(Image Source: Sandia National Laboratory)

BY JIM FLINK

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY
 

Is it the literal silver bullet?

A self-guided projectile -- capable of hitting a target from more than a mile away.

Two researchers at Sandia National Labs have invented just such a projectile.

Here’s the video Sandia labs released to YouTube, and while it doesn’t necessarily enact the entire path - you get the idea.

So, how does it work?

Sandia says, the bullet spins much slower than a traditional projectile, and uses fins to adjust its flight path.

CBS says -- if true -- it would be a massive improvement over the accuracy of traditional firearms.

“...according to a patent application Sandia filed, the new bullet could hit within eight inches of its target at a firing distance of a mile. That compares to a standard rifle-fired bullet, which tends to miss a target by about 29 feet after traveling a mile.”

And it could redefine -- the definition of “point-blank range.”

Because -- in this case, i09 reports -- the farther the distance of the target, the more accurate this bullet becomes.  At least to a point...

“What's more, preliminary tests suggest that increasing a target's distance actually improves the the projectile's accuracy by giving it more time to adjust its flight path.”

A senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute tells the BBC, a bullet like this would be very well-received by the military, and cited the Libya campaign.

“97% of Nato's weapons hit their target to within about 2m (6.5ft). But that was achieved through air munitions. This would be a revolution for ground forces, and may help further cut down on civilian casualties in future conflicts.”

Wired says -- this discovery changes everything.

From war -- to target shooting.

What is now possible -- was literally impossible heretofore.

“For a little more perspective, consider the world record in shooting accuracy: It currently belongs to British Army sniper Corporal Craig Harrison, who shot two Taliban operatives from a mile-and-a-half away. And Harrison performed that feat under ‘perfect’ conditions.”