviously there would be a different training 'protocol'. You train differently with a bolt gun than a gas gun. But different 'standard'?
Different qualification 'course' perhaps (given that you can utilize the system differently), but the 'standard' should be the same. For example if you require a 95% passing score with the bolt gun, you wouldnt require a 98% or 90% with the gas gun simply because it is a different system.
That would be like saying since we have one AI rifle, one HS Precision rifle and one Remington rifle, the AI quals at 98%, the HSP at 95% and the Rem at 93%. </div></div>
The standard I'm referring to is the training and qualification. I'll give you an example, even though you were mostly spot on.
On our quals we have to score a 90% or better. The course was written for a bolt gun and is only a total of 20 rounds fired with only two stages as a timed event. (This is a state standard.)
We don't have a semi-auto qualification or policy requirement that is any different. I think the 90% should remain, and is certainly obtainable, but since the semi's have a role unto themselves, do you think it would be a good thing to have a course (standard per-say) different than the one already in print? </div></div>
The qualification course is to test that the precision shooter, weapon and ammunition are capable of shooting given targets at given distances under a given time (if applicable). It should be the same across the board for the duty (precision marksman/sniper). Just because one variable changes, there is no need to adopt a different qualification course . If one shooter is better than another we don't adopt a different course for that shooter. The variable you are really testing is the shooter. The weapon system and ammunition selected should be capable of 1 MOA anyways.
We run one qualification course for both systems and our course of fire ranges from 25 yards out to 300 yards. We qual 4 times a year and shoot 3 rounds at each stage to save ammunition costs and reduce wear on the rifles. We train as a group weekly and have the opportunity to train more depending on our assignments.
On operations we generally tried to partner our teams up in bolt gun/semi-auto configurations. Our squads are almost set up that way naturally, with one bolt, one semi-auto. That developed because the .223 shooters were supporting the .308 shooters. Similar to the sniper/spotter setup.
