How about the Ruger SR-$900
There is an article on Yahoo regarding automobile prices. Essentially, it says “No, we’re not crazy. Automobiles prices are very high.”
In 2009 I lost my job, I had approx. 2 years left on a 5 year vehicle loan for my Dodge Durango. We sold it, it’s hard to pay for without a job. In high site, I’d have done things differently. But hindsight is seldom available as foresight.
If you look in the graph of the article, you will see 2009 as a huge drop in vehicle price. Yup, that was when we had to sell. 2009 was a perfect storm for cheap cars: millions out of work selling their cars cheap, near bankrupt auto-makers, a glutt of cars from nearly all manufacturers, the Cash for Clunkers (also known as give money to the rich to buy cars and !@#$% over the poor by destroying the used car market).
Now we’re in a time of lower production, small inventory, and a used car market that is outrageously expensive. This looks to be a very profitable window for automakers but a far more wallet busting one for the average Joe. Who’s buying power has dropped while expenditures have gone up in every way.
Frankly, I don’t expect it to change anytime soon. And us Americans probably need to face the music. Costs are going up.
In the gun community, we often make references to the “tupperware” guns (Glock, XD, SR-9, numerous other mass produced polymer firearms) versus the more classical 1911 and other $1,000+ guns.
Interestingly, we’ve seen an decrease in price of those higher end guns recently as more larger manufacturers moved into production (S&W, Ruger, etc, all offering 1911 based models). But that’s party economy of scale. The “tupperware” guns have pretty much stayed around the $450-$550 price mark. I think over the next 5 years or so we are going to see that trend move up.
Just like ammo did a few years ago. The shortage ended, and prices fell slightly, but never back to the old levels. A box that cost $20-$25 now costs $35. A $10 brick of .22 is now $15. A $30 box of premium ammo is now $40-$50. The price of ammo will never return to the pre-jump prices. The manufacturers learned what we were willing to pay. And they’re happy to have the extra profit margin.
How can we expect that not to happen with the average Joe firearms as well?
1. Costs are going up, even for manufacturers. Metals and non-plastic materials have increased in price.
2. There is a larger sales volume and lot more “new” gun owners who have no recollection of paying $300-$400 for a firearm. $600 seems reasonable, that’s what all the other models are priced at.
3. Newer designs often bring about a small premium. Legislation for CA/MA models necessitates re-designs. Increasing firearm costs.
And while inflation is always a continual cancer eating away at our buying power. I think the next 5 years is likely to see a shift up for the average Joe firearms. Ironically, I think the fancier ones might see reduced prices. This is off course just speculation. But I would be surprised to see a jump up to a $600 street price on “tupperware” guns.
The one good side, is we’re very unlikely to see a “cash $$$ for clunkers” program from the Federal government for firearms. Don’t expect Uncle Sam to exclaim “Bring in your old broken firearm, your revolver with timing off, your misfiring rifle – and receive $100 off your purchase of a new firearm.”
So at least the firearm prices will be affected merely by market pressure, economy, and manufacturing costs.
However, if you’re (un)lucky enough to live near a big city like Philadelphia. You might be able to trade that broken pot metal gun in your drawer for a gift card to put toward a new quality firearm thanks to their gun buyback programs.
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