Article

2006-10-03 Iraq

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Posted by Glenmore 2006-10-03 09:16|| || Front Page|| [11132 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 7.623 mm is 30 caliber - a NATO round? Or does the AK-47 fire 7.62?

Posted by Bobby 2006-10-03 09:33|| 2006-10-03 09:33|| Front Page Top

#2 If they had Soviet Drug sniper rifles, I'd say the 7.62 was 7.62x54. A rimmed cartridge.

Posted by Besoeker 2006-10-03 09:35|| 2006-10-03 09:35|| Front Page Top

#3 AK-47 fires 7.62 x 39, I believe.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2006-10-03 09:54|| 2006-10-03 09:54|| Front Page Top

#4 Now there's a discussion you won't find at DU or Kosland :)

Posted by Speck Phomomble3299 2006-10-03 10:05|| 2006-10-03 10:05|| Front Page Top

#5 "If this is a 'sizable' cache, then the bad guys are in trouble."

On the other hand, if the DoD starts making a habit of announcing every measely half-handful of 7.62mm ammo it finds, it's going to very quickly create the impression it's scraping the bottom of the barrel for "good news." And we sure as hell don't need THAT.

The AK47 fires 7.62x39mm, same as its predecessor the SKS. They don't say what kind of "sniper rifle" they found, but if it was the Dragunov SVD it most likely fires 7.62x54mm.

Posted by Dave D.">Dave D. 2006-10-03 10:21|| 2006-10-03 10:21|| Front Page Top

#6 Maybe the key here is who the insurgents were.

For example, it would seem, judging from the fact that we *never* seem to capture any Iranian insurgents, that either

a) There aren't any,
b) They are really, really good at hiding,
c) We are very carefully not mentioning that they are Iranians,
d) We are not trying overly hard to capture them alive, or at least keep them alive after capture, or
e) Some of the above some of the time, except we ain't saying, and no comment.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-10-03 10:33|| 2006-10-03 10:33|| Front Page Top

#7 Think the Russian 7.62 was a tad longer than Nato 7.62 round...???

Posted by crazyhorse 2006-10-03 11:14|| 2006-10-03 11:14|| Front Page Top

#8 Think the Russian 7.62 was a tad longer than Nato 7.62 round...???

See #5; a nice ressources on firearms for the layperson.

Posted by anonymous5089 2006-10-03 11:16|| 2006-10-03 11:16|| Front Page Top

#9 Russians had three 7.62 mm rounds...
7.62 mm x 54
7.62 mm x 39 (Ak-47)
7.62 mm x 25(I think)

Posted by crazyhorse 2006-10-03 11:22|| 2006-10-03 11:22|| Front Page Top

#10 Let me know when they find a shutter gun.

Posted by SteveS 2006-10-03 11:28|| 2006-10-03 11:28|| Front Page Top

#11 There's 3 different 7.62 rounds that are in common use.

7.62x39 This is the standard AK47/SKS round.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62_x_39_mm

7.62x54R - This is the Russian sniper round used in the Dragunov sniper rifle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62_x_54_mm_R

7.62x51 - This is 762NATO. It's very close to it's "English" cousin of .308Winchester.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62_NATO

The 'OTHER' Russian round is
5.45x?? This is the round used in the AK74-short rifle (or whatever it's called.) It was mainly developed for paratroopers, I think.

I love wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62_mm_caliber

Posted by Anon4021 2006-10-03 11:34|| 2006-10-03 11:34|| Front Page Top

#12 If that's what's passing for a weapons cache these days, either our Mil-press is hankering for good news, or the Insurgents are running out of supplies?

Only 4 RPG rounds?
No mortars? Or mines for IEDs?

Granted, that is plenty for a small squad to stage an ambush, but that generally isn't their strong point.

Posted by Anon4021 2006-10-03 11:37|| 2006-10-03 11:37|| Front Page Top

#13 There is also a 7.62x45 that the Czechs used in their SHE-52. A few of those turned up in unpleasantness a few years back in Granada. No a very handsome firearm. Photo at link:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976763467.htm

Posted by Besoeker 2006-10-03 11:46|| 2006-10-03 11:46|| Front Page Top

#14 Anonymoose,
I think it is option c. Several Iraqi bloggers (the mesopotamian, hammorabi etc) have mentioned that several thousand Iranian special forces are in Iraqi jails. It seems they have been caught is sweeps on a fairly regular basis for the past 2 years.
I have been wondering why the US command in Iraq never mentions it.

Al

Posted by Frozen Al">Frozen Al 2006-10-03 12:01|| 2006-10-03 12:01|| Front Page Top

#15 Frozen,
If you don't acknowledge capturing them then you don't have to account for their treatment. WE don't want them; the Iraqis, on the other hand, might just end up refilling one of those exhumed mass graves. A few years from now they get found and it's "Oops, we must have missed a few; bad Saddam." It's not pretty, but war is ugly.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2006-10-03 12:58|| 2006-10-03 12:58|| Front Page Top

#16 The Russians had a habit of making their rounds slightly larger than ours. That way they could use captured U.S. ammo (a little loose) and captured Russian ammo was useless to us (wouldn't fit).

Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2006-10-03 13:44|| 2006-10-03 13:44|| Front Page Top

#17 5.45x39, sometimes called 5.45x40 (mainly because it is actually 5.45x39.5).

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2006-10-03 13:47|| 2006-10-03 13:47|| Front Page Top

#18 sometimes called 5.45x40 (mainly because it is actually 5.45x39.5).

Say what you want about the ruskies, but you've got to admire the dedication of people who bother themselves with designs with measurements of 0,5 milimeters (lemme see, about 1/50 of an inch), especially when you consider most of them are drunk most of the time.

Posted by anonymous5089 2006-10-03 14:04|| 2006-10-03 14:04|| Front Page Top

#19 Hum, an inch is 257 mm, not 25,7, so that would be 1/500 of an inch).

Posted by anonymous5089 2006-10-03 14:21|| 2006-10-03 14:21|| Front Page Top

#20 7.62 x 25mm is an old Soviet pistol/submachine gun round. Used in Tokarev pistols and PPSH-41 submachine guns.

Posted by Shieldwolf 2006-10-03 15:37|| 2006-10-03 15:37|| Front Page Top

#21 25.4 mm to the inch, .3048 meters to the foot. Both are exact conversions (in fact, they are equivalent). 3.28083989 feet to the meter is approximate.

Posted by Bobby 2006-10-03 15:47|| 2006-10-03 15:47|| Front Page Top

#22 but an inch is a malleable measurement. Just ask a guy how much he's packing....

Posted by Frank G 2006-10-03 15:53|| 2006-10-03 15:53|| Front Page Top

#23 Shieldwolf is correct with the 7.62 x 25, but I would like to include the CZ 52 Czech Semi auto pistol which takes this round as well.

Posted by kilowattkid 2006-10-03 16:36|| 2006-10-03 16:36|| Front Page Top

#24 Just ask a guy how much he's packing ...

My experience back in the day, before Mr. Lotp, is that far too many were eager to, um, volunteer that information, or at least hint that it was an impressive figure.

Posted by lotp 2006-10-03 16:38|| 2006-10-03 16:38|| Front Page Top

#25 "Check it out! Two physics texts, Calculus of Irregular Surfaces, "How to build a bridge so that it stays up under a brigade of tanks (WWII vintage)", two tickets to the ballet on Friday -- you want to come with me?, The Renaissance Artist: Studies in Light and Shade on Skin and Fabric... oh, yes, here are your socks that you left in gym when we were working on that double flip with a half twist. I promise to catch you next time -- really!!"

What was Mr. lotp packing?

Posted by trailing wife 2006-10-03 17:39|| 2006-10-03 17:39|| Front Page Top

#26 lotp? repartee....

Posted by RD 2006-10-03 20:31|| 2006-10-03 20:31|| Front Page Top

#27 What was Mr. lotp packing?

Well these days he often packs a .45 ACP at the range. Or, alternately, his Sig P232, which is a sweet concealed carry piece ... and which, although only a .380, does some very nice shooting.

Oh, you meant, hmmm ah ... Let's just say it's been a good 32 years so far ... LOL

Oh yeah, the REST of his pack would contain tools for his bikes, maybe a text or two in applied math, the Economist or a book on classical history and a carefully organized list of little items he wants to buy but won't make a special trip for.

Kinda fond of the guy, I am ....

Posted by lotp 2006-10-03 21:43|| 2006-10-03 21:43|| Front Page Top

#28 And chocolate. I forgot the chocolate. Or cigars, one or the other.

Posted by lotp 2006-10-03 21:48|| 2006-10-03 21:48|| Front Page Top

#29 I bought a Romanian manufactured version of the Russian WW2 carbine (complete with bayonet) from Big 5 out here in CA for about $65. It's 7.62x54R (comes with a 4-rd box magazine plus one in the bolt - damn near perfect for stripper clips).

Sucker kicks like a mule (it also has a metal butt plate), but it is very accurate.

Posted by FOTSGreg">FOTSGreg 2006-10-03 21:53|| www.fire-on-the-suns.com]">[www.fire-on-the-suns.com] 2006-10-03 21:53|| Front Page Top

#30 Mr. lotp packs chocolate!?!?! I'm going to have to speak to Mr. Wife when he gets back from Switzerland on Sunday. I finally got him to carry granola bars in his car against low blood sugar when he's too busy talking in meetings to actually eat. He hasn't gotten as far as chocolate yet, except for the mandatory box when he flies through Brussels. ;-)

Posted by trailing wife 2006-10-03 21:54|| 2006-10-03 21:54|| Front Page Top

#31 Mr. Lotp is firmly of the opinion that chocolate is the 5th food group. You'll note that my contribution to the recipe book included chocolate cupcakes with chocolate butter frosting. It was tested on an expert group. ;-)

Posted by lotp 2006-10-03 21:59|| 2006-10-03 21:59|| Front Page Top

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