Using another's shoulder as a rest

[cuchulainn]

I'm not sure if the attached image from Fox News is permanent or not, but right now it shows one U.S. soldier using another's shoulder as a rest.

Why would you do this?

Answering my own question: To get higher to shoot over obstacles or at something far away?

Or are there other reasons?

 

[cratz2]

A much more solid rest is one obvious reason.

Lot's of times in Africa, a shooter will shoot over another's shoulder or his back for a lower shot.

 

[Leatherneck]

Well let's hope it's not tactical cover!
Seriously, it's for a reasonably steady offhand rest in totally flat terrain.

TC
TFL Survivor

 

[Steve Smith]

Voluntary human shield. lol!

 

[Greg L]

Ear plugs would be a must.

Greg

 

[TallPine]

Why would you do this?

Just for the photographer, maybe ...?


Anyone know what bolt action rifle that is? Remington, etc ?

 

[Ebbtide]

From the position of the photographer I hope the shooter is just looking down range and not doing any actual sniping. But the finger is in the trigger, or is it?

On another note, look at the "big mean American" holding the hand of the injured woman. I bet this won't be shown on Al-jazeer.

 

[answerguy]

It wouldn't seem to be very effective as a rest. At long distance you have to deal with your own pulse to shoot accurately. With this method you now have two pulses to deal with, plus the fact that he'd be wobbleling too.

 

[spacemanspiff]

dude! since when did Gecko_45 from glocktalk get sent to the mid-east?!

 

[Nightcrawler]

I think that rifle is a Remington M40A1.

See how they're wearing woodland camo? That's not their BDUs, you know. Those are those new chemical suits that I've never used (we still train with the old MOPP suits). Apparently the Americans (but not the Brits) have been in their chem suits the whole time. Feel bad for them just for that; it's NOT fun in hot weather (though, mercifully, it's not been terribly hot overthere...70s in the day and cold at night).

You think that's funny? I once saw a couple of guys demonstrate the proper method for using an M60 against enemy helicopters. The assitant gunner holds the bipod of the weapon up over his head, pointing the barrel into the air, and the gunner fires away.

Earplugs ARE a must. The 60 is LOUD.

 

[voilsb]

Earplugs ARE a must. The 60 is LOUD.

yipes! you're telling me. even *with* earplugs, that close to a 60 shooting live has *got* to hurt.

 

[cool45auto]

No finger on the trigger, maybe he's just checking out the road ahead or something.

 

[NotQuiteSane]

I've done this, when coyote hunting in HS.

my partner used me as a rest, we were facing each other, talking, and begining to stand, he says "freeze" and layed his rifle over my shoulder

NQS

 

[Skullboy]

Nightcrawler is correct. It is the Marine Corps M40A1 with a 10X Unertl scope.

The judging from the cheekpiece and the way the shooters hand is placed, the stock looks like a McMillan A2 pistol grip style stock.

SKBY.

 

[Croyance]

I am no rifleman, but I would think that the proper use of a sling is better. As you can see, the rifleman is not using the sling at all, it is dangling down, off the shoulder of the man in front.
Time was when the military taught the proper use of a sling (its not just for carry).

 

[Nightcrawler]

If the guy has been issued an M40A1, that means he's a Marine Scout/Sniper. They're no slouches, you know.

 

[Quantrill]

It seems to me that you would be dealing with 2 pulses, 2 breathers, 2 stances etc. And the sling puzzles me also. Maybe this is just a posed shot for the uninformed. Quantrill

 

[coonan357]

all I know Is that if I was the steady rest I want some major ear protection ..

 

[Chipperman]

I vote that he was just using the scope to scout the terrain.

 

[Kestryll]

That is the new infantry MOS, eleven bravo one paul zero delta!

 

[echo3mike]

Rifle's an M40A1, probably the last time you'll see one of these as they've switched over to the M4 stock almost exclusively..cheek-piece is the fairly stereotypical field expeident taped sleeping mat painted along with the rifle.

This is one of those improvised shooting positions...FMFM 1-3B describes quite a few. Iffin' it was me (and it ain't), I'd use this to pop a shot over some of those sand mounds I've seen on the TV. Looks like his finger's on the trigger... but it's a war zone..

As per Croyance's post, all Marines must qualify with the M16A2 every year, shooting 200yds (standing/offhand, sitting and kneeling), 300yds and 500yds (prone). The use of the sling is allowed only for the non-offhand positions, similar to High Power Rifle competition. Unfortunately, offhand doesn't lend itself well to the use of the 1907 sling, so a more stable platform is needed. Trust me, Marines are intimately familiar with the use of the sling, but the bad guys don't tend to hang out in the same place while the shooter gets his support arm strapped in.

S.

 

[280PLUS]

standard military technique when there is no other way to rest the gun for a long shot.

and i read of at least one time when earplugs were not used maybe the helmet provides some cushion.

i always wondered how anyone came out with any hearing at all, some loss must be assumed?

m

looks like he's taking a shot.

youre looking at a sniper team, not sure what branch, the "rest" is most likely his spotter and i'd bet theyve practiced this.