By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
It was stunning to watch the socialist left suddenly do a 180 degree turn in condemning Antifa for the pack of thugs nearly all Rantburgers always knew they were.
Sam Culper at Forward Observer Magazine posted a helpful summary on intelligence gathering for incidents such as the planned riots Antifas always seem to find themselves in the middle of. Culper also hosts two day conferences around the country on intelligence gathering, and as I recall, it is not very expensive to attend.
I often read about the John Brown Gun Club in Arizona, which features young leftwing men and wimmin carrying firearms as part of demonstrations that say, yes, we have guns, too. But as Antifa has demonstrated time and again, their activity serves two purposes.
First is to fulfill a desire among leftists that they will get a crack at a conservative man.
And for the second purpose: if they can get a conservative to fight back, and they can get him arrested, he is automatically disarmed under the firearms laws. A twofer!
I reupped my NRA membership Thursday. The last issue of American Rifleman had an article about the 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridge. A lot of nice things are being said about the 6.5mm Creedmore of late, such as its cost is similar to the 7.62mm NATO cartridge. Its flight performance exceeds the 7.62mm NATO round and it compares favorably to the .300 Winchester Magnum 150 grain bullet.
In the article, tests were conducted with the 120 grain bullet and the 143 grain bullet. The 7.62mm NATO round can be sold in sizes of up to a 240 grain subsonic slug to the 100 grain hollow point. In all there is a dizzingly wide variety of 38 slugs to chose from. The 6.5mm Creedmoor has 13 slugs to choose from. The .300 Winchester Magnum has 22 slugs to choose from.
As for costs of used 7.62mm NATO semiautomatic rifles, the highest low price I have recorded in this column has been $2,750, and the lowest has been $500, for a median price of $950.
I checked Armslist for semiautomatic rifles for the 6.5mm Creedmoor and the .300 Winchester Magnum.
For the .300 Winchester Magnum, from a list of 24 semiautomatic firearms nationwide, the highest priced rifle was a Nemo Arms Omen, for $4,800. The lowest was $675, for a rechambered Browning BAR. the median price was $2,737.
For the 6.5mm Creedmoor, I found 44 semiautomatic rifles on Armslist.com. The highest priced rifle was a Howa side charger for $5,300, and the lowest was $1,000, for a median price of $4,300.
The advantage the 6.5mm Creedmoor round has over the .300 Winchester Magnum is that it can fit into standard .308/7.62mm magazines. Fultom Armory offers 6.5mm Creedmoor uppers for PSA generation one lowers, for about $1,200. The total for a Creedmoor build including the receiver, comes to $1,700, and that is before you start considering optics, which for good optics, will add as much as $4,000 at the high end, about $400 for a new Leupold scope at the low end.
When I considered building a 7.62mm NATO semiautomatic, the complete upper assembly for a 26 inch barrel was $700. My build would come to around $1,000, not including optics.
Hershel Smith has a couple of posts which discuss the Creedmoor.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Pistol ammunition prices were mixed. Rifle ammunition prices were mostly steady.
Prices for used pistols were mostly higher. Prices for used rifles were mixed.
New Lows:
Arizona: .223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic): Smith & Wesson: $300
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: utdoor Limited, Ten Ring, TMJ, Brass Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: -.02 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammomen,Mag tech, FRN, Brass Casing .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Octane Munitions, Own Brand, RNFP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .18 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Extreme Reloading, Own Brand, RN, Brass Casing .14 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Extreme Reloading, Own brand, RN, Brass Casing, Reloads .14 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (1Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))
.38 Special, 158 Grain, From Last Week: -.02 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Bang It Ammo, CCI Blazer, LNR, Aluminum Casing .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Armscor, FMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads .24 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo Men, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .32 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .32 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (10 Weeks))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo King, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks))
.30-06 Springfield 145 Grain. From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .54 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: United Nations Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .54 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (1Q, 2017))
.300 Winchester Magnum 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, SP, .80 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, Winchester, Brass Casing, SP, .81 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: +.23 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Red River Reloading, Federal, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.36 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 200 rounds : Wholesale Hunter, Federal, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.36 per round (From Last Week: +.25 Each)
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Men, Aguila, RNL, .04 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo King, Aguila, RNL, .04 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $392 Last Week Avg: $472(-) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $387 (6 Weeks))
Arizona (201, 3Q, 2017(+3))(187, 184): Smith & Wesson: $300 ($625 (2 Weeks)), $300 (CA:$350 (6 Weeks)))
Texas (484, 3Q, 2017(+3))(461, 477): Eagle Arms: $400 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (248, 3Q, 2017(+5))(248, 248): Palmetto State Armory: $435 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (282, 3Q, 2017)(246, 256): Diamondback DB-15: $400 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $400 (12 Weeks))
Florida (679, 3Q, 2017)(654, 649): Mixed Build: $425 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $850 Last Week Avg: $785(+) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $766 (14 Weeks))
Arizona (47, 3Q, 2017(+5))(45, 47): Palmetto State Armory: $1,000 ($2,300 (12 Weeks), $650 (35 Weeks))
Texas (178, 3Q, 2017)(130, 146): Palmetto State Armory: $700 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $700 (3Q, 2016))
Pennsylvania (54, 3Q, 2017)(52, 52): Palmetto State Armory: $700 ($1,600 (43 Weeks), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (86, 3Q, 2017)(69, 61): Palmetto State Armory: $1,000 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $750 (29 Weeks))
Florida (128, 3Q, 2017(+3))(112, 112): Diamondback Firearms: $850 ($1,950 (2Q, 1016), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $564 Last Week Avg: $540(+) ($668 (51 Weeks), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (28, 3Q, 2017)(28, 28): RAS-47: $550 ($900 (13 Weeks), $400 (18 Weeks))
Texas (141, 3Q, 2017)(112, 116): CAI C39: $550 ($800 (1Q, 2016), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (75, 3Q, 2017)(56, 60): AMD-65: $650 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (72, 3Q, 2017)(60, 66): IO: $490 ($700 (2Q, 2016), $350 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (146, 3Q, 2017)(136, 145): Zastava M70AB2: $580 ($700 (1Q, 2016), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $371 Last Week Avg: $380(-) ($495 (47 Weeks), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (14, 3Q, 2017)(7, 11): Winchester 94: $475 ($500 (32 Weeks), $200 (17 Weeks))
Texas (32, 3Q, 2017)(32, 29): Winchester 94: $350 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $295 (17 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (23, 3Q, 2017)(12, 15): Marlin: $350 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (17, 3Q, 2017)(16, 15): Winchester Model 94: $380 ($670 (2Q, 2016), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (34, 3Q, 2017)(26, 29): Mossberg 464: $300 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $455 Last Week Avg: $425(+) ($525 (3Q, 2016), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (127, 3Q, 2017(+2))(117, 117): Viking Tactical: $450 ($700 (16 Weeks)), $325 (2 Weeks))
Texas (361, 3Q, 2017 (+2))(335, 348): Taurus PT1911: $575 ($600 (4Q, 2014)), $300 (39 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (178, 3Q, 2017)(172, 169): Para Ordnance: $450 ($600 (4 Weeks)), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (197, 3Q, 2017)(186, 180): Llama: $400 ($775 (4 Weeks)), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (440, 3Q, 2017)(393, 386): Rock Island Armory: $400 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $282 Last Week Avg: $282(=) ($358 (1Q, 2016), $207 (17 Weeks))
Arizona (238, 3Q, 2017)(211, 221): Springfield XD-9: $260 ($400 (23 Weeks), $200 (7 Weeks))
Texas (586, 3Q, 2017(+3))(580, 586): Ruger P95 : $300 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $180 (3 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (368, 3Q, 2017)(351, 361): Smith & Wesson Sigma: $250 ($350 (4Q 2014), $150 (28 Weeks))
Virginia (340, 3Q, 2017)(327, 317): Ruger P89: $350 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (2Q, 2016))
Florida (827, 3Q, 2017)(816, 819): Ruger SR9E: $250 ($400 (1Q, 2016), $160 (17 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $314 Last Week Avg: $290(+) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (2Q, 2016))
Arizona (77, 3Q, 2017(+2))(67, 70): Walther PPS: $325 ($500 (33 Weeks), $195 (13 Weeks))
Texas (156, 3Q, 2017(+2))(140, 148): Bersa BP40CC: $295 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $200 (37 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (108, 3Q, 2017)(90, 97): Smith & Wesson SW40VE: $325 ($450 (2Q, 2016), $200 (3Q, 2016))
Virginia (93, 3Q, 2017(+2))(93, 93): Springfield XDM: $275 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (193, 3Q, 2017(+3))(163, 178): Walther PPS: $350 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (Ohio)
Nemo Arms Omen semiautomatic rifle chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum