Given the distance, unless well trained it was probably luck more than anything.

Modern firearms don't really require that much training to hit a static man sized target at 200m from a supported position. This is well within the "point blank" range, meaning that vertical deviation of the bullet is too small to bother adjusting for, and wind effects on rifle (i.e. very fast moving) bullets at this range are also fairly limited. So long as the rifle is zeroed, lining up the scope with the target and pulling the trigger without jerking it is basically all it takes, and those kinds of skills can be acquired in a few trips to the range.

▲

tracker1 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

The shooter wasn't likely aiming "anywhere on the body" as the target... they were likely either trying to hit the center of the head, or the chest. In either case, they were off quite a bit and that they made a deadly hit as much as they did was most likely still luck as much as anything.

▲

int_19h 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

Aiming for the head is most likely. For reference, a military M16 is considered within spec if it can produce a 4 minute-of-angle group from a prone supported position (but aimed and fired by a human, not fixed in a gun sled). At 200 yards, that would be a circle of around 8 inches. However pretty much any hit with a rifle bullet within that circle is likely to be lethal if it's centered on the head...

Anyway, the point is that it's really not a difficult shot at all, and only requires very rudimentary training that is readily available to anyone who can make a few trips to the range.

	▲	tracker1 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		I'm not sure that most people are disciplined enough to make that shot all the same. I don't know anything about the shooter in particular though. Mostly in that from the center of the head to the neck is still a bit away. It could just as easily have missed altogether.

▲

jandrewrogers 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

I'm guessing center of head. It is common for right-handed shooters without a lot of training to jerk the trigger down and to the right, which will show up as displacement at 200 meters.

▲

samirillian 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Can you do this? Like, I’ve killed every animal I’ve shot at so far (legally, while hunting) and I know I couldn’t make that shot. The nerves alone Jesus. I’m always surprised and dubious when I hear this claim repeated. A blood vessel in a human from 200 yards. After a few trips to the range. Really.

▲

SheepSlapper 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

Who says he was targeting that specific place? In fact, it seems likely that the target was his head and the shooter pulled the shot a bit but was still within tolerances (with a 1 MOA scope @ 200 yards you're only looking at 2" of variance).

I've killed deer beyond 200 yards sitting on a stump with a cheap rifle, it's not actually that hard if you've shot a bit before. The nerves though... you're right there, I couldn't imagine.

▲

trenchpilgrim 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

I'm not a particularly skilled shooter (don't get to practice as much as I'd like.) And I can hit a target at 300m using a $500 AR-15 and a $300 optic. It's not that hard at the range.

▲

samirillian 5 days ago | parent [-]

Oh interesting, well maybe I’m wrong. I mean the nerves thing stands but yeah maybe it is that easy

	▲	trenchpilgrim 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		Generally putting a single shot on target is something most people can do with a decent rifle and optic. It's doing that consistently when firing multiple rounds and/or under pressure that is difficult.

▲

DannyBee 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

The bullet drop at this distance with say a .223 is 3-9 inches depending on the exact velocity and basically nothing else has significant effect at this distance.

At say 3000fps velocity, time to target is less than 450ms.

This is almost point and shoot. It’s entirely possible someone fairly untrained just aimed at the forehead and ended up with neck