Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOGOriginally Posted By: skinneyThe skill involved at shooting over 2K yards is the know how to get there, with proper equipment.
One could argue they did not have the know how to get there, since they used multiple spotters and lobbed 68 misses before finally hitting the target only one time on the 69th attempt. Then, they immediately stopped shooting, because they knew the probability of hitting the target a second time was veeeeery low. It may have taken more than 68 additional misses before they scored a second hit.
A first shot hit at 4000 yards would be amazing, especially if it was fairly repeatable. Also, a certain number of hits out of ten shots would be amazing. Both of those types of feats would show actual ability to hit a target at 4000 yards.
It's neither skill nor knowledge unless it's somewhat repeatable.
Lobbing 69 shots to get one hit and then immediately quitting demonstrates nothing other than one lucky hit. Actually, a 1.45% chance of a hit. That's a pretty weak demonstration of "skill" or "know how".
One could also counter, they did have the knowledge to get there and skills, or they simply wouldn't of made the shot. Just because I won state in Baseball or Track doesn't mean, my (spotters) coach wasn't there helping along the way, fine tuning techniques, practices, plyos, agility, starts, strength training, telling where my place is, what my pace is, or to help me with my mark. More often than not it takes a team to achieve a goal, one way or another.
What's a Major Leaguers batting average? 1000, heck no, not even 500, a first round bomb every time would be amazing.
BUT WHY NOT?
Variables, curves, sliders, screw balls, risers, 75mph change vs 95mhp heater. In this case the wind, the unknowns NOT the knowns make this 4 mile shot very VERY unrepeatable.
You can either be a hitter, or a batter. Even a professional hitter misses quite often, BUT he still has a decent avg for what he does.
But a batter, He's just in the box. I'm guessing this shooters 1.45% chance of a hit, is 100% higher than yours and mine?... AND if it's not, let's see you do it with a 1.46% hit rate, ALL The while be sure and tell us, there's no knowledge involved, or skill.