Why Are Guns So Expensive?

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Why are guns so darned expensive these days? Compared to other durable goods like premium tools they have went up far more in price over the past 20 years.

Part of the issue is that there are limitations on what sort of guns can be imported. Yet things like Leatherman multi-tools, premium Ping golf clubs and premium Snap-On tools are also made in the USA and they have not increased in price by 2-3X over the past 20 years. In some cases they are actually cheaper even when inflation is not factored in. This is even true for some guns like Glocks which are essentially the same price today as they were 20 years ago.

Another part of the the reason is demand. Some gun makers are struggling to meet demand and they are free to raise prices to a point. Another might possibly be a huge increase in liability insurance over the past 20 years?

Why else are guns so darned expensive these days?
 
Well, I can answer that question and I believe it's not just exclusive to firearms. The answer is; Manufacturing...

I'm a Tool and Die Maker by trade, and have extensive experience in modern day CNC manufacturing techniques. When I look at things like fire arms, I honestly can't believe that Glock for example, can make a pistol, with all of it's complex and intricate parts, assemble it, test it, document it, package it, ship it, and sell it at a wholesale price to dealers and distributors, so that they too can make money with it's $550-$600 final price tag...
 
How many goods hold value as well as guns do? Guns are not really the best monetary investment, but most guns (if taken care of) will go up in value more than tools, cars, fishing reels, ect
 
JAshley73 said:
Well, I can answer that question and I believe it's not just exclusive to firearms. The answer is; Manufacturing...

I'm a Tool and Die Maker by trade, and have extensive experience in modern day CNC manufacturing techniques. When I look at things like fire arms, I honestly can't believe that Glock for example, can make a pistol, with all of it's complex and intricate parts, assemble it, test it, document it, package it, ship it, and sell it at a wholesale price to dealers and distributors, so that they too can make money with it's $550-$600 final price tag...
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Lots of durable goods that are made in the USA like Leatherman Tools, Ping golf clubs and Snap-On Tools have not increased in price over the last 20 years like most guns.

As far as Glock making a gun for the price they do, just take a look at something like a drill motor. Even an industrial rated one that is not made in China costs little more than 99 dollars and the complexity and parts count make a Glock look rudimentary. The one huge thing going for the drill motors is they sell them by the millions.

Glocks cost pretty much the same as they did 20 years ago while Ruger MKIII's cost more than twice what they did 20 years ago. How come?
 
TennJed said:
How many goods hold value as well as guns do? Guns are not really the best monetary investment, but most guns (if taken care of) will go up in value more than tools, cars, fishing reels, ect
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That's not what I asked though. I'm curious as to why most gun prices have risen so much in the past 20 or so years in comparison to other durable goods that are produced in the USA?
 
I would offer that the political climate has pushed gun prices up. A lot of uncertainty...
 
Good Question

Glocks cost pretty much the same as they did 20 years ago while Ruger MKIII's cost more than twice what they did 20 years ago. How come?
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Using the calculator from Wikipedia, $200 in 1992 would buy what $331 would buy in 2012. Inflation.
 
Carl N. Brown said:
Using the calculator from Wikipedia, $200 in 1992 would buy what $331 would buy in 2012. Inflation.
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A basic Glock 17 cost about 500 bucks 20 years ago. It costs about the same today.

A stainless Ruger MK III was under $200.00, 20 years ago. Today it's over $400.00

Why the difference?

But back to my question. Why has the price of guns increased so much more in the past 20 years than other durable goods? Inflation impacts all goods.
 
dos0711 said:
I would offer that the political climate has pushed gun prices up. A lot of uncertainty...
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I think that's part of it. Demand. And the gunmakers are free to raise their prices on almost all models.

I suspect Glock has always had such giant profit margins that it has chosen to hold the price while focusing on volume. Notice that Glocks are almost never "sold out" on on-line suppliers.
 
Glocks still cost $500 because M&P, and Xd cost that much and they are still undercut by Xd, SR9/40, P250, Caracal, SP2022 etc.
 
I was a collector of pro-level musical instruments before I took up the shooting hobby.

As hobbies go, guns are relatively inexpensive.
 
Cost of metals is up and some high-end stuff is getting harder to find.

Compliance with government regulations takes time and resources which adds cost but not value to the product.

R&D isn't cheap for the very few companies that are truly innovative.

FAET.

Insurance and litigation.

Demand, especially for "tacticool" or the latest, greatest guns.
 
Our fiat currency?
To put it in perspective, the 20 year low for gold is ~ $252, you couldn't buy a Glock for that 20 years ago or even a new Hi power.
Now you can buy one of each for an ounce of gold.
 
Yeap, political,shipping & greed

Every thing that Bubbles said plus political climate and shipping. When you have to tack an extra $20 to $30 on for shipping and handling it sours a good deal quick. Also, those that use the political climate and fear for a reason to tack on an extra hundred or two.
 
Using the calculator from Wikipedia, $200 in 1992 would buy what $331 would buy in 2012. Inflation.
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^^^^^ This.

Even if you say they've out paced inflation, so have alot of other things.

20 yrs ago gas was a little over $1.00.

I remember filling my 17 gallon tank with around 14 gallons and having enough left left over to buy lunch.

Why have guns out paced inflation?

Probably some of the same reasons health insurance has; this:

Libiality insurance and litigation costs.
Click to expand...
 
Glock as a company also doesn't spend much in the way R&D. Part of the cost of most guns is for developing other guns.
 
Inflation does not account for the giant price increase; a $200 gun in 1992 does not cost $331 today. I vaguely recall a giant leap in handgun prices in the early 1990's when there was threat of a ban. My guess is sales increased, so they never dropped the price.

It never made sense to me that I can buy a bolt action rifle for less than a Glock or SIG. I paid $805 for my first SIG in 1996. I believe they didn't cost that much in 1992.
 
I'm a Tool and Die Maker by trade, and have extensive experience in modern day CNC manufacturing techniques. When I look at things like fire arms, I honestly can't believe that Glock for example, can make a pistol, with all of it's complex and intricate parts, assemble it, test it, document it, package it, ship it, and sell it at a wholesale price to dealers and distributors, so that they too can make money with it's $550-$600 final price tag..
Click to expand...

Glock originally sold his pistols to NYPD for about $75/each and made a great profit - the article I read back then stated he could make his gun for $52 each - the slide was half the cost

I agree with Count - factoring inflation, guns are cheaper today than decades ago - new and cheaper materials, makes for cheaper manufacturing, internet sales allow for greater sales meaning higher volumes, making lower per unit costs
 
In 2002, the Yugo SKS was selling for $99 , now they are $250 and up. The price went up because of inflation and there are less of them available.
 
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