buying frenzy

[smyrna]

I was in a pawn shop that I frequent earlier this week and the gun racks look like they had been robbed. Nothing left but maybe a couple single shot shotguns, budget .22s, and one or two "el cheapo" handguns in the display case. Then, tonight I was in an Academy in Longview...at least two people were in sporting goods filling out 4473's, and three people were being escorted through the check out lines to complete their firearm purchases. While in the sporting goods section, I noticed that although this particular store normally has a selection of AR's, there was not a single one there tonight.

No doubt, the election outcome has spawned a buying frenzy. Anyone else seeing this kind of activity?

[bdickens]

This has been widely reported.

[flintknapper]

No doubt gun sales have increased (a good thing), but I am not sure I would characterize it as a "frenzy".

Most states are reporting increased sales of 10-12%, which is significant but hardly emptying the shelves most places. Certain types of weapons are in big demand though.

In a month or two.... things will likely settle down.

Its definitely a good time to consider buying an AR, or at least a stripped lower (for those who might want one).

[Bart]

The results of the election made me decide to spend all of my Christmas budget on guns and shooting accessories and ammunition instead of clothing and computer accessories and consumer electronics. Annual bonuses come out January so hopefully I can beat the timing of Obama's executive ORDERS.

[thankGod]

I would be glad to help the economy by joining this frenzy. More money. More money. More guns.

[stevie_d_64]

Ammo seems to be going fast and furious these days as well...

The Houston gunshow opened this morning at 9am...By 9:30, from another vendor they said the main ammo vendor this weekend was cleared of .223 and other popular "hunting" calibers of rifle ammunition...

Good thing I was only there for cleaning patches...

[flintknapper]

The results of the election made me decide to spend all of my Christmas budget on guns and shooting accessories and ammunition instead of clothing and computer accessories and consumer electronics. Annual bonuses come out January so hopefully I can beat the timing of Obama's executive ORDERS.

Yup, nothing like a half dozen lowers!

[bridge]

I've been to the Academy and several pawn shops in the League City area over the last couple of weeks and Frenzy is accurate, especially at Academy. I went in Tuesday (Veteran's Day) and they happened to have just received a shipment of ARs and there were about 20 people looking/buying. I was talking to one of the guys behind the counter and he said it has been absolutely crazy since the election. He told me on a busy weekend day they might move 10 guns...on a good day. Since November 5th they've been clearing 70+/day. He then showed me a nice optics ready AR right out of the box. $899. Frenzy.

[Lodge2004]

I just got back from my weekend grocery run and had stopped by the Academy in Humble to pick up a couple boxes of 9mm. There was a line at the counter of people shopping for firearms. Most were looking at handguns. I don't know if it was pre-Christmas or post-election driven, but it was definitely the most active department in the store. They even had four guys working the counter...

Personally, I think all of this hoopla (the general economy included) is one giant emotional reaction that has very to do with reality. All the fear is starting to cause real consequences that are adding fuel to the fire. I just wish we had a grownup in a leadership position who could push the "pause" button and get everyone to slow down and take a breath. That's not likely to happen anytime soon with the new administration since chaos presents more opportunities for "change". Rant off.

[pbwalker]

I'm just waiting for the frenzy to stop, which causes the surplus to build up, and then make my additional purchases. At least I hope I can do it this way.

[stevie_d_64]

At 12:01pm on January 20th, 2009...

I picture our future as a big roulet wheel spinning around and around, where it stops nobody knows...

If our future freedom to keep and bear arms is so tenuous after that date and time...I believe our preparations for that uncertainty are appropriate...

Let's "hope" that what we are doing is noticed in the right place(s) and that they understand that they need to tackle more important issues than a bunch of people who are clinging to our God and guns who are stocking up...

Somehow I feel the die has been cast...And we have not seen what has been rolled...

[vickark]

Seems to be about that way everywhere. I was in Carters Country saturday looking at some holsters and the place was packed. A whole lot of buying going on not just a bunch of "tire kickers" like it usually is.
My wife and i was in Academy that evening (in the gun section- imagine that-LOL) and there were buyers in there too.
Looks like the days of the gun companies being in a money crunch are over with.

[HankB]

I've been to the Academy and several pawn shops in the League City area over the last couple of weeks and Frenzy is accurate, especially at Academy.

I just got back from my weekend grocery run and had stopped by the Academy in Humble to pick up a couple boxes of 9mm. There was a line at the counter of people shopping for firearms. Most were looking at handguns. I don't know if it was pre-Christmas or post-election driven, but it was definitely the most active department in the store. They even had four guys working the counter...

Sunday afternoon, I stopped in the Academy on Brodie Lane in Sunset Valley, just outside Austin. There were four guys working the counter . . .one was showing a fellow a handgun, the other was showing a bolt-action deer rifle. They had at least two M4geries visible in the rack behind the counter and one of those camo-pattern Remington AR clones. Another fellow was looking at .223 ammo and talking to someone via cell phone, asking when they'd get ". . .one of those rifles in." Busy, but nothing like the Saxet show on Saturday morning.

[CHLSteve]

We've seen the frenzy around here too. Anyone at the gunshow this past weekend knows frenzy is accurate. People are freaking out right now, and buying lots of guns.

[The Annoyed Man]

My local Emporium of Death had 7 stripped DPMS lowers in stock on Friday morning last week. My son and I had recently each purchased a 16" upper to mate to our varmint rifle lowers, but these stripped lowers we saw were only priced at $10 more than he was selling them for a year ago. I bought two of them for $149.95 each. He also had 2 parts kits on the sales rack, so we now have two more new AR15s for a significant savings over the price of 2 store-bought new ones.

So far, my brand new AR cost me:
$364.00 - flat top receiver w/ 16" ER Shaw barrel
$110.00 - bolt/carrier assembly
$150.00 - stripped lower
$ 70.00 - lower parts kit
$ 70.00 - collapsible stock w/ buffer tube & spring
$764.00 - total

My son's:
$409.00 - DPMS "lo-pro" flat top receiver w/ 16" bull barrel, bolt/carrier assembly included
$150.00 - stripped lower
$ 70.00 - lower parts kit
$ 70.00 - collapsible stock w/ buffer tube & spring
$699.00 - total

This was our first time building our own. It was far less intimidating than I thought it would be. Now, these numbers don't include the cost of sights/optics; and they have standard mil-spec triggers. There's no frills there, but given the current state of the AR market, those aren't bad numbers for a functioning AR15, and we have the satisfaction of knowing we built them ourselves.