<i>“You could surmise that [the parts] are coming from the US, since most of the weapons that come down here illegally are from the US,”</i><p>Perhaps, since the largest US source is M16s (and maybe M4s now) donated to the Mexican government and then stolen (second is Communist bloc stuff bought on the open market, it's much less expensive than making your own like this). There's not much utility in tracing any of these guns, except of course to propagandize for gun control in the US (see Fast and Furious for the most egregious example).<p>Which makes me wonder why this cartel felt a need to make their own AR-15s or M16s (the article didn't mention if these were 3 round burst or full auto, did it)? If they can get their hands on rocket propelled grenades....<p>Then again, this whole expose might be a lie (again, see Fast and Furious).
Wow, an additional gem of an unnerving punchline (at least for me) is close to the end of the article:<p><i>"(...) That’s why Mexican cartels are building citywide CCTV networks[1], forcing kidnapped engineers to build secret radio networks[2], and shipping stolen iron ore to China in exchange for bulk meth precursor chemicals[3]. It’s not a question of whether cartels beyond Jalisco can’t get their hands on computerized mills to make their own guns, but how far up they’re willing to scale."</i><p><i>[1]: <a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/cartel-cctv" rel="nofollow">http://motherboard.vice.com/read/cartel-cctv</a> </i><p><i>[2]: <a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/radio-silence" rel="nofollow">http://motherboard.vice.com/read/radio-silence</a> </i><p><i>[3]: <a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/inside-the-cartels-global-meth-ring-from-guangdong-to-gulfport" rel="nofollow">http://motherboard.vice.com/read/inside-the-cartels-global-m...</a> </i>
Filing serial number off is generally unsuccessful as a means of rendering a firearm untraceable. Law enforcement can use a variety of methods to reveal the serial number due to the changes that the original stamping makes in the metal underneath the actual surface impression. While in theory using an impact tool or a milling type tool could work to remove the underlying metal there is a risk that the integrity of the part (in this case the lower receiver) could be compromised.<p>I would take exception to the author's statement that the lower receiver is the primary firing mechanism. While it does contain the trigger and sear the upper receiver contains the full bolt assembly, firing pin, and gas system (or piston if you feel like getting fancy).<p>My biggest question is that if they are creating lowers from billet and other parts as well, why they just don't equip these weapons with auto sears and make them full auto. Go big or go home, right?
What are the differences between an M-16 LR and an AR-15 LR? Is there anything that's keeping them from manufacturing select-fire M-16 LRs? Are the other parts of an AR-15 (e.g. barrel, stock, UR) incompatible with an M-16 LR? I don't understand why they would machine semi-auto AR-15 LRs if they have all the tools necessary to build their full-auto/burst counterparts.
Another similar gunsmithing story from Vice.<p><a href="http://www.vice.com/video/the-gun-markets-of-pakistan" rel="nofollow">http://www.vice.com/video/the-gun-markets-of-pakistan</a>
How bizarre. Brand new M16 lowers are like $75 retail. I can't imagine the motive for making them, unless they're just hobbyists who happen to be drug lords.