[Mike2]

With all the panic buying that is going on, its gone from not being right to just plum T freakin ridiculous. I have a friend who owns a gunshop/ police supply internet business, he stopped by yesterday to drop off some ammo I ordered (which was twice the normal price even with the friend discount), he said, "Mike, I officially can't get anything (gunwise) from my wholesalers anymore!!" (Without a very significant wait I might add" You know, I hate this situation with a purple passion but I really hope the dynamics will change for the positive for gun owners / buyers. You can never have too many guns or ammo (I have bought on a frequent basis for years) but there are a few more that I would like to get my hands on and simply can't................when will it end?????:cuss:

[ravonaf]

when will it end?????

I think when the manufacturers are able to ramp up their production to meet demand. I personally don't think the buying will end anytime soon. Which is good for everyone. Given enough time demand will either go down, and things become available again, or supply will go up to meet demand and things will again become available.

[turbohardtop]

my concern is that by the time the panic buying stops, inflation kicks in so hard that they become unaffordable anymore.

[Zundfolge]

...when will it end?????

January 20th, 2013

[hso]

It is simple supply/demand economics. "It" will "end" when the supply and demand balance either through increased production or a loss of interest in the market.

[John828]

Actually it is right, maybe not to my liking, but definitely right. I think it is one of the greatest things going for gun rights. Considering the narrow Heller decision and the election of Obama, the current surge in purchases is proof that Americans love guns. New owners will hopefully join the NRA or other RKBA organizations and donate some time or money.

Guns have been economical for a long time, yet I think that day is gone. hso is right about the economics and eventually the market reaching equilibrium. I still think that the prices are here to stay though.

All that said, there will be some deals on "used" guns once that market gets over supplied.

[Old Fuff]

Some insights from today's The Shooting Wire.

Watching And Waiting - Anxiously

At the risk of being accused of trying to force a conclusion, we have consitently reported on the uneasiness across the shooting industry. It has been based on our anecdotal observations and conversations with both average shooting enthusiasts and industry insiders, but we've seen-and heard-shooters express their concerns.

Earlier this week, a poll released on hunters and shooters backed up our anecdotal evidence with some actual survey results. And the survey says: "Hunters and shooters fear incoming administration will make firearms purchases more difficult."

When surveyed by Southwick and Associates, an overwhelming eighty percent (80%) of respondents said they expect it to become more difficult for them to purchase firearms. Only one percent of respondents felt it would get easier, and only sixteen percent expect their firearms purchasing abilities to remain the same

In other words, those of us who are seeing the anecdotal evidence of near-panic buying by virtually anyone who has ever considered a firearm didn't just pull this from a ready-made conclusion.

"These results show that most hunters and target shooters expect changes resulting from the 2008 elections will make it more difficult for them to buy guns," says author Rob Southwick of Southwick Associates. "Increases in firearm sales since the November election are also a strong indicator of such sentiment."

I think Rob may be understating the indicators. In fact, I sent first-time observers to a gun show this past weekend and asked for their observations. They observed the show had "heavy traffic" but "only the black guns and military surplus stuff" were really getting attention. These weren't "gun nuts" but average people who had indicated an interest in learning more about guns.

Fortunately, being at the gun show didn't discourage them.

In fact, they reported that many of the people at the gun show were "just like them".

I don't know what that meant - other than the fact the people at the gun show walked upright and spoke English - but it seemed significant enough to them to share. Actually, it probably points to the fact that outside of very conservative circles, gun owners are seldom portrayed as people who are "just like" the average people on the street.

Shooters have been marginalized to the point of near disenfranchisement with the "mainstream" American. If we are positively portrayed, many media outlets feel obligated to allow anti-gun groups to comment as well - all in the interest of "fairness".

How it's fair to allow the Brady Center to comment on gun violence in a story that is a feature about a local shooter is beyond me, but I'm afraid I have become fairly sensitive to the inaccurate portrayals, wrong information and general presumption that my enjoying shooting means I am something less than "normal".

When I was growing up "normal" was broadly defined as "what I like" - and people learned to appreciate their differences, not criticize them.

Next week, the shooting industry will be gathering in Orlando, Florida for the annual SHOT Show. I'm hearing from sources that attendance numbers have climbed back to equal 2007 - the last time a SHOT was held in Orlando. Historically Orlando doesn't produce the same attendance numbers as Las Vegas (that is a mystery to me), but attendance numbers not shrinking, despite many predictions of drastically reduced attendance is a good sign.

So, we're approaching SHOT with something better than cautious optimism. We're already getting press information that is embargoed until the show officially opens next week, but we can tell you there are some innovative new guns and gear being introduced next week in Orlando.

We'll be there in force with daily video reports and special Shot Show editions of our wire services. And we'll try to let you know - honestly -what we're seeing.

In other words: We'll keep you posted.