A question on this MD/VA Sniper and the news

[ma_guy]

My local news is broadcasting that one of the witnesses in Monday night's shooting in VA had identified the rifle used as an "AK-74".

Now.. How reliable do you think this "ID" is?

How many people have ever seen an "AK-74"? How many of you know the difference between an "AK-47" and an "AK-74"?

The AK-74 is a relatively rare rifle compared to the AK-47. Very few were ever sold in the US and there is ZERO chance of a witness making the distinction between the two. The rifles are IDENTICAL with the exception of the caliber of bullet used. The AK-47 fires a standard Russian round in 7.62mm. The AK-74 fires a 5.45mm round.

The police have been saying for weeks now that the rifle being used was firing a .223 caliber bullet based on info from the bullets recovered. The AK-74's bullet (5.45mm) is a .218 caliber NOT a .223. There is ZERO chance of mistaking one for the other.

Are the police working this case really that stupid? If it looks just like an AK-47 and is in .223 caliber then it's an AK-101! They need to find some cops that aren't smokin' crack down there.

 

[Guest]

 

[acitore_vuli]

does AK stand for Arab Killer?

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

I thought it was a B-29.

 

[Guest]

 

[Aquila]

Could be a chineese knockoff SKS I think they make it in .223 caliber. Hell I think anyone seeing any assault rifle besides something based on Armalites standards would confuse it with an AK.

I don't know though.. Im not that big a rifle fan. Pistols.. well Ive never seen a sniper with a pistol, but damned if I could actually make a reasoned response then.

 

[Jim_Henson]

So caliber is in INCHES

I see

 

[CoolidgEffect]

It could be several things.

1) the police are idiots.

2) the reporters are idiots.

3) the leak or informant is an idiot

4) the is purposeful misinformation.

5) all of the above.

6) other.

 

[mbb308]

I heard that AK-74 comment on the news, too.

I agree - I'm not sure they know what weapon they're dealing with, and I do believe the press is looking for some "assault rifle" crap to sensationalize.

If they (press) would only do some research and report fact and not hype.

A friend of mine coming back from DC Monday night sat in traffic on I95 for four hours - she said she had never seen so many cops congregated.

 

[mbb308]

So caliber is in INCHES

I see

English and metric measure is used.

To add to the confusion, actual bullet diameter rarely corresponds to the nomenclature.

A .223 round uses a bullet of .224" diameter.

 

[Guest]

 

[Aquila]

Re: Re: A question on this MD/VA Sniper and the news

I saw a gun shop owner on the news talking about this very thing today. He said that the AK whatever's that shoot .223 caliber (projectiles? cartridges?) are extremely rare. He had an AK 47 on his countertop, and that had a wooden butt on it. Do the AK 101's have wooden butts too?

Lioness

I think they actually switched to composite materials nowadays.

 

[acitore_vuli]

Re: Re: A question on this MD/VA Sniper and the news

I saw a gun shop owner on the news talking about this very thing today. He said that the AK whatever's that shoot .223 caliber (projectiles? cartridges?) are extremely rare. He had an AK 47 on his countertop, and that had a wooden butt on it. Do the AK 101's have wooden butts too?

Lioness

I have a firm butt, but it's not wood. Although, I do have wood...

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: A question on this MD/VA Sniper and the news

 

[Aquila]

AK-101 + Accessories

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: A question on this MD/VA Sniper and the news

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: A question on this MD/VA Sniper and the news

 

[ma_guy]

The AK-74 is sold with either wood or composite stocks. The AK-101 comes with composite stocks only. All of the stocks for any of these can be swapped back and forth though because they are all identical.

IMO, I think CoolidgEffect hit the nail on the head though. I don't think they have a clue. They're running around in circles.

 

[Guest]

 

[mbb308]

. I don't think they have a clue. They're running around in circles.

I wish you were wrong, but I fear you are right on target, so to spaek.

 

[mbb308]

Re: Re: Re: Re: A question on this MD/VA Sniper and the news

I'm sorry, but just looking at guns like that scare me.

I don't think I belong in this thread.

Bye bye,
Lioness

That's the sad thing. The damned thing is an inamimate object.

This is the work of sensationalist "journalism".

 

[Pagliacci]

Another problem is of course that the AK 74/47 doesn't come with a scope,as you also can see by Aquilas picture the Magazine is big as fuck.
You don't lie down firing it because it's a bitch to be honest.It's not a sniper weapon either.It's an assault rifle/SMG manufactured in the Soviet tradition of "Spray and pray".
It's also very inaccurate at distances over 100 metres.

What it has going for itself is that it's easy to maintain (ie few parts),doesn't jam easily,meaning you can do whatever you want with it for a long time and it still goes boom when you pull the trigger and of course by having a shorter casing than regular 7.62mm NATO or 5.56mm NATO you get more ammo for the same weight.

The press is running in circles as usual and the cops are not prepared to give a straight answer (which is smart move by the cops),then the press puts it out as facts.

Any hunters rifle out there can double up as a sniper weapon,preferrably a bolt action weapon,a weapon is just a tool,it's the training that makes a sniper.

 

[ma_guy]

This is the work of sensationalist "journalism".

The press is running in circles as usual and the cops are not prepared to give a straight answer (which is smart move by the cops),then the press puts it out as facts.

The issue of the press is another related issue with this whole thing that concerns me. Since the first day when the .223 caliber bullet was ID'd the news stations have been flashing up a pic of an AR-15 every time they mention the story.

Why not put up a pic of a Remington 700 or a Winchester Model 70? The immediate asumption is that it was an "assult rifle". Of course I should be used to that. Last year we had someone shooting at cars on the highways with BB guns. The Boston TV stations all flashed pics of AR-15s when they reported on that too. Sometimes I just have to laugh. A few weeks ago they had a story on a shooting and flashed a pic of a Glock up on the screen while saying that he had been shot with a shotgun.

Then they wonder why they are accused by gun owners of being biased.