By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Housekeeping note: California's firearms market has been destroyed by state level legislation, all with the stroke of a pen and with the full assent of state and federal courts, all without the minimum standard for passing laws: consent of the governed.
Because of that this column will no longer monitor firearms prices in California. At the start of the year, I will shift to monitoring Arizona, since the left has taken over the firearms markets of all three west coast states.
The word is that the ruling political class in California is closing in for the kill: a total ban on all semiautomatic guns.
There is good news. A trip to the rifle range in 36F weather was successful, relatively speaking. 360 rounds of 5.45x39 fired. One jam. In case you didn't read about the last time, I had four jams, all of which I attributed to marginal ammunition.. It could be better, but I'll take the improvement any day.
This time I practiced for the first time using a chest rig to switch magazines, at least for the first 6 magazines fired. I understand its utility in allowing the shooter to carry extra rounds and to allow the rifleman the time to reload. This new gear will take to getting used to. Instead of sitting at a bench rest to fire, changing firing positions from standing to crouched.
Firearms trainer James Yaeger has come under fire for his training practices. This video which has been distributed on Facebook shows one element of his fighting pistol class.
Yaeger has a different style in his training practices. His explanation for the activity shown in the video is that in a shooting situation, you will be forced to deal with others around you when you draw to fire. One individual in one of the Facebook gun groups I follow said (paraphrasing): This may work for the high testosterone crowd Yaeger trains, but it won't work for everyone else.
Finally, a bit of firearms history.
Loads
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mostly steady. Prices for rifle ammunition were mostly steady.
Prices for used pistols were mixed. Prices for used rifles were mostly higher.
New Lows:
None. It should be noted here that last week I missed a new low in Virginia for AR-15 rifles.
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2016)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (8 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Mart, Legendary, FSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Mart, Legendary, FSFP, Brass Casing, reloads, .21 per round (From Last Week: +.02 Each
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Mart, Legendary, FSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .15 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel casing, .25 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo King, Wolf, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo King, Wolf, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (6 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .34 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .34 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo King, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds (10 Box Limit): Ammomen, Federal, RNL, .06 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 325 rounds: Ammomen Federal, RNL, .06 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $510 Last Week Avg: $483(+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $468 (3 Weeks))
California (271, 347): Mixed Build: $600 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (2Q, 2016))
Texas (313, 313): DPMS: $500 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (160, 168): Olympic Arms: $500 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (195, 218): Anderson Arms: $500 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $415 (2 Weeks))
Florida (445, 425): American Tactical Imports: $450 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,110 Last Week Avg: $1,050(+) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (3Q, 2015))
California (82, 98): DPMS: $1,500 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (96, 89): Bushmaster: $1,050 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (21 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (36, 37): Armalite: $1,300 ($1,600 (6 Weeks), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (49, 44): DPMS: $900 ($2,750 (48 Weeks), $800 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (81, 91): DPMS: $800 ($1,950 (34 Weeks), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $596 Last Week Avg: $573(+) ($668 (24 Weeks)), $450 (3Q, 2015))
California (58, 85): Romak WASR: $600 ($800 (29 Weeks)), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (71, 74): Zastava N-PAP: $550 ($800 (49 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (37, 48): Hungarian AMD 65: $580 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (53, 53): CAI: $650 ($700 (29 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (113, 110): CAI: $600 ($700 (42 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $337 Last Week Avg: $350(-) ($495 (11 Weeks), $296 (3Q, 2015))
California (0, 0): None Available: $0 ($1,000 (5 Weeks), $180 (2Q, 2015))
Texas (15, 15): Marlin: $300 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (13, 13): Winchester 94: $300 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (15, 14): Mossberg 468 SPX: $350 ($670 (32 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (16, 18): Winchester 94: $400 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $505 Last Week Avg: $432(+) ($515 (20 Weeks)), $350 (4Q, 2015))
California (220, 231): Springfield $875 ($875 (CA: $800 (19 Weeks)), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (248, 245): Rock Island Armory: $425 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $300 (3 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (147, 155): Rock Island Armory: $350 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (150, 151): Springfield: $450 ($575 (47 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (352, 366): Rock Island Armory: $425 ($500 (46 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $245 Last Week Avg: $267(-) ($358 (43 Weeks), $245 (35 Weeks))
California (235, 231): Springfield XD9: $400 ($500 (42 Weeks), $200 (4Q, 2015))
Texas (351, 346): Springfield XD-S: $210 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (284, 280): Sccy CPX-2: $200 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (252, 252): Ruger LC9: $200 ($425 (51 Weeks), $189 (38 Weeks))
Florida (576, 603): EAA M88: $215 ($400 (40 Weeks), $190 (20 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $315 Last Week Avg: $325(-) ($399 (48 Weeks), $262 (28 Weeks))
California (96, 82): Glock 27: $400 ($560 (50 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (110, 109): Smith & Wesson SW40VE: $275 ($425 (4Q, 2014), ($210 (13 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (94, 95): Smith & Wesson Shield 40: $300 ($450 (36 Weeks), $200 (16 Weeks))
Virginia (81, 82): Smith & Wesson M&P40: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (138, 148): Smith & Wesson: $300 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (Florida)
Uberti Roy Rogers .45 Commemorative Chambered in .45 ACP