Deputy Says .50 Sniper Rifle Found Near Olympic Venue 'a serviceable weapon'

Utah Standard-Examiner Newspaper ^ | February 3, 2002 | Matthew Flitton

[codebreaker]

The condition of the .50 caliber gun found 5 miles from the Soldier Hollow Olympic Venue is under debate.

Governor Mike Leavitt said Saturday he was told the weapon had no link to the Winter Olympics.

"It was rusted and did not appear to be operable," Leavitt said.

That information contradicted the observations of Wasatch County Deputy Rick Benson, who took possession of the weapon from a hunter who found it January 26 while hunting coyotes in the hills above Wallsburg.

"It doesn't look brand new, but it looks to me like a servicable weapon, " he said.

The hunter who wished to remain anonymous, also said the gun had papers dating back to 1992, indicating it was not an old weapon.

The gun often used by military and police as a sniper rifle becuase of its power, is currently being tested in the state crime lab.

[prambo]

"...anti-government whackos..."

Who you calling a whacko, pilgrim?

prambo

[SBeck]

Sounds plausible. Maybe it was cached for the Y2K non-event?

[BCR #226]

Most owners of .50 cal rifles use good quality ball ammo for long range target shooting. Tracers and AP rounds are not typical. Private owners that have forked out $3,000 to $10,000 don't leave a rifle around to rust either. Something doesn't pass the smell test in this story.

Actually, AP and Tracer are very common and reasonably inexpensive for the .50 cal. (at least it's reasonable considering the price of ball). Many shooters use it because it is available and common. Mike

[Rebelbase]

"You know them 50-cals - can destroy battleships at 20 miles. "

So it was only one guy with a .50 that sunk the Bismark? : )

[RogueIsland]

I'm shocked. A .50 BMG thread and nobody has posted the Birdman Nuke .50 yet...

[hellinahandcart]

The Deseret News said this morning that the rifle was found 10 MILES from Soldier Hollow, nowhere near the Olympic Venue. The big media always leaves out these little details.

It was nearer the Olympic venue than it was to New York City, therefore the media didn't lie. < /sarcasm >

[tarpon_bill]

>>>Found with tracers and armor piercing bullets.

At least there were no deadly cop-killer bullets found with the gun.

Wonder who planted it for them to find?

[harpseal]

IMHO the most likely reason such a rifle was in the woods in a location 5 miles away from the Olympic venue is that it was placed there by someone seeking a story to demonize the .50 BMG rifles and/or someone seeking the Reward for stopping a terrorist activity. The theif angle is possible but very doubtful because the rifle should show up on a hot sheet somewhere. The cache angle is also doubtful as such a cache would be almost impossible to retrieve in a Utah winter. The fact that it is winter when this rifle turns up makes me even more suspicous. Why was it not covered in snow?

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[ArrogantBustard]

You know them 50-cals - can destroy battleships at 20 miles.

heh heh... Would that be a .50 calibre, or a 16" 50 calibre... the latter can destroy battleships at 20 miles. They're a bit tough to lug around, though. :)

AB

[MadRobotArtist]

First, it's over 10 miles away. Who was the shooter going to tag? Second, it's stupid to find that amount of ammunition anywhere. It's a crock. This is somebody either playing hero, or is a Fed trying to promote a cause.

There is nothing in this that is even remotely right.

[verity]

"Sounds like a plant so they can outlaw .50 cals now."

Those damned THEY again. ;~)

[Illbay]

Depends on if I've remembered to don my tinfoil hat or not.

[Cold Heat]

I used to carry one of those thumpers back in 1970. I kinda liked it but it could be hard on the right hand and fingers.LOL! I thought the gas delivery wording was cute military BS as usual. I still laugh at the descriptions they had for toilet paper.

[SLB]

As I sit here this morning I have a dummy .50 cal SLAP round on my desk. I don't know if you are familiar with it, but the performance is pretty decent. I do not know the max range, but the projectile (tungsten penetrator) would not even slow down for 2+ inches of RHA at 500 meters. I imagine agianst a man size target a mile or a little over would not be out of the question. The cross winds found there might make it a little tricky, but not impossible.

[eno_]

What possible use could a tracer have in what is probably a bolt action rifle? Or, for that matter, that large an amount of ammo? Badly maintained? Found by an unnamed "hunter?" In a box labeled "Explosives?" In plain sight? Smells an awful lot like the ATF cleaned out an old evidence locker and decided to make some work for themselves.

[freefly]

"Hey, do Rock Chucker or Lee sell a dies for that yet?"

At 19.95 a box it really isn't worth the effort.
Besides, I hear you get a great deal when you buy them by the case...

[from occupied ga]

My guess is that they have frag rounds too.