By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Correction: Last week's TWIG said the standoff between Oathkeepers and elements of the Bureau of Land Management took place in Sugar Creek. The correct name is Sugar Pine.
Not certain at this point what all is going on in Oregon. For all its warts, in the Bundy Ranch standoff you knew a lot about what was going on. This time, not too much. It could be because Oathkeepers are keeping a tight lid on news in the area in an effort to forestall the embarrassment they suffered in Nevada at the hands of militias and patriots, so as a result we only know something is going on in Oregon, but not a lot about the specifics.
Oathkeepers seem to have a dual personality when it comes to incidents such as Bundy Ranch and Sugar Pine mine. On the one hand, you have the criticism that wherever Oathkeepers will be, you can find t-shirts, ball caps and application forms.
On the other hand, you have this, which appeared in Western Rifle Shooters Association:
Oathkeepers is learning from its past experiences and is becoming more effective at each engagement in its role as a FreeFor PR arm.
Don’t like the word PR? Well, the simple fact is that OK is a political, mindspace outfit. It is NOT a militia, nor does it have a military role, and if it, as an umbrella organization, tried to do both it would succeed at neither. The Ferguson defense is a great example of how they adjusted from previous mistakes to make that a PR win by combining the best mix of national and local assets. And, if they can do a good enough job with their PR role, the military side of things will keep gathering dust in the closet.
Fine by me, even if it means I don’t get to participate in their thing.
As a note for the newbies, Stewart Rhodes of the Oathkeepers wouldn’t piss on me to put me out if I was on fire, nor would he, because of my associations and stated objectives, want me within a hundred miles of any of their activities, and has, without reservation and in public, distanced himself from yours truly, individually.
So what?
In the past, I have had specific, objective criticisms, which they have now addressed, not as any deliberate reaction to my input, but as a refinement of their place in the FreeFor complex. What is more important to me is that Oathkeepers, after a few bumpy years, is now doing important work along its axis, especially among, and with, the rank-and-file membership, and deserves my support, and the support of anyone I can rally to their cause, completely independent of whether they might rally to mine.
I agree with the assessment, especially in view of how the Oathkeepers conducted themselves in Ferguson during the riots. Not sure that adding militias to the already volatile mix would have helped in that scenario.
The latest on the Oathkeepers project in Oregon can be found here and here.
Loads.
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Prices for pistol ammunition were mixed and rifle ammunition were mostly higher.
Prices for used rifles and used pistols were mixed.
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Quality Made Cartridges, FMJ, reloads, .28 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Lee's Mags, FMJ, reloads, .28 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each)
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 grain, From Last Week: +.01 each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: I.Q. Metals, Store brand, FMJ, reloads, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Freedom Munitions, Store brand, FMJ, reloads, .24 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Cased, .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Selway Armory, Northern Hills Precision, FMJ, reloads, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (10 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 grain, From Last Week: -.04 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel cased, .32 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 Rounds: SG Ammo, Geco, Bulk, FMJ, .34 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Target Sports USA, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, steel cased, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
.308 NATO 150 grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, steel cased, .43 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Tulammo, steel cased, .40 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))
7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 each After Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo2U, Wolf WPA, steel case, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt!, Brown Bear, steel case, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammomen, CCI, RNL, .09 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Munire USA, Raptor, RNL, .10 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $548 Last Week Avg: $588(-) ($616 (6 Weeks), $515 (10 Weeks))
California (206, 209): Mixed Build: $500 ($650 (14 Weeks), $425 (17 Weeks))
Texas (270, 273): American Tactical Imports: $500 ($700 (7 Weeks), $350 (4 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (146, 136): Core-15: $600 ($700 (3 Weeks), $490 (18 Weeks))
Virginia (188, 185): Palmetto State Armory (Decked out): $600 ($750 (7 Weeks), $500 (12 Weeks))
Florida (339, 324): Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport: $540 ($600 (10 Weeks), $450 (26 Weeks))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,030 Last Week Avg: $1,080(-) ($1,359 (4 Weeks), $953 (21 Weeks))
California (37, 41): Mixed Build: $1,100 ($1,700 (19 Weeks), $1,000 (20 Weeks))
Texas (69, 68): Bushmaster: $1,000 ($1,500 (22 Weeks), $900 (27 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (29, 32): DPMS LR-308T: $900 ($1,500 (7 Weeks), $800 (15 Weeks))
Virginia (41, 43): Armalite: $1,200 ($1,600 (7 Weeks), $900 (23 Weeks))
Florida (56, 53): DPMS Panther: $950 ($1,500 (23 Weeks), $750 (11 Weeks))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $540 Last Week Avg: $520(+) ($626 (6 Weeks), $462 (20 Weeks))
California (56, 52): WASR: $600 ($700 (6 Weeks), $320 (17 Weeks))
Texas (62, 52): Saiga Sportster: $600 ($750 (6 Weeks), $350 (24 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (56, 63): IO: $600 ($750 (12 Weeks), $450 (25 Weeks))
Virginia (53, 59): Clearview Investments AMD 65: $400 ($625 (10 Weeks), $350 (12 Weeks))
Florida (108, 109): Zastava M-70: $500 ($650 (2 Weeks), $300 (22 Weeks))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $399 Last Week Avg: $393(+) ($489 (15 Weeks), $320 (14 Weeks))
California (9, 8): Marlin 30AS: $399 ($400 (15 Weeks), $375 (17 Weeks))
Texas (12, 12): Winchester Model 94: $395 ($550 (12 Weeks), $300 (17 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (10, 10): Marlin/Glenfield 30A: $375 ($450 (12 Weeks), $250 (17 Weeks))
Virginia (12, 10): Marlin: $375 ($425 (13 Weeks), $350 (14 Weeks))
Florida (19, 20): Marlin 336 CS: $450 ($500 (9 Weeks), $300 (14 Weeks))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $426 Last Week Avg: $420(+) ($450 (13 Weeks), $360 (8 Weeks))
California (176, 159): Para Ordnance 1911: $500 ($600 (11 Weeks), $350 (22 Weeks))
Texas (244, 216): Llama Max 1911: $350 ($600 (21 Weeks), $350 (8 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (124, 125): Rock Island Armory: $500 ($525 (19 Weeks), $325 (21 Weeks))
Virginia (139, 141): Taurus 1911: $480 ($550 (2 Weeks), $250 (19 Weeks))
Florida (305, 297): Llama 1911: $300 ($450 (12 Weeks), $250 (8 Weeks))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $304 Last Week Avg: $305(-) ($336 (9 Weeks), $286 (14 Weeks))
California (148, 147): Kahr CW-9: $350 ($450 (11 Weeks), $250 (16 Weeks))
Texas (238, 223): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $220 ($355 (10 Weeks), $220)
Pennsylvania (217, 221): Ruger P95DC: $325 ($350 (27 Weeks), $240 (6 Weeks))
Virginia (185, 156): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $325 ($400 (3 Weeks), $275 (23 Weeks))
Florida (399, 396): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $300 ($375 (18 Weeks), $250 (7 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $368 Last Week Avg: $340(+) ($368, $300 (26 Weeks))
California (63, 69): Ruger SR40: $375 ($400 (3 Weeks), $250 (16 Weeks))
Texas (102, 99): Smith & Wesson SD40: $340 ($425 (20 Weeks), $275 (3 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (94, 95): Ruger SR 40C: $300 ($340 (24 Weeks), $250 (11 Weeks))
Virginia (90, 84): Glock 22: $425 ($450 (9 Weeks), $275 (15 Weeks))
Florida (131, 136): Glock 23: $400 ($400 (10 Weeks), $275 (24 Weeks))
Used Gun of the Week: (Washington state)
Argentinian Colt Sistema 1927 Chambered in .45 ACP
Chris Covert writes for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com and on Twitter.
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