Panic at the Gunstore--The How, When, and Why of Gun Panics

July 27, 2016, 05:59 PM

slosig

quote:
Originally posted by ritter:Well, California panic just started. Brown signed a bunch of shit bills that, among other things, outlaws bullet buttoned ARs (the way we could legally purchase them) by the end of the year--registration of those already in possession is ordered. I guess we'll see how much CA market impacts the national market.

The Patriot Magazine Release (PMR) or "Bullet Button Reloaded" is already shipping. The two I ordered came today. Basically replaces the bullet button with a magazine release button with an arm on it that sticks up and has a leg that stops just short of the upper. If you push on it with the action together the "leg" prevents the release from moving far enough to release the magazine. The full kit also includes a replacement rear pin that sticks out a bit on the right side, has a hole in it, and comes with a short length of black paracord to make opening the action easier and quicker. Once installed you no longer need a tool to change the magazine and your EBR is not an Assault Weapon which must be registered.

Yes, it sounds like a pain in the neck, but as a short term workaround until one can escape Kalifornia, it just might do...

ETA: The bigger impact is the ban on buying ammunition other than from a licensed ammunition seller, no more online/phone/mail order ammo. A license will be required to buy ammo (said license to cost something like $50.00), and there will be lots of record keeping requirements on ammunition sellers. Personally, I think if a CA resident can't escape immediately, they'd be well advised to guesstimate when they can, figure out how much they want to shoot in that time, and lay in at least that much ammunition.

July 29, 2016, 05:00 PM

Fly-Sig

Thanks to this thread going up last October by LDD, I made it a priority to start the process of building an AR and getting my ammo and reloading supplies up to something comfortable.

Well of course all the AR parts were on sale over the winter so I ended up building the AR quickly.

And found a good source of IMI 5.56 ammo at a reasonable price so I managed to get a couple thousand rounds of stuff that shoots nicely.

And my reloading supplies were replenished over the winter, too.

The goal was to not be afraid to go shooting after the next panic. I was one of those who frequently would just buy ammo on the way to the range or get reloading supplies when I ran out. Now I've got plenty to get me through a while without worry.

The hassle is going to be moving all of it to a new house!

August 10, 2016, 03:51 PM

ritter

quote:
Originally posted by slosig:
quote:
Originally posted by ritter:Well, California panic just started. Brown signed a bunch of shit bills that, among other things, outlaws bullet buttoned ARs (the way we could legally purchase them) by the end of the year--registration of those already in possession is ordered. I guess we'll see how much CA market impacts the national market.

The Patriot Magazine Release (PMR) or "Bullet Button Reloaded" is already shipping. The two I ordered came today. Basically replaces the bullet button with a magazine release button with an arm on it that sticks up and has a leg that stops just short of the upper. If you push on it with the action together the "leg" prevents the release from moving far enough to release the magazine. The full kit also includes a replacement rear pin that sticks out a bit on the right side, has a hole in it, and comes with a short length of black paracord to make opening the action easier and quicker. Once installed you no longer need a tool to change the magazine and your EBR is not an Assault Weapon which must be registered.

Yes, it sounds like a pain in the neck, but as a short term workaround until one can escape Kalifornia, it just might do...

ETA: The bigger impact is the ban on buying ammunition other than from a licensed ammunition seller, no more online/phone/mail order ammo. A license will be required to buy ammo (said license to cost something like $50.00), and there will be lots of record keeping requirements on ammunition sellers. Personally, I think if a CA resident can't escape immediately, they'd be well advised to guesstimate when they can, figure out how much they want to shoot in that time, and lay in at least that much ammunition.

Yes, well... I hated the bullet button so much, I went featureless some time ago.

August 11, 2016, 06:05 PM

slosig

quote:
Originally posted by ritter:Yes, well... I hated the bullet button so much, I went featureless some time ago.

Yeah, that is starting to sound like a really good idea. If you don't mind my asking, what changes did you make?

A flash hider is evil, is a brake? Did you remove the pistol grip or put a wrap on it? From looking at the link c1steve posted on some wraps I wondered if they would interfere with getting to the safety...

Thanks!

August 12, 2016, 05:28 PM

ritter

quote:
Originally posted by slosig:
quote:
Originally posted by ritter:Yes, well... I hated the bullet button so much, I went featureless some time ago.

Yeah, that is starting to sound like a really good idea. If you don't mind my asking, what changes did you make?

A flash hider is evil, is a brake? Did you remove the pistol grip or put a wrap on it? From looking at the link c1steve posted on some wraps I wondered if they would interfere with getting to the safety...

Thanks!

Don't mind at all. Have you seen this? Calguns flowchart

I removed the flash hider and went with a simple thread protector out front. Pistol grip and collapsible stock was replaced with a FRS-15 stock. I learned to shoot standard configured rifles, not AR15s, so I actually (gasp) prefer the FRS stock to the standard configuration.

I think wraps suck because you can't hold the rifle strong handed very well. They are the cheapest route to take, though.

You can also consider the Ares SCR lower as a good but more expensive solution.

August 12, 2016, 07:09 PM

LDD

Let's keep this thread on topic.

Start another thread if you want to talk about Cal-specific AR mods.

August 14, 2016, 11:45 PM

slosig

quote:
Originally posted by LDD:
Let's keep this thread on topic.

Start another thread if you want to talk about Cal-specific AR mods.

Sorry! I would have emailed ritter, but no email in profile. I guess I should have asked him to email me. Mea culpa.

September 08, 2016, 02:03 PM

sigarmsp226

60 days to the election guys.....If you have not read and/or re-read LDD's starting post related to this thread - do it now.....

60 days is not a long time especially if you are on a limited budget as I am.......

October 08, 2016, 12:50 AM

ontmark

Yup panic buying I did.

Bought another Modern Sporting Rifle. An MCX!

I have increased my pistol calibers I shoot to over 1500 rounds in each caliber. I used to be comfortable usually at 500 rounds each.

Recently added 800 rounds of 223. That darn Amoholich Thread does not help.

Started building two ARs from the lowers I have had for over two years.

May look into getting into reloading. Use to reload shotgun shells some 30 years ago.

Bought some new Ammo Cans from Costco a short while back.

I know I have missed something here.

October 27, 2016, 07:38 PM

nra-life-member

Excellent read!

November 05, 2016, 07:42 PM

C L Wilkins

I concur with the ammo purchases.

5.56, 9mm then 22.

Personally, I have stocked up on all three calibers. Still will buy a box of 22lr every time I go to a store that sells them.
While I have primarily bought target loads such as Winchester White Box, it is important to get self defense and hunting loads as well.
In my opinion, as far as versatility goes, the most versatile caliber is 22lr.

If you don't have an AR platform rifle the time to get it is NOW. By that, I mean no later than tomorrow. You can get a Ruger or S&W Sport for under $700. Maybe not the best components but it is still an AR and they will work.

I am not trying to start a panic but get one before the election if you haven't already.

CW

November 06, 2016, 03:31 PM

blasto

Just did a local show of about 250 tables. Crowd was even down due to exceptionally nice weather here. There were $11-$13 Gen2 Magpuls which nobody seemed to be leaping on. Ammo sales were pretty much non-existant. Go figure.

November 09, 2016, 07:34 PM

Wino

With Trump elected, I wonder how long it will take for prices of ammo and ban-target guns to start drifting down...

November 09, 2016, 07:36 PM

lkdr1989

Quickly, I hope...my money isn't going spend itself

quote:
Originally posted by Wino:
With Trump elected, I wonder how long it will take for prices of ammo and ban-target guns to start drifting down...

November 09, 2016, 07:41 PM

Wino

quote:
Originally posted by lkdr1989:
Quickly, I hope...my money isn't going spend itself

quote:
Originally posted by Wino:
With Trump elected, I wonder how long it will take for prices of ammo and ban-target guns to start drifting down...

I'd guess it will take at least a few weeks, if not a couple months. Many retailers tend to price at a certain % over cost. When sales start to slow, their vendors will start to lower prices but the "higher cost" ammo and mags will need to filter out before we'll see it go down much.

Gun prices could drop faster.

November 09, 2016, 07:46 PM

Il Cattivo

^^^ Maybe we can get LDD to do another thread, now that we're (hopefully) headed in the other direction.

quote:
Originally posted by blasto:
Just did a local show of about 250 tables. Crowd was even down due to exceptionally nice weather here. There were $11-$13 Gen2 Magpuls which nobody seemed to be leaping on. Ammo sales were pretty much non-existant. Go figure.

Two days ago there were three Armalite Eagle complete lowers for sale on GunJoker, and they'd been there for a while. This morning they were gone, and whoever bought them is cursing himself bitterly for thinking that a little hoarding could be profitable. What I saw locally matches what you saw, and I still haven't figured out why everyone waited until yesterday or so to do whatever panicking they were going to do.