Why in the world is the PSL so expensive?

[Kimio]

Just looking around and it's a cool looking rifle but I can't see the justification for them to be running into the $950-$1000 price range. Researching them the ones imported and assembled here are not exactly known for being of exceptionally high quality. Is it due to their increasing rareness? For about the same price you could get the VEPR which is a much higher quality rifle if I recall.

Am I missing something here?

 

[Mrgunsngear]

I agree 100%. I'd never buy one and I'm an AK fanboi... I'm sure it's just a supply and demand issue. Good to be a seller, bad to be a buyer in this case...

 

[5.56RifleGuy]

2 years ago you could have one for about $400

 

[Crow Hunter]

You haven't seen anything yet. Just wait until late September/early October....

 

[RT]

If you think a PSL is expensive, just try to find a real Russian SVD.

 

[FrankenMauser]

Is it due to their increasing rareness?

Nope.

It's due to the massive number of mall ninjas that are willing to fork over extra cash to get their "Dragunov" 'Sniper Rifle'. Shop owners prey upon the ignorance of said mall ninjas, and drive the price up.



Market price is whatever people are willing to pay for the firearm.
Last year, I had a very nice 1955 Tula SKS that I couldn't give away at $225 (I really needed the money). Yet, there were hundreds of P.O.S., beat-to-crap Romanians, Yugos, and late-production (crap) Norincos that were easily fetching $375-500. Sometimes, it's more about being the "hot" item, than it is about being a quality item...