What If the 'Beltway Sniper' Isn't Using a Rifle?

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 10/15/02 | Jeff Johnson

[kattracks]

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Much attention has been focused on the "rifle" used to shoot ten people, killing eight of them, in the Washington, D.C., area. But what if the so-called "Beltway Sniper" isn't using a rifle?

"We're willing, at this point, and able to say that from a 90-percent accuracy, we're dealing with a high-speed-velocity round," Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose said Oct. 4, the morning after four people were murdered in the same day.

"We're dealing with someone shooting from a distance," he continued, "someone using a high-velocity round, 90 percent sure that it is a .223 round from a rifle."

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) later displayed four "samples" of various rifles chambered for .223 ammunition, the round police say has been used in each of the shootings.

Investigators also displayed a number of carrying cases commonly used to transport the types of rifles shown to the media. Authorities have encouraged citizens to phone their toll-free tip line if they see anyone in the area of one of the shootings with a rifle, or with one of the carrying cases.

The public has also been encouraged to contact police about anyone who owns a .223 rifle, who has been acting in a suspicious or unusual manner since the murders began Oct.2.

But Neal Knox - former president of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, who now heads the Firearms Coalition - warned Monday that authorities may be overlooking another possible weapon in the murders - a handgun chambered in the .223 or similar caliber.

Hand-fired weapons capable of firing the .223 or similar rounds include three that provide for the mounting of a telescopic sight, which would improve accuracy at the 100 to 150-yard range from which investigators believe the sniper is firing.

One of the weapons is the Kimber Predator, a modified version of Kimber's M-85 bolt-action rifle. Another is the Remington "Fireball," a bolt-action handgun chambered for the .221 caliber, which was first produced in the mid-1960s. The third is the Thompson Contender, a single shot, "break open" style gun, which is "capable of serious long range shooting," according to the company's website.

The killer has fired a single shot in each of the attacks.

"Because it's smaller, either a Contender or Fireball would be ideal for sniping from a car if you had a sandbag between the butt and the window frame," Knox explained.

Glenn Beach, an ATF firearms examiner, acknowledged the existence of handguns that fire .223 rounds, but claimed they are rarely used, "especially when you're dealing with long ranges, for accuracy's sake."

Dennis Jackson, an advisor to Armed Females of America, disagreed. He told CNSNews.com Monday that it is "very realistic" to consider the possibility that the shooter could be using such a firearm.

"They are accurate for a handgun," said Jackson, who has fired the Thompson Contender. "People need to think outside the box."

Knox estimated the accuracy of the .223 or similar caliber handguns at "about one inch at 100 yards."

"I've shot Fireballs that were capable of 1/4-inch, center-to-center, five shots at 100 yards," he added. "That's as good as the very best specially modified AR-15 [semi-automatic rifles], and as good as many bench rifles."

Handguns chambered for .223 are typically less than 18 inches in total length and approximately 6 inches tall. They could be easily concealed in a nylon or hard sided briefcase, or a padded bag made especially for handgun storage and carrying.

After the eighth murder occurred near Fredericksburg, VA, Friday, authorities closed several interstate highways and other major arteries to search white vans fitting the description of one seen leaving the location of the shooting. Observers noted that police seemed to be quickly looking inside the vehicles for a rifle or storage container similar to the ones shown to the media.

"They're looking for a needle in a haystack because [the .223] is such a common round," Jackson noted. "This is giving them another alternative."

Chief Moose refused to answer questions Monday about the specific type of weapon the sniper might be using, saying, "We didn't come out here to speculate."

Police have been tight-lipped about details of the investigation since media outlets reported the discovery of a tarot card inscribed with the words, "Mr. Policeman, I am God," at one of the crime scenes. Critics say authorities are too concerned with building a criminal case, and that releasing more details could help friends, family members or coworkers of the killer identify him as a potential suspect.

E-mail a news tip to Jeff Johnson.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.

[sneakypete]

Why would a terrorist shooter (let's get rid of the "sniper" word) select a weapon that's more difficult to use than a simple rifle?

I dunno. Maybe because it is LESS difficult to shoot from a car than a rifle,and just as accurate?

His objective is to kill and remain at a safe distance (for him.)

Would you care to back off 200 yards and have me shoot at you with a scoped Contender in .223? I'm even willing to cut you some slack and go for a head shot. I shoot first,and once I miss because of my obviously inferior weapon,you get to return fire with a single round from a .223 rifle of your choice. How's that sound?

This is just more Neal Knox efforts to get publicity for himself, this time as some sort of gun "expert."

Ahh,if Mr.Knox only had your expertise!

[toddst]

I have followed Neal's career for a couple of decades now, and of all the people associated with the NRA, he has been the most consistantly truthful.

It appears this is a subject on which we have to agree to disagree. You have every right to your view of Neal Knox as a truthful person per the NRA. I see Mr. Knox as a grandstander who wants to gain control of the NRA for his own ends.

[Fudd]

My bet is on a decoy driver in the van...

Or the perp has nothing to to with a white van directly. He just waits until he sees a white van getting ready to leave. Then he lines up his shot and fires. Now that people are conditioned to look for a white van, they'll notice the unsuspecting decoy leaving.

My $.02

[toddst]

Would you care to back off 200 yards and have me shoot at you with a scoped Contender in .223? I'm even willing to cut you some slack and go for a head shot. I shoot first,and once I miss because of my obviously inferior weapon,you get to return fire with a single round from a .223 rifle of your choice. How's that sound?

Ahh,if Mr.Knox only had your expertise!

Sir, as a varmit hunter for over 50 years I know full well the importance of experience with the weapon used. Also the wisdom of selecting the right tool for the job.

The .223 Contender has its place and perhaps these terrorists are using it or an equivalent. However, we both know such a weapon is clearly at a disadvantage for controlled shot placement when compared to a rifle.

Mr. Know HAS my expertise. He also is ambitious and has worked tirelessly to take control of the NRA. Mr. Knox is always looking for press, which he has gotten in this article.

Per your challenge, I'll concede you are a threat to me at 200 yards with your .223 Contender. I would prefer we both go after the terrorist shooters with our weapons, as opposed to each other.

[Dave S]

While its possible that the Contender or another long barreled pistol is involved in these shootings, I think the police have a better idea of what weapon they are looking for than they are telling the public.

Each weapon has a specific rifling pattern. The ATF has an extensive database of patterns produced by just about every weapon available in the US. With eleven bullets or fragments collected, I have to believe that they have enough to know at this point that it is .223 and which rifles/long barreled pistols were likley to have fired it.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Is it impossible to use a silencer with an AR-15 or any of the other possible weapons that can fire a .223 round?

Very possible. It will effectively muffle the muzzle blast, but since the round is supersonic, it will not affect the loud supersonic "crack" as the bullet passes.

Witnesses not familar with firearms may report a supressed rifle's single "crack" as a rifle shot, while witnesses who hear a normal rifle may report two shots (one from the blast, the other from the crack) depending on their location.

[Maximum Leader]

I agree, a decoy driver is an unnecessary component of the plan.

Just wait for a white van to drive by and then take your shot. Its like having an accomplice who can't testify against you.

[Redcloak]

...I am having trouble wondering why the killer wouldn't pull off a "double header" if he had a "mutli shot" weapon. Last night would have been a real chance for such hit. The victim's husband would have made for a very easy and quick second shot if he was using a semi.

I was wondering the same thing. Someone speculated that the mild recoil of the .223 would allow the guy to watch the rounds hit through the scope. If that's the case, then the husband was likely in the field of view right after them woman was hit. The poor guy was probably stunned, staring in disbelief at his wife, not moving, and would have been an easy shot. Also, firing a second shot at a second victim would have gotten witnesses to duck out of sight. They wouldn't have spotted him leaving.

The only thing I can think of is that this is a classic serial killer. The victims are props on a set he's dressing. The set requires only a single victim. Thus shooting a second victim would spoil the scene. Perhaps he wants to see people rushing towards the victim; something that won't happen if he pops off a second round.

[droberts]

The fact that a shell casing did get left behind would infer a semi-auto of some kind (the rest probably ejecting inside the vehicle if he was in the drivers seat shooting towards the front of the vehicle).

[LRS]

The fact that a shell casing did get left behind would infer a semi-auto of some kind (the rest probably ejecting inside the vehicle if he was in the drivers seat shooting towards the front of the vehicle).

Not impossible. However, we would need to know 2 things to make it fit:1) Was the one spent casing that we know was located, "placed" or "planted". 2) Have the shootings occured while the perp was in a vehicle. I'm not from DC, so I do not know the areas from which the shots probably originated from. However, judging from the reports concerning last night's shooting, someone apparantly has reported that they saw someone outside of a vehicle with a weapon (that still proves nothing, yet, for what they could have witnessed, was some "good ol' boy" or a plain clothes LEO, grabbing a firearm after hearing the shots. We'll have to wait for more info.)

[sneakypete]

, I'll concede you are a threat to me at 200 yards with your .223 Contender.

Then why wouldn't the shooter in these sniper instances be a serious threat at half the distance with the same weapon? We ain't talking ground hogs at 500 yards,here. We are talking about making a torso hit on a stationary human at 100 yards or so.

I would prefer we both go after the terrorist shooters with our weapons, as opposed to each other.

I would,too. I was just making a point.

As for Neil Knox,he should have been elected president of the NRA,instead of that senile loser,Heston.

[SunTzuWu]

Everyone (press) is repeating the "sniper with special rifle and scope" idea. They are stuck in a mental rut. I watched Bob London on "American Shooter" (TV show on OLN) hit a baloon at 200 yards with a snub nosed revolver. Just because the shooter isn't standing next to the target, doesn't mean he's using a rifle.

[SunTzuWu]

A supressor is only effective with a subsonic round.

[LRS]

We're thinking along the same lines here. The husband would have probably acted in a normal manner upon seeing his spouse fall, and gone to her aid. Using a semi automatic weapon, the killer could have taken him out in a heartbeat as well, and it might have even been to his advantage to do so. But then, I'm mildly crazy, and not insane ;-)

While I will not rule out trained terrorists, or some sort of killing duo, I strongly lean towards the "traditional" serial killer scenario, with the guy using a single shot, or bolt action weapon. What is interesting, is your "trophy" thinking, with a 2nd victim spoiling the scene. I'll give that one some thought!

[Billthedrill]

A supressor is only effective with a subsonic round.

Correct, and to flesh that out a bit, the .223 comes, typically, in 55-grain and 62-grain flavors (there are others, but all around that size). That sort of bullet must go fast or forfeit its kinetic energy. Cranking a projectile that small down to subsonic speed makes it a very unreliable killing device, which is why most production military suppressed firearms these days concentrate on pistol cartridges - they're already close enough to subsonic so that performance isn't overly degraded.

I have fired both .45 ACP and 9mm in suppressed firearms. The former was still pretty loud, but the latter - it was an H&K MP-5, and it really did sound like that little "phut phut" you hear in the James Bond movies. That thing could go off in the next room and you'd never know it. But a 100-yd-plus one-shot-one-kill weapon it is not.

[M. T. Cicero II]

I wouldn't do it! You could do it with me shooting, as I'm not that good of a shot. But I have seen people who are good shots (not great) hit the target at 150 yards with those .223 pistols!

I think that people who are not military and/or have not shot much, really don't know about accuracy, recoil, muzzle blast, case ejection, etc. And really, if you are familiar with firearms, you realize that you haven't shot everything there is and would reserve judgment on weapons that you haven't fired.

When I'm at the range, I will shoot every gun that I am offered. I also ask and offer. Otherwise I would have never had an opportunity to fire a .223 pistol (TC Contender). (On a side note, I once shot a round of skeet with a TC Contender chambered in 20ga. Wild!)

[Travis McGee]

I've included this rifle caliber pistol use in my novel going back 2 years. Lot's of folks already think outside the box.

[Travis McGee]

I think that ideas which are ready to germinate spring up all over at once.

So I had better get my damn book in print fast!

[Travis McGee]

A supressor is only effective with a subsonic round.

Not true. The suppressor can eliminate or greatly reduce muzzle blast (which can locate the shooter). The sonic crack does NOT point to the shooter.