Price Sticker Shock

[jimmyraythomason]

I was in our local gunshop today looking to buy a .223 bolt rifle. He only had two and they were used. No problem, used was okay. He had a youth model Savage with synthetic stock and one with a hardwood stock. Since I'm planning on restocking the rifle, I wasn't too concerned with what each had. Here is the kicker (at least for me) The synthetic stocked Savage was $554.00 and the hardwood stocked Savage was $575.00!!!! USED!and they looked it. Now I realize that there has been considerable upward movement of prices lately but almost $600 for used Plain Jane Savages! They each did have big scopes but I wasn't in the market for a scope. I did wind up buying/ordering a NEW Steven's Model 200 in .223 for $325.00. Perhaps I should get out more,huh.

 

[Schleprok62]

I was gonna suggest looking at the Stevens Model 200... LOL... till I read the whole post... I have the Stevens in a 7mm-08 and it's been great so far...

 

[Regolith]

Sounds like they were trying to rip someone off. I just bought a brand new Rem. 700 a few months ago, and it was less than that. And Savages are usually priced less than Remingtons.

 

[MaterDei]

Without details on the scopes it's hard to say whether these were a good or a bad deal.

 

[Wildfire]

Prices.

Hey there:
Since Savage put their new triggers on their rifle the cost has gone up. They always were cheaper. Some shoot fine, but I still prefer the Remington 700s.
Savages new triggers are not all what they are cracked up to be. Should have been that way years ago.
But then everything is costing more now.

 

[waterhouse]

Without details on the scopes it's hard to say whether these were a good or a bad deal.

+1.

There is a huge difference in the costs of different glass. Those scopes could have been worth $50 or $500 (or more, if the dealer had no idea what he had).

 

[pgeleven]

+1 on optics

also consider the type of hardware used for mounting the optics and if any aftermarket jobs had been done to the used weapon. that in itself can lead to a reasonable price difference

 

[BigG]

Without details on the scopes it's hard to say whether these were a good or a bad deal.

There is a huge difference in the costs of different glass. Those scopes could have been worth $50 or $500 (or more, if the dealer had no idea what he had).

Not so - unless you are a rookie glass is almost worthless second hand. Maybe if it were Swarovski or Leupold Vari X III or above, and even they would be severely depreciated. Once they have been sold they are virtually worthless at a dealer.

 

[waterhouse]

Not so - unless you are a rookie glass is almost worthless second hand. Maybe if it were Swarovski or Leupold Vari X III or above, and even they would be severely depreciated. Once they have been sold they are virtually worthless at a dealer.

I'm not a rookie. I am a dealer. I can say for a fact that used glass is not worthless to a dealer, and good glass is not usually "severely" depreciated. If the scope started out at $100 new, you are correct, it isn't worth much used.

Good optics maintain their value decently well, and even if they don't are most certainly not almost worthless. Go check out the optics section on the EE at arfcom. Perhaps your idea of worthless and mine are different.

Imagine you walk into a gun store. There is a used Ruger 10/22 sitting on the shelf. It has a price tag of $300. This seems high for a used 10/22. But then you notice it has a Leupold Vari-XII 3-10x40 Long Range Tactical Matte scope on it. I picked this scope because it is below your criteria, yet there is one on ebay as we speak that still has two days left and is currently bidding at $367. Now does the Ruger seem like a better deal, or is glass worthless except to a rookie?

Deals like this happen. I make a good bit of money by buying scoped rifles as a package and selling the 2 separately, because both items have value.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I honestly don't think this dealer was trying to rip anyone off. Since I wasn't interested in the scopes,I didn't give them much of a look. They definitly were not the Simmons scopes found on Savage package guns. As far as valuing used scopes,this dealer once told me on a previous attempted trade (when he didn't raise the trade value of my Savage 112VSS) that the brand new Leupold VX-1 on it was irrelevant. I think this guy is an ethical dealer or I wouldn't have bought the Stevens from him.

 

[USSR]

+1 on optics

also consider the type of hardware used for mounting the optics and if any aftermarket jobs had been done to the used weapon. that in itself can lead to a reasonable price difference

+1. I've got about $275 just in a base and rings on one of my rifles. It does add up.

Don

 

[skinewmexico]

Try Walmart.

Man, I hate to say that.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Skinewmexico..nah,I don't think so. I've bought my last gun from Wal-Mart.