By Chris CovertRantburg.com
Housekeeping Note: If I didn't know better, I'd say one of the basic fallouts of the Virginia election this past Tuesday is that the Virginia rifle market has all but collapsed.
What I have seen on display in social media in the six days since the massacre has been some of the most idiotic remarks on firearms and gun laws, coming not just from liberals and Kommies, but from people who should know better.
This video is among the most shared/viewed summaries of the AR15, and also among the most idiotic.
From presumably pro gun groups such as the Zelman Partisans comes the false statement that federal gun laws prevent an individual such as the Texas shooter, Devin Patrick Kelly, from owning firearms.
Kelly has the unrestricted right, his criminal past notwithstanding, to possess a firearm. The restrictions on ownership appear in state laws, not in federal.
If you read federal laws, you should note that unless you deal in arms and ammunition as a business, not so much as a syllable mentions gun ownership.
Federal laws prevent others from transferring firearms to the "prohibited person", but do not state anywhere that that individual should not own a firearm.
One young woman in a Facebook posting claimed that the shooter probably gained his firearms because the background check did not come back in time. I told her that NICS checks are instantaneous. No response
Another fella from California claimed that the shooter could not purchase firearms at all, and I told him that he could have bought a firearms from private seller in Texas, all perfectly legal.
The Californian became indignant and responded with something like I know everything, provably untrue.
All that said, Oathkeepers did post some good information on preparation for the evil that is coming our way as gun owners.
My only quibble is that prohibited person or not, if you are going to be in a gun free zone for any length of time, you should have a firearm on your person, or within easy reach.
Another point not discussed is that even armed in or near a gun free zone, someone is going to get shot if a shooter such as Kelly appears, regardless. He has a tactical advantage, whether you are cocked and locked or not. You can pay attention to whomever comes into the zone, or you can pay attention to the reason you are there to begin with. You can't do both.
Now for the technical part.
The Texas shooter fired a total of 450 rounds in his attack. That means he had to have no fewer than 15 standard capacity magazines on his person, or in a pouch/bag with him. Most chest rigs hold six magazines.
The shooter wore body armor because, it is speculated, he expected at least one congregant to be armed. But they were not.
Speaking in a tactical sense, the shooter staged a direct assault on a soft target and scored a lot of hits. But once again, even with such a gross tactical advantage, his hit ratio was 10 rounds for every hit. He was a terrible shot, in other words, and you likely will find in other mass shootings that holds as well.
Evil people suck at shot placement.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Pistol ammunition prices were mostly steady. Rifle ammunition prices were mostly steady.
Prices for used pistols were lower. Prices for used rifles were lower.
New Lows:
Arizona: 9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $180
Virginia: .223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic): Bushmaster Carbon 15: $350
Virginia: .308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic): Del Ton DT10: $675
Virginia: 7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic): Norinco: $300
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Foundry35, Silver Bear, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: East Carolina Trading, Own Brand, CRN, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo King, Aguila, FMJ, Brass Casing, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: FedArm, Own Brand, TPMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .18 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Extreme Reloading, Own Brand, RN, Brass Casing, Reloads, .14 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Fedarm, Own brand, RN, Brass Casing, Reloads .13 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017))
.38 Special, 158 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Defender Ammunition, Own Brand, FN, Brass Casing, Reloads, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: American Reloading, Own brand, TMJ, Aluminum Casing, Reloads, .23 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: AmmoMen, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: AmmoMen, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .32 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .31 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (3Q, 2017))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: True Caliber, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017))
.30-06 Springfield 145 Grain. From Last Week: +.02 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Target Sports USA, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .60 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: United Nations Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .53 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.300 Winchester Magnum 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, Winchester, Brass Casing, SP, .84 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Target Sports USA, Prvi Partisan, Brass Casing, SP, .85 per round (From Last Week: +.03 Each After Unchanged (9 Weeks))
.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo Liquiadator, Federal, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 200 rounds: Wholesale Hunter, Federal, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.36 per round (From Last Week: +.26)
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo King, Aguila, RNL, .04 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 5,00 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: $439 Last Week Avg: $480(-) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $387 (12 Weeks))
Arizona (201, 3Q, 2017(+3))(141, 146): DPMS: $400 ($625 (12 Weeks), $300 (11 Weeks))
Texas (484, 3Q, 2017(+3))(428, 412): DPMS: $450 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (249, 3Q, 2017(+6))(161, 160): Ruger AR-556: $450 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (282, 3Q, 2017)(212, 207): Bushmaster Carbon 15: $350 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $350 (CA: $400 (22 Weeks)))
Florida (679, 3Q, 2017)(466, 482): Smith & Wesson: $500 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $870 Last Week Avg: $900(-) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $766 (23 Weeks))
Arizona (49, 3Q, 2017(+6))(38, 41): Mixed Build: $900 ($2,300 (22 Weeks), $500 (5 Weeks))
Texas (178, 3Q, 2017)(95, 95): Palmetto State Armory: $850 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $675 (10 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (54, 3Q, 2017)(43, 42): Palmetto State Armory: $1,200 ($1,600 (4Q, 2016), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (86, 3Q, 2017)(57, 52): Del Ton DT10: $675 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $675 (CA: $700 (2 Weeks)))
Florida (128, 3Q, 2017(+3))(89, 99): Palmetto State Armory: $725 ($1,950 (2Q, 1016), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $493 Last Week Avg: $511(-) ($668 (3Q, 2016), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (34, 3Q, 2017(+3))(23, 24): WASR 10: $500 ($900 (22 Weeks), $400 (27 Weeks))
Texas (141, 3Q, 2017)(72, 77): WASR 10: $500 ($800 (1Q, 2016), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (75, 3Q, 2017)(50, 57): WASR 10: $615 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (72, 3Q, 2017)(58, 60): Norinco: $300 ($700 (2Q, 2016), $300 )CA: $350 (1Q, 2015)))
Florida (146, 3Q, 2017)(114, 113):CAI: $550 ($700 (1Q, 2016), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $375 Last Week Avg: $380(-) ($495 (4Q, 2016), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (14, 3Q, 2017)(5, 5): Mossberg 464: $400 ($500 (42 Weeks), $200 (27 Weeks))
Texas (33, 3Q, 2017)(27, 29): Winchester Ranger: $350 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $295 (26 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (23, 3Q, 2017)(10, 11): Winchester 94: $400 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (19, 3Q, 2017(+3))(11, 12): Winchester: $375 ($670 (2Q, 2016), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (34, 3Q, 2017)(24, 27): Mossberg: $350 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $430 Last Week Avg: $470(-) ($525 (3Q, 2016), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (134, 3Q, 2017(+5))(111, 117): Taurus: $400 ($700 (26 Weeks), $325 (12 Weeks))
Texas (361, 3Q, 2017 (+3))(248, 247): Taurus: $500 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $300 (48 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (178, 3Q, 2017)(163, 161): Para Ordinance 1911 Expert: $400 ($600 (14 Weeks), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (204, 3Q, 2017(+3))(198, 204): Rock Island Armory: $500 ($775 (14 Weeks), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (440, 3Q, 2017)(378, 376): Llama: $350 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $233 Last Week Avg: $291(-) ($358 (1Q, 2016), $207 (27 Weeks))
Arizona (238, 3Q, 2017)(208, 211): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $180 ($400 (33 Weeks), $180 (CA:$200 (16 Weeks)))
Texas (586, 3Q, 2017(+3))(570, 573): Ruger P95DC: $280 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $180 (13 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (368, 3Q, 2017)(334, 327): Ruger SR9C: $200 ($350 (4Q 2014), $150 (39 Weeks))
Virginia (365, 3Q, 2017(+6))(357, 365): Taurus G-2: $255 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (2Q, 2016))
Florida (827, 3Q, 2017)(731, 746): Taurus PT111: $250 ($400 (1Q, 2016), $160 (27 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $309 Last Week Avg: $317(-) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (2Q, 2016))
Arizona (77, 3Q, 2017(+2))(54, 57): Smith & Wesson 4006: $425 ($500 (43 Weeks), $195 (23 Weeks))
Texas (156, 3Q, 2017(+2))(127, 131): Smith & Wesson: $260 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $180 (6 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (112, 3Q, 2017(+4))(110, 112): Walther PPS: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2016), $200 (3Q, 2016))
Virginia (109, 3Q, 2017(+4))(98, 102): Taurus PT740: $260 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (193, 3Q, 2017(+3))(189, 185): Smith & Wesson Shield 40: $300 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (Texas)
Ruger AR556 chambered in 5.56mm NATO