By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
A push is on nationwide to change the National Firearms Act to deregulate sales of silencers. I have been reading about this for a while, and while I offered nothing in commentary, I do have an opinion about it.
The most recent news is that the USMC is considering equipping entire rifle units with silencers.
Professionals use silencers, as in special operations people. The silencer reduces muzzle flash in some cases and reduces sound. The argument for legalizing silencers for the civilian shooter is the health and safety benefit of reducing noise exposure.
As I understand it, silencers are most effective when coupled with subsonic munitions. Watching videos a few years back, I recall one in which the shooter was demonstrating his silencer before a crowd at a range, first firing regular 5.56x45mm rounds with slightly reduced noise, and then using subsonic cartridges for a profound reduction in noise.
But using a silencer comes at a cost. Silencers reduced the muzzle velocity of the round being fired. If you plan to use a silencer when hunting, you will receive, in my opinion, very little advantage outside of the noise reduction. A round fired from a rifle fitted with a silencer will have its impact and penetration reduced.
Another cost is operation. Very few semiautomatic rifles can handle subsonic munitions. Firing a round from an off the shelf semiautomatic forces the operator in some cases to manually cycle the feed. If you are hunting for that one kill shot against game, it's not a problem.
The most vexing problem is re-zeroing your rifle to take advantage of the silencer. Some ARs, such as the A3 models are made without any sights at all. The owner/user has to install his own sights, then zero into the rifle to as small a cone as possible, then adjust the zero at a rifle range.
It ain't like Hollywood where you slap on the trusty, rusty suppressor in the field, then go shooting bad guys. It takes work and planning.
Professionals using suppressors are trained in its use to get the greatest tactical advantage in the noise reduction rating. That said, you can still hear the rifle being fired.
Don't read all this as an opinion against silencers. If you got the money, honey, etc.
And then there's this.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were steady. Prices for rifle ammunition were mixed.
Prices for used pistols were mixed. Prices for used rifles were mixed.
New Lows:
Virginia: .223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic): ATI Omni Hybrid Limited Max: $465
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .24 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Mart, Buffalo Cartridge, RSFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Red River Reloading & Outdoors, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .16 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel casing, .16 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: J&G Sales, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel casing, .25 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: +.04 Each (!)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .40 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: AmmoLiquidator, Century Hotshot, FMJ, Steel Casing, .41 per round (From Last Week: +.05 Each (!))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .24 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged)
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds (10 Box Limit): Ammo Fast, Aguila, RNL, .07 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 5,000 rounds: Ammomen, Aguila, RNL, .07 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Patte$555rn Semiautomatic) Average Price: $490 Last Week Avg: $550(-) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $476 (3Q, 2015))
California (322, 287): Del-ton: $560 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (2Q, 2016))
Texas (286, 258): Diamondback: $475 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (155, 146): Palmetto State Armory: $475 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (202, 196): ATI Omni Hybrid Limited Max: $465 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $465 (CA: $475 (28 Weeks)))
Florida (383, 381): Spikes Tactical: $475 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,145 Last Week Avg: $1,030(+) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (3Q, 2015))
California (87, 90): Mixed Build: $950 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (90, 94): Bushmaster: $1,050 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (18 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (21, 20): DPMS: $1,500 ($1,600 (2 Weeks), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (48, 47): Rock River Arms LAR8: $1,500 ($2,750 (44 Weeks), $800 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (76, 68): DPMS LR-308 Sportical: $725 ($1,950 (30 Weeks), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $570 Last Week Avg: $595(-) ($668 (19 Weeks)), $450 (3Q, 2015))
California (86, 75): Century RAS47: $650 ($800 (25 Weeks)), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (81, 83): AMD 65: $625 ($800 (45 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (43, 42): IO: $500 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (53, 44): IO: $600 ($700 (25 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (94, 95): CAI N-PAP M70: $475 ($700 (38 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $337 Last Week Avg: $406(-) ($495 (7 Weeks), $296 (3Q, 2015))
California (0, 0): None Available: $0 ($1,000 (5 Weeks), $180 (2Q, 2015))
Texas (16, 16): Marlin: $400 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (15, 17): Winchester 94: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (9, 9): Marlin 336: $300 ($670 (29 Weeks)), $250 (51 Weeks))
Florida (23, 22): Marlin 336: $300 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $385 Last Week Avg: $409(-) ($515 (16 Weeks)), $350 (4Q, 2015))
California (213, 207): Rock Island Armory: $495 ($800 (16 Weeks), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (236, 244): Llama Especial: $400 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (160, 155): American Tactical Imports: $330 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (162, 150): Interarms 1911-A1: $300 ($575 (43 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (363, 350): Springfield: $400 ($500 (42 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $261 Last Week Avg: $253(+) ($358 (39 Weeks), $245 (31 Weeks))
California (263, 258): Kel Tec P11: $315 ($500 (39 Weeks), $200 (4Q, 2015))
Texas (347, 333): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $250 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (293, 287): Sccy CPX-2 : $200 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (259, 243): Glock 34: $290 ($425 (47 Weeks), $189 (34 Weeks))
Florida (600, 565): Bersa BP9: $250 ($400 (36 Weeks), $190 (16 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $274 Last Week Avg: $321(-) ($399 (44 Weeks), $262 (24 Weeks))
California (87, 88): Mauser: $350 ($560 (46 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (126, 121): Walther PPQ: $250 ($425 (4Q, 2014), ($210 (9 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (99, 101): Taurus PT140: $200 ($450 (33 Weeks), $200 (13 Weeks))
Virginia (67, 62): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $290 ($450 (2Q, 2015)c $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (161, 156): Smith & Wesson M&P40C: $280 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (South Carolina)
Smith & Wesson revolver Chambered in .32 Long