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To: Ramius
The sheen makes me think it's all plastic. The scope is probably not more than 4x, and doesn't have a big objective lens.

My SWAG is that this is a semi-disposable ripoff of the German Armbrust which is a short-range, silent (until the warhead goes off) anti-tank weapon. It uses the same captive-piston design used in silenced M79 and 12 ga ammunition developed during Vietnam. In this case, the main component of the weapon is a heavy-walled steel tube. The propellant is sandwhiched between two heavy steel caps, which push the projectile out the front, and a countermass out the back, making it recoilless. A heavy steel ring on each end stops the caps, and traps the hot gas inside.

The countermass is a bundle of soft plastic strips that weigh the same as the projectile. There is no noise (actually, more like a pistol shot), no smoke or flame, and you only need a couple of feet of safe area to your back. Great for ambushes from buildings.

US Special Forces have a limited supply of these specialized weapons.

That's my SWAG. The modest rifle-type scope, for me, rules out both an RPG or manpad weapon, since it would be inappropriate for either. The seeming plastic construction makes it just a holder for something else. I don't think there are missing pieces to make the thing longer.

A peek at what the ammunition is would answer all the questions.

6,057 posted on 02/12/2007 3:05:19 PM PST by 300winmag (Overkill never fails)
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To: LSAggie

It's nasty raw out there! A good time to curl up with a hot cuppa something and a good book.


6,058 posted on 02/12/2007 3:10:43 PM PST by Overtaxed
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To: 300winmag
A peek at what the ammunition is would answer all the questions.

Roger that. I still can't get past the shoulder stock on the thing. Notice in the example you posted... no stock. It doesn't make any sense. The presence of a shoulder stock implies that there is some recoil... which doesn't make any sense given the assumed types of weapon it might be.

dunno. But now gotta go find an airplane. I'll tune in later tonight.

Later, folkses...

6,059 posted on 02/12/2007 3:19:22 PM PST by Ramius ([sip])
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To: 300winmag
A peek at what the ammunition is would answer all the questions.

Sure would. I'd call it somewhere in the 40-ish mm grenade launcher, mebbe some kind of canister round. But definately not my specialty.

6,062 posted on 02/12/2007 3:45:30 PM PST by Lil'freeper (You do not have the plug-in required to view this tagline.)
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