marksmans

A marksman is a shooter who can hit small targets at long range with a high degree of accuracy. The term is used in military, law enforcement, sport shooting, and historical contexts. The standard plural is marksmen; marksmans is rare or nonstandard.

In everyday usage, marksman is distinct from sniper; snipers are trained for concealment and extended-range stalking, while marksmen focus on accuracy and consistency within a unit’s engagements.

In modern militaries, a designated marksman is a trained marksman assigned to provide precise fire at intermediate ranges beyond standard infantry capabilities.

In civilian shooting sports, marksmen compete in precision disciplines, with rounds fired from supported or prone positions and scoring based on accuracy at set distances.

Training emphasizes steady stance, sight picture, trigger control, breathing, recoil management, range estimation, wind reading, and data interpretation for ballistic performance; safety and ethical rules govern all practice.

Equipment commonly includes rifles (bolt-action or semi-automatic), optical sights, bipods, and appropriate ammunition; some programs use specialized rifles and accessories to optimize stability and accuracy.

Historically, marksmen have played key roles in warfare and sport, with the concept evolving into formalized designations such as the designated marksman and modern precision rifle competitions.