10 Firearms Where Wear Boosts Collector Value

Above, the gun department at Cabela's in Albuquerque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some collectors of firearms prefer pristine or nearly pristine guns. Others prefer some wear on them as it boosts collector value. Since I am in neither camp, I'll just leave it up the the reader.

MSN posted a slideshow article on 10 firearms where wear boosts collector valute. 

They begin it with:

Many collectible firearms gain value when they retain original finishes and show signs of honest use rather than restoration. From classic revolvers and lever-action rifles to iconic military sidearms, subtle patina and light wear often signal authenticity and preserve historical character. Scarcity, craftsmanship, and unaltered condition combine to make these well-worn examples highly sought after by collectors.

To read more, go here. 

Portable Shooting Range

The last part of my order from Cabela's arrived this morning.

It is a "portable shooting range" (shown above) for centerfire shooting. The other one that arrived the other day is for centerfire gun shooting. 

That takes care of the gift card I received from Jessica last Christmas.

Preppin' For Plinkin'

The first half of my order from Cabela's arrived yesterday.

It is a triple spinner target designed for rimfire guns and air guns. 

Above, the rimfire target that arrived yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I had some money left in a Christmas gift card, I decided to get some targets for my rimfires and and centerfire rifles. I already have plenty of ammunition.

The centerfire target will be arriving Tuesday. At least, that's what Cabela's said. 

Since I do have an air rifle (a Benjamin pellet gun), I can set the target up in the yard and do some plinking from the deck. 

Albuquerque Cabela's Now Bass Pro Shops

Above, the former Albuquerque Cabela's is now Bass Pro Shops. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While perusing for ammunition deals, I noticed that Cabela's in Albuquerque, New Mexico is now Bass Pro Shops.

Cabela's has been a part of Bass Pro Shops, but the name change may mean more goods and some remodeling of the store.  I have only been to one Bass Pro Shops, which is in Fontana, California. It looked like a Disneyland for sporting goods shoppers.

I still have funds available in my Bass Pro Shops gift card. 

A Late Christmas Present

Last Christmas, I received a gift card from my ex-roomie for Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's. I hadn't seen anything I wanted up until now.

It was four boxes (100 rounds) of Winchester AA Target Load Shotshells with Ammo Can for $44.99. 

Since my ammo box is at full capacity, the ammo can will come in handy. It arrived yesterday. 

In the same order, I also got some Hornady .30-30 Winchester cartridges. 

Here's the ammo can:

And, inside:

I thought it was a good deal as each box of shells usually sell for $10-15. This makes the ammo can essentially free.

For ordering, go here.

Ammo Order

Above, this week's order that arrived yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday morning, I received a package from Cabela's of ammunition I bought with a birthday gift card from a friend. I ordered the ammo on Monday. Talk about fast service!

I ordered a box of 410 shotgun shells, two boxes of 12 gauge shotgun shells and a box of .30-30 centerfire cartridges.

A few hours after receiving the package, I received an email from Cabela's stating that my order was "just shipped". This, of course, had me wondering if this was a goof-up on their part and they sent me another package of ammo. 

I called customer service and told them about the email and that I had already received the order. With the order number I gave them, they checked and said that the email pertained to the package that arrived that morning. I told them I was wondering if they got a bit more generous than usual and sent me more ammo. 

We had good laugh.

Gunpowder Shortage Leading To Ammo Price Hikes

Above, the Albuquerque Cabela's ammo shelves during the pandemic. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following does not come as a surprise, especially since I spoke with several gun store dealers in Lake Havasu a week ago. Each said that some ammunion calibers will be hard to get and prices of ammo in general will rise in 2024.

The following is from WBRC in Alabama:

ETOWAH COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - You’ll be spending more this year on gun ammunition. A local gun store owner said a manufacturer has increased ammunition prices in fear of a global gunpowder shortage.

Some gun owners say they don’t mind paying the price, they just want to know why and how much. Vista Outdoor, a parent company to many firearms businesses, will increase its ammunition prices due to an anticipated global shortage of gunpowder.

To read more, go here. 

Ordered Ammo

Above, the Winchester 1894 and scabbard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since the cost of ammunition is bound to be going up in 2024 (along with possible shortages), I decided to order some .30-30 Winchester and 12 gauge shot shells while the prices are still reasonable through Cabela's (their shipping cost is only $5.00) and they're having year-end sales. I'll be ready for some target practice when it gets warmer this coming spring and summer.

I decided to try out a different brand of 12 gauge shot shells. Previously, I was using Remington target load shells. I have no problem with them, but decided to see if Federal's Top Gun Target Load performs better. 

As for the .30-30 Winchester, I decided on Hornady American Whitetail .30-30 Winchester 150 Grain. I could have bought 170 grain, but decided on making it easier on the Winchester Model 1894. After all, it is only for target practice. Their under-$26.00 price/box is much better than the $70.00 price/box I saw last week in a Lake Havasu gun store.

Why Are Firearms So Expensive?

Above, guns for sale at Cabela's in Albuquerque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last night, I was perusing Cabela's website of centerfire rifles. 

While doing so, I noticed that the advertised price of a Winchester 94 lever-action rifle was $1,999.99. The new Winchester 94 rifles are now made in Japan by Miroku. I can't see paying that much for a rifle.

Here's the ad:

From what I have read, the Miroku Winchester 94 rifles are of high quality and compare favorably with the pre-64 Winchester 94s made in the U.S. (which is what I have). I haven't read anything bad about the Mirokus. (This made me wonder: Are Japanese allowed to buy these rifles?) 

The price of the Winchester 94 at Cabela's was a stunner. But then, prices for guns in general have skyrocketed. This even includes used guns. I was lucky to have bought my pre-64 Winchester 94 when I did for $499.00. 

Some reasons for the high prices include (from The Gun Zone):

Firearms can be expensive due to the cost of materials, manufacturing, and regulatory requirements. In addition, factors such as popularity, brand, and design can also drive up the price of firearms.

Also, sabre-rattling by Democrats feed into buying frenzys.  

From Quora:

Simply stated: when you look at the price tag on a firearm, the number you see was determined by pretty much the same sort of market forces that dictate the price of anything else you want to buy.

Including, but not necessarily limited to:

** Manufacturing cost

** Popularity

When Smith & Wesson first introduced it’s Model 29 .44 Magnum, it didn’t exactly set the retail gun market on fire. Sales were sluggish at best; I believe that at some point, Smith & Wesson was giving serious consideration to writing off the Model 29 as a bust and quit making it.

That is, until in 1971 when fortune, seemingly out of nowhere, smiled upon S&W. A savior appeared, and his name was “Clint Eastwood.”

Shortly after the release of the very first “Dirty Harry” movie that year, movie-going gun enthusiasts were flocking to gun stores, looking to buy that big-assed hand cannon Clint Eastwood had that’d “blow a punk’s head CLEEEEAN OFF.” An iconic pop-culture relationship was born. Sales went through the roof, and the sticker price jumped three-fold.

If enough people are willing to pay a certain amount of money for something, that’s what the market will bear.

There is a downside: Though not quite the same thing, many guns take on a symbolic quality, and not always in a good way. In the immediate aftermath of the Columbine mass shooting, the Hi-Point 9mm Camp Carbine Eric Harris carried was prominently featured in various photos, as was the TEC-9 pistol Dylan Klebold had. Sales of the Camp Carbine, which had been a steady seller for Hi-Point, plummeted.

The TEC-9 might have followed suit, though it had been in decline for awhile. The TEC-9 was one of a couple of weapons which in the ’80s and ’90s (see also: Ingram MAC-10) became associated with gang-bangers and general criminal scumbags; you don’t find them around so much now.

** Scarcity/Perceived Scarcity

Next time you start hearing a lot of noise about a particular type, model, caliber, magazine capacity, etc etc of gun is becoming the focus of attention by anti-gun lobbyists and observe how the price skyrockets.

** Quality of manufacture

Like most other things, the more something costs, the more labor-intensive it is to make it, the greater the degree of exacting precision, and the higher the quality of raw materials to make. I can hold a perfectly good run-of-the-mill M1911-style .45 auto costing $600, and then hold a top-notch Kimber .45 or Springfield Armory Gold Cup costing two or three times that, and notice a difference.

Shootin' Table Arrived

Above, the table with my Winchester 1894 and shooting rest bags from Cabela's. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The table I ordered for use at the shooting range (and other uses) arrived yesterday. It is similar to the one Larry Lucier used at the range at Cibola National Forest two weeks ago. 

This was made necessary as the big wooden spools we used for tables were smashed up by some inconsiderate "Adam Henry" some months ago.

Above, the table. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I ordered it from Target and it was reasonably priced. Since the shooting area is nice and flat and the grounds are firm, this will work out fine as the table is sturdy and adjustable. The shooting tables I've seen advertised were either too expensive (for decent ones) or the cheaper ones were not to my liking. 

I'll have to wait a few months for when spring and summer arrive so it will be warm enough outside to use it. 

Difference Between Rimfire and Centerfire Ammunition

Above, Winchester 1894 and Ruger 10/22. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever wondered what's the difference between centerfire and rimfire ammunition?

I was looking at ads at Cabela's and noticed that Winchester Model 94 (.30-.30 cal.) rifles are centerfire and the Ruger 10/22 Carbine (.22 cal.) is a rimfire rifle. I thought this would be a good topic to discuss.

I took a look and found this at Hunter Ed:

 Ammunition can be centerfire or rimfire.

• Centerfire ammunition is used for rifles, shotguns, and handguns. In this type of ammunition, the primer is located in the center of the casing base. Most centerfire ammunition is reloadable.
• Rimfire ammunition has the primer contained in the rim of the ammunition casing. Rimfire ammunition is limited to low-pressure loads. Rimfire cartridges are not reloadable.

 So now you know the difference.

Ammunition Shortage Eases, For Now

Above, Albuquerque Cabela's ammo shelves during the height of the shortage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The ammunition shortage seems to have eased off in recent months.

Personally, I have had little difficulty in finding what calibers I want. If I can't find exactly what I want at a local gun store, I can get it online. I prefer buying at local stores as online sellers tack on shipping charges.

According to the Echo Press:

DULUTH — Hunters across the Northland are mostly finding what they need for ammunition this fall after three years of severe shortages of some of the most popular gauges and calibers.

Supply chain shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown — as well as an ill-timed bankruptcy and factory closing, combined with a huge increase in new gun ownership — conspired to greatly reduce supply in recent years even as demand was increasing. That led to little and, in several cases, virtually no ammunition being available.

Several buyers hoarded whatever they could find, leaving some hunters to beg, borrow or scrounge ammo for their favorite duck gun or deer rifle.

“It’s a lot better this year. We have most of what people need,” said Matt King, owner of Fisherman’s Corner sporting goods, gun and bait shop in Pike Lake, just outside Duluth.

That includes popular hunting calibers that have been nearly impossible to find in recent years, like .30-30 Winchester, 30.06 and .308. This year, there are also several options in many calibers, King noted.

To read more, go here.

 

It Pays To Shop Around

It definitely pays to shop around.

Recently, I ordered a box of shotgun shells for $9.99 at MidwayUSA. This is a good price, but their shipping charge was $13.95.

Thankfully, I ordered other items so that the "bite" of the shipping charge wouldn't be as much. The shipping price would have been the same if I ordered the shotgun shells alone.

Today, I ordered the same shotgun shells at the same $9.99 price through Cabela's. Their shipping charge is only $5.00. A much better deal!

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to guess where I'll be making my future purchases from!

Just Lead

 

Along with gold and silver, lead is becoming another "precious metal" these days with Democrats trying to infringe on our Second Amendment rights.

Along with that, we are still somewhat in an ammunition shortage. The worst of it is probably behind us, but there are some calibers harder to get than others.

Above, yesterday's delivery. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My order of 9mm Winchester JHP Silvertip ammo arrived yesterday. It was from MidwayUSA. Much as I don't like paying for shipping, when all is said and done, it is cheaper than paying for gasoline to go to Cabela's or some other gun store in Albuquerque when there's no guarantee that any of them have what I wanted.

Last month, I ordered .357 Magnum JHP rounds (this was even harder to find) from MidwayUSA. This month was for 9mm.

3 Things You'll Want to Own If the Sh*t Hits the Fan

Above, the ammo shelves at the Albuquerque Cabela's. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some people are starting to relax a bit when it comes to the current financial situation. The actions the Federal Reserve has taken in the aftermath of the bank collapses, even though some of which are misguided and stupid, have calmed them a tad.

But there are those who aren't quite that confident of things and are preparing for worse-case scenarios.

Yahoo! Finance posted an article on three things you'll want to own if things go, well, see the title of this blog post (it's also Yahoo's article title).

They start it out with:

As the world watches with trepidation the recent string of bank runs, liquidity crises and outright failures sparked by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, many are considering where this crisis will lead.

The global banking system is surely in hot-water at the moment, but most analysts only see it as a temporary, solvable problem. It would probably take an extreme, rare crisis of a much larger scale to take global civilization down.

While the likelihood of a total societal collapse is extremely low, you still might want to prepare for the worst. In this article, Benzinga discusses three essential items you'll want to own if the unthinkable occurs — gold, ammo and alcohol.

To read more, go here. 

The Ammo Shortage 2023

Above, Cabela's ammo shelves during the height of the shortage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In many ways, the ammunition shortage still goes on.

Granted, it is less severe than it was over the past two years. In recent months, I have found the ammo shelves fully stocked at Cabela's in Albuquerque. Two years ago, they were almost totally empty. But not all calibers are available and some types of cartridges, like hollow points, are harder to find.

Recently, I had to go online to find .357 Magnum hollow point ammo. Cabela's had .357 Magnum ammo, but not in hollow point, the last time I went there. If I can't buy what I want, I won't buy. 

Above, Cabela's ammo shelves after the shortage started easing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Outdoor Life posted an article, "The Ammo Shortage Revealed These Truths" last week.

They begin it with:

In his four decades of running D&G Sports and Western in Glasgow, Montana, Darrell Morehouse has never seen ammunition pricing and availability as unpredictable as it’s been in the past three years. That’s telling, considering the several ammo shortages he’s seen through the decades.

Sure, some of what Morehouse calls “crazy-ass” dynamics stem from supply-chain uncertainties and binge buying fueled by the Covid-19 pandemic. But his view from the gun counter at an independent sporting goods store in eastern Montana isn’t that different from the business manager of a bullet manufacturer in Utah.

“We’re in reaction mode, just trying to keep up with changing situations almost on a daily basis,” says Michael Painter, director of marketing and product management for Barnes Bullets. “We’re probably better off than a lot of our competitors because we’ve brought so much of our manufacturing processes in-house, but I can tell you that every day is some kind of a new challenge.”

One day it might be a scramble to find a new source of gunpowder that Barnes chooses for its factory-loaded ammunition. Another day it might be absorbing a jump in the commodity price of copper, the metal that Barnes, as a pioneer in the non-lead ammunition movement, requires for many of its products. Another day it might be negotiating terms with the distributors who put boxes of the company’s bullets on the shelves of retailers like Morehouse.

To read more, go here. 

Ammo Shortage Is Easing, But...

We are still in an ammo shortage. However, it is not as bad as in the previous two years (during the pandemic). 

I did an inventory of the ammunition that I have and found that I have plenty of 30-30 Winchester, 9mm Luger, .22 Long Rifle and .25 ACP.

I recently went to Cabela's in Albuquerque and the ammunition shelves were fully stocked. There were some calibers that were scarcer than others. There was plenty of 9mm, but hardly any .38 Special or .357 Magnum. There were also plenty of .22 LR and .380 as well. I did pick up a box of .9mm Luger.

Above, the ammo shelves at the Albuquerque Cabela's a year ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was looking for either .38 Special or .357 Magnum (my revolver uses either) in hollowpoint. There were some full metal jacketed roundnose, but no hollowpoint. I have about a dozen rounds left, but they're old (probably dating from the late 1990s). So, I had to check around online and I found some and ordered. It took me a while to find some for the right price. I refuse to overpay on ammo. Also, if I can't get what I want, I won't buy.

The Gun Zone posted the following earlier this month:

Challenges are ahead! The ammo shortage currently affecting U.S. shooters is not going to disappear anytime soon. This is having a serious issue for those who buy new, off-the-shelf cartridges, but they are not alone. Firearm enthusiasts who prefer to reload their own ammo are also being impacted.

There are a variety of reasons for this dire situation which I will be covering in this article. While it is difficult to see any light at the end of this tunnel, two factors should never be underestimated:

First comes the determination and resilience of the shooting community. It is our right to bear arms, and as such, this right must be allowed to flourish. Secondly, comes the value this market is worth to major ammo manufacturers, suppliers, and the American economy as a whole.

So, let’s get down to some bare bones truth about these shortages. From there, some concise tips will be given on how gun owners can secure that much needed ammunition.

All one can do these days is to keep looking around. There are some scarce calibers, but they can be found if one tries hard enough. 

To read more, go here.

2022: Another Strong Year For Gun Sales

Above, Cabela's gun department in Albuquerque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

2022 was another strong year for gun sales, according to an article at the NRA-ILA website.

They wrote:

According to a recent story by Stephen Gutowski at The Reload, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reported that 2022 saw 16.4 million queries run through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) that were related to firearms. While NSSF has not yet done a complete analysis of 2022 data—where it removes NICS checks that were likely not related to actual firearms sales—it is possible that the final tally will exceed 15 million gun sales for the year.

NICS background check numbers don’t represent firearm sales exclusively or correlate exactly to the number of firearms sold, but they are broadly indicative of sale trends and, by implication, the growth of the gun-owning community. Adjusted NICS data from NSSF, which subtracts transactions coded for carry permit checks and rechecks from the overall NICS figures, confirm that gun sales remain consistently strong despite record-breaking inflation.

While sales may no longer be breaking records, interest in firearms remains high. This should be a solid indication that Americans, in general, remain committed to their rights protected under the Second Amendment.

As we reported in December, strong gun sales, along with reports on 8.5% of Americans holding concealed carry permits (even as the need for such permits declines as more states enact constitutional carry), help reveal how tens-of-millions of law-abiding citizens truly feel about the right to keep and bear arms. 

To read more, go here. 

A Day In Albuquerque

Above, breakfast at the Huwaka Restaurant at Sky City Hotel Casino.

Yesterday was spent in Albuquerque in order to bring Larry Lucier's bus into a repair shop to diagnose some minor problems with its wheelchair lift. Since Larry can't drive it, was the designated chauffeur.

Along the way, we stopped at Sky City Hotel and Casino for breakfast at the Huwaka Restaurant. Larry had never been at the restaurant and he enjoyed his breakfast as I did. I have been there several times during the past four years.

We got into Albuquerque at around 10:15 and proceeded to the repair shop. They diagnosed the problems and will email an estimate to Larry. Once he approves it, they will order the necessary parts and we will be heading back to Albuquerque to get the work done.

After that, we headed a few miles to Cabela's to browse around. They just got a new shipment of ammo in their gun department. I was looking for .38 special or .357 magnum ammo. The only one had was .38 special. They were boxes of  100 full metal jacketed bullets for $60. I was looking for hollow point and didn't want to spend $60 for something else. So I decided to wait until what I wanted is available.

We were looking at the new and used rifles and we spotted a 1969 vintage Winchester Model 94 30-30 lever action rifle. They wanted over $600 for it. I didn't feel it was worth that amount as it wasn't a pre-1964 rifle and the condition wasn't that great. My pre-1964 Winchester Model 94 (made in 1962) was a far better deal for under $600 (a superior rifle in far better shape) that I got three years ago at Ron Peterson Firearms. 

We then went to PetSmart and, following that, headed to Sadie's of New Mexico for dinner. Both of us requested take-home boxes as both meals were huge and we couldn't finish them there.

After Sadie's we got on the freeway to head back to Jamestown. We did stop along the way at the Route 66 Casino Hotel gas station/travel center for fuel. 

All in all, it was a good day that was diversion. 

Great Ammo Shortage Of 2022 Isn’t Over

Above, Cabela's Albuquerque ammo shelves on January 24. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

How is the supply of ammunition these days?

That is a question gun owners are likely to be wondering about. 

1945 (19fortyfive.com) discusses the current state of the ammo shortage.

They begin it with:

The Great Ammo Shortage of 2022 just won’t go away. You might struggle to find ammunition for your pistol, rifle, or shotgun this year. Reasons for the shortage range wide, from supply bottlenecks to a copper shortage and the war in Ukraine. The best solution might be to make your own bullets.

People are buying more guns, and there are a lot of new gun owners. In 2020, 20 percent of American gun purchasers had never before bought a firearm. Thirty-nine percent of people recently polled in the United States own at least one pistol, rifle, or shotgun, according to the General Social Survey, and FBI background checks tracked a 41 percent increase in gun ownership from 2019 to 2020. That adds up to 8.4 million new owners. These gun owners need ammunition. So, the demand side of the equation is easy to see.

Supply of ammunition is also a concern. People stocked up on rounds during the Covid-19 pandemic amid panic about the dwindling supply. Imports of ammunition fell 34 percent during the worst days of quarantine in 2020. There were periods during the pandemic when gun and ammo production stopped. Gun owners sensed these shortages and snapped up firearms and ammunition.

There was also a lull in supply when ammunition-maker Remington went bankrupt. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018, and again in 2020. It was hard for Remington to produce enough bullets to keep up with demand until it got its affairs in order and sold itself to Vista Outdoors. 

 To read more, go here.