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..

[relee]

[bonesmccoy]

What kind of rifles do the Iraqi soldiers or Iraqi spec ops ?

[null and void]

Put on your asbestos underwear....

[Trailerpark Badass]

Funny thing is, that's a post-ban assault weapon.

[stephydan]

Is that a cut down/modified rifle????

Looks like one nasty weapon, but NOBODY could kill six people with a single shot each even with a tricked out weapon like that!!!!!!

[Yasotay]

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.

I would "hope" LEOs would know an accelerator sabot when they see one, but you could very well be correct. Since they have a casing .... and the Feds are helping .... I would assume someone knows the make of gunpowder.

[FatherTorque]

I don't know and can't seem to find any references on the net, but if you're thinking that it might be Iraqis with their own weapons I'd have to doubt that.

For one thing it would be much easier to purchase weapons here in the U.S. than to try and smuggle them in.

Secondly if it is "professionals" doing this, the caliber of the cartridge is not going to matter that much. After a lifetime of shooting, I am equally adept with .22s up to .50s. A few hours at the range is all it would take for a pro to familiarize himself with the characteristics of most any rifle and ammo.

[alphadog]

A BFG-50...good one

[Squantos]

I have used both commercial .223 and GI 5.56mm ammo in all my AR series, Thompson Contenders and bolt guns. No problemo except for newer TC's. They don't like the 5.56MM Goobermint ammo at all. One has to do a little work to set back the barrel and recut the chamber for optimum reliable hits on yer primer on either round. All my HBAR's feed either without any pressure problems. IMHO/Experience that's mythology at its best. Blast away Ern !!

Now that's not a problem for most folks except for those that purchase South African or Israeli Military ammo........or the Operators with lots of free goobermint ammo........gosh I miss the good old days .

Stay Safe !

[PoorMuttly]

I get it...I get it ! It's the RIFLE that's high-powered...not the cartridge.

[bonesmccoy]

good point...you correctly surmissed the direction of my thinking. In considering your proposed modus operandi, it makes sense. I have to think that the ranges would look at "Abu" twice if he showed up asking for 223 caliber rounds with plastic jackets and a rifle with silencer/scope. Don't you think most gun store owners would be wise to that modus?

[FatherTorque]

Is that a cut down/modified rifle????

Looks like one nasty weapon, but NOBODY could kill six people with a single shot each even with a tricked out weapon like that!!!!!!

No, that's a Thompson Contender.  A target pistol that you can get barrels for that are chambered for most commonly available cartridges. 

Here are just a few that you can get.  17 Remington, 22K Hornet, 226 JDJ, 6.5 JDJ, 338 Woodswalker, 375 JDJ, 444 Marlin, 45-70, 50-70.

And yes, there are plenty of perps that can kill that many people with a single shot. Run a google search for Carlos Hathcock and see what you find.

 

[cinFLA]

Everything from varmits to Elephants can be felled with a 22/250.

Whoa!

[CapandBall]

"For a little bullet, the 5.56 bullet produces quite dramatic wounds. While the traditional 30-06 caliber bullet of the M1 Garand and 7.62 bullet of the M14 rifle would immediately knock a man down, the 5.56 bullet instead enters the body, quickly turns sideways after passing through only 4" of flesh, then breaks in two major pieces, as well as many smaller fragments. During the Vietnam War, soldiers reported that shooting an enemy soldier with the M16 did not kill as quickly as the old 30 caliber weapons. Instead soldiers would follow a massive trail a blood a few feet away from where the enemy soldier had been hit to find him dead from massive blood loss. This light-weight cartridge permits soldiers to carry more ammo, but is not as effective at long distances as heavier cartridges and does not penetrate steel as well. The low recoil permits quick follow-up shots and minimal muzzle climb during automatic fire. "

http://www.bobtuley.com/terminal.htm

[relee]

It's a Thompson Encore Pistol used for hunting or target shooting. The .223 is at the low end. The .50 Cal. Muzzleloader and 454 Casull are near the top end. They are single shot, accurate with or without a scope, and not uncommon.

[bonesmccoy]

Yep... blasters and bodies don't mix. This whole thing is going to set off the liberals in the medical academies.

[nevergore]

Thompson has been making these weapons for years...called the Contender....They're chambered in several rifle rounds....".308, .223 etc.....

Competitions are held regularly around the country with clubs dedicated to long range pistol; shooting 500 to 800 yards......

Very accurate weapons and a faily mild shoot in .223

I doubt this would be the shooters choice....Most likely a Ruger Mini 14 or a AK-47 knock-off chambered in .223

These could be had for under $400 were a AR-15 (or variant), Thompson Contendor etc. would run over $800....

Two hispanics, what a joke...This is not a "monetary crime" that is being committed but assasinations Since there are two TIQ's involved this eliminates the crazies since they generally operate alone. Since financial gain (robbery) is not a motive then Terrorism is the only logical choice.

Two middle eastern = Two hispanic looking men.....

Code words by the LEO's to keep the populace calm.

The Al Queda training films and literature specified this EXACT scenario to be used on US Streets....

Geez....I hope Bush cut loose a couple of our SpecWar teams loose in the area to hunt these basturds down....

NeverGore

[FatherTorque]

I have to think that the ranges would look at "Abu" twice if he showed up asking for 223 caliber rounds with plastic jackets and a rifle with silencer/scope. Don't you think most gun store owners would be wise to that modus?

I would tend to agree.  My guess is this.  Since it is very rare that serial killers work together it's either a couple of gangbanger buddies who are looking at making a name for themselves OR are looking at long prison sentences for other crimes and have nothing to lose.  Or it's an ex-military trained guy with a grudge against somebody or something, who has a hanger-on friend. 

I think ex-military only because it's happening in suburban DC, not exactly a place known for turning out expert marksmen.  If this was happening in say Tennessee I'd say it would be lot more suspects to look at.

[PoorMuttly]

"Karamojo" Bell professionally culled African elephants with a 7x57 Mauser, with ONE shot...then rolled out of the way so they didn't fall down on him. He was a master of elephant anatomy...and had nerves of steel. With a hard, LONG, well-stabilized bullet in EXACTLY the right place...it's possible...but the exception, certainly. He shot them in the mouth, or up the base of the trunk, through 3 feet of honeycombed skull. I've spoken to pro hunters who see .458 Win.Mags. not put them down...just stun them. The .280 Ross was a high velocity ctg. that got a lot of guys chewed by lions. Velocity is an iffy thing in hunting performance. Even the 5.56NATO suffers from short carbine barrels...and just ain't no 30'06. Snappy and flat shooting, though. A big, heavy slug digs in, and does the job, mostly. The .223 ain't no high-powered rifle round...just fast, so being short, unstable on impact...and if it gets to you, mean...like a .22 Mag up close...in one place, out somewhere else. A complicated formula. A trade off. No elephant gun...no matter how fast you drive it, but evidently great in lightweight machineguns, lots of times in a row. A trade-off.

[El Gato]

the reporter said shell

Well, they call loaded cartridges "bullets" too. They also call .223s "high powered" , but in many states they are not legal for use on deer sized game, too likely to wound but not kill quickly. At best they are "intermediate power", in fact the .223 in it's military guise the 5.56 Nato is definitely "intermeidate power" since the M-16, which fires that round, is an "assualt rifle", which by DoD definition, is a selective fire (selectable semi-auto and full auto and/or burst fire) rifle firing and "intermediate power" cartridge.