By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
I don't get much humor out of following firearms prices and issues relating to the 2nd Amendment. There is very little cheer in that department, but sometimes I get a tiny chuckle delivered by the left.
Hollywood film actress Sarah Jessica Parker expressed the fear that she and her husband will be shot by Trump supporters.
Only by way of return fire, sweetie.
And surprise, a federal judge all the way out in the Marianas Islands has overturned "a ban on carrying handguns in public, a ban on so-called assault weapons, caliber restrictions for long guns, a $1,000 tax on handguns, and a requirement that all guns be registered with the government."
According to the linked article, the judge, identified as Ramona Manglona, has undermined a previous appeals court decision that allowed what I term draconian restrictions on firearms, such as those passed in California this year.
Whether her ruling stands, it should be noted that if you are waiting for the courts to hand you a constitutional carry permit, you will be waiting for a long, long time. The courts are not friends of firearms owners, not by a long shot, and it would take decades of favorable rulings to change that.
Meanwhile, you'll excuse me while I save up for this firearm.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Quarterly ammunition price reports are noted, albeit a week late. Prices are steady on the high side for pistol ammunition, while prices are steady to the low side for rifle ammunition. The changes are very small. I expect to see prices waft upwards as the Christmas holidays approach, but I don't see a major change due to the nationwide clown show.
Prices for pistol ammunition were steady. Prices for rifle ammunition were mostly steady.
Prices for used pistols were mixed. Prices for used rifles were mixed.
It should be noted that prices for used pistols are up nationwide. You won't see it in this data compilation since this column focuses on lower priced pistols, but I get the impression that there is upward pressure on prices for higher quality pistols (especially on 9mm and .40 S&W).
New Lows:
None
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016)
(From Q2, 2016: .24 per round, Unchanged)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Highland Lakes, Own Brand, Brass Casing, Reloads, .23 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016)
(From Q2, 2016: .20 per round, Unchanged)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Mart, Buffalo Cartridge, FSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Mart, Own Brand, FSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .19 per round (From Last Week: (3 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
(From Q2, 2016: .15 per round, +.01 per round)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .14 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: FedArm, Own Brand, TPMJ, Brass Casing, .14 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016)
(From Q2, 2016: .23 per round, Unchanged)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Wideners, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
(From Q2, 2016: .21 per round, -.02 per round)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Brown Bear, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each
(From Q2, 2016: .35 per round, Unchanged)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .35 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: BulkAmmunition.net, Tulammo, Steel Casing, FMJ, .34 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016)
(From Q2, 2016: .24 per round, Unchanged)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .22 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
(From Q2, 2016: .07 per round, +.01 per round)
Cheapest, 50 rounds (10 Box Limit): Ammoman, CCI Blazer, RNL, .06 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 325 rounds: Defender Outdoors, Federal, RNL, .06 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $517 Last Week Avg: $532 (-) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $476 (3Q, 2015))
California (256, 248): DPMS: $500 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (2Q, 2016))
Texas (266, 267): Anderson AR15: $550 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (152, 150): Mixed Build: $435 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (172, 170): Palmetto State Armory: $600 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $475 (22 Weeks))
Florida (377, 390): Ruger AR15: $500 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,060 Last Week Avg: $970(+) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (3Q, 2015))
California (70, 73): DPMS: $1,050 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (97, 99): DPMS: $900 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (12 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (31, 33): DPMS: $1,350 ($1,500 (1Q, 2015), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (52, 53): Mixed Build: $1,150 ($2,750 (37 Weeks), $800 (48 Weeks))
Florida (84, 82): DPMS Sportical: $850 ($1,950 (23 Weeks), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $632 Last Week Avg: $609 (+) ($668 (12 Weeks)), $450 (3Q, 2015))
California (49, 47): Century N-PAP: $699 ($800 (18 Weeks)), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (81, 80): Zastava NPAP M92: $590 ($800 (38 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (53, 45): Romak: $600 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (35, 41): American Tactical Imports: $675 ($700 (18 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (106, 99): CAI Milled Sporter: $600 ($700 (31 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $329 Last Week Avg: $354(-) ($489 (1Q, 2015), $296 (3Q, 2015))
California (4, 4): Marlin: $420 ($600 (29 Weeks), $180 (2Q, 2015))
Texas (15, 17): Marlin 336Y: $300 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (14, 13): Marlin AS: $275 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (9, 11): Marlin 336: $350 ($670 (22 Weeks)), $250 (44 Weeks))
Florida (23, 22): Winchester: $300 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $508 Last Week Avg: $447(+) ($515 (9 Weeks)), $350 (49 Weeks))
California (206, 197): Colt: $550 ($800 (9 Weeks), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (236, 228): Ruger: $600 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (152, 152): Rock Island Armory: $450 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (159, 158): Taurus: $440 ($575 (36 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (334, 334): Thompson: $500 ($500 (35 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $251 Last Week Avg: $267(-) ($358 (32 Weeks), $245 (24 Weeks))
California (281, 286): Ruger P89: $375 ($500 (32 Weeks), $200 (48 Weeks))
Texas (330, 336): Keltec P11: $230 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (259, 256): Taurus PT111 G2: $210 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (234, 216): Taurus PT111 G2: $215 ($425 (40 Weeks), $189 (27 Weeks))
Florida (565, 557): Cobra Patriot: $225 ($400 (29 Weeks), $190 (9 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $326 Last Week Avg: $287(+) ($399 (37 Weeks), $262 (17 Weeks))
California (99, 103): Springfield XD40: $350 ($560 (39 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (132, 132): Kahr CT 40: $325 ($425 (4Q, 2014), ($210 (2 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (90, 81): Kahr P40: $315 ($450 (26 Weeks), $200 (6 Weeks))
Virginia (68, 67): Sig Sauer SP2022: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (155, 161): Heckler & Koch P30: $340 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (36 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Oklahoma)
1915 New England Westinghouse in 7.62x54R