Sawyer Clark: Does Bullet Trace Go Both Ways?

In a recent video, Sawyer Clark looks to answer a question that has long been on his mind. The question posed—can you see a bullet's trace from the target's perspective? This question was inspired by the legendary Marine Corps sniper Carlos Hathcock, known for his remarkable kill against the "Cobra." If you are unaware of this story, please read Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills by Charles Henderson or one of the various documentaries that can be found on YouTube (like The Fat Electrician's recent video on the late sniper).

First, trace occurs when a high-speed projectile is flying and compressing the air around it, bending light. Our eye sees this distorted light. Air pressure and moisture also affect our ability to see trace, which is why Clark waited for optimal conditions. From a practical standpoint, seeing trace aids the shooter or spotter in correcting misses.

Sawyer captured some awesome footage from the target's perspective!

Using his Nikon SP10M camera, Clark positioned it just off the right edge of his target. After setup (always tighten your target's bolts!), Clark returns to his firing position and begins engaging the target. A few shots later, he ceases fire and drives downrange to analyze his camera footage. The quick answer is affirmative; Clark successfully captured footage of the bullet trace from the target's perspective. To enhance understanding for those unfamiliar with bullet trace, Clark returns the camera back to the shooter's perspective, showcasing the trace from that point of view. A helpful tip from Clark is for spotters to position themselves as closely behind the shooter as possible, allowing for better observation of bullet trace and minimizing angle deflection, thus leading to more accurate calls.

In the video, Clark gives an in-depth look at his rifle. He uses the Seekins SP-10M, a variant designed as a marksman rifle with components crafted to exacting standards. It is chambered in .260 Remington, an excellent caliber, particularly when hand-loaded. For optics, Clark chose the Nightforce ATACR 5-25, secured by a Badger Ordnance C-One Mount. His bipod is the MDT Double-Pull Ckye-pod, and finally, he employs a suppressor from Otter Creek Labs.

Check out Sawyer Clark on YouTube for additional insights and details on precision rifle shooting.

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