By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
It is hard to gauge a sworn blood enemy like ISIS. They have no organized army, no central command, and no apparent plan of attack.
What they do have is a large number of crazies living in the USA, who support, tacitly or blatantly, ISIS' apparent goal of general mayhem, and a probably smaller number who are just as crazy but with the capability of launching a mass casualty attack. What do you defend? Where do you defend?
ISIS' strategy, it seems, lies in the notion that governments will do as ISIS expects them to do, something that ISIS is likely prepared to counter. Frederick the Great said about strategy, "He who will defend everything, will defend nothing." That quote was lifted from Paul Carrell's most excellent social history of WWII in Russia, "Scorched Earth", and in that context, is meant to apply where forces wind up in the event of an overwhelming attack. In WWII, the German Army found great success in defensive battles by placing forces, not where the enemy was expected to be, but where the enemy could not reach them in the initial contact. Those mobile forces, once the first blows have landed, would then be used to strike at enemy forces where they would never expect to be.
The average citizen, thanks to ISIS, is living on a battlefield where his nose is the front line and his only means of supply and resupply is based on how well he has prepared, and the goodwill of friendly neighbors. But even with the basic logistics available to the average US citizen, ISIS is still an amorphous enemy who will rely on the crazies willing to step up and sacrifice their lives to attack and kill Americans. You can't plan on where you or your neighbors will be when a strike does come to your city, since ISIS' whole strategy rests, not on gaining yardage in places they can't hold, but breaking the will of their enemy, through sudden and massive violence, better when filmed and even more so when a broadcasted message can precede an attack.
Their enemy would be us, you and me.
Neither the government, nor private armies can locate ISIS' recruiting centers, or supply centers, because they don't exist. Their recruiting is done on Twitter and email, and their supplies depend on what a local criminal class can provide the crazies who volunteer, in exchange for a healthy amount of cash. Their recruits are whoever is crazy enough, Moslem or not, to pull the trigger of a rifle against unarmed individuals. And ISIS doesn't go out to get recruits; they don't have to. Recruits are coming to them.
I am no tactical expert. In this column, my expertise rests solely on following trends of pricing and availability of common firearms and ammunition. I have never fired a shot in anger at anyone, and though I am prior service military, the last time I fired an AR was while Jane Fonda was in North Vietnam casting her lot with an armed and hostile enemy of America.
A lot of advice is out there on what a citizen can do to defend himself and his family against a sudden attack, and much of that advice is probably plain awful. Advice such as getting tactical firearms training seems like a good place to start, if you have a long weekend and can part with $500, plus travel costs. Tactical Response and Max Velocity are but two who offer classes. If you are too old or infirm to get tactical training, it may be better to pay for a younger relative's training. However, I would like to point out that on one tactical training website I visited, one fella was being pushed around in his wheelchair participating in tactical pistol training exercises. So, if they can teach a fella in a wheel chair, they surely can help you.
But if you can't part with the resources, financial or personal, it seems to me the next best advice is shot placement using your preferred weapon. You may not be able to fight using your rifle, but if your first shot against an active shooter hits the mark, it may well spur you into getting tactical training.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition and for rifle ammunition were mostly steady.
Prices for used pistols were mostly higher, while prices for used rifles were mostly lower.
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ventura Munitions, Wolf Polyformance, FMJ, steel cased, .27 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Ultramax, FMJ, Brass Cased, Reloads, .16 per round (From Last week: -.11 Each (!!))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Freedom Munitions, Store Brand, FMJ, Reloads, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Brown Bear, FMJ, Steel Cased, .17 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: The American Marksman, Stryker 9, FMJ, Reloads, .18 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .28 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 500 rounds: Ammunition To Go, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .33 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Munire USA, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Surplus Ammo, Tulammo, steel cased, .25 per round (From Last Week: +.02 Each After Unchanged (5 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Natchez Shooters Supplies, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .40 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Lucky Gunner, Tulammo, Steel Cased, FMJ, .44 per round (From Last Week: -.06 Each )
7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Wolf WPA, steel case, FMJ, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, steel case, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q 2015))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Sportsman's Guide, GECO, RNL, .09 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Munire USA, CI Raptor, RNL, .09 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each)
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $486 Last Week Avg: $500(-) ($616 (16 Weeks), $486 (CA: $492 (2 Weeks)))
California (264, 244): Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport : $580 ($650 (26 Weeks), $425 (29 Weeks))
Texas (328, 363): DPMS: $550 ($700 (19 Weeks), $350 (14 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (146, 152): Smith & Wesson M&P 15: $300 ($700 (15 Weeks), $300 (3 Weeks))
Virginia (195, 192): American Tactical Imports: $500 ($750 (19 Weeks), $500 (24 Weeks))
Florida (382, 396): Les Baer Police Special: $500 ($650 (5 Weeks), $450 (38 Weeks))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $932 Last Week Avg: $1,050(-) ($1,359 (14 Weeks), $898 (4 Weeks))
California (50, 47): Winchester: $1,200 ($1,700 (29 Weeks), $900 (7 Weeks))
Texas (73, 68): Windham Weaponry: $860 ($1,500 (34 Weeks), $860 (CA: $900 (38 Weeks)))
Pennsylvania (33, 52): DPMS LR-308T: $800 ($1,500 (20 Weeks), $800 (28 Weeks))
Virginia (58, 51): Rock River Arms LAR-8: $1,000 ($1,650 (4 Weeks), $900 (34 Weeks))
Florida (70, 70): DPMS Panther AR10: $800 ($1,500 (35 Weeks), $750 (23 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $480 Last Week Avg: $488 (-) ($626 (16 Weeks), $450 (3 Weeks))
California (53, 45): SLR-100H/SLR 95: $500 ($700 (19 Weeks), $320 (30 Weeks))
Texas (78, 80): Hungarian FEG: $500 ($750 (18 Weeks), $350 (36 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (45, 45): AMD65: $450 ($750 (24 Weeks), $375 (9 Weeks))
Virginia (57, 58): Century GP-1975: $400 ($625 (22 Weeks), $350 (24 Weeks))
Florida (107, 105): Zastava M70 NPAP: $550 ($650 (14 Weeks), $300 (34 Weeks))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $360 Last Week Avg: $346(+) ($489 (24 Weeks), $296 (4 Weeks))
California (7, 7): Marlin 1870 Model 336: $400 ($450 (8 Weeks), $180 (4 Weeks))
Texas (17, 19): Marlin JM: $450 ($550 (24 Weeks), $300 (29 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (14, 13): Winchester Model 94: $300 ($450 (24 Weeks), $250 (29 Weeks))
Virginia (11, 9): JM: $350 ($450 (8 Weeks), $350 (26 Weeks))
Florida (18, 21): Marlin 336: $300 ($500 (21 Weeks), $250 (7 Weeks))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $390 Last Week Avg: $390 (=) ($450 (22 Weeks), $360 (17 Weeks))
California (191, 182): Rock Island Armory 1911: $399 ($600 (23 Weeks), $350 (34 Weeks))
Texas (267, 275): Taurus 1911: $400 ($600 (33 Weeks), $350 (20 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (139, 145): Auto Ordnance: $350 ($550 (12 Weeks), $300 (6 Weeks))
Virginia (151, 150): Tisas: $400 ($550 (14 Weeks), $250 (31 Weeks))
Florida (325, 321): Taurus 1911: $400 ($475 (5 Weeks), $250 (20 Weeks))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $290 Last Week Avg: $286 (+) ($336 (20 Weeks), $286 (25 Weeks))
California (177, 181): Keltec PF9: $380 ($450 (23 Weeks), $250 (28 Weeks))
Texas (252, 271): Ruger P89: $300 ($355 (22 Weeks), $220 (13 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (234, 229): Smith & Wesson SW9VE AF: $200 ($350 (39 Weeks), $200 (CA: $240 (17 Weeks)))
Virginia (208, 202): Bersa BP9CC: $340 ($400 (15 Weeks), $250 (2 Weeks))
Florida (441, 439): Smith & Wesson: $230 ($375 (31 Weeks), $230 (CA: $250 (19 Weeks)))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $314 Last Week Avg: $308(+) ($368 (12 Weeks), $300 (38 Weeks))
California (97, 101): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $300 ($400 (15 Weeks), $250 (28 Weeks))
Texas (129, 130): Ruger SR 40: $350 ($425 (32 Weeks), $275 (15 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (77, 84): Kahr CT40: $285 ($350 3 Weeks), $250 (23 Weeks))
Virginia (71, 74): Smith & Wesson M&P: $335 ($450 (11 Weeks), $275 (27 Weeks))
Florida (138, 143): Smith & Wesson Sigma: $300 ($400 (21 Weeks), $260 (9 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Alabama)
Ruger Blackhawk Chambered in .357 Magnum
Chris Covert writes for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com and on Twitter.