[Sir Taliesin]

Originally posted by MagiK: Just some comments on some comments that have been made. The .223 round is not considered a "sniper" calibre. The .223 in civilian life is considered a "varmit" round. The popular "sniper" calibres are .308, .50 and 30-06....oh the 7.62mm is also used in some places. The .223 is a rather light rifle round and is subject to windage over distances. People keep talking abut the degree of profesional training this guy needs to have to accomplish these shots. With a .223 Remmington with a 5x Redfield scope at the age of 12 I was killing groundhogs out to a distance of 200-250 yards. If a 12 year old can hit a varmit the size of a rather large cat or small dog, think how easy it is to hit a person sized target.

The .308 and the 7.62x51 are the same round. The .223 and the 5.56x45 are the same round. The accuracy of the .223 (5.56x45) has greatly increased over the last decade. While the US Army says that it's maximum effective range is 600 meters in the hands of a expert; with the proper load and a built rifle, 1000 meters isn't out of the question. If one loads up a heavier bullet windage isn't that big of an issue. Most national match target shooters are now taking the AR15 (civilian version of the M-16) and building 1000 yard rifles out of them.

Of course it could be a bolt gun, which might explain why no spent cartridges have been found. Most of the Rifle makers in the Us and abroad make a .223 heavy barral rifle for varmit hunting. They also make dandy sniper rifles. Lots of police departments use them (.223 bolt guns) as opposed to larger calibars because they don't over penetrate.

My personel take on this situation is:
A) It's a couple of terrorists (possibly of mideastern descent, but most likely Americans that sympathize with Osama) bent on creating chaos.
B) A couple of guys with a grudge against who knows what and they are taking
it out on civilians. Maybe some militia group or something.