By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
I have probably discussed this before in other contexts, but in the context of answering a question from a longtime Rantburger, I have the following to say:
Growing up in Oklahoma in the 1960s I saw on several vehicles a bumper sticker with the words: "The Price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance". Growing up in a household that was very liberal, those sentiments either were dismissed or ignored as rightwing insanity, and were not to be heeded let alone discussed. As a personal matter, I never really considered those words and their relationship to firearms until much later in life, when I became a firearm owner.
Why do you keep posting these things? We know the self appointed "intellectual elites" are not just crazy as a bat but dumb as shit as well (except when it comes to feathering their own nests).
Not picking on you, g(r)om, but as an Israeli living in Israel you understand what it means to be continually aware of threats to your safety and well being from groups who will never accept that your your life and liberty should be left alone; that those threats should be addressed as soon as possible and with as much speech as possible to prevent them becoming government policy. It does no one any good to remain silent in the face of those threats.
Maybe it would be easier to understand that I function as Rantburg's resident kvetch when it comes to firearms.
When it comes to politics, immigration and guns, you don't get a pass for being pro-2nd Amendment when you favor electing Hillary Clinton, as writer David Cordrea writes:
There are plenty willing to sell us out over cheap labor for their patrons. They were the ones who tried and failed to torpedo Hillary’s opponent, with some still effectively (or overtly) working to elect her.
It just seems there is little left to do in the face of existential threats to liberty other than remain eternally vigilant.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mostly steady. Prices for rifle ammunition were mixed.
Prices for used pistols were mixed. Prices for used rifles were mostly higher.
New Lows:
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic), Texas, Kahr CW40: $210
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Goose Island Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Mart, Own Brand, Brass Casing, Reloads, .23 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (10 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Mart, Buffalo Cartridge, FSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Mart, Own Brand, FSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .19 per round (From Last Week: (2 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .14 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: FedArm, Own Brand, TPMJ, Brass Casing, .14 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (8 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Ammunition to Go, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Brown Bear, FMJ, Steel Casing, .21 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: -.04 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .33 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: BulkAmmunition.net, Tulammo, Steel Casing, FMJ, .34 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2016)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Munire USA, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds (10 Box Limit): Matchez Shooters Supply, Remington, RNL, .06 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 325 rounds: Bud"s GunShop, Federal, RNL, .06 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $532 Last Week Avg: $528 (+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $476 (51 Weeks))
California (248, 230): Unknown Brand: $575 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (2Q, 2016))
Texas (267, 258): DPMS: $600 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (150, 148): Mixed Build: $435 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (170, 159): Delton Echo 316: $500 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $475 (21 Weeks))
Florida (390, 387): Palmetto State Armory: $550 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $970 Last Week Avg: $970 (=) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (3Q, 2015))
California (73, 72): DPMS: $850 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (99, 87): DPMS: $900 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (11 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (33, 30): DPMS: $1,300 ($1,500 (1Q, 2015), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (53, 53): Palmetto State Armory: $1,050 ($2,750 (36 Weeks), $800 (47 Weeks))
Florida (82, 85): Palmetto State Armory: $750 ($1,950 (22 Weeks), $500 (51 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $609 Last Week Avg: $564 (+) ($668 (11 Weeks)), $450 (3Q, 2015))
California (47, 47): Century N-PAP: $699 ($800 (17 Weeks)), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (80, 74): Romak WASR-10: $450 ($800 (37 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (45, 46): Zastava NPAP: $699 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (41, 40): Century Arms C39: $600 ($700 (17 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (99, 97): CAI Milled Sporter: $600 ($700 (30 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $354 Last Week Avg: $350(+) ($489 (1Q, 2015), $296 (3Q, 2015))
California (4, 5): Marlin: $420 ($600 (28 Weeks), $180 (2Q, 2015))
Texas (17, 17): Marlin 336Y: $300 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (13, 8): Marlin AS: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (11, 12): Marlin 336: $400 ($670 (21 Weeks)), $250 (43 Weeks))
Florida (22, 26): Winchester: $300 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $447 Last Week Avg: $461(-) ($515 (8 Weeks)), $350 (48 Weeks))
California (197, 199): Rock Island Armory: $490 ($800 (8 Weeks), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (228, 229): Charles Daly: $430 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (152, 156): Rock Island Armory: $375 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (158, 158): Taurus: $440 ($575 (35 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (334, 322): Thompson: $500 ($500 (34 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $267 Last Week Avg: $250(+) ($358 (31 Weeks), $245 (23 Weeks))
California (286, 297): Springfield XD9: $350 ($500 (31 Weeks), $200 (47 Weeks))
Texas (336, 352): Ruger LC9: $250 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (256, 263): Taurus PT111 G2: $210 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (216, 220): Taurus PT 111: $300 ($425 (39 Weeks), $189 (26 Weeks))
Florida (557, 547): Cobra Patriot: $225 ($400 (28 Weeks), $190 (8 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $287 Last Week Avg: $308(-) ($399 (36 Weeks), $262 (16 Weeks))
California (103, 94): Glock 22: $350 ($560 (38 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (132, 141): Kahr CW40: $210 ($425 (4Q, 2014), ($210 (CA:$240))
Pennsylvania (81, 74): Kahr P40: $325 ($450 (25 Weeks), $200 (5 Weeks))
Virginia (67, 64): Sig Sauer SP2022: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (161, 148): Glock 23: $250 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (35 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Florida)
Kriss Vector Chambered in .45 ACP