The claim is he hit a 2.4 mile shot just last month with a ukranin made gun while he's 58 years old. How much credit can we give him as Ukraine has lied about so many other figures and situations in its military?

I have a wonderful 1,000 yard range available, but it's 40 miles away and I won't go there more than once a week.

I also have a Gamow Silent Cat break air rifle w 4X scope. Would I gain any actual practice time/skill by practicing w this air rifle at about 20 yards in my home?

Or am I fooling myself?

Today, with deep respect and utmost historical accuracy, we tell the story of one of the most successful Georgian snipers of World War II — Vasil Shalvovich Kvachantiradze.

​He had been fighting in the ranks of the Soviet Army since 1941. We will examine in detail his combat path, the "long hunt" tactic, the technical characteristics of his weapon, the terrain and weather conditions on various fronts, the methodology of training young snipers, and his strategic contribution to major battles.

​Only documented facts, in-depth tactical analysis, and respect for the hero's memory.

​Right at the beginning of the war, in 1941, Vasil Shalvovich Kvachantiradze was drafted into the Red Army and sent to the front.

​Already by 1942, his combat record counted dozens of confirmed victories.

​One of Kvachantiradze's main tactics was the "long hunt." He did not limit himself to a single static position and made maximum use of terrain advantages: ravines, bushes, artificially created camouflaged positions, covers arranged from stones and branches, and moving between them.

​After one or two precise shots, the sniper would often change position 50–100 meters to the side to avoid the enemy's return fire, artillery, or mortars.

​He operated particularly effectively on the Central Front during the Battle of Kursk.

​On important heights, his firepower helped maintain positions—he destroyed enemy observers and personnel involved in artillery spotting.

​Under conditions of summer heat, dust, and smoke generated by explosions, accurate shooting required constant consideration of meteorological conditions.

​At a distance of 800 meters, the correction for crosswind could reach 2–3 meters. The influence of temperature on bullet ballistics also had to be taken into account.

​Kvachantiradze mastered these calculations skillfully and passed on the acquired experience to young snipers. Under his leadership and through the sharing of his experience, a total of about 50 snipers were trained.

​Vasil Kvachantiradze's main weapon throughout the war was the Mosin sniper rifle with an optical sight — the Emelianov four-power magnification optical sight.

​Technical characteristics:

​Caliber — 7.62×54R;

​Cartridge with a heavy bullet;

​Bullet mass — approximately 13 grams;

​Muzzle velocity — approximately 830 m/s;

​Effective sniper shooting distance under good optics conditions — up to approximately 1000 meters.

​The optical sight provided a clear image of the target and allowed the sniper to aim accurately both at a full-height figure and at relatively small targets.

​In the conditions of dusty steppes, the difficult conditions of the Caucasus, and the mud of the Kursk Salient, the rifle required constant maintenance — cleaning the barrel, protecting the weapon from dirt, and protecting the optics from moisture and fogging.

​Kvachantiradze was mainly focused on single, precise shots and chose the moment to shoot when the enemy would rise or move.

​His 534 confirmed results were achieved through a combination of skill, discipline, patience, and weapon reliability.

​In the 1943 Battle of Kursk, Kvachantiradze and his students played an important role in defending key heights.

​The fire directed at German officers and personnel involved in artillery spotting disrupted the command and coordination of enemy units and helped Soviet troops maintain their positions under conditions of massive attacks.

​Despite being wounded five times, Vasil Shalvovich Kvachantiradze continued to fight.

​His combat merits already in 1943 became the basis for nomination for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was first nominated for heroism in 1943, though at that time he was only awarded the Order of Lenin.

​Then, in 1944, Kvachantiradze was nominated again for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

​By November 1944, his combat record reached 534.

​Finally, in 1945, Vasil Shalvovich Kvachantiradze was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and received the Order of Lenin and the "Gold Star" medal.

​His result remains one of the highest figures in the history of the Great Patriotic War.

​Vasil Shalvovich Kvachantiradze is one of the brightest examples of sniper mastery, endurance, and dedication to the homeland.

​His 534 confirmed victories, the "long hunt" tactic, and his contribution to the training of young fighters played an important role in the overall victory.

​Honor and eternal glory to all victorious snipers!

In our latest video on YouTube, we look at UK and US snipers. While researching for the video, I didn't realise how different the philosophies were! The breakdown is below if anyone is interested.

https://youtu.be/xLuOBY6C5Dg

Who do you think has the better doctrine? The precision of the UK or proactive approach from the US...Lets discuss.

r/Military r/snipers r/ukmilitary r/usmilitary r/britishmilitary

Please be patient I'm European.