ISIS Weapons - A ten-foot sniper rifle!

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:36:10 -0500

What do you think of ISIS's latest creation? So many questions on this one....Is it really a 23mm? If so, how much damage can they create with high explosive incendiary or armor piercing rounds? Is it properly bored and is it even accurate? What do you think?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2859301/ISIS-s-latest-killing-machine-10-foot-sniper-rifle-fire-bullets-three-times-size-normal-gun.html

Response by PO3 Shaun Taylor made Dec 5 at 2014 3:23 AM

PO3 Shaun Taylor — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 03:23:15 -0500

I would say it's impressive. If the accuracy is anything worth mentioning and if it really is armor piercing. Have you seen any video on this? I went to your link and all I saw was photos. I'm about to google it now.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2014 5:47 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 05:47:08 -0500

ISIS is great a many things. One of their best weapons that they wield so well is the media. Simply the idea of ISIS producing their own weapons adds to legitimize their abilities and provokes fears in their adversaries. Look at their social media threats aimed at soldiers in the US and how the military is reacting to it. They have won battles in Iraq by using fear and threats. A small action from ISIS results in 100 soldiers surrendering.

This weapon is merely a show piece. First and foremost the effectiveness of the weapon is highly suspect and if it was effective how many can they produce to effect the outcome of a battle. When a formidable force they will be stopped. The Kurds have accomplished this for the most part.

I am just curious how they plan to hit anything with a round that big without any mechanical assistance form any aiming systems.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 9:47 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 21:47:22 -0500

While having a big gun is cool and all, I'm just wondering how useful that weapon would really be. I don't know about anyone else but when I think of a good rifle, especially sniper rifles, it isn't a question of how big something is but more of how accurate will it be. And in all honesty I don't think that it would be a practical rifle, you wouldn't be able to be as mobile in case you need to move in a hurry. I could be wrong but that's just what I think when you mention a 10 foot rifle. I think it's just another thing for ISIS to try to scare people off with.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 2:16 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 02:16:34 -0500

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member. The original question was a one off improvised showpiece . . . not a practical battlefield weapon.
Warmest Regards, Sandy

p.s. It may be equivalent to ZU-23-2/ZSU-23-2 2A7/2A14 (23x152mm) Armour-Piercing Incendiary Tracer Projectile

o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZU-23-2
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMl_uSegAp4
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5qk0K2HyA0
o http://www.arcus-bg.com/products/ammunition/1_23mm_zu_23_2/apit_projectile/1main.htm
o http://www.ordtech-industries.com/2products/ZU-23/23x152NG.html

ZU-23-2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The ZU-23-2 "Sergey", also known as ZU-23, is a Soviet towed 23mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon. ZU stands for Zenitnaya Ustanovka (Russian: Зенитная Установка) - anti-aircraft mount. The GRAU index is 2A13.[1]

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Dec 31 at 2014 12:31 PM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 12:31:43 -0500

From a machinist or weaponeer's perspective, an impressive feat. From a Soldier's perspective, reminds me of the scene from "Wanted". As for the Dailymail.com.uk, It is known for "sensationalist" journalism.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 12:48 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 12:48:58 -0500

Yeah...definitely pulling the BS flag on this one. I love the spring on the front. Like it's a breech recoil system or something. That's hilarious. Two tripods...yeah. That would mean you have it on a turntable in order to maneuver it...or it sits in one spot and you time every shot. Possible, but highly ineffective. Back to the spring. Even if it did absorb recoil (which it won't), the extending piston beneath it is in the wrong position and can't collapse. It would explode if the spring depressed.

Response by SGT Charles Vernier made Dec 31 at 2014 2:34 PM

SGT Charles Vernier — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 14:34:15 -0500

To me it looks quite simply like they pulled one of the guns off a ZSU and modified it to make this photograph. Seeing that it has no mobility & limited utility without a turret I would have to agree with the previous responses that it is nothing more than a showpiece, but it has the desired propaganda effect.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 31 at 2014 2:40 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 14:40:18 -0500

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member, I saw your comments about a new issue weapon in discussion with Capt Richard I P.. What are your thoughts on this thing? Bogus? A hunk of junk or the real deal?

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Dec 31 at 2014 2:52 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 14:52:57 -0500

The media seems to think that a 23mm round is "3 times the size of standard rifle ammo." I guess in the sense that 23mm is 3 times the size of 7.62mm. But in that case, a 9mm handgun round is nearly twice as large as a M4 5.56mm round! In reality, this round is probably 100x larger than a "rifle" round (by weight/volume).

That posturing (firing this as a shoulder fired weapon) also makes me believe that this weapon is not actually fired. Plus the front compensator appears to move with each firing (hence the spring in the front), which would make the front tripod use rather questionable? Propaganda is definitely a big component of warfare.

Response by SSG Peter Muse made Dec 31 at 2014 2:58 PM

SSG Peter Muse — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 14:58:38 -0500

I blew this picture up.. actually looks like that front tripod is just in the background and not attached.. Still too much recoil from a 23mm for any of that hardware to hold even if bolted to the concrete and I am not the expert.. My reason for trying to get as close as I could was to see if I could the "ACME" stamp...LOL.. not even sure if this makes an effective psychological weapon.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 3:49 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 15:49:26 -0500

LTC Stephen C. Here's my go at an answer, sir.
First issue is the reliability of the Daily Mail, which is something like the National Enquirer, but for our brothers across the pond. However, there are plenty of reliable sources documenting home-made weapons in the Syria/Iraq/ISIS conflict. http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/02/diy-weapons-of-the-syrian-rebels/100461/

Next issue, is the usability of such a weapon. A lot of the objections I saw in this thread, were along the lines of, "what the heck would you do with it?" I won't call myself an expert in any sense of the word, but I have been following this conflict for a while. Many areas of the conflict have degraded into a WW1 style stalemate, but instead of a 10 yard wide no mans land, there is a few hundred yards or more between lines. Both sides being lodged in masonry structures instead of trenches. This situation creates a need for such a weapon. https://medium.com/war-is-boring/on-the-lonely-iraq-syria-border-snipers-battle-for-a-strategic-road-f57983f89420 Here is an article on it, along with a photo of a homemade Kurdish sniper rifle. And another, https://medium.com/war-is-boring/this-probably-isnt-the-woman-in-charge-of-defending-kobane-b970163f7e6 I can definitely see the desire for a weapon that can punch through masonry, and if it were being used as an anti-material weapon, wouldn't have to be as accurate as a "sniper rifle."

I figure the weapon is real, and serves a purpose. Is it being use for propaganda? Yes. How effective or safe is it? It looks way to poorly built to be very effective. And I definitely wouldn't put MY face next to that thing and touch it off!

I also believe that 1LT Sandy Annala identified the donor weapon for this abomination!

DIY Weapons of the Syrian Rebels

Response by SPC Brendan Kearns made Jan 5 at 2015 2:31 AM

SPC Brendan Kearns — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 02:31:43 -0500

Im sure this is there sidearm of choice

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2015 2:00 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 14:00:57 -0500

Sir,

I am going to show some of the scouts in my unit espesically the scouts this article see what they think but I foresee the same opinions as what is already being said. Plus I foresee coke dip and whatever else they have in there mouths at the time coming spitting out everywhere.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 13 at 2015 4:07 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 04:07:20 -0400

I'd soil myself laughing to see it on the back of a bongo truck.

Response by SSG Christopher K. made Apr 13 at 2015 7:08 AM

SSG Christopher K. — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 07:08:16 -0400

I would love to say something clever and funny but all I got is.....WOW. HA HA HA HA HA

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Aug 18 at 2016 11:17 PM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 23:17:42 -0400

Definately a "show piece". Looks like they simply took a 23 mm MG and modified it to shoot one round at a time. The Bipod looks jury rigged and there is no optics to speak of. A competent weapons handler could probably use it as a supressive weapon, but in that configuration I dont see it as anything more than something to hit a large soft skinned vehicle or punch a hole in a structure. Meanwhile a REAL sniper could give whoever is firing this thing an extra asshole in the middle of his forehead using the average sniper rifle.
Marine GySgt Carlos Hathcock did use an M2 50 Cal with a sight of his on design to score kills in Vietnam, but IIRC it was done from a firebase in a static mode he carried a Winchester Model 70 (.30-06) in the field.