MD shooting update: Shell found in VA is a .223 caliber, shooting in DC now linked too

CNN

[newsperson999]

A shell was found near that shooting this afternoon in VA that was found to be a 223 cal fired from a high powered rifle..also test confirm that the man that died in DC last night also died from the same type of ammo..

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

LibWhacker you screenname might make some libs nervous considering the thread topic. LOL

Travis maybe if you aren't working on your book right now you can whip out that .223 bullet fragmentation/yaw chart you post every once and a while. Maybe this spree killing case will settle once and for all the stopping power debate between .223 and .308 that rages on the bang_list. Well probably not considering the hard headedness of both sides.LOL

[Prodigal Son]

I've been thinking on this one. That really sounds a lot like a Supreme truck like I mentioned to you, Shermy, on the other thread.

We used to make hundreds of van bodies for Mitsubishi Fuso and Isuzu (among others- Budget was also one of our biggest customers). The Mitsubishi and Isuzu bodies were very simple, pretty much all the same. They came in three sizes- 14, 16 and 18 footers. Most took solid plywood for a liner.

Anyway, there is a way that the shooter could've been inside the truck with the roll up door closed, the driver in the cab and nobody would've needed to even get out to open the door. I doubt they did it this way, but it's something to think about- the Todco rollup door that the truck comes with has an adjustable top panel (you need to be able to adjust the lean at the top of the door- sometimes they bang the roof going up). You can remove the top rollers from the inside of the truck with a wrench and the top door panel will then fold and lay in towards the inside of the body.

This puts the shooter then in the position of having to be elevated up from the floor a good ways because the shortest door for that line would've still been 77 inches tall. With the panel laid down you can subtract perhaps another 10 inches- so 67 inches tall to the bottom of the opening. But if the shooter did have a little platform built (or just a simple ladder) he could've communicated with the driver with a cell phone or two-way, the driver could've spotted the target and positioned the truck in the right direction. When the driver gave him the "all clear" the shooter drops the top panel, takes his shot, the driver cranks up, the shooter folds the door panel back up into place and replaces the rollers. Within one second of the shot, nobody would even realize that the panel had ever been open. No damage to the truck and nobody sees anybody walking around the truck.

It's an idea.

[AnAmericanMother]

Wow! Never had a hangfire in any rifle other than my little Ruger 10/22 . . . one or two in my .455 Webley pistol which I just stood and waited out . . . but I can imagine with that much powder you're sweating large pearly drops while wondering if it's going to go "bang" . . . :-D

I know exactly what you mean about the "tingle". We used to make fireworks (quite legally - my husband worked for Zambelli) and that concussion is really something when you're working the mortars . . .

[IGOTMINE]

The woman in VA was shot in what has been termed a "domestic" situation. Suspect is in custody. No tie to the MD murders.

My source: A Spotsylvania County deputy.

[CreekerFreeper]

I've seen rounds designated for use on elephant at my local gun store, as well as rounds for prairie dogs, ground hogs, etc.

[AnAmericanMother]

Good night, all . . . great discussion, but my husband is fussing at me about bedtime & I gotta walk the Labrador . . .

Maybe they'll catch the perp or perps overnight. Sure hope so.

[bonesmccoy]

Um... that's why I'm a physician... I can't shoot small furry creatures (ok ok guys... call me a wimp)... shooting targets and clays no prob... PULL!

[FatherTorque]

Wow! Never had a hangfire in any rifle other than my little Ruger 10/22 . . . one or two in my .455 Webley pistol which I just stood and waited out . . . but I can imagine with that much powder you're sweating large pearly drops while wondering if it's going to go "bang" . . . :-

Yes, hangfire on the .50 is not something I want to repeat every day. ;)  I was praying sooooo hard it would go off that second time!!  Heck if it hadn't that'd be like jacking a stick of dynamite out.  Not good.  On the .50 cal website I hang out at they were talking about a guy who had a shellholder type .50.  Somebody had "gunsmithed it" before he bought it and when he was trying to load it, the round went off and tore his thumb off and drove the shellholder through his shoulder. :(

I know exactly what you mean about the "tingle". We used to make fireworks (quite legally - my husband worked for Zambelli) and that concussion is really something when you're working the mortars . . .

Making fireworks??  Dang, I wish I lived near y'all.  We could have lots of fun.

[Yasotay]

I like Accelerators .... but the plastic sabot is VERY easy to find and then it can traced .... by powder .... the majority were .30 cal. I had both 30-06 & 30-30 rounds.

[relee]

The Virginia State Police and local officers have been watching the bridges for the white truck so I did not think it crossed the Potomac. The .223 brass probably came inadvertently from Quantico or AP Hill.

[bonesmccoy]

On the other hand, shoot something to eat.. and mmm mmm good!

[FatherTorque]

I've seen rounds designated for use on elephant at my local gun store, as well as rounds for prairie dogs, ground hogs, etc.

Again, no offense, but I'd wait to see the yahoo that designated those 22-250 round for elephant to kill one first before I tried it. 

Seriously, the vast majority of experts won't even consider hunting elephants with a .50 BMG.  Unless you are lottery winning lucky, a 22-250 is just going to make an elephant mad.

 

[Prodigal Son]

Two Hispanics Sought In DC Area Killings

[Shermy]

Great stuff. Maybe you'll crack the case!

[FatherTorque]

I like Accelerators .... but the plastic sabot is VERY easy to find and then it can traced .... by powder .... the majority were .30 cal. I had both 30-06 & 30-30 rounds.

I think 300winmag made sense.  In an urban environment the sabot would probably just be blown down the street and into the gutter or something.  I'd think LEOs would have to be very lucky to find one.

[stephydan]

From an AP report on FOX:

"Each Maryland victim was felled by a single bullet, apparently from a high-powered rifle or handgun. Police said evidence indicated the killer was some distance away and used .223-caliber bullets."
http://foxnews.com/story/0,2933,64810,00.html


HANDGUN!?!?!?! I love to see the handgun that fires a .223, how can news people are so anti-gun when they don't know a dang thing about guns. You'd think someone would a least get a little knowledge about a topic before they passed judgement!!!!!

[July 4th]

Lastly, I have been lead to believe that a 223 is designed to break-up/tumble when entering a body, causing massive internal damage, unlike a 30-06, 308, or 8mm which will go clean thru you.

I'm not sure if the 223 does that. It may very well do that. I do know, however, that the 5.45x39 round on that chart is extremely gruesome, and does what you suggest. There are all sorts of stories out there about shooting those things at milk jugs full of water, and having them rip massive holes in the container as they exit at 60 degrees relative to the place they entered.