tanpanther Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Do snipers in military/law enforcement carry an assualt rifle or sub-machine gun (or any other possible sidearms beside pistols, please name them) in addition to the sniper rifle as backup/secondary weapon? Link to post Share on other sites
Mat Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Short answer. Depends on the Army and the operation Long answer will unfold below in many arguments, lol. Here you can see members of the BW on IR maneuvers, the Sniper/DMR has a G36 as well as his specialist rifle... as one soldier I talked to a couple of years ago said, "You have to get there first." However, as I said it will vary from country to country and from mission to mission... this is just one example of one force. The MP7A1 will no doubt be found with a few in the BW, as would the P8 Link to post Share on other sites
tanpanther Posted May 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 I was told that snipers would never have another sidearms except his pistol, because it will cause too much extra weight for the sniper. Link to post Share on other sites
greg Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Great beard. Greg. Link to post Share on other sites
greg Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 I was told that snipers would never have another sidearms except his pistol, because it will cause too much extra weight for the sniper. Who told you that? Greg. Link to post Share on other sites
tanpanther Posted May 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Do you know Mel from sniper central? Link to post Share on other sites
tanpanther Posted May 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 How about shotguns and SMGs? any chance they could be used as secondary weapon for snipers? Link to post Share on other sites
ED-SKaR Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Brittish army snipers often use SA80s as the standard weapon then the AI rifle as the specialist weapon. Link to post Share on other sites
DarkLite Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Shotguns unlikely. SMGs also unlikely. A short assault rifle is most likely - parts and ammo commonality with the rest of the unit etc. Link to post Share on other sites
Slim_Shady Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Standard OP for most Western Armies is to carry the standard assault rifle as well as the long - as stated you have to get there first. Pistols have been issued and used in that capacity in the past but currently, I believe that few units operate without recourse to an assault rifle as back-up. As far as Law Enforcement types are concerned, pistols are favoured over anything else due to the nature of their role. Link to post Share on other sites
shibisueka Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Usually snipers carry an assault rifle and a pistol, as well as their long rifle. I agree, Law Enforcment is usually just a pistol. Link to post Share on other sites
tanpanther Posted May 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Shotguns unlikely. SMGs also unlikely. A short assault rifle is most likely - parts and ammo commonality with the rest of the unit etc. Is it really because insufficient of ammo for SMG and shotgun or because these weapons are not good at long range? Link to post Share on other sites
Punkypink Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 I think Dark's point is that it is a matter of logistical convenience. Why have to indent ammo and parts for yet another kind of wep when the sniper could carry a shortened version of what everyone else carries, thus saving the quartermaster having to indent shotgun or smg rounds specially for one person? Link to post Share on other sites
Danke Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Ammo commonality comes in handy if you have to get handed a mag from someone in your section, or if you have to pass one over. If you have a standard issue rifle and your buddy decided to haul grandpa's trenchbroom along it's not going to do anyone else much good. Link to post Share on other sites
Brainplay Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 I was told that snipers would never have another sidearms except his pistol, because it will cause too much extra weight for the sniper. Attached to a squad and they don't have to carry the spare m240/249 ammo or other spares that are often divied up among the unit. As detached teams they don't need individual tac radio's or extra spares either. Right there you eliminate alot of extra weight. They don't exactly pack heavy for their assault rifles either. Usually a handfull of mags compared to 270-300 rounds of a regular infantryman. They're still packing more weight than the average grunt but not that much. The mission itself is going to determine how much, what type, and for how long they'll be on their feet and varies alot. No shotguns for sure. No one issues a shotgun as a primary weapon due to the weight and low range. Primarily only used as breaching tools for the military and augmented firepower for LEO's (law enforcement officers). LEO snipers aren't patrol, nor will they ever have to engage at close range. But then their engagements rarely reach past 200m. Whole different set of tactics. Link to post Share on other sites
Punkypink Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Actually shotguns were used to good effect in dense jungles in vietnam as point weapons. Who can forget the good ol Ithaca 37? But I digress... Link to post Share on other sites
Danke Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 I can't help but think that if a real sniper team ever found itself in a positon where a shotgun was going to be handy there would have been so many breakdowns in their fieldcraft and the mission itself it would only be something you'd see in a movie. As an airsoft sniper some shotguns would be an acceptable secondary. Link to post Share on other sites
Noart Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Swedish snipers carry their PSG90's in rifle bags 'till they are supposed to use them. They use ther normal assualt rifles otherwise (Conscripts: AK5C/D, Homeguard: AK4B). Source: A friend of mine who's in the homeguard as a sniper. Link to post Share on other sites
jond36 Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Handgun only for the MC and the MK 23, the USP tactical, and the USP compact all with cans is a particular favorite for some reason. I personally enjoy a solid P226 with a can. Ohh! and most would agree if you are in a lizard/big foot suit (Ghille. lol) you do not want weight! Repeat, DO NOT! If you mention SMG or an AR. You will be laughed at. It is one shot one kill. not one shot one kill then suppressing fire. Link to post Share on other sites
Slim_Shady Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Handgun only for the MC and the MK 23, the USP tactical, and the USP compact all with cans is a particular favorite for some reason. I personally enjoy a solid P226 with a can. Ohh! and most would agree if you are in a lizard/big foot suit (Ghille. lol) you do not want weight! Repeat, DO NOT! If you mention SMG or an AR. You will be laughed at. It is one shot one kill. not one shot one kill then suppressing fire. Do snipers in military/law enforcement carry an assualt rifle or sub-machine gun (or any other possible sidearms beside pistols, please name them) in addition to the sniper rifle as backup/secondary weapon? Link to post Share on other sites
scar527 Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 I can't help but think that if a real sniper team ever found itself in a positon where a shotgun was going to be handy there would have been so many breakdowns in their fieldcraft and the mission itself it would only be something you'd see in a movie. As an airsoft sniper some shotguns would be an acceptable secondary. um what about an urban eviornment where the sniper might have to clear a house? Or if he should happen to stumble upon an enemy(s) within his med? Link to post Share on other sites
The Chef Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Or if he should happen to stumble upon an enemy(s) within his med? I'm sure in a real world scenario, a sniper isn't going to concern himself that someone he is about to kill is a little too close for the power of his rifle! Link to post Share on other sites
Punkypink Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 I can't help but think that if a real sniper team ever found itself in a positon where a shotgun was going to be handy there would have been so many breakdowns in their fieldcraft and the mission itself it would only be something you'd see in a movie. As an airsoft sniper some shotguns would be an acceptable secondary. i meant that shotties as a primary for use other than breaching was not something that was unheard of in the military, in response to this bit of brainplay's post: "No shotguns for sure. No one issues a shotgun as a primary weapon due to the weight and low range. Primarily only used as breaching tools for the military and augmented firepower for LEO's (law enforcement officers)." I have no doubts that shotguns were not issued to snipers at all, but they were certainly used by the military for quite a bit more than opening doors! Link to post Share on other sites
Punkypink Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 um what about an urban eviornment where the sniper might have to clear a house? Or if he should happen to stumble upon an enemy(s) within his med? in such cases as house clearing, they make do and use a sidearm. IF a soldier were to have each and every single bit of equipment for "what if"s then everyone would have to be issued a unimog just to carry all of it! Link to post Share on other sites
The Chef Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 But you gotta admit, being issued a UniMog would be no bad thing! Link to post Share on other sites
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