By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Housekeeping Note: The quarterly ammunition report is below.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Hand gun ammunition prices changed very little since the beginning of 2017. However, some rifle ammunition prices dropped drastically, with the two most popular cartridges, the 5.56x45mm AR and the 7.62x39mm AK ammunition both dropping an average of 7.5 percent from the previous quarter.
This follows my observations in January that ammunition prices did not follow their usual pattern of price spikes during Christmas, then dropping for the next few months.
Some ammunition manufacturers are already taking countermeasures. I suspect that lifting the lid off business regulations by the national government will cause the cost of inputs, such as metal, powder and personnel to drop as well. There's only so much a manufacturer can do to stop declines in a potentially deflationary environment.
Remember Badanov's Basic Economic Law: Abundance is the natural state of free markets.
Prices for pistol ammunition were steady. Prices for rifle ammunition were mostly steady.
Prices for used pistols were mixed. Prices for used rifles were mostly lower.
New Lows:
None
I have been having a good ole time with Facebook acquaintances guffawing at leftists and firearms, such as the kommies in Arizona displaying their firepower. Something reassuring about young men and women, untrained and unfit, hauling around semiautomatics and criticizing their choices like a woman criticizes fashion.
Something is unfunny, however, about the notion that these young people have been talked into doing this demonstration. Rather than a bald display of potential firepower, what we are seeing are several candidates for federal prison, just as soon as one or more makes a statement to the snitches and informants who are without doubt in their midst. How many times have we seen federal employees try to elicit statements made in private, then once in custody, not being aware of their rights, confess to crimes the government can then convict.
In Nevada the government's case against the Bundys and those who tried to help continues, based in part upon incendiary statements the government's own informants made. And now they have arrested a blogger who outed several snitches. According to the material I have read, the government intends to use the testimony of snitches without allowing the defendants' lawyers to confront them.
The law is supposed to help people, but instead it has been weaponized by the government.
Loads.
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
(From Q4, 2016: .24 per round, Unchanged)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (9 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
(From Q4, 2016: .22 per round, -.01 Each)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Freedom Munitions, Own Brand, RNFP, Brass Casing, Reloads .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition Own Brand, RSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, FMJ, .21 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2016)
(From Q4, 2016: .24 per round, Unchanged)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Bullet Barn, Own Brand, TMJ, Reloads, Brass Casing, .15 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2017)
(From Q4, 2016: .25 per round, -.01 Each)
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 (1Q, 1017))
.38 Special, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
(No Data Available)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Freedom Munition, Own Brand, RNFP, Brass Casing, Reloads .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 500 rounds: Hyperion Munitions, Own Brand, RN, Brass Casing, Reloads .25 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
(From Q4, 2016: .24 per round, -.03 Each)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (9 Weeks)
(From Q4, 2016: .34 per round, -.02 Each)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .32 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .32 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2017))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks)
(From Q4, 2016: .25 per round, -.05 Each)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.30-06 Springfield 145 Grain. From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
(No Data Available)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .54 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: United Nations Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .54 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (6 Weeks))
.300 Winchester Magnum 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
(No Data Available)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, SP, .95 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, Hornady Whitetail, Brass Casing, SP, 1.05 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (8 Weeks))
.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: -.03 Each After Unchanged (4 Weeks)
(No Data Available)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Bud's Gunshop, Federal Eagle, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.35 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 200 rounds: Target Sports USA, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, FMJ, 2.40 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2017))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
(From Q4, 2016: .05 per round, Unchanged)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammomen, Federal, RNL, .05 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo 2U, CCI Blazer, RNL, .05 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $489 Last Week Avg: $506(-) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $468 (16 Weeks))
Arizona (143, 143): Palmetto State Armory: $500 ($600 (11 Weeks), $450 (4 Weeks))
Texas (346, 352): DPMS: $525 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (197, 195): Mixed Build: $490 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (219, 211): American Tactical Imports: $450 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $415 (16 Weeks))
Florida (475, 453): Mixed Build: $480 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $826 Last Week Avg: $900(-) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (32, 30): Armalite: $950 ($1,350 (7 Weeks)), $650 (12 Weeks))
Texas (120, 120): DPMS Oracle LR308: $850 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (35 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (41, 39): DPMS: $830 ($1,600 (20 Weeks), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (57, 56): DPMS Oracle: $800 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $750 (7 Weeks))
Florida (67, 69): Palmetto State Armory: $700 ($1,950 (47 Weeks), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $538 Last Week Avg: $630(-) ($668 (29 Weeks)), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (28, 24): Vepr: $700 ($800 (3 Weeks), $500 (12 Weeks))
Texas (104, 100): VZ2008: $440 ($800 (1Q, 2016, $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (52, 55): IO: $525 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (49, 44): IO: $525 ($700 (42 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (131, 140): IO: $500 ($700 (1Q, 2016), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $371 Last Week Avg: $365(+) ($495 (25 Weeks), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (8, 10): Winchester: $450 ($500 (10 Weeks), $350 (3 Weeks))
Texas (15, 18): Winchester 94: $380 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (12, 13): Mossberg 464: $375 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (17, 17): Marlin: $350 ($670 (45 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (25, 23): Rossi Rio Grande: $300 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $446 Last Week Avg: $448(-) ($515 (34 Weeks)), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (82, 79): Dan Wesson: $450 ($600 (9 Weeks), $400 (13 Weeks))
Texas (267, 267): Taurus 1911: $525 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $300 (17 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (155, 148): Taurus: $475 ($575 (12 Weeks), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (141, 144): Llama 1911: $400 ($600 (9 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (323, 329): Llama 1911: $380 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $277 Last Week Avg: $275(+) ($358 (1Q, 2016), $231 (13 Weeks))
Arizona (138, 139): Canik 55: $395 ($400 (2 Weeks)), $275 (13 Weeks))
Texas (360, 358): Taurus PT111 G2: $220 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (312, 295): Taurus PT111: $225 ($350 (4Q 2014), $150 (6 Weeks))
Virginia (252, 236): Diamondback DB9FS: $299 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (2Q, 2016))
Florida (546, 540): Kel Tec P11: $250 ($400 (1Q, 2016), $190 (34 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $318 Last Week Avg: $306(+) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (42 Weeks))
Arizona (38, 40): Smith and Wesson M&P: $450 ($500 (12 Weeks), ($250 (3 Weeks))
Texas (112, 118): Springfield Armory XDM: $220 ($425 (4Q, 2014), ($210 (27 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (102, 95): Taurus PT740: $225 ($450 (50 Weeks), $200 (30 Weeks))
Virginia (85, 88): Smith and Wesson SW40VE: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (142, 140): Smith & Wesson M&P: $399 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (Florida)
Sig Sauer MPX-9 Pistol chambered in 9mm Parabellum