General thoughts about gun prices

[TheVazha]

[EWastigmatism]

[L84CABO]

If there are no guns, there should be an abundance of ammo.

Negative. There are an abundance of guns. Over 400 million in our country. That's what we know about. The fact that there may not be any guns in the stores to sell is irrelevant...because there are over 400 million guns in our country...that need to be fed. Add to this all the people that bought the guns when this whole mess started. A whole lot of those were first time gun buyers that had no ammo at all.

As for what will hit the shelf first, it's anyone's guess. However the two production processes are unrelated. The machines and labor used to produce guns are not the same machines and labor used to produce ammo. Both the gun Mfgs and the ammo Mfgs are trying to crank out as much product as they can. And stuff is hitting the shelves. But demand is still very high so it doesn't sit for very long.

Not buying guns because of lack of ammo is silly in my opinion. If there's something you want/need that you can find with a decent price that you're willing to pay, buy it. Ammo will come back and you'll have the gun for when it does.

Lastly, learn from this. This is not the first ammo/gun shortage we've seen although it may be your first time experiencing this. It also will not be the last. Stack high and deep when you are able.

[jyo]

Gun and ammo prices are currently sky high, but you guys already know this! It seems, every few years, we get these spikes in prices (same with real estate), so don't buy at the top of either market! The good thing is guns (and ammo) hold their prices and become more valuable over the years---very few things actually do this---most things (especially electronics) go down fast... So if you want a certain gun and can find it at a reasonable price---buy it! Ammo will come along, sooner or later...

[TheVazha]

Negative. There are an abundance of guns. Over 400 million in our country. That's what we know about. The fact that there may not be any guns in the stores to sell is irrelevant...because there are over 400 million guns in our country...that need to be fed. Add to this all the people that bought the guns when this whole mess started. A whole lot of those were first time gun buyers that had no ammo at all.

As for what will hit the shelf first, it's anyone's guess. However the two production processes are unrelated. The machines and labor used to produce guns are not the same machines and labor used to produce ammo. Both the gun Mfgs and the ammo Mfgs are trying to crank out as much product as they can. And stuff is hitting the shelves. But demand is still very high so it doesn't sit for very long.

Not buying guns because of lack of ammo is silly in my opinion. If there's something you want/need that you can find with a decent price that you're willing to pay, buy it. Ammo will come back and you'll have the gun for when it does.

Lastly, learn from this. This is not the first ammo/gun shortage we've seen although it may be your first time experiencing this. It also will not be the last. Stack high and deep when you are able.

Yeah that makes sense, very well said.

I went to Oak Tree last weekend for the first time since the Pandemic and it was empty. It was so nice, the few people that showed up stayed only for a little while and the best part it was all gun owners who brought their own ammo. Oak Tree has no ammo at all other than 22lr. It was really so nice to get out.

[sfe187]

Stack high and deep when you are able.

+100%

Peaks and valleys, plan ahead, treat ammo as a commodity. Few years back when out of state ammo had free shipping, tax free, and on-sale, people who had the funds stacked deep. During the recent "rush" $.15 cents a round went to $1 a round.

[CWL]

400 million is a number already used when Obama was Prez. That number has increased since covid & citywide rioting and estimates are as high as 470,000,000.

[newshooter650]

I think for both guns and ammo the best places this past year have been big boxers like Bass Pro and Sportsman's Warehouse. They have both consistently had firearms in stock (albeit at reduced levels compared to pre 2020) from what I had seen. I was able to get stuff I wanted at both stores.

The ammo situation has been trickier for sure but still these two seem to be the most consistent. They have also kept their pricing around MSRP so when stuff is in stock you don't have to deal with the price gouging.

I normally always would rather support an LGS but it's been rough this past year. Between the lines, reduced hours, low inventory, not answering the phone/updating websites and high prices I have found myself at BP and SW simply because I can order what I need on their websites (with the exception of ammo at SW) so that when I do go to the store I know they'll have what I need when i get there.

[Stumpfenhammer]

Spoke with the owner of a mid-tier ammunition company yesterday. His estimate for normal availability is mid-2022, with prices expected to be higher than pre-shortage for a couple years.

[Featureless]

I have a question. What is to prevent the corrupt Biden administration from contracting with ammunition manufacturers to purchase every round they produce at twice, three times, ten times the wholesale or even retail rate thereby cutting off the ammo supply from the American people?

Serious question. And not beyond the realm of a very real possibility.

[DDM4556]

I have a question. What is to prevent the corrupt Biden administration from contracting with ammunition manufacturers to purchase every round they produce at twice, three times, ten times the wholesale or even retail rate thereby cutting off the ammo supply from the American people?

Serious question. And not beyond the realm of a very real possibility.

This is a question of ethics. People seem to forget this. Just because someone makes you an offer, doesn't mean you are required to take it. This would be an ethical litmus test for ammo manufacturers. Get rich and screw millions of Americans, or maintain the same salaries and protect our 2nd amendment.

Reminds of the Blockbuster documentary... rev sharing. The movie studios chose profit over ethics and in one fell swoop, eliminated every mom and pop video store from existence. Most here will probably chime in with the same old pre-scripted free market speech. But that doesn't address the concept of morality and responsibility.

Unfortunately despite thousands of years of potential human evolution, simple short-sighted greed still drives most decisions in our country.

[Wheellock]

I have a question. What is to prevent the corrupt Biden administration from contracting with ammunition manufacturers to purchase every round they produce at twice, three times, ten times the wholesale or even retail rate thereby cutting off the ammo supply from the American people?

Serious question. And not beyond the realm of a very real possibility.

I think there are a few things in play that prevent this.

First, it is highly likely that large distributors/big box stores have long term contracts with ammo suppliers. This portion of production is not available to buy.

Second, for the govt to buy anything it has to come out of the budget somewhere. Then it has to be transported, warehoused, etc. How long could the govt keep up a program that was strictly to spite half the country? I don't think long. Midterms are next year and most of the swamp critters still remember (on account of them being older than dirt) what happened in the 1994 mid terms.

Third, if you favourite super rich commie simp wanted to put a dent in the production, they could have purchased Remington at auction last year and not reopened it. None of them did.

[tuolumnejim]

Well when I want a good laugh I just go browse the private handgun sale forum.

[Imageview]

Expensive is subjective. I picked up a shotgun from a FFL today, and bought a couple 50 round boxes of 22 for like 8 bucks a pop since they don't make any money off doing the paperwork on a ppt. That was ridiculous, but it was paying for my peace of mind not the ammo. Seems reasonable.

I bought a few boxes of 20 gauge shells the other day at 9$ a pop, so I have something to shoot out of it. Definitely more than I would have paid pre-pandemic, but still affordable enough that I won't mind burning it breaking clays. The enjoyment is worth more than the cost.

If I felt I needed something for my safety, the price I would be willing to pay would be much greater. I have plenty if I get to that point, but if I didn't there wouldn't be a price too high.

I want some 45 in brass case as my local indoor range doesn't allow steel or aluminum. I'm not gonna pay $.70+ per round, to me that is too much. So right now I'll do something else. Someone who has more disposable income than I do might disagree.

If I really wanted to save money I'd reload more, or shoot less. But I shoot what's comfortable for me to afford. A couple months ago I wanted a 1911, so I bought one I think is pretty cool and some ammo to shoot. Was it a wise purchase? I feel pretty good about it, other people might think it was a bit wasteful. It's my money, so my opinion is the only one that matters.

[dfens]

All i know is I went to my local dealer the other day since I was in the area anyway and it's been over a year since I stepped into any store. Man was I shocked how bad it is.

This place is also has a range as well. And even though I'm making more money at my job then I ever have prices for new guns and ammo is just too high that since I have enough of both I'm going to wait out this madness.

The store in question had plenty in the cases it looked almost normal before all this Covid nonsense but the prices were marked up so high over retail that unless I was a first time gun buyer and so desperate that I didn't care I was getting ripped off then I would make a gun purchase.

Price on pretty much any Glock they have every model and caliber you could want was $950.00 dollars usually at most they would charge $560-600.

Was listening to the sales people try to convince a first time buyer to buy something. He was looking at a Glock, then a XD which I think they were asking over $800.00 dollars. It's not even a XD-M. Giving him a sob story on how hard it is to get inventory and that's why prices are so high and it's going to be that way for even longer so either pay these prices today or later.

I'm if you already have a bedside gun or multiple guns then you are just part of the problem if you are paying these kinds of prices. There is a reason the cases were nearly full at these prices of course they don't move that quickly.

As for ammo they had plenty but at .80 cents a round for 9mm I'll just have to give up shooting a little longer. Can I afford it sure but at these prices find something else to fill my time.

Don't even get me started on classified section of this site. Members are pulling the same BS hoping to make a quick buck while they can if they find someone desperate enough.

Saw a Beretta M9A1 used that I've been maybe looking to add to the collection guy wants 1,200 bucks and I thought the dealer I went to was nuts when he wanted $999.99 for one. They usually go for just under 800 new.