Gun show observation...

[SR40c]

Went to the latest gun show last night. First thing I noticed was there were more ARs available than there were the past couple months. Also, the prices are beginning to drop. Found prices ranging from the high gouging level down to a grand. Last month, I couldn't find an AR under $1400 at the local shows. The rifle I have was about a grand before Sandy Hook. Last month, that same model was $1900-$2100, last night they were back down to $1300.

Seems the AK market has not seen the same drop. Still way down in availability and the prices are still up there. However, to be honest, I wasn't really paying as much attention to AKs until recently, I may not have a reliable perspective. In short, I am still seeing standard AKs ranging from $850 to $1300.

There were a ton of magazines available for ARs, AKs, and SKS rifles. Yes, 30 rounders. Bad news is, they are still real high priced. MAGPULs still at $50 a pop. Ammunition availability is better for most things, prices are not. .223 was still a no show. The little bit of 5.56 that was there was still way over priced.

 

[G26]

That's encouraging news. Things will be a lot better once the ammo situation calms down.

 

[dogshawred]

It will take more time to pass and less panic buyers to really make a difference, but this too shall pass.

 

[Courtney.cj.chen]

What do you guys think about the thermold brand 30 rd ar mags. They sell at classic firearms for $15. Aren't metal tho. I bought 10. They work great. But I don't shoot enough to know. So of u who have owned and use them long enough...

Btw- they're still being sold for $15 apiece on the site. I was sort of upset when I saw a fellow St. Louisan sell 20rd thermolds "brand new" for $30 on armslist- I was pretty sure I knew exactly where he had gotten them from n why they were new.

On my way to st Charles gun show. 500 table show. I'll post what price points I find.

 

[tricolordad]

What do you guys think about the thermold brand 30 rd ar mags. They sell at classic firearms for $15. Aren't metal tho. I bought 10. They work great. But I don't shoot enough to know. So of u who have owned and use them long enough...

Btw- they're still being sold for $15 apiece on the site. I was sort of upset when I saw a fellow St. Louisan sell 20rd thermolds "brand new" for $30 on armslist- I was pretty sure I knew exactly where he had gotten them from n why they were new.

If you're not going to put them to hard use (ie hunting, hiking trips) and aren't worried about them being damaged, I wouldn't worry too much.

When I hunt, I use metal. When I hike, I take both, but the mags I keep on my belt are metal DPMS.

 

[Courtney.cj.chen]

Not sure if last one got posted-

So if I'm walking around a wooded compound w gun slinged over my back... Banging into the trees n branches, going thru tight areas- isnt a good scenario for it? Or are you speaking more of the risk of the magazine not feeding the gun at a very opportune moment- like hunting or defense.

 

[cripps72]

Here at the shop in IL i work at we have colt light model ar for 1000 and bushmaster selling at 950 both new got a fair amount of 556 ammo actually have a fair amount of ammo all but .22. And have used metal ar mags we sell at 25 a piece along with some new.

 

[NCIC105]

Great news...I have been thinking about getting an AR-10 but was holding out until they were more reasonable...I felt that eventually they would come back down as the market has to get flooded at some point.

I have about 15 of the 30 round thermo mold mags for the AR-15..Never had any issues with them...I unload (shoot) them about every six months. Never had an issue with the ones I have...

 

[tricolordad]

Not sure if last one got posted-

So if I'm walking around a wooded compound w gun slinged over my back... Banging into the trees n branches, going thru tight areas- isnt a good scenario for it? Or are you speaking more of the risk of the magazine not feeding the gun at a very opportune moment- like hunting or defense.

If you happen to get a good whack and theres a crack in the side or loose bodies inside the magazine, it could prevent the follower from pushing up the rounds. I had a plastic 10 rd mag that took a good hit from a swinging tree branch (it was supposed to be a joke and i would have laughed if it hadn't broken the mag) and when i went to shoot, it fired 3 rounds and I had to take it apart to get the last 7 out since the broken plastic was holding them in.

So, yes, both your examples are true. Damage could prevent it from feeding. But so could grit. Keep em covered!

FWIW, when I'm in some heavy woods, I always carry the rifle so it doesn't snag, flip the safety lever, pull the trigger, bump the scope...lots can happen.

 

[Courtney.cj.chen]

Here's how the gun show went: Show started at 9am- I got there at 1:20pm. These were the items I looked at for myself.
Metal AR 30rd mags I saw $25 as often as I saw $30. Non-Ruger brand 25 rd. mags for Ruger 10/22 $25.
ALOT of polymer bushmaster AR-15s for $1500-$1900 (the one w/ the factory red dot scope on it, msrp $850/$900). and being that I was there by myself. EVERYTIME i was looking at the price tag of one- the seller would tell me that this is perfect for a lady, because it is light. And I'd tell them thank you. (i own, the bushmaster O.R.C aka not polymer) - they'd tell me that this was better because it was easier to hold... and one guy was super persistent... after i told him thank you, that i prefer aluminum, and that i am just browsing, he said that he even put a red dot scope on it (obviously... i can see that)... so i told him that i knew it came w/ optics out of box* edit
Most AR-15s were $1300-1500 including M&P
Stripper Lowers:$400 for polymer. $500-550 for aluminum
Complete Uppers: $550-600, (several were $900)
20rd FMJ .223/5.56NATO in STEEL for $20-$22. One table, was selling WOLF for $10/20rds. but the rest of the show was doing it for at least $1+ a rd.
.22LR COLT AR- $500, .22LR Mossberg ARs - $350-388
S&W SD9VE $400-450
I did find a delton AR 15 for $980.
.22LR 500rd bricks for $70-$75
.22LR bricks for $45-60 by Aguila (lol nuff' said)
one table had 9mm Winchester JHP 50rd/$47 (my LGS denny dennis ALWAYS had these, for $23 ea.... and guess what... right before this gun show... they were all sold out... wonder where they went)
None of the pistols were reasonably priced. Also saw a CMMG AR- for $1400. AK PAP pistols for $1000.

 

[2Awarrior]

HHMmmmmmm...
"Stripper lowers" with "complete uppers"....sounds like my kinda gun show.

:tongue:

 

[beachbum17]

What do you guys think about the thermold brand 30 rd ar mags. They sell at classic firearms for $15. Aren't metal tho. I bought 10. They work great. But I don't shoot enough to know. So of u who have owned and use them long enough...

Btw- they're still being sold for $15 apiece on the site. I was sort of upset when I saw a fellow St. Louisan sell 20rd thermolds "brand new" for $30 on armslist- I was pretty sure I knew exactly where he had gotten them from n why they were new.

On my way to st Charles gun show. 500 table show. I'll post what price points I find.

I just bought a ton of 20 round thermold mags for $5 a mag off sportsman supply. It was the SlickGun of the day. They where out over 2 years f you keep them loaded and have about a 3-4 year life of range use

 

[Courtney.cj.chen]

I just bought a ton of 20 round thermold mags for $5 a mag off sportsman supply. It was the SlickGun of the day. They where out over 2 years f you keep them loaded and have about a 3-4 year life of range use

I just had my first slickgun experience about 20 mins ago. I happened upon the site for 223 the moment a site listed them for 29 cents a round!! needless to say- i missed out on it bc the site was freezing from heavy traffic- I finally got my 5 boxes into the cart before it sold out.

 

[beachbum17]

SlickGuns is awesome. For ammo every thin is bought up with minutes. You'll have to use
Ammoseek.com or gunbot.net and you can scan majority of sites for new posts.
Bummed you didn't get a few but opportunities will present itself. Guns are already going down in price like you said and if nothing happens (knock on wood) will be a buyers market in a year.

Ammo that's going to be another year or so before its on shelves regularly if we are lucky