The average distance for an American LE sniper shot is 51.3 yards.
There have been longer (513 yds.) and shorter (5 yds.) ... both with 308s.
The 513 was this year and the numbers may fluctuate a little since the 51.3 yard number was arrived at.
NOTE: The 168 SMK did NOT exit on the 5 yard shot ... fascinating.
However, the old 75 yard, average cop sniper shot FBI stat ... is a myth.
The FBI does not, nor have they ever, kept statistics on sniper shots by law enforcement personnel. That old myth has been around for 30 years.
The American Sniper Association (
www.americansniper.org - different than
www.AmericanSnipers.org ) - polled every LE agency in the US with over 50 personnel and a SWAT team. We went back as far as the agency kept records and followed up on every shoot we could locate, compiling emprical data. The 51.3 yard number came out of that survey, 14 states of which I personally conducted the interviews.
Just like the QPs here, the role of the sniper in law enforcement depends entirely upon the mission.
Look out your front door, across the street, at your neighbor's house.
That is where we work every day.
If some whacko comes running out the front door with his Raven Arms target model blazing at 51.3 yards ... a red dot is nice to have.
If that same whacko is holding a hostage in the front door, at 51.3 yards ... in the dark, with a pistol taped to his hand ... a crosshair is much better.
The number 7 Reticle in the Short Dot does both.
It has a fine vertical upper crosshair, and heavy lower/horizontal posts.
It also has a red dot in the center of the crosshair intersection with the turn of a turret.
The reticle is fine for both precision and CQB work.
The SPR reticle for the same optic was designed by QPs if I am not mistaken and more appropriate for the missions they undertake. I find that that reticle will fade and can be hard to discern in low light (when most of our stuff happens).
I find that the tube is almost just as fast as my Aimpont for across the bedroom distances if I have to dump the bolt gun and assist on an entry (which happens more than one would think).
(The glass is unbelievably clear and the poster on the newer Zenith version is correct as well).
Likewise, if my entry team is working a Columbine type scenario and there are other snipers deployed outside to cover same ... I will ditch the .308 and grab the AR. There are lots of 150 yard hallways in the high schools here and the entry crew likes having a true long rifleman cover their play ... (whether they will admit it openly or not is an entirely different matter).
Same sniper mission ... just an adaptation of tactics and deployment.
We are issued a short AR with a red dot, a 16 inch carbine with either a red dot or scope and a .308 bolt gun with big glass.
Pick the right tool for the job.
It has taken years for us to get to that point ... most LEOs don't have SOCOMs budget. We often have to buy what we need ourselves ... but I digress.
... The last three guys I have set up on have been at less than 20 yards.
Just the way it played out. No way in any of those instances to get the distance we would rather work from.
On the last one, I grabbed a good old 870 and did not feel undergunned.
The B/G was expected to come running out the door, guns blazing as previously described and a good old load of buckshot would have served him well had it played out that way.
The AI stayed in the Eberlestock Phantom pack at my feet.
Overpenetration with the .308 is a real issue when working around entire neighborhoods comprised of 75 year old, wood frame houses, with many cops and bystanders all over the area ... and sometimes ... the .223 is just better suited for the job.
The term COP is just fine by the way.
If a cop gets offended for being called a cop ... he is probably a sissy and taking himself waaay too seriously.
Thanks for the compliments otherwise.
My guys work hard. Very proud of our service people.
BK
I'd prefer to just watch.
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