Zodiackillersite.com

And the funny (for lack of a better word) thing is, the .22 ended up killing his victims while the 9mm left one alive. It's all hit or miss...so-to-speak.

When it comes to a common, more readily available hangun...look to the .22.

Thanks for the replies - at least it seems to clarify that it's not necessarily a worse choice to opt for the .22
However it still highlights that his choice of weapon for LHR and BRS matches the way things went down - flashlight and low-recoil weapon for shooting a moving target in the dark, versus a bit more power for a spray-and-pray attack on seated targets that are slightly protected by door frames, car seats, seat belts etc. I wonder why he abandoned the flashlight idea that he was so proud of?

Zodiac left his headlights on as he drove up behind Darlene's car so he probably did not need the flashlight. Mike talks about being blinded a bit by the headlights which made it hard for him to get a good description of the killer.

And he didn't completely abandon the flashlight. He used one at BRS for a different approach. Did he abandon guns because of his LB approach? No he used one in his next murder. He was exploring, adapting, it wasn't all about avoiding capture, IMHO, as cold and cruel as it seems I believe he was spicing things up a bit for himself. He was playing with the experience and playing with his prey, he actually was starting to enjoy this 'killing business' but he had to balance exactly how he chose to do it with, not getting caught, and with his own recon.

In some ways I don't wonder if he wasn't a reluctant killer. "I like killing people" possibly he was surprising himself? Surprised that this was fun. I think he thought the thrill would come from the power of fear once he started his media campaign and the control that, that would bring. And just to be sure, he was trying different things, a way of exploring if it was fun.

Maybe he decided it was, and I wonder if he was conscious of that, the lack of control that could come with that. The inevitability of capture that would come with going down that route. Is that why he stopped? Did he really have that level of control and awareness of his own compulsions? Did he stop before the thrill took over?

Uncanny.

What is? lol. Well his timings, the peripheral circumstances, the witnesses. How does he manage to exist like such a phantom in all of these things? Well, I would suggest prior knowledge. Like what? Well .... how about using the same type of weapon as the hunters that night? Did he know they would be there and with those weapons? did he know people would be out checking pipelines? I think he hid amongst everyday life. Look at PH, he commits a murder in the same area as recent cabbie robberies. I think he studied areas and regions and recent crimes to allow himself to hide and yet still claim responsibility. It's safe because no one knows who he is but it's human nature to look for similarities so LE waste time investigating every little similarity. DId he know the hunters would be there? Maybe that's what we should be asking? Did he even know Jim Owen would pass by there?

Not to mention LB. Did he happen upon them or did he eavesdrop and follow them? Did he check out the wrong area first? did he ask for directions? (you know what I'm referring to). Even at BRS the driving in then driving out, then back again for the kill. DId he overhear a convo that kids would be there, bottle it as they left in the pick up truck, then go back, see the lone car, leave, then decide, go for it?

I think he planned, as best he could, to attack in a tight window. Like a phantom, red with rage.

I bet he sat in social places, like a bar and listened to conversations nearby and then followed people or planned something based on what he heard. He was integrating himself into other people's live's just to accomplish the kill. Clever boy.

Just my thoughts on it but if it were me, I would think that rather clever. You hide in the normal so at the end, you really are a phantom, an aberration, integrated into normal timelines. In control of all things, even his own desires?