Prices creeping up

Walkalong said:

We have been enjoying a wonderful window of availability and low prices. I hope everyone took advantage.

But this should not affect anything but bumpfire stocks, unless people get stupid.

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Don't bet on it

It'll drop after Christmas for awhile

PabloJ said:

The max value of basic AR is about $450. Soviet era Simonov in very good condition with original factory finish can be had for around $500. More reliable gun with no need to buy spare magazines.

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sounds like a simonev is the right choice for you then. Seems like most people see advantages to the AR platform though.

Prices may be creeping up. They will only rise to meet the level of demand.
Some people might be buying because politicians and organizations are changing positions and people feel betrayed and distrust.
Some people might be buying because they can afford to and are doing it out of some minor level of spite, that is, "if you are going to say I can't have something, then I will have it!"
But there are surely many reasons to buy now, not just one reason of panic.

Now, if I where to give advice, and granted no one has asked for my advice, I would advise to get out of step with the crowd. If everyone is buying AR's, then get that Lever Action you have always wanted. If everyone is buying Surefire like mags then buy the scope you have always wanted.

There are always the new generation coming of age, there is always someone just turning 21 and now want to buy. Since I can not predict the future, my advice to those new buyers to get the fundamentals, which I think is a shot gun, a center fire rifle, a hand gun, and a 22 LR rifle. I have no real preference on a shotgun, but a pump 12 gauge of just about any known brand would do. As for a center fire rifle, I think a good old 30.06 is good, semi-auto, bolt, or even lever, during all of the years I have always found ammo for mine when my friend couldn't find a round of .308 for his bolt gun. As for a hand gun, if you like polymer it is a good time with the new Glocks, CZ's, etc. I think a nice revolver is an excellent choice at this time and I might just get me one soon (I have plenty to use from my family but I think I should get something, a little Ruger in 327 Fed Mag would be interesting since the family owns many variations of 357's and 44's. I think I might pick up some optics I have been wanting as well. Point is, you don't have to follow the crowd unless you want to.

Since I can not predict the future, I have no idea if some collection of special idiots are about to do something else, and if that does happen even those that were on one side of the fence today may become weary and give up and be on the other side of the fence tomorrow. So, be prepared.

If the prices go up, then at least some one is getting a bigger pay check, and that IS the American way!

The Ruger AR rifle that was $449 just a couple of weeks ago at a major online gun retailer is now $627

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One data point does not make a trend.

I've still got an Inbox full of offers for ARs with metal (not polymer) lowers starting at 399.99 and name brands like S&W and Ruger at $499.99.

It stands to reason that as distributors liquidate their "Hillary Surplus", and the manufacturers adjust their production to the prevailing demand, that prices would firm up, so I do expect prices to gradually rise in the future.

Yawn! The only thing that changed around here is that the .22 ammo that had stayed on the WM shelves for about a month is now missing again. No, I did not need to buy any yet. And sadly one of the LGS nearby is going to close his doors due to slow sales this past year.

Walkalong said:

We have been enjoying a wonderful window of availability and low prices. I hope everyone took advantage...

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*sigh* Nope, I was trying to get a PSA setup, but the money kept going elsewhere, so no joy yet. Oh well.

Same Low Prices on .223 and 7.62x39 steel-cased ammo. Same as last June, July...just checked Gunbot, to see whether anybody panicked. No.

.20-.21/round for .223.
.19-.22/round for 7.62x39.

Good luck flipping that unwanted Walmart ammo and AR.
Rumors of smoke, but no sparks.

PabloJ said:

The max value of basic AR is about $450.

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Yes, but that doesn't take into account the profit that manufacturers and vendors need to make to stay in business. If they sold them for $450, they would go bankrupt.

PabloJ said:

The max value of basic AR is about $450. Soviet era Simonov in very good condition with original factory finish can be had for around $500. More reliable gun with no need to buy spare magazines.

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"More reliable" is a completely unsubstantiated claim.

"no need to buy spare magazines"........well, if that suits you, you can build a California AR that also has a fixed 10 round mag that must be loaded from the top. Most of us see the advantage in cheap, reliable 30 round removable magazines. But then, most of us also appreciate the ergonomics, modularity, flexibility and accuracy of the AR, so I guess logic doesn't much factor into your preference. Which is fine, but the implication that the SKS is in any way superior to the AR is absolutely ridiculous. The only advantage it ever had was over a decade ago, when the Yugo 59/66 was $79 and the cheapest ARs were still North of $700. Those days are long gone, collectibility or living in a ban state being the only viable reasons for choosing a Simonov today.

MachIVshooter said:

"More reliable" is a completely unsubstantiated claim.

"no need to buy spare magazines"........well, if that suits you, you can build a California AR that also has a fixed 10 round mag that must be loaded from the top. Most of us see the advantage in cheap, reliable 30 round removable magazines. But then, most of us also appreciate the ergonomics, modularity, flexibility and accuracy of the AR, so I guess logic doesn't much factor into your preference. Which is fine, but the implication that the SKS is in any way superior to the AR is absolutely ridiculous. The only advantage it ever had was over a decade ago, when the Yugo 59/66 was $79 and the cheapest ARs were still North of $700. Those days are long gone, collectibility or living in a ban state being the only viable reasons for choosing a Simonov today.

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I passed on the SKS because I don't needed it. Thirty round magazines are only truly useful if one has selective fire or auto weapon. I don't see point for firearm where trigger has to be pulled each time to fire a shot. The exception is 33 round Glock magazine which when fully loaded makes very nice defensive club or mini bat if that is how you prefer to call it. Midway has nice sale on 33 round G18 magazines at $24.11 per magazine plus shipping. That is a good deal for the best handgun magazine on the market Glock magazine.

PabloJ said:

Thirty round magazines are only truly useful if one has selective fire or auto weapon. I don't see point for firearm where trigger has to be pulled each time to fire a shot. The exception is 33 round Glock magazine which when fully loaded makes very nice defensive club or mini bat if that is how you prefer to call it.

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I'm not going to debate a person who professes that the best defensive use of a pistol with an extended magazine is as a club. That ranks high on the list of most imbecilic things I've ever heard.

I haven't seen any prices going up at my LGS or the places I shop online. Around here ammo in all calibers including .22 is readily available at walmart and the big box stores.

DPMS $399.99 after $50 rebate in today's paper. Dunham's sprtg. Gds.

Oh yes I think it will drop. Our gas as an example is already down to the pre Hurricane Harvey prices , although I relate liberalism lasts longer than hurricane season , but 4 weeks after getting gouged on gas 40-50 cents im surprised were back to normal

I had been seeing those Rugers on Bud's for a while. My guess is that Bud's had a bunch of pre-election inventory on their hands, and those Rugers were priced to move. Once they got rid of the surplus, they returned to their normal prices.

It sucks seeing a gun go up 40% in cost overnight, but lowers, mags, and budget ARs are still dirt cheap everywhere. There is no evidence of a panic.

If by price variations at "a major online gun retailer" you're referring to Bud's, they seem to adjust prices based on how many of an item they have in stock. Once they get down to a low number of an item, the price goes up. When they restock their inventory, the price goes down. I've seen their prices all over the place in a short time when I check on a certain item. I follow it until the price goes down and then I buy.

Stock prices for firearm companies rose significantly after Las Vegas tragedy, don't know for how long, and this time reaction seem more chill than it was after previous major shootings. The prospect of tighter gun rules often leads consumers to stockpile firearms. Wall Street, sensing a sales upswing, piles into gun manufacturer and retailer stocks.

At the same time it's safe to assume that some people may but guns as a self-defense measure because of he fear and anxiety generated by mass shootings. I sure hope the current price increase won't be for long.

JTHunter: You actually know what Walmart means for so many people!

In "WalFart", pronounce the W like our (English) V, and barely pronounce the R.

In German, Wallfahrt means a Pilgrimage trip.