AR-15 Manufacturers

Stag arms says that they have a two year backlog of orders on uppers and lowers. I don't know if that's a full two years a absolutely max capacity, or two years at the pre-panic capacity. It could also just be a worst-case-scenario estimate. I ordered a lower parts kit from them that they said would be 6-8 weeks and got it in about 3. Hopefully as the realization that an AWB isn't going to happen sinks in with lots of people, things will go somewhat back to normal. I don't expect that to happen soon, though. Maybe in time for Christmas. 2015. or 2016.

Matt

No way an industry ramps up ahead of demand like this, just isn't prudent with equipment costs. That means everyone is behind and most manufacturers are relying on the supply chain for parts. It could be a while, and as there are a limited number of barrel makers, receiver manufacturers, etc. prices will almost certainly go up as every maker attempts to secure the largest number of parts possible while the market is responsive. If you're wondering if they're making twice as much, no.

DOnt expect to see lower prices going down on these overpriced ARs. Find you a good AK 47 like SGL . Right now you d be hard pressed to find cheap 5.56 ammo, if you do it be like $1 a round.

There are only so many hours in the day. Manufacturing runs at near peak efficiency as it is, no matter how many shifts are run. To think manufacturing can magically "ramp up production" is a silly layman's idea. You can't make machines run faster. You can't just contract more machine shops and cut in front of the typical 4+ week backlogs from all their other customers that were there before you.

Daniel Defense was still running their "Custom builds" online before taking off for SHOT. They opened up the custom shop to the first 100 customers each day until the queue was filled. $1/rnd isn't that painful. Buck up you cheapskates! I've been paying that for Mk262 for several years

Yep, its getting an expensive proposition to shoot 5.56 semis like the AR. If you want one, then get one at an exorbitant pricetag. Then start thinking of finding the ammo and be ready to pay premium. Thats all there is to it.

A buddy of mine found a supply of once fired brass for around 2.6 cents/ea. Bullets were still available locally, the premium ones anyway, and I was willing to try some different powders to have something to shoot without breaking in to my supply (which is all hand loaded precision stuff that works well in my rifle).

So $180 for bullets, $60 in powder, $34 for primers and $26 worth of brass = $300 for 1,000 rounds. He gave me the brass so it was actually cheaper but I'd say my AR has an extension on its lease. If I run through this 1,000 I'll probably have to start looking at an entirely new load as I exhausted the LGSs' supplies of 55gr. bullets. Might be high time to test what my 1:9 will or won't stabilize.

PS: that source for brass had tons of it, literally, and if you think long and hard about who might have scrap brass in your local area you might round some up yourself...can't help with powder or bullets though, they are starting to dwindle.

I have not looked at prices in the last week, but as of a week or so ago it was still possible to find some AR's on GB, etc. selling for less than 2X their pre-craze prices (typically in the 1.3x-1.5x range), these were mostly upper mid tier to low upper tier quality AR's from the small / less well known companies. Often those guns that were selling in the $1,300-$1,500 range pre craze. Simply put most of the people drawn up in the craze are buying based on minimal research and brand recognition, many are gun owners, but not previous AR owners so they know the general reputation of S&W or Sig, but may not know companies like Anderson, Essential Arms or La Rue, and therefore deservidly or not AR's from such companies are selling at lower premiums.

morcey2 said:

Stag arms says that they have a two year backlog of orders on uppers and lowers. I don't know if that's a full two years a absolutely max capacity, or two years at the pre-panic capacity. It could also just be a worst-case-scenario estimate. I ordered a lower parts kit from them that they said would be 6-8 weeks and got it in about 3. Hopefully as the realization that an AWB isn't going to happen sinks in with lots of people, things will go somewhat back to normal. I don't expect that to happen soon, though. Maybe in time for Christmas. 2015. or 2016.

Matt

Click to expand...

Wow I guess I got lucky finding a Stag 3 gun yesterday on special even.
and a Noveske Gen 1 lower the day before.