When will prices be normal again?

I'm already seeing normal prices here on powder, primers, bullets, and AR's. Figure it will take a few weeks to balance out elsewhere.

No problem. We discuss this on here every day.


My guess is never. Prices rarely seen this type of increase only to fall back to pre panic prices. I think the demand curve has changed dramatically as well as the disposable income of those creating the demand. It will come down some. But I bought a norinco AK for $200 in 2009. 99% condition. Those days are over.

That being said, there are large categories of guns that are actually pretty good deals right now.

You're looking at 6 months to a year before things start to level out. I agree with one of the posters in that we'll never see pre-hysteria prices again. But things should get sane by next Spring. That is, assuming we don't see a very serious problem with government. People are scared. That's why there's been such a huge surge in firearms/ammo purchases. That's how the market works. Demand isn't based on just the new "cool" thing we desire. Demand can be based upon what we "think" we need. Right now millions of Americans feel threatened and think they need to protect themselves. Hence the run on firearms. The way government is acting presently will not give many the reason to stop the active buying. If we see more revelations about an increasingly intrusive govt, then you can expect people to continue the run on firearms/ammo. Especially if the govt digs in and doesn't come clean. But I say 6 to 12 months.

I'm sure this has already been asked but when will the prices be back to normal? Now that I can afford an AK-47 they have doubled in price!!! I know that nobody can know for sure but what are your predictions?

Click to expand...

I suppose a good example might be the time it took for AR15's to come back down in price.

Bought all my evil rifles shortly after the AWB sunset.

Party time.

when the market gets flooded and people need cash.

Already starting to see a bunch of obama specials...

"Bought this AR15 during the panic... never fired... brand new...

Paid $3,000...

Asking $2,800."

lol

They'll start to come down once they realize their rifle is only worth about mmmmm $800.

I saw new AKs on Slickguns today at $594 & ARs at $695. It's starting to level off.

Id say it will be about 12 months till things get back to normal. We didnt see a rise in prices too dramatically around here in St.L Missouri and Columbus Nebraska. M&P 15 went from 600-700$ to 650-900$ Not as bad as most places. Sig m400's for 1200$ went to 1500$. Whats killing us here in Missouri is ammo availability. I've been stuck with buying crappy ammo (almost never has 2 boxes of the same brand) Walmart is completely out 99% of the time. The crap ammo that is in stock sells for (normal is 5) 12$ (brown bear) or (normal is 3) 9.50$ (tula and wolf) and keep in mind this is 55gr fmj. To make matters worse this is .223 and not 5.56. I have not seen 62gr green tip anywhere (what i prefer). If something else terrible happens It may never get better.
:banghead:

The best you can do for AK's right now is in the $600 range. I've seen WASR 10's, I.O.'s, and Mak90's going for $600 used in the ads. If you wait another month or so, you might see them come down to the $500 range.

Be patient, shop around and do your research. Prices will never really return to "normal" again, or at least not for a while. I doubt AK's will ever be $300 again, but who knows.

If you still live home with your folks...the price should not be a problem.

I'm sure this has already been asked ....

Click to expand...

Always a good idea to do a search or look around the site and see if maybe this very same question is already under discussion about 37 times. Often you'll find that your answer is already out there.

wgaynor said:

I'm already seeing normal prices here on powder, primers, bullets, and AR's. Figure it will take a few weeks to balance out elsewhere.

Click to expand...

What can I say but at least you have primers and such that you can "see" because out here there is nothing to see.

As for prices they won't be going back down on ammo. The number of new shooters has increased sharply thus demand has increased. I expect 22lr prices to stablize at a base level of 10-12 cents a round. Your premium 22lr will probably have a base price of 20% over pre panic prices.

All we can do is hope that a good portion of firearms and ammo find their way back into the market at lower prices when those who entered the market for the first time no longer feel threatend and try to recoup part of their investment. Should make for interesting times at gun shows.

For every run up in price their is a crash in price. Sell on the run up and buy in the crash. Remember there will also be a small run up after the crash as the market seeks its new pricing level going forward. So the question is are you ready to profit from the cycle?

Is there a timer that goes off somewhere that indicates we need another "when will prices go down" thread?

Availability certainly seems to be better in my neck of the woods, prices are hit and miss. Bass Pro actually had a few handgun calibers and buckshot in stock at close to pre-panic pricing. Some of the online sources seem to be have more stock now too.

Next post

Queen_of_Thunder said:

What can I say but at least you have primers and such that you can "see" because out here there is nothing to see.

As for prices they won't be going back down on ammo. The number of new shooters has increased sharply thus demand has increased. I expect 22lr prices to ind a base level of 10-12 cents a round. Your premium 22lr will probably have a base price of 20% over pre panic prices.

All we can do is hope that a good portion of firearms and ammo find their way back into the market at lower prices when those who entered the market for the first time no longer feel threatend and try to recoup part of their investment. Should make for interesting times at gun shows.

For every run up in price their is a crash in price. Sell on the run up and buy in the crash. Remember there will also be a small run up after the crash as the market seeks its new pricing level going forward. So the question is are you ready to profit from the cycle?

Click to expand...

I agree with that. Especially the part about the crash. Im not sure if it will happen with ammo, but it is happening right now with guns. There are lots of great deals right now on guns if you have a broad range of interests and know where to look. FOr example, I found a Ruger 77/22 in 22 hornet for $300. Thats just ridiculously cheap. And when I was filling out the 4473 there were probably five other guys filling them out at the same time for AR15's $500 over pre October prices. I have found four guns in the last three months priced well below normal prices.

I wonder if things will ever get back to "normal". We're about due for another mass murder shooting to get the focus off real issues.

Normal? What's that?
I'm still waiting for gas prices to come back to "normal" from the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo?

A week or two before Christmas, 2013. Plus a 10% price increase.

even if they come back to normal will things stay in stock?

define "normal"


Pre-banic?? not likely anytime soon

Close to Pre-banic?? Already happening as stores are finally getting in new stock and companies are slowly beginning to catch up

They are normal.

We did have another panic in 2009. Prices did go back down to very close to the level they were before that panic. This panic has been worse for sure but not that much worse. As for all the new gun owners buying up ammo to shoot it's more likely they will be selling of their new toys after they realize they won't be denied the ability to buy them. People want to have access to guns just in case. If it looks like they're going to go away you see people run out and buy one before the end. When the panic is over they remember they really wanted something else when they spent their money on a AR. So they sell those rifles for much less than they paid for them. It happened that way after the 2009 panic anyway. For a while it was possible to get great deals on used AR's and AK's and other battle carbine type rifles. I may get one this time when the sell off starts. I sure don't expect all those people who bought guns since December to run out and buy a ton of ammo and shoot it all up. After a few trips to the range they will decide shooting is just too expensive of a hobby. They may keep their weapons for protection but some will sell them because they figure they can get another one when they might need it.

The panic has already let up a lot. I've actually seen rimfire ammo for sale recently. That wasn't the case for months. It's not common but .223 is and so is pretty much everything else. Even 7.62 x 39 can be bought for slightly elevated prices over the pre-panic prices.