Wow. Are people REALLY paying these prices for firearms right now?

The people buying these guns fit into two criteria:

1) they have way more money than brains or

2) they are running up their credit cards and it will bite them in the end when prices drop (think real estate speculators right before the bubble burst).

I have only "bought" one firearm since this whole mess started. And it was a trade for stuff I didn't want anymore.

Yes, they must be, because every show I go to there are AR's in the $2,000.00 + range and people are buying them. They are also loading them with $1 / round .223 ammo.

If it calms down soon, and the bans don't pass, I think we will see a market flooded with slightly used AR's of all makes and models in the $500 range.

People who weren't prepared are paying the price now. My prediction is, the bubble will burst, there will be overflow of ARs / related merchandise which will make the prices drop to possible even "Before-this" levels. There's only so much money people will spend on guns before running out, and I believe we're already at that point.

bainter1212 said:

The people buying these guns fit into two criteria:

1) they have way more money than brains or

2) they are running up their credit cards and it will bite them in the end when prices drop (think real estate speculators right before the bubble burst).

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All of the above. This nation lives on credit.

No, prices are coming down. In a moment of madness (Just picked up my Motorcycle Mechanics Bill) I was tempted to sell one of my AR's... the DPMS not the S&W....

I looked at Gunbroker and guns ending in 5 minutes or less (DPMS Oracle, NIB) were selling for $900-$1000 - That is probably 10% over what they would normally sell for.

I decided to just keep it. I missed my big chance to get rich on my $800 gun.

I bought an AR pistol for $840 new in 2006, I sold it last week very much used for $2800.

Supply and demand.

Still waiting for the 2008 "bubble" to burst when all those never-used, panic-purchased black rifles will hit the market cheap.

I am trying to buy a specific pistol with no luck. I found one but it was 30% over MSRP. The can choke on the gun as far as I'm concerned.

I am making a list of all the guys [dealers] that are gouging right now. They will never see a nickle of my money.
Yeah, I know, supply and demand.

The people buying these guns fit into two criteria:

1) they have way more money than brains or

2) they are running up their credit cards and it will bite them in the end when prices drop (think real estate speculators right before the bubble burst).

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Um, no. Those aren't the only two categories. From day one of this panic, I've been saying that there will not be another AWB or magazine ban. I did however overpay by about $500 for an AR 10. I'd wanted that gun for a couple of years now. I shopped around until I got the 'deal' that I wanted. I knew that most likely, the gun would take a huge drop in price. It had nothing to do with having more money than brains or racking up CC debt. It had to do with risk/reward. The extra $500 that I overpaid was worth it considering the slim chance that I might never be able to buy the gun again.

Hacker15E said:

Still waiting for the 2008 "bubble" to burst when all those never-used, panic-purchased black rifles will hit the market cheap.

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What Hacker said. We all have an opinion, but no crystal ball. As more and more states pass legislation restricting magazine capacity and the ownership/transfer of semi-automatic firearms, I expect lots of people to "cling to guns and religion." Anyone waiting for post panic bargains should pack a lunch. My opinion, not a fact, but I don't expect prices to return to pre-panic levels, especially for ammunition. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have tested the market and raised the bar.

A lot depends on what part of the country you are in. Also the dealers are selling for doubble, AK's that were $500 are $1000. Just look at Classic and Century. Then they go on Guntrader for $2000.00 and some knucklehead buys them. So yes they are way up. Even if they come down, I don't think they will go down to what they were until inventory builds up. Very few places even have a selection of guns, and if they do they are getting 20-30% more for them.
It's going to take a year or two for prices and availability to catch up, imo

Im in the same boat as AVS, I had been thinking about a AR-10 for a few months before SH-Shooting,but didnt move on anything, until about a month ago, the panic had already hit and I ended up paying about $400 more than what I could have before, but was comforted by the fact that IF you can find the specific rifle I bought, it is almost doubled in price !!
The only thing that irked me was a broken water pipe flooded my reloading bench earlier this winter, and destroyed some of my supplies,including small-rifle primers of ALL THINGS...
I did manage to pick up a G21 at an amazing price because the guy was desperate to sell it to raise money for the purchase of an AR-15,
But then took it in the shorts,buying extra magazines...
Its just money, and ya cant take it with ya !

I think a lot of this stuff people are just trying to capitalize on the hysteria and think people want anything with a trigger. I was trying to buy a single shot 12ga that should be going for around $70, the guy wanted $225, I passed. I have gotten a lot of good deals though since all this began, maybe people trying to sell off stuff to buy black guns.
M1 Garand-$400
Standard Products M1 Carbine-$700
Westinghouse Mosin Nagant-$80
M39 Mosin Nagant-$250
K31-$300
Original P38-$425
P1-$285
K98-Traded for a stripped polymer lower, 6 AR mags and $100
Wingmaster 20ga and Wingmaster 12ga police-traded for pistol gripped shotgun
H&R Topper M48 Shotgun-$60

You can find deals now, you just have to look a little harder. Having some trading material helps too. I have seen AR15s and AKs heading back down a bit too. If you are looking for one of those just wait until all these non-gun people start selling off what they realize they never use.

The people buying these guns fit into two criteria:

1) they have way more money than brains or

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Nope, they just have more money than you.........same type of folks buy $250,000 sports cars knowing they will never drive it at its top speed of 200mph. THEIR view of discretionary income is a lot different than basic middle class folks

There's a farm auction coming up in my area, over 50 guns. Can't wait to see the prices get driven up...

It's a bizarre phenomenon. I've observed the same thing happening on GB. Meanwhile EBR prices are actually coming down. The only thing I can figure is that the price of ammo and components for the evil semis has started impacting their prices, along with the decrease in the likelihood of an AWB at the federal level. But while this is going on people are having to figure out what they're going to shoot in the summer. And since the 5.56/ 7.62 is prohibitively expensive people are looking to buy firearms that they can feed, or that eat less. Personally, I'm stowing the AR for awhile and doing a lot more 54R and black powder. Enough people making similar switches and suddenly the demand for mil surps and smoke poles goes up. Nothing to do with hording these guns, it's just supply and demand.

All in all, it's something you could write an economics PhD thesis on.

I've bought some revolvers since the 'run on guns' started.

No price gouging there.

Milsurps are definitely selling quick. Aim had in a few different varieties of Mosins in stock this week and they all sold out within a couple hours.

My after election buy was more an anger buy than a Panic buy.
I was at my toy store the mornning after the election to buy a AK as an
extra hd.fire arm they were out so I bought a BUSHY carbon 15 AR.
After shooting it,itFunctioned fine but left a lot to be desired no where neer as nice as my DPMS.It was only a little over 600.00 but I was having a bit of buyer remorse,a guy offered me 1100.00 for it 2 wks ago so I sold it.
I felt a bit guilty but I did tell him it was a lower end rifle but he just plain had to have it.So I put the money away untill prices come down to earth.

This is Obama stimulating the economy -- well part of it anyway.

Capitalism is riding the roller coaster of panic. For the lack of a better term. Prices may or may not stabilize but that doesn`t mean they will fall back to the pre-panic levels.
Especially if some manufactures stop making AR type weapons.

Good for you, I think folks should do business with honest folks who are looking for long time customers, Yes these retailers are beyond gouging. They all have more money than I

JVaughn said:

If it calms down soon, and the bans don't pass, I think we will see a market flooded with slightly used AR's of all makes and models in the $500 range.

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I don't think we will ever see $500 AR's again any more than we will see $2/gal gasoline. As the value of the dollar keeps falling, leading commodities will retain their true value. It just takes more dollars to buy them.
Some people waited for over 12 years for the housing bubble to burst and prices still didn't return to pre-bubble levels, and that market was artificially rigged to inflate.
Unless the value of the dollar rises significantly it will always take more of these smaller greenbacks to buy the same loaf of bread. AR's are the same, but with a growing market and increased demand. Prices will not return to 2008 levels ever again.