Top Shot: British Sniper Takes Out Two Taliban With Single Bullet
- Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:34pm by
Meredith Jessup
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On a remote road in the notoriously dangerous Helmand Province of Afghanistan, the bodies of two dead Taliban soldiers lay in the dust — one a known insurgent commander. But the scene doesn’t tell the amazing story behind the expert marksman who pulled off the “Quigley,” a trick shot deriving its name from a Tom Selleck cowboy film. Two dead with just one bullet.
From a distance of 196 meters away, British sniper “Mark Osmond” picked off the two insurgents as they tried to flee on a motorcycle.
The circumstances are described in a new book, “Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Real Story of Britain’s War in Afghanistan”:
‘On September 12, a known Taliban commander appeared on the back of a motorcycle with a passenger riding pillion.
‘There was a British patrol in the village of Gorup-e Shesh Kalay and under the rules of engagement, the walkie-talkie the Taliban pair were carrying was designated a hostile act.
‘As they drove off, Osmond fired warning shots with his pistol and then picked up his L96, the same weapon – serial number 0166 – he had used in Iraq and on the butt of which he had written, “I love u 0166”.
‘Taking deliberate aim, he fired a single shot. The bike tumbled and both men fell onto [sic] the road and lay there motionless.
‘When the British patrol returned, they checked the men and confirmed they were both dead, with large holes through their heads.
‘The 7.62 mm bullet Osmond had fired had passed through the heads of both men. He had achieved the rare feat of “one shot, two kills“ known in the sniping business as ”a Quigley.”‘ …
‘The snipers used suppressors, reducing the sound of the muzzle blast. Although a ballistic crack could be heard, it was almost impossible to work out where the shot was coming from.
‘With the bullet travelling at three times the speed of sound, a victim was unlikely to hear anything before he died.
“Osmond” and his colleague “Potter” were praised by their company commander as the “epitome of the thinking riflemen” his regiment sought to produce. “They know the consequences of what they’re doing and they are very measured men. They are both highly dedicated to the art of sniping. They’re both quiet, softly spoken, utterly charming, two of the nicest men in the company, if the most dangerous.”
h/t Daily Mail





















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Comments (308)
NoRoomForSocialismHere
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:07pmEvery Constitutionally Legal American Patriot (which only includes those pre-1900) should have at least a Designated Marksman certification and half should be sniper rated. Speak softly as mentioned and push lead, laws would be obeyed
Report Post »GASSER
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:49amAs ret mil 69/89….and marksman is the least of my ribbons..have diff understanding the post
Report Post »thermonator
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:06pmCheers ….as the Brits would say…
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:00pmPistol warning shot = 50 cents
Report Post »L96 shot = 75 +/-
144 virgins trying to figure out how to please 2 headless cavemen = priceless
thermonator
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:07pmlol…. good one..
Report Post »variable51
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 7:41pmLove that one Tsunami!!! ;-)
Report Post »PrfctlyFrank
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:58pmNot sure how I feel about public executions.. Can’t run the video.. I cannot celebrate the death of another and only want exposure to it when necessary.. Never for entertainment or revenge.. I do acknowledge this as my own personal preference.. Killing the enemy is necessary in war and if it were my duty at this time to do it I would, but God bless the man that had to do it this time..
Report Post »Thighmaster
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:58pmIf ya shoot ‘em they won’t come…
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:57pmPromise???? Please!!!!!
Report Post »MoTruthSerum
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:56pmTwo kills with one shot. That’s what I call fiscal responsibility.
Report Post »kcinco
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:54pmWe need more of those marksmen …
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:01pmWe have them. What we really need are politicians with enough intestinal fortitude to allow them to do the job unfettered.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:58pmThe Sunni has enough guts to torture by proxy. He just happens to be the enemy.
Report Post »98ZJUSMC
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:29amRest assured, many many of them exist. A shot like this is more incidence, than planning. Mother Green pumps out marksman like this every week or so.
That being said…….Get some!
Report Post »Devil Dog 7175
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 6:17pmThis is my rifle… There are many like it… But this one is mine… Without me it is useless , without it I am useless…
Report Post »OOOOORAH!!!
Semper Fi!
Psychosis
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:54pmnice job sir
God bless all who fight for freedom and against oppression
and , to those who are trying to figure out our resident trolls maybe this will help lol :)
http://www.battlefield315.com/
Report Post »Jabber
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:27pmThat website is hilarious! Fabulous….but hilarious too.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:52pmThem Brits make us Red Necks Look bad.We are supposed to be able To do that while holding a PBR Beer and watching NASCAR.God Bless The Brits!
Report Post »Jabber
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:23pmLOL! Well at least we taught them how unwise it was to wear red uniforms…..it’s gotta count for something.
Report Post »psycodad36
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:55pmI agree with yourself and jabber
Report Post »12 gauge
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:51pmMy friend and I were Turkey hunting and bagged 5 hens with two shots. This is much, much better. Though… I don’t think you can throw the two Taliban in a crock pot for good eating like we did with the hens. Unless of course you had a big crock pot. But then again, you shouldn’t eat Taliban, so… you would have to cook ‘em just for the backyard fun of it.
Report Post »Tnredneck
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:41pmAnd cook them in bacon grease!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:51pmMade my day!
If GOD ever needs to send us back to earth for any reason, I’ve always wanted to come back as an avenging angel.
I think now, I’d like to come back as a sniper angel! *sigh*
GOD, I’m so sorry that in our world we need snipers, but LORD I am so glad we have them since the missionaries haven‘t quite worked out like YOU’d planned.
This probably isn‘t the prayer You’d like to hear from me, so I apologize to YOU, but YOU know my heart. And, while I’m at it, I’d like to ask YOUR forgiveness of the actions of the two young men who are fighting most courageously evil in this world. Thank YOU, LORD. In JESUS’ NAME, amen.
Report Post »Jabber
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:25pmGrandma….you always make me smile!
I tend to think when we see “angels” again, they’re going to be carrying flame throwers-not assault rifles. But I can see you working that just fine!
Report Post »Marine Recon Dad
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:50pmSemper Fi!
.. snipers aren’t called Hogs for no reason…..
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 9:48am….so that potentially circumvents the whole paradise trip, follow me….they were killed by snipers also known as “Hogs”, hogs are by nature swine….almost as good as a bullet dipped in bacon grease,no?
Report Post »I realize this comment was very insensitive towards a certain portion of society. I am OK with that.
BeeGirl
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:49pmI`m Welsh born and bred, and I couldn`t be more proud of the Welsh Guards.
Report Post »WTG lads and thank you!!
Cymry
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:51pmam Byth!
Report Post »Pocono Countryboy
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:49pmWell done soldier!
Conserving ammo too ;)
Report Post »KEA
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:48pmI LOVE it! Great Shooting!
Report Post »chips1
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:46pmReducing his ammo budget by 50%. Must be a Rep.
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:45pmOne shot, two kills.
Impressive.
Report Post »FLOYD THOMASON
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:52pmespecially with the wind there
Report Post »Banjo Bulldog
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:29pmdouble kill!
Report Post »Beandawg
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:44pmThe only sad thing is he didn’t get three!!!
Report Post »98ZJUSMC
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:25amThat would be a Sgt. York.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 9:43amToo bad he didn’t get him at 1.687 miles……
Report Post »MidAmerican
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:44pmWisconsin should have THAT guy at the state capitol to control the union thugs……errrrr, what I
Report Post »MEANT to say is that he could talk about cutting the budget by making every shot “count”, thus
halving the bullet budget.
ilovetheusa1
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:44pmgood shot but why did you stop. there are a bunch more of ragheads standing around waiting for their ounce of lead.
Report Post »Jabber
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:21pmPlease. Villagers. Innocents. The difference between a marksman/soldier with some integrity and a terrorist? Collateral damage is NOT celebrated.
Report Post »Hephzibah
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 9:52amYeah, there’s one bending over. Imagine that!
Report Post »shagstar
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:43pmhe took advantage of a headwind!! lol
Report Post »nice shot soldier1
APatriotFirst
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:42pmGood shooting
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:40pmNice.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:26pmlol we now understand how you think lol
http://www.battlefield315.com/
Report Post »KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:30amI just don’t understand the logic, they are out sniping Taliban in the desert but they are letting legions of them migrate to their country to live right next door to them and we are doing the same!
Report Post »How does this make any sense?
HemiOwner
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:39pmOutstanding. They got a free trip the paradise via the 308 express.
Report Post »FLOYD THOMASON
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:51pm7.62mm
Report Post »NoRoomForSocialismHere
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:54pmHow I do love it, I have a barn full of 308/7.62
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:18pmIn the blink of an eye. Sweet bottomless pit.
JP4JOY
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:54pmSame cartridge, different measurement
Report Post »Native Texan
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:13pmYall act like this is a good thing, think about the 144 poor virgins who are freaking out about now!
Report Post »HemiOwner
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 9:48amThe 308 is the commercial version of the 7.62. Essentially the same round.
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:29pmI’ve got a boat load of 7.62×54 and a couple of modified Mosin rifles. Not the accuracy of their setup but when I hit something it doesn’t move again. A real kick to fire.
Report Post »rcw_68
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:39pmNow that is gun control…………
Report Post »Devil Dog 7175
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 6:06pmPoor virgins…
Report Post »Phantom2487
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:33am7.62mm *Metric, and .308″ *Standard same bullet diameter… its the brass (case) that’s different, but I’m sure someone will try to diss this but I only reload :)
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:38pmWay to go Brit
Report Post »JBaer
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:44pmAwesome!!!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 8:54pmMust have learned how to shoot from either a Texan or an Arizona resident.
hersey10
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:04pmIn a day full of bad news this was a bright spot .
kryptonite
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:12pmI have a dream… to get rid of the KKK.
82dAirborne
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:13pmOnly two???
Report Post »Jabber
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:14pmRedistribution of bullets. I love it.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:14pmBoy nice shot who needs a trial…..
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:16pmMy sacred Honor taught him that!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:18pmThey’re going to run out of virgins if that Brit keeps up the good work!
Bob Holland
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:18pmIf the Brits can take out 2 people with 1 bullet. Then the Texan snipers could take out 3 with 1 bullet.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:20pmThat‘s the way it’s done. Nice shot!
Report Post »SavvyCowboy
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:20pmHead shots are a sniper’s dream but a 2-fer….this guy’s my new hero!!!!
Report Post »Angry_Bird
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:20pmThe only thing better than one dead Taliban is two dead Taliban.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:24pm@82ndAirborne
Not too bad for a Brit; guess he only had one bullet left.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:32pmFrom 196 metres, with that hardware and a little luck of timing, this is an easy shot.
Showtime
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:34pm@Snow ~
Report Post »He was saving that bullet for the next motorcycle with two.
No point in wasting ammo!
Stark
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:36pmBuy one, get one free
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:37pm82ND, Very, VERY few US Sniper shots are taken with a .50 Cal weapon. But I’m sure you knew that. After all, you are obviously a member of an elite airborne infantry unit.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:42pmI’m glad the Brits are still our — We the People’s — allies. I don’t know about them and the Sunni. He didn’t get invited to the royal wedding.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:46pm@broker0101
Report Post »Was a member. Too old & fat now! A sniper working in support of an active operation probably would not employ the .50. Sounded to me as though this guy was “free range sniping.” If there were no friendly forces in the vicinity the further you can stand off the better. With a MER of well over a mile the .50 helps the shooter and the spotter alive.
saneasylum
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:52pmTwo in the hand is worth five in the bush…..
Report Post »Dave In Arizona
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:01pm@Showtime
“They’re going to run out of virgins if that Brit keeps up the good work!”
I think they’re already into distributing refurbished virgins.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:11pmThe US could take out more if the d@mn politicians would get out of the Way. The mountains would have a hard glass sheen to them.
Report Post »But Nice shot and Good score!.
kryptonite
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:19pmbroker0101
From 196 metres, with that hardware and a little luck of timing, this is an easy shot
——–
LOL, if it takes luck, it can’t be easy. Jealous, Broker?
marine249
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:26pmSNOW
no from a U.S. Marine
Report Post »EyebrowsLaMana
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:30pmYAAAAY! Certainly GOOD news for today!!
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:46pmThank God, the Brits aren’t under our Rules of Engagement!
Report Post »taskmaster78
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:56pmRemember ladies, this too will be a reported child killing. Along with this report, remember the British at one time held the empire in their hand. These men are warriors regardless of what one assumes. I salute them and pray Gods speed and hope they return to their loved ones.
Report Post »NSDQ
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:57pm82 right on brother from a fellow 160 Center Mass Center Mass!! unless of course CQC, BBHH! Oh how I miss my MP5, of course now they are MP7 lol
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:03pmDave In Arizona
They won’t run out of virgins, there are still plenty of goats.
thepatriotdave
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:06pmTwo thumbs up for the Brit that pulled the trigger.
Note for all progressives: What this Brit did is a “good” thing. Got it?!
http://tinyurl.com/4rv8xsm
Report Post »stevefim5
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:07pmBully!!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:11pmI hope he has lots of ammo……plenty more Muslim terrorists that need the same treatment.
Report Post »MiketheTrucker
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:20pmIf only our government were that efficient.
Report Post »airwingmarine7075
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:24pmgreat shot
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:41pm@Marine 249 and 82ndAirborne
Good point, my granddad was a marine as well in WWII; he taught me to shoot as well. Thank you for the pointer on the sniper perspective, I was taught go for center mass as well, I guess it never sunk in a sniper would do the same first off.
Guess I have seen too many movies.
Report Post »bulletsinthegun
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:43pmnice shot Mark, my hats off to you and many thanks
Report Post »ManThong
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:55pmLooks like a pretty nice day to be out sniping,
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:10am@broker0101
Since you’re obviously pro-Islamist, I love how it galls you another of your kind was taken out.
Many more of them getting their virgins.
Pfft!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:15amNIce shooting .. !
Report Post »docgreen
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:47amI guess Obama missed the 3am phone call for this one! I bet if he would of answered, he would of said NO; to the shot! Thank the Brits for Obama missing his 3am call!!…… He probably played Golf that Day!
Report Post »docgreen
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:03amI know we can’t send Mercenaries to kill off these people; because of politics. But what if they opened the season on Osama Bin Laden? Let the Trophy Hunters go after the Big Game, “Osama”? I would love to see it!… I guess the Clinton Admin had a few chances to get him, but he turned them down for various reasons!
Report Post »docgreen
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:06amAnyone know how tall Obama is? I wonder if we drew a long beard on him, how close would he resemble Osama Bin Laden? Maybe thats why he kept his records sealed!…… Maybe his real name is Osama hiding in our White House!
Report Post »RetiredFF
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:22amGod bless our troops, especially our snipers!
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:40am@Leopard:
Report Post »“Must have learned how to shoot from either a Texan or an Arizona resident…”
_______________
I would have said “Texan”…but only because I didn’t want to seem too boastful! You know we git alotta practice shootin‘ ’em dam rattlers! Guess it would be pretty accurate to compare them nasty, sneaky, dirt crawlers to the Taliban and drug trafficers as well! You can find some really nasty creatures in the desert!
LetTheTruthSpill
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 3:35amSomething doesn,t add up here.The article says that “Osmond fired warning shots with his pistol and then picked up his L96”,going by the pics,do these guys look as if they had just been shot at with a high power weapon,and what sort of “sniper” fires warning shots towards the enemy at a distance of 196 metres with a handgun?The mind boggles.
Report Post »cozmo
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 3:45amhell of a shot. i once hit two raccoons w/ one but didn’t get them both. finished the second off with a quick second round but wow actually in a life and death situation good training. war is horrible but sometimes it is called for. and when you bound one hand behind the solider‘s back you won’t see this.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 4:40amThat bacon grease makes those bullets slide right through!!
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 6:19amallah akbar…. http://thereligionofpeace.com
Report Post »eflow504
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 7:19ami have a dream to get rid of the new black panthers
mrnmrsc
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 8:08amNow that’s what I call spreading the wealth.
Report Post »Enuff Zenuff
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 8:25am.
Report Post »Gives new meaning to the old phrase, “Two heads are better than one”!
Miguelito
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 8:37amAnother good terrorist!
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 9:38amreach out, reach out and touch someone! (and the guy behind him)…..
Report Post »urrybr
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 10:41amDamn!!!! Matthew Quigley is alive and well!
Report Post »landman1
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 10:50amNew Taliban commander overheard giving orders following British sniper episode. “Ackmed, to reward your loyalty I’m placing you in charge of the walkie talkie.”
Report Post »waggie
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:36pmBogo!
Report Post »Red Meat
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:25pmDudes a conservationist!
Report Post »we.r.done
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:51pmIs the bike for sale….?
Report Post »Conservative Screenwriter
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 5:00pmGood shot and thrifty!
Report Post »Devil Dog 7175
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 6:03pmBloody good shooting Mate… I’ll tip one to you tonight!
Report Post »TheBees
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 6:18pmBloody good (no pun intended) shooting chaps!
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 6:36pmmy turn !!!!!
Report Post »Bum thrower
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:02pmGreat Shot!! Glad you guys weren’t at Lexington/Concord a couple hundered years ago! LOL
Report Post »TheBlazeReader
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:26pmI think that advertisement about the Dog Human Hybrid is fake, but look up“ Human Pig” on Google Images and look at the one on the right very closely, that one has to be real.
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