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Firearms & Ammunition Shortage: How Has It Affected Your Purchasing Decisions?

Discussion in 'Tilted Weaponry' started by Chris Noyb, Aug 29, 2021.

  1. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    I bought several firearms during The Shortage (TS).

    Two I purchased used for what I consider good prices, a Ruger 10/22 and a Ruger LCP2 .22.

    My Henry Big Boy Classic .44 was VERY slightly sale priced. Given many of the mark-ups I've seen, along with the reduction and eventual stoppage of Marlin production because of the Remington bankruptcy, the price I paid wasn't bad.

    The Girsan 1911 .45ACP typically sold for about 20% under MSRP before TS. This is the one purchase I should've waited to make.
     
  2. Borla

    Borla Moderator Staff Member

    If you don't mind me asking, what are the Big Boys going for nowadays? How do you like yours?

    I have one (though I don't think they had the 'Classic' designation when I got mine, so not sure how different it is from yours?), and love it.
     
  3. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    Mine was "on sale" for $799.00, MSRP 819.00. I bought it from Cabela's/Bass Pro, so the high "sale price" wasn't surprising because in my area Cabela's/Bass Pro is MSRP on guns, and high on just about everything. The Bass Pro store near me is beautiful and well stocked; the high overhead shows in their prices.

    I've only had it to the indoor range twice, which of course doesn’t come close to truly testing it. The lever action is smooth, and the recoil isn't bad (on my bony right shoulder) since the rifle is quite hefty, esp compared to my Miroku Winchester 1894 in 32 Win Spec.

    I have another rifle or two that need a trip to the outdoors range, 50 and 100 yards at least.

    Edit: I think the Classic designation was started--possibly not actually or originally by Henry--when Henry introduced the blue, heat treated (case hardened), side-gate, etc versions.



    A lever .357/.38 carbine is on my short list. It will be interesting to see what Ruger does with Marlin.
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2021
  4. Borla

    Borla Moderator Staff Member

    AH, gotcha, makes sense. So mine is probably exactly the same as what a 'Classic' is, since I got it before they did the blued version.

    Enjoy the gun man, thanks for the info! :cool:
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    My understanding is the brass is just a thin cover that can be swapped out for a blue or case-hardened cover. I don't know anyone who's done a swap. The bright brass might be historically correct for Henry rifles, but I'm considering letting mine develop a natural dull patina..

    Under better availability conditions I would've went with blue, and a side loading gate. And 357/38.
     
  6. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    Thoughts on the Russian ammo ban? Damn auto spell!!

    I only have one 7.62x39 rifle*, which I have no intention of shooting very often. I stocked up, by my standards and need, on ammo. Academy had Monarch (made in Russia), Steel Case, 100 rounds box for $34.99 (not a bad deal during The Shortage). I bought 600 rounds.

    My wife surprised me -- I was definitely surprised -- with a SAR1 made in Romania. The handyman/maintenance guy at the church needed to raise some cash, and sold her the SAR1. The odd thing is I've never expressed any real interest in military style firearms, esp rifles.
     
  7. buzzgunner

    buzzgunner 180 gr. of diplomacy

    My wife and I are both firearms instructors and (back when it was plentiful) we used to go through 9mm and .45 ACP like crap through a goose. Now, with the shortage, we have less than 500 rounds of each caliber and haven't been to the range in MONTHS! I dread what my first few patterns are going to look like when I finally stock up and return to the range!
     
    • Like Like x 1
  8. omega

    omega Very Tilted

    Went through cabelas Monday afternoon for a quick check before picking up my girls from school. Good news is they had some pistol ammo in stock. Bad news is 100 rounds of 9mm target ammo was $40. Aluminum case .40 was $27 for 50. Makes it not fun thinking of throwing a half dollar downrange every time you pull the trigger. I did not make a purchase yesterday
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. buzzgunner

    buzzgunner 180 gr. of diplomacy

    Yeah. I found out late in life that Cabelas is NOT the place to go if you want a price break. I try to do all my ammo shopping at Sportsman's Warehouse, but apparently so does everybody else so the pickings are usually kind of slim.
     
  10. omega

    omega Very Tilted

    I might have to swing by tbere aime weeknight. They are south on i25. Cabelas is five minutes from my kids school.
     
  11. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    The Academy Sports stores near me put their ammo out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The selection varies by store. Sometimes it's "Score!" and sometimes it's "No handgun calibers ammo? As in none?".
     
  12. Lindy

    Lindy Moderator Staff Member

    Location:
    Nebraska
    The only rifle (if you can call it that) I own is a .30 M1 Carbine. I've got a couple hundred rounds of mil surplus ammo with, I believe, Israeli markings.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  13. buzzgunner

    buzzgunner 180 gr. of diplomacy

    Don't dis the M1 Carbine. I also own one and, while I shoot it only rarely, I love having it in my collection. Like my Garand and my Springfield 1903a3, I consider it an integral piece of American history! ;)
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  14. Lindy

    Lindy Moderator Staff Member

    Location:
    Nebraska
    Not dissing the M1 Carbine, only the part about calling it a rifle.;) It's just right for 5'1" 109lb me.:) M1 Garand and Springfield were "standard" size rifles when M1 Carbine was made but are about twice the carbine weight. Now standard rifles are more M1 carbine sized.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  15. buzzgunner

    buzzgunner 180 gr. of diplomacy

    Not to be nitpicky or anything, but the M1 Carbine meets the definition of "rifle" by both the dictionary and the BATFE.
     
  16. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    I wouldn't mind having a M1 .30 Carbine in my small collection, but right now in the ammo crunch I'm thinking a more common caliber might be a better choice.

    I should call the guy who bought the large crate of M1 carbine parts. I never did get a clear understanding of what he wound up with. Complete rifles? Matching serial number parts? Mix of parts? New? Used? Usable? Trash?
     
  17. buzzgunner

    buzzgunner 180 gr. of diplomacy

    It depends what he got and what he did with it. Personally, I'd never buy anything like that as I'm not enough of a gunsmith to assemble it into anything workable!
     
  18. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    If the Ruger Mini 30 7.62x39 ever becomes affordable again
    ....and will shoot all cheap ammo.
    --- Double Post Merged, Sep 30, 2021, Original Post Date: Sep 30, 2021 ---
    I would only be interested in complete rifles. He's the guy who sold the AK SAR1 to my wife. Being in the middle of a divorce, he might've sold the mystery crate....or hid it somewhere :rolleyes:.