By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
The latest at the standoff in Oregon is that the occupiers are not budging, refusing to leave until specific conditions are met, namely the return of federal lands to their private owners/users.
Left unaddressed or even as a beef against the government is the fate of the two jailed ranchers, who now serve a draconian sentence for arson. The protest now centers around the part of the Constitution that restricts land use by the government to a very small parcel. Land fees grazing fees and the Bureau of Land management are all unconstitutional manifestations.
From Western Rifle Shooters Association is word that more federal government shooters are moving into the area, which can only mean preparations are being made for a violent move by the government. When or whether they will receive the go, no one but the government knows.
The cry "No More Free Wacos" has gone up, and Oathkeepers has responded by positioning people between the occupiers and the outside. Preparations were being made for help from the outside, but they have made it clear those entering their area of operation will be vetted.
My main beef is with the occupiers. Their problems with the government are settled and now they can venture forth in an area that has 40 percent of families with some kind of income from either working for the federal government or from pensions? Harney County is a government town, for all intents and purposes, and the protesters had nothing better to do than to challenge an area where the gravy train is run by the planet's largest single entity?
Elsewhere, including in Oregon comes legislation to further disarm individuals, including more gun control measures even in the wake of the universal background check law passed last year, and proposed restrictions on tactical gear. Ya'll know that t-shirts are considered gear, right?
If you can come away with any lesson in "common sense gun laws", you should know that whatever gets passed is just part of what is wanted, and the fascists who passed those laws will be back for more.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mostly steady, while prices for rifle ammunition were mixed.
After three straight weeks of consistent price increases, prices for .223 Remington 55 Grain cartridges collapsed to .23 per round. The same pattern was present last year when prices spiked, apparently due to fear of banning of certain types of 5.56x45mm ammunition.
It is so hard to quantify the reasons. If the current president shoots his mouth off again (pun intended) about violating 2nd Amendment right, and prices do spike again, we can consider the price spikes due to fear of future sportiness by the government.
Then again, all this took place directly after Christmas, so maybe millions more considered ammunition as the gift that keeps on giving, and now they're out, and not wiling to buy again.
Prices for used pistols were mostly higher, while prices for used rifles were mixed.
New Lows:
None
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Quality Made Cartridges, Store Brand, FMJ, Brass, Reloads, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Quality Made Cartridges, Store Brand, FMJ, Brass, Reloads, .25 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Bud's Gun Shop, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Freedom Ammunition, Store brand, FMJFP, Brass, Reloads, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Natchez Shooters Supplies, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .18 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammunition to Go, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .17 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .28 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .25 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: -.07 Each (!!)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .24 per round (From Last Week: -.03 Each)
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Supply Company, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .37 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Vizards Guns and Ammo, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .40 per round (From Last Week: +.06 Each (!!) After Unchanged (6 Weeks))
7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 After Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Munire USA, Wolf WPA, steel case, FMJ, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: TrueCaliber.com, Wolf WPA, steel case, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (10 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds (10 Box Limit): Ammo2U, CCI, RNL .08 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 5,000 rounds: Ammo2U, CCI, RNL, .07 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (8 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $598 Last Week Avg: $590 (+) ($616 (41 Weeks), $476 (17 Weeks))
California (182, 185): Palmetto State Armory: $640 ($650 (1Q,2015), $400 (20 Weeks))
Texas (228, 227): Bushmaster: $675 ($700 (46 Weeks), $350 (41 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (93, 95): Mixed Build: $525 ($700 (40 Weeks), $300 (28 Weeks))
Virginia (125, 130): Sig Sauer 556: $650 ($750 (46 Weeks), $480 (6 Weeks))
Florida (298, 300): Mixed Build: $500 ($650 (30 Weeks), $380 (42 Weeks))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,303 Last Week Avg:$1,030 (+) ($1,359 (40 Weeks), $820 (16 Weeks))
California (49, 48): CMMG: 1,000 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (25 Weeks))
Texas (63, 59): DPMS: $800 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $800 (24 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (20, 25): DPMS: $1,000 ($1,500 (46 Weeks), $700 (17 Weeks))
Virginia (34, 35): DPMS: $2,750 ($2,750 (CA: $1,650 (28 Weeks)), $800 (12 Weeks))
Florida (67, 70): PTAC TAC10: $975 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $500 (16 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $580 Last Week Avg: $599 (-) ($626 (42 Weeks), $450 (27 Weeks))
California (54, 45): Zastava Opap: $600 ($700 (44 Weeks), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (48, 50): WASR 10: $800 ($800 (2 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (48, 45): AK: $500 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (36 Weeks))
Virginia (52, 60): AK: $500 ($625 (47 Weeks), $350 (49 Weeks))
Florida (70, 69): CAI: $500 ($650 (40 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $380 Last Week Avg: $399 (-) ($489 (48 Weeks), $296 (30 Weeks))
California (9, 8): Mossburg 464 SPX: $425 ($500 (25 Weeks), $180 (31 Weeks))
Texas (20, 20): Marlin 30AS: $375 ($550 (47 Weeks), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (17, 13): Marlin AS30: $300 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (10, 9): Marlin 336CS: $450 ($475 (6 Weeks), $250 (8 Weeks))
Florida (18, 19): Winchester Model 94: $350 ($500 (47 Weeks), $250 (33 Weeks))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $460 Last Week Avg: $459 (+) ($460 (CA: $450 (45 Weeks)), $350 (16 Weeks))
California (143, 154): Rock Island Armory: $500 ($600 (48 Weeks), $300 (26 Weeks))
Texas (172, 168): American Tactical 1911: $400 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (22 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (135, 133): Springfield 1911: $450 ($550 (38 Weeks), $300 (32 Weeks))
Virginia (132, 130): Unknown Brand: $450 ($550 (40 Weeks), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (298, 298): Arcadia Machine and Tool: $500 (CA:($475 (50 Weeks)), $250 (45 Weeks))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $328 Last Week Avg: $321 (+) ($336 (43 Weeks), $268 (21 Weeks))
California (125, 123): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $375 ($450 (48 Weeks), $200 (11 Weeks))
Texas (177, 189): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $300 ($355 (47 Weeks), $200 (20 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (166, 169): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $320 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (27 Weeks))
Virginia (160, 152): Ruger P95: $350 ($425 (4 Weeks)), $250 (27 Weeks))
Florida (342, 349): Smith & Wesson Sigma: $295 ($375 (4Q, 2014), $220 (20 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $353 Last Week Avg: $399 (-) ($399 (2 Weeks), $300 (3Q, 2014))
California (83, 86): Springfield XD-40: $375 ($560 (2 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (84, 91): Smith & Wesson: $400 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $250 (6 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (61, 62): Smith & Wesson SW99: $300 ($350 (28 Weeks), $250 (48 Weeks))
Virginia (62, 65): Kahr CW40: $350 ($450 (37 Weeks), $275 (1Q,2015))
Florida (133, 136): Ruger P94: $340 ($400 (48 Weeks), $200 (21 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Georgia)
Armi Chiappa Chambered in .45 Black Powder
Chris Covert writes for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com and on Twitter.