[mattsbox99]

I was in a gun shop on Saturday just musing at things. Beater WWII mausers for $350 and up, with a sign above them that said "Not guaranteed to function", beater M77s for $650 and up, not a single beater Remington 700 for less than $500. I just quietly kept to myself. Then I got to the reloading section, 500 qty .452" 200 grain round nose bullets for $190, with a sticker on them from a local store that had a price of $54 scratched out with a pen. Another box of 500 158 grain .358" RN for $140, again a $50 box of bullets. Even worse was some of the rifle bullets, a box of .308" Nosler BTs for $40, with 10 missing. There wasn't a good deal to be had in the place. I wonder how these guys plan to stay in business with prices like that.

 

[PAShooter]

They won't stay in business.

 

[.300WinMag]

Maybe it's a glimpse of the future?

 

[William Iorg]

We have the same problem down here and we can throw gun shows in with it. One of our “Gun Stores” sells at retail plus but the hook some people by having a no-interest lay-a-way program.
When it comes to reloading supplies we were in trouble until one of the gun stores saw the opening and began to specialize in reloading equipment. It has been a slow start for him but he has added a lot of inventory and his prices are competitive when you factor in shipping and no waiting.
All of the other dealers don’t seem to realize UPS delivers every day.

 

[jaybirdjtski]

Every now and then I'll drop by a gun store. People are lined up sometimes and paying the price. A friend is about to buy his first rifle and he seems hooked on one thing or another in a local store's inventory. I shop around for him online and forward deals out there but he still keeps going back to the retail store. I guess the moral is that is just how some folks like to shop. I hope they stay in business. Didn't Congress just grant Obama the power to shut down the internet if a national emergency is declared.
I don't put anything past that guy. You know he's lying if his lips are moving. They say a nation gets the political leaders it deserves. Nuff said.

 

[Rugerfan0374]

The store down the road from me has jacked up all the prices on everything lately, and several of the other stores that I frequent has also done the same.

Some people will shell out the cash, others won't. Some places will go out of business, some places won't.

 

[mattsbox99]

The trouble is that I know the guy, his old man started that shop and had ok prices (I'll pay a little more for a local shop...) and for a while he had good prices on stuff, but I moved away and just was back to Billings cleaning out my storage unit and retrieving my dirt bikes and stopped by. I have a pretty narrow list of stuff I'd pay for right now. He did have a USFA 10.5" .44 Mag (rebadged Ruger SBH) for $600. He has also had some pretty good deals in the past and even when ARs were seriously wanted he had manageable prices. Overall, he was out of line on a lot of things. I've wheeled and dealed with him, but I didn't even want to make offers on some things.

OTOH, I haven't managed to start a thread in the right forum for a while now... maybe I'm the off kilter one!

 

[mjyeagle]

Edit: Political comments deleted. MikeG, site admin

 

[tjrahl]

well looks like i have another reason to put up with the humidity in Oklahoma now! Gun and ammunition prices are still affordable here. Then again seeing as how I am getting ready to open my own shop maybe its not such a great thing.

But seriously $500 for a beater Remington 700? I love the 700's but they sell them new with a scope at wall mart for around $425. I am always willing to pay a premium to buy from a local business but that's absurd.

 

[mattsbox99]

Oh, there are still good deals to be found, and other sporting goods stores have much better prices on new guns, ammo, and reloading components. If the prices had been $10 more, I never would have made this thread, but $190 for a $50 box of bullets!

He was trying to sell me a used NM Blackhawk 4 5/8" convertible for $450, I didn't want to tell him that I could go buy a new one for $419. This was a Liberty model (made in '76) but that only adds $25 to the value, making it a $350 gun at best.

 

[hillestadj]

Many of the shops around here also think a little bit too highly of what they have, especially used guns. Apparently sometime in the last few years MSRP became the going rate around here.

However, there are two shops that I frequent that have their heads in the right place and will do you right. One in particular cant be beat for shotshell reloading components, $95 for 8lbs of E3 vs. $102 at the next cheapest place 40 miles down the road and over $110 at Scheels (if they even have it in stock when you go there).

 

[hailstone]

Mattsbox99 you should have told him what you posted. That throws him into either coming down in price because he's dealing with a knowledgable individual or feably trying to defend his prices. I've had the same happen too me since the election of 2008. Once they understand your above average firearms owner usually they will deal. If not one can always leave empty handed.

 

[CowboyGunNut]

A few months ago a shop that I'd never been to had a coupon in the newspaper for 10% off. I went to check the place out and couldn't believe the prices. A box of 500 250 grain RNFP .45s was $70. Another shop I go to had them for around $50 at the time. A box of Winchester .44 magnums was about $45, while Walmart had the same thing for under $30. What amazes me is the shop is pretty popular and was quite busy while I was there.

 

[broom_jm]

All part of a free market economy, I guess. There was a gunshop in my town that asked absurd prices for a lot of different items...I wonder what kind of business will be in that building, next? Sad thing is, now there is NOT a gunshop in my town, so I've got to drive half an hour in either direction to find one and their prices are even higher. Sometimes supporting the local guy, even though you know he's gouging you, is the only way to have a shop nearby. Midway is great, but I seem to remember a time when just about every gunshop carried at least some reloading supplies. Many of them carry little, if anything, now.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that Americans have become absolutely obsessed with getting the best deal possible, and in the process, have changed the way business is done in this country. If you don't believe me, go to Walmart or Lowe's...and then think of all the small, mom-n-pop businesses you no longer see around town. Sometimes saving a few bucks has unintended consequences.

 

[berudd]

you can thank obama for all this bull s&@t

How so? I didn't want him to win the election either but what specifically has he done that caused this? Maybe I missed it so please help me out. Just curious.

 

[hailstone]

Explaining this too someone would delve into politics which are prohibited on this forum.

 

[MikeG]

Yes. Let's keep it gun-related.

 

[kdub]

Nope - let's not delve into politics on this issue.

Best way in the world to get the thread locked.

Take heed.

 

[mattsbox99]

I can understand slightly inflated prices, given the sour economy and greed (we all have that). I know for a fact he would sell a lot more guns if he came down to reasonable prices.

I didn't really have money to spend, so I wasn't even going to ask why the prices were so high. I'm afraid he'll be out of business if he doesn't get things screwed on straight soon.

 

[Gil Martin]

We are fortunate to have a number of good gun shops

I do believe competition is a good thing. Used guns are usually a bargain if you shop carefully. Ammo and reloading components are plentiful and prices are in line with other decent shops. All the best...
Gil