EFFECTIVE HOMELAND PROTECTION
In past years, I've read various accounts of how effective small arms are in combat. Without any of that material readily available to me, I'll go from memory of what has been reported.
In regular combat situations, something in the range of 900 rounds are fired to inflict a casualty on the enemy. In specific sniping situations, by persons so trained and equipped, the figure is less than two rounds fired per casualty inflicted.
I have no estimate as to how accurate these reports are. Seems like it would be hard to tell. The inventory of rounds fired would be easy enough, and getting casualty information following a battle might also be possible, but there are other factors. Take Carlos Hathcock, for example. His 93 confirmed kills as a sniper in Vietnam are likely a small fraction of the actual figure. He became so integrated with the deep bush that it was impractical or impossible to follow up on the majority of his actions.
Mostly, what I am trying to work up to here is a comparison of the effectiveness of two distinct types of combat. Obviously, from the casualty figures, sniping would seem to be astoundingly more effective than head-to-head combat of organized forces. Think about it and the comparison becomes even more one-sided.
How would civilian forces organize for greatest effectiveness? How quickly would individuals or small groups run out of 223 ammunition for their AR-type rifles? How would they replenish their supply? What is the true maximum effective range of the typical AR?
In the mid-to-late 1980s, I had the opportunity to visit a huge ranch in a western state. The entry was posted, "No Trespassing -- Absolutely No Admittance Without Permission." It was a long way up the road before the home and buildings came into view, and about a half mile before we got there we passed a white-painted metal sign on a white post that read "KILL ZONE" in black letters. The driver said, "He means it."
After a hour of great conversation and fabulous steak dinner, we settled in for more conversation. The ranch owner told about how cattle rustling had become a reality again, and he was unsure of how aggressive the crooks might become in the future. At the time, it was an occasional single Hereford likely coaxed into a pickup truck, but there were reports of other ranches losing a dozen or more in one night. Readers may remember the carryover economic problems of the Carter administration during that period.
This individual, in his later 60s and living alone (a small crew had quarters in a bunkhouse some distance from the house), decided to send a message. He encircled the home and buildings with warning signs placed about 1000 yards out -- a dozen or so of them evenly spaced -- with the simple message of "KILL ZONE." Word quickly got around the region. Some folks figured he had "lost it," while others admired his stance and watched to see what would happen.
Although I never got the chance to go back, the report from my friend who arranged the visit was that nothing happened. People used to occasionally come onto the ranch without permission, especially during hunting season, but even that stopped. And although the signs were in English only, apparently they were understood. Interesting as to how effective not being passive can be.
That evening, as we visited about his signs and the reason for them, I asked if he really was serious about the warning. He formed a slight smile, got up out of his king-sized leather chair, and walked out of the room. In less than a minute, he came back in holding a pre-1964 Model 70 Winchester Target Rifle chambered in 300 H&H Magnum, mounted with a 2-inch 15X Unertl Scope. This was a notch up from Hathcock's famed Model 70 in 30-06. When the rancher said he could hit melons at a half mile, I believed him. I didn't even ask about the size of the melons.
My thoughts? This very nice man, now passed, would not have harmed anyone, but he realized the effectiveness of his warning. Combined with the knowledge throughout the area that he was a shooter, nobody decided to test him. Word was that he never lost another steer, while other ranchers throughout the region continued to have problems.
JDC