Ramblings on AR-15s

[jaykellogg]

I don't see anything happening on a Federal level regarding modern sporting rifles. Sure they're scary looking and some in the gun community don't seem interested in defending them, but more and more people are getting them. Also the numbers just aren't there, there are fewer people murdered with all rifles in a year's time than with bare hands.

Of course some states are just anti gun and are more than happy to pass any anti gun legislation. This in spite of the fact that we had a 10 year ban on high cap magazines and statistics showed no difference.

 

[mc5aw]

Also the numbers just aren't there, there are fewer people murdered with all rifles in a year's time than with bare hands.

This in spite of the fact that we had a 10 year ban on high cap magazines and statistics showed no difference.

Don't confuse the gun hating groupies with facts, as they have no use for anything that impugns their credibility or agenda.

 

[2152hq]

I was in a LGS today. The folks there I've known for 25 years.
I asked them how the sales were going and they said still selling briskly. Mostly handguns now and ammo.
They said that they're starting to see some returns on the panic bought A/W from the past months.
It always happens I guess. When things calm down, those that never owned one before and bought one 'just because', start to see no reason for the expenditure and look to get some money back for other more immediate needs.
I'm sure many are quite surprised that their investment didn't hold the value they thought it might have.

I found a Remington Model 81 in 35Rem.
Bought some lead shot for $37/bag at another shop.
A good morning,,for me anyway.

 

[jkc]

My LGS has 5.56 ammo reloaded once fired brass with armor piercing bullets for $55/100 (5½¢ a round). Ammo is coming down a bit. I have about 2000 rounds that I got at 3.2¢.

I'm all in favor of innovations in education, and was an early experimental victim of "new math", but, according to my stodgy old math, $55/100 = $0.55/round. However, if you can refer me to a source of far-below-cost 5.56 ammo at 3.2 cents/round, I'll be, if not eternally, at least grateful for a very long time. Thanks!

 

[durango]

Cabela's in Kansas City had about 15 ARs behind the counter along with assorted 10/22s and 15-22s yesterday. Salesman we spoke with said that the buyers are focusing on ammo rather than rifles now that the panic is over.

 

[jaykellogg]

I'm all in favor of innovations in education, and was an early experimental victim of "new math", but, according to my stodgy old math, $55/100 = $0.55/round. However, if you can refer me to a source of far-below-cost 5.56 ammo at 3.2 cents/round, I'll be, if not eternally, at least grateful for a very long time. Thanks!

Sorry, passes a brain fart. I paid a little over $300/1000. With shipping it was 32¢ a round vs. 55¢ I saw on Thursday.

In January, I offered my AR-15A2 built on a PSA lower with a PSA CHF chrome lined barrel for $2200 with 2-30 round pmags and 1000 rounds of ammo. I anticipated someone wanting "the whole nine yards". Well, I got one inquiry and the fellow mentioned $2000. After a few days i replied and indicated $2000 would be satisfactory. The potential buyer then backed out. I did have several inquiries on the ammo only.

I think a lot of these were bought with credit cards and now people see the price slipping. Coupled with that the fact ammo is still expensive and hard to get and people want to sell.

 

[A2 Stippling]

Agree with most. I see rifles hanging on walls of my LGSs here in Illinois. After talking with friends in a couple stores, we all agree that consignment guns (and even ammo) is becoming more prevalent than ever. They are still selling handguns...but ammo is king.

I get notification messages on PMAGs every other day. Got enough of the plain non-windowed ones. Will still buy more this summer - but the prices I am seeing are almost the same as pre-panic. I'm an optimist...as long as there isn't another attack - things will go down.

However, like others, I will build my stocks - because history repeats itself.

 

[Art Doc]

A friend worked in a gun shop in Los Angeles during the Watts Riots. He said all the rich, white liberals lined up to buy any gun they could get and a box of ammo when they feared rampaging blacks would invade their homes. Between 6 and 12 months later every single gun was returned and sold back to the store. The owner gave them 50% of retail.

Stupid people who are unprepared to defend their homes and families will buy guns in a panic. Then being stupid, they will make themselves unprepared again and sell the evil guns that they don't want except in a perceived emergency.

I think you can count on ARs and unopened cans of ammo being offered in the coming months.

 

[Etemmu]

Have already seen a few AR's in stock for less than $1K (SW, Windham). I have been buying ammo all winter at normal price- just picked up a brick of .22 and 100 rnds of 45 Auto for $58. Even some of the sporting goods chains are selling at fair prices, so I don't think what some folks are paying for ammo is the new normal. Don't listen to the sales guy regarding this- he wants you to feel as though you are getting a deal as you're dropping the soap. I just hope we start seeing an increase in stock quantities so a guy/gal doesn't have to be in the right place at the right time to get what he/she wants

I, too, think we will be seeing an increase in "lightly used" AR's and semi-auto pistols by this fall-depending on the actions/rhetoric of the country's number one gun salesman (and his posse)

 

[GaryS]

All it will take to start another panic is a tragedy that involves an AR. Then the antis and politicians will start shrieking about black rifle bans again, and consumers will be in a frenzy.

Imagine if one of the Boston bombers owned and AR ... Not used, simply owned. The poop would have hit the prop immediately, and everyone from Joey 12 Gauge on down the anti-gun roster would be pushing to abolish the AR platform.

I disagree. I think the tide has turned. My son just bought a slightly used AR from a guy that upgraded to a Colt AR. My son is paying $900.00, including shipping for a carbine length AR with a High Standard lower and Palmetto upper and barrel. The seller is a long time shooter, so he didn't panic buy. The reason my son decided to buy an AR is that my daughter in law told him that she wants one in the house for protection. She watched what on in Boston a couple of weeks ago and decided that she isn't going to be alone in the house without a firearm. I don't think she's alone.

As to prices, the people who bought over the winter and early spring are either going to have to hold on to theirs or hope for another price spike. There are plenty of companies making and selling AR platform rifles displaying here at the NRA Meetings and none of them seem to be having problems getting components. The guy I by my lowers from is finally getting them in again and now he is working to meet back orders.

Ammunition is the big problem right now, and the manufacturers I talked to here in Houston tell me it could be up to another year before they are caught up. Even running three shifts, they can't keep up with demand. Nor can they get all the components they need right now. None of them are buying new equipment or hiring new employees for the production line because they know what will happen when supply catches up with demand. We're just going to have to wait it out for a while.

 

[jaykellogg]

I posted in another thread recently that PSA was offering a mid length "patrol rifle" It was an M4 style rifle, midlength gas system, Aimpoint PRO optic ($410 value) and BUIS. All this for $1199.