"Sniper" weapon ID from www.cbsnews

jerry · 10-24-2002, 08:38 PM

(CBS) Law enforcement officials tell CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart they recovered a .223 caliber "Bushmaster" rifle from the suspects' car. Police also found a scope and a bipod in the vehicle.

The Bushmaster is very popular with former military personnel, said Don Davis, who owns Don’s Guns in Indianapolis. The store has one of the largest firearms selections in the country.

According to officials, one of the suspects, John Allen Muhammad, served in the Army as a machinist, and was discharged in the mid-1990s.

“We get a lot of guys who come in and say ‘That’s the gun I had in the military,’” said Davis. “This guy they got in Maryland was in the military. It looks exactly like the gun he had in the military.”

Don’s Guns sells about two Bushmasters every week, Davis said.

The Bushmaster is a knockoff of the Colt AR-15, which is the gun actually used by the U.S. military. The two models resemble each other closely. Both generally cost $820 to $870. In the West, many people use the guns for “varmint hunting,” Davis said: shooting from long distances at prairie dogs and other small animals.

According to a senior Defense Department official, Muhammad had no training as a sniper while in the military. But even if he had no training, he could still have used the gun effectively from long range, Davis said.

“It would absolutely make a good gun,” he said. “Anybody that had that gun sitting on a tripod, with a scope, be it you, your wife, anyone, could take that gun and hit something 500 yards away. So these shots (in the DC area), which are 150 yards away, anybody could do that.”

Sources tell CBS News that the gun recovered from the trunk was a Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle, .223 caliber, model A-35, xm15-e2s, serial number l-166036.

Sources say the gun had a flash suppressor on it. This device hides the muzzle flash when the gun is fired, making it difficult to detect where the shot originated. In 1994, the Brady Bill outlawed flash suppressors on automatic weapons.

But thousands of Bushmasters manufactured before then had flash suppressors. And according to Brenda Duety, the president of Don’s Guns, it is not difficult to buy flash suppressors illegally at gun shows.

According to the Bushmaster Web site, in 2000, the company sold 39,932 automatic rifles, almost 10,000 more than its closest competitor, Colt. “BUSHMASTER IS #1 AGAIN,” the release reads. “The combination of Bushmaster's top quality materials, mil. spec. manufacturing, great accuracy and durability have again proved to be the best selling AR type rifle in the U.S.A."

Buy 'em while you can. You know whats next.

Klaus · 10-24-2002, 08:54 PM

More idiot talking heads. The guy was a Marine mechanic, not Army machinist, from what I read. Bushmaster is a company, not a specific rifle design. "anyone, could take that gun and hit something 500 yards away" This quote is so full of shiite, it aint funny. Flash suppressors are NOT outlawed on automatic weapons. And they forget to mention that most of the "39,932 " allegedly "automatic" rifles werew sold to the gummint.

Doglips · 10-24-2002, 08:57 PM

The CNN Version

The Bushmaster make is one of the less expensive models of the of the semi-automatic rifle, usually costing between $500 and $600, he said. "The Bushmaster is known as a cheap gun," Haney said.

Bushmaster .223: Accurate, inexpensive
Thursday, October 24, 2002 Posted: 5:44 PM EDT (2144 GMT)

(CNN) -- The Bushmaster .223 rifle is less popular among game hunters than its name suggests.

But, like the venomous snake for which it is named, the high-powered rifle is deadly.

The gun, according to Eric Haney, a retired U.S. Army sergeant major, is "for those who want the general feel of a military weapon." It's the semi-automatic version of the civilian model of the U.S. military M-16 manufactured by Colt.

A Bushmaster weapon, according to a law enforcement source, was found inside the car of the sniper suspects arrested October 24.

The weapon is sufficient for target shooting long distances, said Haney, who served with the U.S. Army's elite Delta Force in the 1970s and 1980s and was one of its founding members.

"I would have been very surprised if they had not found a scope on that weapon," Haney said. With a scope, the shooter is able to find targets at night more easily, he said.

The Bushmaster make is one of the less expensive models of the of the semi-automatic rifle, usually costing between $500 and $600, he said. "The Bushmaster is known as a cheap gun," Haney said.

Nor is it hard to operate.

"[It's easy to use] for the type of shooting we saw in the Washington area," Haney said. "Almost an 8-year-old child can be taught to do that in an hour, and hour-and-a-half."

Stewart · 10-24-2002, 10:35 PM

A lot of conflicting reports for sure but he has been identified as being in the Army, one report said as a mechanic the other as a combat engineer. Until more of the solid facts come out you can expect a lot more of these reports.

oneastrix · 10-24-2002, 10:45 PM

Doglips, down here LEO price on a Bushmaster is $700 alone.

I wonder who can hit at 500 yards with an AR15? And when did the AR15 become automatic?

Stopper · 10-24-2002, 11:10 PM

I would really like to see someone who hasn't shot before pick one up and hit a target at 200 yards, let alone 500. Give me a break - what a load of manure.

Jack a** talking heads, and as far as cheap - $700 ain't cheap where I come from. All those rich tards probably have that in thier change jar. it goes to show that these people live in another world!

Shaun · 10-24-2002, 11:30 PM

Bushmasters have never been cheap --- but with enough practice anyone can hit anything

Mandy · 10-25-2002, 01:06 AM

:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult:

Today at the gunshop, the salesmen told me to buy the last one because they're going to be scarce very soon.
I know that this was a lot of seller BS but in some way he's right, this antiguns are going to use this as a weapon to ban the AR.
It's up to us to let the law makers know our point of view and stop this snowball before it becomes an avalanche.

:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult:

Sniper[MI] · 10-25-2002, 01:23 AM

Howdy,

Who holds the media accountable for what they say? When are they going to print retractions about everything they got wrong and all the damage they have caused?

Where the He11 are the PRO gun groups? Where are the politicians that defend the second amendment?

Guys if this doesnt make you vote pro gun, you deserve a kick sqwayer in tha nutzsack!!

Let's all fan out to any message board we frequent that is not gun related and start posting pro gun there. Get into the anti gun threads and run circles around them, hell it is easy enough to do.

Mandy · 10-25-2002, 01:31 AM

:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult:

As disgusting as it may be to get in those sites, I'll do my best to do the battle, that is before the the pro gun get the head out of their a... and do their work getting this mess right.

:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult:

MarkII 22 · 10-25-2002, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stopper
$700 ain't cheap where I come from.probably have that in thier change jar. it goes to show that these people live in another world!

You got that right Stopper :right: :nod:

guffster · 10-25-2002, 05:29 PM

cheap my arse. Bushmaster will need to raise their prices to pay for the lawsuits.

Mandy · 10-25-2002, 05:36 PM

:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult:

They just did, last night the salesmen just raised $200.00 to the last one on stock.
Now if I want a new one it'll cost me $1,100.00 and my friend it wasn't cheap before and now it's worst.

:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult:

10-24-2002, 08:54 PM	#2
Klaus Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 2,382	More idiot talking heads. The guy was a Marine mechanic, not Army machinist, from what I read. Bushmaster is a company, not a specific rifle design. "anyone, could take that gun and hit something 500 yards away" This quote is so full of shiite, it aint funny. Flash suppressors are NOT outlawed on automatic weapons. And they forget to mention that most of the "39,932 " allegedly "automatic" rifles werew sold to the gummint. __________________ "Gee, Wally, Eddie Haskel's mom puts out!"

10-24-2002, 08:57 PM	#3
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,088	The Bushmaster is known as a cheap gun," The CNN Version The Bushmaster make is one of the less expensive models of the of the semi-automatic rifle, usually costing between $500 and $600, he said. "The Bushmaster is known as a cheap gun," Haney said. Bushmaster .223: Accurate, inexpensive Thursday, October 24, 2002 Posted: 5:44 PM EDT (2144 GMT) (CNN) -- The Bushmaster .223 rifle is less popular among game hunters than its name suggests. But, like the venomous snake for which it is named, the high-powered rifle is deadly. The gun, according to Eric Haney, a retired U.S. Army sergeant major, is "for those who want the general feel of a military weapon." It's the semi-automatic version of the civilian model of the U.S. military M-16 manufactured by Colt. A Bushmaster weapon, according to a law enforcement source, was found inside the car of the sniper suspects arrested October 24. The weapon is sufficient for target shooting long distances, said Haney, who served with the U.S. Army's elite Delta Force in the 1970s and 1980s and was one of its founding members. "I would have been very surprised if they had not found a scope on that weapon," Haney said. With a scope, the shooter is able to find targets at night more easily, he said. The Bushmaster make is one of the less expensive models of the of the semi-automatic rifle, usually costing between $500 and $600, he said. "The Bushmaster is known as a cheap gun," Haney said. Nor is it hard to operate. "[It's easy to use] for the type of shooting we saw in the Washington area," Haney said. "Almost an 8-year-old child can be taught to do that in an hour, and hour-and-a-half."

10-24-2002, 10:35 PM	#4
Stewart Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Calhoun, Georgia Posts: 675	A lot of conflicting reports for sure but he has been identified as being in the Army, one report said as a mechanic the other as a combat engineer. Until more of the solid facts come out you can expect a lot more of these reports. __________________ "You can sleep well at night because rough men are willing to commit violent acts on your behalf" George Orwell

10-24-2002, 10:45 PM	#5
oneastrix Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	Doglips, down here LEO price on a Bushmaster is $700 alone. I wonder who can hit at 500 yards with an AR15? And when did the AR15 become automatic? __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

10-24-2002, 11:10 PM	#6
Stopper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Kansass Posts: 2,212 Images: 1	I would really like to see someone who hasn't shot before pick one up and hit a target at 200 yards, let alone 500. Give me a break - what a load of manure. Jack a** talking heads, and as far as cheap - $700 ain't cheap where I come from. All those rich tards probably have that in thier change jar. it goes to show that these people live in another world! __________________ They should have stopped at "Congress shall make no law"

10-24-2002, 08:38 PM	#1
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 11,117 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	"Sniper" weapon ID from www.cbsnews (CBS) Law enforcement officials tell CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart they recovered a .223 caliber "Bushmaster" rifle from the suspects' car. Police also found a scope and a bipod in the vehicle. The Bushmaster is very popular with former military personnel, said Don Davis, who owns Don’s Guns in Indianapolis. The store has one of the largest firearms selections in the country. According to officials, one of the suspects, John Allen Muhammad, served in the Army as a machinist, and was discharged in the mid-1990s. “We get a lot of guys who come in and say ‘That’s the gun I had in the military,’” said Davis. “This guy they got in Maryland was in the military. It looks exactly like the gun he had in the military.” Don’s Guns sells about two Bushmasters every week, Davis said. The Bushmaster is a knockoff of the Colt AR-15, which is the gun actually used by the U.S. military. The two models resemble each other closely. Both generally cost $820 to $870. In the West, many people use the guns for “varmint hunting,” Davis said: shooting from long distances at prairie dogs and other small animals. According to a senior Defense Department official, Muhammad had no training as a sniper while in the military. But even if he had no training, he could still have used the gun effectively from long range, Davis said. “It would absolutely make a good gun,” he said. “Anybody that had that gun sitting on a tripod, with a scope, be it you, your wife, anyone, could take that gun and hit something 500 yards away. So these shots (in the DC area), which are 150 yards away, anybody could do that.” Sources tell CBS News that the gun recovered from the trunk was a Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle, .223 caliber, model A-35, xm15-e2s, serial number l-166036. Sources say the gun had a flash suppressor on it. This device hides the muzzle flash when the gun is fired, making it difficult to detect where the shot originated. In 1994, the Brady Bill outlawed flash suppressors on automatic weapons. But thousands of Bushmasters manufactured before then had flash suppressors. And according to Brenda Duety, the president of Don’s Guns, it is not difficult to buy flash suppressors illegally at gun shows. According to the Bushmaster Web site, in 2000, the company sold 39,932 automatic rifles, almost 10,000 more than its closest competitor, Colt. “BUSHMASTER IS #1 AGAIN,” the release reads. “The combination of Bushmaster's top quality materials, mil. spec. manufacturing, great accuracy and durability have again proved to be the best selling AR type rifle in the U.S.A." Buy 'em while you can. You know whats next. __________________ Joe the plumber is screwed

10-24-2002, 11:30 PM	#7
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,599 Images: 1	Bushmasters have never been cheap --- but with enough practice anyone can hit anything __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

10-25-2002, 01:06 AM	#8
Mandy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico Posts: 1,641	:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: Today at the gunshop, the salesmen told me to buy the last one because they're going to be scarce very soon. I know that this was a lot of seller BS but in some way he's right, this antiguns are going to use this as a weapon to ban the AR. It's up to us to let the law makers know our point of view and stop this snowball before it becomes an avalanche. :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: __________________ :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: Better be judged by 12 than carried by 6. _________________________________ If you gonna die, die with your boots on ! Iron Maiden _________________________________ The deeper you go, the better it feels ! Divers Motto :uzi: :uzi: :uzi: :uzi: :uzi:

10-25-2002, 01:23 AM	#9
Sniper[MI] Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Future 51st state, "New Hope" Posts: 3,796	Who will hold them accountable Howdy, Who holds the media accountable for what they say? When are they going to print retractions about everything they got wrong and all the damage they have caused? Where the He11 are the PRO gun groups? Where are the politicians that defend the second amendment? Guys if this doesnt make you vote pro gun, you deserve a kick sqwayer in tha nutzsack!! Let's all fan out to any message board we frequent that is not gun related and start posting pro gun there. Get into the anti gun threads and run circles around them, hell it is easy enough to do. __________________ FNUH! Last edited by Sniper[MI]; 10-25-2002 at 01:35 AM.

10-25-2002, 01:31 AM	#10
Mandy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico Posts: 1,641	:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: As disgusting as it may be to get in those sites, I'll do my best to do the battle, that is before the the pro gun get the head out of their a... and do their work getting this mess right. :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: __________________ :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: Better be judged by 12 than carried by 6. _________________________________ If you gonna die, die with your boots on ! Iron Maiden _________________________________ The deeper you go, the better it feels ! Divers Motto :uzi: :uzi: :uzi: :uzi: :uzi:

10-25-2002, 05:29 PM	#12
guffster Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: MS, 20mi. outside Mphs.TN Posts: 277	cheap my arse. Bushmaster will need to raise their prices to pay for the lawsuits.

10-25-2002, 05:36 PM	#13
Mandy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico Posts: 1,641	:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: They just did, last night the salesmen just raised $200.00 to the last one on stock. Now if I want a new one it'll cost me $1,100.00 and my friend it wasn't cheap before and now it's worst. :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: __________________ :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: Better be judged by 12 than carried by 6. _________________________________ If you gonna die, die with your boots on ! Iron Maiden _________________________________ The deeper you go, the better it feels ! Divers Motto :uzi: :uzi: :uzi: :uzi: :uzi: