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-Land of the Free
This Week in Guns, March 12, 2016
2016-03-12


By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

Perhaps you missed it from yesterday: the story that Russian backed rebels in Donetsk were engaging their targets out to 500 meters, an unheard of range even with the 5.45x39mm AK-74 rifle. Pretty amazing change in gunnery for the Rooshuns, if you ask me.

***

The arguments that are most notably absent in talking about the right to keep and bear arms are the reasons. Federal law has built up rules and regulations over the years that restrict legal weapons to sport or self defense against criminals, but hardly anyone wants to talk about the original purpose for making a constitutional law that forbids the government from restricting the ownership and use of firearms: for use against foreign and domestic enemies, however they are defined.

One of the great ironies of our time, if this nation survives in the next eight years, is how laws passed at all levels of government over the years have sought to restrict and even eliminate firearms ownership, all with the stamped approval of black robed mandarins cheered on by that part of the political electorate so unhinged about firearms that they seek their countrymen's deaths. Laws which are regarded as a work in progress for even more laws, but are never commonly regarded as what they are: unconstitutional infringements on a right outlined in the constitution.

Growing up, I was raised in a relatively liberal household, so I never seriously considered the sentiments I occasionally saw emblazoned on vehicles about Liberty being only one generation from disappearing. I never had a firearm in my household, so I never really considered the implications of owning one, not just from the practical point of view, but as an emblem of American citizenship and respect for the US Constitution. After I changed politically, I spent many years feeling guilty about what I had done to further the agenda of the left, until I decided to absolve myself the only way it was going to be done, by pursuing as best I can a reversal of the growing, insipid insanity that constitutes modern governance.

From John Mosby: a three part series on developing a practice plan
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Read on Facebook: "There are no long range gun ranges in my states. What do I do?"

Answer: "Make your targets smaller."

Loads.

Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:

Prices for pistol ammunition were mostly lower, while prices for rifle ammunition were mostly steady.

Prices for used pistols and for used rifles were mixed.

New Lows:

None

Pistol Ammunition

.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .25 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))

.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammomart, Store brand, FSFP, Reloads, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (10 Weeks))

9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .17 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Rush Creek Ammo, Store brand, FMJ, Reloads, .16 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks))

.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .25 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2015))

Rifle Ammunition

.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, steel casing, .22 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks))

.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (4Q, 2015)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, steel casing, .36 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, steel casing, FMJ, .36 per round (From Last Week: -.04 Each)

7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Top Gun Supply, Russian Military Issue, steel case, FMJ, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, steel case, FMJ, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 weeks))

.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammomen, Federal, RNL .07 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 325 rounds: Natchez Shooters Supply, Federal, RNL, .07 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))

Guns for Private Sale
Rifles

.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $585 Last Week Avg: $530 (+) ($616 (48 Weeks), $476 (24 Weeks))
California (183, 179): Stag Arms: $550 ($650 (1Q,2015), $400 (27 Weeks))
Texas (237, 223): Mixed Build: $500 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (48 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (109, 115): Del-Ton : $650 ($700 (47 Weeks), $300 (35 Weeks))
Virginia (144, 141): Mixed Build: $625 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $480 (13 Weeks))
Florida (304, 304): Mixed Build: $599 ($650 (37 Weeks), $380 (49 Weeks))

.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $865 Last Week Avg: $1,174 (-) ($1,359 (47 Weeks), $820 (23 Weeks))
California (43, 44): Palmetto State Armory: $950 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (32 Weeks))
Texas (79, 76): DPMS Panther Oracle: $825 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $800 (31 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (24, 29): DPMS: $750 ($1,500 (1Q, 2015), $700 (24 Weeks))
Virginia (35, 32): DPMS: $850 ($2,750 (8 Weeks), $800 (19 Weeks))
Florida (56, 60): DPMS: $950 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $500 (23 Weeks))

7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $606 Last Week Avg: $613 (-) ($626 (49 Weeks), $450 (34 Weeks))
California (50, 55): WASR 10: $700 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (54, 53): Century RAS47: $630 ($800 (9 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (37, 38): Zastava PAP: $500 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (43 Weeks))
Virginia (37, 40): WASR 10: $600 ($625 (1Q, 2015), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (84, 78): WASR 10: $600 ($700 (2 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))

30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $371 Last Week Avg: $400 (-) ($489 (1Q, 2015), $296 (37 Weeks))
California (9, 9): Mossberg 464 SPX: $470 ($500 (32 Weeks), $180 (38 Weeks))
Texas (18, 16): Marlin 336: $350 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (20, 21): Winchester Model 94: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (12, 7): Winchester Model 94: $300 ($600 (4 Weeks)), $250 (15 Weeks))
Florida (24, 28): Mossberg 464: $385 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (40 Weeks))

Pistols

.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $491 Last Week Avg: $455 (+) ($500 (4 Weeks), $350 (22 Weeks))
California (147, 152): Rock Island Armory: $725 ($725 (CA: $600 (1Q,2015)), $300 (32 Weeks))
Texas (172, 171): Balaster-Molina: $480 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (29 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (124, 122): Rock Island Armory: $375 ($550 (44 Weeks), $300 (39 Weeks))
Virginia (140, 143): American Tactical 1911: $500 ($575 (6 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (275, 282): Llama: $375 ($500 (5 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))

9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $320 Last Week Avg: $358 (-) ($358 (2 Weeks), $268 (28 Weeks))
California (117, 122): Kahr CW9: $375 ($500 (2 Weeks), $200 (18 Weeks))
Texas (171, 178): Smith & Wesson 439: $275 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (27 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (154, 160): Heritage Arms Stealth C1000: $225 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (34 Weeks))
Virginia (152, 164): Ruger P85: $400 ($425 (11 Weeks)), $250 (34 Weeks))
Florida (268, 297): Walther PPX: $325 ($375 (4Q, 2014), $220 (26 Weeks))

.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $340 Last Week Avg: $351 (-) ($399 (9 Weeks), $293 (5 Weeks))
California (80, 86): Glock 17: $399 ($560 (9 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (84, 77): Smith & Wesson M&P: $300 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $250 (13 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (60, 60): Smith & Wesson SW99: $300 ($350 (35 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (50, 57): Sig Sauer P250: $425 ($450 (43 Weeks), $275 (1Q,2015))
Florida (132, 126): Smith & Wesson SD40: $275 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $200 (27 Weeks))

Used Gun of the Week: (Michigan)
Marlin Model 1894SS Chambered in .44 Magnum

Chris Covert writes for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com and on Twitter
Posted by:badanov

#5  The Mosby links are nice, thanks badanov.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2016-03-12 19:17  

#4  There was a lot of concern even with a standing Navy.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2016-03-12 18:44  

#3  Yep. The founders never trusted a standing army of any significance. They were just recently Englishmen who's experience include Oliver Cromwell. That's reflected in the document. Also, they didn't want the standing army to be much better armed than the militia for the same reason.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2016-03-12 16:14  

#2  P2K - What you say is true, but when I go back and read the 2A this is what I see:

Because a well regulated Militia is necessary for the security of a free State, the right of the people individually to also keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. [my edits]

In other words, because the government must have access to military force, the people must have access to it as well.
Posted by: Iblis   2016-03-12 12:53  

#1  The part they and even gun supporters miss about the issue is what is the militia. In 1792 that was every free white male 18 to 45, to be armed with the same type weapon that the small standing army was equipped with. That little nagging thing called the Constitution had in its contents, Article I, Section 8 that particular power in Congress -

The Congress shall have power...

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

Today that is found in Title X, USC -

10 U.S. Code § 311 - Militia: composition and classes
(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are—
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.


That means, whether you want to or not, per the authority granted by the Constitution, Congress has enrolled said males into the federal militia. It's the basis of what commonly is referred to as the 'draft' which is more accurately the selective activation of that federal militia (ie Selective Service). Do away with the law governing the militia and technically the 14th Amendment comes into play prohibiting involuntary servitude. That's if you believe in law and the constitution sort of stuff. Non-applicable if you just believe in power.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2016-03-12 07:54  

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