US Ambassador to Hungary goes to the range
The US Ambassador to Hungary, Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis, recently attended a joint training session with the Hungarian Afghanistan OMLT (Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team) unit and the Ohio National Guard. She tried all of the available firearms including the AK-63F (Hungarian AKM), PKM machine gun, Glock 17, M4, and the Szep Sniper Rifle. Judging by the video, she seemed to be having a genuinely good time.
I had never seen or heard of the Szep Sniper Rifle before I saw the above photo of the Ambassador using it. The rifle was manufactured by Sero Ltd. It is similar in design to he Gepárd M1 line of anti-material rifles, having been designed by Ferenc Szép who participated in the development of the M1. It is used by the Hungarian Army and police.
[ Many thanks to Gabor ( http://www.kaliber.hu ) for emailing me the information. ]
“When did Hungary recruit Bigfoot?”-my wife on seeing this.
“Tahoeon 17 Apr 2011 at 9:37 am link comment
Geez, are you guys kidding, going on and on with the eyepro stuff? I don’t remember ever using eyepro on a military range before 10 years ago or so.”
Hey, Tahoeon, we only have two eyes and they have to last. Eye protection is a sound idea. Same goes for those that use casings as ear protection. That’s bad in any form you want to consider it. Use proper protection at all times. Rambo is only a movie. When I take newbies to the range I don’t let anybody shoot without proper eye and ears protection and I don’t care who thinks I’m kidding cause I’m not.
I know this is an apolitical gun blog, but as a Dem I just want to double underline for all you guys that this lady is a California Democrat and an Obama appointee. She’s not a reg shooter, but she looks pretty comfortable behind a gun (and pretty cute), too. A minority of us are what the NRA would call “anti-gun,” so feel free to ignore the scaremongering and come on over in 2012.
I don’t know if they still do it, but diplomatic staff assigned overseas used to go through a brief OPFOR weapons course. I remember an article covering this training where they mentioned that Ambassador Shirley Temple-Black had gone through the course. Pity the pirates that try to storm the Good Ship Lollipop.
It’s refreshing to see a politician actually shooting guns and enjoying herself.
Jamie, that us what I first thought, but I don’t think she would be considered a politician, she would be a diplomat who serves politicians.
Damn that guy is huge, the result of some Soviet-era super soldier program?
Good for the ambassador. Seems like a good time.
Well a pantsuit is a versatile outfit, demonstrably shown here with the ambassador shooting various weapons in it. Would have looked pretty silly if she did it in a skirt and blouse.
Geez, are you guys kidding, going on and on with the eyepro stuff? I don’t remember ever using eyepro on a military range before 10 years ago or so.
More photos and a video of her shooting here:
http://www.honvedelem.hu/cikk/25327/megtapsoltak-a-katonak-az-egyesult-allamok-nagykovetet
Also, it looks like she is indeed a very short woman.
“Goliath” is that huge. Looks at the size of his hands. He could easily cover the lady’s entire face with an outstretched palm.
Surprisingly good form on the AK. Her handgun grip could use a little work, but pretty good assuming it’s her first time.
brilliant made my day.
In the second picture there’s a bald guy with an earpiece who looks pissed. State Dept. Security?
I checked her bio. Hardcore Dem, business background with her Dad’s company, big $$$ contributor to the Dems. Obama appointed her to the position in 2010. Grew up in NoCal. Doesn’t seem to fit the gun nut stereotype but definitely not scared of those weapons. Think the “Boss” is happy with these pics?
Ok. Is it me or is that the only expression secret service guys ever have?(2nd pic)
Shorty
No safety glasses in the Glock pic. She’s doing a “tactical squint” that deflects debris with the eyelashes.
Nope, I sit corrected. That AK is in full recoil, the spent case is still flying high. The probably explains her head position. As I said, good on ‘er.
Cheers – Rusty
I see the M-4s she shot are with the ANG unit with the Hungarians. I like the AKM copy the FEGs are some of the best in the world. I like it has a AK gas holes in the tubes while has all the other features AKM style.
Not Surprised not many east European countries did NOT dump AKs in original Soviet calibers.
What caliber is there sniper rifle? NATO or 54R?
The punks let her shoot the Glock without eye protection.
Hmmmm, yeah, tell me more about that Szep. Like, where can I get one, and how much?
We need some captions on these.
“Oh, you’re NOT going to give me diplomatic immunity? Well say ‘ello to my lil’ friend!”
“War is an extension of diplomacy. Consider THIS,” *BLAM* “your extension!”
I like how the range officer sticks his fingers in his ears. Are they that bupkus that they can’t get $0.25 earplugs let along some ‘muffs? Or did they give their only pair to her?
That’s one of the coolest ambassadors I’ve seen. Looks like she knows what she’s doing.
she actually looks pretty comfortable behind a firearm which cannot be said about all politicians
She needs some eye pro shooting that Glock. Good for her, though. And either she’s a midget (judging from the first photo with the Hungarians in the background), and the guy she’s talking to is normal sized, or, more likely, the guy talking to her in the first pic is a monster. He looks like Lurch in cammies.
She’s got a good noseweld on that AK.
Clearly the press office has a flair for the dramatic, throwing that gigantor soldier in there to impress the American. Either that, or the rest of them in the background are Munchkins.
I like the looks of that Szep; is that S&B glass?
The Szep looks like a bullpup bolt action gun. Speaking of, that magazine is huge and looks like it’d be big enough for .338 Lapua Mag. Also in the background is the M4 with an Acog.
This guy in the first picture seems like a giant!
She does look rather comfortable firing with the Szep rifle.
Left eye dominant on the AK-47 I see. Also, note the rarely used ‘nose welded to the stock’ technique. Hats off to her though, she seemed to have enjoyed herself. Good on ‘er.
Cheers- Rusty
She looks nice when prone.
I see she is rocking the requisite U.S. State Department’s Women’s Uniform, the almighty pants-suit. She wears it well though, good job. Weight a little more forward on that AK, and she could be an action movie extra. Maybe even co-star or stunt double.
Goliath really has to crane his neck to see the little ambassador. Damn that guy’s enormous!
First pic needs to be retitled “Ambassador with giant”
Ok, she seems relatively average sized, so she appears to be standing next to some sort of mutant giant in the first picture. Then again, at 6’4″ and a foot taller than my girlfriend, I probably don’t get much right to talk.