[Guest post by DRJ]
Earlier this week, I posted on a report that the El Paso, Texas, City Hall was hit by bullets originating in Juarez. Six to seven bullets hit the building, including one that entered an office.
Today El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen announced the bullets were from AK-47s, the guns typically used by drug cartels. That’s a large caliber bullet. It’s fortunate no one was hurt.
— DRJ
Pronounced "Patter-EE-koh"
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Large? Well, larger than a .22 I suppose, or the ammo used in an M-16. Same diameter as the Win .308 / 7.62NATO but shorter and less energy.
htom (412a17) — 7/1/2010 @ 8:38 pmIt’s large in my opinion.
Fifth from the left.
The small ones on the right are 9mm bullets you would find in many police pistols.
From that distance, and 6-7 shots, I think someone probably put some effort into hitting the building specifically. We really are ceding territory to drug pushers and human smugglers if we let this stand.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 7/1/2010 @ 8:44 pmMy description of it as a “large caliber bullet” came from the linked article. I, personally, don’t have an AK-47.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 7/1/2010 @ 8:51 pmWhy can’t we stop those U.S. AK-47’s from being smuggled to Mexico?
daleyrocks (1d0d98) — 7/1/2010 @ 9:04 pmWhy can’t we….because they aren’t.
AD - RtR/OS! (1ed577) — 7/1/2010 @ 9:32 pmTechnically, the 7.62×39 round is classified as an “intermediate” power cartridge, in comparison to “full-power” rifle cartridges such as the Russian 7.62x54R, the .30-06, or the .308/7.62×51.
DRJ…would you like to buy an AK? Semi’s are available at your local gunshop.
No, thanks, AD. I like what I’ve got.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 7/1/2010 @ 9:42 pmAh, it’s one of those signature weapons that everyone should own, at least once.
AD - RtR/OS! (1ed577) — 7/1/2010 @ 9:50 pmThe border is secure! Ask Pete Stark. Ask Prez Obama.
Patricia (160852) — 7/1/2010 @ 10:04 pmI wanted one but when with an AR because of the distinctive AK sound and the person I shoot with being a Vietnam vet who doesn’t need to hear it again.
It’s certainly not something you would choose for shooting at a mile away target. But it’s a nice cheap weapon that looks sinister and doesn’t require much knowledge to maintain or operate.
Beside the point, though. That is a serious attempt to harm civil servants in the El Paso government. These people can smell the weakness and know they can get away with this.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 7/1/2010 @ 10:08 pmPatricia – Akshully, President Kickass admutted the borders were porous in his speech today, although he said we have more boots on the ground there than ever before. He should maybe tell Pete Stark.
daleyrocks (1d0d98) — 7/1/2010 @ 10:09 pmApparently cartels shooting from a half-mile away is safe according to President Everything. Does kind of enlighten his political, economic & foreign policies though… it’s alright if its safely out of sight.
[note: fished from spam filter. –Stashiu]
PMain (47cd52) — 7/2/2010 @ 10:30 amBeing a resident of Phx Az I don’t see Obama doing anything other than lip service. All he want’s is amnesty for votes. We now have do not travel warnings 80 miles into our state due to drug and human smuggling. The cartells have control, no the US government or the state of Az. So, are you supposed to move your City Council building to solve the problem?? Good luck
Patricia Welch (94ac86) — 7/5/2010 @ 1:30 pmOK I have read enough. The “Chief” is stupid and is feeding you what mushrooms eat. Did the AK-47 do this? NO! Not from 880 yds, not with any degree of accuracy, deffinately not at night! Tell the LOCAL Yocal Law Enforceless Official to get off his ass and do his job in a proffessional manner and tell the truth. They used a .30 caliber (high powered)rifle! The worst part, my wife caught this, she was trained by me.
TIME FOR A BALLISTICS LESSON: The AK-47 uses a .30 caliber bullet, approximately 125 grains.(Yes I concur with the Viet Nam Vet, I hate the sound, I don’t sleep either)
Firing that rifle from a half mile(880yds)with any degree of accuracy is down right impossible. But using a bolt action 7.62x39mm rifle built for accuracy….YES, IT IS NOW POSSIBLE! But I don’t think there is a Mexican capible of that. Now, .30 caliber bullets range from many different rifles as stated above, Russian 7.62x54R, NATO 7.62x51mm, .30-06 which has been around since 1906 and is used in hundreds of rifles, and can shoot a 1000 yds with extreme accuracy! Same as the .308 (7.62x51mm) which is what almost all snipers use today. The common thread here THEY ARE ALL .30 CALIBER BULLETS!
I did 22 years military and my weapon was the M40 and the M21, (lookem up) both using the .308 round. OK I’ve said my piece. Mind if I come down and sit on the city hall roof for a while? Be safe……….The night is your friend.
Lawrence Naumann (954c9a) — 7/5/2010 @ 3:22 pmLawrence, I don’t think I understand your point. You seem to be arguing against a strawman.
SPQR (26be8b) — 7/5/2010 @ 3:31 pmI could hit a person sized target at 300 yards with an M-16 and I’m not really a particularly amazing marksman. I realize an AK is not as accurate, but hitting an entire building from 880 yards away seems feasible.
And we don’t know how many times they missed.
I think it’s not so important what weapon they used as the idea that someone is actually targeting El Paso government buildings from Mexico. That’s very disturbing.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 7/5/2010 @ 3:34 pmDo the cartels now have Dragunovs?
AD - RtR/OS! (6e3949) — 7/5/2010 @ 4:32 pmThey have whatever they want, AD.
SPQR (26be8b) — 7/5/2010 @ 4:35 pmYes, and they buy them at the gunstores in San Antonio and Phoenix at atrocious prices when they could easily buy them on the streets of Cartegena, Medellin, and Cali, at 1/10th the price (or less), and include them with the goods already being shipped north.
AD - RtR/OS! (6e3949) — 7/5/2010 @ 4:49 pmBut, hey, they’re just a bunch of dumb Beaners, so why would they act like rational businessmen?