The smell of gunpowder

[John Corbett]

AI Overview
Yes, an AR-15 (likely an early Colt Model 601 or 602) fired 6 times in 1963 would produce a distinct and likely strong, pungent, or acrid odor to anyone nearby.
While modern, high-quality ammunition is relatively clean, several factors in 1963 would make the scent intense.
Why It Would Smell Strongly in 1963
Lubricant Burn-off: Early AR-15s were often heavily treated with packing grease and, when in use, required generous lubrication (like LSA). Firing 6 rounds would heat the rifle, burning off this oil and grease, which creates a very pungent, hot oil smell.
Acrid Gunpowder: Early .223 ammunition utilized specific nitrocellulose propellants that produce a sharp, acrid odor (sometimes described as sulfurous) when burning.
Direct Impingement System: Because the AR-15 directs gases back into the action/bolt carrier group, that burnt powder smell and oil vapors are released near the shooter's face/upper body, making the smell more noticeable than in traditional rifles.
Factory Residue/Grease: New rifles in that era often arrived with thick, pasty protective grease designed for long-term storage, which "smokes" or smells intensely when first fired.

Contextual Factors
Ammonia Smell: Some early or slightly degraded ammunition from that era might produce a strong ammonia scent, especially if moisture was present in the powder, which can happen if the gun is fired shortly after removal from storage.
The "Burning Oil" Factor: If the weapon was heavily lubricated with CLP or LSA (common for military testing), the smell would be quite pungent, similar to "burnt oil + burning engine paint" or a "machine shop".

In summary, 6 shots of early 1960s ammo would be enough to create a distinct, pungent aroma that would linger in the immediate area.

Do you think the GK shooter fired 6 rounds?

[Marjan Rynkiewicz]

Do you think the GK shooter fired 6 rounds?

I know that SSA Hickey fired at least 4 shots, the last being the headshot at Z312.

[John Corbett]

I know that SSA Hickey fired at least 4 shots, the last being the headshot at Z312.

Thank you for that fringe take on the assassination.

[Michael T. Griffith]

You said, "... smelled gunpowder as they were GOING PASSED the GK". The wind would Not permit a "drifting" gunpowder odor from the TSBD to the GK.

Correct. There is no way that the gunpowder drifted/traveled from the alleged sniper's nest to the grassy knoll area. Plus, several witnesses saw gun smoke above the fence on the grassy knoll, and a puff of this smoke is seen on the Wiegman film.

The two explanations offered to explain the apparent gun smoke in the Wiegman film are (1) motorcycle exhaust fumes and (2) smoke from the steam pipe in the railyard behind the knoll. Neither arguments works. No motorcycle exhaust fumes are seen on any film of the assassination, and the steam pipe was a good 100 feet away from the area seen on the Wiegman film.

Let us consider the witnesses who smelled gunpowder on or near the knoll:

Senator Ralph Yarborough rode in the second car behind the presidential limousine. He smelled gunpowder while on the street and said it clung to the car throughout the frantic drive to Parkland Hospital.

Elizabeth Cabell, the wife of Dallas mayor Earle Cabell, was in the fourth car behind JFK’s limousine. She said she “was acutely aware of the odor of gunpowder.” She added that Congressman Ray Roberts, seated next to her, mentioned that he smelled gunpowder.

Press photographer Tom C. Dillard, six cars behind JFK’s limo, said he “very definitely smelled gunpowder when the cars moved up to the corner” of Elm and Houston Streets.

Patrolman Billy Martin, riding just behind JFK’s limousine, said, “You could smell the gunpowder,” and that because of this he knew the gunman “wasn’t far away,” adding, “when you’re that close, you can smell the powder burning.”

DPD officer Joe Smith smelled gunpowder on/near the grassy knoll.

Journalist David Grant said that seconds after the motorcade sped from the plaza, “the area still reeked with the smell of gunpowder.”

Smith and Yarborough were war veterans, so they knew what gunpowder smelled like. Gunpowder has a very pungent, distinct odor.

The HSCA's acoustical scientists determined that the grassy knoll shot was fired from a location behind the knoll's picket fence that was near the area where several witnesses saw puffs of gun smoke on the knoll. Now that is one whopping, staggering coincidence, unless one is willing to believe that the HSCA acoustical experts rigged their analysis in order to place the grassy knoll shot in that location.

I discuss the gunpowder and gun smoke evidence at length in A Comforting Lie: The Myth That a Lone Gunman Killed President Kennedy (pp. 157-159).

[John Corbett]

Correct. There is no way that the gunpowder drifted/traveled from the alleged sniper's nest to the grassy knoll area. Plus, several witnesses saw gun smoke above the fence on the grassy knoll, and a puff of this smoke is seen on the Wiegman film.

The two explanations offered to explain the apparent gun smoke in the Wiegman film are (1) motorcycle exhaust fumes and (2) smoke from the steam pipe in the railyard behind the knoll. Neither arguments works. No motorcycle exhaust fumes are seen on any film of the assassination, and the steam pipe was a good 100 feet away from the area seen on the Wiegman film.

Let us consider the witnesses who smelled gunpowder on or near the knoll:

Senator Ralph Yarborough rode in the second car behind the presidential limousine. He smelled gunpowder while on the street and said it clung to the car throughout the frantic drive to Parkland Hospital.

Elizabeth Cabell, the wife of Dallas mayor Earle Cabell, was in the fourth car behind JFK’s limousine. She said she “was acutely aware of the odor of gunpowder.” She added that Congressman Ray Roberts, seated next to her, mentioned that he smelled gunpowder.

Press photographer Tom C. Dillard, six cars behind JFK’s limo, said he “very definitely smelled gunpowder when the cars moved up to the corner” of Elm and Houston Streets.

Patrolman Billy Martin, riding just behind JFK’s limousine, said, “You could smell the gunpowder,” and that because of this he knew the gunman “wasn’t far away,” adding, “when you’re that close, you can smell the powder burning.”

DPD officer Joe Smith smelled gunpowder on/near the grassy knoll.

Journalist David Grant said that seconds after the motorcade sped from the plaza, “the area still reeked with the smell of gunpowder.”

Smith and Yarborough were war veterans, so they knew what gunpowder smelled like. Gunpowder has a very pungent, distinct odor.

The HSCA's acoustical scientists determined that the grassy knoll shot was fired from a location behind the knoll's picket fence that was near the area where several witnesses saw puffs of gun smoke on the knoll. Now that is one whopping, staggering coincidence, unless one is willing to believe that the HSCA acoustical experts rigged their analysis in order to place the grassy knoll shot in that location.

I discuss the gunpowder and gun smoke evidence at length in A Comforting Lie: The Myth That a Lone Gunman Killed President Kennedy (pp. 157-159).

So you believe the gunpowder residue could be smelled all the way to Parkland but the residue could not have drifted down onto Elm St. from the sniper's nest.

Strange.

[Michael T. Griffith]

So you believe the gunpowder residue could be smelled all the way to Parkland but the residue could not have drifted down onto Elm St. from the sniper's nest. Strange.

No, it is not strange at all that gunpowder residue sticks to objects and can be smelled for quite some time on those objects. Ask anyone who has any experience with guns. When I fired at Army rifle ranges during my 21-year Army career, my hands and sleeves would end up smelling like gunpowder, which is why I always washed my hands and laundered my BDU uniform shirts after firing.

Several of the gunpowder witnesses smelled the pungent scent of gunpowder just seconds after the shots rang out. There is no way on this planet that gunpowder could have "drifted" that quickly to the knoll area from 60 feet up and from at least 180 feet away. In addition, the wind was blowing from the south, toward the TSBD, not toward the knoll.

BTW, it is interesting that not one of the many police officers who were on the TSBD's sixth floor after the shooting reported smelling gunpowder near the alleged Oswald window or anywhere else on the floor.