[Dr Warmoose]

I seriously doubt the "suppressed weapon theory".
The effectiveness of the .223 round is in its velocity, certainly not it's mass. (mv^2) So the round itself must also be subsonic or the muzzle suppressor is useless, and a round that is usually hurled at 2500+ fps must be brought under 900 fps or a sharp "crack" will still be heard as the bullet itself breaks the sound barrier.

These are clearly CNS shots being made from the "white van". And our terot card shooter certainly is not following the standard MO (the others had a spotter/shooter arrangement, they police their brass, CNS not chest shots, no calling card) this one is probably just a copy-cat shooter and crack pot (who says "dear policeman" except for those who are ESL?)

Why is no one reporting hearing the shots? Because only one shot is being made, and people who are not alert probably don't register it because gun shots are out of place and are assimilated in the normal day time noise of an urban area. Now if two or more shots were fired, then everyone would claim to hear a shot.

A .223 round is not the same as cooking off a .300 Win Mag. It is like a paper bag popping compared to an M-80 firecracker.

I don't get the media's impression that it is a domestic para-military op - because your standard sniper team only keeps the assault rifle for the spotter and the long distance work is always of the .30 or .50 caliber. My guess is that those who are trained on the AKs, and the M-16s are the ones using the wound/don't kill NATO round inappropriately.

[templar]

So the round itself must also be subsonic or the muzzle suppressor is useless,

Not nescessarily. A suppressed 223 gives a very low local report (I've heard them. you won't even need hearing protection with most of them). The bullet does make the sonic crack you mention, but that is usually useless in pinpointing the direction and range of the shot without the boom of the muzzle source. The advantage of suppression on rifles (any caliber) is that you both lessen the range in which the shot can be clearly heard and it's directionality in crowded conditions. That's why they make rifle suppressors. Pistols, which most people think of when suppression is mentioned, can be made almost silent (pistol caliber rifles and SMG's also). I also doubt that supression is being used, I'm just speculating about possibilities.

... our terot card shooter certainly is not following the standard MO ...

That's what I've been thinking also. The authorities claim the bullet ties the weapons together, but they also claim the bullets are highly fragmented. It doesn't make sense to me unless they want to play down the copy cat angle for some reason.

I don't get the media's impression that it is a domestic para-military op - ...

A local TV station in Denver this evening did a piece about how the shots being made are not nescessarily highly skilled (my contention all along, which is why I am so interested in ranges). They made the point that millions of people could do this. They had a reporter firing 100 yard target shots after 5 minutes of instruction that duplicated the snipers skill. It was the first time he had ever fired any gun (maybe we have a new member of the shooting sports now?). I have been wondering all along why the authoriteis keep referring to the sniper as a skilled shooter since I wouldn't consider these shots, if made from 100 or 150 yards with any reasonably good rifle, to be particularly skilled. The stealth of the shooter, on the other hand, interests me.