What was it like from 1994 to 2004?

[lawrnk]

I have been a gun owner since 1992. However, during clintons term, and the AWB, I did not purchase more than a couple boxes of ammo and 1 gun. Since 2007, I'm buying about a gun a month, and cases of ammo.
How considerable has the price plummeted on so called AW's? Anyone predict what the gun and ammo market is going to be once Osama Hussein becomes the 44th POTUS?

[Lodge2004]

My first firearm purchase was in 1981 and I have accumulated "a few" since then. From my limited perspective, the AR-15 models have gone up and down over the years but seem to be a very reasonably priced right now. I bought one last year and paid less for it than my brother-in-law did, and he purchased his in 1981. The Klinton ban was really just a cosmetic ban and it seemed to create a "new" market for the manufacturers (pre-ban, post-ban) that kept the prices from going too high.

Magazines, on the other hand, have been subject to crazy price fluctuations over the years. I've seen basic (i.e. Glock/AR-15) full-capacity magazines range from $10 to $150 depending on the year.

Ammunition seems to me more affected by demand for raw materials. I have been slowly building an inventory over the years and tend to view it like the stock market...dollar cost average over time. I kick myself when thinking of deals that I did not pursue with vigor...$39 per 500 of 7.62x39 at gunshows (3+ years ago), $9 per 100 9mm at Gander Mountain (3+ years ago), etc...

[dukalmighty]

As far as the AR15's if ou do't need a name brand on the lower receiver you can purchase kits and the kit with a lower receiver can be built into a rfle for between 600 and 700 dollars depending on what ya want lso olympic arms sells a basic "plinker" has the A-1 sights on the upper receiver for less han 600 last time i checked.As far as pre-ban prices on AR-15's before the ban dropped people were askin ridiculous prices anywhere from 1200 to over 2500 for a colt or bushmaster wth a collapsible stock and flashhider.

[Moonpie]

Pre-ban pretty much every type of military clone semi was available: AR's, SKS's, AK's, HK's, Galil's, Uzi's, FAL's, US .30 carbines, M1Garands, AUG's, Daewoo's, M-1-A's, heck I even saw a semi-auto Sterling once.
Prices were steep for the time but not outrageous.
Base model AR's were retailing for about $600-700. SKS's could be had for less than $100. Some of the more exotic stuff like HK's and such were pushing $1000, sometimes more. I remember seeing base model M1A's for $900. Com-Bloc semi-auto AK's were as low as $275.
After the ban took effect prices went insane. "Pre-Ban" guns went into orbit price wise. HK's went up to $3000! AR's went up over $1300. Galil's went as high as $4000! M1A's, Garands, 30carbines went up but not nearly as much.
Luckily there was still some reasonable priced stuff available. SKS's and AK's really became popular then because they were less than $500 and ammo was dirt cheap. 7.62x39 ammo could be had for $89 for a 1200rd case!

IMO, you SHOULD be buying any and all semi clones you can NOW. Ammo up too. Don't forget the magazines either.

Time of the Hildabeast draws nigh.

[lawrnk]

Pre-ban pretty much every type of military clone semi was available: AR's, SKS's, AK's, HK's, Galil's, Uzi's, FAL's, US .30 carbines, M1Garands, AUG's, Daewoo's, M-1-A's, heck I even saw a semi-auto Sterling once.
Prices were steep for the time but not outrageous.
Base model AR's were retailing for about $600-700. SKS's could be had for less than $100. Some of the more exotic stuff like HK's and such were pushing $1000, sometimes more. I remember seeing base model M1A's for $900. Com-Bloc semi-auto AK's were as low as $275.
After the ban took effect prices went insane. "Pre-Ban" guns went into orbit price wise. HK's went up to $3000! AR's went up over $1300. Galil's went as high as $4000! M1A's, Garands, 30carbines went up but not nearly as much.
Luckily there was still some reasonable priced stuff available. SKS's and AK's really became popular then because they were less than $500 and ammo was dirt cheap. 7.62x39 ammo could be had for $89 for a 1200rd case!

Great info, I am trying to determine exactly what to buy before the ban goes back into effect.

[mgood]

Just before the high-capacity magazine ban went into effect (I don't remember the year, but mid-nineties), I bought my Smith & Wesson Sigma SW40F, mostly because I thought I might want a hi-cap handgun and figured it was "now or never." I paid $585 for it at Target Master in Garland. It came with two 15-rd mags and I purchased eight more at $55 each. Those prices were inflated at least a little because we knew Slick Willy's hi-cap ban was coming and people were buying up available stocks.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

I put my first AR together in 2003. I ordered pre-ban parts, and I ordered a compensator to replace the flash hider. That's where it got tricky. I had to have a gunsmith put a hole in the compensator, thread the hole and put a set screw in it. He also put a very small indention into the barrel for the set screw to screw into. He then spot welded the set screw in the compensator. As far as the 'smith and I could tell, it was permanently attached with the spot weld visible, and that conformed to the ban appropriately. But it still allowed for it to be removed by a professional in order to make repairs to the gun. I am about to have the same 'smith put a free float tube on that rifle. He'll have to grind the spot weld, and remove the set screw, then take off the comp. I'll replace it with an A2 flash hider at that time. The week after the ban sunset, I was at the gun show and bought 3 more lowers and ordered parts kits. I put those together with no hassle! In 2001, I bought a Glock 17 from a police officer friend. He included 3 pre LEO only stamped full capacity mags with it for $350 total. I went to buy more mags and found them for over $100 a piece and I just couldn't afford them!!! Once again, at the same gunshow a week after the ban sunset, I bought 5 more mags for $35 each!! In my opinion, the ban was useless and did nothing but make silly regulations that didn't make a difference except to be a pain in our backsides.