Sticker Shock !

[jvs]

I stopped in 3 gunshops yesterday during my Saturday afternoon travels and I only have one word for the Prices of new Guns after the way Fuel prices went up over the Summer.

INCREDIBLE

Unless you buy something that was on the rack before the new prices got rolled in, be prepared to spend alot more for new Rifles, Shotguns and Handguns.  Gun ownership may now be a rich man's pasttime.

Hopefully my cabinet residents will be worth a few percents more too.   But this is not good news for a beginner.  I could not afford to start over and acquire what I bought new at todays prices. 

[jro45]

The prices been going up around here for rifles & shotguns for awhile. You're right its gonna be a rich mans hobby.

[jvs]

If my memory serves me properly, most Remington 673's were about $749, other Remingtons were  $659 & up, and the Model 799's were $529.  A Charles Daly Shotgun was $879, while some other Shotguns were well over $1,000.  One particular 12 Gauge Camo'd Turkey Shotgun was almost $1,200.   Upper end Skeet shooters were much higher.  The cheapest shotgun I saw was a Mossburg 500 at just under $300.  I didnt see any of what I would call less expensive rifles.

A Marlin 30/30 was $396, no extras. 

Now if you figure on buying a decent Scope, scope mounts, rings, swivels and a sling... plus one or two boxes of shells...  You will have way over $1,000 in a mediocre rifle before it sees the light of day in the woods.  That Marlin would be priced at between $500 and $550 retail, decked out.  One will have to be real dedicated to be a hunter or a shooter at heart in the near future.  Obviously, young newcomers will be priced out.

I will get into new Ammo prices in another post.  Get ready for more Sticker Shock.  Even for the old time calibers.  I can say it pays to shop around for Ammo.  There are some pretty sizable differences in Ammo prices.

[victorcharlie]

You can get a stevens or a Mossberg for around $260.  Throw in a burris Fullfield II, Bushnell Elite 3200, or Leupold VX-I and your at $550.

Metal prices are up right now.  Anything made out of metal is high, guns included.

Your right, a mid priced rifle and scope will cost you around a grand or more.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Go to Walmart---they'll hook ya up for not too much.

I hear the Mossberg rifle is a decent gun---$244
Leupold Rifleman scope --2x7=$185 or 3x9=$199
Rings and bases----$30 or less

.270 & .30-06 ammo reasonably priced
Slings and gun cases there also

Decent gun---decent scope---and all the extras for $500----not too shabby if you ask me.


Was looking through the Bass Pro Sept sale ad---they had Mossberg 500's listed for $199-----and you can get an 870 Express at Walmart all day long for $239.

I just put together a rifle/scope combo for less than $600---that's with taxes included. Rem Model 7--Leupold 2x7x33---Weaver rings/bases

The Marlins are getting pricey---even the cheap one is over $300----might as well spend the extra bucks and get the walnut stocked one. I think part of that is with Winchester gone---there is no direct competition for their products----the Browning lever is a different animal.

There is a marked increase in handguns though---GP100's are now $500-- up from $419 about 6 months ago---Glocks are about the same as they always were--the only pistols I can think of where the price as come down are Sig's---but they were over priced to begin with.

[jvs]

One of the reasons I started looking around is because of the rumors that Walmarts is getting out of Guns.  So I decided to see what I hypothetically would be spending if those rumors are true.   

Walmarts is also getting out of stocking alot of different Ammo too.  Much of it on the bottom shelf in the lower right hand corner of the Ammo Cabinet is now caliber ammo that Walmarts will no longer carry.  This info has come right from a knowledgable Walmart employee, who also says that ALL Walmarts will be affected.  Including Super Centers.

So when you go to Walmarts in the future and find the walls bare in the Sporting Goods Dept., be ready for some real sticker shock elsewhere.

At my age, the message is Loud and Clear.  It is time to stop buying firearms as it is now cost prohibitive.  I can remember penny candy, 25 cent gas and 57 Chevy's on the curb.  Paying $1,000 for a hunting rifle isn't a dream of mine, it's a nightmare.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Already have rifles and shotguns pushing $2000 each--bought years ago----so I guess I'm already used to it-----but you can still have service-able hunting rigs that won't break the bank.

[Coyote Hunter]

There are plenty of options available to expensive new rifles, especially if the object is to get a functional hunting rifle rather than to focus on cosmetics or prestige.

One of the options is to wait for the Christmas sales. Got a NIB Ruger .300 Win Mag blue/synthetic two years ago for $375.  Dropped $189 for a Burris Fullfield II Ballistic Plex scope for the .300, bringing the total price up to $564.  Had it out at the range last weekend and was shooting at ranges out to 600 yards. 

Another is to buy used.  Got a Remington BLD .308 Win last year for $330. The Remington .308 has a used Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10x scope riding on top that cost a few bucks more than the rifle.  Still, the total investment in the Remington/Leupold is only $680.  My Ruger .257 Roberts is another used rifle, cost $300.  It sports a used Leupold Vari-X III 4.5-14x that cost $350, for a total investment in the rifle and scope of $650.  A friend and I used this rifle to shoot clay pigeons last week at 500 yards.  There are three Marlins in my safe, in .30-30, .375 Win and .45-70.  All cost $225-$250 and look and shoot great.  Last week (or maybe the week before?) I was at a gun show and missed an opportunity to buy a Ruger synthetic/stainless .30-06 for $300.  When I found it another gentleman was already filling out the paperwork on it.  A few minutes earlier and it would have been mine.

On the other hand, $1000 isn’t that much these days.  Some people spend that much every year for cable TV ($89 x 12 months = $1068).  A season of skiing or golfing can easily cost much more – and that’s doesn’t include the cost of the equipment.   I see people spending much more to customize their vehicles or install expensive sound systems.  Many folks spend $1000 a year on cigarettes, lottery tickets or alcohol. 

The point is that a person is welcome to spend $1000 or more on a new rifle and scope, but it certainly isn’t necessary.  The day will come when the skiing and golfing and TV shows are just distant memories, when customized vehicle is in the junk yard and the sound system is long obsolete, and when the cigarettes and alcohol have taken their toll and resulted in expensive medical problems.  When that time arrives the $1000 rifle will most likely still be around – and will be worth as much or more than when it was purchased.  Sounds like a bargain to me.

[Zachary]

I would look online to gunbroker, etc. as there are a lot of reputable sellers out there that are selling NIB guns are prices before the new price increases.

I went to a dealer in Ft. Lauderdale called Guns & Knives.  They told me over the phone that a CZ 452 American in .22LR was under $300.  Then, when I went there (about 20 miles away), they told me that the person who made me that quote quit just that day, and that the price quote was wrong (despite the fact that I spoke with TWO people who confirmed the price).  Well, despite the fact that they admitted that their cost was under $300, they agreed to do me a favor and just sell it to me for about $425!  I was so upset - talk about bait and switch.  They told me that CZ raised their prices a lot.

So what did I do?  I contacted Whittaker guns and got the same gun for about $300 or so.

Zachary

[Savage .250]

                            Gunshows are still a great place to visit.

[jvs]

I am a guy that spent $49 for my first rifle back in the late 60's. Back then, old timers would say "You paid $50 for a Rifle?  You're Nuts !" 

I know what you guys are saying about prices you have seen.  But I suggest you take a closer look at more recent prices.  Especially since fuel prices went up.

And buying used rifles is a perfect alternative in my book.  At those new gun prices, I would not be interested in spending any more than I got to.

As I said, while my rifles arent new anymore, they are likely to appreciate.   Take for instance that $49 rifle I bought in the 60's.  I think I could get a wee bit more for it now.  From the mid 70's until about three years ago, I bought one gun a year.  Either a Pistol, a Rifle or a Shotgun.  While it might be questionable on whether I could get my money out of my most recent buys, I know I am way ahead with the older ones.

I dont buy guns with the idea of selling them, but one day it will happen.  Maybe not by me, but someone will sell them. Now it's time for me to sit back and wonder how others afford it.

[jro45]

I beleave that I have all the guns I'll ever need. Maybe one more. Don't let my wife find out I'll never hear the end of it.

[Hairtrigger]

I don't remember the last new gun I purchased.
I have the "needs" met and now am a bargain hunter for shooting toys.

[anweis]

It is very unlikely that i will ever want to have more than three firearms (and i already have two of them). So, i don't care.

[RLB]

I paid $330.00 for a 452 .22mag a couple months ago..I looked at a .452 in .22lr for the same money last week.sounds like there pricing there 452 at 453 prices..there is a $100 difference between them..

RLB.......

I would look online to gunbroker, etc. as there are a lot of reputable sellers out there that are selling NIB guns are prices before the new price increases.

I went to a dealer in Ft. Lauderdale called Guns & Knives.  They told me over the phone that a CZ 452 American in .22LR was under $300.  Then, when I went there (about 20 miles away), they told me that the person who made me that quote quit just that day, and that the price quote was wrong (despite the fact that I spoke with TWO people who confirmed the price).  Well, despite the fact that they admitted that their cost was under $300, they agreed to do me a favor and just sell it to me for about $425!  I was so upset - talk about bait and switch.  They told me that CZ raised their prices a lot.

So what did I do?  I contacted Whittaker guns and got the same gun for about $300 or so.

Zachary

[longwinters]

Well I am lucky.  I bought 2 Remingtons in the last couple of months from one of my best friends that he only bought new this year.  A Rem 700 Mtn rife in 270 with Leupold base and rings for 500.00 and , a Rem 700 CDL in 7m-08 with a Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40 for  . . . 700.00.  Never had Rem bolt guns before and was pleasantly surprised at the fit, finish and accuracy.  The 270 went to the son in law for his 1st rifle season and the 7m-08 is going to be well used by yours truely.

Long

[HuntingGuy]

Same trend around here.. Never seems to stop 

[acloco]

Gents,

First, I LIKE the feel of a quality rifle in my hands. 

#2 - with three kids at home, this is not going to happen very often.

#3 - I will venture to say, MOST of you have not discovered NEF Handi rifles.  Can be had in just about any caliber - from 204 Ruger to 45/70 or 500 S & W!

About $250 (or less) for the rifle, a set of rings (already comes with the base bolted on), and pick a scope.  I prefer the Nikko Stirling brand distributed by www.legacysports.com  - please check them out.

I have a 204 that sports the 6-24x56 w/30 mm tube and mil dot sites....$209.  I also purchased a set of mounts from them - they are NICE.  Less that 500 bones and you have a rifle capable of MOA at 200 yards!

I will post target pics of the 204 and the 243 that I just picked up at a later date.