By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Housekeeping Note: See below about the new value level of used AR-15s.
A young man, a young patriot from Louisiana posted link to a Fort Piece, Florida bust of a 25 year old with a home build, short barreled AR-15. The lesson should be that the kops are watching Armslist for potential customers for the justice industry.
Also in Florida, a retired firefighter decides he has had enough. He brings out a hand cannon and shoots at two telephone company vehicles. The fella doesn't even look angry and, leaving aside for the moment the stupidity of punctuating your displeasure on unarmed individuals with a firearm, he was a pretty good shot.
The main problem is, of course, he apparently doesn't know there's a new product out, called earplugs.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Pistol ammunition prices were steady. Rifle ammunition prices were steady.
Prices for used pistols were higher. Prices for used rifles were mixed.
For the first time, every AR-15 pattern semiautomatic rifle in every state I follow is listed at or below $450, with three listing below $400. The downward pricing trend of AR-15 continues, this time with a vengeance. The nationwide average price for a used AR-15 semiautomatic rifle plummeted below $400 to $387, for a total of $50 per unit.
None of the states listed were above their 2Q, 2017 high for the numbers of guns available for sale, which would indicate the price declines are more for the value of the platform (which is declining) rather than a reflection of price against demand (which is also declining). It could easily be said that AR-15s are being dumped onto the free private market, except the sellers are disparate individuals, a group not known for price fixing.
Understanding what it takes in terms of parts pricing, I fail to see how much further down the average price will go. But then, I said that three weeks ago at the start of 3Q, 2017.
New Lows:
Arizona: .223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic): Bushmaster: $350
Arizona: 9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic): Taurus PT111: $200
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: East Carolina Trading, Own Brand, RN, Brass Casing, Reloads, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: East Carolina Trading, Own Brand, RN, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Valley, Own Brand, RNFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .18 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Valley, Own Brand, FMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .18 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing .15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Fedarm, Own brand, TMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads .14 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
.38 Special, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Highland Lakes Ammo, Own Brand, FP, Brass Casing, Reloads .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, CCI Blazer, RNL, Aluminum Casing, Reloads .24 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammomen, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
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 (4 Weeks))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.30-06 Springfield 145 Grain. From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017)
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 (1Q, 2017))
.300 Winchester Magnum 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Selway Armory, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, SP, .82 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, Winchester, Brass Casing, SP, .82 per round (From Last Week: -.05 Each After Unchanged (5 Weeks))
.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Federal Eagle, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.30 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 200 rounds: Wholesale Hunter, Federal American Eagle, Brass Casing, HP, 2.36 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo King, Aguila, RNL, .04 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo King, Aguila, RNL, .04 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $387 Last Week Avg: $438(-) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $387 (CA: $435 (5 Weeks))
Arizona (191, 3Q, 2017)(182, 179): Bushmaster: $350 ($600 (25 Weeks), $350 (CA: $450 (19 Weeks)))
Texas (469, 3Q, 2017)(453, 436): Bushmaster: $350 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (234, 3Q, 2017)(233, 215): Delton: $385 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (282, 3Q, 2017)(247, 253): Smith & Wesson: $450 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $400 (6 Weeks))
Florida (679, 3Q, 2017)(621, 593): Smith and Wesson Sport II M&P15: $400 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $815 Last Week Avg: $800(+) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $766 (8 Weeks))
Arizona (34, 3Q, 2017)(34, 32): Palmetto State Armory: $1,000 ($2,300 (6 Weeks)), $650 (29 Weeks))
Texas (178, 3Q, 2017)(168, 166): DPMS LR-308: $800 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (50 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (54, 3Q, 2017)(52, 49): DPMS: $775 ($1,600 (37 Weeks), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (86, 3Q, 2017)(86, 83): Mixed Build: $800 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $750 (22 Weeks))
Florida (124, 3Q, 2017)(116, 117): DPMS: $700 ($1,950 (2Q, 1016), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $490 Last Week Avg: $535(-) ($668 (45 Weeks), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (28, 3Q, 2017)(26, 25): Unknown Make: $650 ($900 (7 Weeks), $400 (12 Weeks))
Texas (141, 3Q, 2017)(123, 137): RAS-47: $500 ($800 (1Q, 2016), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (75, 3Q, 2017)(60, 61): Yugo NPAP M70: $400 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (72, 3Q, 2017)(59, 57): IO: $450 ($700 (2Q, 2016), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (146, 3Q, 2017)(133, 126): IO: $450 ($700 (1Q, 2016), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $365 Last Week Avg: $365(=) ($495 (41 Weeks), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (14, 3Q, 2017)(10, 12): Mossberg 464: $400 ($500 (26 Weeks), $200 (11 Weeks))
Texas (32, 3Q, 2017)(25, 26): Winchester Model 94: $325 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $295 (11 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (23, 3Q, 2017)(18, 19): Marlin: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (17, 3Q, 2017)(12, 12): Winchester Model 94: $450 ($670 (2Q, 2016), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (34, 3Q, 2017)(26, 27): Marlin: $300 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $391 Last Week Avg: $388(+) ($525 (47 Weeks), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (124, 3Q, 2017)(115, 114): Viking Tactical: $450 ($700 (12 Weeks), $380 (5 Weeks))
Texas (358, 3Q, 2017)(350, 336): Llama: $350 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $300 (33 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (178, 3Q, 2017)(159, 157): American Tactical Imports: $400 ($585 (11 Weeks), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (197, 3Q, 2017)(192, 197): American Tactical Imports: $350 ($600 (25 Weeks), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (440, 3Q, 2017)(391, 396): Rock Island Armory: $405 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $227 Last Week Avg: $220(+) ($358 (1Q, 2016), $207 (11 Weeks))
Arizona (238, 3Q, 2017)(223, 227): Taurus PT111: $200 ($400 (17 Weeks), $200 (CA: $240 (12 Weeks))
Texas (575, 3Q, 2017)(575, 532): Hungarian FEG : $260 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $199 (13 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (368, 3Q, 2017)(353, 351): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $225 ($350 (4Q 2014), $150 (22 Weeks))
Virginia (340, 3Q, 2017)(340, 318): Beretta 92S: $200 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (2Q, 2016))
Florida (827, 3Q, 2017)(751, 750): EAA: $250 ($400 (1Q, 2016), $160 (11 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $315 Last Week Avg: $290(+) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (2Q, 2016))
Arizona (75, 3Q, 2017)(60, 60): Walther PPS: $350 ($500 (27 Weeks), $195 (7 Weeks))
Texas (150, 3Q, 2017)(136, 126): Smith & Wesson M&P 40C: $200 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $200 (31 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (108, 3Q, 2017)(93, 102): Kahr CM40: $275 ($450 (2Q, 2016), $200 (47 Weeks))
Virginia (89, 3Q, 2017)(81, 80): Springfield XDS 40: $400 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (173, 3Q, 2017)(172, 169): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $350 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (Nebraska)
Baikal MP161K chambered in .22 LR