By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
If you could stomach it, you might have seen that Hillary Clinton, the 2016 despotic candidate for president mentioned firearms in her acceptance speech, but you can guess how that musical went: registration, confiscation and murder.
Hershel Smith has a fascinating discussion on precision shooting, comparing the bolt action rifle to the semiautomatic rifle, and how each are used in precision, actual tactical encounters. Don't forget to read the comments, which are most helpful in gaining perspective on the discussion.
I read on a patriot blog some time ago that every shooter should own a bolt action rifle, a semiautomatic rifle and a handgun. The bolt action was said to be the most important because very few moving parts on a bolt action can break, whereas semiautomatics are more complicated. In a situation where civil order breaks down, a bolt action rifle, in the bore size of .308, will continue the fight since those rifles are more likely to be used as sniper platforms.
As a personal matter I prefer the AK, but not because it is exceptionally accurate, or that it can be accurized; I have seen demonstrations by AK owners who say a heavy AK can accurately hit targets out to 500 meters over open sights. I prefer the AK because I am comfortable with the system and with the iron sights. It seems to me that in a kinetic situation, in which I need to hit a target out to 400 meters, three shots rapidly fired are all I need from a hidden position. Then the need to reposition arises. The AR is much more accurate, it is said, so perhaps fewer rounds could be fired at your target, but only two fewer.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mostly steady. Prices for rifle ammunition were steady across the board.
Prices for used pistols were mixed. Prices for used rifles were mixed.
New Lows:
None
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Mart, Buffalo Cartridge, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round (From Last week: -.02 Each)
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: -.02 Each After Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Mart, Buffalo Cartridge, FSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Mart, Legendary, FSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .15 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (1Q, 2016))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Lucky Gunner, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Hotshot, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Hotshot, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .35 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, Steel Casing, FMJ, .31 per round (From Last Week: -.03 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .23 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (2Q, 2016))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds (10 Box Limit): Ammomen, Federal, RNL, .07 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds (2 Box Limit): Natchez Shooters Supplies, Winchester, RNL, .06 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2Q, 2016))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $535 Last Week Avg: $551(+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $476 (42 Weeks))
California (206, 208): Palmetto State Armory: $550 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (47 Weeks))
Texas (225, 240): DPMS: $500 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (147, 151): Delton: $575 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (155, 151): American Tactical Imports: $550 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $475 (11 Weeks))
Florida (353, 351): Anderson Manufacturing: $500 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,060 Last Week Avg: $990(+) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (43 Weeks))
California (50, 51): Palmetto State Arms: $1,100 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (80, 74): DPMS LR308: $1,000 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (2 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (40, 35): DPMS SASS: $1,000 ($1,500 (1Q, 2015), $700 (44 Weeks))
Virginia (38, 41): DPMS: $1,000 ($2,750 (28 Weeks), $800 (39 Weeks))
Florida (63, 60): DPMS: $1,200 ($1,950 (13 Weeks), $500 (42 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $614 Last Week Avg: $686 (-) ($668 (2 Weeks)), $450 (3Q, 2015))
California (28, 28): Lancaster: $760 ($800 (8 Weeks)), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (57, 54): WASR: $700 ($800 (29 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (45, 51): CAI VZ2008: $500 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (31, 32): IO: $500 ($700 (10 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (78, 80): Noveske: $610 ($700 (22 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $408 Last Week Avg: $364 (+) ($489 (1Q, 2015), $296 (3Q, 2015))
California (6, 11): Winchester Model 94: $550 ($600 (20 Weeks), $180 (2Q, 2015))
Texas (25, 17): Winchester Model 94: $350 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (13, 15): Winchester Model 94: $300 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (11, 11): Marlin 336: $425 ($670 (12 Weeks)), $250 (34 Weeks))
Florida (19, 21): Marlin 336W: $419 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $429 Last Week Avg: $420(+) ($510 (17 Weeks)), $350 (39 Weeks))
California (188, 183): Rock Island Armory: $400 ($750 (7 Weeks), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (213, 211): Llama: $400 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (49 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (168, 170): Springfield: $499 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (137, 125): Tisas: $400 ($575 (26 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (273, 294): Taurus PT 1911: $450 ($500 (25 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $276 Last Week Avg: $265 (+) ($358 (23 Weeks), $245 (15 Weeks))
California (216, 220): Springfield XD9 : $430 ($500 (22 Weeks), $200 (38 Weeks))
Texas (292, 283): Taurus PT111: $250 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (47 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (251, 248): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $260 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (231, 234): Sccy CPX2 : $220 ($425 (30 Weeks), $189 (17 Weeks))
Florida (486, 488): Sccy CPX2: $220 ($400 (19 Weeks), $200 (8 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $310 Last Week Avg: $320(-) ($399 (26 Weeks), $262 (7 Weeks))
California (92, 100): Smith & Wesson: $400 ($560 (29 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (139, 126): Smith & Wesson SW40VE: $280 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $250 (33 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (71, 76): Smith & Wesson SW40VE: $275 ($450 (16 Weeks), $225 (8 Weeks))
Virginia (57, 63): Smith & Wesson SD9: $319 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (149, 143): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $280 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (26 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Texas)
Valmet M71 Chambered in 5.56mm