By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Who is the bitter clinger now?
Television reporterette Katie Couric was caught selectively editing footage of an interview with pro gun activists she did for a television special for Yahoo.com, of all outlets.
I hadn't read much about it, but from what I have read, Couric apparently thought she could get away with pressing an agenda by twisting the presented facts, and no one would notice.
The Internet has changed things in the last 10 years. Dumb stunts like Couric's not only are noticed, but also the word of such malfeasance will be spread far and wide.
The proprietor of the Western Rifle Shooters Association (WRSA) has sage advice for dealing with the press: Don't talk to them. But I think that if you also record the interview yourself, you could safely talk to them as long as you have an outlet for releasing the raw footage.
WRSA has a point, though. No matter how clearly something gets stated on television, those with an agenda, on both sides, will find a way to twist your words.
Continuing the discussion from last week about ARs vs. AKs, the pro Russian military news website Southfront.org had an article camparing the two. Knowledgeably written, but written for a crowd that wouldn't know a fire control group from a box of matches.
And finally, some helpful information on concealed carry reciprocity nationwide.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were steady across the board. Prices for rifle ammunition were mostly lower.
Prices for both used pistols were mixed on the low side, while prices for used rifles were higher across the board.
The nationwide average price of used AKs spiked to an all time high average of $637, with prices in California and Virginia spiking to all time highs.
New Lows:
None
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (10 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Mart, Store Brand, RN, Brass Cased, Reloads, .22 per round (From Last week: -.02 Each)
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Mart, Store Brand, RSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .19 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (4 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Bud's Gun Shop, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .16 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .16 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2016))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Ammunition to Go, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .24 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (4Q, 2015))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, steel casing, .21 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: -.02 Each After Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .35 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, steel casing, FMJ, .34 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (10 Weeks))
7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: TrueCaliber.com, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (6 weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds (10 Box Limit): Ammomen, Aguila, RNL, .07 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds (2 Cases Max): Cabela's, Remington, RNL, .07 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $515 Last Week Avg: $504 (+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $476 (34 Weeks))
California (219, 223): Palmetto State Armory: $530 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (38 Weeks))
Texas (292, 292): DPMS Panther: $500 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (156, 153): Mixed Build: $499 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (46 Weeks))
Virginia (173, 163): Mixed Build: $550 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $475 (2 Weeks))
Florida (365, 361): Olympic Arms: $500 ($650 (48 Weeks), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,049 Last Week Avg: $949 (+) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (33 Weeks))
California (55, 51): DPMS: $1,000 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (43 Weeks))
Texas (85, 82): DPMS LR308: $800 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $800 (42 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (36, 37): DPMS SASS: $1,200 ($1,500 (1Q, 2015), $700 (35 Weeks))
Virginia (45, 45): CMMG: $950 ($2,750 (19 Weeks), $800 (30 Weeks))
Florida (59, 63): Rock River Arms: $1,299 ($1,950 (4 Weeks), $500 (33 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $637 Last Week Avg: $572 (+) ($637 (CA: $626 (2Q, 2015)), $450 (44 Weeks))
California (34, 38): Saiga: $750 ($750 (CA:$725 (9 Weeks)), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (71, 74): Unknown Brand: $560 ($800 (20 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (53, 51): Century Arms RAS47: $525 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (44, 38): WASR: $700 ($700 (CA: $650 (9 Weeks)), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (101, 95): CAI: $650 ($700 (13 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $385 Last Week Avg: $377 (+) ($489 (1Q, 2015), $296 (47 Weeks))
California (8, 9): Mossberg 464 SPX: $400 ($600 (11 Weeks), $180 (50 Weeks))
Texas (13, 18): Marlin: $350 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (24, 21): Marlin 30AS: $325 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (11, 12): Marlin 336: $425 ($670 (4 Weeks)), $250 (26 Weeks))
Florida (21, 19): Marlin 336: $425 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (51 Weeks))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $414 Last Week Avg: $402 (+) ($510 (8 Weeks)), $350 (31 Weeks))
California (180, 182): Rock Island Armory: $500 ($725 (11 Weeks), $300 (42 Weeks))
Texas (200, 201): Tisas: $450 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (40 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (170, 166): Tisas: $325 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (50 Weeks))
Virginia (134, 139): Rock Island Armory: $400 ($575 (17 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (276, 271): American Tactical Imports: $399 ($500 (16 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $256 Last Week Avg: $264 (-) ($358 (12 Weeks), $245 (6 Weeks))
California (179, 181): Springfield XD: $299 ($500 (13 Weeks), $200 (29 Weeks))
Texas (265, 254): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $250 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (38 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (253, 227): Heritage Arms Stealth C1000: $225 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (45 Weeks))
Virginia (210, 182): Helwan: $189 ($425 (21 Weeks), $189 (8 Weeks))
Florida (456, 447): Bersa BP9CC: $320 ($400 (11 Weeks), $220 (37 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $310 Last Week Avg: $330(-) ($399 (19 Weeks), $293 (15 Weeks))
California (87, 83): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $375 ($560 (20 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (115, 118): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $300 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $250 (24 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (76, 83): Kahr CW40: $250 ($450 (8 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (50, 45): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $275 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (130, 127): Springfield XD 40: $350 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $200 (38 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (North Carolina)
Draco AK pistol Chambered in 7.62x39mm
Chris Covert writes for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com and on Twitter.