By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Some Notes from the Orlando Massacre
Let us first dispense with the notion that any new government activity could have prevented the attack in Florida. Despite the interlocking draconian gun laws in the US, ongoing governmental spying and intrusion into private lives, a government contractor legally got his hands on a semiautomatic rifle and ammunition to use with ill intent.
Let us also forever dispense with the notion that government activity intended to prevent massacres is a social good. We know now from the reaction of our political enemies that the government and its supporters only are interested in taking property not rightfully theirs, and lives for the dubious social good of crime prevention, and to settle political scores. We are seeing the demise of civil liberties in what is supposed to be a bastion of freedom every time a bad guy guns down more than three people in one setting.
Also, let us dispense with the idea that the press was wrong about the rifle used. I have read a lot on news outlets about how the press is so dumb they couldn't distinguish between a standard AR and the Sig Sauer weapon the Bad Guy used. But both rifles are identical in fire controls and basic operation, both use gas blowback to cycle new cartridges into the firing chamber and both can be loaded semi-automatically from a magazine.
The distinction is small, and ultimately worthless. We all can have a good guffaw at the expense of ignorant writers wielding large megaphones, but what they are doing is attempting to move public opinion -- votes -- in a direction that will even further reduce or destroy civil liberties. Not a thing funny about that, rather it is something to be challenged at every turn.
Unfortunately Gersh "OhMiGersh" Kuntzman refused to take a lesson from his mendacity.
***
According to a retired USMC gunnery sergeant I know who lives in Florida, four Orlando police officers had a chance to end the massacre before it even began, but, alas, they were terrible shots. Despite four trained police officers confronting the shooter with their own firearms, they failed to place one shot sufficient to end the crime.
***
We haven't heard much about the SWAT entrance that ended the incident, but the rumor is that some of the hostages may have been shot by the police.
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I had heard warnings about ammunition prices spiking in the wake of the Orlando massacre. But so far, six days after the incident, ammunition prices overall are mixed. I don't expect them to rise much until just before the holidays, or if something drastic happens to the costs of the inputs.
***
A curious note from Florida, however: The number of AR pattern 5.56mm rifles available for private sale dropped by 42. Florida is a large market anyway so a tiny change in sentiment about keeping or selling one certain class of firearms will cause a spike, but usually spikes happen over a period of several weeks, not just one week. Possibly sellers are holding onto their rifles in anticipation of higher prices in the event of an AR ban or new regulations.
***
The shooter fired more than 200 rounds during the 3.5 hours he was in the night club, dropping about 100 individuals. Incredible shooting on his part. Most mass killers are lousy shots, but not the Orlando mass killer. I also keep hearing reports about people being shot six or seven times, but it could be some victims were hit with fragments, or they were hit with rounds passing through others.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mixed. Prices for rifle ammunition were mixed.
Prices for used pistols were mixed. Prices for used rifles were mixed.
New Lows:
Florida: .40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic): Taurus PT940: $199
The nationwide price for a used .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol has dropped to new low for three weeks in a row, now at $262, down from $285.
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Mart, Store Brand, RN, Brass Cased, Reloads, .22 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Freedom Munitions, Store Brand, RNFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Mart, Store Brand, RSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Bud's Gun Shop, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .16 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Freedom Ammunition, Store brand, FMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .16 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2016))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each After Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: SG Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .26 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Lucky Gunner, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .23 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each)
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (12 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .35 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, Steel Casing, FMJ, .33 per round (From Last Week: +.03 Each)
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds (10 Box Limit): Ammomen, Federal, RNL, .07 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 5,000 rounds: Ammo2U, Blazer, RNL, .07 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (10 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $553 Last Week Avg: $529 (+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $476 (36 Weeks))
California (225, 230): American Tactical Imports: $500 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (41 Weeks))
Texas (296, 306): Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II: $650 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (154, 162): Bushmaster: $550 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (49 Weeks))
Virginia (186, 185): DPMS: $590 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $475 (5 Weeks))
Florida (324, 366): Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport: $475 ($650 (51 Weeks), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,006 Last Week Avg: $1,110 (-) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (36 Weeks))
California (52, 54): Mixed Build: $850 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (46 Weeks))
Texas (90, 84): DPMS LR308: $880 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $800 (45 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (40, 40): Smith & Wesson M&P 10: $1,400 ($1,500 (1Q, 2015), $700 (38 Weeks))
Virginia (38, 45): CMMG: $950 ($2,750 (22 Weeks), $800 (33 Weeks))
Florida (56, 55): DPMS: $950 ($1,950 (7 Weeks), $500 (36 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $585 Last Week Avg: $572 (+) ($637 (4 Weeks)), $450 (47 Weeks))
California (32, 33): Zastava Npap: $600 ($800 (2 Weeks)), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (74, 76): Unknown Brand: $550 ($800 (23 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (52, 58): Century Arms C39V2: $700 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (36, 40): CA/i: $575 ($700 (4 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (90, 99): WASR 10/63: $500 ($700 (16 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $370 Last Week Avg: $385 (-) ($489 (1Q, 2015), $296 (50 Weeks))
California (8, 6): Mossberg 464 SPX: $400 ($600 (14 Weeks), $180 (2Q, 2015))
Texas (17, 16): Marlin: $350 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (22, 23): Ted Williams Model 94: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (11, 12): Marlin 336W: $350 ($670 (7 Weeks)), $250 (29 Weeks))
Florida (19, 20): Marlin 336W: $400 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $461 Last Week Avg: $383 (+) ($510 (11 Weeks)), $350 (34 Weeks))
California (175, 178): Sig Sauer: $750 ($750 (CA: $725 (13 Weeks)), $300 (45 Weeks))
Texas (202, 200): Llama: $400 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (43 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (174, 175): Tisas: $325 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (135, 132): ATI: $380 ($575 (20 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (268, 269): Rock Island Armory: $450 ($500 (19 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $280 Last Week Avg: $247 (+) ($358 (15 Weeks), $245 (9 Weeks))
California (193, 179): Springfield XD9: $325 ($500 (16 Weeks), $200 (32 Weeks))
Texas (278, 296): SCCY CPX-1: $275 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (41 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (262, 257): SCCY CPX-1 TT: $250 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (47 Weeks))
Virginia (224, 216): SCCY CPX1: $250 ($425 (24 Weeks), $189 (11 Weeks))
Florida (484, 500): Ruger P95: $300 ($400 (13 Weeks), $200 (2 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $262 Last Week Avg: $285(-) ($399 (20 Weeks), $262 (CA: $285 (1 Weeks)))
California (98, 89): Springfield XD40: $350 ($560 (23 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (124, 120): Smith & Wesson SW40VE: $265 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $250 (27 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (73, 75): Kahr CW40: $225 ($450 (10 Weeks), $225 (2 Weeks))
Virginia (60, 62): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $275 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (136, 131): Taurus PT940: $199 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (CA: $200 (40 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Florida)
Sig Sauer MCX Chambered in .300 Blackout