When to buy pistols/rifles?

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Rembrandt: Exactly.

Several of us recommended - even in 2011 - First buying a case of ammo, then shopping for the gun. I did this for my first Enfield (.303 Brit) as surplus ammo rapidly vanished from retailers...

This is what I wish I did with 7.62X54R surplus when it was cheap. I almost bought a bunch even though I didn't have the rifle.
 
I buy what interests me whenever I find it at a price I am OK with. I have not been caught up by the current market, I just keep my eyes and ears open and am ready to jump if the right deal comes along. As for ammo I stick with calibers I already own and have enough ammo for, no new experiments. Same with purchasing ammo. Educate yourself, watch and listen for deals, they are out there.
Example: I was gifted a Stevens 940 single shot .410, a caliber I had never had. I asked around, posted ads on several online forums, and within a couple weeks had come up with several hundred rounds at normal prices.
 
People generally concentrate their life’s energy on saving incremental money and affordability instead of concentrating on generating lots of cash - they are way too late to the party, live scared and way too conservative - invest, invest, invest!!!!! Generate lots of cash and then purchasing (say a rifle or pistol) becomes a Monopoly money transaction. Concentrate on generating wealth, not wringing your hands over a little chump change savings. Ps, buy it if you want it, you can worry about paying too much while you are laying in your casket.
 
If you are looking for what everyone else is seeking, a price reduction may be a mirage. Wait to find a good example and pay what you must, if that is your objective. Over the long term it will hold its value, but you will pay a premium for a prancing pony or S&W. Ruger American Predator has been a good gun for the money, and occasional deals can be had in a Howa.

If you are willing to venture off the beaten path, do your research and the gun will be a user, consider some of the lower priced alternatives such as the higher end Turkish or Philippines makers. Taurus seems to be doing better in recent years, while ironically paying $800 for a new S&W is no guarantee of flawless function.
 
The supply of firearms is down and the prices are up, needless to say. If a person wanted to pick up a new pistol and bolt action rifle, how long into the future would be best.

Buy what you want when you see it if it's not during a panic period. Don't worry too much about the price cuz it's only going to go up later. For example, just a few years ago, you could buy Mosins for $75-200 depending on type and rarity. Now that price range has tripled and a bog stock beater Mosin is north of $200.
 
November 2022 will be just as, if not more important.

Honestly, If I wanted something I'd buy now. There is no way to predict the future.

This is my opinion also. If you pay a little too much it won't be the end of the world. A few hundred dollars should not break you and it won't make you rich. I say just go for it if the opportunity presents itself.
 
As long as no “political rectocranialism” happens, Spring 2022 should have the usual post hunting season discounts on hunting type guns if nothing else. Joe
 
Im loading ammo for my 7,62x39. I have 31 range pick ups loaded. Waiting for my brass order to come in. I'll load them then. I loaded 500 10mm while i was looking for the best deal on a 1911 to pop up. This was way before this mayhem. On the 10mm.
 
If you are looking for what everyone else is seeking, a price reduction may be a mirage. Wait to find a good example and pay what you must, if that is your objective. Over the long term it will hold its value, but you will pay a premium for a prancing pony or S&W. Ruger American Predator has been a good gun for the money, and occasional deals can be had in a Howa.

If you are willing to venture off the beaten path, do your research and the gun will be a user, consider some of the lower priced alternatives such as the higher end Turkish or Philippines makers. Taurus seems to be doing better in recent years, while ironically paying $800 for a new S&W is no guarantee of flawless function.

Howa is tops for the money. For whatever reason, they don't appeal to me aesthetically.

Eh, I rather stay with what I'm familiar with. As for Taurus, I have it in for them.


Buy now while the American dollar still has some buying power.

This is a good point. If recent inflation was calculated the way it was before they changed it in the 80s and 90s, it would be much higher. Some say inflation will get worse.
 
People generally concentrate their life’s energy on saving incremental money and affordability instead of concentrating on generating lots of cash - they are way too late to the party, live scared and way too conservative - invest, invest, invest!!!!! Generate lots of cash and then purchasing (say a rifle or pistol) becomes a Monopoly money transaction. Concentrate on generating wealth, not wringing your hands over a little chump change savings. Ps, buy it if you want it, you can worry about paying too much while you are laying in your casket.

This post reminded me of my late grandmother. Outside of family, I don't think there's anything she loved more than getting a great deal on something. A long time ago she bought some stock in a utility company, got nervous when the value got too low for her taste, then sold it. She then explained to me in detail how she watched the value go up, go up more, then the stock split (2 or 1 shares), go up some more, etc. She almost seemed like she was dying a death while she was telling me this.

Grandmother was born in 1911. She remembered the end of WW1. She said on a holiday, enemy soldiers laid down arms and shook hands with each other.
 
My first handgun was a used1911 in '78.....paid $150 for it, still shoot it.....would be over $600 today! S&W 469 in '84 was $275 would be over $700 today......oldies for sure but both have served me well......most weapons are bought with disposable income, over the years I've found dealers i feel comfortable with and they are happy to see me..
If you always wait for the looong deal and grind the seller you'll probably not end up with what you want and they'll be less likely to let you know when that "one" you want is available or at a reduced price, opting for Mr friendly!
 
Get to know the market. Do your research, as well as the footwork. This means a lot of slogging around, to LGSs, Pawn Shops, and retail stores.
If you are really familiar with firearms values, and prices, when the proper time comes, to buy, the realization should hit you, like a ton of bricks.
 
There are still deals out there. While prices on ammo might be retarded, prices on guns currently are not. We are still comparing prices to the Trump Slump of 2016 when demand dropped to historic lows as well did prices. That was only because supply was much, much, much higher than demand being that everyone expected Hillary to win and Democrats to have the majority in SCOTUS.

Prices are about the same +50-$100 as they've always before 2016 on everything except ammo and AKs. The price if the dollar is down, the cost of steel and othet components are up, and there is inflation from about 8 years ago. Many companies including those who pay near minimum wage are now spending much, much more in labor cost, benefits, and wages as well. If you are wanting for another Trump Slump, you'll be waiting for the rest of your life.

If the price is near or under MSRP and it's something you really want and can afford, then buy it. The years you might go waiting for the price drop that very well might not happen are years you could have been enjoying your new toy. Even if prices dropped by $100 in two years (I doubt it), that's only $4.16 a month $100/24 months. I never regreted overpaying for a gun I really wanted years into owning it, but I have regreted not buying a gun or gun accessory when I had the chance to.
 
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There's an adage about investing: Don't try to "time" the market. Nobody can predict the future. If you buy now and inflation continues to rise, your purchase (investment) will probably increase in value as well, even used. If you wait for price reduction to buy on the dip, you've lost out on the pleasure and utility of the investment (purchase) during that time PLUS risk higher prices anyway.

-jb, not an investment advisor and didn't stay at Holiday Inn Express last night
 
Buy whatever you can find, right now. If you have been paying attention to things like the price of guns and ammo, it shouldn't be that hard to suss out the places that are jacking things up ridiculously and places that have been and remain fair. There are still deals to be had out there, if you have a lil time to put into it I bet you could find a good deal on whatever you're looking for.

Just don't buy from jerks, I know of one shop where the employees are very adept at putting on the pressure and making people feel like the gun in their hand will be the last of its kind available and you had better buy whatever ammo they have because it's the last, etc.........

I really don't like these types of people..... I do believe though, if you procrastinate long enough on certain things, you will miss your window and if you like it and can afford it, don't quibble with the prices right now, it might be the best you're gonna get for a while, possibly ever and if you find it cheaper later, does it really matter?
 
This is a good point. If recent inflation was calculated the way it was before they changed it in the 80s and 90s, it would be much higher. Some say inflation will get worse.

At the rate our government is throwing away money inflation has to get worse, especially for the import firearms. The American dollar drops after every new spending bill that comes out of congress.
I remember when you could buy a new fully outfitted AK for $250 to $300, not any more. As the price of a foreign made pistols goes up so do the US made firearms.
 
Best time is probably today, with yesterday being slightly better.

In the last three years, I've not bought that much. Largely that's from having met (immediate) needs.
Now, when a SIG365XL with RDS popped up at my LGS, I sprang for that near immediately. Ok, had I waited two months, prices went down perhaps a couple hundred. They've gone up about a c-note again in the last month or so.
So, did I get a good deal? I still think so. And, I had a leg up on ordering accessories, too, by a few months, too.

If the prices drop by, say $250-300 in a couple years--will that bother me? Not really, I'm wringing the fun out of it now. Right now kind of "beats" maybe later. But, your mileage may vary.
 
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