This Week in Guns, July 20th, 2013

By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

Americans own nearly half of the privately owned firearms on the planet, says the National Journal. They say that like it's a bad thing.

California congressman Henry Waxman has written legislation to ban 80 percent (unfinished) gun receivers. Pretty funny, but not so funny if the left gains both houses in 2014.

At the moment it appears that 80 percent receivers for the popular AR-15 pattern rifles are hard to find, as production has not matched demand. Ares Armor is one supplier, but they are out. H&H Tactical is another, but has only four left in stock. According to the St. Louis Gun Rights Examiner, KT Ordnance has sold more than 10,000 80 percent receivers for AR pattern rifles, AR-10 and AR-15.

And that's just the AR pattern receivers. AKs are another matter altogether.

Is Waxman really going to ban all those rifles? 


Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition.

Pistol Ammo
.45 caliber, 230 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Supply Warehouse: Wolf FMJ Steel cased .42 per round
Cheapest Brass cased, 50 rounds: PMC Bronze, .42 per round

.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson,180 grain, From Last Week: +.05 each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Gander Mountain, Remington, .40 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition, reloaded, .32 per round

9mm Parabellum, 115 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged
Cheapest, 50 rounds: High Country Ammunition, Range Master, .34 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1000 rounds: Bluecore Shooting Center, reloaded, .30 per round

.357 Magnum, 158 grain, From Last Week: -.03 each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cabelas, Herter's Select Grade .46 per round
Cheapest, Bulk 1000 rounds: Ammo Supply Warehouse, Sellier & Bellot, .49 per round

Rifle Ammunition

.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 grain, From Last Week: -.02 each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition to Go, PMC Xtac, .44 per round
Cheapest Bulk 1000 rounds: Battle Bag Ammo, reloaded, .40 per round

.308 NATO 145 grain, From Last Week: +.05 each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammunition to Go, Prvi Partizan FMJ, .65 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammoman, Prvi Partizan FMJ, .80 per round

7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: -.02
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Selway Armory,Wolf Ammo, steel core and case, .28 per round
Cheapest, Bulk, 1000 rounds: Ventura Munitions, Wolf Ammo, steel core and case, .27 per round
Cheapest, Brass casing: Ables, Fiocchi, .56 per round for 1000

.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: -.03 each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Gander Mountain, CCI, .10 per round
Cheapest, Bulk, 1000 rounds: Ammunition Supply Warehouse, Amscor, .15 per round

Guns for Private Sale
Rifles
.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic)
California: Smith & Wesson: $925
Texas: Smith & Wesson .223: $629
New York: Smith & Wesson: $700
Maryland: Bravo Company USA: $1,100
Florida: Bushmaster XM-15E2S A2: $829

.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic)
California: Sig Sauer 716: $1,600
Texas: Smith & Wesson: $1,250
New York: DPMS Panther Arms LR-308: $900
Maryland: DPMS LRT-SASS /w scope : $2,600
Florida: DPMS Stainless Bull Barrel: $1,200

7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic)
California: Russian Arsenal: $1,300
Texas: Century Arms: $800
New York: None
Maryland: Saiga: $500
Florida: Saiga: $550

7.62x54mm (Dragunov Pattern Semiautomatic)
California: Romak PSL: $1,700
Texas: None
New York: None
Maryland: None
Florida: Romak PSL: $1,100 (Same Gun)

.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol)
California: Citadel, : $700
Texas: Federal Ordnance, Stainless Steel barrel, $550
New York: Sig Sauer Tacpac, $450
Maryland: Rock Island Armory, Citadel, $600 (Same gun)
Florida: Taurus: $589