Is it a bad time to SELL my WASR-10?

[The Good]

I've been out of the loop when it comes to guns, but I'm back in and I'm thinking of getting a new gun and selling my Romanian WASR-10

I live in MAss if that matters.
The reason I'm asking about this here is because I bought this rifle with two 30 round magazines for around $350. The other day I stopped by the gun store and they had some form of AK-47 clone for around $1000. I called and asked what I could get for my WASR-10 on consignment and the gun store employee told me probably around $700.

I'm wondering if there's something I don't know. Why has the price gone up so drastically? Should I hold on to this thing? I told the guy I bought it for 350 from his shop, and he tells me he can sell it for over 700, even though he can't sell the magazines.

I'd like to sell the rifle, but frankly, I'd probably have already brought it down there if he said it'd sell for $350.. but the fact that it's gone up in value so drastically makes me want to find out if it's likely to continue going up, or if it's part of this panic that resulted in all the ammo disappearing from shops.. because in that case, I'd imagine the price will be going right back down soon.

Can anyone shed some light on the topic?

 

[Hacker15E]

I'm wondering if there's something I don't know. Why has the price gone up so drastically?

Have you been living on, say, Mars since November 2012?

The Presidential election, and the insanity following Sandy Hook drove up utility rifle prices insanely.

You should have tried to sell it about February or so, when the spectre of the Assault Weapons Ban was looming and anything "assault weapon" was selling at a hugely inflated price....you woulda made a fortune.

 

[fireside44]

WASR's are available new from Century for $599 right now. If it's a good gun, by all means hang onto it.

 

[The Good]

Have you been living on, say, Mars since November 2012?

The Presidential election, and the insanity following Sandy Hook drove up utility rifle prices insanely.

You should have tried to sell it about February or so, when the spectre of the Assault Weapons Ban was looming and anything "assault weapon" was selling at a hugely inflated price....you woulda made a fortune.

No, hospitals actually. I've been fighting cancer and a long list of other problems that came with it. Haven't had time to keep current with gun news, figured if I admitted I'd been out of the loop that'd be enough because the people on this forum have always been polite.

 

[The Good]

WASR's are available new from Century for $599 right now. If it's a good gun, by all means hang onto it.

Oh it's a great gun, it's just that I don't really have a use for it. I want to buy a home defense gun and it'd be nice to buy it with old gun money rather than new money.

What makes you say hang on to it? I'm trying to weigh the options but I want to educate myself first

 

[nathan]

I got my SAR1 in 2002 for $350 with four mags. I still have it with me. I replaced the trigger with the Tapco G2 and it shoots really tight groups. I wouldnt part with it as its a keeper. Things are not getting better in terms of import parts and kits so that s good reason to hold on .

 

[Jackal]

Inflation happened. Look at the cost of gas or milk or ANYTHING! Everything is double what it was, except wages.

 

[ford8nr]

If you have no use for it and want a different gun I'd say sell it. Right now the time is still ripe...was better 3 months ago. I know a guy that bought a bunch of AR stripped lowers the week after Sandy Hook for ~$125 each, at the peak he was getting $500, now he's having a hard time getting $200. The price of 'modern semi-autos' is dropping like a rock, if you have plans on selling it NOW is the time. If you live in Mass. and want a modern semi, I'd keep it.

 

[mf-dif]

Prices are coming back down but you'll no doubt come back out on top. You should easily be able to sell it. New AKs are going for $600 right now. Last month it was $700. 3-4 months ago they where $1k for WASRs. It'll probably flatten back out around $500 by fall, no way going back to $300.

 

[YZ]

I for one don't remember them going for $300 apiece.

It is definitely a buyer's market these days. We hope it stays. I don't want to jinx. Let me just say, we all know the deranged idiots are still on the loose.

A fully functional AK semiauto is money in the safe. I would however sell a (mass production) gun I no longer shoot.

Stay healthy or get better, whichever applies.

 

[Roadking Rider]

http://centerfiresystems.com/digitalpubs/august2013/centerfire_august2013.html
$599 at Centerfiresystems.

 

[fragout]

I had several AR's and a Keltec SU16 for quite awhile, but didn't have much of a use for them.

My plan was simply to keep them locked away in the safe, but with all the highly inflated prices around the beginning of this year over folks literally loosing all common sense when it comes to purchasing guns, I decided to sell them all off....... too include magazines and 5.56mm ammunition.

My wife had no more use for her WASR, so she gave it to our oldest boy.

I know of several fools who have completely destroyed their own credit ratings over credit card debts that they could not keep up with due to buying guns and gun related supplies.

One in particular lost his truck to the repo guy over his mad dash to buy as much "gun stuff" as possible. The idiot was forced to sell most of it for a loss just to buy a POS old car for transport to and from work.

That's why a few folks refer to what happened as "panic buying". I refer to the fools as "sheeple". They simply went with the herd and right over the proverbial cliff.

My suggestion for you would be to keep the WASR....... unless you need the money in a hurry.

 

[RFMan]

I had several AR's and a Keltec SU16 for quite awhile, but didn't have much of a use for them.

My plan was simply to keep them locked away in the safe, but with all the highly inflated prices around the beginning of this year over folks literally loosing all common sense when it comes to purchasing guns, I decided to sell them all off....... too include magazines and 5.56mm ammunition.

My wife had no more use for her WASR, so she gave it to our oldest boy.

I know of several fools who have completely destroyed their own credit ratings over credit card debts that they could not keep up with due to buying guns and gun related supplies.

One in particular lost his truck to the repo guy over his mad dash to buy as much "gun stuff" as possible. The idiot was forced to sell most of it for a loss just to buy a POS old car for transport to and from work.

That's why a few folks refer to what happened as "panic buying". I refer to the fools as "sheeple". They simply went with the herd and right over the proverbial cliff.

My suggestion for you would be to keep the WASR....... unless you need the money in a hurry.

I agree. Just like with cars, where it's cheaper to drive the car you already own, it's generally cheaper to shoot the firearm you already own. If you would NEVER want to own an AK again, you can realize some profit from it. But you bought at a good time to buy, so if you sold and wanted one later, you would be economically worse off.

 

[artpotts]

Sell now

Since your goal is a good home defense weapon I'd sell or trade. Unless/until there is a new panic the price should go down more before it stabilizes.

 

[Jackal]

That WASR is a great home defense gun, provided the right load is used (Hornady TAP).

 

[nathan]

Id say , sell it and get you a good Remington 870 12 g shotgun. And get the rest of the profit on ammo shells and a treat at a good steakhouse.

5.56 ammo right now is outrageously priced. The 7.62 x 39 supply is still very good. The shotgun ammo you can buy it anytime of the day.

 

[fireside44]

Oh it's a great gun, it's just that I don't really have a use for it. I want to buy a home defense gun and it'd be nice to buy it with old gun money rather than new money.

Not sure what your living situation is like but for me an AK will work as a home defense weapon. A shotgun would make a fine HD weapon for just a few hundred bucks, or are you thinking about pistols? This guy here has it right. Ammo is cheaper than a new gun:

That WASR is a great home defense gun, provided the right load is used (Hornady TAP).

What makes you say hang on to it? I'm trying to weigh the options but I want to educate myself first

Because you said it was a great gun. AK's can be hit or miss and here you have a nice example so why get rid of it? I NEVER sell any of my guns or tools that I would describe as great so I just think you're better off saving a few bucks for a while and getting that other gun and retaining ownership of an already great weapon. You won't likely be able to replace it for anywhere near what you paid. But hey, how much are you asking, I'd love another nice AK?

 

[leadcounsel]

Sorry to hear about your cancer. I too was also wondering where you had been. As other stated, several things have caused the increase:
1. Presidential elections x2, Congressional elections, and local elections, followed by 5 years of anti-gun legislature. Price of guns nearly doubled after the 2008 election, and took a solid year to return to normal, probably until 2010.
2. Several highly public shootings such as the one in Arizona with Mrs. Gifford (high cap mags became very scarce and expensive for 6 months); then the Batman killer in Colorado; and then the Sandy Hook CT shooting - which caused Nationwide 'dialogue' on gun control and led to mostly negative gun press and new laws in many states and a vote on an 'assault weapon ban' in Congress. Thankfully it died (for now) but it did cause prices on guns, magazines and ammo to nearly double.

Prices are coming back down but you'll no doubt come back out on top. You should easily be able to sell it. New AKs are going for $600 right now. Last month it was $700. 3-4 months ago they where $1k for WASRs. It'll probably flatten back out around $500 by fall, no way going back to $300.

I agree with this quote. If you need money, or want a different gun, sell it soon.