Free Fire Zone: Playing wargames so you don't have to




This Week in Guns: Post Ferguson Riots Edition
2014-11-30

by: badanov

By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

Michael Yon, the former special forces operator and current freelance writer gives his summary on the shooting of Michael Brown last August. I found this on Facebook:

Ferguson: Why did the officer not shoot Brown in the legs?

Many people are innocently asking this question. The answer could go on for pages, but to be succinct, a couple handfuls of reasons:

1) This ain't the movies.
2) Most police do not fire their weapons much. Most are not great shots.
3) He would have to be an incredible shot to be crazy enough to fire wounding shots.
4) Nearly all firefights are "stress shoots." The other guy is moving. Heart is beating fast, often out of breath. The officer in Ferguson had just been punched in the face and had been in a wrestling match for his pistol, according to him.
5) Bullets that miss can hit someone else.
6) You always are low on ammo, and you do not want to waste a single bullet.
7) Time spent reloading is dangerous.
8) I have seen many people shot who kept fighting. Shot with weapons far more powerful than any officer's pistol. Many police and combat troops have seen this and will verify.
9) Police and Soldiers never train to shoot to wound. (None that I know of.) All combat shots are center mass of any part of the target that you can see. If you see only a foot. Shoot the foot. If you see a chest -- aim for the middle. That is the way troops and police train. If the officer is pointing his pistol at someone, he is one click away from going lethal. There is no in between.
10) This ain't the movies.

During the firefight at the link below, I was photographing when two people were shot a total of seven times. Two men, shot seven times. (US Soldier three times, al Qaeda four times with M4 point blank.)

After the US Soldier was hit three times in front of me, he continued to fight well. He was hit badly at nearly point blank. The al Qaeda terrorist was hit 4x times. He was still standing trying to shoot. One shot took off a testicle, and then he got tackled by a US Soldier, and despite being hit 4x, he then engaged in aggressive hand to hand combat.

Again, this ain't the movies. When officers or troops shoot, they must shoot to kill.

***

One of Rantburg.com's regulars noted that at some point during the confrontation after Officer Darren Wilson had begun firing, he should have spent the brief break in the incident reloading. I have always heard in you are not shooting, you should be reloading.

***

One of the stories in Ferguson is about a group of shop owners, among them a tattoo shop owner who brought guns (ARs) to their businesses to protect them from damage and looting. It must have helped. As I noted earlier and elsewhere, I listened to a few hours of the Missouri State Police scanner online, and I got the impression the destruction visited on businesses in the area were not spontaneous, but planned and deliberate.

And as if on cue, the Los Angeles, California city council wants to ensure that rioters there have a tactical advantage over people who own guns, law abiding or not in their little corner of heaven. As difficult as possible rules and regulations must be imposed on those who do have guns in their homes. The rules sound a lot like the same rules US military have to live with on military bases.

At least -- certainly not in the face of a federally mandated "Shall Issue" ruling -- they are not trying to outright ban guns.

Some fascists don't even want you choking down your traditional Thanksgiving dinner in peace.

Loads.

Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:

Prices for rifle ammunition and pistol ammunition were mixed.

Prices for used rifles were mixed and used pistols were higher across the board.

Pistol Ammo

.45 Caliber, 230 grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: LAX Ammo, Tulammo, steel cased, .28 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: SG Ammo, Silver Bear, steel cased, .28 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (9 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: SOWW Armory, Summit, FMJ, Reloads, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Freedom Munitions, Store brand, reloaded, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (13 Weeks) (!!))

9mm Parabellum, 115 grain From Last Week: +.02 Each (After Unchanged (2 Weeks))
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Munire USA, Tulammo, Steel Cased, FMJ, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammo, Tulammo, Steel Cased, FMJ, .19 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each (After Unchanged (2 Weeks)))

.357 Magnum, 158 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Independence, JSP, .39 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 250 Rounds: LAX Ammunition, Store Brand, Reloads, FMJ .34 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))

Rifle Ammunition

.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Selway Armory, Tulammo, steel cased, FMJ, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Bulk Ammo, Wolf WPA, steel cased, .22 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks))

.308 NATO 145 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt, Silver Bear, steel cased, .41 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: SG Ammo, Silver Bear, steel cased, .45 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (24 Weeks)(!!))

7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (5 weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition Depot, Wolf WPA, steel case, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, steel case, .21 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each (After Unchanged (7 Weeks)))

.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: +.01 Each (After Unchanged (2 Weeks))
Cheapest, 50 rounds (Limit 5 Boxes): Ammomen, Remington Thunderbolt, RNL, .08 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 325 rounds: Ammomen, Federal Automatch, .10 per round (From Last Week: +.01 Each (After Unchanged (4 Weeks)))

Guns for Private Sale
Rifles

.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $563 Last Week Avg: $526 (+) ($600 (7 Weeks), $526 (2 Weeks))
California (226, 239): Palmetto State Armory: $600 (Same Gun (3 Weeks)($600 (4 Weeks), $530)
Texas (291, 298): Mixed Build: $500 (Same Gun)(2 Weeks) ($600 (6 Weeks), $450 (4 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (170, 152): Bushmaster Carbon 15: $525 (Same Gun)(2 Weeks) ($600 (7 Weeks), $525 (2 Weeks))
Virginia (257, 244): Bushmaster: $550 ($615 (4 Weeks), $550 (6 Weeks))
Florida (366, 376): American Tactical Imports: $575 ($575 (4 Weeks), $450 (5 Weeks))

.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,038 Last Week Avg: $1,158 (-) ($1,158, $953 (6 Weeks))
California (47, 50): Smith & Wesson M&P10: $1,000 (Same Gun (7 Weeks))($1,000, $1,000)
Texas (58, 48): DPMS LR-308: $900 (!) ($1,400 (2 Weeks), $900 (3 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (45, 40): Bushmaster ORC: $990 (Same Gun)(2 Weeks) ($1,100 (3 Weeks), $990 (5 Weeks))
Virginia (44, 43): DPMS LR308 (Completely Decked Out): $1,100 ($1,100, $900 (12 Weeks))
Florida (61, 62): Smith & Wesson M&P10 $1,200 ($1,500 (2 Weeks), $1,000 (7 Weeks))

7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $559 Last Week Avg: $569 (-) ($569 (2 Weeks) , $462 (4 Weeks))
California (42, 42): WASR Romak: $695 ($695, $350 (4 Weeks))
Texas (68, 69): WASR: $650 ($660 (5 Weeks), $350 (3 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (57, 54): IO Hellhound: $500 ($650 (3 Weeks), $450 (4 Weeks))
Virginia (75, 82): Romak: $450 ($525 (5 Weeks), $450)
Florida (131, 127): Czech Vz58: $500 (Same Gun) (3 Weeks) ($500, $300 (5 Weeks))

7.62x54mm (Dragunov Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,382 Last Week Avg: $1,331 (+) ($1,405 (3 Weeks), $1,017 (7 Weeks))
California (3, 4): Romak PSL: $2,000 (Same Gun (4 Weeks)) ($2,000, $2,000)
Texas (3, 3): Romak PSL: $1,500 ($1,500 (3 Weeks), $1,200 (4 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (3, 1): Romak PSL: $1,375 (Same Gun)(2 Weeks) ($1,375, $1,375)
Virginia (1, 1): Romak PSL: $650 (!) (Same Gun) (12 Weeks (!!)) ($650, $650)
Florida (0, 0): None Available

Pistols

.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $450 Last Week Avg: $396 (+) ($450, $390 (4 Weeks))
California (179, 177): Rock Island Armory: $400 ($400 (3 Weeks), $350 (2 Weeks))
Texas (216, 227): Colt 1911 Gold Cup Trophy: $600 ($600, $375 (6 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (169, 167): Rock Island Armory: $450 ($450, $375 (6 Weeks))
Virginia (162, 173): Crown City Arms 1911: $450 (Same Gun)(2 Weeks) ($450, $380 (3 Weeks))
Florida (359, 372): Tisas Zig 1911: $350 (Same Gun)(2 Weeks)($425 (7 Weeks), $350 (4 Weeks))

9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $311 Last Week Avg: $297 (+) ($335 (7 Weeks), $297 (2 Weeks))
California (157, 162): Smith & Wesson Sigma SW9VE: $300 (Same Gun)(2 Weeks)($350 (3 Weeks), $300 (9 Weeks))
Texas (243, 260): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $290 (Same Gun) (3 Weeks) ($350 (8 Weeks), $290 (2 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (198, 192): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $345 ($350 (7 Weeks), $295 (2 Weeks))
Virginia (238, 237): Ruger LC9: $320 ($350 (7 Weeks), $275 (2 weeks))
Florida (419, 458): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $300 ($325 (8 Weeks), $300)

.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $345 Last Week Avg: $328(+) ($345 (4 Weeks), $300 (6 Weeks))
California (89, 86): Smith and Wesson Sigma: $300 ($350 (7 Weeks), $275 (4 Weeks))
Texas (154, 162): Glock G27: $425 ($425, $300 (7 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (126, 130): Smith and Wesson Sigma: $275 ($340 (3 Weeks), $275)
Virginia (108, 102): Glock 27: $400 ($425 (4 Weeks), $300 (5 Weeks))
Florida (212, 208): Smith & Wesson Sigma SW40VE: $325 ($375 (4 Weeks), $275 (8 Weeks))

Used Gun of the Week: (Washington State)

Polish PPS-43 Chambered in 7.62x25 Tokarev

Chris Covert writes for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com




-----------------------------------------COMMENTS----------------------------------------


This story is 3407 days old.

Return to Free Fire Zone