Firearm Shortage

cladd1

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I know throughout the country firearms are now in great demand. I have purchased a number of firearms from Bud's Guns in Kentucky and they have always had a great selection. I was just on their website and you can hardly find anything in stock. Of note even boomers like Smith Wesson 460 and 500 magnums are out of stock. Was just curious if any first time gun owners have purchased these artillery pieces for home defense? I have a 460V and can't imagine the concussion/noise generated if one of these was ever fired inside a house ( :
 
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I don't have a .460, but I think they'll shoot .45 Colt. If that was the only gun I could get my hands on, I'd have no qualms about using it for home defense.

As a added bonus, it would make a formidable bludgeon when you run out of ammo! :eek: ;)

I love a gun that can shoot three or even two calibers. I see a little attraction to the huge 460 just because it can handle 460, 454, and 45 Colt. I hear the 454 in that gun isn’t any worse than a 629 with magnums.
 
Before I got into .44Magnum and .44Special snubs and my 1 Ruger M44 18.5" Carbine... I was really looking at the 500Magnum with the snub barrel... 2.75" or 3" it was I believe and sold as the "Bear Kit" or "Emergency Kit" gun... I'm still interested in it as if you reload you can tailor some really effective show stoppers from everything from Somali "Skinnys" to "Sasquatch" with that Thumper! Then again, I can do most of that with the M24, M29, and M629's as well. But 2nd that then again... I want a M500 Magnum shortie as well still. It's a man's man Revolver/Firearm!
 
The Emergency Survival Tool Kit has the 2¾" barrel that looks as though it belongs, the Hi-Viz has a 3½" slab sided barrel that looks like bubba did it. One man's opinion.

One of my lgs guys and I were talking a few weeks ago about not having seen either of the X-frames in a l-o-n-g time. Of course, he can't get anything right now. Strange times.

Every thread needs photos.
 

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I think a few things are happening all at once that cause the unprecedented shortage of new guns *everywhere*.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, someone told me that production lines at the major gun factories either shut down for a period of time, or were operating on a limited capacity. This made production far behind even a normal demand.

The pandemic back in March caused a surge in demand for new firearm owners. Now, the unrest in major cities, plus an election coming up...well, that factory shortage just became an extinction event for new guns.

I wanted a new S&W 686 2.5 inch. My LGS couldn't get one, and the only one I could find (New) was on an auction site. I think it really is the last NIB one in the world right now. Half joking, half not.

I'm not surprised the large caliber guns are gone too. People want 'anything that will shoot', and if a 500 mag is all you can find, well, so be it.
 
I think once Americans realized that there really was no toilet paper shortage they decided to focus on other necessaries like guns and ammunition. Gold is at $2000 per ounce. So the folks are buying things other than paper goods. ;)
 
I will start by saying I buy a lot of my guns from Buds as well. However, Buds loves unrest. As soon as one of these buying frenzies begins Buds halts 180 day layaways, raises prices across the board and adds almost anything that will be in demand to the Team Buds only list. They do it everytime, this time is no exception. The only difference this time is they are holding out tons of guns for sale in their brick and mortar store only, making next to nothing available online, and what they do make available is mostly Team Buds, so you have to spend even more over their raised prices. When times are good they have very good prices, due mainly to the volume they are able to buy in, but come a sales rush they become the other side of the coin. I don't mind it to a a degree, you take the good with the bad, it's their denial that they are profiteering over the unrest that really irks me. As for a big bore 500 for home defense, no way. The 460 stoked with a 45 Colt defense ammo would work however, but hopefully it would never come to that...
 
Saw an older lady (looked to be 70s) asking about a .460 the last time I was in my local shop.... glad the salesman steered her toward something more manageable
 
My local gun store indoor range has had a difficult time keeping guns in stock. About three weeks ago they managed to get a new three inch 686 plus. They were kind enough to put it back for me until last weekend when Mississippi had it’s second amendment tax free weekend. When I picked it up I noticed they had gotten in four purple SCCY 9mm pistols. All four were gone before the weekend was over. Their counter looks really bare now. They have one S&W revolver left. A 696 no dash. I guess 44 Special is a hard sell.


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Saw an older lady (looked to be 70s) asking about a .460 the last time I was in my local shop.... glad the salesman steered her toward something more manageable
 
I live less than an hour from Buds and Smoky Mountain Guns in TN. I’ve bought an average of a new gun a month over the past couple of years and generally bought from one of them. I’ve bought 2 new guns in the past month and one late last month. Two from SMGA and one from Buds.

I’ve not really noticed any change in prices o Er the past year at least nothing that wouldn’t be normal increases. The only one I’ve noticed them gouging on is new Pythons. They’re asking and getting $500 over list price, no thanks. Otherwise they have great prices.

Stock is certainly limited but there are plenty of great defensive weapons to choose from. If you’re not dead set on one model you have a pretty good chance of finding something to suite yourself fancy. If you’re set on a specific model with certain features, you may or may not find it.

My last 3 purchases were a Ruger 22wmr this past Sunday and bought it at SMGA for $399. It was their last but the price was right. A couple of weeks earlier last month I bought a new Kimber Nightstar IO 9mm For $779 which was almost $200 off. The month before I bought a new Ruger Blackhawk 357/9mm blue at a great price at Buds. Don’t remember the price but was as low as I found.

SMGA had a limited Supply of S&W revolvers as did Buds but they still had a fair number. The larger local dealer near my home has a picked over selection but they’re getting new guns in now. A week ago they had a 3” & 4” 686, seems like a longer one too and a 586. There were several 629’s of varying barrel lengths. I don’t remember if they had a 460 or 500. They had a used (new model) 27 and did have a used 3” 686. Don’t remember if it was still there. They’re still doing very good discounts and often come close to Buds and SMGA prices.

Ammo though, basically nothing at SMGA this weekend. Last month they had pallets of 9mm and other ammo sitting around but not now. There were only shotgun shells for bird hunting and a dozen boxes of rifle ammo of more obscure calibers. Most of the larger dealers are pretty dry on ammo and loading supplies.
 
696 No Dash??

My local gun store indoor range has had a difficult time keeping guns in stock. About three weeks ago they managed to get a new three inch 686 plus. They were kind enough to put it back for me until last weekend when Mississippi had it’s second amendment tax free weekend. When I picked it up I noticed they had gotten in four purple SCCY 9mm pistols. All four were gone before the weekend was over. Their counter looks really bare now. They have one S&W revolver left. A 696 no dash. I guess 44 Special is a hard sell.


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I cannot imagine what a used gun dealer would charge for a 696 no dash. They were unreasonably expensive before the panic. The gun would be an easy sell. Ammunition is another story.
 
They have had the 696 out for several months. I believe I am correct that it is a no dash and I believe they have $800 marked on it. I could be wrong on both counts. Been a while since I picked it up. Apparently in small town Mississippi it is a hard sell.


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The 460V is very manageable in a 45 Colt with a 250 grain FTX with about 9.5 grains of Tightgroup, like shooting a heavy 22lr.
 
That 696 wouldn’t last long in my local shop, and not just because I’d grab it. My shop only has .32 Long and .44 Special ammo left on the shelf, so a first time buyer would have a big incentive to buy it. I’m really glad I bought a couple of 624’s last year since I can still buy ammo for them.
 
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