What makes guns so expensive?

[bobn]

actually when you consider what goes into making a wood/steel firearm i think they are a bargain.....bobn

[hermannr]

Over half the cost of manufacturing a light aircraft is Liability Insurance. I feel confident that the firearms industry has the same problem.

Kind of like OBGyn doctors. Back when we were having kids (30-40 years ago) our OBGyn doctor said his personal malpractice insurance was almost $800 A DAY! and that was when you could buy a Brand New Chevy out the door for $3000-4000 dollars, or a brand new H&K VP70 for $65

[Eghad]

In 1973 when I worked in a grocery store while in high school I think I started out at a whole $1.35 an hour. Of course gas was cheap. I could fill up my Suzuki 90 motorcycle for about 25 cents. I could see a movie, get pizza and drinks and probably spend less than $5.00.

[8shot357]

OP

What makes guns so expensive?

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Are they so expensive because of their relatively small scale of manufacture?
Because the materials and processes involved are expensive?
Due to legal concerns?

I didn't know guns are so expensive. I thought a good gun can be had for cheap, and not a "Cheap" gun.

Sorry (not), not to insult you, but what things are not expensive? Big Mac's? Did you just come out of a time capsual?

I don't need to say anymore, unless you'd like me to. And bring your calculator!

[8shot357]

In 1973 when I worked in a grocery store while in high school I think I started out at a whole $1.35 an hour. Of course gas was cheap. I could fill up my Suzuki 90 motorcycle for about 25 cents.

1973?

It would cost you more than that. At least $00.80.

[MidwestRookie]

ammo costs way more in the long run...

guns just seem expensive because the price is all up front.

[adn258]

ammo costs way more in the long run...

guns just seem expensive because the price is all up front.

Bingo. Say you buy a WASAR 10 Ak47 rifle which you can usually purchase for 500 or less at least where I live. For the money I think it's a great rifle. The 7,62 by 39 MM ammo is what kills you, (Speaking figuratively of course ). The point is you go out plinking for fun and within no time you can blast through what you paid for that rifle in ammo.

My advice: With the economy the way it is buy and store long-term lots of ammo, it is/will become/becoming a new currency.

[8shot357]

Let's bring up the American made Hi-piont.

People come on this board bragging about putting a million rounds through it, but they are the same people that refuse to buy an ($500) "expensive gun".

If your trying to guilt me for buying a $1700 gun for $1200. Sorry,.....

What's expensive?

[Shane Tuttle]

Let's bring up the American made Hi-piont.

People come on this board bragging about putting a million rounds through it, but they are the same people that refuse to buy an ($500) "expensive gun".

Cite some of them....IF you can, please.

[bubbaturbo]

S&W apparently can make money by building a plastic framed stainless slide
9MM pistol that sells for around $300 (Sigma) and yet sells their M&P, also a plastic framed stainless slide pistol for about $450. Does a better trigger and a few grip inserts cost them $150?

[45Gunner]

There are still a ship load of cheap guns out there but I truly subscribe to the theory that you get what you pay for. For those of us that have been around for a few years, remember when you could buy a 1000 round case of quality .45 ACP ammo for around $150? The cost of everything from guns to butter (Paul Samuelson, Economics 101) has risen due to supply and demand, and from the cost of manufacturing and associated costs such as insurance, law suits, labor, raw materials, state of the art production machinery, etc. Back in those days, it was nearly impossible to get a concealed carry permit. Now, most everywhere it is relatively easy to obtain with very little exception.

I bought my first brand new car in 1971. It was a hot muscle car convertible with an engine bigger than most of the airplanes I was flying and did so for the princely sum of $3000. That same car today would be more than 15 times that cost, if not more.

I paid around $300 for my first Colt 1911. What does that gun cost today? It's worth it at $300 but when do you say enough is enough?

[johnbt]

My $900 used 4-year-old Rohrbaugh has a whole lot more life left in it than my 4-year-old Samsung 40" lcd that cost $1150. It gets used more too. so it's been a bargain based on the cost per day. Or even better, the cost of use per hour. And resale? The gun has a resale value.

A new '65 VW bug with am radio (and 40 hp) cost $1600 cash. McDonalds in D.C. started people off at $1.15/hr. Gas was cheap, but good guns were expensive and ammo even more so.

[checkmyswag]

Thanks for the responses. I understand that "expensive" is a relative term.

I respect that they must have tight tolerances and high quality, but look at a tiny pistol like a Ruger LCP and wonder why it's $300?

Think mostly it doesn't have to do with materials but...

-labor/insurance/legal costs/other overhead

[T. O'Heir]

"...Are they so expensive because..." Hi. They're not really. If you compare average wages 30 years ago to current wages and retail prices, firearms are a bit less expensive now. Most of 'em are still at least a couple week's pay.
Mind you, fat union pay scales(most firearm manufacturers are union shops), transportation costs(fuel and insurance mostly) and a certain amount of government interference matters too.
"...confident that the firearms industry has the same problem..." Pretty much but most light aircraft makers aren't inundated with frivolous law suits the way the firearm makers are. Put the wrong fuel in and it's operator failure. Use the wrong ammo or reload stupidly and the firearm maker gets sued, Stateside.
"...a tiny pistol like a..." Size doesn't matter. A decent wee pistol requires the same manufacturing techniques, R&D costs and skilled workers that a big one does.

[8shot357]

A decent wee pistol requires the same manufacturing techniques, R&D costs and skilled workers that a big one does.

My new CZ 2075 Rami Sub, cost me more than my full sized new CZ75B, and my 75 is nickel plated, my Rami is just painted black.

[htshot]

Oil and guns are in the same catagory,people want them and they can charge what they want. You could buy Hipoint prouducts.

[kilimanjaro]

You try making a revolver in your home shop. The first one is going to cost you about $600,000 in machine tools, computer software and design, raw materials, licenses and fees, prototyping, ad nauseum. The second one is going to cost you $300,000, the third $200,000, and so on. Revolver No. 1000 is going to cost you $600, and you may be lucky to market it within two years, provided you haven't gone out of business by then.

[Win73]

I have a Model 1873 Winchester manufactured in 1891. It was passed down to me from my father. He bought it in 1930. He paid five dollars for it. Today I would estimate its value to be between $2000 to $2500. So look how ridiculous the price has risen.

But wait, in 1930, five dollars was almost a weeks pay for my father. He made 15 cents an hour. And that though not a high wage was also not a low wage at the time.

My point is you have to keep things in perspective. Maybe that price isn't so ridiculous after all, especially considering it is a highly desirable collectable.