"High powered" rifles

[rimfire78]

Every time some sick pile goes on a shooting spree, the media pulls out their usual playbook of lies and misrepresentations. And the one that always gets me is "high powered" rifle. They throw this term around like a ping pong ball. I'd like someone to tell me what the hell constitutes a high powered rifle ffs?

[CessnaDriver]

Capable of penetrating body armour!

[russ69]

In NRA competitive talk, it's any centerfire rifle, i.e. not a 22LR or smallbore rifle.

[Jimi Jah]

I've never heard of a low powered rifle, have you?

[71MUSTY]

But everyone knows

"Using a BumpStock increases the firepower of a rifle making it a high powered rifle"

Just like using a steal-pack muffler makes a highpower Honda.

[otterpop]

Any AR used; the media labels as High Power, and I think it is based on NRA regs for competition. Most of us, especially those of us who hunt and reload, know a little about what physics (ft lbs. of force) specs we use in reloading manuals and thus realize in terms of center fire rifle cartridges the .223 is one of the smallest (least powerful)...aside from maybe a half a dozen smaller center fire rounds....221 fireball, .22 hornet, ? The smallest I reload for is .222 Rem.

Largest is .338 Win Mag.

Myself; I think the .375 H&H might be high powered.

[Barang]

according to the media, high power handguns and high power rifles if used in mass shooting or not.

Don't forget the high power bb's and nerf guns too!

[A-J]

it could always be worse. Check out this video:

[Fastattack]

Yeah, I hear ya OP. The media exaggerates everything that creates good reading, causes tension or controversy, and/or benefits their narrative.

I get the NRA formal definition for competition rules, but I seriously doubt the media uses that as a guide. The term high-power is subjective in this sense, and despite what the media labels it, I wouldn't personally consider a 308 or 223 'high-power'. A 7mm Rem Mag or 338 Lapua or above - yes. Just my opinion.

[russ69]

I've never heard of a low powered rifle, have you?

As a matter of fact yes. Our club runs NRA highpower matches every month but some guys wanted to shoot a simulated match on our indoor range, so we came up with Lowpower matches. Same course of fire as The National Match Highpower course but with 22LR at 50 feet. One stage standing, one rapid sitting, one rapid prone, and 20 shots prone slow fire.

[.40Cal]

But everyone knows

"Using a BumpStock increases the firepower of a rifle making it a high powered rifle"

Just like using a steal-pack muffler makes a highpower Honda.

That's true!! But you forgot to mention the Wing (rear spoiler) on a Civic.

One day I was in my Corvette, and Civic pulls up next to me (young guy with 2 girls) revving his engine. Light goes Green he jumps on the gas till the next light. When I catch up to him, I wave and smile; then I ask him - "that's a huge wing you have, does it make your car go faster"? He goes "hell yeah"...and continues revving the "high pow-verd muffer" LOL. Light turns Green, he jumps on the gas again - but this time he's in my rearview mirror for a second till I don't see him anymore...

[Rodell]

Only the military has such things, and they are often mounted on battleships.

[Jimmy's]

Anything above a pellet rifle.

[Jimi Jah]

As a matter of fact yes. Our club runs NRA highpower matches every month but some guys wanted to shoot a simulated match on our indoor range, so we came up with Lowpower matches. Same course of fire as The National Match Highpower course but with 22LR at 50 feet. One stage standing, one rapid sitting, one rapid prone, and 20 shots prone slow fire.

I tried an Aguila super colibri out of my rifle, it wouldn't cycle. Somehow the term "low power rifle" doesn't seem very attractive to most shooters.

Some of their ammo will do 1750 fps, that also could be considered high power.

[maxwellca21]

high powered rifle = my p3nis