Seriously, what is with the falling prices of firearms

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But many of us only see the excuses used by the President and his ATF careerist Apparatchiks/Nomenklatura to threaten the Second Amendment,
and blocking imports seems much easier than going after any domestic production category or specific type.

The unintended consequences of these actions have probably been the only Obama economic stimulus that have actually accomplished anything -- we now have foreign makers setting up US plants (and hiring US workers!) to get around the bans and executive orders -- Klashnikov USA, IMI, AUG, etc.
 
Aragon hit the nail on the head. Many of the sales that fueled the boom in 2009 and 2010 were "stolen" from future sales. People that were considering purchasing an AR or handgun bought that gun a few years ago so they have no need to purchase one today.
I agree with this. I work in the computer software industry. The panic of the Y2K bug caused companies to take "future" budget to buy new hardware and software, and things were really soft for a few years.

And in that group of people that jumped off the fence, I have to imagine some of them used the rationale that firearms are a good investment, and now they are wondering why their $1600 AR is now $750 and they may not be very likely to buy anything else, nor will they encourage anyone else.
 
If it starts to look like things are changing for the worse I may get an AR at the best deal possible while the getting is good. I'm just glad for a slight chance to get something reasonably priced. Of course I could buy a Taurus PT-111 Millennium Pro G2 right now for $200. That's an incredible deal. I thought I did well getting my PT-145 for about $320. For the time it was a great deal. But a 9mm version of the .45 I have for $200??? I haven't seen a lot of deals that good in my life. I may just have to get one.
This. I may go ahead and buy another AR while the prices are so low just to have one. If I can get a complete AR by a reputable manufacturer for less than, say, $700 (I'm talking a complete rifle with a good barrel, trigger, stock, sites, etc.) I may do it.

Let the prices fall.

My advice remains the same to all gun enthusiasts: AMMO IS THE KEY. THE FEDS WILL SHUTDOWN AMMO WELL BEFORE THEY SHUT DOWN GUN DISTRIBUTION (after all, what good is that nice shiny rifle if you can't shoot it?).
 
Not true ...

Last year I met & spoke to a senior ATF special agent in a major city of the Southeast. He said directly We(ATF) do not care about ammunition.

These web rumors & hype aren't true. :rolleyes:
 
HC will most definitely get the DNC nom. They are going to brow beat and intimidate any and all Dem opposition. BHO and HC made their pact 8 years ago, and now it's being acted upon.

Jeb Busch will sink the Republicans, as no one will ever vote for a Busch again....

Too many horses in the Republican race, and if they start slinging mud at each other HC will just sit back and let them elect her with their own stupidity .... remember the Reagan Rule? They need to resurrect it.

HC will most definitely push for gun control. It's just a question of whether she lies about it and waits until after the election, or makes it her platform.

Yep, Billary is the DNC bid for the WH. The only question is, who will the Republicans put on the platform?

I'm an independent, I have never joined either party because both have their problems/issues. If the GOP puts Bush on the platform I will absolutely pull my friggen hair out. I never wanted GWB and he's the main reason BO got elected. That's right, we have a BO in the WH because of GWB's lousy presidency.
 
My advice remains the same to all gun enthusiasts: AMMO IS THE KEY. THE FEDS WILL SHUTDOWN AMMO WELL BEFORE THEY SHUT DOWN GUN DISTRIBUTION (after all, what good is that nice shiny rifle if you can't shoot it?).

That's the key right there. Federal law only touches the ammo issue. State law somewhat more but nothing like guns. Forget about cheap guns if you already own a few.

Buy as much ammo as you can while prices are low.
 
That's the key right there. Federal law only touches the ammo issue. State law somewhat more but nothing like guns. Forget about cheap guns if you already own a few.

Buy as much ammo as you can while prices are low.
AND you don't need an FFL to sell a bunch of ammo. If you openly admit that you buy an AR every month in anticipation of the next panic to make "quite the profit". No doubt the atf will want to look into that if they see it
 
I've also noticed that the really high end manufacturers are not coming down on their prices. For example, a LaRue 5.56 rifle is still between $1,900-$3,000, depending on which model you get. Their .308s have gone up too.

I also know that LaRue has just sunk a bunch of capital into expanding their manufacturing. So, their production is up, and so are their prices.
 
And the .22 LR shortage goes on, and on, and on...

That's because people keep buying it at stupid prices.

I honestly can't remember the last time I bought any. I know it was at least 10 years ago so don't blame me for that shortage.
 
And it seems to be ending. I was in a store Saturday that had stacks of 325 packs, 550 packs, bricks of both plinker and match ammo, big packs of mini-mags, and so on with prices ranging from $2.50 (for a 50rd box) to $90 (for a brick of match grade). They also had magnums, several styles of .17, and the like.

The interesting part: while a few people were grabbing up multiple 325 packs, most people were just walking by, not particularly interested.
 
No need to worry about gun price crashes, the SWHTF once HRC gets to the WH January 20th 2017. Unlike BHO, HRC will find the way to really hurt us. The way I see it, we have about 24 months to get what we need/want.
 
It is not illegal or unethical to buy a firearm with the intent of reselling it for a profit. It is illegal to buy a firearm for someone that would not be able to pass the background check.

What is a straw purchase? A straw purchase occurs when the actual buyer of a firearm is unable to pass the required federal background check, or does not want his or her full name associated with the purchase, and has someone else who can pass the required background check purchase the firearm for him or her.

I guess the fine line is if your buying and selling is deemed a business. If you do it enough to be worried, you could do all the sales through an FFL.

(a) As used in this chapter—
(21) The term “engaged in the business” means—
(C) as applied to a dealer in firearms, as defined in section 921 (a)(11)(A), a person who devotes time, attention, and labor to dealing in firearms as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms, but such term shall not include a person who makes occasional sales, exchanges, or purchases of firearms for the enhancement of a personal collection or for a hobby, or who sells all or part of his personal collection of firearms;
 
Another significant force in reducing firearms prices is the increased strength of the US dollar. This lowers prices for foreign made (e.g. European, Turkish, Philippine, Israeli, and Brazilian) firearms. A stronger dollar also holds down or reduces commodity prices for steel, copper, lead and petroleum products.
 
This thread is very telling. In the recent past we would have seen plenty of comments about plummeting AR prices being due to "low quality" ARs rather than an increase in competition coupled with a decrease in demand.

One thing that we have really not yet fully experienced together is the impact of decreased demand combined with today's hyper-competitive/high capacity producers. Depending on future demand a real price war could develop.

Some are quick to suggest that the coming presidential election might spur sales again. Yes, it might, but certainly not like they have in recent years simply because a HUGE amount of guns are already out there, ready to satisfy this demand.
 
I am considered an old man by my coworkers, but only became a full fledged "gun nut" around 2912/2013. I've accumulated my collection of shooters likely at the price peaks, and am not surprised to see firearms prices falling. Quality guns don't wear out, so eventually supply was bound to outspace demand.

My personal opinion on ammunition is that - with .22lr especially - we are in a new normal. With the increase in gun ownership and in recreational shooting, IMHO we have a new, higher demand level that will hold. Reloading of center fire is up as well - in my corner of the southeast handgun powders and .22lr still isn't available locally.
 
The interesting part: while a few people were grabbing up multiple 325 packs, most people were just walking by, not particularly interested.

I think we, as gun owners, think that everyone is looking for 22 ammo when in fact the vast majority of people really don't care. Heck they don't even know there is a shortage.
 
jrdolall: 7.62x39 has been, for the price, a much better value than .22LR (no thanks).

MagnunJoe:
Possibly so. But If she becomes our Queen and wants to spend most of her "political capital" on new gun regulations (instead of enforcing the many regs we already have), this will cripple her chances to pass other major legislation.

The astute gun people in late '08 realized that BHO could not risk wasting his brand-new "capital" on gun control, because it was critical that he scrape together everything he could for the "Affordable Healthcare Act". It only passed because of "sweetheart" deals made with certain states.

So many pro-S. Amend. people in early '09 were mostly oblivious to political limitations. Maybe they weren't watching the news, only believing what their buddies told them, and the gun industry's warnings.

Widespread warning$ among gun shop/distributor staff etc -while keeping quiet about the Affordable Care Act priority- became very profitable.:scrutiny: Mindless fear is always contagious, based on emotions.
 
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No need to worry about gun price crashes, the SWHTF once HRC gets to the WH January 20th 2017. Unlike BHO, HRC will find the way to really hurt us. The way I see it, we have about 24 months to get what we need/want.
Sadly, I agree with this. Her husband managed to shove through the worst firearms legislation since GCA 68. Don't believe for a second that she doesn't intend to pull as many favors and hold as many feet to the fire as needed to get Brady 2 passed.
 
jrdolall, "Heck, most people don't even know theres a shortage." Want to bet?
I work at a huge sporting goods store, .22 ammo on the shelf doesn't last long there at all. Just last week, there were 3 shelves full of .22's, Nosler bricks of 500 were selling for $98.99 !, those were the ones that sold first. Some of the cheapest stuff, Thunderbolt, was left wanting, everyone wanted the high dollar stuff, you kidding me?! Why would anyone want the high dollar stuff, just for plinking? Money talks I guess.
 
jrdolall, "Heck, most people don't even know theres a shortage." Want to bet?
I work at a huge sporting goods store, .22 ammo on the shelf doesn't last long there at all. Just last week, there were 3 shelves full of .22's, Nosler bricks of 500 were selling for $98.99 !, those were the ones that sold first. Some of the cheapest stuff, Thunderbolt, was left wanting, everyone wanted the high dollar stuff, you kidding me?! Why would anyone want the high dollar stuff, just for plinking? Money talks I guess.

jrdolall is talking about the majority of the US population when he says "Heck, most people don't even know there is a shortage". The majority of US households do not own a gun. Even among gun owners many are not active shooters but instead have a gun in a closet, nightstand, etc. The percentage of the US population that owns guns, shoots regularly, and keeps up on firearm related news is pretty small. (Personal guess - about 15-20%)
 
active shooters; 15-20% ....

I disagree with the stat of saying only about 15-20% of US gun owners are active shooters or hunt/shoot/practice often.
In my view, the amount of gun owners who shoot 2 or more times per month or so, or go hunting/camping(with firearms not bows, airsoft guns, blackpowder, etc) is more like 5% to 10%.
I would go shooting more if time, $$$, resources would permit it.

I would agree that many, many US gun owners own firearms but never(or rarely) shoot them. This includes gun owners/CCW holders who have defense-CCW firearms.

Like I posted, I rarely go target shooting or practice either. I'm not critical of it, I'm just saying this is the reality of the US shooting sports industry in 2015.
 
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