The values and availability on gunbroker appear to have been a wild ride this last month but things appear to be re-stabilizing with quite a larger number of weapons up for sale now. The pricing is still a mixed bag.
I am wondering if this is due to fear of confiscation driving a lot of people to sell before they are taken.
There are some unusual/rare pieces and parts coming up for sale.
Credit card payments due from the buying orgy… and people willing to turn a few bucks.
It also depends on the make, model, etc.
Imported AK mags are drying up, yeap even the beat up surplus steel Eastern bloc ones. Who would have ever thought they see that. IF a new ban or EO comes to fruition first on the chopping block would be imported ammo, mags, and firearms. No more circle 10 “waffle” mags (which are sold out BTW at $40 a pop), Arsenal or Saigas, and “cheap” Russian steel cased ammo, GLOCK mags, SCAR rifles/mags, etc. will jump exponentially in price.
Econ 101.
In times of increased demand and subsequently higher prices, the natural reaction is increased supply.
Search the following on gunbroker:
Colt 6550 or green label or preban
KAC mk11 mod1 or KAC mk
Chantilly HK 91 and 93s
Preban aug
FAMAS
Sig 550
Sig 552
SPAS 15
These are not usually all on the market at the same time and generally held by long term collectors
It’s interesting for sure.
I have long-term friends with several “reference” non-NFA items in their collection… not the common post-2004 stuff we’re seeing a lot of right now but the really, really rare stuff that you just don’t see up for sale anymore. Strangely, almost all of them are selling. NIB HK-9x series, SP-89s, original SIG 550s and 551s, Valmet 7.62 x 39s, Galil ARs and ARMs, AUGs, Steyr Maadis, Yugos, Polytech milled, FN FAL G-Series, FNCs, Beretta AR-70s, NIB green label Colts and 3-digit SP1s, etc.
I saw three original SIG 551s sell in the past three weeks and there are currently three more for sale (that I know of). In the original fitted plastic cases. All different sellers. I think it went almost a year before I saw one up for sale prior to this craze.
And not just the semi’s but NFA items too. There are more rare pre-samples come for sale in the past few weeks—stuff you just NEVER see like an Ultimax Mk3, Johnson MG and RPD—along with a host of transferable 1919s, NIB Saco M60s, Colt M16s, C&R Thompsons, double pushpin HKs, etc. And they’re pulling top dollar which means there are just as many buyers.
These are guys (and FFL/SOTs) who were lifelong diehards, hanging out on every forum, going to every local show, showing up at every shoot, etc. Basically the lifers who really have enough money to be fine either way. But I think the media blitz combined with the overreaction and illogical approach our politicians are taking is scaring even the most dedicated.
Like mentioned above, carefully follow Sturm, Subguns and Gunbroker and you’ll see more now than we’ve seen since the '04 ban sunset.
It would be nice to win the Lottery this week. You could have your pick and assemble a reference collection in no time.
I think many “life long die-hards” are getting old and can see what’s coming down the pike for them… JMO… Ron
I know I am very very concerned as well. I’m in Kabul and my collection is back at home–possibly waiting to make me a felon on arrival. The implications in terms of Ex post facto legislation is something I really thought would never pass. Now I’m not sure. I have written personal letters and appeals to my reps in hopes that I can be one more voice of reason in the chaos of people yelling fire in the theater.
If no bans are passed but some legislation regarding background checks, etc, the market will get real soft by the fall.
I don’t see prices falling back down at all, over at GB, the average Colt 6920 appears to be commanding around $2200.00, with heavy bidding action. I saw just yesterday, a DPMS listed, with 14-minutes to go in the auction with 17 or 18 bids totaling over $1600.00, while get this, “the reserve hadn’t been met!” The buy it now price was over $2600.00!
I saw a Colt’s 6940LE carbine with no extras, listed at $3400.00, and it had two dozen bids going on it!
This is how bad things are…
I went into a large gun store last weekend to get an unwanted gun box to ship my M&P15-22 back to Smith for warranty work. To make sure the box I was picking up would fit…I carried the rifle (action open…no mag) into the store.
Before I could get to the people working there and get my box…I had about 4-5 people ask me if I wanted to sell the thing. After telling them why I was there…a few STILL wanted the rifle!
Its a friggin 22 toy…and it is going in for warranty work…and they STILL wanted to buy the damn thing!
Prices around here are stupid high.
Most stores only have bolt guns, revolvers and some expensive 1911s left. No mags except Wilson 1911 mags, too.
Its crazy and I really wish it would stop.
-brickboy240
Where I live in TN, right now, you cannot find any .22LR ammunition anywhere.
From going on and out of our larger stores and retail outlets here is what I am finding…
A: No black rifles at all (if there is one…it is the high end model and priced high)
B: No mags for black rifles at all
C: Very few auto pistols that hold more than 10 rounds (want a 1911 or 380…you will find it)
D: Almost no mags for auto pistols that hold over 10 rounds (if you have a 40SW pistol - you might find a mag 45 or 9mm forget it)
E: Bolt action rifle are around…but ones in 308 and 223 are thin
F: 9mm, 223 and 45ACP ammo is scarce
G: plenty of 40SW, 30-06, 243 and revolver caliber ammo
F: 22 ammo is only around in small boxes or the more expensive “match” ammo
Sad…but this is the state of our stores…how about your area?
-brickboy240
The same here in TN. Exactly.
There are two types of semi-auto .22LR rifles. It is the ACR look-a-like and the AK .22LR. No S&W, expect the M&P .22 pistol.
Cabela’s in my area has no .223/5.56 at all for weeks now. I mean the high end Black Hills stuff down to the cheap still cased Herters (their branded Tula ammo). They finally got some Herters (again their brand Russian ammo) 7.62x39 FMJ and SP in, no mags what so ever. All Wal-Mart stores are sold out of all military caliber ammo (rifle and pistol). Mags are nowhere to be found. Cheaper Than Dirt still has a wall full of ARs (POF, S&W, DPMS, Windham, Bushmaster, Colts, and Noveske’s in .300 Blackout but are sold out of any other semi-autos. The ARs they have are WAY over priced. I was surprised they had any left honestly. There ammo was hit and miss. They had a lot of 9mm but where almost out .223/5.56. The Academy stores are out of all military caliber ammo as well, found some 5.45x39 at one and bought it up at normal price, none of their stores have any semi-auto rifles or “high” capacity mags what so ever. I haven’t bothered with the mom and pop gun shops as they were overpriced before Barry’s re-election.
I know I got some old crappy AR mags I thought about selling while they are high and in demand.
Our local Sportsmans is really the only gig in town and its public knowledge that they get their gun and ammo shipments on thursdays. I shit you not 50 people were camped outside the store the night before like the crazies do on black friday for a handful of Bushmaster Carbon 15’s.
I just saw an auction at GB for a High Point carbine, it had about a dozen bids, it was just over $400.00, and the reserve had not been met!
A freaking zip gun, I could slap one together out of a landfill…
Yeap. All the good stuff is on the market right now with people trying to get money out of it.