How many bullets could this be?

[Kimber45acp]

The writer quotes some "ballistic expert" who claims the bullet which was fired into the air, "had most likely been fired from an AK-47 assault rifle."

Since it was possibly a .30 caliber bullet (but we don't know from these news accounts if the bullet was even recovered), how many different cartridges could it have realistically been (yes I know, the writer just enjoyed the opportunity to demonize the AK and to use the phrase "assault rifle")?

.30 30?

.30 06?

.308?

.30 carbine?

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26550846-952,00.html

 

[highorder]

Perhaps it was a 123gr. FMJ round. That narrows the pack considerably.

 

[mljdeckard]

On the other hand, if he has shot a lot of AK/SKS, he would know in two seconds if he saw something like a 122 gr Wolf bullet.

 

[KenW.]

Bet it was an SKS.

 

[chris in va]

7.62x54R also.

 

[Kimber45acp]

What is interesting is when I check the USA news sources on this, the reporting is a little more intelligent (lacking the phrase "assault rifle"), but still lacking information on whether the bullet was actually examined or not. So some former "expert" assumes that "downtown" is awash in AKs, but in actuality, it appears that no one has even examined the bullet.

Here is the doozie of an assumption from the AJC version, from a FORMER "expert":

“I would suspect this was a rifle. An AK-47. That’s the most prolific [weapon found] downtown,” said Kelly Fite, who was the top ballistics expert with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s state Crime Lab for almost four decades.

I'll bet glock fo-tays or nines are the most "prolific" downtown.

 

[RP88]

only two it could be are 7.62x54R and x39, assuming the 'expert' is an actual expert and thus was not too far off.

 

[hammerklavier]

To the OP. The 7.62x39mm is a .312 caliber, not .308 like the ones you listed.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

It would take about 10 seconds with micrometer to determine if the bullet was .308, .310, or .311, and whether it was the shorter 122-123gr 7.62x39 bullet, or a longer 147-154, etc, .308 military bullet. A specific diameter, and familiarity with bullet styles, and most reloaders could tell you, or at least give you an educated guess. Guessing a weapon would be reckless on the part of a forensic ballistics guy. Even if he KNEW it was the 7.62x39 for sure, there are AK's, AR's, SKS's, Ruger Mini's and bolt guns, etc, that all shoot that round. I wouldn't want to speculate THAT far. That is is just grandstanding.

 

[Jeff82]

Why is the article dated Jan 4, 2010?

IC, it came from Australia.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Why is the article dated Jan 4, 2010?

It's news from the future!

 

[sv51macross]

And let's not forget the source material either. Just look at the comments below the article.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

so any second we get the usual suspects who will pontificate how it can't happen.

 

[[Pb]]

“I would suspect this was a rifle. An AK-47. That’s the most prolific [weapon found] downtown,” said Kelly Fite, who was the top ballistics expert with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s state Crime Lab for almost four decades.

I don't think that's even possible with a 7.62 bullet, since AKs, SKSs, and other rifles in that caliber all leave the same marks on the bullet- rifling marks and not a lot else.


EDIT:


Haven't found any other actual new stories on this... so I'm taking it with a grain of salt.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Kelly Fite, who was the top ballistics expert with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s state Crime Lab for almost four decades.

If the guy has been working in the area for that long, he might actually know what the most prolific rifle is around there. He also is saying he suspects it is an AK47. He never says, "This is definitely an Romanian AK47 with an underfolder stock and a scratch on the left side of the receiver."

I'm not really sure what is the basis of doubt regarding this guy.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

basis?

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Full auto AK-47s are the most common weapon in Australia? Didn't they destroy all their guns?

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Full auto AK-47s are the most common weapon in Australia? Didn't they destroy all their guns?

The incident happened in Decatur, Georgia, USA.

 

[The_Pretender]

Interesting.

Reminds me of the story I read yesterday of how they found a fingernail at a murder scene and knew that it had to be a white male weighing 195 pounds, 6'1", brown hair, green eyes and walked with a bit of a limp.

I am damn sorry about what happened. But it is quite ridiculous to suspect the rifle it came from without stating any real facts to support it.

 

[Justin]

If we're going to have a needlessly pedantic discussion about something, can we at least pick a topic that's likely to be informative?