In the movie Shooter why did Levon Helms character check the palms of Mark Wahlburg?

Answer 1

The reason he checked his hands starts with where the man is from. East Tennessee and Appalachia. He was checking his life line. Reading his future. or fate. Reading his life in his palm.

I come from Appalachia and a very superstitious, suspicious people.

It was to check if he was a professional sniper a snipers hand are always rubbing against the trigger guard and they are alway gripping the weapon so there hands are always rough.