Is the gun market down currently?

[Yukon_Cola]

I've started to notice that guns and ammo that would have flown off the shelves a year ago are sitting for weeks or months on end. Items on GunBroker aren't selling and guns that were bought during the panic by people uninterested in firearms are showing up for sale with increased frequency. Are we seeing a downturn in the market? Do you think prices will go back down to pre 2020 levels?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have noticed much of the same. I think that due to inflation many people are having spend money on other things.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The exception is online sales as Oregon residents are vacuuming up everything they can get their hands on .
Ive been waiting over 2 weeks on a stripped lower from PSA because they are prioritizing orders from OR.
Not mad, though. .

 

[tws3b2]

More people have guns than want guns.
I don't think prices will go down much.
It's a lot easier to find excuses to raise prices than it is to find excuses to lower.

 

[kidneyboy]

We are in a recession (by most metrics anyway). Keeping a roof over your head, food on the table and the heat on is higher on the priority list than guns.
I'm guessing gun prices will start to fall mid 2023.

 

[PapaG]

Locally, the cases seem to be more full than six months to a year ago. Unfortunately the pricing seems to be the Cabella/Bass Pro model.

 

[rust collector]

It appears to me there is downward pressure on prices. Offshore makers, ramped up production to meet demand, and a rather sharp decrease due to economy are causing prices to slip. This will likely be seen more in inexpensive carry guns, less in historic and collector types.

 

[JERRY]

I wouldn't say the market is down but people are definitely smarter with their money and not paying ridiculous prices for what people are asking for nowadays.

 

[CapnMac]

Whole bunch of things right now.

• Inflation
• Wobbly financial markets
• Gas prices
• Hunting season
  
• Holiday gift buying

Just to name a few.

There's some market saturation, too, in that many people have bought what they need already.
And the wobbly ammo market will have suppressed folk, too. If you are rolling your own, you are not going to buy "off the shelf."
Seasonally, sales come down this time of year, most years.

 

[Howland937]

People are going to run out of money, credit, or both eventually. Non-essential purchases are the first to get cut.

 

[MAKster]

You are just noticing this now? Inventory has reached glut levels. The price of firearms and ammo has been in free fall for a year. Most shops won't take ARs or polymer pistols on consignment because they are sitting forever. I just bought brass case 9mm for $11.99.

 

[Yukon_Cola]

You are just noticing this now? Inventory has reached glut levels. The price of firearms and ammo has been in free fall for a year. Most shops won't take ARs or polymer pistols on consignment because they are sitting forever. I just bought brass case 9mm for $11.99.

Six months ago I couldn't find 9mm anywhere and anything posted on the local classifieds was gone in a day. The cheapest I've seen 9mm in two years was 14$ a box on black friday. Still can't find primers or powder.

 

[nettlle]

Price of ammo and reloading components isn't helping either.

 

[Walkalong]

Things seem to be leveling off in the gun market, more stuff in stock longer, which is good, but overall everything is more expensive lately and money doesn't go as far, so folks are starting to cut back, all of which will help prices on gun/ammo/reloading supplies etc. No market is ever always up, or always down, things fluctuate in life, so as REO said....."Roll With The Changes.....but I foresee some deals coming our way in 2023. Be patient.

 

[dweis]

The other day I read in a PA online newspaper that in the months of of November PA residents purchased 70,000 guns. That was up from previous years by about 20%. At my LGS which used to have a wall to wall inventory of firearms. The stocks are low. People are buying the guns as fast as they are delivered. Every time go into the store I am reminded of just how many guns they don’t have.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Sooner or later the market is due an adjustment. People are not buying new as aggressively as they were. Seeing sks go for 600 dollars was a shocker to me. I saw mosins at 6-8 hundred. The whole market needs to slide back to some form of normal.

 

[jmorris]

I hope so. The only way we get better prices is from them making things that they have to lower their prices to sell.

I wouldn’t hold my breath for $7/brick .22 LR but we probably are not going to see any $0.05 hamburgers either. That’s more of an inflation issue than gouging or simple supply and demand.

 

[redneck2]

While gas prices are down now, just recently it’s cost almost a $100 to fill your gas tank. I saw the other day that the national average car payment is $710. At some point people have to make hard choices.

 

[JERRY]

While gas prices are down now, just recently it’s cost almost a $100 to fill your gas tank. I saw the other day that the national average car payment is $710. At some point people have to make hard choices.

Don't be fooled. Gas prices going from $4 to $3.65 is still double than just 3 years ago

 

[bubbaturbo]

I can buy gas right now for $2.40. The local gun stores are absolutely packed with new and used guns. Sales on used guns are occurring. If I had wanted it, I could have bought a like new Glock 19 gen5 yesterday for $408 although consignment guns are mostly stupidly priced still. It appears that some gun collections are being unloaded with Colt SAAs and Lugers appearing. I don't have any idea if those prices are good or not. I also can find .38 special 148 gr wadcutters and 243 winchester ammo (very expensive) again which hasn't been the case for a long time. Some things are still skyrocketing in price. Some prices are all over the place - $3 a gallon difference for a gallon of whole milk for instance. I'm not sure what's coming. Erratic seems to be the word of the day.

 

[SunnySlopes]

I paid $7 for a carton of 18 "premium" eggs last Thursday.

With our current policy of "more (inflation) is better", people aren't going to spend money on durable, luxury goods. Besides, it's Christmas. Dad has to forego that new Colt Python to get gifts for the kids, mom, the in-laws and the out-laws and......

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

so as REO said....."Roll With The Changes....

Saw them live many decades ago. Red Ryder (Lunatic Fringe) opened...

I'm seeing 9mm come down to a point (26¢/Rd) where I question reloading it, at least for range blammo ammo. I'll still handload the specialty rounds (read; ammo for Ida's pistol).

With the possible exception of 223, I see no real price drops. Availability has come back for most, but prices are still well above a year ago, even counting for inflation.

As for guns themselves, I'm not really on the market, so I'm not paying attention.

 

[HPJeep]

Gun sales are down. Ruger posted that their 3rd quarter sales are down by about 2/3rds compared to 3rd quarter last year. S&W is about the same.

 

[tactikel]

Recession, inflation, political pressure to disarm. Working 2 jobs to support a family allows little time or money to acquire ammo or firearms.

 

[Riomouse911]

Stuff is still stupidly priced here in Ca. Ammo, guns, components are all high… as is gasoline, utilities, food, rent, car payments, insurance, etc.



Stay safe.