AR-15 and AK-47 prices - what happened?

[~kev~]

There is a gun store about 15 miles from my house that I visit on occasion. For the past 2 years they have been keeping AR-15s and AK-47s in stock. Their usual price on an AK was around $400, and around $800 - $900 for an AR-15. When I dropped by yesterday, the AR-15 was $1,450 and the AK-47 was $1,400. I almost asked the lady why she was trying to price gouge people, but I decided to be nice.

The AK-47 had a synthetic stock and was nothing special. The store usually sales the WASR-10's, so I figure that is what the rifle is.

The AR-15 was a DPMS with collapsible stock and 5 round magazine.

I knew that in some parts of the nation the prices on AKs and AR-15s had gone up. But these prices are outragous. Over the past 2 years I have bought 2 rifles from that store. But after seeing those prices I doubt I will buy anything from them ever again.

 

[Kindrox]

Gun dealers found out that with Obama taking office, hords of people were suddenly demading to buy guns at prices not seen since the last gun ban.

Dealers reacted accordingly.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

....I doubt I will buy anything from them ever again.

Don't hold it against them. They are in line with most dealers around the nation. AR-15's in my area are going for $1100-1400 and AKs for $650-800 (depending on model).

Everybody waited until election week to clean out the gun stores of anything semi-automatic that takes a detachable magazine.

 

[~kev~]

Whats sad, I saw this same exact thing when bill clinton was elected, and re-elected. When george bush sr. signed the assualt rifle bill, ar-15 prices tripled over night.

Just a couple of months ago, Bushmaster AR-15s at academy sports + outdoors in beaumont texas were $850 - $900.

I still kick myself for not buying a case of russian ak-47s in the late 1980s, when they were $79 and $99.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

How do you think I feel after seeing SKSs selling for almost $500? I remember seeing them as a kid selling for $69 by the crate. If only I could go back in time and buy a hundred of them, and re-sell them at a time like this.

 

[wnycollector]

My first SKS was $79 at a local gun show back in 1990. Chinese steel core 7.62x39 was ~$30/550 round tin! Now that same ammo is $350!

 

[c5_nc]

There prices have gone up also. If prices were fixed you would not be able to buy a AK or AR at all. At our local gunshow this weekend WASRs were selling for $489 and Yugos $649. WASRs sale on gunbroker all day for $550-600, Yugo underfolders $800-900. They were priced so low compaired to market I was getting ready to buy some extras, several of my friends did buy. ARs were $829. I would not buy overpriced ARs, my thought is there is unlikely to be a ban and you will be buying much cheaper when panic goes down. AK surplus parts sets (that make AKs so cheap) are getting so dry they may be a relative bargain today. Component cost wise, it probably costs more to produce a AK than AR, if doing it from new parts. In any case we may never see AK prices surpressed by surplus parts sets again. I was happy to buy Federal Bulk packs of 22LR for $17.95 at the show, they are $13.47 at Walmart but doesn't really matter if the warehouse has been out of stock for a month.

 

[nathan]

WOw, hardly anyone can afford those prices.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

they are $13.47 at Walmart but doesn't really matter if the warehouse has been out of stock for a month.

Interesting. I thought it was only a local thing, as this is exactly what I was told when I talked to the Wally World people. No Federal bulk-packs to be found around Albuquerque. :banghead:

 

[Duke of Doubt]

"The value of a thing is just exactly what 'twill bring." - Adam Smith or Benjamin Franklin, I forget which.

Except that some of us aren't selling for anything less than ludicrous prices.

I wouldn't part with my SAR-1 for less than $2,000. Not that an AK pattern rifle cannot be had for less, but this one is MINE, and finding as good and accurate an example to replace it might be impossible. Finding any at all for a reasonable price would be a pain. So that is my price. Don't you call me a gouger; I don't have to sell it to you at all. Take it and like it.

 

[nathan]

I have three, wouldnt part it for the world.

 

[trigga]

i had a funny feeling this was going to happen. good thing i got mines last year. haven't seen the prices lately.

 

[Big Bill]

Mosins can be had for $80 if one looks. Eventually they'll also be much more $s.

 

[Kilgor]

Whats sad, I saw this same exact thing when bill clinton was elected, and re-elected. When george bush sr. signed the assualt rifle bill, ar-15 prices tripled over night.

Clinton signed the 1994 assault weapons ban.

 

[ParaElite]

On Dec. 30th, 2008, I got an email from R & R Arms for a rifle I was interested in 3-4 months ago. It was a DPMS LR 308 TAC 20. I clicked on the link and the asking price was $980.14. I was quite taken aback. The email was sent to me an hour previous to my reading it so I thought surely it would be gone by then. Much to my surprise it was still available. Needless to say I went for it. It came with 2 19 round magazines, case, sling, cleaning kit, the usual.
Last Sat. and Sun. I attended the Dallas Market Hall Gun Show and there was only one vendor that had the TAC 20 available and he wanted $1,999.99 for it. I got dizzy looking at all the 9s! Anyway, I hope the rifle is not a disappointment. I really wanted one with a 20 inch barrel and configured like an AR 15. I did not want the AP4 as I felt that the 16 inch barrel would not be the best length for the 7.62mm/.308 Win caliber.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

I still kick myself for not buying a case of russian ak-47s in the late 1980s, when they were $79 and $99.

It's the past bro...Nothing you do now can change that. Be fortunate for what you have now and don't look back.

 

[wacki]

Gun dealers found out that with Obama taking office, hords of people were suddenly demading to buy guns at prices not seen since the last gun ban.

Dealers reacted accordingly.

Funny, I know a couple of gun shop owners and they are complaining that they now make 1/2 as much on ammo that's twice as expensive, distributors force them to buy six pink camo .22 rifles just so they can get a Remington 700...... etc.

If the dealers had anything to do with the price hike then honest folks like aimsurplus or others would make a mint. If price fixing is occurring it's happening at the distributor level (which is regulated by the feds) or higher.

In Indiana the law forces the alcohol distribution process into a monopoly. It's a major crime for a bartender to restock his bar by shopping at the grocery store across the street. I doubt the firearm business is much different. You can pick and choose the gun shop. But gun shops can't always pick and choose their federally regulated distributors.