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By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

Prices for the 5.56mm and 7.62x51mm rifles have spiked with the highest prices seen since I started this column in the summer of 2013. I suspect prices will go down, as the spike is probably a short term one, everywhere but in Virginia where, I understand, they have undergone a change in political sentiment.

I expect 5.56mm and 7.62x51mm ammunition prices to moderate somewhat, but I doubt they will return to the prices we had in 4Q 2014.

The "proposed" ban on M855 5.56mm ammunition has been delayed by the ATF, presumably after protests and the threat of an NRA lawsuit. The threat is not over.The bastards will be back. Meanwhile 7N6 (5.45x39 light ball surplus AK-74) ammunition is still banned even though it too was classified as "armor piercing".

Kurt Hofmann says abolishing the ATF might be just the thing. I don't believe it. I think you must abolish the Gun Control Acts of the 1930s before you have a whisper of a chance of abolishing the ATF.

Hofmann also has pointed out Six Steps towards Fascism in the USA. Step One: Universal Background Checks, already imposed in Connecticut, New York and Washington state.

A rare bit of good news from West Virginia: a possible Constitutional Carry State.

From Sipsey Street Irregulars concerning the "proposed" M855 ammunition ban:

I don't get what all the fuss is about. You know, without getting into whether or not green tip is in fact armor piercing, it strikes me that while armor-piercing ammunition is of some utility in defeating a predatory raid party, you certainly don't need AP to shoot the tyrannical politician or judge who sent them.


Loads.

Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:

Prices for rifle ammunition were mostly lower, while prices for pistol ammunition were mostly unchanged.

Prices for used rifles and used pistols were mixed.

Pistol Ammunition

.45 Caliber, 230 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Munire USA, Tulammo, steel cased, .28 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, steel cased, .28 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2014))

.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: I.Q. metals, HSM, FMJ, reloads, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Store brand, reloads, .24 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

9mm Parabellum, 115 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (4Q, 2014)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: South Georgia Outdoors, CCI Blazer, FMJ, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Pojeda, Steel cased, Reloads, FMJ, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))

.357 Magnum, 158 grain, From Last Week: -.02 Each After Unchanged (4 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt, Armscor USA, FMJ, .35 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 250 Rounds: SG Ammo, Geco, Bulk, FMJ, .34 per round (From Last Week: -.02 Each)

Rifle Ammunition

.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 grain, From Last Week: -.02 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Unlimited, Wolf WPA, steel cased, FMJ, .27 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, steel cased, .22 per round (From Last Week: -.06 Each (!))

.308 NATO 145 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Munire USA, Brown Bear, steel cased, .48 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: SG Ammo, Wolf WPA, steel cased, .45 per round (From Last Week: -.03 Each)

7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Bellagio Security, Unknown Brand, steel case, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt, Wolf WPA, steel case, .23 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each)

.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Sportsman Outdoor Superstore, CCI, RNL, .10 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoors Unlimited, Aguilar, RNL, .11 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

Guns for Private Sale
Rifles

.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $616 Last Week Avg: $556 (+) ($616, $515 (5 Weeks))
California (2151, 211): Palmetto State Armory: $600 ($650 (8 Weeks), $425 (11 Weeks))
Texas (244, 248): Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport: $480 ($675 (8 Weeks), $450 (22 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (126, 129): Bushmaster Carbon 15: $650 ($650, $490 (12 Weeks))
Virginia (189, 198): DPMS: $750 ($750, $500 (6 Weeks))
Florida (311, 323): Bushmaster Carbon 15: $600 ($600 (4 Weeks), $450 (20 Weeks))

.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,359 Last Week Avg: $1,209 (+) ($1,359, $953 (19 Weeks))
California (47, 38): Palmetto State Armory: $1,400 ($1,700 (13 Weeks)), $1,000 (14 Weeks))
Texas (52, 49): Armalite AR-10: $1,395 ($1,500 (16 Weeks), $900 (21 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (29, 31): Armalite AR-10: $1,500 ($1,500, $800 (9 Weeks))
Virginia (40, 38): Bushmaster A3: $1,600 ($1,600, $900 (17 Weeks))
Florida (43, 51): DPMS Sportical: $900 ($1,500 (17 Weeks), $750 (6 Weeks))

7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $550 Last Week Avg: $567 (-) ($626 (3 Weeks), $462 (16 Weeks))
California (46, 50): Saiga: $600 ($695 (16 Weeks), $320 (11 Weeks))
Texas (54, 45): Saiga: $600 ($699 (5 Weeks), $350 (18 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (52, 54): VZ2008: $525 ($750 (6 Weeks), $450 (19 Weeks))
Virginia (59, 62): VZ2008: $525 ($625 (4 Weeks), $350 (6 Weeks))
Florida (94, 98): Romak: $500 ($625 (4 Weeks), $300 (16 Weeks))

30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $382 Last Week Avg: $415 (-) ($489 (9 Weeks), $320 (87 Weeks))
California (11, 14): Marlin 336 W: $400 ($400 (9 Weeks), $375 (11 Weeks))
Texas (14, 13): Winchester Model 1894: $400 ($550 (6 Weeks), $300 (10 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (12, 13): Marlin 336: $335 ($450 (6 Weeks), $250 (11 Weeks))
Virginia (6, 6): Marlin 336: $400 ($425 (7 Weeks), $350 (8 Weeks))
Florida (23, 19): Marlin 336W: $375 ($500 (2 Weeks), $300 (9 Weeks))

Pistols

.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $400 Last Week Avg: $360 (+) ($450 (10 Weeks), $360)
California (153, 147): Llama Max 1911: $500 ($600 (5 Weeks), $350 (16 Weeks))
Texas (170, 170): Llama Max 1911: $350 ($600 (16 Weeks), $350 (3 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (118, 123): Rock Island Armory: $400 ($525 (12 Weeks), $325 (14 Weeks))
Virginia (152, 155): Rock Island Armory: $400 ($495 (8 Weeks), $250 (13 Weeks))
Florida (301, 323): Llama 1911: $350 ($450 (6 Weeks), $250 (2 Weeks))

9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $293 Last Week Avg: $305 (-) ($336 (3 Weeks), $286 (8 Weeks))
California (155, 156): Glock 19: $350 ($450 (5 Weeks), $250 (10 Weeks))
Texas (200, 205): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $240 ($355 (4 Weeks), $235 (12 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (233, 240): Star Firestar: $300 ($350 (21 Weeks), $275 (8 Weeks))
Virginia (173, 173): Smith & Wesson 6906 : $325 ($350 (22 Weeks), $275 (17 weeks))
Florida (381, 377): Ruger P95: $250 ($375 (12 Weeks), $250 )

.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $329 Last Week Avg: $335 (-) ($345 (18 Weeks), $300 (20 Weeks))
California (66, 69): Smith & Wesson SW40VE: $300 ($350 (23 Weeks), $250 (10 Weeks))
Texas (77, 82): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $280 ($425 (15 Weeks), $280)
Pennsylvania (94, 96): Smith & Wesson SD40VE: $300 ($340 (18 Weeks), $250 (5 Weeks))
Virginia (74, 76): Glock 22: $375 ($450 (3 Weeks), $275 (9 Weeks))
Florida (124, 132): Stoeger: $390 ($400 (4 Weeks), $275 (18 Weeks))

Used Gun of the Week: (Arkansas)
Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Chambered in .44 Magnum

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


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