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discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,476 posts)
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 10:57 AM Dec 2016

Sniper rifle v assault (weapon) rifle

Both of these rifle types have been the subject of ban campaigns by the pro-regulation tribes. I have a few questions for anyone that cares to offer an opinion.

Anything that can accurately be called a "sniper rifle" AFAIK is designed to hit targets (at a minimum) more than a third of a mile away. This is beyond the range of typical combat rifles like an M1 Garand or an M16. I've read things like .50 cals can be used to shoot down aircraft. I've never heard of any instance of this and doubt that the combination of skill and weapon capability actually exists. I live in a Philly suburb. The direction where a possible target could be placed further about 200 yards from my house is up. I don't understand why this rifle would be a cause for concern. At a cost of $6,000 - $12,000 each I don't see someone not securing them nor could a child lift or aim one.

An actual "assault rifle" fires full-auto at least 500 rounds per minute. This means the rifle would expend all the ammo in a 30 round mag in about 3 seconds or less. The principle use of rapid fire is suppression. It gains you the ability to keep enemy heads down. These rifles use smaller ammo like .223/5.56.

Is there a range of calibers that pro-regulation folks do not campaign against? I've the infamous "assault weapon" definitions be "adjusted" so often it's a joke. I invite anyone to explain to me why I should believe anything other than many pro-regulation folks want almost all guns banned or heavily regulated.

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Sniper rifle v assault (weapon) rifle (Original Post) discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2016 OP
The M1 is capable of hitting targets at 1/3 of a mile Johnathan146 Dec 2016 #1
The M1 Garand is a great rifle and an excellent design discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2016 #5
The M1 Garand is classafied as a "battle rifle". oneshooter Dec 2016 #10
I think I read that somewhere but... discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2016 #14
The talk of banning sniper rifles is nothing more than, virginia mountainman Dec 2016 #2
How far back do you want to go? oneshooter Dec 2016 #3
First of all... discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2016 #6
"Criteria:" Anything what sticks on the wall. Eleanors38 Dec 2016 #18
And, interestingly, yagotme Dec 2016 #7
No. The real answer is... Kang Colby Dec 2016 #4
re: "...gun controllers are happy with any kind of restriction or ban that they can pass." discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2016 #8
The .50 cal shooting down a plane comes from WW2. ManiacJoe Dec 2016 #9
I have heard the 9 yards detail but I wasn't aware that the M2 was the gun discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2016 #12
Yes Brownings were carried yagotme Dec 2016 #15
I've heard a number of explanations for the 9 yards discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2016 #17
The next time they build up a head of steam kudzu22 Dec 2016 #11
BACKLASH???????????????? discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2016 #13
Nah. Couldn't be. n/t yagotme Dec 2016 #16
 

Johnathan146

(141 posts)
1. The M1 is capable of hitting targets at 1/3 of a mile
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 11:16 AM
Dec 2016

Any .308 rifle and higher power will be able to shoot to 1/3 of a mile.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,476 posts)
5. The M1 Garand is a great rifle and an excellent design
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 03:41 PM
Dec 2016

Agreed

I know there are folks that can make very long shots with iron sights and most rifles in .30-06 and above can be used by a long range hunter or sniper. I think of today's sniper rifle being scoped.

IIRC one of the reasons for moving to the M16 and away from the M1 was lighter ammo and the realization that most battlefield fire targeted personnel within a few hundred yards at most.

oneshooter

(8,614 posts)
10. The M1 Garand is classafied as a "battle rifle".
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 06:00 AM
Dec 2016

This is because of the full power (30-06) cartridge it fires.

virginia mountainman

(5,046 posts)
2. The talk of banning sniper rifles is nothing more than,
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 01:19 PM
Dec 2016

than talk of banning most large game hunting rifles...And nothing more..

I find it ironic that one of the lines used against "so called" assault rifles is that they are innacurate, so they need to be banned, and we need to ban sniper rifles, because they are TOO accurate..

Just shows how weak minded many gun control advocates are..

Here is what a rifle design from the 1890's can do (yes I know the rifle used was from the 1930's or early 40's but the basic design is from the 1890's with standard iron sights... These rifles are WIDELY available and CHEAP, the last one I purchased I gave $50 bucks for..

O, it is a "TRUE" weapon of war, not these poser AR15's and semi-auto AK's that the simple minded politicians "THINK" are weapons of war. These were carried into battle for over 75 years by REAL armies, and are still encountered on battlefields today....No real army carries a AR15 or semi auto AK anywhere but to the trash..




If you want a real weapon of war, they are widely available, with wood stocks.....


discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,476 posts)
6. First of all...
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 04:07 PM
Dec 2016

...have some holiday happiness and thanks for some of your recent thoughtful posts.

The Mosin is impressive and has quite a range. I'm struggling to understand what it is the pro-regulation folks have as a criteria to use in singling out certain guns. (Other than they go "bang".)

yagotme

(2,911 posts)
7. And, interestingly,
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 04:38 PM
Dec 2016

the "bayonet lug" is the front sight base, so impossible to "remove" without ruining the rifle.

 

Kang Colby

(1,941 posts)
4. No. The real answer is...
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 02:26 PM
Dec 2016

gun controllers are happy with any kind of restriction or ban that they can pass. They are the special interest equivalent of vulchers. Opportunists, happy to enjoy any "meal" they find deceased and rotting along the road.

I've seen legislation introduced in various states that goes after toys, bb/pellet/paint ball, antiques, C&R, title 1, title 2, etc. It doesn't matter to them. What matters is whether or not they can pass something, anything, the public safety merits of which are of no consideration. We've even seen them go after and cannibalize their own gun controls, ex. bullet buttons, if and when it suits them.

Always remember, there is no "lower bounds" to which gun controllers will not see the need to regulate, restrict, and ultimately ban. It is for this reason I fundamentally oppose "universal infringements". Once gun controllers have private sale background checks in your state - they WILL move on to bans, measures to weaken due process protection, costly licensing and registration schemes, tax penalties, medical approvals/records review/physicians approval for purchase, ever extending waiting periods, limiting gun sales to approved product rosters, magazine capacity restrictions, and anything else they can think of. All of these infringements on our right to self defense have been implemented in places across the country and much more.





discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,476 posts)
8. re: "...gun controllers are happy with any kind of restriction or ban that they can pass."
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 05:20 PM
Dec 2016

So it would seem.

ManiacJoe

(10,136 posts)
9. The .50 cal shooting down a plane comes from WW2.
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 10:08 PM
Dec 2016
I've read things like .50 cals can be used to shoot down aircraft.

The standard M2 .50 machinegun that is still in use is the same gun that was put into the fighter plane wings (4 or 6 of them). (Each had about nine yards of linked ammo, which is where the phrase "gave them the whole nine yards" comes from.)

The modern .50 rifles, which use the exact same ammo as the M2 machinegun, that controllers normally picture when talking about shooting down planes are purposely pictured to confuse the uneducated masses.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,476 posts)
12. I have heard the 9 yards detail but I wasn't aware that the M2 was the gun
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 01:39 PM
Dec 2016

The most interesting trivia I know on the M2 is that GySgt Hathcock used it in his longest confirmed kill at 2500 yards.

yagotme

(2,911 posts)
15. Yes Brownings were carried
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 04:35 PM
Dec 2016

in several types, here and Britain. Some .50, (mostly ours), some in .30 (or .303, in UK.) Had a lighter barrel, as long strings were not fired, and the speed of the aircraft offered better air cooling. Thus, a ground-use M2 is a M2HB, heavy barrel.
(Have heard the 9 yard thing is an urban legend, but too lazy right now to look up.)

kudzu22

(1,273 posts)
11. The next time they build up a head of steam
Tue Dec 20, 2016, 12:40 PM
Dec 2016

and by that I mean get enough serious gun-banners in a position to do something, they're going to come after all semi-autos. It's the only possible ban that doesn't require arcane definitions and that can't be wiggled around with technical changes. Of course, that means banning about 80% of the firearms currently sold in the US, so there will be backlash.

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