Beltway Sniper Trial (Ammo)

[Ironbarr]

Most of you know that Muhammad's trial is ongoing here in Virginia Beach and Malvo's begins in Chesapeake next month. Local news tonight mentioned the casing that was found was .223, which we have heard before.

Has anyone around the country/world heard anything about what specific MFR is, or load was? I ask since a witness was said to have mention that a victim's body part was "totally shredded". I think that not all versions of the .223 would do that. Wonder if it was - really - a Mil 5.56 variant.

Of course the "totally shedded" could be one person's opinion.

Thoughts/info?

-Andy

 

[Chipperman]

Media Hype.
No doubt the families will soon have a law suit against the manufacturer, as they have already tried with Bushmaster.

 

[mattd]

http://www.olyarms.com/223cqb.html

 

[Chipperman]

After rereading my first post, I realize I was a little ambiguous about the first comment.

I was not implying that the .223 round could not cause nasty wounds, but that the media was going to hype up how horrible this "Sniper bullet" is and how it should be banned.

Interesting link, Matt

 

[ny32182]

I'm quite sure that the media is going to over-hype anything they can.

That said, I think the consensus is that the longest shot was taken from a whooping 80 yards. I imagine that even a downloaded commercial .223 would exhibit explosive fragmentation at this range.

I can't confirm this report at all, but I did hear that one of the victims suffered a head shot, and the exit wound was very far from pretty.

 

[Chipperman]

80 yards.
To a rifle shooter, that's a two-foot putt.
To an Anti, that's halfway across the state.

Interesting that one number can mean totally different things, depending on your point of view.

 

[ARperson]

You can probably rule out the 62gr 5.56 round though. Tends not to "shred" as much as punch holes.

Hate to say it, but these guys got lucky with their choice of ammo, or they knew what they were picking...assuming that they wanted maximum carnage.

 

[ShaiVong]

He was a vet right? Maybe he just choose the ammo he was familiar with.

And what was the average shot distance? 100yards?

Gee he hit a person at 100 yards standing still. I guess sense I can hit a skeet at 100 yards stationary with the old Enfield, im a super duper sniper!

F33R MI 133t Ski11z!

 

[bogie]

Well, if _I_ were going to shoot someone with one of my .22 cal centerfire rifles, and I do NOT intend to, thankyouverymuch - this is just hypothetical...

I'd pick a varmint bullet. Out of the .223, I'd go with 40 grainers, and out of the .22-250 or .22 Ratdog, a 52-55 grainer.

 

[Poodleshooter]

I was told second hand by a local LEO that the shooter was using Wolf 55gr FMJ .223 ammo. Nothing fancy, just Wolf.

 

[Ironbarr]

Wolf?

Man that's a cheap shot isn't it?

Least they could've used for all those folks was something more "classy".

Wolf, indeed!

 

[uglygun]

It was a carbine as well, that's probalby going to account for close to 150fps lower muzzle velocity off of that of a 20inch 223Rem rifle.

Can't help but wonder what will turn up as the actual bullet type used when presented as evidence.

There hasn't been a leak of the investigation of the subject's car they were found sleeping in? They found the rifle, certainly a box or two of ammo was found as well.

 

[Ironbarr]

Very strange...

As I wrote the above Cheaper Than Dirt emailed me their latest ammo special: Wolf, box of 20 -

.223 Remington 55-Gr Full Metal Jacket 20 $1.99 AMM-220 Buy
.223 Remington 55-Gr Hollow Point 20 $2.39 AMM-227 Buy

I wonder which one they used.

 

[c_yeager]

From the picture it would also appear that the rifle was sporting its factory 10-rd magazine. These guys didnt seem to want to blow all that much on this whole project. Their apparent cheapness also lends some credence to "Bull's Eye Gunshop's" statement that the rifle was stolen as opposed to sold "under the table".

 

[WonderNine]

I'm quite sure that the media is going to over-hype anything they can.

That said, I think the consensus is that the longest shot was taken from a whooping 80 yards. I imagine that even a downloaded commercial .223 would exhibit explosive fragmentation at this range.

I can't confirm this report at all, but I did hear that one of the victims suffered a head shot, and the exit wound was very far from pretty.

Well said! Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[gun-fucious]

on the news they interviewed a relative from Alabama
and she said she was shown the AR15 and asked if she could buy ammo for it

they prolly walmart-ed the ammo and bought cheap