I had to stand in line to buy a pistol today!

[montanaoffroader]

Resupply seems to be the main difficulty for shops around here. We are at the far end of a long supply chain and a fairly small market compared to more populous areas. Sales are up as well, but not extremely so.

Handgun inventories are getting thin, long guns not quite as bad. Ammo is hit and miss - 223/5.56, 9mm and 45 acp are pretty much gone, most other ammo is available with a few holes here and there.

Most people around here already own firearms and ammo, so we haven't seen anything like the panic buying in the larger urban areas. I personally have no need to run out right now to try and buy something, I've been stashing stuff for a rainy day for quite some time.

I'm hoping that ammo supplies return to something like normal soon, as I have nice little stockpile going and would like to add to it. But I'm not counting on it......

 

[DoubleMag]

I'm not sure that will hold true this time. I think a lot of folks think this could be the beginning of the new norm and may hold on to them. I have a...

to that, this latest jolt to society, including the Covid thing, has lasted over half the year. And when is the end predicted again exactly??

A difference this time is that it wasn't only in LA city, NYC, Chicago etc. 100s if not 1000s of cities that had never had rioting before got a taste.

Millions of people can't say anymore "that only happens in LA and NYC".

POINT

It's unusual to see a gun buying panic that's not about proposed legislation. In fact, I haven't heard a peep about gun control during this whole crisis. This could be a turning point in the gun debate. I don't think that guns, per se, are going to be a salient issue in this year's elections. And afterwards, there are going to be many more gun owners -- of all races -- with a vested interest in their guns.

Well we can only hope.

And... a belated welcome to tstrat99 // post #27 w/ very few posts. Welcome to THR

 

[Zaydok Allen]

There are riots, looting, and violence occurring. I think lines and delays should be expected.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

Here in Michigan, at least in my area, the police would not answer most petty complaints and didn't care to respond to accidents that didn't have personal injury due to the covid hysteria. People rode dirt bikes, golf carts 4 wheelers etc all over the place like law didn't exist. Now the country wants to take away funding to the police. I can only imagine how long the lines will be to purchase a gun if that happens.

 

[Sniper66]

Talked to a guy who works at a LGS in a KC suburb. Said it has been nuts. He has sold several of his personal pistols, especially Glocks, and price is never an issue. Given politicians and media fanning the flames, I expect this rush to buy will continue for all of 2020. I really do not believe we'll see lots of used pistols or AR style rifles selling soon. I'm not stock piling ammo...already had a stash...but glad I have it and I keep several loaded AR mags handy along with my carry gun and glove box pistol.

 

[Hartkopf]

Talked to a guy who works at a LGS in a KC suburb. Said it has been nuts. He has sold several of his personal pistols, especially Glocks, and price is never an issue. Given politicians and media fanning the flames, I expect this rush to buy will continue for all of 2020. I really do not believe we'll see lots of used pistols or AR style rifles selling soon. I'm not stock piling ammo...already had a stash...but glad I have it and I keep several loaded AR mags handy along with my carry gun and glove box pistol.

When this mess started I was considering selling my least favorite pistol. Now that civil unrest is part of the equation, I’ll just hang on to everything for now.

 

[.308 Norma]

I did just order a Shiloh Sharps Long Range Express; I have been told the present wait time for a custom build is 17 months - but that has always seemed to be that way with that builder.

Yep. Ordered my Shiloh Sharps in 2000. Drove up to Big Timber, Montana and picked it up in 2003.
That's a little different than "standing in line" at a gunstore nowadays though. Nevertheless, after we left the dentist's office in Pocatello, Idaho this morning, my wife and I drove over to Sportsman's Warehouse because she's interested in one of those heavy-barreled Ruger "American" .22 bolt actions. The only one they had in stock was a .22WMR, but they said they could have a regular .22LR version in a week. And there was no "line" - we didn't even have to wait to talk to one of the 2 people behind the gun counter.

 

[Coop45]

I just wonder how many crazy activists, which most of us don’t agree with, are buying guns. Antifa and others are not going to help social stability or our 2A cause.

Locally, four gun stores have been burglarized. I bet it is not just here either.

 

[Zeabed]

I wanted a H&K VP9 SK but thought I'd wait until the panic subsides (if it ever does and if there are still guns for sale anywhere by then). But my daughter found me the very last one at the LGS (she and the SIL were shopping for ammo), and held it for me. Sometimes you get lucky. Truth be told, this P9 SK is not the hottest selling item in my neck of the woods (it should be, imo), but still, it was the last one left NIB.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

At my LGS, small Mom & Pop store, people were buying hunting rifles and O/U shotguns, as he sold out of ARs, AKs, and such and all of his HD shotguns. He had a couple of 22 semis and a few revolvers left, and set aside a box of ammo for each. People are nuts. Could have bought plenty of ammo, if I had a 7x30 Waters or a 300 Savage.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

I wanted a H&K VP9 SK but thought I'd wait until the panic subsides (if it ever does and they're still guns for sales out there). But my daughter found me the very last one at the LGS (she and the SIL were shopping for ammo), and held it for me. Sometimes you get lucky.

Enjoy it. Ibought one last fall, great pistol. Just takes a little getting used to the mag release on the trigger guard.

 

[mikemck]

The liberals want to defund police so people are buying guns so they don't have to call their neighbor (who own's guns)to come protect them. The liberals have stepped right in their mess. They have no insight.

I have what I need. Not necessarily what I want. I don't buy guns anymore unless every thing is lined up right.

The guns were gone long before anyone mentioned defunding the police. Same with the ammo.

 

[Zeabed]

Enjoy it. Ibought one last fall, great pistol. Just takes a little getting used to the mag release on the trigger guard.

Actually, I've come to like that pancake mag release. With a little getting used to, I found that using the index to release the mag via the right-ambi lever is smoother than straining out the thumb towards the lever on the left side. But most people don't know that there's an optional version with a round button mag release, although I don't know how easy or difficult it might be to order it.

 

[MrShooter]

I really have all the guns I need, but nowhere near all the guns I want! With all this craziness going on I think it's a good time to wait and save up for something really nice. I'm really liking the new Springfield Vickers Tactical Master Class 1911! Either that or a nice Les Baer 1911.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Actually, I've grown fast to like that pancake mag release. With a little getting used to, I found that using the index to release the mag via the right-ambi lever is smoother than straining out the thumb towards the lever on the left side. But most people don't know that there's an optional version with a round button mag release, although I don't know how easy or difficult it might be to order it.

It took some practice, but yes, using the index finger actually is easier.

 

[Pelo801]

I've traveled back and forth between South Carolina and Missouri the last few days. I havent been by any LGS. But all the walmarts have removed ammo and guns from the shelves and put them in back. I guess they're scared they'll get stolen by looters. The cabelas in Greenville, SC was out of 22 ammo. The pistol and rifles shelves were combined to one shelf. All the major calibers were gone. Even the 10mm was gone. They had some ultra premium priced 223, but not much. The bass pro in Memphis had some Herters 22 and 40. But all the other major calibers were gone. Long gun and pistol shelves were bare.

I think now is the time to look for those guns that you've been wanting. The more rare specimens. The stuff that usually sells for a premium isnt selling too well right now. I think people are focused on self defense type guns right now. So for example, I just picked up a Walther P88 compact for $700.

And as to the theory that in 12 months from now that there will be a glut of lightly to never used guns on the market. Not if I can help it. I'll be beating that drum loud, reminding everyone why they bought those guns in the first place. We wanna keep as many of these new gun owners in the fold as we can. So dont let them forget.

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

I've traveled back and forth between South Carolina and Missouri the last few days. I havent been by any LGS. But all the walmarts have removed ammo and guns from the shelves and put them in back. I guess they're scared they'll get stolen by looters. The cabelas in Greenville, SC was out of 22 ammo. The pistol and rifles shelves were combined to one shelf. All the major calibers were gone. Even the 10mm was gone. They had some ultra premium priced 223, but not much. The bass pro in Memphis had some Herters 22 and 40. But all the other major calibers were gone. Long gun and pistol shelves were bare.

I think now is the time to look for those guns that you've been wanting. The more rare specimens. The stuff that usually sells for a premium isnt selling too well right now. I think people are focused on self defense type guns right now. So for example, I just picked up a Walther P88 compact for $700.

And as to the theory that in 12 months from now that there will be a glut of lightly to never used guns on the market. Not if I can help it. I'll be beating that drum loud, reminding everyone why they bought those guns in the first place. We wanna keep as many of these new gun owners in the fold as we can. So dont let them forget.

Luger P08's are still spendy, and in this time and age, its best to forgo my dream. Too much other things to get.

 

[jmorris]

I had to stand in line to buy a pistol today!

Beats buying a machinegun and having to wait a year to have it in your possession. At least I’m buddies with my FFL’s so we can play with their toys and mine.

 

[brewer12345]

Ammo seems to be disappearing with increasing rapidity. When I checked sgammo this afternoon the website was down to excess volume. Now that their website is back up, they almost have no 9MM, for example. Plenty of 9 Mak, however.

 

[Ed Ames]

Keep in mind, when they say “defund the police” they are talking about doing what Camden, NJ did in 2013 - lay off all the current officers, and hire new.

Camden had one of the highest crime rates in the nation, spent several years ranked as the “most dangerous city” in the USA, etc., and now? After firing (and replacing) the entire police force and adopting community based anti-crime approaches (in other words, spending the money that would have gone to cops on education, youth activities, etc.)? Homicides are down over 60%....

 

[GEM]

Defunding the police isn't the topic of this thread. Want to bring to that of the OP?

 

[Ed Ames]

Fair point, though FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) about defunding police is one causal factor in the line OP had to stand in.

Personally, I haven’t stood in line to buy a gun - or anything else - this year because I don’t want to inadvertently kill my mother. We visit her once a week to drop off fresh groceries and give her a chance to see her grandson from across the lawn. Given that my family’s visits are the only outside contact she has had for the past few months, if she ends up with Covid it’ll be because I wasn’t careful and brought it to her. I’m having to be extra careful now that everyone has decided to pretend there isn’t a pandemic. If buying something, or going into a store, means me standing in a line, well, I can do without.

But I did buy a gun. Ordered it online, drove to the beyond-suburbs fringe zone well north of Dallas FFL, and was in and out in 10 minutes including putting on my PPE. Why did I buy a new gun right now with everything going on? Selfishness, I suppose. It was one I’d been watching for for literally years and I finally saw one I could afford. It’s actually the first gun purchase I feel the least bit guilty about, and that has nothing to do with the gun.

If only the local ranges weren’t filled with people convinced that risking the lives of baby boomers (and older) is somehow putting liberals in their place, so I could shoot the silly thing.

 

[FlSwampRat]

We went from three full showcases of handguns to two middling full cases, and that's with several restock orders having come in.
For awhile we were out of .380 and .40, yet oddly, never ran out of 9mm.
Our situation with distributors is we're ordering what we can around all the back orders. Only way we got in some S&W SD40's was to get MA compliant ones with 10.5LB triggers. (Ye gods!)
I'm selling mostly to first time gun buyers, many of who are freaked out that they can't get a gun right away as the media has them soiling their Huggies. I always implore them to take a gun safety course as soon as possible.
It's a crazy time.

 

[Texas10mm]

I've traveled back and forth between South Carolina and Missouri the last few days. I havent been by any LGS. But all the walmarts have removed ammo and guns from the shelves and put them in back. I guess they're scared they'll get stolen by looters. The cabelas in Greenville, SC was out of 22 ammo. The pistol and rifles shelves were combined to one shelf. All the major calibers were gone. Even the 10mm was gone. They had some ultra premium priced 223, but not much. The bass pro in Memphis had some Herters 22 and 40. But all the other major calibers were gone. Long gun and pistol shelves were bare.

I think now is the time to look for those guns that you've been wanting. The more rare specimens. The stuff that usually sells for a premium isnt selling too well right now. I think people are focused on self defense type guns right now. So for example, I just picked up a Walther P88 compact for $700.

And as to the theory that in 12 months from now that there will be a glut of lightly to never used guns on the market. Not if I can help it. I'll be beating that drum loud, reminding everyone why they bought those guns in the first place. We wanna keep as many of these new gun owners in the fold as we can. So dont let them forget.

Walmart pulled all the pistol ammo, 223, 5.56x45, and 300 Blackout ammo from their stores last December. It's small wonder you didn't see any on the shelves.

 

[Pelo801]

Walmart pulled all the pistol ammo, 223, 5.56x45, and 300 Blackout ammo from their stores last December. It's small wonder you didn't see any on the shelves.

No, I mean they pulled all remaining "hunting" calibers, emptied the gun case, and even the bird shot shells that are out on the shelf. Put it all in the back.