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-Land of the Free
This Week in Guns, April 29th, 2017
2017-04-29


By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

An interesting topic came up at the AK Operator's Union in Facebook. (Sorry, no link.) Someone ran Russian made 7N6 ammunition (5.45x39mm 53 Grain) through a radar gun, finding that the velocities of the rounds fired were consistent within 17.37 FPS Standard Deviation from round to round. The same test was applied to Wolf brand (made by Barnaul, 60 Grain) 5.45x39mm ammunition to find the standard deviation from round to round was much higher at 39.27 FPS. There was no indication of the size of the sampling. One reader commented that such a difference could explain pooch loads, where the projectile failed to exit the barrel.

No, it wouldn't. But those differences do explain problems with targeting, especially at the extreme range for iron sights, about 400 meters for the AK-74. If you fire over open sights with a hot round like the Barnaul ammunition, you tend to expect similar, not better, but similar performance as compared to 5.56x45 AR ammunition, its closest rival. The problem for AK-74 shooters such as myself is that if Barnaul makes such crappy ammunition and the Russian surplus ammo is so good, the only option left is Hornady's offering. Hornady's costs about double the Silver Bear 60 grain ammunition I use.

Some of the problems in target shooting the AK-74 can be explained because the 60 grain bullet is the next lightest bullet size available, and is a much heavier bullet than the 7N6. The AK-74 was made to fire the 53 grain bullet. You can adjust your aim past 100 yards only so much before you start to get into unfamiliar territory. The news of inconsistent powder charges, if that is the cause, makes it much more difficult to settle on a round that will hit consistently out to 400 yards.

I still have about 2,000 rounds left.

Tomorrow in Pikeville, Kentucky there is supposed to be a meeting of the League of the South, which the Atlanta Antifa gang claims they plan to disrupt. I read that a call for help went out, but this sounds much like previous calls made, as it turned out by government paid snitches. Many of those people are associated with white supremacists and if so, you know the government will not only be there watching, they also will have their snitches there running the show -- for both sides.

Loads.

Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:

Pistol ammunition prices were steady. Rifle ammunition prices were mostly steady.

Prices for used pistols were mostly higher. Prices for used rifles were mixed.

New Lows:

Texas: 9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic): Taurus PT1911: $199

Pistol Ammunition

.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Bud's Gun Shop, Silver Bear, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: J&G Sales, Hot Shot, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))

.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Mart, Buffalo Cartridge, RSFP, Brass Casing, Factory Seconds .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Mart, Legendary, RSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2016)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Bite the Bullet, Own Brand, RN, Factory Seconds, Brass Casing, .14 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2017)
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 (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammunition, CCI Blazer, LRN, Aluminum Casing .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 500 rounds: Western Arms AND Ammo, Own Brand, TMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads .24 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

Rifle Ammunition

.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammomen, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round (From Last Week -.01 Each))

.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2017)
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 (2 Weeks))

7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2017)
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 (6 Weeks))

.30-06 Springfield 145 Grain. From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks)
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 (10 Weeks))

.300 Winchester Magnum 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Red River Reloading, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, SP, .86 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Target Sports, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, SP, .88 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))

.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, Federal Eagle, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.17 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, Federal American Eagle, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.13 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammomen, Aguila, RNL, .05 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 400 rounds: United Nations Ammo, Aguila, RNL, .05 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks))

Guns for Private Sale
Rifles

.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $462 Last Week Avg: $485(-) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $465 (2 Weeks))
Arizona (141, 137): DPMS: $525 ($600 (15 Weeks), $450 (8 Weeks))
Texas (360, 348): American Tactical Imports Omni: $450 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (212, 202): DPMS: $425 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (229, 219): Mixed Build: $460 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $415 (20 Weeks))
Florida (509, 521): Smith & Wesson M & P 15 Sport 2: $450 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))

.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,119 Last Week Avg: $871(+) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (29, 32): Smith & Wesson M & P: $1,450 ($1,450 (CA: $1,350 (10 Weeks))), $650 (16 Weeks))
Texas (129, 129): Bushmaster XM-10: $950 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (39 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (37, 41): DPMS: $1,100 ($1,600 (25 Weeks), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (65, 58): Palmetto State Armory: $1,295 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $750 (10 Weeks))
Florida (81, 74): DPMS: $800 ($1,950 (51 Weeks), $500 (3Q, 2015))

7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $570 Last Week Avg: $581(-) $668 (33 Weeks)), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (21, 22): WASR: $699 ($800 (7 Weeks), $500 (16 Weeks))
Texas (108, 106): WASR 10/63: $550 ($800 (1Q, 2016, $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (69, 65): Polish: $475 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (48, 53): WASR-10: $550 ($700 (46 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (115, 116): WASR 10 : $580 ($700 (1Q, 2016), $300 (4Q, 2014))

30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $360 Last Week Avg: $374(-) ($495 (29 Weeks), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (8, 7): Marlin 3083: $350 ($500 (14 Weeks), $350 (7 Weeks))
Texas (15, 14): Winchester 94: $425 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (15, 12): Marlin 336: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (13, 14): Marlin: $350 ($670 (49 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (22, 25): Marlin 336: $325 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))

Pistols

.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $504 Last Week Avg: $465(+) ($515 (38 Weeks)), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (89, 95): Para Ordnance: $600 ($600 (13 Weeks), $400 (17 Weeks))
Texas (275, 260): Taurus 1911: $420 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $300 (21 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (163, 162): Para Ordnance: $550 ($575 (16 Weeks), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (146, 138): Springfield: $500 ($600 (13 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (327, 338): Rock Island Armory: $450 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))

9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $232 Last Week Avg: $217(+) ($358 (1Q, 2016), $217 (3 Weeks)
Arizona (147, 145): Taurus PT 111: $240 ($400 (6 Weeks)), $240 (2 Weeks))
Texas (408, 370): Taurus PT1911: $199 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $199 (CA: $200 (3Q, 2015)))
Pennsylvania (329, 321): Smith & Wesson SW9VE: $225 ($350 (4Q 2014), $150 (10 Weeks))
Virginia (265, 262): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $250 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (2Q, 2016))
Florida (591, 569): SCCY CPX-2: $250 ($400 (1Q, 2016), $190 (38 Weeks))

.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $278 Last Week Avg: $323(-) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (46 Weeks))
Arizona (34, 36): Smith and Wesson M&P: $375 ($500 (16 Weeks), ($250 (7 Weeks))
Texas (111, 107): Glock 23: $210 ($425 (4Q, 2014), ($210 (31 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (98, 97): Taurus PT-940: $240 ($450 (2Q, 2016), $200 (34 Weeks))
Virginia (86, 81): Taurus 740: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (144, 143): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $265 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))

Used Gun of the Week: (Florida)
Walther P-38 chambered in 9mm Parabellum
Posted by:badanov

#4  I've heard tell the steel in steel casings is actually softer than brass casings, so that would explain deformation in the chamber.

As you say, we can only surmise.

A lot of possibilities that would explain the lack of consistency in the Wolf brand ammo. Could be an error in bullet being oversized, or the cartridge neck is too tight. Could be the powder charge.

My experience with Barnaul ammunition is that it is good ammunition for the price, but from time to time you get a cartridge that is slightly out of tolerance, which gets stuck in the chamber in the spent casing ejection phase of the firing cycle. Not every round and not even one from every box. Last fall I had two stuck casings from the same box, something that has never happened before and has not happened since, something I attribute to an out of tolerance cartridge casing.

Thanks for the expositions and the links, Joluter Snavitch6674 and Skid.
Posted by: badanov   2017-04-29 06:56  

#3  I was always of the uninformed, untested opinion that the steel shell of Wolf did not deform (or as much) to the chamber contours during ignition impulse, whereas brass did.

I further assumed arbitrary combustion gas pulse wave cancellation occurred due to energy reflections from the now deformed shell wall volume and the base of the bullet, which also may be seated some random manufacturing error distance down the shell neck and not secured by the chamber head.

I guess this all started with a compressed gas cylinder ignition model I was reviewing.

Shitz a mystery to me.
Posted by: Skidmark   2017-04-29 04:14  

#2  Credit the above info to www.guns.com.
Posted by: Joluter Snavitch6674   2017-04-29 01:36  

#1  Going back in time, an interesting 1838 repeating rifle. Called a chain gun.



Epenetus A. Bennett and Frederick P. Havilland were both from Waterville, Maine and both trained to some degree as gunsmiths. Their device, dubbed the “underhammer” because of its under the gun cocking apparatus, used comprised of a series of rectangular blocks hinged together along a chain. These blocks were hollowed out to accept a powder and ball, the theory being the block would advance around the chain mechanism, lining up into the breech, and loading the weapon; the weapon fed incrementally left to right with a full stop in the breech position, fired and moved rearward toward the butt stock on the chain for the next shot.

The under hammer released the chain and was hand cocked with each shot until all 12 rounds were rotated into place, each fired courtesy of a side hammer for ignition and a conventional trigger.

The problem (and the problem really with all long rifles featuring revolving mechanisms) was the fore-end grip caught breech blowback from the cylinder meaning the shooter’s hand inevitably took abuse. Of more concern, if a chain fire did occur (which was not unheard of) the rifleman would end up, at the least, with a badly burnt wrist and fingers, at the worst, the loss of his or her life as the rifle could potentially fire backwards, forwards and to either side.

It is believed that only 10 of them were made.
Posted by: Joluter Snavitch6674   2017-04-29 01:31  

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