Gun outlook for 2013

[pastorp]

With all the changes in the gun world, like with TC & marlin, do you guys believe things will smooth out now? How about quality & new models for next year?

It does seem like the housing market is stronger. Maybe more money to spend on guns too?

What your opinion on the outlook ?

[Dixie Dude]

Guns are selling at all time highs.  However most of them are military style with high capacity magazines.  Last records I saw was 2011 with over 8 million guns sold in America.  About 5 million produced here and 3 million imported.  Of this over 2 million alone were AR-15's.  That is before Sandy Hook and the 2012 election surge in gun sales.  You can see by the ammo shortages what type guns were sold.  2012 and 2013 will probably be higher than 2011.  I know Kel-Tec of Florida, has about a year long waiting list for their 14 shot pump shotgun and their 30 round magazine 22 mag pistol.  They also have a waiting list for their folding in half 9mm carbine which uses Glock magazines.  Ruger, S&W, Bushmaster, DPMS, Rock River, LaRue, and Remington all make AR-15's now as well as other manufacturers.  Traditional hunting rifles aren't selling well.  High capacity pistols are especially 9mm's and 40 s&w's, and everyone makes a 1911 now. 

[SHOOTALL]

The housing market is not as strong as people think. Don't compare to last year or even 3 years ago . Try comparing to 2006 the last normal year. Besides there is little or no back log , just what's under construction.
 Guns , the last couple runs on the gun market shows the economy and gun sales are exclusive of each other. Except for the worst the economy the better gun sales.

[yellowtail3]

I hope the price of ammo comes down, the gun-grab scare lessens, and I'm going to learn to reload. And prob get a bolt-gun to compliment my Marlin for deer season. And a short smooth barrel with rifle sights for my 870. And maybe a Sigma.

[SHOOTALL]

I hope the price of ammo comes down, the gun-grab scare lessens, and I'm going to learn to reload. And prob get a bolt-gun to compliment my Marlin for deer season. And a short smooth barrel with rifle sights for my 870. And maybe a Sigma.

 
If I may suggest , a turkey barrel with screw in chokes and rifle sights. Add a rifled choke and several other chokes and you can hunt anything from quail to moose.

[yellowtail3]

If I may suggest , a turkey barrel with screw in chokes and rifle sights. Add a rifled choke and several other chokes and you can hunt anything from quail to moose.

Thanks. I want something to carry early deer season on the ground, that'll work for brennekes & buckshot. Currently just have a bird barrel. Plus, shorter will be better for around the house in times of social strife...

[SHOOTALL]

I have put together a 12 ga and a 20 ga. both set up like you want. The 12 was a 20 inch rifle sighted cyl. bore barrel. I had it taped for tubes , before turkey guns were all the rage. The 20 I did the same but later. My son in law has the turkey barrel and if I were doing it over I would go that route it just balances so well. I have a 23 inch barrel with choke tubes and two beads that I hunt with some it started life as a 30 inch bbl FC. Got cut and set up as a buckshot gun .

[Dixie Dude]

I am considering diversifying my gun portfolio after this past year.  With the shortage, I still saw 17 HMRs and some 22 mags.  Don't have either, will probably get one of each.  I also saw surprizingly, 40 s&w on the shelves.  I have 22LR, 9, 357, 45, and 44mag handguns  9's and 45s were in shorter supply, especially 9mm.  40's weren't.  Might have to get a 40 also.  Have several shotguns, but no short high capacity one, so an 870 or Mossberg 500 might be on tap with extended tube for extra rounds.  870 might be better since the extended tube can be removed and used as a standard shotgun.  Have a 22 Mark II Ruger bull barrel for squirrels, but might consider a Single 6 convertable.  Just a long wish list.  I also do not have a 30-30 lever gun, but do have a 44mag.  I also am considering a 38/357 lever gun.  Having mulitple guns for multiple uses, I could cover all bases. 
 
Of course, a good old 30-06 can shoot 110 grain to 220 grain bullets for various things.  Also in a pinch, a good small game substitute for the 22LR can be lead bullets for a 9mm, 38 sp or 44 special with light loads, or a lightly loaded 223 and then the good old shotgun can cover almost all bases at short ranges.
 
22LR's are still in short supply.  $40 a brick is high and $4 a box of 50 is high in my opinion.  I also have checked the cost of reloading supplies for 22 hornet, which is about the same as 22 mags after the brass is bought.  If you can reload it at least 10 times, this might be a better choice than 22mag as it has almost twice the power, range, and accuracy of a 22mag.  Factory loads are not worth it though.  I have also seen a revolver made for a 22 hornet. 

[Tommyt]

The housing market is not as strong as people think. Don't compare to last year or even 3 years ago . Try comparing to 2006 the last normal year. Besides there is little or no back log , just what's under construction.
 Guns , the last couple runs on the gun market shows the economy and gun sales are exclusive of each other. Except for the worst the economy the better gun sales.

You need to look a bit better at the housing market
At that point I think you'll change your statement


 The housing market has been silently woken up and folks lookin now
Will find prices up availability DOWN

[mechanic]

If the world doesn't fall apart in the next year, there will be used AR's for sale everywhere at bargain prices.  Many of the folks who bought one cannot even load it.
 
Ben

[Ranger99]

my personal hope is that the folks
that bought piles of ammo and
firearms hoping to cash in will have
to take it on the chin (i'm being nice-
i really think in much stronger terms)
and take a huge loss before they can unload
all the stuff they bought. of course, i'm
referring to those who wouldn't have bought
what they did under normal circumstances.

[spruce]

From what I've seen at a couple of LGS the gun buying craze has pretty much leveled off.  Both had full racks of long guns and were back to normal on the number of handguns in the display case.  Some models may still be a little hard to get, but I think most everything is available again if you check around.
 
Ammo is starting to show up again, but most of it not in any great quantities, and prices are a little higher (not counting the scalpers) than the pre-panic.
 
I don't plan on buying anything from the ones who panicked and hoarded way more ammo than they could use or afford - unless they are desperate enough to sell it for way less than I can get it at the LGS!
 
I predict by September we'll see longgun and handgun availability completely back to normal, and ammo will be around 75% back to normal.

[Dixie Dude]

22lr is still in short supply.  It cannot be reloaded, and it is being hoarded by everyone who has one.  Weapons are the least expensive and shoot the least expensive ammo.  All small game can be killed with one, and even a deer under 50 yards with head shots for survival purposes.  I recently read it might take 18 months to 2 years to catch up on 22 lr ammo demand. 

[FourBee]

Even though the gun market is beginning come around somewhat.  Ruger alone is back ordered for millions of arms.  Without the ammo to go with it, a gun is - is useless beyond hand to hand defense.

[Dixie Dude]

Ammo will catch up once everyone gets what they want.  I noticed at the last gun show I went to last weekend, reloading supplies were getting back.  They had primers, power, brass, and bullets.  Not a lot, but more than 2-3 months ago by the same dealer.  22lr is trickling back in.  Most stores have started to ration what you buy, so it can be had. 

[Mxpe78a]

Stopped at the local GS yesterday, they have been super busy since the current run started. They had sold almost all their handguns, .22 rifles and semi auto long guns. Now they are fully re-stocked and there was no one in the store. I believe for them the frenzy is over. They have always been over priced, and hard to deal with. I do not buy from them unless it is a well priced used item, witch is rare, but some times they make mistakes.