New gun owners ?

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tws3b2

tws3b2

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I was just reading that the jump in gun sales is caused by existing gun owners buying more guns. Not new gun owners. I'm retired now and don't get out much anymore so I don't know. But, I do know of at least two new gun owners in my family in the past couple months. What you think?
 
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I suspect that what is noticeable is the new owners arming themselves as our society descends into anarchy. People of my acquaintance who never touched a firearm are buying or considering buying guns. It is possible that the preponderance of sales are still to experienced owners.
 
From https://www.nssf.org/millions-of-first-time-gun-buyers-during-covid-19/. Note this is an estimated 2.5M new gun owners as of June 1st:

...retailers reported an increased number of first-time gun buyers, estimating that 40 percent of their sales were to this group. This is an increase of 67 percent over the annual average of 24-percent first-time gun buyers that retailers have reported in the past. Semiautomatic handguns were the primary firearm being purchased by first-time buyers, outpacing the second-most purchased firearm, shotguns, by a 2 to 1 margin. Modern sporting rifles, revolvers and traditional rifles rounded out the top five types of firearms purchased by first-time gun buyers.

Retailers noted that these new customers were spending $595 on an average sale and that 40 percent of first-time gun buyers in the first four months of 2020 were female. The main purchase driver among the group was personal protection, followed by target shooting and hunting. Also of note was that 25 percent of first-time buyers had already taken some form of firearms safety course and 63 percent inquired about taking a firearms safety course in the near future.

All this equates to more than 2.5 million new gun owners in a very short period of time.​
 
tws3b2 said:
I was just reading that the jump in gun sales is caused by existing gun owners buying more guns. Not new gun owners. I'm retired now and don't get out much anymore so I don't know. But, I do know of at least two new gun owners in my family in the past couple months. What you think?
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Meh, I think longtime existing gun owners are too turned off by the current high prices to get real excited about buying a bunch more. New owners dont have a choice or a frame of reference. To them, $499 for a SD9VE seems reasonable if its all they can get.
 
At my LGS. they have gotten a huge bunch of first time buyers...and first time buyers here in California are learning what their government has done to their 2A rights with testing and 10+ day waits for “their” guns.

But I suspect they will all forget their ire once sports are allowed to resume and they can go back to sleep.
 
There were long lines outside of all the gun shops in my area for much of this year. I doubt that those who already had a gun were doing that if they didn’t need to. I also know of several people who were first time buyers.
 
P5 Guy said:
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/09/gun-ownership-america-super-owners/

Was this the source of your info?
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From 4 years ago but it's true..very few people own just one gun...between my 2 sons and I we own 20 guns....but
"The early part of 2020 has been unlike any other year for firearm purchases — particularly by first-time buyers — as new NSSF® research reveals millions of people chose to purchase their first gun during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Jim Curcuruto, shooting foundation's director of research and market development, said in a statement. “Not surprisingly, retailers reported an increased number of first-time gun buyers, estimating that 40 percent of their sales were to this group.”
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FFGColorado said:
From 4 years ago but it's true..very few people own just one gun...between my 2 sons and I we own 20 guns....but
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Only 20? Well, its a start........:D

Ill admit, as I get older Im turning to more quality over quantity. Still, Id probably have to be giving them away on my deathbed to get below 20.....:eek:;)
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Only 20? Well, its a start........:D

Ill admit, as I get older Im turning to more quality over quantity. Still, Id probably have to be giving them away on my deathbed to get below 20.....:eek:;)
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I'm a big fan of each of my guns serving a specific purpose(CCW, HD, Range shooter, etc) and each one has to be 'FTS..Fun To Shoot..if it isn't or is a dup of something, away it goes.
For me
Glock 42 and 26-CCW
Glock 17-HD and range gun
Uberti SA revolver-range fun
Ruger 1022-range gun ad small game if necessary
Mossberg MVP-my 223/556 range gun

My son has 2 Ruger VAQUEROS..I wouldn't own 2 of anything..YMMV and all that.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Only 20? Well, its a start........:D

Ill admit, as I get older Im turning to more quality over quantity. Still, Id probably have to be giving them away on my deathbed to get below 20.....:eek:;)
Click to expand...

I might know people who've taken very close to that many on a single range trip.....;)

I might know a person who has over 20 22 rimfire firearms, but there's a rumor he lost them all in a tragic canoe accident on the Trinity river.
 
FFGColorado said:
I'm a big fan of each of my guns serving a specific purpose(CCW, HD, Range shooter, etc) and each one has to be 'FTS..Fun To Shoot..if it isn't or is a dup of something, away it goes.
For me
Glock 42 and 26-CCW
Glock 17-HD and range gun
Uberti SA revolver-range fun
Ruger 1022-range gun ad small game if necessary
Mossberg MVP-my 223/556 range gun

My son has 2 Ruger VAQUEROS..I wouldn't own 2 of anything..YMMV and all that.
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I usually buy if its something interesting, but sell if its inaccurate or boring, and dump and run if its unreliable.
 
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Just my opinion. It wouldn't surprise me if a large part of new gun sales are to first time buyers. Maybe not a majority but a large number. Experienced shooters might move to get a specific new gun they wanted before supplies dry up but I suspect the huge percentage of used gun sales are to experienced gun folks looking for a bargain. There are still bargains out there if you're willing to look for them and are patient. In the last few months I've found good deals on a Rogers and Spencer C&B revolver and Blackhawks in 41 mag and 357 mag, all at darn good prices. Persistence and luck.

I have little faith in 'official' counts of who is buying what. But employees at my favorite LGS and the local Cabelas told me a big number of their new gun sales are to first time buyers.

Jeff
 
South Prairie Jim said:
Troy
Any thoughts about the increase of sales stemming from all the free Government money coupled with scare tactics from the pandemic.
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I took my "free money" and spent some of it on guns and ammo- gave the rest to my daughter who needed some help. Hey, if they are going to print and give it away, Ill take it.
 
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