By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
From Hershel Smith comes an article on using the AR-15 in a home defense role. Any tool available is good for home defense. In a home setting, if you are lucky enough to get the first shot, you will (or should) be able to fire the last shot as well, if you use a modern semiautomatic rifle.
Under the rubric "The jokes just write themselves", and as a reprise, a professional anti gun nut presses his case against firearms suppressors. My own views on silencer themselves are well known and have been repeated wherever I can post.
ARs are loud, as are AK-74s. In the case of home defense, I'd rather suffer the noise in stopping a Bad Guy than to worry about how much of noise my firearm will make.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Pistol ammunition prices were mostly lower. Rifle ammunition prices were mostly steady.
Prices for used pistols were mostly higher. Prices for used rifles were mostly lower.
Looking at differences between ammunition prices at the end of the 2nd Quarter and the end of the 3rd Quarter (which ends today), ammunition prices seem to be following a slow downward trend. If historical tendencies are followed, by next month ammunition prices should slowly drop until the first of the year, before recovering. Last year at this time, however, was the first time since this column was begun that ammunition prices failed to recover following the first of the year, and stayed lower than they were at the start of autumn.
New Lows:
None
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
(From Q2, 2017: .23 per round, -.02 Each)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Highland Lakes Ammo, Own Brand, RNL, Brass Casing, Reloads .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: East Carolina Trading, Own Brand, FMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
(From Q2, 2017: .18 per round, +.02 Each)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammomen, Magtech, FMJFN, Brass Casing, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Octane Munitions, Own Brand, RNFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .18 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks)
(From Q2, 2017: .15 per round, -.01 Each)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Extreme Reloading, Own Brand, RN, Brass Casing .14 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Fedarm, Own brand, RN, Brass Casing, Reloads .14 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (1Q, 2017)
(From Q2, 2017: .24 per round, -.01 Each)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Highland Lakes Ammo, Own Brand, FNMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017))
.38 Special, 158 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (3 Weeks)
(From Q2, 2017: .24 per round, -.01 Each)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Highland Lakes Ammo, Own Brand, FNCJ, Brass Casing, Reloads .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Armscor, FMJ, Brass Casing .24 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
(From Q2, 2017: .20 per round, -.01 Each)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo Men, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
(From Q1, 2017: .32 per round, Unchanged)
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 (3Q, 2017))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
(From Q2, 2017: .20 per round, -.01 Each)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo King, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: True Caliber, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017))
.30-06 Springfield 145 Grain. From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017)
(From Q2, 2017: .54 per round, Unchanged)
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: +.01 Each
(From Q2, 2017: .82 per round, -.01 Each)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, SP, .81 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, Winchester, Brass Casing, SP, .82 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
(From Q1, 2017: 2.35 per round, -.01 Each)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Red River Reloading, American Eagle, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.36 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 200 rounds : Wholesale Hunter, Federal, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.36 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017)
(From Q1, 2017: .04 per round, Unchanged)
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 (2Q, 2017))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $410 Last Week Avg: $420(-) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $387 (7 Weeks))
Arizona (201, 3Q, 2017(+3))(184, 180): Mossberg MMR: $400 ($625 (6 Weeks)), $300 (5 Weeks))
Texas (484, 3Q, 2017(+3))(480, 468): Mixed Build: $375 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (249, 3Q, 2017(+6))(214, 228): Anderson Manufacturing: $425 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (282, 3Q, 2017)(240, 230): Windham Weaponry: $450 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $400 (16 Weeks))
Florida (679, 3Q, 2017)(559, 577): DPMS Oracle: $400 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $790 Last Week Avg: $810(-) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $766 (17 Weeks))
Arizona (49, 3Q, 2017(+6))(44, 41): DPMS Panther: $850 ($2,300 (16 Weeks), $650 (39 Weeks))
Texas (178, 3Q, 2017)(123, 124): DPMS 308 Oracle: $750 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $675 (4 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (54, 3Q, 2017)(47, 48): Palmetto State Armory: $700 ($1,600 (47 Weeks), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (86, 3Q, 2017)(57, 60): DPMS: $850 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $750 (33 Weeks))
Florida (128, 3Q, 2017(+3))(103, 102): Palmetto State Armory: $800 ($1,950 (2Q, 1016), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $635 Last Week Avg: $593(+) ($668 (3Q, 2016), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (34, 3Q, 2017(+3))(30, 30): Romak SAR-1: $900 ($900 (16 Weeks), $400 (21 Weeks))
Texas (141, 3Q, 2017)(102, 110): IO: $560 ($800 (1Q, 2016), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (75, 3Q, 2017)(56, 57): WASR-10: $625 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (72, 3Q, 2017)(61, 63): IO: $490 ($700 (2Q, 2016), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (146, 3Q, 2017)(115, 121): Century RAS47: $600 ($700 (1Q, 2016), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $360 Last Week Avg: $390(-) ($495 (50 Weeks), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (14, 3Q, 2017)(8, 6): Marlin 336: $350 ($500 (36 Weeks), $200 (21 Weeks))
Texas (33, 3Q, 2017(+2))(29, 31): Winchester Ranger: $350 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $295 (20 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (23, 3Q, 2017)(10, 17): Marlin 336: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (18, 3Q, 2017(+2))(18, 15): Marlin: $350 ($670 (2Q, 2016), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (34, 3Q, 2017)(28, 28): Marlin 336: $400 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $437 Last Week Avg: $420(+) ($525 (3Q, 2016), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (134, 3Q, 2017(+4))(125, 131): Viking Tactical: $450 ($700 (20 Weeks)), $325 (6 Weeks))
Texas (361, 3Q, 2017 (+2))(313, 309): Kimber: $435 ($600 (4Q, 2014)), $300 (43 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (178, 3Q, 2017)(160, 160): Taurus PT1911: $350 ($600 (8 Weeks)), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (197, 3Q, 2017)(181, 180): Rock Island Armory: $550 ($775 (8 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (440, 3Q, 2017)(360, 363): Para Ordnance: $400 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $280 Last Week Avg:$237(+) ($358 (1Q, 2016), $207 (21 Weeks))
Arizona (238, 3Q, 2017)(236, 219): Sccy CPX2: $275 ($400 (27 Weeks), $200 (11 Weeks))
Texas (586, 3Q, 2017(+3))(565, 574): EAA SARK2P: $250 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $180 (7 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (368, 3Q, 2017)(334, 354): Ruger SR9E: $275 ($350 (4Q 2014), $150 (32 Weeks))
Virginia (343, 3Q, 2017(+2))(343, 325): Smith & Wesson SDVE9: $300 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (2Q, 2016))
Florida (827, 3Q, 2017)(767, 774): Smith & Wesson SDVE9: $300 ($400 (1Q, 2016), $160 (21 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $315 Last Week Avg: $320(-) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (2Q, 2016))
Arizona (77, 3Q, 2017(+2))(67, 67): Beretta PX-4 Storm: $380 ($500 (37 Weeks), $195 (17 Weeks))
Texas (156, 3Q, 2017(+2))(143, 143): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $215 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $200 (41 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (108, 3Q, 2017)(107, 105): Sig Pro 2340: $330 ($450 (2Q, 2016), $200 (3Q, 2016))
Virginia (109, 3Q, 2017(+4))(102, 108): S&W M&P 40c: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (193, 3Q, 2017(+3))(169, 173): Walther PPS: $350 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (Missouri)
Ruger M77 bolt action rifle chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum