Ideas about gun investment.

R

Right to bear arms

New member
I got an idea that I want to throw out to the forum. I already own many bolt action rifles that I am satisfied with. I really don't need any more for hunting or target practice. But I don't trust the U.S. dollar anymore and the bums that are controlling it. I have about $500 in investment money and wonder what type of bolt action rifle I should buy that would have a reasonable chance of holding it's value in 10 or 20 years. I tend to favor Remington 700's and Winchester 70"s but am open to any bolt action that would appreciate in value. Thank you for any consideration.
 
My (limited) experience is that there are very few guns that represent truly good investments. There are so many 700's and Win M-70's out there that unless it's a truly one-off rifle, it just won't appreciate at all. Ones in good shape might still go for 2/3 of the purchase price, but again, with the market so flooded by them it just isn't what you'd call an investment. Bottom line is that the guns that are likely to really be an investment cost much more than $500.

If you're looking for a very safe and stable way to invest $500 get a CD - you'll get a few bucks more when it matures. If you're looking to keep from losing $500, just don't spend it.
 
Think military surplus.

They pretty much always rise in value. Even some of the variations of the lowly Mosin Nagant have risen in value substantially over the last few years, despite many learned opinions that they would never do so ("they made a bajillion of them, they will always be dirt cheap!"). If I were to gamble on guns as an investment right now, I would be thinking K31 and other oddities.

But... It's a crapshoot. You don't really know what will rise in value when. And purposefully buying guns to resell later at a profit takes you into some potentially muddy water legally. Doesn't seem like the sort of thing the BATFE would get too bent out of shape about on a small scale by a person who is buying to improve their collection in addition to potential profits, but you never know... You did just post on the internet about the possibility of purchasing and selling guns for profit.

I am not your lawyer, and the above is not legal advice, just my dorky ponderings done entirely for entertainment.
 
Colt double action revolvers,,,

Don't buy beaters,,,
Buy only clean specimens.

They will only appreciate as the years go by.

I bought a very clean Trooper MK-III in .22 LR last year,,,
Everyone said I was foolish to pay $750 for it.

One just like it (without the box) went for $900 on gunbroker last month,,,
I've turned down several offers of $800 for it.

If I were going to invest in a gun for later profit,,,
It would definitely be a Colt DA revolver of some type.

Just a thought
 
I have about $500 in investment money and wonder what type of bolt action rifle I should buy that would have a reasonable chance of holding it's value in 10 or 20 years.
Click to expand...
If you are going to invest in firearms, buy investment quality firearms. otherwise, start a side business with the $500 as seed money, and take advantage of the tax deductions available to business owners and build an income stream in your spare time, switching to full time when your side income surpasses your regular job. That's how I did it, it works, and it is repeatable.

Much like cars that once you drive them off the lot they drop 10%-20% in value, once guns leave the store, they are used guns, worth 1/2-2/3 of what you paid for them.
Don't buy beaters,,,
Buy only clean specimens.

They will only appreciate as the years go by.
Click to expand...
That's not bad advice, if you want to trade your way up a bit.
If you're looking for a very safe and stable way to invest $500 get a CD - you'll get a few bucks more when it matures. If you're looking to keep from losing $500, just don't spend it
Click to expand...
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Hehehehehe
Mmmmph
Whoo! With advice like that, how could you miss?
Let's see now: $500, invested at 2.5% interest with real inflation at 6%, how long before I get rich????
 
Rifles that will hold their value in 10-20 years:

Polytech underfolder AK - milled or stamped receiver w/bayo
FN FAL
Galil import
Stainless Ruger Mini-14; preferably one of the older bright stainless models. (laugh now.....cry later:D)
FN SCAR (especially in .308)
Sig 556
PTR-91 (if you buy it used at a fair price)
DSA FAL para (again look for a good price on a used one)
 
I don't think you are going to find many investment quality guns at $500.00.

I will play Sussie Oursman and advise you to pay off any debt you may have first with your $500.00. If you have no debt then consider precious metals or utility stock.

You might even be better off selling some of your guns if they are excess to your pleasure and invest the funds.

Do not confuse your toys with investments. Generally speaking they are separate categories of Life's enjoyment.

I have hundreds of antique clocks and pocket watches along with dozens of various firearms. I am not foolish enough to consider any of them as investments. When I die, they will bring some income to my estate. I just have to consider them as a pleasure to me while I am living; therefore their value is my joy.
 
I aim for 25% appreciation on any give purchase.

The best way to do this seems to be to keep an eye out at the pawn shop in January/february (when people are paying off their christmas bills). Transfer ownership in September/October (hunting season - when values peak!)

I also keep an eye out for estate sales, and let elderly friends know that I buy firearms.

Good profit opportunities exist with unusual items that are less documented (e.g. - a Sporterized Springfield 1903).

That said - it's downright hard to enjoy a profitable gun buying business - with all the regulation, as well as the wide availability of information. You might be better off buying something else (gold!)
 
Along the same lines as pawn shops and CD's either you have to get it for less than it's worth or the gun has to appreciate faster than inflation in order to come out ahead. Paying $1000 and having it worth $1000 in 10 years will be a loss for you in the end.
 
the SKS is a prime example of a gun you could grab for 150 bucks a while back, now its tough to get one for 350. if i was looking into a solid investment id buy silver/gold....look at the morgan silver dollars and how fast they have gone up
 
Ammo is a better investment. $500 in milsup 9mm Luger or something similar makes more sense to me. Better yet, a reloading kit, brass, powder, bullets and primers would be like a owning the mint given a total meltdown of faith in the dollar and other currencies.
 
If I was looking for an investment right now, it wouldn't be a bolt action rifle. I would go for silver or gold as both seem to be skyrocketing.

I have a few guns that have proven to be good investments but that is because I bought them many years and have kept them in good condition. However, if you take out the inflation factor over 20 or 30 years, they still haven't appreciated that much on their own.

As someone else said, unless you find some really "good buys" right now, I don't think there is much profit to made in buying/selling firearms.
 
Should have bought gold when it was under $1000.00 an ounce. The way things are going it may be a good investment at $1600.00. If they made the dollar bigger and softer you could use it for TP .
 
Sage advice from all of you. Incidentally I already have a stock portfolio and my debts are paid off. You might make 1% on a good CD now. Bonds are in the tank and The market might lose 2000 points next week. The only hard items I have from 30 years ago are some fine Remingtons and Winchesters that I have kept in pristine condition... Example: 9422XTR paid 159$ now worth 600-900$ Remington classic 700 .350 magnum. Pd. 250$ now worth 600-900$ They have kept their value. I don't want to get rich . I just want to have a decent commodity that will keep pace with time and inflation. The forum members who suggested hard to find ammo and relatively cheap military surplus might be on to something. I can remember when local gun shops were selling crates full of SKS's for $49 per. What if I upped my contribution amount to $1000, any better suggestions?
 
I have about $500 in investment money and wonder what type of bolt action rifle I should buy that would have a reasonable chance of holding it's value in 10 or 20 years.
Click to expand...

None. Guns, generally speaking, aren't good investments and I'd guess that is even more true for $500 guns.
 
should've invested in gold a couple years back...

still might be worth looking into, but who knows when it'll come back down again..

guns are a terrible idea...just like cars. unless you're spending $100k+, you're not gonna make any significant profit, if you make any at all..
 
If you watch out for bargains you can do quite well. I've purchased guns for $200 on a Friday and sold them for $350 the next morning at a gun show on several occasions. There are over 60 guns in my safes and all but 3-4 were purchased used within the last 10-30 years. All of them would sell quickly for 2-3X what I paid for them.

I buy/sell/trade 10-12 guns a year and haven't pulled a dime out of my pocket to purchase anything in years. I watch for bargains, guys who need rent money right now etc. and buy only at bargain prices. I've got guns I have no intention of ever shooting or even buying ammo for. They are put up to sell at a profit in the future or to use to trade for something I want.

I decided to treat myself to a Kimber 84M 3 years ago. I took 4 guns to my LGS and had them put up on consignment. 3 months later I had $2500 in my pocket. Paid $1,100 for the Kimber and put the rest in the bank. I got the Kimber basically for free since I only had about $1100 or so actually invested in the guns I sold. I only have about $350 invested in my custom Winchester 70, including the $520 McMillan stock by doing the same thing.

I've found that guns in the $300-$500 range works well. Not many folks have $1,000 to spend on a gun even if it is a steal at that price. Never buy new if you ever want to get your money back. Even with a quality new gun it could take 10 years or more to break even. There is an initial depreciation, then the price usually begins to increase again. If you shop carefully and buy used you should NEVER lose money and can quickly make money.


Stick with the major brands. While Savage, Mossberg, Taurus, Henry etc. may function just fine, they will never appreciate in value like a Remington, Winchester, Marlin, or S&W.
 
should have bought more stock in AutoZone now around $300/share. Paid $35/share 10 years ago. guns are a terrible investment, everyone gets lucky every once in a while though.
 
I like your idea. If buying used, look for deals and clean them up. If buying new, don't shoot them and save the box and brochures etc. If you are looking for a specific model, how about one of the cz .22's that are being discontinued.
 
Typically if you pay 500.00 now you might get your 500.00 back in about ten years after it has been discontinued or something. Typically not a good investment opportunity. That being said, at least you didn't lose the money! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top