The gun authorities say was used to assassinate Charlie Kirk was a Mauser 98, a common bolt-action rifle typically used for hunting.

The gun is a popular rifle used to hunt bigger game and has a markedly different design and function than the modern semiautomatic assault rifles that have made headlines in high-profile mass shootings. The hunting rifle, which had a heavier .30-06 caliber, dates back decades as German-made military surplus with millions produced and resold in the United States, experts told USA TODAY.

Authorities say the shooter used a rifle with a mounted scope to strike Kirk in the neck. The shooter may have been less than 150 yards from Kirk, according to a USA TODAY analysis of satellite imagery.

“It’s an easy shot for someone even with minimal training,” said Scott Sweetow, a firearms expert and a retired senior official in the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Mauser 98 doesn't require an expert to be accurate at that range, according to Brandon Webb, a former Navy SEALs head sniper instructor and editor at the military lifestyle outlet SOFREP.

“This shows basic competence, but not the kind of accuracy you’d expect from a trained sniper,” Webb said in an email.

Bolt-action rifles, prized for reliability, require the operator to pull the trigger for one round before manually chambering another round. Near the scene of the shooting, officials recovered the weapon with one spent cartridge in the chamber and three unfired bullets etched with meme-influenced messages.

The rifle used in the shooting appears to have a modified shorter barrel for a .30-06 caliber, Sweetow said, citing photos he had seen of the rifle and its markings.

Who is the suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination?

Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of shooting the 31-year-old conservative influencer on Sept. 10 with a single shot as Kirk spoke in front of a crowd at Utah Valley University. Authorities said Robinson, perched atop a roof.

While details are still forthcoming about Robinson’s background and motive, both of his parents have Utah hunting licenses. Some family social media posts show Robinson handling weapons as a child, including during a “camping, hiking and shooting trip.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What we know about the gun used in the Charlie Kirk assassination

Reporting by Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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