As predicted - local markets flooded with AR15s/etc.

[buckeye8]

I don't know why we act as if we have not been through this before. Here's pretty much how it went around here:

After the 2008-9 panic, it took ~6-12 months for things to hit "normal" again, depending on where you were. Folks who lived near high-volume shops tended to suffer less, because those shops recovered inventory and stabilized prices faster than the smaller/rural shops. But by the time hunting season began to loom (here in Ohio) the following autumn, things were pretty much back to normal. Guys started spending thier gun money on their annual hunting stuff, and the bottom finally fell out of the black rifle market. I would imagine that come hunting season this year, we'll see much the same thing, assuming no major legislation between now and then (big assumption, of course).

The best part: When prices finally did fall, they didn't stop at "normal". There are a whole lot of patient folks who made out like bandits in 2010 and 2011.

Then the election year of 2012 came, and well... there we went again...

 

[mic_poo]

I think most of the current private sale activity is a bunch of 'entrepreneurs' still trying to ride the panic wave pricing.

BCM, PSA, AIM .... within minutes of putting out new inventory of uppers, lowers, BCG, bolts, etc on their website, they are all gone. Interestingly every day some guy on ARF has two brand new in the wrapper part with an asking price a hundred dollars more than he paid a few days ago.

At the houston gun show last weekend, i was pleasantly surprised to see federal 5.56 coming back to 0.65/rnd. Still had a bunch of yoohoos with some of it marked at $1/rnd though.

 

[col_temp]

Not sure where he's looking but the prices are somewhat down but I am still seeing too many paying more or wanting to charge more than is reasonable.
Like you can get the same part direct from the manufacturer for less than some of these guys are listing! (Especially now that parts are starting to catch up a bit!)
Example: Looking to build my own and I can get the stripped lower direct for $120. Somebody listed for $140 - $200 and I just saw over on gb.com somebody bidding at $150!
Doesn't anyone do any research anymore?

Ditto to the comments of the rest of you!

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

Well don't count your chickens before they hatch as they say. This mess is still in the early innings and we are behind 2-0 (NY&CO).

One thing is for sure though. Even if we win this round prices will not return to where they were prior to this mess. I'd say they will run 20% over pre crises levels.

 

[armoredman]

Seems to be the way of things - look at gas prices. Pre Katrina $1.25 on the high side...and now...

 

[jimmyraythomason]

they sat on the shelf for a day

I'm in Oneonta,Al. and that definately is NOT happening here! AR buyers are are still on long waiting lists. That is why private sellers are getting the higher prices still. Neither prices nor availability have improved very much here.

 

[Speedo66]

There are two ways you can look at it. One, LGS are bad for charging high prices.

Second thought might be he or she sold out their inventory when the panic set in. They tried to refresh the inventory, but there was nothing to be found to supply their customers who were panic buying. So the owner goes outside his regular supplier and has to pay wholesale panic price just to have something his customers can buy. This might apply to guns and ammo both.

So some customers who are without guns or ammo and are fearful of maybe never getting any more, are glad to get their hands on guns or ammo even at the inflated price. Others, who might already have a stock of both, look at the inflated prices and say the store owners are thieves.

Who's right? Depends on your position.

 

[Fishslayer]

All those paople sitting on $1/round .223... well, it doesn't eat anything & it doesn't go bad.