By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Anyone who owns a gun is being manipulated by the Russians. Online ads posted by entities with ties to the Kremlin are trying to get Americans to buy more guns so they, the gun owners, can kill each other off. All this is according to California Congressman Adam Schiff.
If owning a gun is tantamount to being in collusion with the Rooshuns, then Tovarishch, we need to talk.
One Russian Facebook acquaintance I have, Pavel Kukhmirov (Pavel Rasta) likes guns a lot, mainly because he is part of the militia that defends the People's Republic of Donetsk. Especially the M1911. The M1911 was shipped to Russia in large numbers during WWII.
His call sign is Shakespeare.
It didn't take the Kremlin's stupid ads for me to follow Pavel Rasta, Aleksandr Koffman and Aleksandr Kots.
I follow Kots because he is a military journalist for Komsomolaya Pravda, and has been in Syria as well as in Donetsk and Lugansk. He is prior service Russian airborne, and has a wife and at least one kid.
Koffman was the foreign minister of the DPR in 2014-2015, before he and a number of his allies were deposed and replaced. On his Facebook page he has discussed Russian films, his dawg and his son. In the new exchanges I have had with him, he never suggested I kill my countrymen, no matter what kind of loudmouth pricks they are.
Not even once.
All the Russians I have named are Russian patriots. They love their country, their language and their culture.
Why Schiff thinks that he needs to advise anyone about their contact with Russians is just weird.
Shifting gears, prosecutions for those individuals in New York state who have failed to register their handguns and their ARs will proceed, but the enforcement will be selective, it appears. I reported a while back that the AR registration requirement imposed by New York was flatly ignored, with the compliance rate at around five percent. Now that hand guns are required to be registered there every five years, a slightly lesser level of resistance has made its presence known.
It is simple in my mind. The state government of New York, once their prosecutions begin, will effectively declare war on its residents.
Loads
Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:
Pistol ammunition prices were mostly steady. Rifle ammunition prices were mixed.
Prices for used pistols were lower. Prices for used rifles were mixed.
New Lows:
Texas: .308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic): Palmetto State Armory: $600
Florida: .223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic): American Tactical Imports: $350
Pistol Ammunition
.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Red River Reloading, Silver Bear, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: East Carolina Trading, Own brand, FMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))
.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: East Carolina Trading, Own Brand, CRN, Brass Casing, Reloads, .17 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks))
9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each After Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, RN, Steels Casing .15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Fedarm, Own Brand, RN, Brass Casing, Reloads .14 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))
.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
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: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Highland Lakes Ammo, Own Brand, FN, Brass Casing, Reloads .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 500 rounds: Fed Arm, Own brand, TMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Rifle Ammunition
.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Able's, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2017))
.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: SG Ammo, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .30 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))
7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Red River Reloading, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: True Shot Gun Club, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017))
.30-06 Springfield 145 Grain. From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
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 (4Q, 2017))
.300 Winchester Magnum 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, SP, .81 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Target Sports USA, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, SP, .85 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged 4Q, 2017)
.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Ten Ring, Brass Casing, SP, 2.15 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 200 rounds: Cabelas, Prvi Partizan, Brass Casing, HPBT, 2.80 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks))
.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo King, Aguila, RNL, .04 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 5,000 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: $440 Last Week Avg: $440(=) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $387 (23 Weeks))
Arizona (201, 3Q, 2017(+3))(117, 114): Mixed Build: $500 ($740 (7 Weeks), $300 (22 Weeks))
Texas (484, 3Q, 2017(+3))(337, 339): Unknown Brand: $450 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (249, 3Q, 2017(+6))(150, 152): Armory Dynamics: $450 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (282, 3Q, 2017)(233, 214): Anderson: $450 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $300 (11 Weeks))
Florida (679, 3Q, 2017)(477, 457): American Tactical Imports: $350 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $350 (CA: $380 (1Q, 2015)))
.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $820 Last Week Avg: $825(-) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $766 (35 Weeks))
Arizona (49, 3Q, 2017(+6))(46, 44): Aero Precision: $1,000 ($2,300 (35 Weeks), $500 (18 Weeks))
Texas (178, 3Q, 2017)(91, 91): Palmetto State Armory: $600 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $600 (CA: $650 (7 Weeks)))
Pennsylvania (54, 3Q, 2017)(28, 29): Core Rifle Systems: $1,100 ($1,600 (4Q, 2016), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (86, 3Q, 2017)(62, 66): DPMS: $750 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $675 (14 Weeks))
Florida (128, 3Q, 2017(+3))(58, 67): DPMS: $650 ($1,950 (2Q, 1016), $500 (3Q, 2015))
7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $650 Last Week Avg: $584(+) ($668 (3Q, 2016), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (34, 3Q, 2017(+3))(30, 29): CAI: $700 ($925 (35 Weeks), $400 (40 Weeks))
Texas (141, 3Q, 2017)(66, 66): Zastava M70AB2: $900 ($900 (CA: $800 (1Q, 2016)), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (75, 3Q, 2017)(57, 50): RAS-47: $600 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (72, 3Q, 2017)(54, 53): RAS-47: $500 ($700 (2Q, 2016), $300 (14 Weeks))
Florida (146, 3Q, 2017)(131, 137): DDI Arms: $550 ($700 (1Q, 2016), $300 (4Q, 2014))
30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $424 Last Week Avg: $425(-) ($495 (4Q, 2016), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (14, 3Q, 2017)(5, 6): Henry: $595 ($595 (2 Weeks), $200 (39 Weeks))
Texas (35, 3Q, 2017(+2))(25, 25): Mossberg 464: $375 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $295 (37 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (23, 3Q, 2017)(12, 13): Winchester 94: $400 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (19, 3Q, 2017(+3))(8, 10): Marlin 336W: $400 ($670 (2Q, 2016), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (34, 3Q, 2017)(24, 20): Montgomery Ward: $350 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))
Pistols
.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $435 Last Week Avg: $450(-) ($525 (3Q, 2016), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (134, 3Q, 2017(+5))(94, 94): Tisas: $400 ($700 (39 Weeks), $325 (25 Weeks))
Texas (361, 3Q, 2017 (+3))(271, 267): Taurus: $425 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $300 (4Q, 2016))
Pennsylvania (178, 3Q, 2017)(171, 167): Remington R1: $425 ($600 (27 Weeks), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (204, 3Q, 2017(+3))(170, 172): Taurus PT 1911: $500 ($775 (27 Weeks), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (440, 3Q, 2017)(312, 319): Remington R1: $425 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))
9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $260 Last Week Avg: 300(-) ($358 (1Q, 2016), $207 (39 Weeks))
Arizona (238, 3Q, 2017)(173, 185): Smith & Wesson M&P: $350 ($400 (46 Weeks), $180 (14 Weeks))
Texas (586, 3Q, 2017(+3))(485, 491): Kel Tec Pf9: $200 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $180 (16 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (368, 3Q, 2017)(352, 346): Tanfoglio: $200 ($350 (4Q 2014), $150 (1Q, 2017))
Virginia (365, 3Q, 2017(+6))(321, 310): Ruger SR9: $350 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (2Q, 2016))
Florida (827, 3Q, 2017)(687, 688): Ruger P95: $200 ($400 (1Q, 2016), $160 (40 Weeks))
.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $336 Last Week Avg: $330(+) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (2Q, 2016))
Arizona (77, 3Q, 2017(+2))(44, 40): Smith & Wesson: $350 ($500 (1Q, 2017), $195 (36 Weeks))
Texas (156, 3Q, 2017(+2))(132, 129): Smith & Wesson: $280 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $180 (9 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (115, 3Q, 2017(+5))(92, 93): Ruger SR40C: $325 ($450 (2Q, 2016), $200 (3Q, 2016))
Virginia (109, 3Q, 2017(+4))(95, 100): Kahr PM40 : $350 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $220 (5 Weeks))
Florida (193, 3Q, 2017(+3))(147, 148): Ruger SR40c: $375 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))
Used Gun of the Week: (Washington)
Sako brand Mosin Nagant bolt action rifle chambered in 7.62x54r