By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
My takeaway from the festivities in San Bernadino was that the Jihadi couple were well trained in gunnery, probably while in Soddy Arabia. I say that because of the 75 rounds fired, 30 struck a target at least once. As far as a kill ratio goes, the couple were 7.5 to one, while with shooting they were 15 to one.
A commenter on Facebook railed:
...this goatfucker and his half-ewe wife are pathetic third rate jihadists. You have a building full of faggot-ass Californians, two semiauto rifles and two pistols, and you only get 75 rounds off? And only 7 dead each? And maybe 10 wounded each? May God curse all jihadists with such pathetic skills. And how stupid do you have to be to fail to detonate a pipe bomb full of black powder? Jebus, put a string soaked in kerosene in the touch hole! What a shitty waste of oxygen and DNA.
The fact is that this was this couple's first (and last) time out, and trained or not, it was an impressive performance. Special Forces might have better performance, but these were amateurs on a one way mission.
I suspect that they were trained by Al Qaeda, and I say that because they were in Soddy Arabia where Al Qaeda is known to operate, and is funded to some degree. The latest report is that they were in contact with al Nusra, which is Al Qaeda in Syria, but my guess is that their handlers were from Soddy Arabia.
The weapons used, according to the latest data supplied by the UK Daily Mail were a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 and a DPMS, both .223 caliber. The Daily Mail article made much of the fact the rifles were "illegally" modified according to California law, including standard capacity 30-round weapons magazines.
The state of California wants Jihadis and criminals to be better armed than its own citizens, it would seem.
The couple bought around 6,000 rounds of ammunition, some of it stripper clips for rapid reloading of magazines. As you would expect, it was rather breathlessly reported that the amount of ammunition bought was excessive, but I know, and several Rantburgers probably know people for which 6,000 rounds fired at the range is a short weekend.
Which brings up the next topic: training.
Several months ago I saw this video, wherein a Russian Spetsnaz operator was put through the ringer at a Russian confidence course.
Last week at Western Rifle Shooters Association was this discussion on what the author called the Paris Drill:
OK. Here is the skinny on the Paris Drill, prompted by Fred commenting on my post “Europe in the Fall” linked here.
The Paris Drill is 3 shots at 3 separate 6″ diameter steel targets at 25 yards. Par time is 5 seconds; any misses are a DQ. Fifteen points per second deduction for time over 5.00 seconds; same bonus for less than 5.00 seconds. Ideally, this would be done from the leather, but some ranges (mine included) don’t allow this. In such cases, start with sidearm by your side and eliminate the draw stroke.
Examples:
-Smith shoots his three shots, and gets three hits in 6.48 seconds. His base score is 75 points, less 22.2 for time over 5 seconds, for a total score of 52.8.
-Jones shoots his three shots, and gets three hits in 4.27 seconds, His base score is also 75 points plus a bonus (for being faster than par by 0.73 seconds) of 10.95 for a total score of 85.95.
-Historian shoots three times and misses the third plate. His score is zero.
-Historian tries again and hits all three plates in 10.83 seconds. His score is again zero.
The main thing in these two drills is training yourself to select targets and hit them accurately and rapidly. You could do this with a paper target, as the Russian did in their range, only with rifles at 100 meters and six much smaller targets drawn on/pasted/taped on. Select two to hit with the others you do not want to hit.
A better way would be to set up a non-standard rifle range in which you would be completing this course on your feet and moving. As an apartment dweller, I do not have a home or land I can set up to practice this, but I can at least try to make progressively more difficult shots as my marksmanship improves on the square range.
My local CBS affiliate had some news report on what to do during an active shooter incident, most of which can be reduced to: how to cower in the face of an existential threat.
Two tactical trainers I follow on social media have videos on how to deal with an active shooter, if you are armed. One is Hoss USMC, and another is James Yaeger.
But as can be expressed, it boils down to how well you can narrow your aim under an existential threat.
As Rantburg's new book reviewer, swksvolFF has said repeatedly, practice, practice, practice.
This author seems to think that marksmanship is what's for dinner. Hard to disagree.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition and rifle ammunition were were mixed.
Prices for used pistols were higher across the board while prices for used rifles were mostly lower.
** For some reason I could not find any 150 Grain 7.62x51mm cartridges in bulk for anything less than $0.56 per round, so for the purposes of this one round in bulk, I switched to 147 grain.
Note, also that the price for .223 55 grain ammunition is the lowest it has been since last year at $0.21 per round.
New Lows:
None
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: +.03 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LG Outdoors, Silver Bear, FMJ, Steel Case, .27 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Blok Tactical, Store Brand, TMJ, Reloads, .24 per round (From Last week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, Unchanged (8 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk (5 Box Limit), 1,000 rounds: Freedom Munitions, Store Brand, FMJ, Brass, Reloads; .21 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .17 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .16 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2015))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .28 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .25 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: -.02 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Midsouth Shooters Supply, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain**, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Supply Company, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .38 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds (147 grain **): Ammunition Supply Company, Wolf, Steel Cased, FMJ, .43 per round (From Last Week: +.11 Each (!))
7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (9 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Wolf WPA, steel case, FMJ, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, steel case, .23 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each)
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds (20 Box Limit): Glen's Army Navy Store, Federal American Eagle, RNL .08 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 325 rounds (1 Box Limit): Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore, Federal, RNL, .08 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $510 Last Week Avg: $486 (+) ($616 (34 Weeks), $476 (10 Weeks))
California (218, 227): Delton Sport: $450 ($650 (44 Weeks), $400 (13 Weeks))
Texas (263, 279): Sig Sauer M400 SRP SWAT: $400 ($700 (39 Weeks), $350 (34 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (155, 158): Olympic Arms: $600 ($700 (33 Weeks), $300 (21 Weeks))
Virginia (157, 164): Mixed Build: $600 ($750 (39 Weeks), $500 (43 Weeks))
Florida (345, 349): Palmetto State Armory: $500 ($650 (23 Weeks), $380 (35 Weeks))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $846 Last Week Avg: $856 (-) ($1,359 (33 Weeks), $820 (9 Weeks))
California (48, 48): Palmetto State Armory: $950 ($1,700 (48 Weeks), $850 (18 Weeks))
Texas (55, 46): Palmetto State Armory: $980 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $800 (17 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (24, 24): Palmetto State Armory PA10: $900 ($1,500 (39 Weeks), $700 (10 Weeks))
Virginia (51, 52): DPMS: $900 ($1,650 (22 Weeks), $800 (5 Weeks))
Florida (70, 78): Rock River LAR8 Operator: $500 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $500 (9 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $555 Last Week Avg: $560 (-) ($626 (35 Weeks), $450 (22 Weeks))
California (42, 44): CAI: $550 ($700 (38 Weeks), $320 (49 Weeks))
Texas (56, 61): RAS-47: $550 ($750 (37 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (47, 51): CAI 1975 GP: $525 ($750 (44 Weeks), $375 (29 Weeks))
Virginia (46, 56): Norinco: $600 ($625 (40 Weeks), $350 (42 Weeks))
Florida (98, 110): Zastava AKS: $550 ($650 (33 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $350 Last Week Avg: $355 (-) ($489 (41 Weeks), $296 (23 Weeks))
California (8, 10): Winchester Ranger 94: $375 ($500 (17 Weeks), $180 (24 Weeks))
Texas (20, 18): Marlin 336W: $350 ($550 (41 Weeks), $300 (46 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (13, 15): Marlin 30AS: $400 ($450 (43 Weeks), $250 (48 Weeks))
Virginia (9, 7): Winchester Model 54: $250 ($450 (25 Weeks), $250 (2 Weeks))
Florida (18, 17): Winchester Model 94: $375 ($500 (39 Weeks), $250 (25 Weeks))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $436 Last Week Avg: $389 (+) ($450 (39 Weeks), $350 (12 Weeks))
California (145, 148): Rock Island Armory: $480 ($600 (41 Weeks), $300 (19 Weeks))
Texas (233, 231): Legacy Citadel: $525 ($600 (4Q, 2015), $325 (15 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (143, 138): Tisas 1911: $400 ($550 (31 Weeks), $300 (25 Weeks))
Virginia (145, 129): Regent Arms 1911 R200S: $400 ($550 (33 Weeks), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (331, 329): Rock Island Armory: $375 ($475 (44 Weeks), $250 (38 Weeks))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $305 Last Week Avg: $300 (+) ($336 (36 Weeks), $268 (14 Weeks))
California (170, 170): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $300 ($450 (40 Weeks), $200 (3 Weeks))
Texas (236, 231): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $275 ($355 (40 Weeks), $200 (13 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (221, 220): Ruger P95: $350 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (20 Weeks))
Virginia (166, 162): Sig Sauer P226: $300 ($400 (34 Weeks), $250 (20 Weeks))
Florida (451, 442): Ruger P95: $300 ($375 (4Q, 2014), $220 (13 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $326 Last Week Avg: $316 (+) ($368 (30 Weeks), $300 (3Q, 2014))
California (92, 90): Smith & Wesson Sigma: $300 ($425 (15 Weeks)), $250 (47 Weeks))
Texas (106, 111): Ruger P94: $280 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $275 (33 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (82, 79): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $350 ($350 (22 Weeks), $250 (42 Weeks))
Virginia (61, 63): Ruger SR40C: $400 ($450 (30 Weeks), $275 (46 Weeks))
Florida (155, 158): Ruger SR40C: $300 ($400 (41 Weeks), $200 (14 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Arkansas)
Vepr Chambered in 7.62x54R
ChrisCovert writes for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com and on Twitter