What was it like from 1994-2000?

[ChrisC]

That was a time when we didn't have the internet and everyone running around making assumptions about what has happened or what was going to happen. So there was no panic buying bs like today.

The internet is what has destroyed America!

[challenger]

How about before 94? I turned 18 in '90 and bought my first Colt AR-15 for $550! First AK was a Mac 90 on sale for $139. LA gun show purchases:Uzi pistol for $250, M1 carbine $80, SPAS 12 $500 (stupidly sold it), case of 7.62x39mm $65. Don't remember what I paid for the others but it was a great time for gun buys. If you paid more than $10 for AR or AK 30 rounds mags you paid way too much. I think there was a 15 day wait for a handgun but I remember walking out without a wait for long guns.

[blazeaglory]

Hell yeah!!

1996-1999...B & B in Westminster had trunks full of Chinese standard AK mags for $5 with German mags for $9...I thought "$9"?? Wtf? Im not paying $9 for a magazine...lol

Import Russian 7.62x39 was $2 for 20...Boxes and boxes as far as the eyes could see...You could smell the cosmoline before you even opened the door to go inside.

I remember Kmart (yes Kmart) had SKS for $79 and most gun shops had Mini-14's on the "used" rack for less than $150...****, every LGS had SKS for under $100 and back then I used to think, "Why would I want that old wooden gun?" Oh I could kick myself in my butt...CASH AND CARRY

The cold war was good for something at least...

[challenger]

Hell yeah!!

Import Russian 7.62x39 was $2 for 20...Boxes and boxes as far as the eyes could see...You could smell the cosmoline before you even opened the door to go inside.

The cold war was good for something at least...

Didn't Turners sell that for $.79? I thought I saw it for $.99 up until about 2002.

[kellyhachihachi]

My dad said he had an M16 (maybe just an AR? never really asked) or something waaay back in the day and my uncle had a full auto AK all done up, but they both sold them due to the ban, what a bummer :\

Hope I wont have to sell mine and i can just give them to my future kids (or at least let them shoot them) when i have them

[blazeaglory]

Didn't Turners sell that for $.79? I thought I saw it for $.99 up until about 2002.

Maybe. I never went into Turners back then...lol I was young and wet behind the ears still.

B & B wasnt the cheapest, but to this day for some reason, its my favorite.

I do remember the Russian import was not in boxes, it was wrapped in paper and were loaded in green casings, if that offers any clues as to what brand it was.

[blazeaglory]

My dad said he had an M16 (maybe just an AR? never really asked) or something waaay back in the day and my uncle had a full auto AK all done up, but they both sold them due to the ban, what a bummer :\

Hope I wont have to sell mine and i can just give them to my future kids (or at least let them shoot them) when i have them

You will always be able to give them to your future kids...I see a treasure hunt in your kids future

[skilletboy]

What I remember back then was the media was far less vicious, vindictive, and so clearly less biased. That seemed more like a true debate and this is just a lecture and nothing but insane nonsense.

[blazeaglory]

What I remember back then was the media was far less vicious, vindictive, and so clearly less biased. That seemed more like a true debate and this is just a lecture and nothing but insane nonsense.

I agree. This is how it works though. Each new generation of politician gets more viscous and their "absolute power" begins to corrupt them absolutely...Especially when you have a president who promotes such actions...

[Divernhunter]

I did not buy any "black guns" because I was not interested in them. I did buy a SKS for $79.
I shot just as much as I wanted. Sometimes at a reange and sometimes at a friends place.
I did buy mags for pistols and rifles I might want in the future as well as the ones I owned then. Prices were lower but so were wages. There was not all the BS red tape there is now.
I could(should) have bought a Barret semi-auto 50bmg for $2000 at the time.
Mil surplus guns(bolt action) were a dime a dozen. Bought an all original 30-40Krag for $45. Buy long guns and walk out of the store with them.

[hellayella]

I have had the good fortune to grow up shooting since I was 12. I did most of my early collecting from 1985 through 1988. Those were the days when you could walk into a Turners and pick up an Uzi and walk out with 32 round mags. I purchased many of my now AW's with newspaper route money including my HK93 ($750.00) .223 rounds were running about $3.00 for 20 rounds. Of course I still thought they were expensive back then.

I shot mostly at Lytle Canyon. In THOSE days, there was no range - only chaos. The road ended and the war zone started. You'd find a spot by pulling over through the brush up against the hillside(s) and go at it. EVERYTHING was out there. Old cars, washing machines, TV's etc. people would bring anything to shoot. Which they did - and then left it there. The shotgun and old shell casings were so thick that you'd scarcely walk on dirt in many places.

Of course many gang members would go up to try out their new AK's (about $350.00 BTW) with the big curved banana mags of course. And what would a day at the range be w/o a case or two of beer which they would also bring in quantity. Things could get sketchy. In fact I can remember one time shooting at targets up against the hillside when a large pick up came down the road with a big old dude in the back with a FA belt fed M-60 blasting away at our targets (with us between him and the targets). I can still remember how it felt to have myself and three other friends each with one of my AW's and full 30 round mags feeling completely outgunned by one guy with this FA. On the bright side, the cops NEVER went up there. No range master telling you you're shooting too fast or whatever. No ammo checks - steel case was the order of the day. No range fees and no rules. While at times it could be scary, we felt free - if only for the briefest of moments - before heading back to the 15 and "civilization".

I shot over at the San Georginio Canyon area in the San Berdo county..

[hellayella]

I had Norinco silver boxes, bought a NHM91, 2 MAK90s and a SKS...all AKs sold and SKS was given early 2012 to my gf's son...after I found out it was a TULA 1954 I was kicking myself for giving a NIB collectible for free

[smak28]

I started collecting in the early 90s and was able to buy multiple guns at a time. Ammo was cheap and plentiful. For example, 9mm case of 1k was about $120. Colt python nickel snub was $635 & Colt King Cobra was $350. Both were in my hands and I chose just the King Cobra rather than both. There were 3 times where I purchased 2 guns at once and unfortunately that wasn't one of them.

[CAL.BAR]

I can remember back in 1987, the only thing we had to complain about was that we couldn't get NFA items (HAH)
good times........

[NikePenguin]

During the AWB.

What was it like during the 90s, What guns did you buy, how many times did you go shooting, what gun was considered cool during that period?

This was all before I didnt own guns and wasnt aware of it.

Since you are in San Jose, I'll give you my experience in San Jose during that period.

Sporters (ARs) were not nearly as common as they are now. My friend and I were frequently the only ones shooting Sporters when we went to the Los Altos range. I paid $100 (!) for a Colt scope mount for my Colt Competition HBar (flattop) at the gunshow in San Mateo (was just as big a show as CP). Only ONE vendor had that item and "AR" accessories were non-existent compared to today.

Sportsmen's Supply on Camden always had WWB ammo in stock: 9mm $7-8, 5.56 $3-4, 357 $10-12

The Reed's shooting range was National Shooting Club and not owned by Reed's. Reed's in East SJ had a decent gun section although the counter people were not always the friendliest or most helpful (some things just never change in the gun world!). Thier annual parking lot sale was pretty awesome though.