[Lone_Gunman]

I have seen several threads where people have said that even if the AWB dies, and full capacity mags are once again available, that the prices would stay high.

I don't see why that would be true, and wanted to toss this out there for discussion.

Some have said that since people have gotten "used to" paying $100 for a high cap mag, that gunmakers will charge high prices. But most people out there buying a Glock 19 are not also buying high cap mags, they are just going with the 10 rounders. Only a small, hard core group of shooters are paying the premium for high caps. Most shooters are not doing this, even a lot of people on this forum dont buy high caps at ridiculous prices.

In other countries, where high caps are legal, they dont cost $100, so if gunmakers tried to charge high prices in the USA after the ban, why couldnt importers just ship them in from another country?

Competition will rule the issue, an I would fully expect most high caps to drop to the $20 range.

[ajacobs]

I agree compleatly since they will once again be comming with new pistols. The only thing is, is will the ban end. I have a good feeling but I am not selling my hicaps for a profit right now.

[Blueduck]

I've seen this as well and agree with L.G. 100%. Will they ever be as inexpensive as in '93? nope, just because of inflation but that will only be a little jump.

I assume Glock mags will really come down the most but frankly a lot of mags never really went up that much to begin with. New Beretta 10 round mags don't cost much more than used good condition pre-bans. You can actually buy some almost new S/W pre-bans cheaper than you can buy neutered mags from the factory. Never banned 4506 8 round mags go for almost $40 from S/W:(

If it's just a general "Mags cost too much" thought behind that theory then I can see the point, but if on the other hand they think Glock 19 15 round mags are gonna sell for $85 and ten round mags for $14.95 if the ban expires- No way in my book..

[Zak Smith]

I agree. Magazines that have relatively limited production e.g. P7M13 will remain more expensive, but drop from their current prices. Mags that are ubiquitous and still in production will drop, maybe lower than what you can buy a 10rnd mag for now.

-z

[zahc]

Blue duck said:

"frankly a lot of mags never really went up that much to begin with."

i wish 10/22's were in that category:( If you find some normal caps at decent prices I'd sure like to see them.

[MoNsTeR]

OMG, Guns and Economics? This thread must be from heaven ;)

The prices for pre-ban mags are, like any price, determined by the interaction of supply and demand. It's important to understand what these really are, and what affects them. In a nutshell, supply is a producer's willingness to sell, and demand is a consumer's willingness to buy.

At the moment, manufacturer's willingness to sell hicaps is zero, as such is illegal. Individuals' willingness is also low, due to the previous statement. This means low supply, which translates into high prices. If the ban were to disappear, the collective willingness to sell in the magazine economy would explode, and prices would plummet.

On the other side of the coin, there's demand, which will not likely change. I'll probably have to explain this as it's somewhat counter-intuitive, but this post is already getting long ;)

My prediction: significantly lower prices. Hicaps will be priced a shade more than 10-rounders (which will persist due to CA, etc.), I'd say $5 more at the most.

[No4Mk1*]

Price will fall quickly. New supply may not instantly be able to satisfy the demand, but if the price remains high, many used "pre-bans" will be sold by people who do not want to keep $60 in a mag when the price will soon fall all the way to $20. This should dump many used "pre-bans" onto the market and therefore add to the supply, thus reducing price.