Charges against shooter filed in Yosemite wildfire

[searcher451]

From this morning's USA TODAY ...

Charges filed in Yosemite wildfire

Prosecutors in Maricopa County, Calif., said they have filed criminal charges in connection with the 34,000-acre wildfire that destroyed about 30 homes outside Yosemite National Park

David Mosher, 29, started the blaze in July while target shooting using bullets with steel jackets, District Attorney Bob Brown said. He said such bullets are a known fire hazard.

Mosher was charged with reckless or negligent conduct and possession of unregistered assault rifles, both misdemeanors, Brown said. He said Mosher has said he was aware of the area's fire danger but has denied knowing that he was shooting steel-jacketed ammunition.

Reporting on this incident a couple of weeks back indicated that the district attorney's office was unlikely to file charges in the case.

 

[AZAndy]

Steel jackets? Wow, I'm really ignorant-- I didn't know such a thing existed. Seems like it would play heck with the rifling.

 

[SSN Vet]

I wonder if it was really "bi-metal" as is used by Wolf.

If I understand correctly it is a very mild steal with a thin copper cladding over top.

 

[Eyesac]

I watched a clip (Youtube) where some fire marshal tried as hard as he could to start a fire with a couple firearms and couldn't make anything start...

 

[KC0QGL]

started the blaze in July while target shooting using bullets with steel jackets,He said such bullets are a known fire hazard.

Sounds like one for Mythbusters.

 

[feedthehogs]

It seems no matter what happens, people want a difinitive answer on the cause whether it be the truth or not.

It makes them sleep better.

If the reports are true, my guess is the unregistered guns are what sparked the charges.

I think mythbusters did a show on bullets starting fires and blowing things up. Should be a good tool for the defense as long a incindiary rounds were not used.

 

[XDKingslayer]

I'm sure his attorney will have a field day making Brown look like the idiot he is.

 

[TexasRifleman]

It was actually a gun that sank the Titanic too.

 

[Nikdfish]

The Greek HXP I picked up for my Garand has copper over a steel shell filled with lead, I assume that it was done to reduce the cost of production associated with copper cost. It will attract a magnet. I think the concern is the steel striking a hard surface (rock) and creating sparks. I have no idea the percentage of time that will actually happen or what the quality/volume of the sparks would be ...

Nick

 

[jaholder1971]

It happens. I've seen it happen.

We had to shut down an NRA sporting rifle match to put out the fire that started in the grass along the backstop. THe guy was shooting Talon ball through his M1 garand. The thinking was either steel jacketed bullets or tracers mixed in with ball at the factory.

The rock structure around these parts has a lot of chert in it and will spark very easily by simply smacking it with a hammer. A steel jacketed bullet moving 2200 fps? You bet.

Winchester USA 7.62mm ball uses steel jacketed bullets, along with UMC .45 ball.