I remember X used to cost Y amount...

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boredelmo

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So everyone fill in that sentence with something gun related.

I'm sure there will be a lot of answers that include ammo, so lets be really specific.

Also as a side question, if you knew prices were going to be this high, realistically how much of X would you have bought?

I remember SKS's used to be around $89(last year), now I can only seem to find them at around $200. If i had known, i would have bought two early on.

-Elmer
 
My dad was telling me the other day that he remember when he was offered to buy some premium grade garands for about $50 a piece (back in the late 70's I think).

Needless to say, he wishes he would have bought 4 or 5. I know I wish he would have bought me one.
 
Ligett's drug store in Apopka used to have a converted Timex display case full of every configuration of M1 Carbines you could think of for around $100

I could have bought one a week and retired selling them now

I bought two Arisakas with perfect mums for $25 a piece in '83, I coulda got many more
 
I remember when I could have bought a milled Arsenal of Bulgaria AK for ~$500 and now they're all $900. Granted, I've only been into guns for the past 2 years. :D

You know, if you use the inflation calculator, the price of an NFA Thompson is actually pretty much what they were NEW back in 1933.
 
"What cost $1000 in 1970 would cost $5311.61 in 2006.
Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2006 and 1970,
they would cost you $1000 and $188.27 respectively."

True, but I still wish my dad had bought an M-16 to pass down to me. What was certainly well less that $1,000 then goes for over $15,000 now. Some things beat inflation!
 
I remember well that at the time I bought a Stevens 77 12-gauge pumpgun in 1962 I was making $1.92 per hour, and the gun cost $69. This meant that I paid almost a week's GROSS earnings for the gun.

Today, still working for hourly wages in the same industry (mining) my week's gross income would easily buy a Ruger Red Label or Model 77 African Magnum in .416 Rigby or .375, or a Les Baer .45 in one of his less-ornate versions. I'd say I'm a LOT better off today....

I do wish I'd bought one of the Lahti 20mm anti-tank rifles for $100, with 100 rounds of AP tracers included!
 
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My 1968 Colt Python

Sold NIB for $125 in 1968.

I have the box and right in the bottom there is a price sticker for $125. Amazing huh? Funny thing is someone offered me almost 10 times that much a few weeks ago, and I had to say no.
 
I don't know guys. I believe 20 or 30 years ago the average person had more buying power. For instance, a product that cost $186.73 in 1980 cost $500 today. Average real income in the upper middle bracket was $60,462, that same bracket is at $79,713 today.What, were you in a lower bracket? Next down is $43,580, same bracket today is $53,016.

Are you sure things even out? I'm not.
 
In 83 I was making ?1200 a month the $25 for Arisaka was hardly noticeable
I couldn't say that for the $250 they would cost today

But I did buy a Randal just a few years ago
I paid $400 for it
The old invoice for $1190 was still in the box from the previous owner
 
mid 1990's

Canadian Tire brand #7 12gage 25 pack of shells was just about $4.00 Canadian.. that was back when the Canuck buck was about 50% of the US buck... we spent a lot of time shooting 12 gage at a sand pit...
 
Heck, if I would've known 9mm was going from $8 per 100 up to $15 per 100 in the last year, I would have picked up at least 8,000 rounds.
 
12/29/06: 1000 Hornady HAP 125gr. .355 bullets=$58.29
08/6/07: same 1000 Hornady HAP bullets=$$94.99 :eek:

I would have bought another 1000, at least.

05/06: 5000 Primers, any type except benchrest $85.99
08/07: Same 5k primers $118.99, local with no Hazmat.

I would have bought another 5000, each type, at least.
 
I remember when personal computers used to cost $2,000 :neener:

Even though I didn't have an AK a few years ago, I wish I would have picked up several thousand rounds of 7.62x39 when it was $80 a case, along with every other caliber I shoot.
 
Well I can remember a dozen years ago, Glock magazines were $150. Just look at the price now. What? Oh yeah. Well they're still pricey at $18. Joe
 
I remember Makarovs being somewhere around $150 (might have been less) at AIM surplus. It's hard to find one for under $225 now.
 
GI surplus 1991A1s were $17-$21 each and you could dig thru the barrel and pick out the ones you wanted. 1903A3 were just a bit more. Some very nice surplus military rifles were in the $10-$12 range. A new Model 28 S&W was $115, including tax. A satin nickle Colt Combat Commander in .45 ACP was $125 new.
 
There are two things inflation doesn't account for. Well okay four.

1. Ammunition prices. Ammunition used to be much much cheaper than it is now and it wasn't that long ago either. The adjusted price was much lower. This is due to lots of factors including the reality that surplus ammo is dwindling away.

2. The glory days of surplus rifles. There are some surplus rifles still to be had sure, but not like there used to be. I was born far too late to get in on it.

3. Things which were made that are still desirable now, but their worth and cost has gone up to the point where they are worth more used than new. Example, Colt Series 70. Colt revolvers. Smith and Wesson 696, or any prelock Smith and Wesson (give it 5 years).

4. Things which have skyrocketed in value due to legislation. Think machineguns.

I'd say that shooting overall is more expensive now, due to all the restrictive laws and ammunition costs. Who needed an expensive CCW permit in 1950?
 
My Remington 514 cost $21.50 new in 1970.

My Marlin 336C cost $97.50 new in 1975.

My Diamondback .22 cost $265 new in 1980. I thought my buddy was a sucker for paying $320 for the 6" version a year later.

My ugly beat up but perfect functioning Remington 10C was $45 at a gun show in the early 80s.

I paid more for .22 LR ammo in 1980 than in 2004.
 
When I was first married in 1971, I remember drooling over a Smith & Wesson, Model 28, "Highway Patrolman", in a walnut (?) presentation case for $128.00. I made $3.50 an hour at the time. That $128.00 might as well been 1.28 million.
 
I can remember when Academy Sports sold CCI Blazer 9mm ammo for $3.86 a box. Less than 2 years later, it's now $6.87.
Click to expand...

I don't think the guy at Sportsman's Wharehouse believed me when I told him that one.

PS - Wallyworld has CCI Brass .40 S&W for $7.57. I've been keeping that secret unitl after I loaded up :)
 
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