What's your bet that guns will be cheap...

[John Wayne]

Well, I stopped by a few local pawn shops the other day just to see how prices were...at two (notoriously high even several years ago) pawn shops, I saw:

-A $479 Ruger LCP

-An $850 WASR-10

And my personal favorite, a $1450 Bushmaster A2, right next to a $1375 DPMS AR-10!



I inquired as to the barrel length of one of the other AR's in the case and was told that "hit cain't be no sixteen eenches, my fanger is longer'n that rat there." He was referring, of course, to the portion of the barrel visible extending from the handguard. Priceless.

This last store also had a strict "no discounts on assault rifles" policy. I was going to inquire as to why their ARs only had a 2-position safety selector, but given the response to my last question, I thought it better to walk out.

 

[Big Bill]

My gunstore has Ruger LCPs for $319. They had 10 last I asked.

 

[f4t9r]

The only deals I see upcomming are the people that have to sell something to keep going. Other then that I do not see prices dropping.

 

[rscalzo]

but this is not indefinitely sustainable

Sounds familiar. Housing bubble. tech bubble. Firearms manufacturers are not doing that well and their stock is certainly not rising. Both publically held companies have seen their stock drop significantly. Sig had layoffs a few months back in an effort to cut costs. Firearms are a disposible income item. When the bubble breaks those that paid list plus fifty percent are going to be pissed. Just like those that bought the $75.00 thirty round AR15 magazines only to watch the pricing drop like a stone. One of the largest gun dealer up here cut the pay rate of the staff ten percent to avoid layoffs. I don't see many running out to grab anything available regardless of price. What i do see is a lot of people getting rid of a portion of their collections to cover the everyday cost ogf living.

 

[SaMx]

I would put money on gun prices going down at least somewhat, when the panic subsides. I kind of am, because I'm putting off purchases of firearms that I don't really need.

 

[jcwit]

With the economy tanking and people being laid-off and more lay-off coming I can see many many guns, jewlery, tools, and more being available at the pawn shops in the very near future.

We have news reports about the pawn shops about every other week here.

Panic buying for ammo is one thing, needing money for bread and milk is entirely different. There's talk of our state cutting back on unemployment payments for lack of funds.

Don't look good.

 

[ZombiesAhead]

Who knows? If people get desperate enough due to the economy continuing to decline, they may decide it's more important to eat NOW than to save guns for potential use LATER.

OTOH, if the economy does not tank much worse than predicted and people still have enough money to eat, I can see people hanging onto their panic buys and possibly purchasing more.

Another opinion is that people may have fulfilled their panic buying impulses and come to the realization they have more than they need, in which case they may sell some firearms, bringing the market back to a reasonable baseline but still hoarding enough that we don't see any dramatic price drop.

I have to gloat because I only became interested in firearms a few years ago. I bought like crazy from 2004 until Spring 2008 when I decided I had "enough" guns and ammunition...and what do you know? As soon as my shopping spree was over people went nuts, I sold a few firearms at profit, and I'm left with everything I could possibly need for the next 5-10 years. : )

 

[crazy-mp]

given the response to my last question, I thought it better to walk out

I think I have been to that gun store too

 

[Javelin]

Guns will all be back to 1970s pricing in a year.

Happy?

 

[A/C Guy]

Firearms manufacturers are not doing that well and their stock is certainly not rising. Both publically held companies have seen their stock drop significantly.

Boy are you wrong!!

Ruger stock and Smith & Wesson stock rose 50% last week. Most manufacturers had a record 4th quarter with backorders equal to a full quarter's sales.

 

[BENELLIMONTE]

Unfortunately I believe that prices on anything related to firearms i.e guns, powder, bullets, brass will all be higher due to "Nobamas" implementation of some sort of weapons ban or limit on gun related items purchased per year.

 

[dbarile]

I can see prices easing off IF the current economic woes continue. No sign of that changing yet. AND if the current admin makes no more moves or comments about a ban. Some will (and have) be force to part with the AKs and ARs at less than they paid for them. I only hope a shooter gets them before the pawn shop.

Last week I saw some sign of the panic ease off locally. There were actually several AK types sitting on the shelves locally that were beginning to accumulate dust. I even had visions of Yugo 7.62x39 at less that 300 a case.

Then Holder shot his mouth off and the couple AK's and other assorted East Block shooters vanished from the local shelves. Yes, Pelosi & Reid quashed it, but do you really believe them? Yes, it is only my observations, but it allowed classic arms to post a warning on their web site. Care to guess about their phone line status?

I'm not holding out any hope that we will get through the year without further attacks on the 2A. I only have to decide if I wish to wait to buy another AR.

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't expect guns to be cheap. Only folks that are distressed and need quick money will drop prices into the "cheap" catagory.

Wait until inflation starts taking hold in a year or so. Today's prices even at retail will be cheap. You'll see 20% increases in prices on new guns and used gun prices follow right along with the trend.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

I don't expect guns to be cheap. Only folks that are distressed and need quick money will drop prices into the "cheap" catagory.

Wait until inflation starts taking hold in a year or so. Today's prices even at retail will be cheap. You'll see 20% increases in prices on new guns and used gun prices follow right along with the trend.

Not to nitpick, but inflation doesn't inherently make things more expensive. It might make them more expensive relative to your savings, but inflated prices still need to be measured in relative terms.

Look at it this way, when Colt 1911s cost $20 brand-new 90 years ago, that didn't mean they were "cheap", as that was a ton of money back then. Plenty of guns are cheaper in relative terms than they used to be, with a Marlin 60 .22LR representing less than 20 hours of even minimum-wage labour.

And further, while we're crystal-balling, there have been concerns about deflation in the current economy. So we're really pushing the boundaries of speculation here.

I'm feeling a bit too lazy to organise it myself, but I think we should just cut out all the hand-wringing, put our money where our mouths are, and have a "gentlemen's bet" thread with under/overs for stripped AR-15 receiver prices for Nov 5 2010, wherin losers have to donate to a political cause chosen by the winner. I vote that if the pessimists lose they have to donate to NPR; I agree that their 2A coverage is left-leaning, but overall it's an awesome source for news and music, and it's about the only radio I listen to besides internet streaming radio stations.

 

[mcdonl]

One thing different betweem October and today... there are a LOT more used guns available. Despite the buying craze, people are desperate.

Leroy

 

[orionengnr]

I'm not saying it will all turn around next week, but given enough months the supply can certainly satiate and even saturate demand.

Well, with regard to ammo and components, I'm going to say that this prediction is going down in flames.

 

[Sharps-shooter]

I don't necessarily think they will be much cheaper than now, but I think more and more people will sell their gun or guns to make ends meet, and that used guns will be widely available. I'm already starting to see it some.