Police, law enforcement and militaries intensively train precision shooters for the purpose and distance they want to use them and deploy them into the tense field. It’s like a game of chess; It is like a risk move to capture your opponent’s long-distance and close-range pieces. Shooters perform their duties according to the organizations and operational concepts they work for. Let’s talk about precision shooters used in the militaries here. Elite units established for special operations include precision shooters. We can collect these under 3 names. Marksman, Sharp shooter and Sniper. These precision shooters have such duties, mainly employed within the team or in general operations organizations for target engagement, target destruction, reconnaissance surveillance, force/team protection, target marking, hostage rescue, VIP protection etc.
Also, precision shooters are assigned according to their skills, equipment, rifles and the distances they use. They perform these duties using semi-automatic or bold action rifles with a variety of ammunition from 5.56 mm to 12.7 mm. First, Marksman is effective out to 400 meters depending on their team and hierarchy. Second, the Sharpshooter can perform shooting duties by remaining within the team or in the operational area, taking independent decision making and initiative. They have a mission area of 700-800 meters from the target and perform tasks such as effective shooting, reconnaissance, surveillance and troop protection. Both of these shooters can perform their duties alone with their weapons.
Lastly, Sniper is significantly different from the other two shooters in terms of training and mission purposes. For example, sniper carries out the assigned task in the form of 2 personnel: the shooter and the spotter. Considering the ammunition, weapons and equipment developed today, effective firing ranges have increased to 2500-3000m. As a result of these developments, Sniper missions deepened towards the front and behind the front. Elite personnel also need some other skills to work in these fields and be successful. These are survival, escape, intensive intelligence, use communication device capability, etc.
Another issue is that precision shooters are exposed to many variables during the execution of their duties. Target mobility, shooter mobility, wind, humidity, light, internal and external ballistics, etc. For these reasons, precision shooters make more mathematical and physical calculations during the job than other team operators.
As a result, depending on the task to be performed, the Sniper operator may be adapted to perform Sharpshooter and Marksman duties, but that may not be possible for Marksman or Sharpshooter operators to perform the Sniper duties.