By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
A few weeks ago Samuel J Culper's rant was posted in the Western Rifle Shooters Association blog. It was about misconceptions in the event of a hot civil war in the U.S. Among his contentions were that domestic enemies could cause of a lot of havoc once armed, and the fact that they don't seemed to interested in firearms at the moment doesn't mean they won't be. You should read the whole thing, a profanity-laced reminder that some people don't belong in marketing, even if it is for firearms training.
One reader remarked:
You could hand out guns to that mob wholesale, and all you’d get would be an armed mob, instead of a largely unarmed one.
There wouldn’t be any fair fighting; they’d be taking casualties from blocks away, from “rooftop Koreans” using semi-autos and bolt guns, behind cover and concealment, and at fit distances for men to shoot.
That armed mob would become a target-rich impact area, and scatter to the four winds after a volley. They wouldn’t be doing any infiltration, house to house, reduction of strongpoints, etc.
They’ll be unassing the area at the speed of Nike tennis shoes, and trying to find their car keys, or flag down Uber to GTFO of Dodge.
It will be known as the Battle of Who Run.
A lot of them would still be laying in the street the next morning, and then the shit would really hit the fan.
The survivors would be rounded up like rabbits, and run to ground from hedge to hillside, after the hue and cry went up on local police nets, and fare about as well as the Children’s Crusade.
I'd say that would go for both sides. I can see casualties for both sides in the early going easily rising to 75-90 percent, even with tactical training. One side may have military training and additional tactical training, but the other side will take casualties without so much as blinking. All you'd wind up with is a lot of blood in the streets.
My regard for firearms trainers has evolved, from seeing them as a group of well-trained men offering a much-needed product to seeing a bunch of well-trained yahoos who want to impart their spec ops/law enforcement experience to the legal yahoos they will be training. And those trainees will likely be among the 90 percent shot, either from friendly fire or from their domestic enemies.
Subsequent to that, Culper's associate John Mosby offered some helpful advice on firearms training, juxtaposing the importance of accurate fire with speed of fire. I suspect a lot more goes into the equation than that, such as approach maneuvers, cover and concealment and target acquisition, but this exposition is a very good place to start training.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mostly steady. Prices for rifle ammunition mostly steady.
Prices for used pistols were mixed. Prices for used rifles were lower across the board.
New Lows:
Virginia: .308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic): DPMS Oracle LR-308: $750
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: FedArm, Own Brand, TMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .23 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Freedom Munitions, Own Brand, FMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Own Brand, Brass Casing, Reloads, .21 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2016)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: FedArm, Own Brand, TPMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .14 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel casing, .24 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.38 Special, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Parabellum Research, Own brand, LRN, Brass Casing, Reloads, .26 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 500 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Prvi Partizan, LRN, Brass casing, .26 per round (From Last Week: +.02 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Alamo Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .31 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .32 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo King, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.30-06 Springfield 145 Grain. From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .65 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .56 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.300 Winchester Magnum 150 Grain, From Last Week: -.05 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Prvi Partizan, Brass Case, SP, .95 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, Hornady Whitetail, Brass Case, SP, 1.04 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Federal, Brass Case, JSP, 2.30 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 200 rounds: Target Sports USA, Prvi Partizan, Brass Case, FMJ, 2.40 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds (5 Box Limit): Gander Mountain, Federal, RNL, .05 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 325 rounds: Ammomen, Federal Champion, RNL, .06 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $471 Last Week Avg: $500 (-) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $468 (11 Weeks))
Arizona (119, 123): Palmetto State Armory: $550 ($600 (6 Weeks), $500 (7 Weeks))
Texas (343, 325): Vigilant Arms: $400 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (194, 186): Mixed Builds: $480 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (225, 219): Bushmaster: $450 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $415 (10 Weeks))
Florida (483, 475): Mixed Build: $475 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $895 Last Week Avg: $919(-) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (25, 29): Palmetto State Armory: $1,350 ($1,350 (CA: $1,100 (4 Weeks))), $650 (7 Weeks))
Texas (106, 97): Bushmaster: $700 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (29 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (45, 46): DPMS: $925 ($1,600 (14 Weeks), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (62, 58): DPMS Oracle LR-308: $750 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $750 (CA: $795 (1 Weeks)) )
Florida (83, 88): DPMS Sportical: $750 ($1,950 (41 Weeks), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $525 Last Week Avg: $575(-) ($668 (23 Weeks)), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (24, 26): RAS-47: $650 ($650 (7 Weeks)), $500 (7 Weeks))
Texas (82, 89): IO: $600 ($800 (1Q, 2016, $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (57, 55): CAI M-70 Underfolder: $400 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (48, 51): Romak WASR 10: $525 ($700 (36 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (122, 113): CAI VZ58: $450 ($700 (50 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $360 Last Week Avg: $391(-) ($495 (19 Weeks), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (6, 6): Winchester 94: $500 ($500 (6 Weeks), $500 (7 Weeks))
Texas (15, 13): Winchester 94: $350 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (12, 9): Marlin: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (15, 16): Winchester 94: $300 ($670 (39 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (23, 23): Winchester 94: $300 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $438 Last Week Avg: $459(-) ($515 (28 Weeks)), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (91, 88): Essex: $495 ($600 (3 Weeks), $400 (7 Weeks))
Texas (263, 267): High Standard Stainless: $450 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $300 (11 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (158, 153): Rock Island Armory: $345 ($575 ($575 (6 Weeks), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (150, 150): Iver Johnson: $500 ($600 (3 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (341, 347): Taurus PT1911: $400 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $280 Last Week Avg: $248(+) ($358 (49 Weeks), $231 (7 Weeks))
Arizona (123, 115): Ruger P95: $300 ($320 (3 Weeks), $275 (7 Weeks))
Texas (355, 352): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $300 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (298, 299): Taurus PT111: $200 ($350 (4Q 2014), $195 (2 Weeks))
Virginia (256, 250): Diamondback DB9FS: $299 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (46 Weeks))
Florida (553, 549): Kahr CW9: $300 ($400 (48 Weeks), $190 (28 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $322 Last Week Avg: $307(+) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (36 Weeks))
Arizona (36, 39): Kel Tec P.40: $350 ($500 (6 Weeks)), $300 (4 Weeks)
Texas (121, 121): Springfield XDM 40: $250 ($425 (4Q, 2014), ($210 (21 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (89, 87): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $260 ($450 (44 Weeks), $200 (24 Weeks))
Virginia (98, 93): Springfield XD-40: $400 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (155, 146): Kahr CW40: $350 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (Texas)
Kriss Vector SDP Chambered in 10mm