[RebelDawg]

Re: post 129 I agree. This is what I have been thinking as well (Contender or Encore maybe even a Savage Striker or Lone Eagle as you suggested) very easy to conceal, very accurate. A man carrying a rifle in this town no way. I don't believe that is what he is doing but this would be easy to conceal. Either this or he has something that breaks down easily.

BTW: I'm also curious but why all the talk of .223 from everyone? Did they find a shell casing? Even if they have the round how could they tell it was a .223 and not say a 22-250, 220 swift or even a 22 hornet. Theres no way, this is all just conjecture.

[wardaddy]

220 Swift is a superior cartridge in my view but of course has substantial added ammo weight....a disdavantage for slogging in the field.

22-250 is also a fine underestimated cartridge

[Travis McGee]

They have narrowed it to .223 from the slugs and one found shell casing, which may not have been from the shooter, either it was found trash or a possible planted false clue. As you said, it could be 22-250 etc. from way out.

I think it could be a folding stock rifle or carbine version of an M-4.

The cops don't really even know if it was fired from inside a van, which could have a bench set up to fire through a small aperture for sound suppression. From a bench in a van, the sniper could be firing a 28" bull barrel 22-250!

Or, like in my novel, it could be a chick using a Contender getting away on a motorcycle while the police are all looking for men in trucks with AR-15s.

[El Gato]

BTW: I'm also curious but why all the talk of .223 from everyone? Did they find a shell casing?

They have both bullets and one shell casing, the latter may be a red herring, but it might not be. They were saying .223 even before they got the shell casing. Even if it's not a .223 Remington, it's something on that order, and the exact cartridge doesn't really matter much, does it. I suspect it is .223, just because they and their ammunition are alot more available.