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This Week in Guns, March 3rd, 2018


By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

Terrible news from the broken world of journalism: former New York Daily News writer, Gersh Kuntzman has been fired only a few months after jumping ship from the New York Daily News to Newsweek. I guess being a court jester wasn't enough to save his career. Lots of openings for clowns in New York state, I s'pect.

I was completely stunned a few days ago when Trump stated in a roomful of congressional politicians that he would prefer to see guns seized first, then due process second. As Senator Rand Paul noted in a tweet, due process comes first, or it is not due process. What was being discussed was the efficacy of laws that allow government officials to seize guns if a defendant is deemed a danger to society. Whether you agree with Trump or not, what he is talking about is preventative action by the state against its own American citizens, which would make Trump and the politicians who sign off on it tyrants in a very real sense of the word.

Were gun control laws to get to that point -- wait a minute, California already allows guns to be seized based on an ex parte order, so disregard. We are already there. The laws and variations of preventative seizure are being seriously considered because it will be applied only to the mentally ill, they say. In other words, only to those the state says are crazy. All of which must be a very small subset of all people, especially a class you don't normally appeal to for votes.

I mean, they promise it will be Constitutional, and you won't be affected just as long as you go along. Everyone wants to save the children, right? You're crazy if you don't.

According to NPR, good relations between top leaders of the NRA and Russia mean those leaders are tied to the Kremlin.

This disease among supporters of gun control in public forums is insanely intense. Having what I thought was a nice exchange of ideas with others on gun control, trying to educate the Kommies on how the Constitution is supposed to restrict the government not the people, a (I assumed) young man became irritated when I used the term Kulak in reference to how liberals treat members of the NRA.

Not only did the comparison fly completely over the head of this individual, he said it was a racist term. Then, he continued by saying that I am a troll in the pay of the Kremlin and everything I say should be ignored. I figured at that point the conversion stopped being a conversation and started to be the rantings of a Soviet Kommissar, so I decided to stop following the thread. Good idea, right?

The fella continued to denounce me on my Facebook wall as being in league with Volodya, but he finally stopped after I responded to his rantings with: Неправда, но продолжайте: "Not true, but do go on."

Sheesh, this and Volodya is a deadbeat. I haven't been paid by the Kremlin in forever.

The punchline to all this is that the individual who continually hammered away on the Russian troll thing wasn't young at all, but appeared by his profile pic to be in his late 40s.

You'd think that after 40 to 50 years alive in the USA, you'd know maybe a little about the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution and firearms. But then I remember, there's Kuntzman.

Loads

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 higher.

A week and a half after the massacre at Florida, used firearms made a small rise in average price. Even the AR-15, which had been dwelling in the mid $400s has risen. At the moment these increases in asking price for used rifles are only in the initial stage, but another item in assessing the price levels of firearms has become apparent.

Last August I remarked about how the used firearm market had been flooded with used firearms.

Now, six months later, in nearly every category I follow, the number of available firearms for sale has dropped, some classes halved in quantity. As I remarked last week, the general prices of pistols has been rising steadily, with some pistols going for well above the average high I have been tracking since the start of this column. Whatever condition in the market has changed, it has changed for all categories of firearms.

New Lows:

None

Pistol Ammunition

.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Red River Reloading, Silver Bear, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: East Carolina Trading, Own brand, FMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))

.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Expert Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: East Carolina Trading, Own Brand, CRN, Brass Casing, Reloads, .17 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2017))

9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Expert Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing .14 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Expert Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing .13 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))

.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Lucky Gunner, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (3Q, 2017))

.38 Special, 158 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Vizards Gun and Ammo, Prvi Partizan, RNL, Brass Casing .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 500 rounds: Ammo Valley, Own brand, FP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .24 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)

Rifle Ammunition

.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Able's, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Expert Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Expert Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .30 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Expert Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .28 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Classic Firearms, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: True Shot Gun Club, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017))

.30-06 Springfield 145 Grain, From Last Week: -.06 Each After Unchanged (4 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 (4Q, 2017))

.300 Winchester Magnum 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Selway Armory, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, SP, .75 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Expert Ammo, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, SP, .70 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Ten Ring, Brass Casing, SP, 2.15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 320 rounds: Ammo Board, Ten Ring, Brass Casing, FBSP, 2.25 per round (From Last Week: -.55 After Unchanged (1Q, 2018))

.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo King, Federal, RNL, .04 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 5,000 rounds: Expert Ammo, Aguila, RNL, .03 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

Guns for Private Sale
Rifles

.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $520 Last Week Avg: $450(+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $387 (26 Weeks))
Arizona (201, 3Q, 2017(+3))(107, 119): DPMS: $450 ($740 (10 Weeks), $300 (25 Weeks))
Texas (484, 3Q, 2017(+3))(314, 329): Ruger 556: $500 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (249, 3Q, 2017(+6))(133, 147): Smith & Wesson MP15 Sport II: $550 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (282, 3Q, 2017)(206, 224): Palmetto State Armory: $500 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $300 (13 Weeks))
Florida (679, 3Q, 2017)(408, 435): Palmetto State Armory: $600 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $350 (4 Weeks))

.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,090 Last Week Avg:$860(+) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $766 (38 Weeks))
Arizona (49, 3Q, 2017(+6))(32, 34): Armalite: $1,100 ($2,300 (38 Weeks), $500 (21 Weeks))
Texas (178, 3Q, 2017)(82, 89): DPMS: $900 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $600 (4 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (54, 3Q, 2017)(23, 27): CMMG: $1,500 ($1,600 (4Q, 2016), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (86, 3Q, 2017)(61, 61): Unidentified Build: $1,000 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $675 (17 Weeks))
Florida (128, 3Q, 2017(+3))(67, 69): DPMS: $950 ($1,950 (2Q, 1016), $500 (3Q, 2015))

7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $630 Last Week Avg: $600(+) ($728 (3 Weeks), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (34, 3Q, 2017(+3))(29, 33): CAI: $600 ($950 (3 Weeks), $400 (42 Weeks))
Texas (141, 3Q, 2017)(59, 67): WASR 10/63: $700 ($1,000 (3 Weeks)), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (75, 3Q, 2017)(43, 45): IO: $600 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (72, 3Q, 2017)(53, 58): RAS-47: $650 ($700 (2Q, 2016), $300 (18 Weeks))
Florida (146, 3Q, 2017)(122, 138): IO: $600 ($700 (1Q, 2016), $300 (4Q, 2014))

30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $430 Last Week Avg: $408(+) ($495 (4Q, 2016), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (14, 3Q, 2017)(3, 4): Winchester 94: $550 ($800 (3 Weeks), $200 (41 Weeks)))
Texas (35, 3Q, 2017(+2))(21, 24): Marlin 1893A: $400 ($550 (1Q, 2015), ($290 (2 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (23, 3Q, 2017)(14, 13): Winchester 94: $400 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (19, 3Q, 2017(+3))(9, 9): Winchester 94: $500 ($670 (2Q, 2016), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (34, 3Q, 2017)(16, 21): Marlin: $300 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))

Pistols

.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $464 Last Week Avg: $508(-) ($525 (3Q, 2016), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (134, 3Q, 2017(+5))(90, 90): Rock Island Armory: $450 ($700 (42 Weeks), $325 (28 Weeks))
Texas (361, 3Q, 2017 (+3))(249, 257): Auto Ordnance: $499 ($650 (2 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2016)))
Pennsylvania (178, 3Q, 2017)(159, 172): Remington R1: $425 ($600 (30 Weeks), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (204, 3Q, 2017(+3))(160, 169): Charles Daly: $450 ($775 (30 Weeks), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (440, 3Q, 2017)(286, 299): American Tactical Imports: $500 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))

9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $279 Last Week Avg: $298(-) ($358 (1Q, 2016), $207 (42 Weeks))
Arizona (238, 3Q, 2017)(155, 164): Taurus 709: $250 ($400 (49 Weeks), $180 (17 Weeks))
Texas (586, 3Q, 2017(+3))(439, 488): Ruger P95: $315 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $180 (19 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (441, 3Q, 2017(+2))(307, 321): Glock 17: $270 ($350 (4Q 2014), $150 (1Q, 2017))
Virginia (365, 3Q, 2017(+6))(300, 325): Taurus G2C: $260 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (2Q, 2016))
Florida (827, 3Q, 2017)(693, 724): Ruger P95: $300 ($400 (1Q, 2016), $160 (43 Weeks))

.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $329 Last Week Avg: $301(+) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (2Q, 2016))
Arizona (77, 3Q, 2017(+2))(43, 45): Bersa Thunder: $395 ($500 (1Q, 2017), $195 (39 Weeks))
Texas (156, 3Q, 2017(+2))(118, 120): Smith & Wesson: $250 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $180 (12 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (115, 3Q, 2017(+5))(78, 90): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2016), $200 (3Q, 2016))
Virginia (109, 3Q, 2017(+4))(91, 89): Beretta PX4 Storm Inox: $450 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $220 (7 Weeks))
Florida (193, 3Q, 2017(+3))(145, 157): Kahr CM 40: $250 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))

Used Gun of the Week: (Tennessee)
BrowningA-Bolt bolt action rifle chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum
Posted by: badanov 2018-03-03
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=509327