snipers

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elody21

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I know nothing about guns so I have a question. What are the rounds snipers or the military use and can the empties be made into a pen? Is it too morbid or over the line to think of making pens with rifle shells for the troops? I honestly do not know if this would be ok or just wrong. What do the military turners think of this. I will follow your opinion on this matter.
Thanks Alice
 
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I guarantee not a single military person would think it morbid to receive one of these works of art. At present, I think the 30.06 is still the weapon of choice. Finding a military version may be hard unless someone has some. The military brass is either reloaded or sent to China as shredded brass. Also, do not send any to Pens For Troups if you want them do keep them. The pens are considered military contraband and they cannot bring them back home.
 
Thanks Tim,
Is there any similar shell I can use that would be able to be kept by the service persons? or would any rifle shell be considered contraband?
 
"No Brass! No Ammo!" is what all recruits say coming off the range @ Basic (Boot for our JarHead friends) and that means none, nada, zip, zilch, zero. The military has really cracked down on "military contraband" is not making distinctions on a lot of items they once did. Right now, it doesn't matter if it is a military casing or a sportsman's casing - they confiscate it. Funny thing, they will let you arrive with it - but as soon as a soldier goes home, they take it.

This zero tolerance policy has also affected other things like (gasp!) cigars. I have a friend in Afghanistan right now on his 2nd tour. On the first he took the bands off and mailed them home while he carried a box with him. No worries and yes, he was my bestest friend then. :)

Last time he came home on leave they would not let him take any home, even the ones he had brought with him but hadn't smoked. Hmm choices, smoke inexpensive Cubans or the ones he brought from the states - how many do you think he had left over from the States? Even though it nearly brought him to tears - he shredded all of them rather than turn them over whole.

Pens for Soldiers is an awesome deal - but I don't even think the the PSI fake cartridges would make it. Sorry.
 
That's really too bad. Maybe I could call the VFW and see about some sort of program for returning veterans. Thanks for your help,
Alice
Boy , things have really changed! My dad was in WWII and he actually brought home a mortar shell. I believe it was live because it still had the top part. Dad never said it was live but always told us not to drop it! I could totally be wrong but I grew up thinking it was.
Even though I don't know anything about guns I grew up around them We had a "Gun Room" with all sorts of guns rifles and war memorabilia. I thought every house had such a room.
Anyway I think maybe I will contact the VFW. I think those coming home might enjoy a rifle pen.
My grandpa worked at an armory and I used to have a lot of the spent shells I collected from the rifle range. Boy I wish I would have kept them
Alice
 
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Sniper cartridges are 7.62 (308) caliber from what memory tells me the last time the military used 30.06 was in the M1 Garand. The 7.62 is used as it is a NATO round as well and easily accessible if need be.
When Iwas in the USAF I was a weapons instructor and all brass had to be accounted for we collected it and when we turned it in they would weigh it for accountability.
 
A better idea might be to use a decal of the different branches of the service on a blank.
 
mredburn said:
A better idea might be to use a decal of the different branches of the service on a blank.
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Hey, I like that idea! When the pens get sent over there how are they distributed? I would not want a Marine getting an Army pen!
 
Last time I spoke to a few friends of mine, who are ex-Rangers who went to sniper school, they said it was a 50 cal. snipers shoot once and go to the next.
 
There are several different programs out there. If you do a search, you can find one. The VFW or the USO would be excellent organizations to contact.

Additionally, check with friends and families - you would be surprised who in your own circle knows someone deployed.
 
Many different rounds are used by our snipers but the standard is the 7.62x51 (Win 308) The last I know of the 30.06 being used was in Vietnam and was used in a Remington 700 or Winchester M70. The Remington is still used today.
 
Alice , check with Neil (wolftat) . He has been running a pens for the military thing and just returned from overseas giving away a bunch of pens to the guys over there .
 
I was on the North Dakota National Guard High Power Rifle team a few years back. We shot Match grade M14's. The best ammo I put through my baby was Lake City Match Grade .308 ammo. The .308 is still widely used, however some of the guys are useing the new .338 Lapua magnum (8.6x70mm). I would love to get my hands on one those babies. I'm thinking of getting a 6.5 Grendal made for me. I think I still have some Match Grade Brass. If I find some, I'll send some your way.
 
Seems like the newest cartridge is the .338 Lapua. That baby takes out tanks. Doesn't have the distance of the .308 but has amazing stopping power. I've also seen a new catridge they are testing right now. It's a .416. This baby can reach distances of 2.5 miles. Talk about a long range shot!! They have actually developed a gun just for this cartridge. This will be the wave of the future.
 
The standard US infantry rifle (M16) shoots 5.56x45mm (a.k.a. 5.56 NATO which is nearly identical to 223 Remington) caliber. The previous infantry rifle (M14) was chambered in 7.62x51mm (a.k.a. 7.62 NATO which is nearly identical to 308 Winchester). 7.62x51mm is also used in medium-range military rifles and some sniper rifles. The real long-range sniping is done with 50BMG caliber. The original M1 Garand carbine shot 30-06 Springfield caliber.

A pen made with brass from any of these calibers makes a nice military-theme pen, but not necessarily a good gift for a soldier stationed overseas (as already mentioned).

Regards,
Eric
 
7.62 x 51 NATO (.308). The current issue is a Remington 700 bolt action rifle. The other "really reach out and touch someone" platform is the .50 cal Barrett Semi Auto. The 7.62x51 is considerably shorter than the 30-06 so a taller top section will be needed to accomodate a 7mm mechanism.
 
elody21 said:
I know nothing about guns so I have a question. What are the rounds snipers or the military use and can the empties be made into a pen? Is it too morbid or over the line to think of making pens with rifle shells for the troops? I honestly do not know if this would be ok or just wrong. What do the military turners think of this. I will follow your opinion on this matter.
Thanks Alice
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AFAIK there are 4 rounds that are currently used by the US Military (There may be more that I am not aware of)

They are:

7.62 x 51 nato
.300 winchester magnum
.338 Lapua Magnum
.50 Browing (12.7 x 99)

As far as the troops loving a pen made from a shell I would think they would but the concern that I have is if they would be allowed to keep one.
 
When my Nephew deployed last year to Iraq. I started to make 3 or 4 50cal. BMG pens for them. They where such a big hit they asked for 10 more to give out to certain individuals. They even offered to pay for them. No way shape or form was a soldier going to be paying me when I owe them so much. I think in the end I donated 15 of them to the Unit. They are very much appreciated by all the troops. The 50 cal BMG is one of the rounds used in sniper rifles.
 
I always liked the AK-47 assault rifle. Its the preferred weapon of our enemy. It makes a distinct sound when fired at you.

I like the "Heartbreak Ridge" reference! Great movie....
 
I have a Barrett semi-auto .50 cal bmg. That baby is bad ass. I recently purchased a Kalichnikof (sp??) AK-47. It shoots very nice. But by far my favorite weapon I have is a AR-15. It's a Smith and Wesson M&P that's been highly modified. The Barret is pretty fun to shoot, but at $6.00 every time you pull the trigger it could get quite expensive to shoot.
 
EBorraga said:
Seems like the newest cartridge is the .338 Lapua. That baby takes out tanks. Doesn't have the distance of the .308 but has amazing stopping power. I've also seen a new catridge they are testing right now. It's a .416. This baby can reach distances of 2.5 miles. Talk about a long range shot!! They have actually developed a gun just for this cartridge. This will be the wave of the future.
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sorry but this is incorrect. the .308 or 7.62x51 NATO has an "effective range" of 800 meters, the .338 lapua has a range of around 1600 meters i believe. also not very effective against tanks, it is a high velocity rather small (relativley speaking, still bigger than .308, 30-06, and .300 win. mag and others) bullet, but the .50 bmg is generally used as an anti material rifle, like against APCs tanks and the like. trucks and cars too, a shot to the engine block is all you need with that round:).
lets see last i heard the Army(i think it was, could be wrong) was getting rid of the m24 sws by converting half of them from 7.62x51 NATO to .300 winchester magnum, essentially extending the effective range from 800-1200 metes, and getting rid of the other half, replacing them with the new knights armament sws chambered in 7.62x51 NATO since its almost as accurate, but offers semi automatic capability.
lets see these should be the rounds used in our modern militarys "sniping arsenel":

in ascending order
5.56 short range m16 and m4 not quite sniping but good around 600-800 meters
.308 or 7.62x51 NATO good to 800m
.300 win. mag. good out to 1200m
.338 lapua good out to like 1600+m
.50 cal BMG used against material and sometimes "soft targets" out to 2000+m

(.416 and .408 are in the experimental phases, actually i believe they have a cheytac .408 weapon system being used already, but i could be wrong, may still be experimental. both of these calibers show extreme potential out to extreme distances, past .50 BMG capabilities, but i dont know enough about either. plus the cheytac could be in .416 i cant remember but i think its .408)

sorry not trying to rub smash anyones info just trying to give the best answer i can, any of those calibers should make a fairly interesting pen. .308 and 5.56 are both rather small for pens in my opinion but ive seen it done. i myself have made .308, 30-06 and .50 BMG pens, the 30-06 is my favorite for pens its the perfect size. .50 BMG pens are big and heavy and difficult to write with but look really freakin cool on a desk, so are a favorite. unless you have monster hands in which case who knows maybe its comfortable to write with.:wink:

AHHHHH i feel better now, sorry folks i was bored:rolleyes::):wink:
 
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EBorraga said:
I have a Barrett semi-auto .50 cal bmg. That baby is bad ass. I recently purchased a Kalichnikof (sp??) AK-47. It shoots very nice. But by far my favorite weapon I have is a AR-15. It's a Smith and Wesson M&P that's been highly modified. The Barret is pretty fun to shoot, but at $6.00 every time you pull the trigger it could get quite expensive to shoot.
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i have a couple ar-15s and an ak as well ,very fun to shoot. can you shoot your barrett past 1000 meters? if not id switch to a .300 WM or a .260 remington, if you reload you can shoot at 1000m fairly cheap, even if you buy ammo your at less than half of what it takes to shoot your barrett, with less than half the recoil lol
 
I sent a 30-06 round pen to my brother in Iraq. He LOVES it! Been 6 months or so and so far no one has given him problems about having it.
 
LizardSpit said:
I sent a 30-06 round pen to my brother in Iraq. He LOVES it! Been 6 months or so and so far no one has given him problems about having it.
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I agree, you and your brothers best bet to keep his pen in your possession is for him to package the item in some sort of metal pipe that will obscure the x-ray outline of the casing, then pack it securely for mailing, CORRECTLY identify it in the customs documentation as a PEN, and mail it back stateside before his deployment ends and he ships back stateside. Everything he brings back on his person or in his gear will be inspected, and a casing pen will be confiscated. A mail package identified as containing a pen will most likely not be intercepted between here and there as long as it looks like a round metal tube, and not a casing in an x-ray image.

Just my opinion, YMMV.
 
tim self said:
I guarantee not a single military person would think it morbid to receive one of these works of art. At present, I think the 30.06 is still the weapon of choice. Finding a military version may be hard unless someone has some. The military brass is either reloaded or sent to China as shredded brass. Also, do not send any to Pens For Troups if you want them do keep them. The pens are considered military contraband and they cannot bring them back home.
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Tim;

I'm curious what information source you are referencing in the above regarding military brass being shredded. I am also not familiar with any policy of military brass being reloaded. The armory weenies did handload ammo for both the rifle and pistol teams to use both for practice or when we were competing, (if we didn't prefer to reload it ourselves, which most of us did). However, they used new, never fired casings that they acquired from the manufacturers themselves, and then weighed, measured and sorted to very precise specs. They did not use fired casings from the mil spec ball ammo that was expended at the range.

I was told that the ammo for the sniper training programs for all other branches was similarly treated, but did not see this myself.

James
 
308 in my departmentm, but thats here on the home land not over seas. The .223 is the team rifle but the snipers use the .308
 
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I know that SWAT uses the 5.56 Nato (or 223) I am not certain if the military uses the 5.56 rounds or not. I would say stay away from the cartidge pens being shipped to soldiers I know that they may really enjoy it but It would really suck to lose it at the end of deployment overseas.
 
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