By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Last Tuesday Rantburg presented a story out of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine about a shooting at a cafe over an unpaid bill. Originally the story from Russia recounted how six of those shot had pistols with them during the meet to discuss the bill, but carried the weapons without rounds in the chambers.
As subsequent versions showed, none of those shot appeared at the meet with personal weapons even though all of them were war veterans. Only one firearm was mentioned in later versions and that was a Universal brand Vulcan Model 440 pump action rifle.
Yes, you read that right: a pump action rifle chambered in .44 Magnum.
The rifle was a modification of the M1 Carbine, a rifle with the gas piston removed and replaced by a pump action assembly. According to the link, only 1,000 of those rifles were ever made.
You gotta wonder how a Ukrainian lawyer and former war veteran in southeastern Ukraine got his hands on such a rare weapon. And why in a nation flooded with firearms and munitions he chose to have the Vulcan as his personal defense weapon.
But alas, it is now probably in the possession of the kops.
Jamey Johnson, a favorite country musician of mine, had his concert cancelled at the House of Blues because he refused to disarm.
Finally, a silly display by a young man showing off a different way to reload his AK.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Pistol ammunition prices were mostly steady. Rifle ammunition prices were steady.
Prices for used pistols were higher. Prices for used rifles were mixed.
New Lows:
None
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 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: +.02 Each After Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Valley, Own Brand, RNFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Valley, Own Brand, FMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .18 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 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 (3 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 (4 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 (4 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 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 (5 Weeks))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 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 (4 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 (6 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: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.30 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 200 rounds (3 Box Limit): Wholesale Hunter, Federal American Eagle, Brass Casing, HP, 2.48 per round (From Last Week: +.012 Each After 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 (8 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $440 Last Week Avg: $387(+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $387 (2 Weeks))
Arizona (196, 3Q, 2017(+2))(196, 182): Bushmaster: $500 ($600 (26 Weeks), $350 (2 Weeks))
Texas (469, 3Q, 2017)(453, 453): DPMS: $425 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (237, 3Q, 2017(+2))(237, 233): Mixed Build: $425 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (282, 3Q, 2017)(259, 247): American Tactical Imports: $450 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $400 (7 Weeks))
Florida (679, 3Q, 2017)(633, 621): Delton: $400 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $815 Last Week Avg: $815(=) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $766 (9 Weeks))
Arizona (40, 3Q, 2017(+2))(40, 34): DPMS: $825 ($2,300 (7 Weeks)), $650 (30 Weeks))
Texas (178, 3Q, 2017)(174, 168): Mixed Build: $900 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (51 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (54, 3Q, 2017)(49, 52): DPMS: $775 ($1,600 (38 Weeks), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (86, 3Q, 2017)(75, 86): Mixed Build: $800 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $750 (23 Weeks))
Florida (127, 3Q, 2017(+2))(127, 116): DPMS: $775 ($1,950 (2Q, 1016), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $540 Last Week Avg: $490(+) ($668 (46 Weeks), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (28, 3Q, 2017)(26, 26): Unknown Make: $650 ($900 (8 Weeks), $400 (13 Weeks))
Texas (141, 3Q, 2017)(114, 123): RAS-47: $500 ($800 (1Q, 2016), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (75, 3Q, 2017)(62, 60): WASR 10/63: $500 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (72, 3Q, 2017)(65, 59): IO: $450 ($700 (2Q, 2016), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (146, 3Q, 2017)(140, 133): Zastava NPAP: $600 ($700 (1Q, 2016), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $350 Last Week Avg: $365(-) ($495 (42 Weeks), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (14, 3Q, 2017)(12, 10): Mossberg 464: $400 ($500 (27 Weeks), $200 (12 Weeks))
Texas (32, 3Q, 2017)(27, 25): Winchester Model 94: $325 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $295 (12 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (23, 3Q, 2017)(18, 18): Marlin: $275 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (17, 3Q, 2017)(12, 12): Marlin: $425 ($670 (2Q, 2016), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (34, 3Q, 2017)(25, 26): Marlin 336: $325 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $396 Last Week Avg: $391(+) ($525 (48 Weeks), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (124, 3Q, 2017)(112, 115): Taurus: $400 ($700 (13 Weeks), $380 (6 Weeks))
Texas (361, 3Q, 2017 (+2))(361, 350): Llama: $375 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $300 (34 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (178, 3Q, 2017)(160, 159): Remington: $450 ($585 (12 Weeks), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (197, 3Q, 2017)(186, 192): American Tactical Imports: $350 ($600 (26 Weeks), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (440, 3Q, 2017)(416, 391): Rock Island Armory: $405 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $240 Last Week Avg: $227(+) ($358 (1Q, 2016), $207 (12 Weeks))
Arizona (238, 3Q, 2017)(228, 223):Smith & Wesson 908: $275 ($400 (18 Weeks), $200 (2 Weeks))
Texas (575, 3Q, 2017)(548, 575): Taurus PT111: $250 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $199 (14 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (368, 3Q, 2017)(356, 353): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $225 ($350 (4Q 2014), $150 (23 Weeks))
Virginia (340, 3Q, 2017)(327, 340): Diamondback DB9: $200 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (2Q, 2016))
Florida (827, 3Q, 2017)(785, 751): Canik TP9SF: $250 ($400 (1Q, 2016), $160 (12 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $330 Last Week Avg: $315(+) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (2Q, 2016))
Arizona (75, 3Q, 2017)(71, 60): Walther PPS: $350 ($500 (28 Weeks), $195 (8 Weeks))
Texas (150, 3Q, 2017)(138, 136): Beretta Px4 Storm: $350 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $200 (32 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (108, 3Q, 2017)(92, 93): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2016), $200 (48 Weeks))
Virginia (89, 3Q, 2017)(80, 81): Taurus PT740: $375 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (179, 3Q, 2017(+2))(179, 172): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $275 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (North Carolina)
IMI Timberwolf pump action rifle chambered in .44 Magnum