Looking for Advice on New Rifle Design

[Skunkeye]

Despite the claim that the manufacturers would have met such a market if it xisted, it sure seems from the frustrated people I've read that they still haven't.

There are a few possible explanations for that.

One is that there is a market, but it's too small to be worth the investment in developing an entirely new rifle. If you only sell a couple thousand units per year to people who are burying them, a large manufacturer probably won't see it as worth their time (and the knock to their reputation that might come from making a cheap, "disposable" rifle).

Another possibility is that it's too difficult to meet the price point you'd need to meet to make a new rifle "buryable". The Kel-Tec SU-16 is the closest thing on the market right now to what you're talking about, and it's still $400+, despite liberal use of inexpensive construction techniques.

There might be thousands of Mosins and SKSes buried across America, but that's because at one time you could buy them for $100. Even $300 is a bit steep compared to that. Sure, your design would use AR-compatible mags and ammo, but that advantage is offset by it being an unproven design (unlike the decades of reliable service that the Mosin and SKS can boast) that's built so cheaply the manufacturer won't warrant it past 10,000 rounds.

I think there is a market for a relatively inexpensive semi-auto that uses AR mags and has a more traditional rifle layout (those Kel-Tecs seem to sell pretty well), but I don't think making a rifle specifically to be buried in a PVC pipe for the apocalypse is much of a sustainable business model.

 

[barnbwt]

Fallout 4 is the worst thing to ever happen to gunsmithing in this country

 

[ford8nr]

And why does the OP think in an all out society collapse AND Assualt Weapon ban they wouldn't ban hi cap magazines? Magazine restrictions are already in place even in places that don't have Assualt weapon bans.

 

[tark]

O.P., a huge part of the cost of any firearm is the liability ins. that the manufacturer factors into the price of the gun. And you MUST have it.....only a fool would not.... gun blows up, owner sues, wins in court...you are screwed without the ins. And probably out of business.

This must be considered, and when the insurance co. is told you want to make the thing as quickly and inexpensively as possible...... Well, you can guess how enthusiastic they're going to be about the whole thing. They will probably require proof that the thing works, and that means working prototypes and torture tests, even though extensive firing of thousands of rounds is not the intent. More costs.

Always remember that people do stupid things with guns and then sue the manufacturer for making a faulty product. Always remember that all the plaintiff's lawyer has to do is convince a bunch of non-gun know nothing jurors that it was the gun's fault, even though it wasn't, and you are screwed.

Les once told me that he was paying six figures a year for liability ins. Pretty sure I heard him right.

Just something to think about.

 

[BSA1]

I would like to point out that the buyer is burying more than $300.00. It is more like $500+.

Let's say the gun can be brought for $300.00. Buying it from a retail business means the Government has to get it's share in the form of Sales Tax. For simple math let's just say 10% tax for $30.00.

The gun uses magazines to function as a semi-auto. I consider 10 magazines the minimium number (remember no more magazines are available according to the O.P.). The buyer shops around and gets good magazines for $10.00 each. (I just paid $120.00 for 10 Magpul but our buyer finds a better deal).

Then a gun must have ammunition. In this situation lots of ammo is better but space is limited in a burial tube. With 10 30 round magazines that means 300 rounds. We need some extra for practice so figure on 500 rounds. Figure $115.00 for 500 rounds of Wolf .223.

So adding it up;

$300.00 for the gun
$100.00 for 10 magazines
$115.00 for 500 rounds of ammunition
$ 51.00 sales tax on everything (simple 10%)
=====
$561.00 being buried in a deep hole.

Then he needs some type of waterproof durable container to keep everything inside of it dry for years.

As you can see the buyer is literally burying close to $600.00 in cash in a hole in the ground.

I just don't see a market here. The O.P. is expecting the buyer to spend another $300.00 for magazines and ammo when the gun is only expected to last for 10,000 rounds.