Firearms Salesman of the Year

[Two Flints]

[Deadeye Don]

I say,  "pay the man a nice commission".

[Roscoe Coles]

I'm going to hang that up in the shop!

[1816flintlock]

I visited four local gunshops the other day.  Two were national chain store and the other two being local mom and pop type stores.  All were sold out of rifle, pistol, and shot gun primers.  Ditto for many calibers of handgun ammunition.  I can sure see the desire to want to stock up pending any legislation but, this is starting to get ridiculous between certain styles of firearms or calibers of ammuniton selling for 2 or 3 times what they did years ago, individuals purchasing enough ammo to start their own war or newbie gunowners showing up at the range with $2000+ worth of fancy "tactical" rifle and scope and not being able to hit anything larget than perhaps the backstop itself at 50 yards.  All the ammo in the world won't do you much good if you can't fire a shot with out people calling the police because they heard gunfire and a decent .22 would make a more practical and cost effective introduction to the shooting sports.  Fancy gear will not make up for lack of skill/practice.   Ok, enough complaining for one night.  Did take both Spencers to a Civil War event last weekend and put them to good use.  Its fun having an impromptu skirmish in the dark when you can suprise people by having a repeating rifle.

Stephen       

[Two Flints]

Hi 1816 flintlock,

I just got off the phone with the owner of the gun shop I usually frequent, when I need something and he told me that "things" were crazy in his shop.  Gun sales were going through the roof.  When I asked him if it was a fear of President Obama and his anti-gun stand, he said it was probably that and something else. He said with the economy in such a bad way people were becoming more protective of whatever property they valued and were buying guns to protect that property.  He also told me that gun training courses were booked solid as people new to gun ownership wanted a license to be able to buy a handgun or rifle legally.  He didn't see an end in sight.  His business is booming.

Two Flints

[Roscoe Coles]

Its the same in our store, the only problem we have is that none of our suppliers have anything in stock.  We turn people away every day because we can not get guns or ammo.  Its an interesting time.  By the by, the "gun salesman of the year" picture was a hit at work and is taped on the side of a safe near the do so customers can see it when they come in.

[geo]

here in maryland things are the same...no reloading components, ammo prices high, backlog on new firearms ranging from several weeks to half a year, second hand firearms prices are climbing, etc. why? in addition to the "hoarding" going on (either fear of future legistlation or of diminishing supplies) there is the reaction to the depression.  people are "investing" in firearms/components as they do with gold, silver. the prices at the md antique gun show in timonium last month were hair raising. the supply of the most popular rounds in ammo is going to iraq and afghanistan. the most common reason is that our sidearms/shoulder weapons are not equal to the task and more ammo is being used. what law makers failed to do after 40 years of trying the economy/foreign policy are now doing...eliminating the supply of ammo and rendering our rifles and pistols useless. the most common complaint heard at the range is the cost of ammo.

geo.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

My local shop has sold more guns and ammo in the last 6 months than the last five years!