Field and Stream - Other RSS

Job Skills: A Sniper’s Résumé

Sarah Smith — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:44:03 -0500

by David E. Petzal

One of the reasons for the decline and fall of the United States is, I believe, that the Draft was abolished. It had its drawbacks, but it also had a couple of advantages: It required that every able-bodied male serve their country for a while and, since a great many people had military experience as a result, the population as a whole had a pretty good idea of what the military was and did.

Today that’s very far from the case. One percent of our population* is fighting our wars, and there is a growing ignorance about the military and a growing alienation from it in our once-great land.

This was brought to light in an article in the December 18 issue of The New York Times about the growing joblessness among vets. In it, a Ms. Rachel Feldstein, who is Associate Director of a San Diego company called New Directions (which specializes in drug rehab and training for veterans) said the following:

“If you train someone to be a sniper, those skills are not necessarily skills that are transferable.”

This took me aback. If Ms. Feldstein is referring to shooting people, she is quite correct; there are only so many SWAT teams around. However, there are few jobs in the services that require such a diverse blend of abilities as that of sniper, and those abilities would make any potential employer slaver.

Let us review:

A sniper must have superior hand-eye coordination.

A sniper must have limitless patience.

A sniper must be able to absorb large amounts of data and use that data, accurately, under extreme stress.

A sniper must be able to plan meticulously (how to get in alive, do the job, and get out alive.)

A sniper must be able to work in close cooperation with other people (a spotter at least, and as many as four other team members).

A sniper has demonstrated that he can work intensely toward a long-term goal (It ain’t easy to graduate from sniper school, either the Marine or Army version.)

A sniper is physically fit and physically brave.

A sniper is capable of intense concentration for long periods of time under adverse conditions.

If the sniper is E-5 or above, he has advanced leadership skills and very likely ability as an instructor.

A sniper is at home with detail work.

Now, some of these are aptitudes rather than skills, but it seems to me that if a person with this package of talents came to me looking for a job, my only question would be, “When can you start?” There is very little someone like this can’t accomplish.

Possibly, because a fair number of citizens has been brainwashed to think that anyone who has anything to do with guns is nuts, and because the psychotic veteran is a staple of popular entertainment, some potential employers would see “Sniper” on a resume and call Security. Sorry to disappoint them, but snipers are no more nuts than anyone else with a combat-arm MOS. As the then-commandant of the Marine Sniper School once told me,

“We weed out the Rambos, the psychos, and the loners. We want All-American boys who go out and do what we tell them and no more.”

In the meanwhile, let’s not condemn Ms. Feldstein. She’s probably doing Good Work. And she is no more ignorant than the rest of the 300-million-plus Americans who will never wear a uniform.

*I’ve read that out of every 10 people who apply to join the military seven fail to qualify because of poor physical condition, lack of education, or criminal records.

Mad Marlin Attacks Press Boat During Tourney

Joe_Cermele — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:52:38 -0400

A giant 550-pound blue marlin - perhaps angry about something they wrote - attacked the press boat at the 51st Annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament this week.

From this story on KHON2 TV:
Kailua-Kona is once again hosting one the top fishing tournaments in the world with some of the best anglers in the sport. But the biggest fishing tale so far happened on the press boat when a 550 lb. marlin went berserk and attacked. The 51st annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is shaping up to be one of the most memorable in years with several monster marlins caught including one by the press boat. "I've seen some pretty wacky stuff but this still blew my mind," said photographer Jon Schwartz who was aboard the Chiripa when one of its lines snagged a 550 lb. marlin. "And this giant marlin starts going berserk and it was close the boat."Schwartz grabbed his camera and started shooting.

"And next thing you know it turns and it comes right at us, and starts *greyhounding* right at us and I'm trying to keep the thing in my lens," said Schwartz who was focused on getting the shot and not the drama unfolding. "All I know is it got so close that I couldn't take any pictures. After awhile the fish goes out of the frame because he's too darn close and I just basically woah what's going on here. And the next thing I know I hear the fish slam into the boat."Before it does he captures this amazing image. Seconds later the massive fish dives under the boat. "It was actually never totally hooked it was just wrapped around the bill and the leverage from the pressure was putting it on the weakest part of the shank so that's how the fish gained its freedom," said Schwartz.

The boat was not damaged and no one was injured.

(photo: bluewaterjon.com)

How to Shoot a Magazine for Fun and (Maybe) Profit

Online Editors — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:20:41 -0400

We want you to take the July issue of Field & Stream out and shoot it. Well, not the whole magazine, but the target on page 49. It’s part of the special Gun Nut issue, in which DEP and I put this blog on the pages of the Field & Stream. In the section you’ll find shooting advice, lots of guns, Gun Nut rules to live by and such vital minutiae as my five favorite gun scenes in the movies and Dave’s nominations for the Three Meanest Gunwriters Ever. The issue hits newsstands on June 22nd.

Back to the target. We want you to shoot it. Really. With any gun, at any range. One shot or many – doesn’t matter – then shoot it again, this time with a camera. You can be in the picture, too. Whoever takes the photo our editors like best wins a Smith & Wesson M&P MOE in 5.56mm. And by “wins” I mean, we give it to you (via a registered FFL dealer) and you get to keep it. You can enter the contest here once your issue arrives.

I have shot a bunch of phone books (you test penetration by seeing how far in the alphabet the pellets reach) but I don’t recall ever shooting a magazine so you are on your own in your choice of guns and ammunition. My only advice is be safe, be creative, have fun, and send us your pictures.

There’s nothing in the rules that says you can’t send in pictures of more than one target. That will require buying more magazines which, of course, is all part of our insidiously brilliant plan. Magazines are supposed to be dying out, killed by the Internet as delivered on home computers, laptops, phones and iPads. Maybe someday, but for now, we are proud to say we have created an app for a magazine that can’t be replicated on a screen. Well, I guess you can shoot your laptop if you want to, but we won’t let you win a gun for doing it.

Make A Cheap Recoil Reducer

Online Editors — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:21:46 -0500

Here's a quick and easy way to add weight to the front of your waterfowl gun, where it will help smooth your swing dampen muzzle jump, and reduce recoil by 6 to 7 percent. This recoil reducer replaces the factory magazine plug.

1. Cut the PVC to the length of the magazine plug in your gun (allow 1/8 inch for each cap). If using open pipe (shown) instead of stub-out, glue a cap on one end with PVC cement.

2. Fill the pipe or stub-out to the top with lead shot, and glue the cap on with PVC cement. Reinforce with electrician's tape if needed.

3. Following the instructions in your gun's manual for plug installation, replace the factory plug. With some models you may have to slim the cap on a grinding wheel. The springs in Remington shotguns (1100/870/11-87) are just barely big enough to go around the stub-out. Give the reducer a light spray of oil and work it on.

Materials (for a 12-gauge):
1/2-inch open PVC pipe and 2 caps, or PVC stub-out and 1 cap
Electrician's tape
PVC conduit cement
4–5 oz. of size 8 or 9 lead shot

Discussion Topic: On Paintballing And Geocaching At WMAs

colinkearns — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:02:06 -0400

According to North Dakota Game And Fish Department Supervisor Scott Peterson, paintballing and geocaching create a "considerable amount of unnecessary disturbance to both wildlife and wildlife habitat,” and are therefore banned in state wildlife management areas (WMAs) under new rules. The decision obviously benefits hunters—and why not? Hunters and anglers foot the bill for WMAs. Seems fair to me. Then again, I’ve never tried paintballing or geocaching and so have no reason to get worked up. And while I doubt there are a whole lot geocaching sportsmen, there are probably some paintballers. Is anyone PO’d about this? What do the rest of you think?

Check out the full story here.

Chad Love: Locked & Loaded in Parkland

Joe_Cermele — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:28:51 -0400

There's already been a boatload of bloviation expressed on the recent reversal of the ban on loaded firearms in our national parks, some of it sensible but most of it (predictably) bordering on hysterics.

This column from the Huffington Post is a perfect example:

"In fact, the new rule is likely to make national park visitors less safe around wildlife. Packing heat could give some people a false sense of security and make them more likely to approach bison, elk, moose, and grizzly bears, rather than keep a safe distance which is better for both people and animals."

But the most certain outcome of this congressional action is that it will promote poaching. The National Park Service warned in its fiscal 2006 budget submission each year for the past several years ... The data suggests that there is a significant domestic as well as international trade for illegally taken plant and animal parts." Poaching, the agency said, "is suspected to be a factor in the decline of at least 29 species of wildlife and could cause the extirpation of 19 species from the parks."

Two points I'd like to make in response. First, poaching. When you make an argument it's generally a pretty good idea to make sure the data you use in defense of your argument actually support it. Apparently Mr. Markarian skipped that chapter in his high school debate class. There's absolutely no, none, nada, zip not a shred of evidence or data to support his assertion that allowing visitors firearms "promotes poaching." He, to be perfectly blunt, reached around his backside and pulled that statement out of his a**. And that National Park Service budget submission he quoted was published in...2006. Yes, three years ago. You know, back when packing in national parks was illegal.

Second, it's obvious the author has never visited a national park. If he had he would know that it's complete fantasy to believe that current (unarmed) visitors to our national parks exhibit good judgment and keep a safe, prudent distance from roadside wildlife. Quite the opposite. Thanks to the constant anthropomorphization we're subjected to we now believe that wild animals have a deep, intrinsic empathy toward humans. They would love us, if only we would put down our guns and let them.

In fact, if one could make a sweeping generalization about the common sense of the average American tourist by observing their behavior around national park wildlife, one would have to reach the inevitable conclusion that we're already a nation of clueless, pushy, overly-aggressive suburban jackasses. Guns certainly aren't going to change that. If you point out the obvious fact that wild animals have no interest in connecting with us on a spiritual level but if we intentionally harass them they will most assuredly connect with us on a physical level, then you're simply an unevolved lout who doesn't get it. See video below.

But I'm a pragmatist, and I think I've reached a compromise that will make everyone happy. Why don't we make loaded firearms illegal within say, 100 yards of any RV-accessible road but allow loaded firearms in campsites and on all trails? This achieves two goals: it gives backcountry hikers and campers a measure of personal protection from criminal and animal attack. It also gives park wildlife the freedom to (without the threat of being shot) continue stomping, goring, maiming and otherwise communing with the hordes of camera-wielding Animal Planet watchers who choke our national park roads every summer.

Discussion Topic: Field & Stream Wins ASME’s Highest Honor

Joe_Cermele — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:32:04 -0400

F&S is the best magazine of its size on the planet. Okay, I’m a little biased on that point--but it’s not just me who thinks so. Last night, the country’s top magazine editors representing the country’s top magazines met at New York City’s Lincoln Center for the 44th Annual National Magazine Awards. Known as Ellies, these are basically the Oscars of the magazine industry, and “General Excellence” is “Best Picture.”

The 2009 General Excellence nominees for magazines with a circulation of 1 to 2 million were: Field & Stream, Bon Appetit, The New Yorker, Vogue, and Popular Science. And the winner is, from the American Society of Magazine Editors website:

Field & Stream: Anthony Licata, editor, for May, June, December/January issues
From tips on becoming a total outdoorsman to profiles of veteran amputees reentering the world of hunting, Field & Stream respects its readers enough to challenge them. Like all great magazines, this one is much more ambitious than it needs to be and delivers the goods, but also provokes with content that is consistently savvy, witty and large-hearted. Nominated 14 times, this is Field & Stream’s first Ellie.

I know all of you have been waiting for an opportunity to heap praise on us—and who are we to hold you back? So just go for it.

Petzal: The Rules of Gunfighting

Joe_Cermele — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:05:07 -0500

Normally, this blog is dedicated to peaceful pursuits. However, SFC Frick speaks much wisdom. I am giving him a meritorious promotion to Command Sergeant Major (E-9).

(For more on this subject, visit our list of the five best gunfights of all time).

Drill Sergeant Joe B. Fricks Rules For A Gunfight

1. Forget about knives, bats and fists. Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns. Bring four times the ammunition you think you could ever need.

2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammunition is cheap - life is expensive. If you shoot inside, buckshot is your friend. A new wall is cheap - funerals are expensive

3. Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.

4. If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough or using cover correctly.

5. Move away from your attacker and go to cover. Distance is your friend. (Bulletproof cover and diagonal or lateral movement are preferred.)

6. If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a semi or full-automatic long gun and a friend with a long gun.

7. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.

8. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and running. Yell "Fire!" Why "Fire"? Cops will come with the Fire Department, sirens often scare off the bad guys, or at least cause then to lose concentration and will.... and who is going to summon help if you yell "Intruder," "Glock" or "Winchester?"

9. Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun.

10. Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.

11. Stretch the rules. Always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.

12. Have a plan.

13. Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work. "No battle plan ever survives 10 seconds past first contact with an enemy."

14. Use cover or concealment as much as possible, but remember, sheetrock walls and the like stop nothing but your pulse when bullets tear through them.

15. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.

16. Don't drop your guard.

17. Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees. Practice reloading one-handed and off-hand shooting. That's how you live if hit in your "good" side.

18. Watch their hands. Hands kill. Smiles, frowns and other facial expressions don't (In God we trust. Everyone else keep your hands where I can see them.)

19. Decide NOW to always be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.

20. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.

21. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet if necessary, because they may want to kill you.

22. Be courteous to everyone, overly friendly to no one.

23. Your number one option for personal security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.

24. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with anything smaller than "4".

25. Use a gun that works EVERY TIME. "All skill is in vain when an Angel blows the powder from the flintlock of your musket." At a practice session, throw your gun into the mud, then make sure it still works. You can clean it later.

26. Practice shooting in the dark, with someone shouting at you, when out of breath, etc.

27. Regardless of whether justified of not, you will feel sad about killing another human being. It is better to be sad than to be room temperature.

28. The only thing you EVER say afterwards is, "He said he was going to kill me. I believed him. I'm sorry, Officer, but I'm very upset now. I can't say anything more. Please speak with my attorney."

Finally, Drill Sergeant Frick's Rules For Un-armed Combat.

1. Never be unarmed.

Trouble In Sportsman's Paradise

timromano — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:50:24 -0500

Photo by Tim Romano

From: The St. Brenard News, January 21, 2009

It turns out they take their angling infractions pretty seriously down in the bayous of Louisiana. While enjoying a shrimp po-boy the other day I took to scanning the the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's department arrests section in the newspaper. There must have been over one hundred arrests on just one page.

After quickly looking over the entire page I could not believe my eyes. The second largest bond amount was for fishing without a license at $5000. This was behind intent to distribute, possession of stolen property, driving while intoxicated, disturbing the peace, warrants for arrest, criminal trespassing, and the list goes on and on... No joke.

While I'm all for stiff infractions for this sort of behavior this seems way over the top, even for Louisiana. What in the hell are these judges thinking? Has anyone ever been arrested or cited at the very least for fishing without a license? What was your punishment? Am I missing something here?

The 50 Best Shed Photos

fieldandstream-editor — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:00:00 -0400

10 New Shotguns from the 2008 SHOT Show

fieldandstream-editor — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A 13-Foot-Long Shotgun

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:00:00 -0500

Exclusive Report: The 2007 Safari Club International Convention

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:00:00 -0500