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This Week in Guns, July 16th, 2016


By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

A week following the incident we know a little more about the Micah Johnson massacre of Dallas police officers at a Black Lives Matter protest.

We know, for example, the shooter used either an SKS or an AK-74 rifle. Both rifles fire rounds that will ruin your whole day, the 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm respectively, but somehow it matters.

It was later revealed the Dallas tactical team used an explosive charge delivered by robot to end the standoff. A number of publications have criticized the tactic, questioning whether it was appropriate for Dallas SWAT to even have C4 available to them.

It is funny that the publications have had zero problem with the growing militarization of the cops and their tactics, or have chosen to ignore it right up until the moment that explosive charge was detonated, killing Johnson.

I myself have been criticized for likening the Dallas SWAT tactics to those of first person shooters moving against players who "camp."

The way I see it, between the time Johnson fired his first rounds and the time he left this vale of tears there was a firefight in which anything available could be used as a weapon, by both sides. Johnson used some close quarter battle tactics he learned from videos to kill police officers, and when he retreated he went into an area in which Dallas SWAT was forced to deal with him. At that moment, it was still a firefight even though no shots were being fired.

Think of it: a hostile element uses a semiautomatic rifle to gun down 14 of your tribe, and you, holding to the law and standards developed for your entity, attempt to negotiate a peaceful end to this sh*t show started by said hostile entity. After several hours, the suspect still refuses to surrender and acts as if what he is doing at that moment is some great victory.

I have criticized cops in this column in the past, sometimes severely, sometimes maybe unfairly. There is much to criticize them for: their increasingly militarized armaments and tactics, and their craven willingness to enforce unconstitutional laws and directives. The list goes on, and I will continue to criticize them.

But when gunfire gets exchanged between them and whatever other entity or individual, they will and should use whatever means they have to survive the encounter and to end the encounter. That's their job.

Think also that the police have other matters to deal with in a firefight. Their background shooting is a major one. Whether the shooting was a "good" shooting is another. All well and good to make them hold to those matters. But when the lead is flying I won't dig into the minutiae of the decision making process that led them to decide to deliver that one pound surprise to Johnson. That was part of the sh*t show they did not start, but were forced to end.

Dunno if anyone else has noticed, but since it was learned that the shooter was black and radical, the hue and cry for disarmament was greatly reduced. It became thunderous by its absence. So, if you think the calls for disarming the American citizenry are being made by stupid people, you should know that your enemies aren't stupid. They want you disarmed when they come for you.

Loads

Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:

Prices for pistol ammunition were mixed. Prices for rifle ammunition were mixed.

Prices for used pistols were mixed. Prices for used rifles were mixed.

New Lows:

None

Pistol Ammunition

.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round (From Last week: +.02)

.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Mart, Store Brand, FSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Mart, Store Brand, FSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))

9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .16 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .16 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2016))

.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Lucky Gunner, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))

Rifle Ammunition

.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Hotshot, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammunition Supply Company, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (2Q, 2016))

.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .35 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: JG Sales, Tulammo, Steel Casing, FMJ, .34 per round (From Last Week: +.03 Each After Unchanged (4 Weeks))

7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
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: Unchanged (2Q, 2016))

.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds (10 Box Limit): Ammomen, Federal, RNL, .07 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds (1 Box Limit): Gander Mountain, Remington Thunderbolt, RNL, .07 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016))

Guns for Private Sale
Rifles

.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $521 Last Week Avg: $511(+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $476 (40 Weeks))
California (211, 209): Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II: $550 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (45 Weeks))
Texas (261, 275): Bushmaster: $450 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (153, 143): Palmetto State Armory: $555 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (162, 167): Unidentified Build: $600 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $475 (9 Weeks))
Florida (356, 364): Eagle Arms: $450 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))

.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,070 Last Week Avg: $1,080(-) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (41 Weeks))
California (51, 50): DPMS: $1,100 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (50 Weeks))
Texas (81, 80): Rock River Arms LAR-8: $1,100 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $800 (49 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (39, 36): DPMS SASS: $1,000 ($1,500 (1Q, 2015), $700 (42 Weeks))
Virginia (35, 37): CMMG: $950 ($2,750 (26 Weeks), $800 (37 Weeks))
Florida (67, 62): DPMS: $1,200 ($1,950 (11 Weeks), $500 (40 Weeks))

7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $668 Last Week Avg: $627(+) ($668 (CA:$637 (8 Weeks)), $450 (51 Weeks))
California (25, 32): Zastava: $780 ($800 (6 Weeks)), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (56, 61): WASR 10/63: $650 ($800 (27 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (53, 51): WASR 10/63: $650 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (36, 39): Romak SAR-1: $650 ($700 (8 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (85, 85): Noveske: $610 ($700 (20 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))

30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $376 Last Week Avg: $385(-) ($489 (1Q, 2015), $296 (3Q, 2015))
California (11, 8): Mossberg: $350 ($600 (18 Weeks), $180 (2Q, 2015))
Texas (17, 18): Winchester Model 94 : $450 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (15, 19): Winchester: $325 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (11, 9): Marlin 336: $425 ($670 (10 Weeks)), $250 (32 Weeks))
Florida (22, 24): Marlin 336: $330 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))

Pistols

.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $430 Last Week Avg: $496 (-) ($510 (15 Weeks)), $350 (37 Weeks))
California (181, 172): Rock Island Armory: $450 ($750 (5 Weeks), $300 (50 Weeks))
Texas (211, 188): Tisas: $450 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (47 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (176, 174): Tisas: $400 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (123, 133): Taurus: $450 ($575 (24 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (318, 281): Llama: $400 ($500 (23 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))

9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $306 Last Week Avg: $293 (+) ($358 (21 Weeks), $245 (13 Weeks))
California (206, 203): Beretta 92FS: $400 ($500 (20 Weeks), $200 (36 Weeks))
Texas (296, 310): Taurus PT709: $289 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (45 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (266, 267): Taurus: $250 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (51 Weeks))
Virginia (229, 229): Kel-Tec P11: $325 ($425 (28 Weeks), $189 (15 Weeks))
Florida (464, 465): Taurus PT-111: $270 ($400 (17 Weeks), $200 (6 Weeks))

.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $297 Last Week Avg: $310 (-) ($399 (24 Weeks), $262 (5 Weeks))
California (99, 105): Ruger: $350 ($560 (27 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (125, 127): Smith & Wesson SW40VE: $280 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $250 (31 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (79, 81): Smith & Wesson SW40VE: $275 ($450 (14 Weeks), $225 (6 Weeks))
Virginia (62, 61): Smith & Wesson: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (153, 142): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $280 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (23 Weeks))

Used Gun of the Week: (Missouri)
Smith & Wesson 629 Chambered in .44 Magnum
Posted by: badanov 2016-07-16
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=461847