by Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Interesting gun parts for modifying the SKS rifle can be found here. I have not looked into this, but what I have read is this seller offers adapter kits that can use standard AR parts for SKS rifles. Dunno how much this helps SKS owners.
The US Special Operations Command has selected a new cartridge for snipers, the .300 Norma Magnum. I have read in discussions on line about how the .308 is not a very good sniper round, but I also have read how a smaller caliber, the .264 Win Magnum is a flatter trajectory round that moves through the barrel very quickly, enough so the barrel is quickly worn out. Commercial versions of the .300 Norma Magnum run about $4.50 per round.
As you can see at the link, the powder charge behind the bullet is much, much larger than the .308 and the reason it is so much more expensive.
One shot, one kill. Any more and you'll be nursing a bruised shoulder.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mostly steady. Prices for rifle ammunition were steady across the board.
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 (9 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 (7 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Mart, Legendary, FNFP, Brass Casing, reloads .19 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: FedArm, FedArm, TPMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .15 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 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 (7 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo King, 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 (6 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .34 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .34 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo King, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Case, FMJ, .22 per round (From Last Week: -.03 Each)
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds (10 Box Limit): Ammomen, Federal, RNL, .06 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 325 rounds: Ammomen Federal, RNL, .06 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $483 Last Week Avg: $468(+) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $468 (2 Weeks))
California (347, 342): Mixed Build: $500 ($650 (1Q, 2015), $400 (2Q, 2016))
Texas (313, 306): Mixed Build: $500 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (168, 167): Mixed Build: $520 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (218, 215): American Tactical Imports: $415 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $465 (4 Weeks))
Florida (425, 410): Anderson: $480 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,050 Last Week Avg: $1,130(-) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $820 (3Q, 2015))
California (98, 93): Palmetto State Armory: $1,100 ($1,700 (4Q, 2014), $850 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (96, 89): Bushmaster: $1,050 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (20 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (37, 27): Armalite: $1,400 ($1,600 (5 Weeks), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (49, 44): DPMS: $900 ($2,750 (47 Weeks), $800 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (91, 81): DPMS: $800 ($1,950 (33 Weeks), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $573 Last Week Avg: $590(-) ($668 (23 Weeks)), $450 (3Q, 2015))
California (85, 90): IO: $750 ($800 (28 Weeks)), $320 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (74, 80): Zastava N-PAP: $550 ($800 (48 Weeks), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (49, 52):Vepr: $500 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (53, 53): Zastava M70B1: $640 ($700 (28 Weeks), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (110, 98): CAI: $425 ($700 (41 Weeks), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $350 Last Week Avg: $355(-) ($495 (10 Weeks), $296 (3Q, 2015))
California (0, 0): None Available: $0 ($1,000 (5 Weeks), $180 (2Q, 2015))
Texas (15, 16): Marlin: $300 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $300 (1Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (13, 11): Winchester 94: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (14, 14): Mossberg 468 SPX: $350 ($670 (32 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (18, 22): Winchester 94: $400 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $432 Last Week Avg: $443(-) ($515 (19 Weeks)), $350 (4Q, 2015))
California (220, 231): Rock Island Armory: $495 ($800 (19 Weeks), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Texas (245, 240): Charles Daly: $430 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $300 (2 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (155, 155): Para Ordnance: $575 ($550 (2Q, 2015), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (151, 158): Para Ordnance: $300 ($575 (46 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (366, 378): Taurus 1911: $360 ($500 (45 Weeks), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $267 Last Week Avg: $279(-) ($358 (42 Weeks), $245 (34 Weeks))
California (231, 254): FMK 9C1: $400 ($500 (42 Weeks), $200 (4Q, 2015))
Texas (346, 347): Springfield XD-S: $210 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (280, 287): Sccy CPX-2: $200 ($350 (4Q 2014), $200 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (252, 245): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $250 ($425 (50 Weeks), $189 (37 Weeks))
Florida (603, 601): Smith & Wesson SW9VE: $275 ($400 (39 Weeks), $190 (19 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $325 Last Week Avg: $280(+) ($399 (47 Weeks), $262 (27 Weeks))
California (82, 89): Springfield XD40: $400 ($560 (49 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Texas (109, 115): Smith & Wesson Sigma 40: $275 ($425 (4Q, 2014), ($210 (12 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (95, 94): Smith & Wesson Shield 40: $300 ($450 (35 Weeks), $200 (15 Weeks))
Virginia (82, 80): Smith & Wesson M&P40: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (148, 159): Walther PPS: $350 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (Indiana)
Ruger No 1 Chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum