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In our photo galleries “Guns of the Capitol Hill Shooting” (click here and here) we saw a whole lotta ARs goin’ on. And HK 416s. But this guy was rockin’ it old school. Name that gun and discuss why it’s still a fine choice for taking out an assault Infiniti and/or its driver (but not the passenger). [h/t Dylan]

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91 COMMENTS

  1. It looks like a run-of-the-mill M16.
    They’re ‘low tech’ compared to an M4 but they can’t be that bad… right?

    • How is the really low tech? There are first run AK’s and STG-44’s out there that are way older and they are doing their job. I think people lose sight of the fact that there havent been and real advances in small arms in decades. Even using shit 55 grain FMJ’s, a suspect isn’t getting back up at normal police distances. This guy remembered the first run of a gun fight: Bring a gun.

      • He also remembered the other two points of that rule.
        1.2 Bring more than one gun.
        1.3 Bring all your friends who also have guns.

    • No its an a1 look at the handguards and rear sight adjustment. the handguards are triangular and the rear sight doesn’t have the big round knob

  2. Looks like an old school m16 to me. It must have been forgotten in the back of the locker. It doesn’t even have a tacticool sling or mag pouch on it. I’ll bet it uses 55 grain bullets.

    After looking at the picture a little closer, holy crap, is that a 3 prong flash hider on that antique? If it had duct tape and a bent nail holding it together I’d think it was my old issue junk pile.

  3. M16A1 its full freakin auto which works great for hosing down high cap assault vehicles with un armed drivers and the rest of the block.

  4. ‘Nam era de-milled M16A1 with a 30 rd Magpul mag. I doubt they kept the full auto selector for police duty, but I could be wrong.

    • Assuredly. The Capital Popo wouldn’t be playing at rock n roll. Certainly would demil/neuter the ole time M16. NOT

    • I think so. Unless the officer is a really small guy, that magazine looks wider than a 5.56. It looks like an AR-10 with a 20 round mag

      • A 20 round PMAG in an AR10 would be roughly even with the pistol grip. That magazine obviously extends beyond the pistol grip. Its not an AR10.

  5. longer barrel + slower twist rate = higher velocity? more energy & upset, so less penetration and more damage?

      • Hannibal, I know you’re sensitive on the issue, and I detect you think people are piling on. Please do consider the other side of the issue: Every car fleeing every LEO is “a deadly weapon,” In my city, and probably most others, we don’t permit firing on a fleeing vehicle unless there is more to go on that just the flight. If they aren’t shooting as they go, or obviously targetting pedestrians, our LEO’s wouldn’t shoot. We have other policies in place to intercept the driver, and we don’t want 7 of 10 bullets flying off into the city. That is really not an unreasonable thing.

        My personal gripe is that the Uniformed SS should have had (as many did thirty years ago) at least one shotgun among them, and should have stayed on one side of the car at the WH barrier. The tires should have been blown, if not the engine block. I haven’t heard a sensible answer yet on why they are not prepared to stop a vehicle by force, without taking out the driver. My own personal guess is that guys really don’t want to be the one stuck with the heavy high-recoil gun. The loadings (shotgun or medium-bore rifle) that will break the engine block through to the cylinders are definitely high-brass large momentum high-recoil loads.

        This is a matter of policy, and I don’t fault the guys at the gates for not having what they aren’t authorized.

  6. I’m on my phone so I cant see the flash hider, so all I can tell is it seems to be an M16A1 or A2 with A1 handguards

  7. Someone already mentioned it, but yes, a 20” barrel would offer higher muzzle velocity, and thus more kinetic energy.

    Also, the PD probably got them from the Army, for ‘free.’

  8. The very last one in the gun cabinet for the standing army that protects D.C…… They gave it to the cook and told him to sling the police tape….

  9. Well, I magnified the crap out of this picture. Old style full stock, triangular handguard, 20 inch barrel, birdcage flash hider, bayonet lug, and missing the range wheel from the rear sight. I can’t tell if it’s full auto or not. So, based on that, if it’s semi-auto it’s the original Colt SP-01 made for the civilian and LE market circa 1980. If it is full auto, then an M-16A1. I’m betting that it’s the SP-01.

    (I bought one the first year they were available for $400.00)

  10. So the thousands of SS Troops… errr I mean Agents guarding El Presidente get to use P-mags, but our troops aren’t good enough to use ’em? That’s cool.

    • Looks like a Capital cop, so Im assuming they would be ordering their own mags, and then getting reimbursed rather than being issued mags…

    • The squad automatic weapon the marines are switching to doesn’t play well with the pmags, that’s why they are banning them.

  11. Either this guy is on the low end of the totem pole and he was given the ole rickety rifle…or he knows his weapons and is the best shot on the team and picked this knowing some of the advantages it has…

  12. It’s a ToysRUs special gun that makes a recorded bang-bang noise but doesn’t shoot out anything. Real cops don’t need real guns.

  13. It looks like a frankenstein ar/m-16 to me.

    I am trying to honor RF’s assignment and discuss why it is good for taking out people & cars – but I do not believe it is. People yeah sure – cars . . . not unless most of us are wrong and that thing is chambered in .308 instead of 5.56.

    Nothing in 5.56 is a “fine choice” for obstacle defeating power no matter how long you make the barrel and not matter how much you monkey w/ the twist rate. Heavier and slower (slower than 3,000 fps +) is better for consistent penetration without pitching, yawing, shredding, or ricochet. Decent choice yeah but there are much better choices available.

    So RF, do you have some insight into what it is exactly? And you believe it is fine choice because?

  14. It’s an AR something or other with triangular foregrip/handguard. Really? That’s what the guys providing security in our nation’s capital are carrying? Wonder what the bbl twist is and what ammo is in the mag? Could the guy and gun even hit a B29 silhouette at 100yds with it? One thing’s for damn sure. A crazy ass woman in a sports car gave all those guys and guns a run for their money. Just think what a highly trained, highly motivated , highly armed (suitcase nuke anyone), suicide terrorist could have done.

  15. If I can see the right side of the gun, I would be able to tell if it’s an original SP1. It’s funny that this rifle must be hell of a lot lighter than the more “modern” 416s

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