Firearm Sales Continue to Climb in March

[John]

From NSSF newsletter:

NEWTOWN, Conn. -- Firearm sales continued to surge across the country for the fifth straight month, extending a trend that began after the November elections. The increase also follows recent comments by several high-profile members of the Obama administration about re-imposing permanently and expanding the ban on modern sporting rifles.

http://www.nssf.org/share/images/NICS-Mar09.gif

Data from the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) show background checks on the sale of firearms jumped 29.2 percent in March when compared to March 2008 and were up 27.1 percent for the first quarter of 2009 over the same quarter last year.

The increase follows a 23 percent rise in February, a 28 percent rise in January, a 24 percent rise in December and a 42 percent jump in November, when a record 1,529,635 background checks were performed.

FBI background checks are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing firearms from federally licensed retailers. These checks serve as a strong indicator of actual sales.

Correspondingly, ammunition manufacturers are reporting record sales across the country as demand continues to outpace supply.

"Americans concerned about their ability to purchase many types of home defense, hunting and target shooting firearms in the future are continuing to purchase these products in record numbers today," said NSSF President Steve Sanetti. "Along with this strong sales showing, we've also seen increased participation in firearm safety and education programs such as NSSF First Shots."

NICS reported 1,345,096 checks in March, up from 1,040,863 in the same month a year ago.

[Rick McC.]

I think everyone's pretty much aware of what's going on in the marketplace now; unless they've been on a sabbatical in the Himalayas. :D

I'll be glad when there's a bit more merchandise to choose from again; especially ammo!

Take care,

Rick

[d90king]

I must admit that I have been adding to that spike in sales. :D Especially in the "EBR" segment. :o

[kenhwind]

Yes, but there is a lot of people selling ,because they have no job or money.

[d90king]

I don't believe thats the reason for the spike, it may play a role but most private sellers are capitalizing on the prices some rifles are fetching these days for profit not for "need'.

Of course some are selling to raise funds but I don't think their numbers are large enough to effect the numbers significantly.

[kenhwind]

I agree, it was just a comment, maybe in the wrong text, and of course private sales aren't recorded.
There was a run on ARs, AKs etc here. Small pistols. Ammo is scarce. It was like a feeding frenzy.

[KCShooter]

I know I'm tempted to sell one of my AK's just to double my money on it!

(I won't, but I'm tempted.)

[Tonka]

I'm in construction, which is a "boom and bust" job arena, and I see a lot of guys selling not only firearms, but duplicate tools as well. Nobody is selling ammunition.

[d90king]

I'm in construction, which is a "boom and bust" job arena, and I see a lot of guys selling not only firearms, but duplicate tools as well. Nobody is selling ammunition.
It would depend on how they are sold in order to effect the numbers..... Certain areas have been hit harder than others and I am sure that impacts who's selling what.

[kenhwind]

This is kind of interesting:
http://www.fultoncountynews.com/news/2009/0423/features/011.html

[Rich-D]

Ken, That certainly is a very interesting news article. Thanks!

Rich

[kenhwind]

I found a couple of good links this morning.
And you're welcome

[d90king]

This is kind of interesting:
http://www.fultoncountynews.com/news/2009/0423/features/011.html
I have seen the trend locally also......

[daveohno]

All panic buying like this eventually comes to an end. Speculators eventually get burned when the supply finally catches up to demand and then prices start to ease. Shooters change their habits, maybe they go to the range less often because it is just more than they can afford. Unemployment is going higher, I doubt that these people will be shooting too much as their incomes have disappeared, hopefully, only for a short while. I have been shooting 22lr now. I never used to shoot 22's. The shoots I go to allow them now because the price of ammo has gotten so high.

[d90king]

Sales have certainly leveled off at a very rapid pace. Now if the price of ammo can follow, everything will be honky dorey...

[kenhwind]

I think that the gun buying spasm is over. I had to relenquish some of mine due to economic reasons. Local shop has a nice Colt AR HBAR.
The world didn't come to an end on November 04, 08. Frantic gun buyers will be selling soon.

[Aguila Blanca]

One small, local gun shop says the rush has slowed down for them, but the shop at the range where I shoot hasn't seen much "normalization" yet. And around here the shelves in the sporting goods department at Wal-Marts are still bare. Couple of boxes of such highly popular calibres as .25 Auto, .357 SIG, a few boxes of rifle calibers I'd never heard of, and some 12-gauge bird shot shells. A few assorted boxes of .22 ammo, but none of the good stuff, and no bricks.

The manageress said ammo deliveries are infrequent and unpredictable.

[d90king]

One small, local gun shop says the rush has slowed down for them, but the shop at the range where I shoot hasn't seen much "normalization" yet. And around here the shelves in the sporting goods department at Wal-Marts are still bare. Couple of boxes of such highly popular calibres as .25 Auto, .357 SIG, a few boxes of rifle calibers I'd never heard of, and some 12-gauge bird shot shells. A few assorted boxes of .22 ammo, but none of the good stuff, and no bricks.

The manageress said ammo deliveries are infrequent and unpredictable.




Some ammo is catching up, but it still has a long way to go. Surplus Russian is becoming available at prices that resemble pre BO pricing, but pistol and 5.56 is still not there yet. I hope it starts to break soon...

[kenhwind]

There still seems to be a shortage in the ammo supply here in my area, but the gun sales have slacked off. No shortage of ARs, etc.

[d90king]

No shortage of ARs, etc.


There are plenty of firearms here. You can find many AR's, AK's and pistols, at or below pre BO pricing! I think many distributors and gun shops over bought during the hype, and are now sitting on large quantities of surplus, that are now being discounted so they can move them. You can find 6920's for $1150-1200 which is lower than they were before the election cycle.

[daveohno]

I have noticed some AR15's (EBR's) for sale lately. This hadn't been the case for a while now. I hope you're right that the ammo situation will catch up soon. Maybe we will be able to find some primers soon!

[R.D.Wylie]

I think maybe the ammo situation has caught up some I was in Walmart a while ago and for the longest timeme you couldn't get ammo, now they are starting to carry ammo again I was told at on time they were going to quit for political reasons maybe they changed thier minds after was is the use in selling guns and no ammo by the way, they were selling 45ACP.and some other populaar handgun cal's. :butthead: