• Trigger Men

  • Shadow Team, Spider-Man, the Magnificent Bastards, American Combat Sniper
  • By: Hans Halberstadt
  • Narrated by: Johnny Heller
  • Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (462 ratings)

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Trigger Men  By  cover art

Trigger Men

By: Hans Halberstadt
Narrated by: Johnny Heller
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Publisher's summary

Combat veteran and author Hans Halberstadt takes listeners deeper inside the elusive world of snipers than ever before, from recruitment and training to the brutality of the killing fields.

Shadow Team is probably the most productive sniper team in American military history, accounting for 276 confirmed kills in a six-month span with no casualties of its own. The team's leader made what was - and may still be - the longest range kill with a 7.62mm rifle. For the first time ever, team members explain what it's like to kill a man and what it takes to become one of the elite.

The tragic tale of Headhunter Two is altogether different. This four-man sniper team from a regiment known within the Corps as the Magnificent Bastards was killed in 2004 in Ramadi, Iraq. Their deaths not only caused a reevaluation of sniper tactics and techniques but also created a desire for vengeance that was exacted nearly two years later in dramatic fashion.

Based on hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews, Halberstadt gets inside the sniper mind and shows how snipers think and interact with each other, how missions are planned and executed, how the weapons work, and even what happens when a bullet finally strikes its target.

There are only a few hundred snipers from all the services put together in combat at any one time, making this true inside story a rare and important event.

©2008 Hans Halberstadt (P)2008 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"For those looking for a thorough primer on the role of the military sniper in today's counterinsurgency missions, this is a solid introduction." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Trigger Men

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

One Shot, One Listen

Trigger Men is a great balance of history and heroism. It's clear there was an extraordinary amount of time spent to uncover and tell the story of our military snipers, and their important everyday missions that most of us could never dare to imagine. The only small technical detail I had a challenge with is the fact the orator consistently spelled out S-T-A rather than pronouncing it "Stay" as is the actual practice. However, the story was well crafted and structured in a manner that leant itself to the great blend of history and practical application of the essential skills of the American Sniper.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Are you a shooter - read this book; if not don't

This book is a good supporting read for the sniper in you life. Not for the casual reader, far too detailed and in the weeds for the non-shooter world. A few interesting stories, but many "lessons and pointer" are repeated over and over....

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

The Technology of Killing

My review title sounds a bit gruff, the book is really about so much more. Despite some nice character background, it's basically about killing during times of war and other crises. It's also a very technical book - although well-written and not THAT hard to follow. (I'm not a weapons enthusiast, but I do LOVE a good war story!) Nor am I a war enthusiast, however my admiration for American soldiers and what they go through seems to deepen with each war story I read. This is a well-researched and sound book - recommneded.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Yawn Factory

I've been listening to books on audible for three years. In that time I haven't written a single review, either positive or negative. Unfortunately, this book is so bad, I have to break my silence. After two hours of listening, I was still waiting for some kind of point. It says "Wow, snipers are super high speed and neato." Then it proceeds to rinse and repeat for seven plus hours. Just really bad. For a great read try Big Boy Rules. Or if you're in the mood for a classic, try E.B. Sledge.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Too much repitition

Save yourself the time. After you listen to the first two war stories and equipment descriptions it's just the same thing over and over and over again. Turn it off and move on. YOu won't miss a thing.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Made me interested in long range shooting

I think this is a great book, I got is for 5 bucks which was pretty awesome. However, I think the price is a little high now because it's really not that long. The book is jam packed full of interesting information and really gives you an idea about how these teams operate. If you want to learn about modern sniper operations this is a great place to start.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book

This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in things military and combat arms in particular. The author, who served in Vietnam, is a good solid writer who knows the military and understands it.
The voice of the narrator, Johnny Heller, is perfect for thhis type of book. He has enough "grit" to sound believable. Some narrators sound too prissy or scholarly, and don't give credibility to this type of work. I found only a few minor mispronuciations, such as "Hue City" (in Vietnam) where "Hue" rhymed with "you." (It is actually pronounced "way"). The book, however, is about the modern sniper in Iraq and Afganistan, and gives great insight to the tools and training of this outstanding and very elite group of young men and women. Highly recommended.
VN Vet

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

This is it

As a shooter myself, this is as good as it gets. I have listened to this book over 10 times- to learn a tremendous education.
Nothing so far compares. The best of the best.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent military read

Graphic descriptions of actual kills in combat, with sighting and targeting consideration we hunters have not even dreamed of. An excellent read on the science of sniping.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow, eyeopener

Loved it, learned way more about snipers and tactics than I expected and the narrator was great. recommend take a listen!

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