[Delaware_Dan]

Title says it all, say I pick up a NIB Saiga 12 for $600-$625, and 2 12 round mags for $52 a peice, would this be a good investment? It seems that magazine fed shotguns are on their way out the door, so if/when these get banned would I have/did I make a good investment? The converted ones are selling for about $900-$1200, and if I convert it myself I feel like I could make a couple of bucks in a year or two. Am I going to regret paying that much for one or will it pay off? What do you think?

[nalioth]

Firearms traditionally do not make good investments.


NFA weapons are the exception to this rule.

[Ghost Tracker]

I have to agree. Don't confuse your sports. Guns are guns / investments are investments. There are exceptions, but usually those exceptions are on the top-end of the price & bottom-end of the availability scales. The Saiga 12 is the reverse of that rule-of-thumb. By all means, buy it if you want it. Use "investment" rationalization on your wife if you need the leverage. But (IMHO) it's not going to be one of "those" guns.

[ArmedBear]

Remember: if there IS a draconian ban, you may not be allowed to sell or transfer it, at all. If there isn't, there isn't a reason the value would shoot up overnight or anything.

You're not talking "investment", you're talking "speculation.":)

[Marcus5aurelius]

Actually, although I have never bought a firearm or ammunition as an investment, it does make a good choice to hedge against inflation. Gold is the norm for keeping value as the US dollar drops but any commodity that you buy will hold it's value in cases of inflation and firearms are exceptional for holding value, especially in tough times.

Inflation is caused by an increase in US dollars flooding the market, which creates less purchasing power per dollar. How many trillion are we going to flood the market with in the next few years? Not to mention the impacts of China dumping the dollar creating possibly hyperinflation.

I'm gettin off topic but in other words buying firearms as an investment may not earn you profit, but it may save you from losing money if you otherwise would keep that value in cash.

[cbrgator]

You can get a Saiga 12 shipped for 550 from Centerfire. No need to pay that extra 50-100 bucks.

[ArmedBear]

As far as an inflation hedge, I wouldn't count on reselling the gun at a nominal profit; I'd buy what I want because tomorrow, it will be more expensive.

I wish I'd picked up a couple more Beretta O/Us when they were around a grand each, for example.

[Geneseo1911]

You missed the boat. They were a good investment when no one had ever heard of them and they were $300. I think guns have more or less peaked, price-wise.

[Gunfighter123]

I think you will make a profit. I bought my S-12 , already converted, for $550 about 3 years ago. As you see , it would sell for about $1100/$1500 right now.

Firearms are good investments -- IF YOU PICK THE RIGHT ONES !!!

Look what Colt SAA are going for , along with S&W pre-lock revolvers , Colt 1911s 70 series , etc. etc. -- and look how AK47 type firearms have shot up.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b199/Jailbird123/s12_3.jpg

About 18 months ago , I bought this S&W 627-4 in 38Super for $500 ----- a week later , I was offered $1300 --- ya just never know !!!!
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b199/Jailbird123/TAC_001.jpg

[Delaware_Dan]

As far as an inflation hedge, I wouldn't count on reselling the gun at a nominal profit; I'd buy what I want because tomorrow, it will be more expensive.

Well said, thanks.

If i buy one for $550, after shipping and transfer, that about $600, if I convert it myself, thats adds an extra $300-400. I just don't see the prices dropping on these things. Granted is it speculation but look at all of the other Saiga prices. I bought a Saiga 7.62x39 five years ago for $209. They are selling for $600 now. I really don't see the prices of any firearms coming down, especially the "scary" ones like semi automatic magizine fed 12 gauge AK shotguns. But hey I could be wrong, thats why I ask you guys.

Guns are guns / investments are investments

Look at your 401k/stocks, and then look in your safe. Which one is holding it's value?

The reason I am looking into firearms as investments is the current political climate (speculation I know) and firearms; I know. I'm done with stocks. Thanks again for the advice guys, I'm on the fence about this one.

[_JT_]

Hey Dan, i just got my S12. I cant really say will it continue to go up in value, but the fun factor is there as you know with your other Saiga. One thing, i bought mine from centerfire, and had a transfer go thru my buddy in DE who does FFL transfers. If you are interested, his name is Carl www.trintacusa.com tell him Justin referred you, 30 bucks a transfer

[cbrgator]

Delaware Dan, the 550 includes shipping =)

[22lr]

Guns are tricky animals to invest in. If you buy the right ones you can make a killing. I bought a AR lower back when they were still cheap, I messed up the build (put a nice gouge in the finish) still sold it for $200 more than I paid. Id say right now is a really bad time to buy for investment. Right now the stock market is a better place for any spare money since all the stocks are still at record lows. Guns, I just don't see prices going up to much longer as the massive buying frenzy cant last for ever, and when it ends the prices will fall. All of a sudden a $500 Saiga is worth $350 again.

[6x6pinz]

I have had saiga shotguns for some time now. While the price has gone up, most of it has been in the last political enviroment change. I don't forsee the price increasing all that much if/after a ban of them occurs. They are what they are, a great shooting shotgun but really not worth the market price today, IMHO. I have a couple of the AGP 10 roudners and a couple of the 20 round drums along with a handful of 5 rounders plugged for duck/geese. The s12 is mainly a hunting gun but ocassionaly sees the range.

I modified my S20 but to do it right takes almost as much as just buying one already converted. You have to eat the labor and just do it for the fun of it. I don't plan on selling off any of mine but would not mind adding another one or more to the collection if the price does settle to a reasonable amount.

[Mr. Bojangles]

The price will not likely go down. Rarely do firearms depreciate in value (aside from damage/heavy usage.) However, The price has nearly doubled in the last 2 years and if you are buying for investment purposes you would be "buying high."

[Geneseo1911]

They are what they are, a great shooting shotgun but really not worth the market price today

Agreed- I paid $550 for mine because I really wanted one, but if you were to pay what it was worth I would put that closer to the $350 mark. Of course x39 AK's are doing the same thing right now. They are inflated primarily by political pressure.

[lipadj46]

Agreed- I paid $550 for mine because I really wanted one, but if you were to pay what it was worth I would put that closer to the $350 mark.

Me too, they are reliable shotguns but generally not "out of the box". They generally require much fiddling to fire the cheap walmart ammo. Also the absence of a LRBHO makes it feel like something is missing, I mean the browning A-5s from the turn of the (20th) century had a LRBHO, the russian Saiga 12's have a LRBHO but ours don't. I would put the value on a Saiga 12 at $300.

[Gunfighter123]

If they EVER get back under $400 then I will INVEST in a dozen of them like I should have 2 or 3 years ago !!!!