Firearm Economics

[Bigjake83]

Does anybody else here feel that the firearm industry is just getting out of control with their prices?? I know it's their prerogative so let's just get past all that bullshit for argument sake.

Take a look at the top 5 manufacturers for .308 Semi Autos

KAC - $4200.00 - $12,000.00!!

JP - $3,200.00 - $5,000.00

LT - $2,932.00 - $3,370.00

Falkor - $3,600.00 - $3,999.00

Les Baer - $3640.00 - $4,390.00

And if you want a AI AXMC you practically got to sell one of your own kids on the black market.

And you know how LaRue is now pumping out these Builder kits at these unbelievably good prices well something occurred to me earlier today...

Think about it, I've called and talked to LaRue technicians several times to confirm this, there's absolutely no difference between a Stealth Barrel and the OBR/tOBR Barrels, same Barrel extension, same type of Steel, same Chamber, and same Rifling just a different Contour.

​​​​​So you can buy a Stealth Barrel with barrel nut and gas tube for $266.00, but a tOBR Barrel is $725.00!! So in other words people are getting charged $460!! for his half-assed Switchblock.. Really???

All this tells me is that LT has been bending people over, and overcharging them for a long ass time, and now everybody's blind and all cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs for these new upper kits when really he's still bending people over except this time he brought the KY!!!

Ok... I feel better now


​​

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Or you could buy a PSA DPMS gen II pattern 308 an be happy with 5/8-3/4 moa an just work a little closer. Then again a $5-10K safe queen is much better looking than a $600 buck stick you actually learn to shoot.

 

[Bigjake83]

Or you could buy a PSA DPMS gen II pattern 308 an be happy with 5/8-3/4 moa an just work a little closer. Then again a $5-10K safe queen is much better looking than a $600 buck stick you actually learn to shoot.

That's exactly what I'm saying everybody on here knows you can buy a Rock River in any caliber and it will shoot just as good..

I know we would all love to have the best of everything but I think this is really starting to get out of control...

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I know we would all love to have the best of everything but I think this is really starting to get out of control...

Especially those P.T. Barnum was speaking about.

 

[Mister Ridge]

Who's LT? Short for LaRue? I don't think I would have come up with the same list for the top 5 AR10 manufacturers. Or do you mean most expensive?

 

[Bigjake83]

Who's LT? Short for LaRue? I don't think I would have come up with the same list for the top 5 AR10 manufacturers. Or do you mean most expensive?

Yes LaRue Tact, .. and as far as the top 5 brands that's all subjective.... But I think you'll find out that 95% of the people on this site will Concur and agree about the 5 I listed..

What's your opinion of the top five??

And you can't count GAP because all they do is use other people designs and install Bartlein barrels.

Or are you one of those F&D Fanboys, even so they're over 3 Grand as well.

 

[Mister Ridge]

Yes LaRue Tact, .. and as far as the top 5 brands that's all subjective.... But I think you'll find out that 95% of the people on this site will Concur and agree about the 5 I listed..

What's your opinion of the top five??

And you can't count GAP because all they do is use other people designs and install Bartlein barrels.

Or are you one of those F&D Fanboys, even so they're over 3 Grand as well.

I don't know who F&D is either. The reason for my comment was because the brands you listed either a) had a reputation for being over priced/over hyped for what they were (KAC & maybe LaRue) or b) are boutique manufacturers that I wouldn't have thought of as being mainstream. I didn't know that Les Baer was considered a major player in the AR10 market. I also didn't know much about Falkor except for the Petra.

Admittedly, it's been awhile since I kept up with the latest trends on here. I remember that POF and LWRC were popular for a while. Mega Arms doesn't produce complete rifles but the MATEN was a big deal at one point (I think). I do agree with including JP. Seekins Precision would be on my short list of newer entries. My personal plan is start with a nice stripped lower and go from there. I'd imagine that the 3 most common would be DPMS, RRA, and home builds.

It's one of those things where the list would change depending upon which top 5 we're looking for.

 

[Bigjake83]

I don't know who F&D is either. The reason for my comment was because the brands you listed either a) had a reputation for being over priced/over hyped for what they were (KAC & maybe LaRue) or b) are boutique manufacturers that I wouldn't have thought of as being mainstream. I didn't know that Les Baer was considered a major player in the AR10 market. I also didn't know much about Falkor except for the Petra.

Admittedly, it's been awhile since I kept up with the latest trends on here. I remember that POF and LWRC were popular for a while. Mega Arms doesn't produce complete rifles but the MATEN was a big deal at one point (I think). I do agree with including JP. Seekins Precision would be on my short list of newer entries. My personal plan is start with a nice stripped lower and go from there. I'd imagine that the 3 most common would be DPMS, RRA, and home builds.

It's one of those things where the list would change depending upon which top 5 we're looking for.

I don't think there's a better rifle for the money then the Rock River Rifles.

 

[W54/XM-388]

I'd go with a GAP built AR10 over a lot of other unless you need specific features.
Or just build your own and get exactly what you want for the cheapest price.

 

[2ndamendfan]

People pay what people pay. Capitalism at its finest. Not your job to protect people from themselves. Nor the government's job. I own none of them. And I agree Rock River is excellent regardless of price. Given Rock River's price point it is obvious that there is no "secret sauce" involved.

 

[witchazel]

People have disposable income.

 

[Bigjake83]

I'd go with a GAP built AR10 over a lot of other unless you need specific features.
Or just build your own and get exactly what you want for the cheapest price.

I'm with you on building your own, if you've seen my threads you know I live doing that shit...

 

[Dirty D]

I don't think there's a better rifle for the money then the Rock River Rifles.

My RRA Predator Pursuit is consistently a 3/4 MoA rifle, my only bitch was the weight until I swapped the round handguard for a Midwest Industries light weight and the PRS buttstock for a MOE rifle stock. Is my RRA the coolest ever? No but it is a fantastic shooter for $900.

 

[...]

if im paying $4-12K for a rifle.....it is going to have exhibition grade wood, deep bright bluing, and gold inlay engraving...........and its sure as fuck not going to be an AR.

 

[Bigjake83]

if im paying $4-12K for a rifle.....it is going to have exhibition grade wood, deep bright bluing, and gold inlay engraving...........and its sure as fuck not going to be an AR.

Exactly.... especially now since we have all these high-tech CNC machines, it's the custom handmade beauties that should be in that price range not ARs.

 

[hlee]

As much as people bitch about Cheaper than Dirt (and a bunch of others that float prices to suit conditions) the entire firearms market has always been "what the market will bear." Companies do not make firearms, ammunition, and accessories in order to exercise a constitutional right. They do it to make money. This is not bread, water, and fuel to get from home to work. Firearms are discretionary spending. There is no such thing as gouging in this industry. Buy what you want at a price you think is fair. If you don't think the price is fair, do not buy the item. Companies will float or sink based on the price/value relationship of their products. Given the Larue example in the intro, I agree that the builder kit is a ripoff- considering the price of the barrel by itself. People that are looking to buy an AR don't know how easy it is to put one together. But, it is easy to sink $2000+ into a home build. For some, the premium paid for the warranty of functionality/reliability and guarantee of accuracy is worth the cost. I have built a few ARs for the same reason I started reloading, I haven't found something I'm willing to buy for a price I'm willing to spend. I am very happy with my decision and do not begrudge others for theirs.