The Ultimate Sniper
Encyclopedia
The Ultimate Sniper: An Advanced Training Manual for Military and Police Snipers is a book written by Major John Plaster
and published in 1993. (Paladin Press
, 584 pages, ISBN 0-87364-704-1 ). An expanded and updated version was published in 2006.
The book teaches methods that help the reader master their sniping
skills. It was hailed as a landmark book by the firearms press and is widely used as a reference by military and law-enforcement personnel. The book came under the spotlight in October 2006 when a video about "Juba
the sniper," who allegedly killed more than 20. US soldiers in Iraq, mentioned it as an inspiration.
Also included in the book is some history on sniping, including background on the British Army's first sniper unit, the Scottish Highland Lovat Scouts
. These scouts fought in the Second Boer War
and were fittingly described as "half wolf and half jackrabbit" by their leader, Frederick Russell Burnham
, an American who served as Chief of Scouts for the British Army in Southern Africa. All of this material is covered in much greater detail in Plaster's illustrated book, The History of Sniping and Sharpshooting.
John Plaster
Major John L. Plaster is a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier regarded as one of the leading sniper experts in the world. A decorated Vietnam War veteran who served in the covert Studies and Observations Group , Plaster co-founded a renowned sniper school that trains military and law...
and published in 1993. (Paladin Press
Paladin Press
Paladin Press is a book publishing firm founded in 1970 by Peder Lund and Robert K. Brown.The company publishes non-fiction books and videos covering a wide range of specialty topics, including personal and financial freedom, survivalism and preparedness, firearms and shooting, various martial...
, 584 pages, ISBN 0-87364-704-1 ). An expanded and updated version was published in 2006.
The book teaches methods that help the reader master their sniping
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
skills. It was hailed as a landmark book by the firearms press and is widely used as a reference by military and law-enforcement personnel. The book came under the spotlight in October 2006 when a video about "Juba
Juba (sniper)
Juba is the pseudonym of an alleged sniper involved in the Iraqi Insurgency featured in several propaganda videos. The second of these videos shows Juba claiming to have shot 37 American soldiers...
the sniper," who allegedly killed more than 20. US soldiers in Iraq, mentioned it as an inspiration.
Also included in the book is some history on sniping, including background on the British Army's first sniper unit, the Scottish Highland Lovat Scouts
Lovat Scouts
The Lovat Scouts were a British Army unit. The unit was first formed during the Second Boer War as a Scottish Highland yeomanry regiment of the British Army and is the first known military unit to wear a ghillie suit...
. These scouts fought in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
and were fittingly described as "half wolf and half jackrabbit" by their leader, Frederick Russell Burnham
Frederick Russell Burnham
Frederick Russell Burnham, DSO was an American scout and world traveling adventurer known for his service to the British Army in colonial Africa and for teaching woodcraft to Robert Baden-Powell, thus becoming one of the inspirations for the founding of the international Scouting Movement.Burnham...
, an American who served as Chief of Scouts for the British Army in Southern Africa. All of this material is covered in much greater detail in Plaster's illustrated book, The History of Sniping and Sharpshooting.
External links
- John Plaster's website
- Table of contents
- John Plaster interview (archived link)