Handgun backlog-delays...question

F

Famas

New member
I came across an article last week about a recent frenzy of gun purchases over the past few months. The article alluded to the fact that manufacturers were unable to keep with the pace of sales/demand that a huge back order and wait period is now required from some manufacturers as they struggle to meet demand.

I was wondering if anyone here might know of what kind of backlog is expected and how long it might be for some manufacturers to meet current and upcoming demand. Personally, I'm interested in a Colt Mustang Pocketlite in .380. Is Colt also experiencing a backjam? I wouldn't mind ordering one, even if it meant waiting for 2-3 months...but is it possible this backlog could have me waiting longer...perhaps a year or more? I also read that Ruger was having to play catch-up with demand.

Your thoughts? Thank you.
 
I don't think anyone knows what is going to happen in the next 12-18 month. Not every backlog comes from increased demand either, sometimes certain guns are only produced one batch a year.

My advice is don't buy it now if you don't have the money. But if you are financially able, why not place the order and have some peace of mind? I've been building up a stockpile of powder and primers with the very same concern in mind. It's not breaking my bank to be sitting on some extra gun stuff right now so I'll take the peace of mind.
 
Not to be redeundant as I mentioned this in a different thread but it's still applicable here as well--An example of this 'backlog' would be Ruger's announcement last week that they have stopped accepting any "new" orders for one entire year. To me, that speaks volumes about the industry's current state of mind so to speak as we approach the Fall general election.

-Cheers
 
Does not make sense.

Suspect President stays the same (bit of politiks but my brother has given up and never thought I would see that)

Senate may shift and if it does or does not, nothing is going through it, let alone the house.

Mass hysteria? Administration has made no moves in that direction. I think its a mostly dead issue other than the occasionally spike which by definition goes right back down.
 
What ever happens, I wouldn't expect any major efforts that make it easy to rally NRA, GOA, etc. members. They will exploit more subtle things that don't require congress...added bureaucracy, EO's, more paperwork, taxes, fees, regulations, exploiting technicalities, EPA regs on lead, etc.
 
What I've seen lately is that high demand models(and the Mustang will be one of those) are hard to get unless one is willing to pay MSRP or above. I waited 3 months for my LGS to get me a 637 for a good price. Only place that had them local was Gander Mountain and they wanted $80 more($449 compared to $370). Davidsons was out(and still is) and altho Bud's had them, by the time I paid the transfer fee it woulda been more than what I did finally pay. My advice is if there's one you want at the price you want, get it. If there's not, be prepared to wait.
 
The situation is not limited to the gun industry. If Ford, say, is making all the F150's it can with the standard engine, it is going to be hard to get one with a special order engine. If they think the demand is temporary, they are not going to tool up another line to meet the additional demand, they will just stop taking orders. Happens all the time.

Jim
 
I was told yesterday by someone at an LGS that new orders to Smith & Wesson are not shipping until early to mid 2013 for what thats worth.
 
supply and demand vary too much by mfg ...and by model within the mfg ..to make any comments on trends...

If you want the gun ...you should order it, in my view.
 
If that's true about S&W then what I heard from a buyer that said they're back ordered 350%, whatever that means, is on the mark. I had a Sigma 40 on back order (through the range's distributors) but from what I found out lately I told my RO on phone that it's gonna be a long wait. Since I already paid for it I asked if I can put it toward another gun. He came up with a Sig Sauer P250c 40sw that he can put away for me.

I looked it up on the net and watched Youtubes and I was impressed so I called him back and told him I want it.

Today I went to the range to shoot my Sigma 9 (I'm glad I got it) and he showed me the Sig. It felt great in my hand and looked well made, now I can't wait for Sat to pay off the balance ($103) and shoot for free. I already got the ammo couple of weeks ago for the occasion.
 
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I would wait if I were you. The mustang has less then ten rounds so it wouldn't be effected by any type of ban and your not planning on purchasing multiple firearms which could also be effect if some type of new law were enacted. Probably nothing will happen but if something does it won't be until 2013. But...

The Pres has not done a ban in his first term but that could change with his last term! Mitt, if he were to be elected, has a bad track record in MASS where he was the Gov. (when the Brady bill expired he enacted a State Law that was more severe.) With all of this in mind I finally got out and bought an AR that I have been putting off.
 
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To me, that speaks volumes about the industry's current state of mind so to speak as we approach the Fall general election.
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The media wants to make it look like we're seeing a sudden boom in business, and they're trying to tie it to fear of the election, but that isn't true.

Sales have been on a steady upward climb since 2009. We all expected a drop-off in demand once the election panic died down, but we were all pleasantly surprised to see quite the opposite happen.

Despite what the news claims, folks are just buying guns (and shooting, and taking classes) at record numbers, and they're not doing it over some sort of political hand-wringing. They're just getting into the hobby, which is great.
 
Three things made me buy a gun.

One, local gang activity increasing - personal defense.
Two, Texas border troubles
Three, Government regulations.

I took the course to get a license, only to learn that I don't need one in Texas, as long as I don't carry in public.

I bought one gun to learn, another for a backup, another for a range gun, then another for fun. I'm holding at seven.
 
Tom Servo

The media wants to make it look like we're seeing a sudden boom in business, and they're trying to tie it to fear of the election, but that isn't true.

Sales have been on a steady upward climb since 2009. We all expected a drop-off in demand once the election panic died down, but we were all pleasantly surprised to see quite the opposite happen.

Despite what the news claims, folks are just buying guns (and shooting, and taking classes) at record numbers, and they're not doing it over some sort of political hand-wringing. They're just getting into the hobby, which is great.
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Tom,

I sure hope you are correct.

-Cheers
 
Tom, I sure hope you are correct.
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It appears that I am. For now. I haven't been hearing much political invective lately, but I'm under no illusion that things are going to get really hairy in a few months.

My point is that, for the last couple of years, the upward trend was largely unrelated to politics. When we see a big rush around election time, it will be a separate phenomenon.
 
Despite what the news claims, folks are just buying guns (and shooting, and taking classes) at record numbers, and they're not doing it over some sort of political hand-wringing. They're just getting into the hobby, which is great.
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+1. My observation is that many previous gun owners have purchased additional guns due to political hand-wringing; however, politics does not seem to be a big factor to most first-time gun buyers, who make up a large percentage of the added sales volume.

I attribute this to an increasing perception amongst the general public that owning guns and going shooting are socially acceptable activities. A strong part of this is the perception that it's OK for women to take part in traditionally male-dominated activities such as shooting. I also think we're seeing a generational shift; a steadily increasing number of Americans do not remember the massive social unrest and rising crime of the 1930s and 1960s, and don't feel that it's beneficial to disarm large swaths of the population for the greater good. (I don't necessarily think of this issue in strictly political Left vs. Right terms; these are general opinions that cross political boundaries.)
 
I'll echo Tom Servo's comments- the big demand for guns isn't so much a political thing, although one is likely to start up soon (if not already doing so). It's just been very heavy volume for quite some time now, and much of it is new shooters.

While we here tend to be real enthusiasts with rather large collections (compared to the average gun owner), there aren't enough of us to cause this kind of sustained buying. Well, not unless some of you hit the lottery and are holding out on us. :D

I haven't been into shooting all that long- right at about 9 years. When I began, being into guns was a weird thing. Now, EVERYBODY seems to be into guns or at least is favorably disposed towards gun owners. The "latent" owners have become enthusiasts, and the person who used to be neutral now seems to have a CCW permit and a couple handguns and is thinking about an AR-15. Gun shows used to be somewhat busy, now they're so packed they're darn near unnavigable... and that's with three to four times as many shows per year in this area.

Even very forward thinking companies can't keep up with that kind of demand... I'm not so sure it's a conservative business plan refusing to tool up for temporary demand, but just a limit to what they can get capitalized and done. I suspect the generally reported lowering of quality control standards at many companies to be a symptom of this- the emphasis is on getting product out the doors.
 
....the last couple of years, the upward trend was largely unrelated to politics. When we see a big rush around election time, it will be a separate phenomenon.
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Also +1.

FWIW I'm not going to participate in any panic buying of additional guns after the election. I am going to stock up on .22LR ammo and component bullets and small pistol primers several months before the election. This is not due to any political hand-wringing on my part; it's due to a near-critical personal shortage of these items in late 2009 caused by panic buying by others. :mad:
 
Personally, I'm not sure if it's political or not, although I believe there is some merit to the political argument. This is panic buying, much like what happens at the gas stations and grocery stores during massive storms or projected fear of a SHTF situation. I do firmly believe, however, that there is a surge in gun owning in this country, which is awesome, and that's probably why I can't get any more cheap ammo at the big boxes because they are out of stock in everything I want/need. I'm still supporting my local gun shops/ranges because they seem to be the only ones that can hold stock in ammo. The internet has proven fruitful for all of my firearm purchases as of late. Not seeing any shortage of what I want online at the prices I want to pay. This kind of phenomenon affects people in different ways. Ammo is my problem, guns are not.
 
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