By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
You'll note that .223 Remington/5.56mm ammunition prices have risen dramatically in the wake of the San Bernadino massacre by $0.04 each.
Average prices for used AR pattern rifles have declined since last year by $6. The highest average price since last year is $16 higher while the lowest average price has declined -- dramatically -- by $50. The median price from last year has risen by almost $6.
The average number of used AR rifles in the five state markets this column follows actually declined since last year from 268 to 218. All five markets show declines in the average number of rifles available for private sale. Declines are as follows (in order of magnitude): Virginia: 42 percent; Pennsylvania: 20.6 percent; Florida: 14.9 percent; Texas: 11 percent; California: 7 percent.
Now for a different report, a range report (at 200 yards):
600 rounds fired
0 Misfires
2 jams
Rounds hitting the paper: 30
Rounds hitting the target: 10
Rounds hitting the bulls eye: 0
The jams were casings that became stuck in the firing chamber. In the AK they are impossible to dig out; you must remove the muzzle brake and tap the spent cartridge out from the muzzle end.
Trying to fire from a crouch position I missed everything, every time. I tried to split the target into quadrants and fired at each quadrant from the crouch position. The only thing I could do (from a sitting position) was hit one quadrant.
It's a lot harder than it sounds, especially with this 60 grain ammo.
From Weapons Man comes this discussion on just how much accuracy do you need:
Time after time I look through the popular gun boards and see users with Larue OBR, PredatARs and Noveske rifles doing rapid fire mag dumps at targets no further away then 50 yards. Most the time it is on man sized targets and they have mounted the popular T-1 or eotech or something there about.
Why do they need a gun that shoots 1/4 MOA to hit a man sized target across the room? Some of them do not even take the gun off of a benchrest and restrict their shooting to 25 yards incredibly. I have even seen some shooting these match rifles using military surplus ball ammo. They do not even bother with the match ammo it takes to achieve the precious level of accuracy they so badly wanted and paid for.
The biggest mind boggler to me is the mag dumps. Sure the rifles can handle it, but that accuracy level of the barrel will only last so long and after a certain number of rounds fired, it will go from 1/4 or 1/2 to 1 MOA or 2 or even larger depending on what goes bad or wears first.
From Sipsey Street Irregulars comes a report that the cops, the only ones firing .223/5.56mm rifles, were likely responsible for four of the nine dead in Waco last spring. It's a mess.
I have been hammering this point for months: the ATF and FBI are illegally sharing information from Form 4473. A law is on the books which forbids the government from having this information. An apparent ATF rule requires FFLs to transcribe information taken from the form to a separate book. Last week I pointed out that the New York state police were the latest beneficiaries of this illegal act by the government. They are being given information that will help the police in later confiscation efforts.
According to this report, information taken from NICS queries are being used to compile a gun registration database.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mostly lower and prices for rifle ammunition were mixed.
Prices for .223 Remington 55 grain ammunition jumped once again to .25 cents per round, $0.01 per round higher than the previous week and $0.03 per round higher the week before that.
Also repeating this note from two weeks ago (before prices jumped) (quoting): Note, also that the price for .223 55 grain ammunition is the lowest it has been since last year at $0.21 per round.
Prices for used pistols and for used rifles were mixed.
New Lows:
Texas: .40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic): $250
Pennsylvania: .223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic): $480
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Quality Made Cartridges, Store Brand, FMJ, Brass, Reloads, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Blok Tactical, Store Brand, TMJ, Reloads, .24 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, -.02 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Mart, Legendary, FSFP, Brass, Reloads; .21 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .17 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .16 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2015))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: -.02 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Surplus Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .26 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .25 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Bud's Gun Shop, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Vizards Guns and Ammo, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .25 per round (From Last Week: +.02 Each After Unchanged (5 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .37 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .34 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Wolf WPA, steel case, FMJ, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: TrueCaliber.com, Wolf WPA, steel case, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Munire USA, Aguila, RNL .08 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds (5 Box Limit): Target Sports USA, Aguila, RNL, .08 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $556 Last Week Avg: $530 (+) ($616 (36 Weeks), $476 (12 Weeks))
California (211, 215): Mossberg MMR Hunter : $550 ($650 (46 Weeks), $400 (15 Weeks))
Texas (241, 256): DPMS/Mixed Build: $600 ($700 (41 Weeks), $350 (36 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (122, 131): Palmetto State Armory: $650 ($700 (35 Weeks), $300 (23 Weeks))
Virginia (159, 153): Del-ton: $480 ($750 (41 Weeks), $480 (CA: $500 (44 Weeks)))
Florida (318, 336): Ruger Model 8500: $500 ($650 (25 Weeks), $380 (37 Weeks))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $980 Last Week Avg: $890 (+) ($1,359 (35 Weeks), $820 (11 Weeks))
California (43, 44): Palmetto State Armory: $950 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (20 Weeks))
Texas (55, 46): Bushmaster: $1,000 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $800 (19 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (24, 23): Palmetto State Armory PA10: $900 ($1,500 (41 Weeks), $700 (12 Weeks))
Virginia (47, 48): DPMS LR-308: $1,050 ($1,650 (24 Weeks), $800 (7 Weeks))
Florida (66, 71): Mixed Build: $1,000 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $500 (11 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $530 Last Week Avg: $586 (-) ($626 (37 Weeks), $450 (24 Weeks)) California (38, 42): WASR 10: $600 ($700 (40 Weeks), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (54, 56): Norinco: $700 ($750 (39 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (48, 47): I.O: $400 ($750 (46 Weeks), $375 (31 Weeks))
Virginia (44, 46): Norinco Sporter Mac 90: $450 ($625 (42 Weeks), $350 (44 Weeks))
Florida (91, 98): Czech VZ-2008: $500 ($650 (35 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $397 Last Week Avg: $342 (-) ($489 (43 Weeks), $296 (25 Weeks))
California (9, 8): Winchester Model 94: $400 ($500 (20 Weeks), $180 (27 Weeks))
Texas (21, 20): Mossberg 464: $360 ($550 (42 Weeks), $300 (47 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (16, 16): Marlin 30AS: $400 ($450 (45 Weeks), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (8, 9): Winchester Ranger: $475 ($475 (CA: $450 (25 Weeks)), $250 (3 Weeks))
Florida (22, 17): Marlin Model 336: $350 ($500 (41 Weeks), $250 (27 Weeks))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $379 Last Week Avg: $409 (-) ($450 (41 Weeks), $350 (14 Weeks))
California (149, 149): Rock Island Armory: $400 ($600 (43 Weeks), $300 (21 Weeks))
Texas (207, 232): Citadel 1911: $400 ($600 (4Q, 2015), $325 (17 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (142, 138): Regent R350CR: $350 ($550 (33 Weeks), $300 (27 Weeks))
Virginia (137, 139): Tisas: $400 ($550 (35 Weeks), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (314, 320): Tisas: $345 ($475 (46 Weeks), $250 (40 Weeks))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $290 Last Week Avg: $305 (-) ($336 (38 Weeks), $268 (16 Weeks))
California (143, 153): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $300 ($450 (42 Weeks), $200 (5 Weeks))
Texas (215, 213): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $275 ($355 (42 Weeks), $200 (15 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (200, 213): Ruger P95DC: $350 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (22 Weeks))
Virginia (162, 166): Sig Sauer P226: $300 ($400 (36 Weeks), $250 (22 Weeks))
Florida (400, 419): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $225 ($375 (4Q, 2014), $220 (15 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $320 Last Week Avg: $306 (+) ($368 (32 Weeks), $300 (3Q, 2014))
California (86, 92): Smith & Wesson SD40: $350 ($425 (17 Weeks)), $250 (49 Weeks))
Texas (105, 106): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $250 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $250 (CA: $275 (34 Weeks)))
Pennsylvania (71, 79): Smith & Wesson Sigma: $350 ($350 (24 Weeks), $250 (44 Weeks))
Virginia (62, 61): Smith & Wesson : $350 ($450 (32 Weeks), $275 (48 Weeks))
Florida (155, 158): Ruger SR40C: $300 ($400 (43 Weeks), $200 (16 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Indiana)
Marlin 336A Chambered in .35 Remington
Chris Covert writes for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com and on Twitter