Mexico: Underground Arms Cache across the border from McAllen, Texas

Gun Watch ^ | 11 July, 2015 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

A recent confiscation of some rifles and ammunition made headlines from an AP report.  The arms were found near Reynosa, Mexico, not far from the border with the United States and McAllen, Texas.  While the AP report claimed that 33 "assault rifles" were found, the pictures from Mexican sources indicate that is an exaggeration.    This small cache would barely be noticed at a local gun club.  It is a moderate collection for an enthusiast.   The picture of the rifles on the table leaves much to be desired.  If anyone has access to a higher resolution image, please let me know.

It appears that most of the rifles are semi-autos, hardly "assault rifles".  My best count for rifles on the tables is 28.   On the table there appear to be 7 AR15 clones, 10 AK clones (including the RPK or clone), one or two HK91/G3 types,  and about 10 too pixilated for me to ID.  The rifles shown below appear to be separate from those on the table.  There are five of them, which would bring the total to 33, as reported.  Three "submachine guns" are listed, but I do not see any that I can identify.

The five rifles pictured above are an AR15 clone with stainless barrel, a AK clone, almost certainly semi-auto because of the thumbhole stock, a customized 98 Mauser (maybe in .22-250?)  and an Enfield MK III or variant.  The rifle on the table is an Armalite AR-50 .50 caliber single shot bolt action rifle.  It is not much use without the scope.

Here are the captured magazines.    The round objects on the left and far upper right of the picture are AK drum magazines.   In the articles from Mexican sources, it is stated that 32 magazines for AKs were found, and 188 magazines for 7.62x39 machine guns.  Maybe they are refering to the drum magazines.  The AK magazines that I know of work in the AK family machine guns as well.   

They also list 1,405 AR15/M16 magazines, 70 HK91/G3 magazines, 1 .50 caliber magazine (odd, as I do not believe the Armalite AR-50 takes a magazine), and 4 pistol magazines (two of the "pistol" magazines on the far right seem to be .30 carbine magazines).

The ammunition found with the rifles.  Most of it is .308 or 7.62 x 51 (5,514) linked cartridges listed, 620 7.62x39 cartridges, 40 ".30 caliber" cartridges (maybe for the .303 British?), 65 7.62X51 cartridges (with an 83 headstamp?), 170 .22-250 cartridges, and three 40 mm grenade rounds or launchers. I do not see any grenades or launchers in the pictures.

Here is the trap door and the surroundings of the underground storage unit.

Perhaps some other subject matter experts can add to the above.  Technical details are often mangled by American reporters, so I do not expect any better South of the border.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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[marktwain]

Not a very large cache. Probably one of many. I do not see a magazine for the Enfield. Perhaps they mistook the Enfield magazine for a .50 cal magazine.

[marktwain]

Here are some pictures of the recent, small armes cache found in Mexico.

Your expertise is always welcome.

[Farmer Dean]

I see an RPK there.I always wanted one.

[going hot]

These guys probably do a lot of scuba diving in ponds and such.

[rktman]

Looks like a Barret 50 on the bi-pod. I’ve read that they can actually shoot down the space station and sink super tankers from 20 miles away with a single ketchup bottle sized bullet. :>} Besides, how is this find even possible since we all know that nobody has guns in meh-eek-O due to their strict gun laws. Sure it wasn’t a tea-party cache near the Bundy ranch?

[marktwain]

Probably a semi-auto RPK clone. There were a fair number imported into the U.S.

[marktwain]

It is an Armalite AR-50, a single shot bolt action .50 caliber rifle.

[marktwain]

It is an Armalite AR-50, a single shot bolt action .50 caliber rifle.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

There’s plenty of them around if you look too, but be ready to shell out well over $2,000 for one.

[Farmer Dean]

It seems to have the plum colored stock and handguards,the Russian RPK’s typically have those.

[rktman]

Thanks Dean. At least I got the .50 part right. Still, those ketchup bottle sized bullets...............:>}

[marktwain]

That makes me even more perturbed at Bush the Elder. I had an order in for a semi-auto RPK, with mags, bi-pod, and drum, cash in advance, when he put out the executive order blocking their import the first time, I think it was back in the late ‘80s.

[marktwain]

Maybe the RPK is Russian. Thanks for the info. Most Chinese or Romanian ones that I have seen pictures of have blond wood, as I recall.

[Bucky14]

What the heck happened to that Enfield? Must have sporterized it. And the stock is all messed up as well.

I have a 1918 Enfield MkIII. Love it. Can drill tacks with it still. Just a wonderful piece of British precision.

[ScottinVA]

The “Tunnel of Love,” right Jeb?

[marktwain]

Huge numbers of Enfields were “sporterized” to some degree or another. Often, the point of impact is changed when the forward furniture is removed. YMMV.

I saw a sporterized Enfield no. 1 MK IV the other day. Someone had cut off the battlefield zero sight and installed a scope mount (not a bad idea, when you chop down the stock.) I always like their peep sights.

I could not ID the scope mounting system though, It was not a Weaver rail on top. Maybe an 11 mm?

[Bucky14]

breaks my heart when I see them sporterized. Not sure about that scope either.

[Lazamataz]

So Operation Gunwalker resumed, since no one took any jail time for the first operation.

Not surprising. The news is when Obama *FOLLOWS* a law.

[Lazamataz]

That makes me even more perturbed at Bush the Elder. I had an order in for a semi-auto RPK, with mags, bi-pod, and drum, cash in advance, when he put out the executive order blocking their import the first time, I think it was back in the late ‘80s.

Establishment Republicans are every bit as anti-gun as Democrats.

Someday in the next few years, the REPUBLICANS will be the ones to ban guns. Mark my words.

[buffaloguy]

Small collection in Texas.

Meh.......