(09-06-2023, 01:11 AM)Snarl Wrote:(09-06-2023, 01:00 AM)Ninurta Wrote:(09-05-2023, 03:24 PM)Snarl Wrote: We had a property down in Florida had a lake on it. Damned turtles. I use to shoot them with a BB gun. Sure keeps your shooting skills up.
It sure does!
There used to be a "swinging bridge" across Clinch River about a mile below our house. For them that don't know, a swinging bridge is a foot bridge across a body of water that has a board floor suspended by either rope or steel cables, and anchored only on the ends at the river bank. It swings in the wind, or even just when your weight shifts on it taking a step. Every little breeze seems to whisper Louise as it makes you try to dance to stay on it.
Right after my mom and dad were married, he used to take a .22 down to that swinging bridge, walk out into the middle of it, and start shooting turtles that were sunning themselves on rocks sticking out of the river.
While the bridge was swinging.
That gent was what they call "a crack shot".
It's amazing what you can do with a small caliber. It's also amazing to see people with unusual (and near impossible) skills.
I remember hearing about that frogman mission where they interdicted hostage takers on the open sea. I don't think I'd have had the nerve to take the shots that were made to neutralize the bad guys. Not even sure I could pull off a shot from the tree tops. More skills required than I have in my bag o'tricks.
Oh yeah, the captain Phillips rescue in Somalia or Ethiopia. I can't imagine taking that shot. Those little life boats the pirates were on are not stable. And to coordinate your shot with someone next to you, shooting at the same time at moving targets, in a high-pressure situation like that...Christ.
I thought the movie was hilarious, where the SEAL commander has a live feed of the view from their scopes, and will only give the order to fire once the snipers were locked on and "green." To add pressure to the snipers, the SEAL commander is bellowing into their mics "I NEED THOSE TARGETS GREEN!!"