Quote Originally Posted by SA Friday View Post
Training is what get's you through them. The act of intentionally pointing a loaded gun at someone will affect you for life.
+168

How that kind of happening will affect you, is affected by 2things : your mindset and your training. With proper training, your mindset has alot better changes to handle the aftermath. With training, your changes to survive without mental or physical injuries are very much better.

Of course, it is impossible for some people to get the right mindset in any situation.

I might have got better training than many. At least it is the way our instructors wanted us to think I was probably quite lucky anyway, as my experiences made me[b]much[/b] more peaceful and calm. I did not got bad permanent injuries, which may have had something to do with it.
I would probably not be nearly so nice and peaceful guy today, without certain experiences.

I was thinking, if I should share my experiences or not. Places or other details about where and when probably do not tell you guys anything. That is why I do not include details

Closest thing, I would say it was really close. I can remember it like it happened yesterday. It was in duty, long time ago and far from here.
I was in position with a rifle. 7,62x51 with a fixed silencer, shooting 70gr alucore short range bullets at about 4200 fps. Pretty bad ammo, if you shoot somebody to torso close range, it looks like he has got contact shot from 12 ga. I knew, if I have to shoot someone to center mass, it is almost certain killshot, even that incident happened in a city near a big hospital.

I am watching a door about 40 yd away, if somebody is coming out or not. After about 3,5 hours door opens and a BIG guy comes out with short AK carbine on his shoulder.
He starts walking around and starts yelling to my colleagues, but it is unlikely he could see me. I put my scopes reticle to certain place in his upper torso, when he is at about 60 degrees angle to my position. I can see his beard is pretty long, he has old camoflage in bad condition etc.
He is handling his carbine, but it stays on his shoulder.

The following happens probably in few seconds :
Suddenly the carbine drops to his right hand and immediately I get a message to shoot. I am little confused, as I can see from the scope that I can not hold the rifle steady as in training. However, as the range is pretty short, I do not have difficulties to keep the reticle in the correct area.
I have made a mental decision to shoot, safety has been off for a while and my finger is on trigger. But, as suddenly as carbine dropped to his hand, it drops to the ground. He then raises his arms up slowly. Thanks to training, I am able to take my finger off the trigger without firing.
When I can see my colleagues to take possession of the big guy, I realize my work is over and I feel pretty dizzy. Then I find out, that my heart is pounding probably 200+ times a minute and I have not been breathing for some time.
At that point I realize, why sniper rifles usually do not have very lightweight triggers. Earlier I was bitching to my officer in charge that I want to adjust my rifles trigger way lighter, but I stop bitching after that.

Just my 2 cents