09-17-2024, 09:24 AM
(09-17-2024, 05:51 AM)FlyingClayDisk Wrote: I can tell you this much...the rifle in the picture is chambered in 7.62 x 39mm (which would put it in the AK/SK variant category). How you can tell is by the curvature of the magazine. The 7.62 x 39mm cartridge has a tapered case (more tapered than the 5.56 x 45mm, or .223 as it is commonly known as by civilians in North America). This taper requires a much sharper curve in the magazine to make each cartridge rest flat against those below it. If the magazine isn't curved like this the firearm will jamb when attempting to feed cartridges out of the magazine.
AR style magazines also have a slight curvature to them for the same reason, but because the 5.56 x 45mm cartridge wall is not tapered as much as the 7.62 x 39mm it doesn't require the sharper curve.
Additionally, in looking at the picture, this is not a typical AK, and definitely not an AK-47 or AK-74, or even a WASR (Romanian). Looks to me like it is a SKS which has been re-stocked with a fiberglass stock with a more pronounced grip and comb. This practice is common on SKS rifles because the OEM stocks were so short (almost toy-like, short). SKS type rifles are quite old (the AK's replaced them, and they're even old now). The SKS is a notoriously poor performing rifle, but some of them could be 'tuned up' to fire reliably. Also, something doesn't look right to me about the barrel. It looks quite a bit longer than a standard SKS barrel, but it's definitely not a Dragonov (for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the magazine)
I told my wife yesterday that because this dude got pinched by the local boys that DeSantis would not make it easy on the federal boys when they tried to vanish him.
Does look SKS with a detachable magazine mod on it, but given how it was going to be used and the fact that this guy was in Ukraine not long ago, I wonder if it might be a SVD that's been modified for California compliance, but still have the magazine port accessible. An SKS would be a poor choice of a rifle to use for a possible 500-700 yard shot but the SVD would fit the bill quite nicely.
I see that the local papers (and USA Today) are saying it was a SKS though.
Experts say Trump's would-be assassin had an SKS, not an AK-47. What's the difference? (msn.com)
Quote:The suspect, Ryan Routh, 58, ran for it but he left behind what Bradshaw described as an AK-47-style assault rifle, along with a backpack and a GoPro camera. However, firearms experts have pointed out that based on the grainy photos available, the weapon looks more like an SKS.
I guess we need to wait till more solid information comes out. Either way we should be looking at where the rifle came from. I'm betting that it was sold out the back of some FBI guys car.
