What's the Way Ahead for the Gun Industry?

[Cannibul]

Would love to see suppressors come out of the shadows
Some mating of electronics with firearms, I do not know what form this would take, sights, triggers?
Two issues that step over into legal/activism: products that recruit more owners, eg women, minorities
Nationwide reciprocity for CCW, coupled with some training to maintain the terrific safety record of CCW holders

Yeah, training is needed because you can see the issues created by having no training standard in the Constitutional Carry states.

That' sarcasm in case you missed it.

 

[Dog Soldier]

We have had crowded firearms markets and new products come and go. The Dardick Tround Revolver the Gyro-Jet handgun were going to revise shooting sports. Where are they now? The 1911 pistols were called antiques 50 years ago.Today the 1911s are copied and bought across the Nation. If anyone can call the future of firearms in America they will become "Saints".

http://www.guns.com/2013/03/18/gyrojet-rocketgun/

https://thearmsguide.com/4268/weird-gun-wednesday-the-dardick-1500/

 

[Dog Soldier]

I am curious, what problems are Constitutional Carry states having? Does the 2nd Amendment call for government imposed training? That is how many countries control firearms ownership. Would we also add mental competency exams as a requirement?Gun owners need freedoms not restrictions.Maybe the South African gun laws are what we need?

https://www.loc.gov/law/help/firearms-control/southafrica.php

 

[larryh1108]

Tirod,
Great post.
Thanks!

J-Bar, nice post as well.

Posts from these 2 guys are what make this forum great. It seems we've gotten away from well thought out posts like these but if we can continue to get quality posts instead of snipes and snarky posts we'll all be better off.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I'd love to see an electronic pistol firing caseless ammunition with an electric ignition mechanism and also has an electronic trigger.

 

[yokel]

However, I also want to see all aspects of the NFA be repealed. Ideally, we should be able to do with our guns what we want without having to buy $200 permission slips to make SBRs, SBSs, and suppressors should be treated as any other accessories and not subjected to any laws of firearms.

Here's an excerpt from a recent thought-provoking article by Oleg Volk:

http://www.alloutdoor.com/2016/05/02/defense-open-bolt-firearms-civilian-use/

The main advantages of open bolt guns: relatively light weight for the cartridge used, very low felt recoil and simplicity of construction permitting lower cost for the same quality. In the US, the same niche is occupied by closed bolt Hi-Point carbines. PPS43 has 33 parts total. Closed bolt Beretta CX4, also a 9mm carbine, twice as many. PPS43 has minimal recoil compared to either. A closed bolt, roller-delayed blowback MP5, which kicks as slightly, has about three times as many parts as PPS43. That means more complicated maintenance and far higher cost, though with far better accuracy in turn. Sig MPX, a true locked breech design with a pistol gets even lower recoil with fewer parts than the MP5, but with greater requirements for production quality control.

 

[Ed Jaws]

You ask an interesting question but what exactly is the "Gun Industry"?

Is it just the designers, marketers, and manufacturers of guns and ammo? Perhaps we can include the retailers too since they're an intricate part of the industry which control, out the door, prices.

A lot of folks are talking about the hardware side of the industry but what about the software side; people or more specifically, us. After all we're part of the industry. We buy the guns and ammo, go to the range, participate in competitions, protect our homes, and get together on forums and talk about the things we get joy out of.

To drill down even deeper, what about the folks who never handled or shot a gun but they're kind of interested in these things but never followed through out of fear of looking foolish going to a gun shop or range without prior knowledge of proper etiquette.

They are not the anti-gun extremists that will never cede their views, but folks that if put in the right circumstances might be willing to take a chance and experience what we all know is a lot of fun.

I think what the gun industry needs to do is expand their reach to the hundreds, if not thousands of would be consumers, and in the end that's on us, the pro gun community. If we all got one person, a friend, a neighbor, or a family member to take to the range, we'll be in a lot better shape the next time elections roll around.

 

[SLOson]

...However, from an economic perspective, I wonder how the industry will look. For instance, during Obama's reign of terror, especially in the Sandy Hook aftermath, gun sales were through the roof. Countless new companies popped up because demand for guns has been so high over the past eight years. The market has been flooded with new companies, new guns, and affordable options. Obama's tyranny created a boom in the industry. Now that Republicans are in control, I wonder if demand will die down, those smaller manufacturers will come to a halt, and prices will go up as manufacturers try to make and sell fewer guns, but at a higher price point...

I suspect demand will continue to drop, both because of a ever more satiated market and because emotions are less inflamed. But things could change.

I also think the AR15 platform will continue to have a huge impact on rifle/carbine sales. Small manufactures (many just assemblers) are going to place a great deal or pressure on full-line manufactures.

 

[ScrapMetalSlug]

I think there may be more interest in bolt actions, lever guns, nice single shots, maybe even black powder. As fear subsides where people think they need to buy what will become banned, there will be more focus on what people like to shoot or use more often.

I think some bargains will be found with tactical rifles and shotguns.

 

[HexHead]

The market for ARs is glutted, I'd expect to see at least one manufacturer go under.

One? There's something like 184 AR manufacturers. Many are smaller assembly operations. I think it'll be more than just one.

 

[ny32182]

Like others, I expect consolidation of suppliers and assemblers in the AR market.

I think many people have forgotten what "normal" actually was, or came into the AR market sometime during the Obama years. During the Bush years, a normal price would be a Colt 6920 for 1200, or a Bushmaster for 900... and that isn't even accounting for inflation that has taken place in the intervening years. The wild swings during the Obama years, both high and low, are not "normal". The current super low prices are great, but my suspicion is that we are still seeing the end result of massive over-production to meet the demand after Sandy hook, and possibly continued in anticipation of a Hillary presidency. I think we will see very low prices for a bit longer as the current inventory is sold off, but I also think that production levels will be brought down and eventually we will see a return to the real "normal".

I don't see any other big changes to most of the rest of the market that was less impacted by ban fears. Probably just a little tailing off of demand, but nothing big.

National CCW or removal of cans/SBR/SBS from the NFA would be great, and would certainly result in a short term bump in demand for some of those products, but I'll believe it when I see it happen and not a moment before. I don't see Republicans spending limited political capital on something that would be an easy target for leftists to scream and cry about, and which won't actually advance any of their real, "important" political objectives, but I guess time will tell.

 

[ATLDave]

During the Bush years, a normal price would be a Colt 6920 for 1200, or a Bushmaster for 900... and that isn't even accounting for inflation that has taken place in the intervening years. The wild swings during the Obama years, both high and low, are not "normal". The current super low prices are great, but my suspicion is that we are still seeing the end result of massive over-production to meet the demand after Sandy hook, and possibly continued in anticipation of a Hillary presidency. I think we will see very low prices for a bit longer as the current inventory is sold off, but I also think that production levels will be brought down and eventually we will see a return to the real "normal".

On the other hand, the variable/marginal cost of making an additional AR are probably quite low. The massive demand for AR's in the wake of the 2013 gun control push caused lots and lots of businesses to make the capital expenditures to acquire the means of production. Now those costs are sunk. If a seller can still cover the marginal costs, then cranking out another AR only helps spread the overhead/capital expense.

I think a long-term increase in prices will probably have more to do with either the useful life of the relevant manufacturing equipment (about which I know nothing) or extreme consolidation in the industry.

 

[Dharr]

I think it is pretty much static. There is no way they are going to release laser guns and handgun sized RPG guns to the general public. Do not think for one second that they are not already here. Essentially, what we have now is high performance rock throwers.

 

[jeff-10]

Long term trends? Probably more reproduction firearms as the technology to reproduce them becomes much cheaper. For the past decade or more you have seen more Old West and WWII reproductions. I expect a lot more. I cannot imagine AR 15s, 1911s, polymer service pistols and sub compacts can become anymore prevalent but who knows. I have been saying that for years but they keep multiplying. I also think you will continue to see more high quality ammunition manufactured and also more private gun ranges nationwide. They are popping up all over the place in Florida.

On the legislation front. If we see anything I imagine it would be need some type of nationwide CCW. Even Howard Stern is on board. Personally I would like to see gun control laws rolled back in chronological order. Also would like to see nationwide preemption laws like the individual states have.

 

[larryh1108]

I think a big hurdle would be the feds taking control of the gun laws and taking back the power the states have. Since firearms are the 2nd mention in the Bill of Rights (federal) why do states have the ability to interpret what the wording really means? We can (and do ) have 50 different interpretations of what a few, well thought out words mean. We now have states that have decided to eviscerate the rights of their citizens with their own vision of what "shall not be infringed" means. Usually I am not in favor of the feds taking control of anything but the 2nd amendment is a right we all should enjoy as one, not 50.

 

[Cannibul]

I think it is pretty much static. There is no way they are going to release laser guns and handgun sized RPG guns to the general public. Do not think for one second that they are not already here. Essentially, what we have now is high performance rock throwers.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they aren't already here.

 

[Sistema1927]

Give us well thought out, quality, products and we will continue to buy them.

 

[justice06rr]

I'd like to see short barreled rifles legalized, you know, a 10.5" upper with a rifle stock. Its the same weapon, whether its has a pistol brace or a rifle stock, pretty assanine.

I think the market will definitely go through some attrition, the small guys that got in during the boom will probably fail. Right now, there is a huge supply and falling demand, hence all the sales. Probably, within the year, it'll get back to a "pre-Obama" normal.

Its nice to see 22LR not selling out in an hour and powder/primer supplies are reamaining steady.

+100 on decreasing the strict laws on short barrel rifles/shotguns. (They are legal btw, just more strictly regulated).

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

Also needed are more inexpensive gun ranges in or close to urban areas because people need some place to shoot their guns, Why buy a gun if you have no place to shoot it? The last 50 years in most urban areas what gun ranges that were there were forced out and the ones that remain either have long waiting lists(usually years)to join their membership, are expensive, have a host of restrictions on what guns that can be shot, very crowded, require you to shoot their expensive ammo and targets only or a combination there of. And to get out and shoot on public land usually requires long drives, restricted areas and spotty safety at popular places.

 

[Mike OTDP]

When it comes to future hardware, I think that the Next Big Thing will be mini red dots for pistols. Right now, the best mountings are custom...and the best RDSs are on the big side. There's a market for a sight specifically sized for a carry pistol.