By Chris Covert
Just two links to present this week.
One from Reason magazine suggesting that maybe NICS is unnecessary.
The second is from Hershel Smith, recapping a Shooters Illustrated test of various cartridges for the 5.56x45mm, 55 grain.
Loads 5.45x39mm.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Pistol ammunition prices were mixed. Rifle ammunition prices were mostly steady.
Prices for used pistols were mixed. Prices for used rifles were mostly higher.
New Lows:
None
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Red River Reloading, Silver Bear, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: East Carolina trading, Own brand, FMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .21 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo King, Estate, FMJ, Brass Casing, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: FedArm, Own Brand, TPMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .17 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each)
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Extreme Reloading, Own Brand, FMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads .14 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Fedarm, Own Brand, RN, Brass Casing, Reloads .14 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (9 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Red River Reloading, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017))
.38 Special, 158 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each After Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Prvi Partizan, JSP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .26 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Ammo Valley, Own brand, HP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .24 per round (From Last Week: +.04 Each)
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: AmmoMen, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2017))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .32 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .32 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017))
.30-06 Springfield 145 Grain. From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .54 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: United Nations Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .53 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (8 Weeks))
.300 Winchester Magnum 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Unchanged (3 Weeks), Brass Casing, SP, .81 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Target Sports USA, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, SP, .85 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: +.10 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, HPBT, 2.50 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 200 rounds: Cabelas, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, HPBT, 2.80 per round (From Last Week: +.40 Each)
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo King, Aguila, RNL, .04 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 5,000 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Aguila, RNL, .04 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $455 Last Week Avg: $410(+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $387 (15 Weeks))
Arizona (201, 3Q, 2017(+3))(120, 113): Delton: $500 ($625 (17 Weeks), $300 (16 Weeks))
Texas (484, 3Q, 2017(+3))(355, 356): Palmetto State Armory: $450 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (249, 3Q, 2017(+6))(155, 150): Mixed Build: $475 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (282, 3Q, 2017)(204, 202): Palmetto State Armory: $450 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $300 (3 Weeks))
Florida (679, 3Q, 2017)(447, 432): Smith & Wesson: $400 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $980 Last Week Avg:$790(+) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $766 (27 Weeks))
Arizona (49, 3Q, 2017(+6))(44, 42): Palmetto State Armory: $700 ($2,300 (27 Weeks), $500 (10 Weeks))
Texas (178, 3Q, 2017)(92, 87): DPMS: $700 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $675 (15 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (54, 3Q, 2017)(47, 52): Armalite: $1,600 ($1,600 (4Q, 2016), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (86, 3Q, 2017)(60, 63): Bushmaster: $900 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $675 (6 Weeks))
Florida (128, 3Q, 2017(+3))(69, 68): Mixed Build: $1,000 ($1,950 (2Q, 1016), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $565 Last Week Avg: $585(-) ($668 (3Q, 2016), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (34, 3Q, 2017(+3))(27, 25): C39V2: $850 ($925 (27 Weeks), $400 (32 Weeks))
Texas (141, 3Q, 2017)(68, 67): RAS-47: $450 ($800 (1Q, 2016), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (75, 3Q, 2017)(55, 53): WASR 10: $600 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (72, 3Q, 2017)(59, 60): IO: $400 ($700 (2Q, 2016), $300 (6 Weeks))
Florida (146, 3Q, 2017)(124, 121): IO: $525 ($700 (1Q, 2016), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $370 Last Week Avg: $380(-) ($495 (4Q, 2016), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (14, 3Q, 2017)(6, 5): Marlin: $400 ($500 (47 Weeks), $200 (32 Weeks))
Texas (33, 3Q, 2017)(32, 31): Marlin: $400 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $295 (31 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (23, 3Q, 2017)(13, 13): Winchester 94: $400 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (19, 3Q, 2017(+3))(13, 14): Winchester 94: $350 ($670 (2Q, 2016), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (34, 3Q, 2017)(24, 24): Marlin: $300 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $491 Last Week Avg: $430(+) ($525 (3Q, 2016), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (134, 3Q, 2017(+5))(93, 97): Taurus: $450 ($700 (31 Weeks), $325 (17 Weeks))
Texas (361, 3Q, 2017 (+3))(254, 243): Springfield: $450 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $300 (4Q, 2016))
Pennsylvania (178, 3Q, 2017)(172, 170): Remington R1: $475 ($600 (19 Weeks), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (204, 3Q, 2017(+3))(199, 187): Springfield: $600 ($775 (19 Weeks), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (440, 3Q, 2017)(338, 351): Girsan: $480 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $256 Last Week Avg: $260(-) ($358 (1Q, 2016), $207 (32 Weeks))
Arizona (238, 3Q, 2017)(212, 211): Taurus PT111: $225 ($400 (38 Weeks), $180 (6 Weeks))
Texas (586, 3Q, 2017(+3))(508, 508): Beretta 92S: $259 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $180 (8 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (368, 3Q, 2017)(337, 341): Beretta PX4 Storm: $300 ($350 (4Q 2014), $150 (44 Weeks))
Virginia (365, 3Q, 2017(+6))(344, 355): Tanfoglio: $300 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (2Q, 2016))
Florida (827, 3Q, 2017)(701, 695): Taurus PT111: $200 ($400 (1Q, 2016), $160 (32 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $335 Last Week Avg: $328(+) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (2Q, 2016))
Arizona (77, 3Q, 2017(+2))(43, 43): Glock 22: $450 ($500 (48 Weeks), $195 (28 Weeks))
Texas (156, 3Q, 2017(+2))(108, 104): Ruger SR40C: $325 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $180 (11 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (115, 3Q, 2017(+5))(99, 93): Sig Sauer Pro SP2340: $325 ($450 (2Q, 2016), $200 (3Q, 2016))
Virginia (109, 3Q, 2017(+4))(89, 85): Smith & Wesson SW40VE: $250 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $250 (2 Weeks))
Florida (193, 3Q, 2017(+3))(167, 154): Stoeger Cougar: $325 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (Tennessee)
Type94 Nambu pistol chambered in 8x22mm Nambu