Cost To Get Into Full Auto In Today’s Market?

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Saw-Bones

Saw-Bones

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In 1992 I bought a police trade-in Stainless Ruger AC-556 machinegun with a Ruger side-folding stock and one Ruger 30 round magazine for $1,000.… yeah, I know that’s sounds insane!

It has been reliable and a hoot to shoot in single, 3-shot burst and full auto. I was thinking of selling it and getting something else in full auto… possibly a sub-machinegun.

Is there a source I can go to and get a general idea of what today's cost of class III firearms are? Thanks..... Doc
 
Sticker Shock! KAC556F = $13,100

Swing - I appreciate your input; that’s exactly what I was looking for. Thank you very much.

I found the following statement on the Machinegun Price Guide that really hit home on pricing and I thought that I would share it:

“Our favorite example of price logic appeared on an Internet board this century. When a poster asked what was the best price to ask for a M11 in 9mm, someone replied, “$2,500 will get it sold now, $3,000 will get it sold sometime and $3,500 will let everyone know you own it.” In 2014-15 that would have to be updated to $4,500, $5,500 and $6,500. YMMV”
 
It also helps to watch the bubbles...Uzis were going insane for a while, I think it's bursting at this moment. I think Sterlings are undervalued, if you can find one.
 
Keep in mind that an "investment" in full-auto stuff is highly speculative, and also illiquid. It's not as if you can just call your broker and tell him to buy or sell. There's a months-long approval process, which tends to put people off.

I say the values are highly speculative, because they depend on one thing, and one thing only -- artificial scarcity caused by the Hughes Amendment freeze of the registry. Potential legislation can go in one of two directions -- either the Hughes Amendment is repealed, in which case values (at least for the modern stuff) drop like a rock (because of new supply), or else MGs get prohibited entirely. In that case you can only hope that the government provides "fair compensation." And, under Justice Scalia's dicta in the Heller case, it would be useless to argue that MGs are protected under the 2nd Amendment.

So, for prices to continue to rise -- or even to remain relatively stable -- it presupposes that the legislative landscape remains exactly what it is today. That assumption is rather far-fetched over the long term.

If you have money to burn, go for it (if only for the "fun factor"). At this inflated level, however, don't think that you are making a "wise investment."
 
Sold my M16 last year = $20 K. Not looking for FA any more. Hard to keep up reloading for FA and now no more surplus powder.
 
Mike OTDP - Good advice that not only pertains to machineguns; I’ll keep it in mind… thanks!

243winxb - I appreciate the additional link to get other opinions… thanks!

Liquidring - The sticker shock has me rethinking my plan. I was particularly stunned by the price of DIAS. I bought two out of Shotgun News around 1980 for $25 each. In 20/20 hindsight, I wish that I had registered and kept them.

AlexanderA - “Illiquid” and “speculative” are spot on and is very good advice. I’m reminded of how the prices of pre-ban AR-15s and 30 round magazines took off only to drop dramatically at the end of the ban. I was at a gun show when the ban went into effect and a dealer had some new GI 30 round mags he was selling for $5 more than the previous going rate. He said that you will never see them cheaper and he was right… for ten years.

joem1945 - Reloading supplies are not a problem for me right now. Prior to the Y2K scare I bought two cases of Win. Fmj bullets for 2.8 cents each, delivered and 24 pounds of Accurate 2200 Data powder at $6/lb. plus shipping and hazmat fee. I still have most of it left due to spending too much time at my practice, but now that I’ve retired I’m going to burn it up with a vengeance!
 
Keep in mind that an "investment" in full-auto stuff is highly speculative, and also illiquid. It's not as if you can just call your broker and tell him to buy or sell. There's a months-long approval process, which tends to put people off.
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I agree, Saw, you just need to get out now. I'll quadruple your return tomorrow.
 
jmorris - I think I’m just going to sit tight for now. I only have $1000 into the gun, I don’t need the money and I enjoy shooting it. I especially get a kick out of seeing my friends ripping through a 30 round magazine.

I made sure that my wife understands the monetary value of it as well as my other guns in the event that I pre-decease her. I’ve seen too many widows being taken advantage of because they have no idea what their spouse's toys are worth.
 
I've fired a bunch of full auto in the military, probably 10 or more platforms.

Fun, when it's someone elses' ammo. But at .40 cents to a few dollars a shot, no thanks.

If I had a real desire for a full auto, I'd get a $300 bump fire stock for an AK or AR. Cheap, easy, disposable, little lost if they are outlawed, no serialized, no paperwork, and they apparently work very well.
 
FA is a lot of fun but ammo cost will get your attention. Then you have guys at the range that want to shoot it and you ammo. Or they have some steel case crap ammo that they want to run in you gun. NO, if I'm going to blow up a 20K gun it will be my bad.
 
from Saw-Bones:
Prior to the Y2K scare I bought two cases of Win. Fmj bullets for 2.8 cents each, delivered and 24 pounds of Accurate 2200 Data powder at $6/lb. plus shipping and hazmat fee.
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Not to urinate on the festivities, but I have a pistol caliber submachine gun that only eats 4.4 grains of Bullseye per round. I go through 8 lb. jugs of powder at an alarming rate. If I rationed my usage and exercised a little delayed gratification while at the range 24 lbs. may last about a year-year & a half tops. I buy bullets by the thousands, multiple times per year. My critically low inventory level of primers is 20k. But you probably have a little more self control than I:evil:
 
joem1945 - You have the right idea; no one blows up my gun but me. The only ammo that goes into my gun is the ammo I choose… PERIOD.

plodder - I like shooting full auto, but you REALLY like shooting full auto! It almost appears to be an addiction, but if it’s not keeping food off the table or causing a restriction of the other essentials then have at it! :D If the cost of the ammo is causing a problem then, even though I’m retired, I can still give you a referral the appropriate health care professional. ;)
 
i definitely enjoyed owning a full auto AR15 and an M60 for a while. belt feds are awfully fun. and so are 22lr uppers on an AR

but it's way too much to hold on to long term for what i considered toys (since i think semi auto is more useful). gun insurance was pretty expensive too

i wouldn't discourage someone from buying one, but the comments about speculative investments above are spot on
 
FA is a lot of fun but ammo cost will get your attention.
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Just depends on what else you would be doing. I know per year my entire "gun" costs (including FA guns and "play") cost less than my auto racing did (also a better "investment" because the equipment retains value better).

I bet it also beats boat's and RV's as well, just different strokes...
 
If I had a real desire for a full auto, I'd get a $300 bump fire stock for an AK or AR. Cheap, easy, disposable, little lost if they are outlawed, no serialized, no paperwork, and they apparently work very well.
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Its a good starting point, but the problem is if you can afford the ammo, it'll make you want real full auto even more!
 
Liquidring said:
Just drop some BIG coins and go HK, cheapest sear I have seen for mine is over $25k. OUCH
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Ditto ... I bought my sear in mid-2012 for 13K, had a little trouble with it ejecting at first, changed the grip frame kept the FCG at the correct height.

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For ammo costs, my current favorite is my M16 with the CMMG dedicated 22 PDW upper and I had a bit of trouble getting it reliable but CMMG kept with me until it was flawless with most ammo's. Now the only problem is finding good 22LR ammo and when I do it costs as much as the surplus 223 used to cost :(

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Ditto on Taliv; belt-feds are soooooooo fun to shoot. Infinitely better than a 30 round mag which is gone so soon. But a belt-fed lets you become a superhero for a while.
 
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