[DrCarl]

>I think he could shoot the same pattern with a T/C at 100 ~ 150 yards with little or no practice at all.

I should get one. I'm a lousy handgun shot. I shoot single shot rifle, offhand well.

[COB1]

I see no reason why the shooter would NOT use a scope!
Why take a chance of missing?
A head shot at 200 yards with a decent scope would not be a problem.
Besides, the scope would gather light and let him shoot in low light conditions.
As far as the type of rifle used, that's anyone's guess.
There's a lot of .223s out there!

He's using the .223 for ballistics and for noise reduction.
The muzzle velocity achieved alleviates the variation due to distance and wind.
With the right kind of ammo, the .223 is extremely deadly, and the disintegration of the bullet on impact leaves less for forensics to study.

I'm leaning more everyday to a terrorist or a terrorist cell.
I think this might be a pilot run of what we can expect if it works well.
The danger of catching this guy is that he might have ten pounds of C-4 around his middle and a grenade within easy reach.