Recent AK prices... how did I really do

[lanternlad1]

AK prices are getting outrageous, but AK ammo is worse. I can FIND 5.56 around here, I CAN'T FIND 7.62x39 anywhere. The last box of 7.62x39 I saw lately was a WWB (50 count) in WalMart for $18.00! Yikes! AR prices seem to be holding steady around here, but AKs are just nuts.

Last year, a friend of mine bought a VEPR for $600, a Rom G-code for $425, and a Yugo underfolder for $450. Now, good luck in even finding them. He also paid about $125.00 for 1000 rounds of Golden Tiger 7.62x39. If you can find it, a thousand rounds is upwards of $200. I've seen WASRs selling for up to $1000 each, and people buying them like mad. Personally, if I was the OP, I'd have bought a Saiga which can still be had for $500 and is a far better rifle than the WASR. (I paid $275 for mine last year)

The nice thing is, if the OP is having buyer's remorse, he should have no problem selling/trading it at this time.

 

[pinstripe]

you paid wayyyyyyy too much for a wasr. just take it apart and look at every piece and then ask yourself if you paid too much. Don't get me wrong, I have a wasr myself but I would have never paid over $375 for it. Let these other folks try to make you feel like you did the right thing, but this type of buying/selling is what is keeping the prices so high. Let these gun dealers set on them for a year or so and they would be glad to sell them for $250 apiece, that is just my thoughts.
Since you already let go of your money, you might as well have fun with it. You bought it.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

I paid $760

And I thought I got ripped off when I paid $429 for my WASR-10. Of course, this was five months before the Obama drama, so now I don't feel so bad about it.

But I have to agree with the other posts. If you got what you wanted and you're happy with it, who cares what it cost. Take your new rifle to the range and enjoy it.

 

[yenchisks]

Rock n Roll hoocheecoo, come on moma lite my fuse

 

[Ignition Override]

I told my wife weeks before the election that buying about six AKs could earn us a profit, but a cool gaze was the response as she said "Give me the remote-you can watch the Military Channel on the other tv". This happens.

If it's any consolation for the OP, a friend who is a very seasoned buyer of semi-auto rifles (Minis-SVT 40) just bought one about two weeks ago, as they might be much pricier in a few months.
If it could be justified, I would love to buy an AK simply to Spite Our New White House 'Leadership', or sell/trade later for ammo.

In my opinion, to put it rather tactfully and delicately, Nancy Pelosi + VP Biden = 'Hanoi Jane' Fonda.

 

[4Freedom]

sorry if i'm hijacking, but how have the prices of ARs changed in comparison with the prices of AKs?

That is my observation, that is why I went with an AR. I just paid a $100 to $200 max above retail price for my ARs and even didn't have to wait 1+ years to receive it. In essence I almost was able to buy my AR for the going rate these days. However, the AKs I have seen are either as expensive or more expensive than the ARs and I know just 6 months ago they were going for like $200 to $500. What is the appeal of AKs, is shooting commie guns make you cool or something?

Just kidding, they are a nice gun, but I really think they are not worth what people pay for them. From talking with enough people and watching videos comparing the shooting of the two guns by experienced shooters I think ARs are better and more accurate guns for the price.


For all you people who say you can get a converted Saiga rifle for $500, please stop making your bold claims and give me a link, phone number or some contact information so I can tomorrow go and buy one of those damn things myself. If you cannot do this, than please do everyone a favor and stop dreaming and fantasizing and breaking our morale with your fairy tales.

 

[plateshooter]

Dollar fifty gasoline sold for four dollars a few months ago. I think we were all Pi**ed about it but you paid the price, or parked your vehicle. I know I am not selling my SARs, WASRs or Saigas, for 300 dollars in this market because someone out there says that's all they are worth. (they are not for sale anyway) It is Capitalism in America.

 

[Javelin]

I paid $300 for a WASR-10...... I also paid $500 for one that was gone through for the 922(r) compliance even back in 2007. Did I pay too much? No I do not think so. Anything that the dems label 'assault' or 'evil' will be up on the block for a ban.

Guns are not quite like a commodity as it is a durable good. We all know that gun owners do not stop with one gun. And with the latest gun ownership spike has made new people come to the sport and they will want more guns.

I'm just going to put it out there that even if Obama does not reinstate the AWB our beloved governmnet will block the importation of all automatic firearms. You heard it here.

 

[aka108]

Few years ago I bought Arsenal SAM 7S along with a Kobra red dot, case and 6 Bulgarian mags for 700 bucks. Thought I was getting boned but sounds like not to bad a deal today. Romanians at the last gun show here were in the mid 700's. A couple of years back, mid 200's.

 

[jdc1244]

What we paid for our rifles in the past is irrelevant – the OP paid the market price, the market determines the value of a given item. As noted in the future at some point the price paid may seem like a good deal, and any price is a good one if AKs/ARs are no longer available.

I will say, however, I’m glad I got my M70 when I did…

 

[Shear_stress]

Again, I am happy for the seller. He got a solid rifle that will be a lot of fun to shoot. Plus, having another AK-type rifle in legal circulation can`t be bad (think Heller and common use).

Rant warning:

That said, I am getting a little fed up with folks who mistake asking price for market price. These internet boards, like gunshows, have become an echo chamber of people scaring each other into panic buying and than rationalizing the prices they paid. There is also a kind of herd mentality that you also saw with the gas prices, the stock market, real estate, etc--if prices are going up, they`ll *always* be going up and vice versa.

Do we really know what will happen? Of course not. Will the prices of semi-auto rifles go up, down, or stay where they are? Who knows--though my guess is that they will fall as the market stabilizes. This is definately not the first bubble we`ve seen.

So what do you do? Well, hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Get what you want, but for god`s sake don`t pay dollar. Learn to shop around! Case in point: here are some links for WASRs on Gunbroker right now with buy it now prices from $500-$650 (and one or two for a hair less than five bills). Factor in another $50-60 for shipping. Yes these prices are high compared to a few months ago, but they ain`t even within spitting distance of the $900-1000 chump prices people are bandying around. Anyway, it`s too late for the OP, but maybe someone else can benefit:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=121765912

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=121729810

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=121587841

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=121995008

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=121846377

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=121964490

And last, remember that the WASR was introduced during the last ban. They would still be available if that ban were renewed.

 

[Javelin]

Just inflation alone has doubled since the 1990s. College tuition is up over 300%.

The AVERAGE new domestic made vehicle on a car lot is $32K vs. high $19K in the 1990s. Think about what you paid for your refridgerator in the 1990s... I bet it if you bought a top-o-the-line one then it was not over $1K.

What makes you think that guns are different? Everything I have mentioned are different except one constant. The US Dollar $ which has been failing ever since the early 1970s. Inflation has quadrupled since 1982 alone! That means a quarter in your pocket had the same buying power as a dollar in your wallet today.

A $100 rifle in 1980s would be the exact same to the buyer as purchasing it for $400+ today.

 

[Zach S]

Personally, I think you paid too much. Although I'll admit, I saw a similar WASR and started to get it.

Dollar fifty gasoline sold for four dollars a few months ago.

And it was "rationed" at that. Freakin $40 limit in most places.

 

[RP88]

I would have tried waiting in line on an website, personally. You paid way too much. However, you got one, and as said, money usually comes back every two weeks. What you need to do now is look for some ammo and a few more mags. Other than that, enjoy your rifle.

 

[Guns and more]

I don't understand the "You got screwed" mentality. Always from someone who bought theirs last year. Well, did you stop buying gas when it was $4 a gallon? No. Take your car apart and see if it's worth $30,000. I bought a fine car in 1976 for $3,000, it had all the same parts. Beer used to be a nickel, too. I'll bet..................you get the picture. We do what we think is right at the time and move on.
If the AK's are banned, you'll be glad you have yours. enjoy.
I just bought a Colt AR for more than it used to be worth, but I'll enjoy having it longer than I'll remember the extra money I spent.





P.S. This forum has lots of people who will always tell you what you did/bought/went/thought..................was wrong.

 

[Strakele]

Shear Stress - Thanks for posting those links. I'm sure they can help someone. For me though, I wouldn't have bought any of those listed, except maybe the 5th one. The guy wants $625 for it. Plus $25 for shipping. Plus another $20 cause I use paypal. Plus another $20 for the FFL. Plus another $20 for a second mag. Plus another $23 for ammo. Plus tax or shipping on the mag/ammo. All told, it would be about $740. I got mine with everything I wanted for $760 out the door, no waiting for shipping, no FFL, etc.

 

[Gunfighter123]

IMHO --- you paid about $50/$100 over market --- BUT -- don't let it get you down. WHen and IF Obama OKs a new Ass-ault Ban etc. --- you can double your money , no doubt about it

To those that say you got screwed ---- In the early 1980s , I bought H&K91s for $500 ---- sold mine last year for almost $2200 !!!! I am old enough to remember seeing WW1/WW2 Lugers for $200 and they sat on the shelf ---- also Colt 1st & 2nd Gen. Peacemakers for $100 --- what do they sell for now ???

Beside --- you/we could be DEAD tomorrow ---- get what you want NOW as tomorrow is not a sure thing

 

[Shear_stress]

What makes you think that guns are different? Everything I have mentioned are different except one constant. The US Dollar $ which has been failing ever since the early 1970s. Inflation has quadrupled since 1982 alone! That means a quarter in your pocket had the same buying power as a dollar in your wallet today.

Guns doubling or tripling in price in the last couple of months has absolutely nothing to do with inflation and everything to do with a price bubble. Again, remember the stock market, real estate, gas prices, etc. Yes, things gradually increase in price over time as the currency is devalued, but this is irrevelant to the issue of sudden price jumps.

I don't understand the "You got screwed" mentality. Always from someone who bought theirs last year.

I`m not sure what you`re talking about. I haven`t stopped buying anything since the election. The price the OP paid was more than the NIB VZ-58 I picked up a couple of months back.

Shear Stress - Thanks for posting those links. I'm sure they can help someone. For me though, I wouldn't have bought any of those listed, except maybe the 5th one. The guy wants $625 for it. Plus $25 for shipping. Plus another $20 cause I use paypal. Plus another $20 for the FFL. Plus another $20 for a second mag. Plus another $23 for ammo. Plus tax or shipping on the mag/ammo. All told, it would be about $740. I got mine with everything I wanted for $760 out the door, no waiting for shipping, no FFL, etc.

Again, I mean you no offense and am by no means trying to pick on you, but the rifle you are referring to is the most expensive of all the ones I listed by more than $100, is a different caliber than yours, and comes with a set of after market furniture. The Paypal cost is something you could easily avoid by using a postal money order.

My point is that your original past listed a certain gun with certain options at a certain price and than asks »how did I really do?» Really, I don`t think you did well even in this market, though you can take some comfort in the fact that others have paid much more. However, as I said, you`ve got a good rifle (I`ve got a lot of AKs, and still like my WASR quite a bit) that will last you for the duration.

 

[Strakele]

Shear stress... not sure what you're talking about. I said I'd only have considered buying the 5th one (second from the bottom) that you listed. It is the exact rifle I have, but comes with one less mag. Same caliber, no other furniture.

 

[Shear_stress]

Ooops, thought you were referring to another.

Anyway, that rifle oyu refered to is one of the most expensive listed. The $125 dollar differences between it and some of others I gave links to would have bought a lot of mags, bayonets, etc.

Anyway, just go out and enjoy that rifle.

 

[Strakele]

Will do.

 

[Shear_stress]

Good deal. Strakele, if you want, PM me your address and I will send you a spare 30 round AK mag for free. Should make for more fun when you get to the range.

 

[4Freedom]

Will AK prices ever go down? I am told they are not going to be imported anymore, so they will only get more and more expensive. I really want to get an AK or 2, but with my budget and after spending so much on ARs, I just don't see how I can. I have seen some suckers on gun broker selling Century WASRS for over $1000

 

[Kind of Blued]

If you have a job, you can make more money.

There aren't really any more of these rifles out there though.

You wanted one, you got one.

'Nuff said.

 

[benEzra]

You did fine. And future AK availability at even current prices is much less certain than future AR availability, simply because AK or AK parts importation could probably be halted by executive-branch regulatory action (changes to import regulations, "trade embargoes" a la Clinton's Norinco ban, etc.), whereas banning the manufacture of domestic AR's would require a new act of Congress.

A lot of people would have told me in 2003 that I got burned for paying $379 plus tax for a SAR-1 at my local gun shop, rather than hunting and hunting for one at $300. Turns out that $379 was a pretty good deal, and I certainly wouldn't sell my rifle for even $800 now.

If new import restrictions do come down the pike, you'll look back at your investment as a very good one. And if (hopefully) they don't, you'll just have paid a little extra for peace of mind, not having to worry about future bans. That's worth paying a little extra, IMO.