By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Continuing somewhat tangentally last week's discussion on silencers/suppressors, Weapons Man posted an avid defense of bolt action rifles, listing element by element the benefits of owning/using them. The discussions were useful as well, and they yielded a couple of videos which illustrated my points about silencers.
The first video shows how much noise reduction can occur using subsonic ammunition, depending on the platform. The noise from the shooting is reduced, and comparatively you can hear how much, which isn't much.
The second video is a demo of a CZ bolt action with a combined silencer and subsonic ammunition. The noise reduction is profound. However, a target will still be able to hear the shot even from a long distance away.
You also should read the comments about just how much the notion of a bolt action has changed: from a rotating mechanical set up. One of the bolt actions mentioned is similar to a Luger like lever action on the right side of the rifle that is actuated with just one finger.
In North Carolina the quietest gun of all was turned in to a voluntary gun turnover event: a BB gun.
Finally, if you want to gauge just how much of a bullet firearms owners have dodged in the presidential election, see what California is about to do with their own agents: gun shops. I wouldn't breathe much of a sigh of relief, however. The national reprieve is temporary, unless Congress passes laws intended to expand firearms ownership.
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 mixed.
New Lows:
None
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 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 (5 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 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 (4 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel casing, .15 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (5 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4 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 (5 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 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 (4 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: -.06 Each (!)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .34 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .31 per round (From Last Week: -.10 Each (!))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Sportsman's Guide, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .23 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each)
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds (10 Box Limit): Ammomen, Federal, RNL, .06 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 325 rounds: Ourdoor Unlimited, Federal, RNL, .07 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Patte$555rn Semiautomatic) Average Price: $543 Last Week Avg: $490(+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $476 (3Q, 2015))
California (320, 322): Core Rifle Systems: $625 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (2Q, 2016))
Texas (293, 286): DPMS: $540 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (166, 155): Palmetto State Armory: $500 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (212, 202): Palmetto State Armory: $550 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $465 (2 Weeks))
Florida (395, 383): Undisclosed Brand: $500 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,125 Last Week Avg: $1,145(+) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (3Q, 2015))
California (91, 91): Bushmaster: $1,050 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (90, 94): Bushmaster: $1,050 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (18 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (25, 21): DPMS Recon LAR-308: $1,600 ($1,600 (3 Weeks), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (45, 48): Undisclosed Brand: $1,200 ($2,750 (45 Weeks), $800 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (75, 76): DPMS LR-308 Sportical: $725 ($1,950 (31 Weeks), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $580 Last Week Avg: $570(+) ($668 (20 Weeks)), $450 (3Q, 2015))
California (89, 86): Romak: $600 ($800 (26 Weeks)), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (83, 81): Romak: $600 ($800 (46 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (44, 43): IO: $450 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (52, 53): WASR: $600 ($700 (26 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (102, 94): WASR 10/63: $650 ($700 (39 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $337 Last Week Avg: $337(=) ($495 (8 Weeks), $296 (3Q, 2015))
California (0, 0): None Available: $0 ($1,000 (5 Weeks), $180 (2Q, 2015))
Texas (11, 16): Marlin: $400 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (13, 15): Winchester 94: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (13, 9): Marlin 336: $300 ($670 (30 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (21, 23): Mossberg 472: $300 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $410 Last Week Avg: $385(+) ($515 (17 Weeks)), $350 (4Q, 2015))
California (219, 213): Rock Island Armory: $490 ($800 (17 Weeks), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (237, 236): Charles Daly: $430 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $325 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (165, 160): American Tactical Imports: $330 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (157, 162): Rock Island Armory: $400 ($575 (44 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (367, 363): Springfield: $400 ($500 (43 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $273 Last Week Avg: $261(+) ($358 (40 Weeks), $245 (32 Weeks))
California (240, 263): Ruger P85: $325 ($500 (40 Weeks), $200 (4Q, 2015))
Texas (342, 347): Bersa Thunder: $250 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (295, 293): Taurus PT 709: $215 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (237, 259): Kahr CM9 : $325 ($425 (48 Weeks), $189 (35 Weeks))
Florida (614, 600): Walther PPX: $250 ($400 (37 Weeks), $190 (17 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $266 Last Week Avg: $274(-) ($399 (45 Weeks), $262 (25 Weeks))
California (82, 87): Glock G22: $300 ($560 (47 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (112, 126): Smith & Wesson: $250 ($425 (4Q, 2014), ($210 (10 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (94, 99): Taurus PT140: $200 ($450 (34 Weeks), $200 (14 Weeks))
Virginia (71, 67): Smith & Wesson M&P40: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2015)c $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (152, 161): Smith & Wesson M&P40C: $280 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (North Carolina)
Ruger Single Six revolver Chambered in .22LR