Marine Sniper Question

faldum

Just finished reading "Marine Sniper" by Charles Henderson.

Henderson writes:

"The lieutenant shifted the binoculars toward the direction that the machine gun was pointed...The lieutenant watched. He felt strange because even at this distance he could see the man's face and eyes, He had never looked at a man's eyes as bullet killed him...."

Thus the author describes a confirmed kill in Viet Nam by Marine Sgt. Carlos Hathcock.
The range was stated as 2,500 yards, using an M2 .50 machine gun
and Unertl 8X telescope.

What kind of binoculars are capable of such definition at a range of 1.42 miles?

Faldum

rg666

I guess its possible but no matter what they were he had to be leaning them on something otherwise he couldn't see a thing. With high power binoc's just like scopes a little movement goes a long way. Maybe he was using those gigantic navy binoc's. Those things would need there own damn backback though!! RG

11echo

I think you'll find the anything over 10X in binoculars is kinda rough to handle. They are extremely hard to hold steady. I'm betting they were using the term "binoculars" loosely and probably were using a spotting scope at about 20x to 30x power. normally when your doing extreme long range shooting your dealing with a spotting scope ...I've seen them in the Army when I was in. ...Mark

"FEAR the Goverment, that fears your ARMS"

bullelk

They have what are called Image Stabilizing binoculars, similar to what you see in some of the digital cameras.
Zeiss makes a superb pair of 20x60 stabilized, retail price $5,000.00, of course the Government can afford those easily. You can spot a nats * at a 1000 yards with those.
You can hand hold them just like a low power pair.



Edited by - bullelk on 07/10/2002 20:35:58

robsguns

11echo probably has it right, Carlos would have had a spotting scope set up right there most likely. As I heard the story he was sitting up on a hill anyway, right in camp, but shoot, these stories get all twisted around from one person to the next.

SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC

hunter86004

Ship binos were quite common on fire bases in the Nam.

11echo

hunter86004 ...When I was in the Army, anything "fancy" tended to disappear or get beat to *!*L* My 2 cents. ...Mark

"FEAR the Goverment, that fears your ARMS"

faldum

Thank you all for your most enlightening insights.
Faldum

JustC

He was in a sandbagged machine gun nest and Lt E.J. Land had the bino's rested on one of the sandbags. It was a 12-13 yr old Vietnamese supply mule riding a bicycle with ak-47's strapped to it.

A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.

bullelk

Hey Guys, If you want to check out something interesting, check out this website.

http://www.5th-marine-snipers.com/sniper.htm

faldum

Again, thanks to all who kindly offered their expertise on this query.
To JustC: The dramatic "supply mule" incident you mention (same 2,500 yard distance) occurred somewhat before (several pages in the book, "Marine Sniper") the 2,500 yard kill in question.
In the former, the author notes a 20X M-49 spotting scope was used.
I emailed the author. Perhaps he might provide additional clarification.
Faldum
p.s. Was Image Stabilization technology used on Military optics in 1967?

bullelk

faldum,
From what I understand, Zeiss was the first to develop the image stablization system in binoculars in 1990. I guess that puts it way ahead of Vietnam. I didn't realize it was that late in time when it was developed.

Warpig883

He was using an M2 .50?? That is a heavy machine gun.