Are new and used AR 15 prices going down?

I started a thread a few months ago, and wrote that a gun blog (The Shooting Wire) stated there was soon going to be a big shakeup in the small black gun manufacturers. Sales were near zero and manufacturers and dealers were sitting on a lot of inventory. They went on to say to expect prices to drop through sale prices and add on deals, like extra mags, etc.

So yes, as long as the Republicans are not introducing new anti-gun laws, this should continue for some time. Also happening in the handgun industry, with only the sales of certain "HOT GUNS" still seeing sales, while others handguns are selling poorly. You can now find new Shields at discounted prices. Have you seen the manufacturers adding extra mags with their pistols? You didn't see that six months ago.

Bob
 
Last edited:
When I was looking at AR15s to buy which was a few months ago. I considered a few brands and started price matching. Then Bear Creek Armory was an attractive option for the low price plus a dust cover and a forward assist.

Mind you, I knew nothing about them and learned a lot by browsing AR15.com which I joined later. That narrowed down the selections and Bear Creek is out of my list. That left me the Colt, Windham, S&W and PSA. It so happens that my local range has the MP15 Sport for $679 which is more that I expect but after researching and reviewing; a lot said that the MP15 is up there with the big boys. They say don't worry about the dust cover and the forward assist because you're not going to be in the desert or in the swamp and plus, the receiver is aluminum while most cheap AR15s are carbon/plastic.

I thought oookay and put the MP15 in layaway at the range. Yep, they're right, the MP15 is an excellent carbine and I don't feel bad about the price. It's a keeper.
 
Had an M-16 a long time ago. Neat but cleaning was a christmas grinch.

About 25 years ago I bought a Colt HBAR LNIB from my lgs. I had to put a new trigger, sear, hammer in it as some cretin had used a #2 ******* file to make it full auto. I got it cheap. Put a target scope on it, it was a tack driver, my son learned to use it. He shot up several thousands of rounds I had hid a way, but not good enough. I eventually sold it. Worked well for my son, he was shortly in the Corp and in Desert storm, the AR platform was in his blood. He has since built a 6.7 for hunting.

After prices started falling I found another Colt HBAR Target Match. I put a target scope on it and have it zeroed in but have not had time to use it. I did see a sale on the newer Colt AR I do not remember the exact model but it was a light weight target for about $600.00.

It looks like the 6920 but has a longer but light target bbl.

What I am noticing in ads is the newspeak marketing promoting the AR platform to younger folks. And I have zero issues with that. How many here love the Garand or M-14? One AD I remember shows the grandfather with a traditional wood gun and the younger fellow with an AR. Anyway the push I see is promoting the AR as a hunting platform, which is good.
 
Chew said:
I'm not saying the sport is a bad rifle. I own one. It's a great entry level rifle.

I'm just saying paying the panic prices a year or so ago, like $2k for a sport, has to be frustrating now that prices have bottomed out.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Sorry, I misread your post.

Yep, the panic was a weird time. At that time I had a Century C15A1, an AR built from surplus M16A1 parts on a semi auto AR lower with a new barrel. The one I had was a dog- it jammed regularly and came with a worn buffer spring but Century said it was good. I traded it off during the panic and lost no money on it. I got a good deal on a Browning O/U for it.

About 10 months after the panic I bought a Sport. Much much better rifle than the C15. I just hope the C15A1 isn't the quality we send our service gals and guys off with. They'd be better off with a S&W.
 
Armybrat said:
Yep, I'm one of those guys who never had any interest in black rifles at all in my 55 years of owning guns.
But after the 2012 panic faded late last year and the prices subsided to reasonable levels, I decided to see what the hubbub was all about. Did lots of research & wound up ordering a Sport 10 months ago for $579.
The little carbine impressed me with its overall fit & finish quality and proved to be really fun to shoot.

Heeding the "2 is 1", "1 is none" credo, I bought a Colt LE6920MP-B ($879) two months ago. In spite of the better features on the Colt, the Sport is still my favorite of the two - perhaps because of its simplicity.... and that it was my "firstborn", so to speak.

Recently upgraded the Sport handguard with a Magpul, but the only other addition will be a sling. I like to keep things fairly stock. Will be accumulating more mags & ammo though.

Of course the wife doesn't "get it". lol
Click to expand...

+1.

After owning firearms for 30 years I decide to buy a Sport last year after the prices came down because I wanted a well built and finished AR. I wanted to see why people are drawn to ARs.

It is a great carbine, reliable and accurate. The only modifications I've made on mine is to substitute the original hand guards for the same type with heat shields and change the rear sight for a LMT adjustable.
 
Prices will continue to fluctuate with what is going on in the news, just like oil prices. Prices right now are pretty low and I doubt they will drop much more. I've gotten bitten a few times by purchasing when the prices are high. It's life and you never know where the prices are going to go, so just get the best price you can at the time and get what you want or need. It's the best anyone can do since no one can predict the future.
 
I built my own about a year ago and I have $700 in it. Could I get my money back now? Hell no.
However I'm a hobbiest and putting it together was enjoyable and worth the time no matter what they're selling for today.
It's not going anywhere and bottom line is I could care less.
Jim
 
italiansport said:
I built my own about a year ago and I have $700 in it. Could I get my money back now? Hell no.
However I'm a hobbiest and putting it together was enjoyable and worth the time no matter what they're selling for today.
It's not going anywhere and bottom line is I could care less.
Jim
Click to expand...

I think I'm around $900 now and I haven't even bored out the 80% lower yet. Building a rifle doesn't necessarily save you money but you do get the exact one you want that way. :D
 
I agree if you build it yourself, you will get the exact parts you want. With current prices a self built AR will not save money and will actually lose money. Many self built ARs were built to either get the "perfect gun" or to save money. But now many companies are coming out with basic ARs with very low prices that can not be beat with a self built. If you look at buying all the individual parts, or parts groups, the outcome will still be a much higher cost than buying a basic manufactured AR.

The second issue is that self built AR don't have the same resale value as a name brand rifles. Maybe some really informed AR aficionados would appreciate a well built AR using quality parts, but the majority of AR seekers would not, and also would not pay top dollar for a no name AR. They would see the name brand AR and equate this as a quality rifle.

So when AR prices are high, a self built AR might make sense. When prices are low that self built AR is not going to be a wise investment.

Now that I have PO'ed a lot of self builders, I will say that the majority of those that know their way around an AR, don' t build to save or make money. They build so they can end up with an AR exactly the way they want it, with the exact components they want to make it "their rifle". A self built AR with quality parts, often will far exceed the quality of the name brand manufactured models.

Bob
 
Last edited:
ARs are down some in price from prepanic prices. That said, I would caution anyone with the notion of buying an AR to save money.
 
I'm sold on the sport but what I really 'think' I want is a AR with 20" light weight slim profile barrel. Now that prices are trending down I might be able to find one for under $700.00 or so . I have been looking for a AR in that configuration and have found very few 20" lite profile guns period. All were over $1,200.00..So like a blind squirrel I'll keep looking and if I can't find what I want I'll just go with the sport and either put a 20" barrel on it or if I'm happy with the 16" keep it as is.
 
sgtsandman said:
I think I'm around $900 now and I haven't even bored out the 80% lower yet. Building a rifle doesn't necessarily save you money but you do get the exact one you want that way. :D
Click to expand...

Agreed. I've acquired the parts to resurrect a milsurp M16a1 upper and furniture on a semi auto lower receiver. I have more into this project than a new Sport, but it's what I want- as close to a Vietnam AR as I can get
 
Building from the ground up is fine if you know AR's inside and out. I believe it is a poor choice for a first AR, I have had quite a few brought over "because it don't run right". But right now you can buy a DPMS Sportical for 530$ on GB, + 50$ rebate so 480$ or you could get a S&W sport for 556$ ( at this price he is losing money). I can not buy the parts or the assembled gun at that price. Will they go lower, prob not much, I see many out there at cost already. I would not buy these for myself or shop since they do not have FA + dust cover, since no goes into buy a AR with out them, but if someone is offering it at a significantly decreased price they will sell. "MY" guns require them, but on a clean range in the sunshine you do not "need" them. Be Safe,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Generic AR 15 question. Handguards and barrel nuts
Replies
5
Views
1K
cd228
C
DixieRanger
S&W Viking Tactics .223 AR
Replies
2
Views
71
JRD
J
G
What a good sling to buy for my S&W AR-15?
Replies
19
Views
4K
cjcutter1
cjcutter1
S
Accuracy oh M&P 15 ll
Replies
0
Views
20
sportsman804
S
P
Recommendations for best AR-15 Muzzle Brake?
Replies
16
Views
4K
Racer X
R

Latest posts

Back
Top