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Anecdotally, it seems like many people seem to underestimate how difficult accurate shooting actually is. I genuinely can't count the number of times I've taken

Anecdotally, it seems like many people seem to underestimate how difficult accurate shooting actually is. I genuinely can't count the number of times I've taken someone interested in shooting out to the range for their first time and they get dismayed when they can't place accurate shots even at a fairly close range (<25 meters), from a sitting position, with a rifle rest and being able to aim as long as they want with no stress or pressure before firing. The general pop culture opinion cultivated by movies, shows, video games, etc. seem to mislead a lot of people towards the idea that guns are just a "point and shoot" type of deal at any range in any situation. When the reality is like any other hobby it takes many many hours of practice and lots of $$$ worth of ammo to get to the point where you can consistently place shots on target at decent ranges and even then that's in a controlled environment with a paper target that doesn't move, no pressure on you, you're probably not firing standing up without a support etc.

sanswork 2y ago
They also forget all those times they've gotten excited in a confrontation and started to shake. Trying to be accurate is hard. Trying to do it while pumping with adrenaline changes it to basically impossible.
frankzinger 2y ago
A former sniper said on CNN that it should've been so easy to hit from such a short distance that it could only have been "divine intervention" that saved Trump.
- griffzhowl 2y ago
  Apparently Crooks was rejected from his school rifle team for being such a bad shot they thought it would just be too dangerous if he participated...
- ultimafan 2y ago
  A former sniper would also have a few hundred to a few thousand hours more range time than a random member of the public. I wouldn't doubt that "easy" for someone like that would have a much different meaning than for everyone else.
  - frankzinger 2y ago
    He was saying it would've been easy for the shooter in question (ie, a random 20-year old). Mind you, that former sniper was also a Republican congressman so I would not be surprised if he was just using the opportunity to build the Trump Messiah narrative.
    - weard_beard 2y ago
      I'm a god-forsaken liberal with <200 hours range time and I tend to agree. On your 3rd or 4th practice you should be able to put 3 in the 3rd ring at 100 yards. The real mistake was not going for center mass on someone over 70. A gut wound or lung or even a sizeable chunk from meaty tissue anywhere on the body could put down someone that age from blood loss. There's no achievements for head shots in real life.
- kelipso 2y ago
  Latest news is that a local cop climbed up the ladder and saw him, he pointed his rifle at the cop, cop climbed back down, and he immediately pointed his rifle back at the at stage and started shooting at Trump. So he would've been panicking when he was shooting.
sam_goody 2y ago
How long till we have gun stabilizing, sort of like image stabilization in cameras? I do not know what it would take to do that, but even if it needs AI it doesn't sound too far off.
- Ekaros 2y ago
  Electronic firing probably makes more sense. So you put ai/algo between pulling trigger/pressing button and actually bullet firing.
  - dredmorbius 2y ago
    At that point you might as well automate the whole gun. <https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a37708762/robotic-machine-gun-kills-iranian-nuclear-scientist/ https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a37708762/...>
- czl 2y ago
  Aim enhancing guns exist. Example: TrackingPoint Precision-Guided Firearms: uses a computer-controlled firing system Tracks targets and calculates variables like distance, wind, and angle. Only fires when the gun is perfectly aligned with the target Can hit moving targets at distances up to 1,200 yards
redeeman 2y ago
they say it was around 120 meters, the first time i picked up my rifle and went to the range, i was able to consistently put the shots within 4cm at 100 meters. a tiny bit training, and we are talking 5cm at 200 meters. it is NOT hard. whats hard is from-the-hip shooting like you see in movies. i dont mean to be (too) rude, but if you have problems hitting accurately at 25 meters with a rested rifle, you have some serious problems that you should probably get looked at (im thinking inability to hold steady etc)
- throwaaway45656 2y ago
  In your situation you had no pressure at all. I imagine that even getting to the top of the roof without the police spotting hin is enough to give him an extremely high level of adrenaline that causes his body to start shaking. In addition he knew that snipers and police were constantly watching roof tops, and if he poked his head out he may not have many seconds to actually raise his gun, aim and shoot. I am not an expert, but I doubt you can compare your experience on the range to a kid full of adrenaline trying to take a shot at one of the most protected persons in the world. It's a completely different situation.
- ultimafan 2y ago
  A consistent 4 cm at 100 meters your first time shooting, then a consistent 5 cm at 200 meters just a short time later is nothing short of a miracle. That's 1.3~ and 0.85~ MOA respectively. Hell, many commercial and surplus rifles you buy will straight up NEVER shoot 1 MOA on their own as is even assuming you've clamped them perfectly to a table with no human input for error due to their construction.
  - redeeman 2y ago
    i use a 5 legged shooting rest, which is extremely effective. my rifle is a 3006 with a cut barrel, and it is extremely precise. There are a couple of guys at my local range that can consistently(aka generally 4 out of 5) put hole-in-hole (with slight enlarging)
    - 2y ago

sanswork 2y ago

They also forget all those times they've gotten excited in a confrontation and started to shake. Trying to be accurate is hard. Trying to do it while pumping with adrenaline changes it to basically impossible.

frankzinger 2y ago

A former sniper said on CNN that it should've been so easy to hit from such a short distance that it could only have been "divine intervention" that saved Trump.

griffzhowl 2y ago
Apparently Crooks was rejected from his school rifle team for being such a bad shot they thought it would just be too dangerous if he participated...
ultimafan 2y ago
A former sniper would also have a few hundred to a few thousand hours more range time than a random member of the public. I wouldn't doubt that "easy" for someone like that would have a much different meaning than for everyone else.
- frankzinger 2y ago
  He was saying it would've been easy for the shooter in question (ie, a random 20-year old). Mind you, that former sniper was also a Republican congressman so I would not be surprised if he was just using the opportunity to build the Trump Messiah narrative.
  - weard_beard 2y ago
    I'm a god-forsaken liberal with <200 hours range time and I tend to agree. On your 3rd or 4th practice you should be able to put 3 in the 3rd ring at 100 yards. The real mistake was not going for center mass on someone over 70. A gut wound or lung or even a sizeable chunk from meaty tissue anywhere on the body could put down someone that age from blood loss. There's no achievements for head shots in real life.
kelipso 2y ago
Latest news is that a local cop climbed up the ladder and saw him, he pointed his rifle at the cop, cop climbed back down, and he immediately pointed his rifle back at the at stage and started shooting at Trump. So he would've been panicking when he was shooting.

sam_goody 2y ago

How long till we have gun stabilizing, sort of like image stabilization in cameras? I do not know what it would take to do that, but even if it needs AI it doesn't sound too far off.

Ekaros 2y ago
Electronic firing probably makes more sense. So you put ai/algo between pulling trigger/pressing button and actually bullet firing.
- dredmorbius 2y ago
  At that point you might as well automate the whole gun. <https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a37708762/robotic-machine-gun-kills-iranian-nuclear-scientist/ https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a37708762/...>
czl 2y ago
Aim enhancing guns exist. Example: TrackingPoint Precision-Guided Firearms: uses a computer-controlled firing system Tracks targets and calculates variables like distance, wind, and angle. Only fires when the gun is perfectly aligned with the target Can hit moving targets at distances up to 1,200 yards

redeeman 2y ago

they say it was around 120 meters, the first time i picked up my rifle and went to the range, i was able to consistently put the shots within 4cm at 100 meters. a tiny bit training, and we are talking 5cm at 200 meters. it is NOT hard. whats hard is from-the-hip shooting like you see in movies. i dont mean to be (too) rude, but if you have problems hitting accurately at 25 meters with a rested rifle, you have some serious problems that you should probably get looked at (im thinking inability to hold steady etc)

throwaaway45656 2y ago
In your situation you had no pressure at all. I imagine that even getting to the top of the roof without the police spotting hin is enough to give him an extremely high level of adrenaline that causes his body to start shaking. In addition he knew that snipers and police were constantly watching roof tops, and if he poked his head out he may not have many seconds to actually raise his gun, aim and shoot. I am not an expert, but I doubt you can compare your experience on the range to a kid full of adrenaline trying to take a shot at one of the most protected persons in the world. It's a completely different situation.
ultimafan 2y ago
A consistent 4 cm at 100 meters your first time shooting, then a consistent 5 cm at 200 meters just a short time later is nothing short of a miracle. That's 1.3~ and 0.85~ MOA respectively. Hell, many commercial and surplus rifles you buy will straight up NEVER shoot 1 MOA on their own as is even assuming you've clamped them perfectly to a table with no human input for error due to their construction.
- redeeman 2y ago
  i use a 5 legged shooting rest, which is extremely effective. my rifle is a 3006 with a cut barrel, and it is extremely precise. There are a couple of guys at my local range that can consistently(aka generally 4 out of 5) put hole-in-hole (with slight enlarging)
  - 2y ago