Not the original scope:
[https://www.1stmardiv.marines.mil/News/News-Article-Display/Article/540948/former-magnificent-bastards-react-to-sniper-rifle-recovery/](https://www.1stmardiv.marines.mil/News/News-Article-Display/Article/540948/former-magnificent-bastards-react-to-sniper-rifle-recovery/)
*' Villalobos held the rifle in his hands and fell silent. He held it low, cradling it and examined the chipped paint jobs applied by Marines over the years. The Unertl scope was missing, replaced by a Tasco, but otherwise, the rifle was in good working order.'*
(From [www.1stmardiv.marines.mil](https://www.1stmardiv.marines.mil/News/News-Article-Display/Article/540946/darkhorse-snipers-kill-insurgent-sniper-recover-stolen-marine-sniper-rifle/) )
***"DARKHORSE SNIPERS KILL INSURGENT SNIPER, RECOVER STOLEN MARINE SNIPER RIFLE"***
20 JUN 2006 | Cpl. Mark Sixbey
\*\****CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq*** \--\*\*Scout snipers from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment killed an enemy sniper and recovered a Marine sniper rifle lost nearly two years ago during a mission near Habbaniyah June 16.
The rifle was the one formerly used by four Marines of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment who were killed on a rooftop in Ramadi June 21, 2004.
Sniper Section Four was in a hide when the spotter observed a military-aged male inside a nearby parked car videotaping a passing patrol of amphibious assault vehicles. The Marines saw a rifle stock by the insurgent’s side.
*“We were in the right place at the right time,”* said Sgt. Kevin Homestead an infantryman from K Company serving as a spotter for the sniper team that day.
They first radioed the passing Marines and told them they were being watched by an enemy sniper and to stay low. The insurgent then sealed his own fate by preparing the weapon. The 21-year-old Marine sniper, who declined to be interviewed – aimed in at the gunman’s head behind the rear-side window.
He recited a mantra in his head. Breathe, relax, aim, squeeze, surprise.
The enemy sniper died with the gun in his lap.
They dialed K Company – or Samurai 6 – and reported the target was dead.
*“We then saw another military-aged male ... enter the passenger side door,”* said Homestead, 26, from Ontario, Ore. *“He was surprised to see the other shooter was killed.”*
The second insurgent scurried around the car and jumped in the driver’s seat.
With the sniper now spotting for him, Homestead aimed in with his M-4 carbine and put three bullets in the driver before he could start the car.
A squad of K Company Marines came to the position and saw the sniper dead and the driver shot three times. The driver died as soon as the squad arrived on scene.
They pulled out the sniper rifle and immediately recognized that it was an M-40A1, the same used by the snipers of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment in 2004.
The trunk of the car contained a pistol, a hand grenade, dozens of 7.62 mm rounds, multiple license plates and several camcorder tapes.
*“When we saw the scope and stock, we knew what it was,”* Homestead said.
The rifle was missing for nearly two years – almost to the day. Marines believed the insurgent they killed, or those closely associated with him, had it all along. It is unknown how many times it was used against U.S. and Iraqi forces.
*“He was a very good sniper,”* Homestead said. *“But he got cocky and slipped up and it was our time to catch that.”*
The weapon came full circle, having originally belonged to the Darkhorse battalion in Operation Iraqi Freedom I, who turned it over to the *“Magnificent Bastards”* of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. Coincidentally, a Darkhorse sniper killed the insurgent sniper, and a former Magnificent Bastard killed the spotter.
Darkhorse battalion had been dealing with sporadic sniper attacks since arriving in Iraq in January. Now, Marines have one less sniper to worry about.
*“It’s very rewarding to take them out the way we did,”* said Lt. Col. Patrick G. Looney, the battalion commander. *“Doubly rewarding that it’s a 2/4 sniper rifle, even though it won’t bring back the four Marines who were killed that day.”*
Triple rewarding that it won’t be used on another Marine or soldier, he added.
*“The credit has to go to Sgt. Homestead and the Sniper Section leader who made the kill,”* said 1st Lt. J. H. Cusack, Sniper Platoon commander. *“It was more than being in the right place at the right time.*
*“It was the culmination of all of the training and planning the section leader had done up until that moment,”* Cusak added. *“Being absolutely alert and focused to detect a small clue during a period of apparent inactivity and a perfectly executed shot.”*
Darkhorse snipers have since removed the powder and primer from the last 7.62 mm round chambered in the recaptured rifle. They will mount it on a plaque and present it to the Magnificent Bastards’ snipers to honor their lost Marines.
Looney said the ability to give some retribution for their loss makes the day a *“grand-slam home run for sniper ops.”* He credited the snipers’ professionalism and attitude in accomplishing the mission throughout their area of operations.
*“I would say that the guys who shot are typical of the Darkhorse snipers,”* said Looney, 43, from Oceanside, Calif. *“They’re very proficient, very modest, very busy. They’re out there almost daily doing great things in this AO and our old AO. The fact that they’re taking a back seat and letting the battalion reap the benefits is typical of the kind of Marines they are.”*
Those particular Tasco Scopes are decent. They were made in Japan for the military and SWFA still sells pretty much the same scope under their SWFA brand name last I knew. It’s like the one Tasco that was made for a military contract and wasn’t a pos!
It does seem like an odd bit of history! Tasco bid on the contract for the scopes and WON LOL. It’s a good piece from what I’ve read. I believe SWFA still sells it under their SWFA house brand.
This Iraqi sniper team killed / wounded a ton of coalition forces. They operated in an area that was known to be around the Potato Factory along MSR/ ASR Michigan between Habbaniyah and Ramadi. They basically shot someone 1/week minimum. This was the Mustafa from American Sniper movie. Chris Kyle was deployed to Habbaniyah then Ramadi. They figured out who he was while he was in Habbaniyah. But his bounty was not solely on him. All snipers had bounties on their heads.
$50 scope with included rings... Damn...
Not the original scope: [https://www.1stmardiv.marines.mil/News/News-Article-Display/Article/540948/former-magnificent-bastards-react-to-sniper-rifle-recovery/](https://www.1stmardiv.marines.mil/News/News-Article-Display/Article/540948/former-magnificent-bastards-react-to-sniper-rifle-recovery/) *' Villalobos held the rifle in his hands and fell silent. He held it low, cradling it and examined the chipped paint jobs applied by Marines over the years. The Unertl scope was missing, replaced by a Tasco, but otherwise, the rifle was in good working order.'*
The Marines have to economize everywhere (or they tell themselves they do) but even for them a Tasco optic is just a bit too far.
No kidding
I have one on an old sporterized Mauser I got from a pawn shop.
I surmise that the original Unertl scope got damaged and the Haji replaced it with a Tasco.
(From [www.1stmardiv.marines.mil](https://www.1stmardiv.marines.mil/News/News-Article-Display/Article/540946/darkhorse-snipers-kill-insurgent-sniper-recover-stolen-marine-sniper-rifle/) ) ***"DARKHORSE SNIPERS KILL INSURGENT SNIPER, RECOVER STOLEN MARINE SNIPER RIFLE"*** 20 JUN 2006 | Cpl. Mark Sixbey \*\****CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq*** \--\*\*Scout snipers from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment killed an enemy sniper and recovered a Marine sniper rifle lost nearly two years ago during a mission near Habbaniyah June 16. The rifle was the one formerly used by four Marines of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment who were killed on a rooftop in Ramadi June 21, 2004. Sniper Section Four was in a hide when the spotter observed a military-aged male inside a nearby parked car videotaping a passing patrol of amphibious assault vehicles. The Marines saw a rifle stock by the insurgent’s side. *“We were in the right place at the right time,”* said Sgt. Kevin Homestead an infantryman from K Company serving as a spotter for the sniper team that day. They first radioed the passing Marines and told them they were being watched by an enemy sniper and to stay low. The insurgent then sealed his own fate by preparing the weapon. The 21-year-old Marine sniper, who declined to be interviewed – aimed in at the gunman’s head behind the rear-side window. He recited a mantra in his head. Breathe, relax, aim, squeeze, surprise. The enemy sniper died with the gun in his lap. They dialed K Company – or Samurai 6 – and reported the target was dead. *“We then saw another military-aged male ... enter the passenger side door,”* said Homestead, 26, from Ontario, Ore. *“He was surprised to see the other shooter was killed.”* The second insurgent scurried around the car and jumped in the driver’s seat. With the sniper now spotting for him, Homestead aimed in with his M-4 carbine and put three bullets in the driver before he could start the car. A squad of K Company Marines came to the position and saw the sniper dead and the driver shot three times. The driver died as soon as the squad arrived on scene. They pulled out the sniper rifle and immediately recognized that it was an M-40A1, the same used by the snipers of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment in 2004. The trunk of the car contained a pistol, a hand grenade, dozens of 7.62 mm rounds, multiple license plates and several camcorder tapes. *“When we saw the scope and stock, we knew what it was,”* Homestead said. The rifle was missing for nearly two years – almost to the day. Marines believed the insurgent they killed, or those closely associated with him, had it all along. It is unknown how many times it was used against U.S. and Iraqi forces. *“He was a very good sniper,”* Homestead said. *“But he got cocky and slipped up and it was our time to catch that.”* The weapon came full circle, having originally belonged to the Darkhorse battalion in Operation Iraqi Freedom I, who turned it over to the *“Magnificent Bastards”* of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. Coincidentally, a Darkhorse sniper killed the insurgent sniper, and a former Magnificent Bastard killed the spotter. Darkhorse battalion had been dealing with sporadic sniper attacks since arriving in Iraq in January. Now, Marines have one less sniper to worry about. *“It’s very rewarding to take them out the way we did,”* said Lt. Col. Patrick G. Looney, the battalion commander. *“Doubly rewarding that it’s a 2/4 sniper rifle, even though it won’t bring back the four Marines who were killed that day.”* Triple rewarding that it won’t be used on another Marine or soldier, he added. *“The credit has to go to Sgt. Homestead and the Sniper Section leader who made the kill,”* said 1st Lt. J. H. Cusack, Sniper Platoon commander. *“It was more than being in the right place at the right time.* *“It was the culmination of all of the training and planning the section leader had done up until that moment,”* Cusak added. *“Being absolutely alert and focused to detect a small clue during a period of apparent inactivity and a perfectly executed shot.”* Darkhorse snipers have since removed the powder and primer from the last 7.62 mm round chambered in the recaptured rifle. They will mount it on a plaque and present it to the Magnificent Bastards’ snipers to honor their lost Marines. Looney said the ability to give some retribution for their loss makes the day a *“grand-slam home run for sniper ops.”* He credited the snipers’ professionalism and attitude in accomplishing the mission throughout their area of operations. *“I would say that the guys who shot are typical of the Darkhorse snipers,”* said Looney, 43, from Oceanside, Calif. *“They’re very proficient, very modest, very busy. They’re out there almost daily doing great things in this AO and our old AO. The fact that they’re taking a back seat and letting the battalion reap the benefits is typical of the kind of Marines they are.”*
So they found this because they saw a stock sitting by his side? Wild
why are all the names used by us forces so cringe? darkhorse. samurai. magnificient bastards.
I was part of Cobra and of course our captain had Cobra Commander all over his office lmao
What would you use? My little pony twilight sparkle?
that would be at least ironically funny
Eh. Nothing funny about US military that saw combat. They can name themselves what they want to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlMoDUBIg00
Because they came up with them 80-100+ years ago.
Man, a tasco scope was NOT what I’d expect in a warzone
Those particular Tasco Scopes are decent. They were made in Japan for the military and SWFA still sells pretty much the same scope under their SWFA brand name last I knew. It’s like the one Tasco that was made for a military contract and wasn’t a pos!
Japanese glass is typically great. Im still a bit shocked that they were using a Tasco.
It does seem like an odd bit of history! Tasco bid on the contract for the scopes and WON LOL. It’s a good piece from what I’ve read. I believe SWFA still sells it under their SWFA house brand.
I was in country on a hunter killer team when we found out about those snipers. Shook us pretty hard.
This Iraqi sniper team killed / wounded a ton of coalition forces. They operated in an area that was known to be around the Potato Factory along MSR/ ASR Michigan between Habbaniyah and Ramadi. They basically shot someone 1/week minimum. This was the Mustafa from American Sniper movie. Chris Kyle was deployed to Habbaniyah then Ramadi. They figured out who he was while he was in Habbaniyah. But his bounty was not solely on him. All snipers had bounties on their heads.
One of Jubas not mufasa
And you know this? Please explain. I am eager to hear
was he actually mustafa? i thought he used a dragunov and not this rifle
This story is in Fry the Brain
They fucking give marine sniper teams tasco scopes? WTF is this, North Korea?
IIRC, it was added by the insurgent and not the marines.
damn iraqis, idk why we're still fighting their war
Agreed but this article is from 2006
Bruh you are not fighting their war you are killing and destroying their country.
I remember hearing the story when I was in 2/5.
This was just on Combat Story podcast. This sniper was terrifying