How long did it take gun prices to go down after 2008?

M

Mazatzal

Inactive
Sorry this has to be my first post but I am truly curious. THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL POST.

I know some fervor caused gun prices to go up considerably in 2008/09, and I have already seen a marked increase in gun prices at my LGS and online. I was looking to purchase a rifle in the not too distant future but would like to wait until prices have gone back down a bit. So for those of you who were following gun prices back then how long did it take for prices to return to more normal levels? (IE how long will I have to wait to get more bang for my buck?)

Thanks for all the informed answers and I'm happy to be on what appears to be a truly quality forum! :)

Cheers. Mazatzal.
 
That's not an easy question to answer. A lot depended upon the type of gun. The most dramatic upward swing was in the price of AR-15 style rifles and AK-47 style rifles. It probably took a full year for prices to start going back down, IIRC. Someone else with a better memory may chime in on this.

The recent upswing in the price of many guns may not be effected by the election cycle very much. Instead, IMO, the increased costs of production are the main culprit. In particular, metal is a commodity which has a worldwide market and a weakened dollar means higher costs for iron and other metals. Thus, the price of mostly steel guns would go higher than guns made mostly from polymers. Gun manufacturers also see across the board increases due to higher gasoline costs, just like most other businesses.
 
Yup, depended on the gun in question. Black rifles & hi-cap anything shot to the moon and fell back to earth early last year. There are still some great deals out there still, although it does appear they are slowly creeping up. The used market tanked in 2010 due to the economy and the droves of people unloading their barely used toys. That market started to recover late last year. Those were my observations, YMMV.
 
AK varients never went down to pre 2008 prices. They all stayed up a couple hundred.
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That's more a factor of increasingly limited supply than anything to do with the political climate.

Among other categories, the price increases were due to two factors: short supply and gouging. Dealers were justified for the first few months of 2009 in raising prices 5-10% because they were having to get their supply from outside normal channels, and were also paying a premium.

However, that doesn't explain (or justify) the >100% increases I saw on many guns, from many dealers.

This thread was moved to General from Law & Civil Rights. Despite the change in venue, we are not discussing general election politics.
 
Prices are not coming down, period. They dropped a bit when the frenzy abated in 2009, but kept steady since. Demand is strong for 3 years now, and growing. Find a good deal and take it.
 
However, that doesn't explain (or justify) the >100% increases I saw on many guns, from many dealers.
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sure.

Prices never went all the way back down, but part of that is I think there is still increased demand. If you look at NIC numbers a new record is set almost every month.


A lot of people got into making AR lowers. In January 2010 you could get ARs at a pretty good price. At least real close to pre-2008 prices. It was only for a few months as producers sold off their overstock and adjusted production.

I expect it will take about the same period of time, so about 2014. I don't think things will be as bad and may be shorter though.

I still have a solid years supply of 22lr and a few thousand pellets if I get desperate.
I have a friend who is still trying to sell three stripped lowers he paid big money for in 2008.
 
Sounds like everyone has pretty well nailed it down. I asked a factory rep about his co. making a 10 auto, he just gave me funny look and said why,we can't keep up with the orders we have now.
If someone were of a business mind with some money to invest, a decent quality, reasonably priced semi auto would keep your lines running 24 - 7.
 
Prices never went all the way back down, but part of that is I think there is still increased demand.
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Prices jump a hair every January, usually a percent or so. Inflation and all. Current prices seem to be consistent with that.
 
Second hand .38 Special revolvers are a great buy. Colt, Smith & Wesson, Ruger. You can find all of them and prices are very reasonable. Learn to inspect a second hand revolver and then load either with modern 38 Spl hollow point (from any reputable ammo maker) or +P 38 Spl hollow points (if your revolver is so rated) and you're good to go. If you find a gently used 357 magnum you can go with either magnums or the 38 Spl +P+. I still have a couple boxes of the Winchester 110 grain Semi Jacketed Hollow Point +P+. the so-called "Treasury Load". I know it's obsolete.

Everybody wants black tactical hi-cap something or another. Prices are idiotic on those items. But second hand pump action riot guns and 38 Spl revolvers (in good shape mind you) just don't have the heat. Which means they don't have the prices.

I got my tacti-cool guns several years ago. I'm good.

Anyway just my observation and personal experience. I have no doubt that the younger members will put me in the Dinosaur category and promptly ignore me. And rightfully so. :rolleyes:
 
Prices never came down n my area. I used to by a gun every month or two for a few years until prices got way out of control. I buy mostly used firearms anymore and their prices went to nearly as much as a new gun where I live. I don't follow new gun prices too much, so, I can't comment on that.
 
I have no doubt that the younger members will put me in the Dinosaur category and promptly ignore me.
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Meh, let's raise our withered pterodactyl hands in a show of solidarity! :)

Now that you mention it, I'm not seeing the quantity or quality of used revolovers that I did before 2008. I collect S&W K-Frames, and it used to be a buyer's market. Nowadays, I rarely see any, and prices are ludicrous. The secondary market did change three years back, and it appears to be frozen there.
 
It's always dependent on regions isn't it? Here in Idaho the second-hand .38 revolver market is pretty healthy. Seems like everyone in my state just wants auto-loaders, 5 shot scandiums and AR-15 variants. The Wal-Mart in my city is now selling AR-15 rifles. Don't know the manufacturer.

But it does vary from area to area I suppose.
 
Among other categories, the price increases were due to two factors: short supply and gouging. Dealers were justified for the first few months of 2009 in raising prices 5-10% because they were having to get their supply from outside normal channels, and were also paying a premium.
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NO such thing as price gouging on non-essential items like guns. If a buyer is WILLING to pay the asking price asked, then there is no gouging going on.

Some folks are willing to pay a higher price for intangibles like newness, exclusivity, rarity, panic, or an abundance of disposable income.

That's no different than going to the ballpark and paying $6 for a hot dog and $7 for a Budweiser - if you WILLINGLY pay the price, it is not gouging; it is called free market enterprising
 
Prices went down?

I didn't realize that!:eek:

I didn't see any real prices go down. What I have seen is a drop in the hyper inflated panic prices some people were asking.

Our money isn't worth as much as it was exactly how much its worth changes almost daily, it seems, these days. Especially if you go by the gas costs.
 
I have a K-22 outdoorsman built in the early 1930s. Good condition for it's age. I see them on Gunbroker for around $1500. I can't decide whether to sell. I think 1500 is too high by about 500..

Oh well, it's a fun gun to play with :cool:
 
I agree about prices not going down. A part of the fun (I mean research) of purchasing a new gun is looking into their price escalation over time. I always go back 2 to 3 years and check what they were selling for and then look at what the gun is selling for used. Every gun I own shows a price escalation over two or more years.

This is how I justify my purchases to my wife. "Honey, I'm only trying to protect us with good investments.":D
 
The only prices I saw drop were the ones asked by gun show folks for complete rifles during the peak of the panic- guys asking $1500+ for regular Bushmasters with no takers. When supply caught up and demand dropped, you didn't see any of that.

All other prices have been trending upwards. Even those aforementioned .38spl revolvers have gone way up... I see people saying K frames are available for $200, and it seems like those folks are stuck in 2004. I'm not seeing them for much less than $350-400 when available. Seems word has gotten out that those are good guns to get.
 
If you're looking for an AR, AK, or other semi-auto tacti-cool rifle, I wouldn't be expect prices to drop much maybe 5-10%, but even that may be wishful thinking. If it was me, I would find a good local gun shop that has fair prices and a good lay-a-way policy and just pay it off as you can. Heck, I wouldn't own hardly anything if it wasn't for lay-a-way.
 
Prices went down?
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I didn't realize that they did, nor would I expect them to go down much after the next election.

If a manufacturer finds that their product is still selling despite some price increases, why would they decide to lower their prices? Since the price of firearms is somewhat an artificial construct beyond the cost of materials and labor, why not charge what the market will bear?
 
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