Theo Loc: Within 1000 miles of Tampa, Florida

You are not taking into account, Oswald was NOT a Sniper, He was a MARKSMAN. That is the LOWEST grade of shooter in the Corps, not the highest. And the target was moving.

Target acquisition takes more than one second, for a Marksman. For a Sniper, probably not. "Sniping" does not make one a "Sniper," it makes him cautious. A "Sniper" is not only well trained, he is well practiced, in the thousands of rounds of ammunition used in practice shots at all kinds of targets, all kinds of distances, all kinds of terrain, etc.

Oswald COULD NOT have made the shot.

HistorianDude

I did. This is what I found:

The FBI tests of Oswald's Carcano's accuracy showed that (according to the testimony of FBI firearms expert Robert A. Frazier), "It is a very accurate weapon. The targets we fired show that." From 15 yards (14 m), all three bullets in a test firing landed approximately 2½ inches high, and 1-inch (25 mm) to the right, in the area about the size of a dime. At 100 yards (91 m), the test shots landed 2½ to 5 inches (130 mm) high, within a 3 to 5-inch (130 mm) circle. Frazier testified that the scope's high variation would actually work in the shooter's favor: with a target moving away from the shooter, no lead correction would have been necessary to follow the target. "At that range, at that distance, 175 feet (53 m) to 265 feet (81 m), with this rifle and that telescopic sight, I would not have allowed any lead — I would not have made any correction for lead merely to hit a target of that size."

You appear to have been misinformed.


I learned how to shoot on an Army surplus bolt-action M1903 Springfield. I know first hand that what you are saying here is not true.


Multiple tests with large groups of shooters of various sk**l sets performed after the assassination prove this is not true.

CBS conducted a firing test in 1967 at the H. P. White Ballistics Laboratory located in Street, Maryland. For the test, 11 marksmen from diverse backgrounds were invited to participate: 3 Maryland State Troopers, 1 weapons engineer, 1 sporting goods dealer, 1 sportsman, 1 ballistics technician, 1 ex-paratrooper, and 3 H. P. White employees. CBS provided several Carcano rifles for the test. The targets were color-coded orange for head/shoulder silhouette and blue for a near miss. The results of the CBS test were as follows: 7 of 11 shooters were able to fire three rounds under 5.6 seconds (64%). Of those 7 shooters, 6 hit the orange target once (86%), and 5 hit the orange target twice (71%). Out of 60 rounds fired, 25 hit the orange (42%), 21 hit the blue portion of the target (35%), and there were 14 misses on the target (23%).

There appears to be a hole in your theory.


The plural of anecdote is not data. Data is data. And the data proves your "Vietnam sniper" friend is wrong.

HistorianDude

The problem is that he is not merely "knocked" backwards. He is "knocked" backwards and sideways, something that a bullet from the front could not do.

It was a neuromuscular reaction to the brain trauma. Not a kinetic response to the bullet impact.

HistorianDude

You do know that Marksman can become Experts with practice, right? The qualification you receive during boot camp is not permanently imprinted on your DNA.



There is no reason to believe that to be true.

payne1000

How do you know the back of his head wasn't blown out?
The opposite and equal reaction doesn't work in this case.
His head was blown back first. The opposite and equal reaction would be his head rebounding forward after the backward movement.

Here's something else to consider: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NajJE4wtRG0

payne1000

Backwards and sideways might be a result of the bullet's direction from the grassy knoll.

HistorianDude

Wrong sideways.

Sons of Liberty Loc: look behind you!

HistorianDude

I have seen the autopsy pictures.


Given that the bullet was fragmenting, the skull was fragmenting, the consistency of brain and bone, the fact that muscles react to brain trauma, and that the limo began accelerating after the first shot hit him and Governor Connolly, insert "duh" here.

Theo Loc: Within 1000 miles of Tampa, Florida

Only if FBI data is t***h.

That is suspect in the case of Oswald's alleged "ability" with a rifle.

HistorianDude

The FBI is not the only organization to investigate. And if you actually have evidence (rather than unsupported opinion ) that they are wrong, provide it.


Not for any good reason. People find it suspect only because it contradicts their prejudices.

Theo Loc: Within 1000 miles of Tampa, Florida

If Oswald had progressed to the status of "Expert" the FBI would never have reported him as a "Marksman." Even FBI agents know some things.

All the reports stated Oswald was a "Marksman." Had they reported, or even some reports stated, Oswald to be an Expert, there would never have been any doubt.

There would however, be some hesitation based upon the fact not even every "Expert" could have made the shot "AS REPORTED."

Theo Loc: Within 1000 miles of Tampa, Florida

According to eye-witness accounts, the limo's first reaction was to "slow" not accelerate.

HistorianDude

Gong.

The FBI reported on the rating he had earned in Marine Corps boot camp. That was a snapshot of a moment in time, not a statement regarding his proficiency with a rifle on the day of the shooting.


Gong.

They merely reported the fact that "Marksman" was the rating he had earned in Marine Corps boot camp. That was a snapshot of a moment in time, not a statement regarding his proficiency with a rifle on the day of the shooting.


Not everybody can make every shot. But if a shot can be made, somebody can make it. Even non experts.

That day, three shots were fired. One missed. Two hit.

HistorianDude

1) You do know that according to the laws of physics slowing down is an acceleration, right?

2) First reaction after the first bullet says nothing about what the car was doing at the moment of the head shot.

3) Eyewitness accounts are actually contradictory on that point.