While it didn't seem like the cost savings of robotic manufacturing would ever make it to lower cost to consumers, maybe it has. The good old days for me began when my interest in owning guns meant a job after high school around 1972. I can remember a used 22-250 Remington 700 Varmnint for $100, and new Browning HiPower for $115, the long range artillery sighted one was $125.

You can get quality pistols and low end ARs, and maybe some Ruger and Savage bolt guns for around $500. I used an inflation calculator to see what $500 in 2025 dollars is worth in 1972 dollars, and its about $65.

Yeah,

The whole P320 thing is great if you are looking for parts for customization or a deal on a pistol.

I recently found a P320 sight pusher at Goodwill.

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
You can get quality pistols and low end ARs, and maybe some Ruger and Savage bolt guns for around $500.

You can get quality pistols and budget ARs for way less than $500... Practically half that.

Low end ARs are more like $250-$350 on semi-frequent sale, or if you assemble it yourself from a parts kit.

Same price range for pistols like the PSA or Ruger Glock clones, some of the Turkish handguns, LE trade-in Glock 22s, etc.

I have had this conversation many time with old timers at gun shows. How much did a Colt GM 1911 cost in the mid 1960s? $125. How much did the average entry level worker earn back then? About a buck twenty five an hour. That means a new Colt took 100 hours of work to pay for. Today that same worker earns at least $10/hour, maybe $15. And you can still buy a new Colt GM 1911 for about 100 hours labor, or less.

I guess the question for me is, do you load the safe with additional ARs, or just keep stacking ammo?

I thinned the stable out last year, which included a few ARs that were redundant. Everything I own has a purpose. Ok, that's a lie. I have 1 or 2 that have sentimental value. But the 3 I shoot all have a dedicated purpose. So considering the climate, does one stack the safe deep or focus on ammo and training?

Used market being down has it’s perks. At the store we make a fair offer based on auctions, several price guides and similar in store firearms. It’s up to the customer ultimately to accept or reject our offer. But we explain that the market is down due to several factors such as the economy, the amount of used firearms on the market and the expected sale amount.

I understand that there are shops in our area that will not under any circumstances take a trade in or outright buy a P320. We still do and if one needs the voluntary upgrade we forward it to Sig before it’s on the floor.

We as employees are not immune to the fluctuating market. I sold a used AR that I bought from the store a couple years ago during our state’s proposed semi auto ban era. It wasn’t a fear purchase as such but the price was right, had extra money, etc.

This year a pristine 1903-A-3 arrived and I had to make room and free up some cash ASAP. I lost money on my trade but that’s life.Fair is fair.

I had a table at National Gun Day gunshow a couple w-ends ago. Demand was very soft and prices were too. I've got bad feelings about NGDs future.

This auction link is for a mixed group of consignment firearms. Auctioneer is one of the best in the business and has been cultivating his gun sales for a few years. Just a fyi as to values in one of the lowest cost of living places in USA. Classic field grade shotguns are drawing few early bidders.

https://bids.beckortauctions.c...-online-only-auction

I was thinking about it the other day, the most expensive firearm I ever bought was a muzzle loader I paid $625 for.

While I have paid far, FAR more money than that since then, I say it's the most because it was 1990-91?
I was taking home less than $150 a week.
Prior to that, the most I'd ever paid for something was $400
And 30 years later, that same rifle could be purchased for $625!

There's the old saying about guns, "You can't pay too much, just too soon." Man oh man did I pay too soon.


Conversely, this week I won a Gunbrokeme auction for the high bid of $620.00 It's been 10 years or more since you could buy the rifle I won for that little.


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This message has been edited. Last edited by: cas,