Sniping For Pros

[Zebra480]

Sniping Unplugged: Cracking the Code With 5th Grade Math





Because Murphy’s law never takes a day off, SWAT operators always need at the least, one backup option. You have flip up sights on your entry rifle because you have experienced the electronically generated dot of your choice fail without warning. I am betting that you will also have a sidearm secured to your plate carrier or holstered on your thigh along with a knife, strategically positioned for quick access if needed. Sniper missions require the same amount of redundancy. Calculators require light and/or batteries to operate. Slide rules can’t be read in darkness. Laser range finders sometimes fail like the red dot mounted on your match grade upper, not to mention their environmental limitations. Night vision (even the inexpensive units) can betray your location if your laser range finder is used in darkness. Every paranoid meth cook and wannabe terrorist can afford it. Suppose you had to navigate through water to get to your vantage point, will any of your battery-powered gizmos still perform, provided you even have them with you? Dead batteries will be a weak excuse to explain mission failure during a hot wash. If you do not have a plan for ranging in a situation that requires you to be totally blacked out, and your DOPE cards or slide rule are not in Braille, then you are left hoping that you never have to respond to such a scenario.

When we practice with the common formulas that are required to range objects with our optics, we do so with calculators or smart phones and pat ourselves on the back when we get the correct answers simply because we put in accurate data. You are setting yourself up for failure if you don’t have a plan that doesn’t include your downloaded shooter’s app. It takes some practice, but you can learn to operate battery-free by mentally breaking down the common formulas for range estimation. There are two commonly used Milradian ranging formulas. Most mil scope shooters choose one over the other, but each gives reliable answers.



Size of object in yards x 1000 divided by size of object in mils. Rule of 4s Method

Getting through the first part of the equation requires dividing the size of the object in inches by 36 to determine size in yards. Dividing anything by 36 on the fly is a bit intimidating. It would be simpler if we lived in a metric system friendly part of the world where we could easily convert centimeters to meters. It takes very little effort to convert 37 centimeters into .37 meters. But we don’t live there and I am willing to bet that a 20-inch wheel and a 36-inch-wide residential door will still be marketed as such for another generation or so. So, we must work with what we are presented. To avoid taking the troublesome 36 denominator head on, we can use simple multiplication and addition, using what I call the Rule of 4s Method. There are 36 inches in every yard, which unfortunately doesn’t correspond with the number of digits on our hands. That rules out the possibility of multiplying/dividing by 10 to get a metric system type of shortcut. But, most within our ranks are able to count in increments of 4, so let’s start there. 36 inches when divided by 4 equals 9. Therefore, every 4 inches represents 1/9th of a yard. 1/9th of anything is 11.1 percent.

• 4 inches = .111 yards
• 8 inches = .222 yards
• 12 inches = .333 yards
• 16 inches = .444 yards
• 20 inches = .555 yards
• 24 inches = .666 yards
• 28 inches = .777 yards
• 32 inches = .888 yards
• 36 inches = 1.00 yard

Using this quick shortcut yields the Size of Object in Yards portion of the equation with no mention of the cumbersome 36. Now on to managing numbers that have no desire of being divided by 4. Suppose you are ranging a 15-inch object. Start by finding a close multiple of 4. Start with 16 inches which represents .444 yards or 12 inches representing .333 yards. You can subtract one inch from 16 or add 3 inches to 12 using the following:

• Dividing 1-inch by 36 = .0277 yards
• .0277 can be rounded to .03
• 1 inch is rounded to .03
• 2 inches are rounded to .06
• 3 inches are rounded to .09
• 4 inches:
• Since every 4 inches reveal an easily identified yard equivalent, adding or subtracting beyond 3 is not necessary.
• If using 16 inches, subtract .03 for each inch needed to reach 15, which in this case is 1 inch (.444 - .03 = .414).
• .414 is sufficiently close to the actual .416.66 that you would have gotten with a calculator while dividing 15 by 36. A similar result could be found by starting at 12 inches (.333 yards) and adding .03 for each of the 3 inches needed to reach 15 (.333 + .09 = .423).
• At this point, we have satisfied the size of object in inches divided by 36 part of the equation.
• Next, move the decimal 3 places to the right to satisfy the x 1000 part of the formula (.423 x 1000 = 423).
• Then, divide by the size of object in mils. Using 2 mils as the measurement, the calculator would give us a distance of 208 yards for our battery powered 15inch object size (416.66/2 = 208.33). Our mental shortcut numbers of 414 and 423 yield comparable distances of 207 and 211 yards respectively, without any batteries.
• You can see from the example that rounding the last digit for expediency gives very small deviations. Do not round the other digits!

Size of object in inches x 27.77 divided by size of object in mils, Money Method

• Multiplying by 27.77 begs for a calculator’s assistance and makes dividing by 36 seem almost mundane. This equation can be domesticated somewhat by using what I call the Money Method.
• Start by breaking down the 27.77 into these smaller units: 25 +2.5 +.25 = 27.75, which is almost identical to 27.77. As in the first formula, rounding the last digit is acceptable.
• In keeping with the 5th grade math pledge, assign a monetary value in cents to the [B1] size in inches. If the object being ranged measures 20-inches, a grade school student could recognize that 20 quarters is worth 5 dollars. The 500.0 cents represented by the 20 quarters fits in the 25 position. That gives us 25 of the 27.77 needed.
• Next, solve the 2.5 part of the equation by moving the decimal one place to the left to get 50.0 or 50 cents. Add that to the 500 cents and we now have 550 cents (27.5 of the required 27.77).
• Now, solve the .25 by moving the decimal once again and we have 5 cents. Add that to the 550 and get 555 cents.
• Using battery generated technology with the 20 inches and the 27.77 multiplier gives us a nearly identical 555.4.
• With the size of object in inches x 27.77 satisfied, the remainder of the equation is identical to the preceding formula.

For both formulas, an object larger than 36 inches will require an extra digit in the size of object in yards and size of object in inches x 27.77 portion of the equations. Using 40 inches in the Rule of 4s formula, assign a value of 1 to the first 36 inches and .111 for the remaining 4 inches to get 1.111 total. After moving the decimal point 3 places to the right, the size in yards x 1000 measures 1111. Using the Money Method, 40 inches represents $10.00 (1000 cents). Then add 100 cents , then 10 cents and total for 1110 cents (1110).



All that remains now to determine the distance is to solve the size of object in mils portion of either formula which is fortunately much easier. I offer my preferred method as an example.

• Consider a 12-inch object, which yields 333 in both formulas. Using 1.5 mils as the measurement in the scope, divide 333 (size in yards x 1000 or size in inches x 27.77) by 1.5 (size in mils) to determine distance in yards to the object.
• Start by mentally multiplying the “size in mils portion” by 100 (1.5 x 100 = 150). That tells me that each 150 unit is equal to a distance of 100 yards. In this case, there is room for two units of 150 (150 + 150 = 300 which represents 200 yards).
• This leaves 33 of the original 333 remaining to be dealt with.
• Now, switch and mentally multiply 1.5 times 10 (1.5 x 10 = 15). Continue solving as before with each unit of 15 being represented as 10 yards (15 + 15 = 30 which adds 20 yards to the previous 200 yards and we get 220 yards).
• So far, this accounts for 330 of the original 333. That leaves only the final 3 of the original 333 unaccounted for.
• You have probably already guessed the value of remaining 3, which is 2 yards after another move of the decimal for a total distance or 222 yards.

There are multiple ways to solve this portion of the formula by manipulating the numbers that also give correct data. The trick is to find something to accommodate your brain’s particular style. I believe that I have already mentioned that practice is necessary.



We learn on day one of Basic SWAT training that the maximum range of an excuse is 0 meters. Failing to prepare is often the culprit when things do not go well. Not having a have a solid backup plan for a worst-case scenario in a tactical environment is a recipe for failure and also represents a big, fat, slow moving target for civil attorneys. If ranging calculations are incorrect, any subsequent wind or slope adjustments will be incorrect also. Devote and document some of your structured training time to develop your team’s skills. Realistic training is necessary to master your craft, and mastery is the standard required and expected, with or without batteries

---

[B1]

 

[Zebra480]

I have no idea where that [B1] came from. It doesn't show on
the pasted doc.
Just another reason not to trust technology.

 

[Steel head]

 

[Jerry V]

Thanks for the info. I printed out and plan to spend some time upgrading my math skills. I like finding ways to remove the digital/electronics world

 

[Lowlight]

What is it 1978 again

 

[Steel head]

What is it 1978 again

1978 was a great time!
Assassinating frogs snd birds.
Harassing girls.
Building forts.
Aggravated and taunting Tiny, our Holstein bull.
Watching Benny Hill and seeing boobies.

 

[Lowlight]

True story right there,

my crossman 766 was stacking them wholesale back in 78, or was it the 760 in 78 and the 766 in 82,

 

[Lowlight]

I looked it was 766 in 78 and the RWS in 82, good times prior it was the 760

man writing this the muscle in my right arm just twitched damn pumps

 

[Steel head]

I was already up to a Sears single shot 22 and a savage 99 in 30-30 by 1978.

 

[Lowlight]

Ya we weren’t supposed to shoot those unless we went to a specific spot,

the air stuff was good at the house, not the 22s

as it was we shot the neighbors enough, anything bigger was a risk

 

[Lowlight]

I remember we took the LI Ferry to Port Jeff, we used to do it every summer with my cousins. I got a wrist rocket there and it was perfect because we had pea gravel under the deck and around the pool.

I think our deck was maybe 50’ square it was decent size, fit a couple tables on it. I had my cousin hold the skinny yellow Wiffle ball bat, (lived in Shelton, home of the wiffle ball) shot the bat, hit it, then the gravel came right back at me, I moved out of the way so not to get hit, shattered the sliding glass door, day one.

the 70s and early 80s were fun

 

[NewsShooter]

True story right there,

my crossman 766 was stacking them wholesale back in 78, or was it the 760 in 78 and the 766 in 82,

Sheridan blue streak in 5mm, got it in 73 or 74, still have it. Killed a grey squirrel with a head shot at 40 yards one time. My buddy and I used to take them deer hunting and cut twigs and stems on plants while sitting in camp at night. Taught my roommate in college to shoot with it. He came home one day and I was shooting 30 cal sized seeds off the tree outside the apt. He didn't believe me until I said pick one and he watched it disappear.

 

[_Windrider_]

Red rider BB gun with a compass in the stock.

 

[Moe Ron]

Funny. We moved out in country when I was in 7th grade. Promise was I’d get a pellet gun. Crosman 760 it was. Dad said he better not ever catch me shooting song birds.
I shot everything that moved. Including cars on the highway. Never hit any. That I know of.

 

[DIBBS]

I looked it was 766 in 78 and the RWS in 82, good times prior it was the 760

man writing this the muscle in my right arm just twitched damn pumps

I had one a little earlier, a 760. Never pumped it more than 10 times ...LOL Sumbitch was purdee accurate, but I had much better eyes then. Grasshoppers, sparrows, robins, back when they had TIN cans, pop cans... maybe a few bottles too.

Oh and the ceiling in the living room. THAT did NOT go over well.....

 

[Devildog]

Reminds me of better times, I had a Crosman Model 1400 pump master in 22 caliber. I was a country kid I remember killing my first squirrel with that rifle. I’d hit every farm pond I could and I shot every damn frog I could find, in the evening it was Cicada’s. Nothing was safe back then. When I ran out of pellets I went after them with my wrist rocket. I still have that rifle, I probably got it around 76-78. Those were the days!

 

[Jabot]

Crossman 760 belonged to the neighbor boy before me. Gave to me when he got a 22. Cans, pop bottles, birds , I think I even hit a rabbit once. Everyday after school grab it and go. Then I got the benjiman 22 cal. Pellet gun man i thought was something

 

[Deleted member 113831]

Crossman 760 with the wooden stock. I conservatively put 100K BB's and pellets through that thing. Used to buy the BB's in the lunchroom size little milk cartons w/3K BB's each. Sometimes they didn't last a week.

Growing up in the country, in SW Oklahoma there were always targets of opportunity...grasshoppers, birds, snakes, frogs, cans, crawdads....if it would let me get within about 25 yards then it was in danger.

Graduated briefly to a Benjamin before getting my hand-me-down Marlin single shot 22LR w/weaver 2.5x scope. Still have that rifle.

 

[TxWelder35]

You old farts will be glad to know that kid that grew up in the 90s was still wreaking havoc with a pump crossman BB gun. After that got a 1000 FPS daisy pellet gun. That thing stacked rabbits ever since day. One summer we decimated an entire population of rabbits in my moms neighborhood. They went from being so many that you would see a couple dozen driving halfway through the neighborhood no matter when you came through, to not being able to find a single one if you tried for an hour.

after the laser beam of death became too easy and targets became harder to come by we switched to blow guns. Man those blowguns are a riot.

highly suggest one of those cold steel blow guns if y’all have never tried it. The plastic stun darts leave a nice welt on unsuspecting friends.

 

[Downtown]

Pretty much the same age to have a 760 in the early seventies. This conversation does bring back a lot of memories. And although we kind of made fun of the original post, it is true that the phone could die at a most inopportune time. In a match, no real big deal. You just lose that day. It doesn't hurt to practice math in the head occasionally.

 

[Bruce Fowler]

I had a Crossman 760 circa 1973, with real bolt action. It was the most dead nuts accurate BB gun that I ever had. The later renditions with the spring loaded bolts don't come close to comparison.

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

Shit,....did you all miss this one from the OP, lol?

Sincerely,
Theis

They both work. The MOA is a little easier to figure in your head. Forget about the x.955 crap Just multiply by 1 and subtract 5 yards every 100 or 1 for every 20 yards. The math for MOA is easier on face value. But, from years of experience, I can tell you that is easier on the brain to hold 2 mils left than it it is to hold 7 minutes left for any extended amount of time. The type of turrets don't really matter with practice. Practice with what you have.

 

[_Windrider_]

Hi,

Shit,....did you all miss this one from the OP, lol?

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[Jabot]

Hi,

Shit,....did you all miss this one from the OP, lol?

Sincerely,
Theis

Hi,

Shit,....did you all miss this one from the OP, lol?

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[Lowlight]

This is why we love freedom of speech

the more you let people talk the better it gets

 

[Newbie2020]