I'm not trying to start a political discussion or debate, really just asking. I've not been shooting

long enough to ever notice a trend. But I've heard when democrats are in office guns and ammo

go up in price and when republicans are in charge they tend to be cheaper. Is this true? I heard

why everything is so expensive now is because Obama took office but I always wondered if it really

had that much impact.

Democrat = fear that they may ban some stuff = more buying = more demand/less supply = higher prices

 

Republican = Less fear of such a thing = less buying out of fear, etc.

 

Although, members of both parties have been known to endorse anti-gun policies.

Democrat = fear that they may ban some stuff = more buying = more demand/less supply = higher prices

 

Republican = Less fear of such a thing = less buying out of fear, etc.

 

Although, members of both parties have been known to endorse anti-gun policies.

 

I totally agree.

 

Only if that Republican happens to be Ron Paul.

 

The rest of them are all hypocritical snakes.

Have you guys seem prices drop with strong correlation to a political shift?

I have a feeling that the steep increase in sales at the moment are a product of more than just fear a dem will shift policy. Gun sales hit an all time high a few times last year if I recall correctly, and I'm sure at least part of that has to do with the continuing financial crisis. Not only that people are buying because they're scared, but also because the initial crisis forced many to sell things to pay mortgages, including guns. I remember a guy at Cabelas telling me their gun vault stock increased dramatically in 2009. Now that consumer confidence has increased people are either buying back or just buying those guns, which increased the number of NICs checks (one measure of gun sales).

 

Then of course there's the increase in popularity. There are plenty of gun shows on popular networks now. I think this accounts for some of the first time gun buyer purchases, as do popular video games that incorperate real firearm models. Simply fearing dems will regulate firearms probably wouldn't convince someone who had no interest in them in the first place to go out and buy one. But a show that fawns over the craftsmanship and power of a coachgun, or a videogame that basically teaches the player differences between handgun calibers, might.

 

In other words, if Obama loses should you sell your ruger stock? In the short term, probably. But long term I would bet that would be a mistake.

The bottom line is this....No matter what political party that gets that seat, if they are anti-gun, the media will spin it to promote hysteria. The prices will go up. The prices will stay high and steady because of the popularity of TV shows like TOP SHOT, Sons of Guns and American Gun. The public will start buying guns with ignorance. What I mean they will not know what is legal vs. illegal; ie: Semi vs. Full Auto. They watch these shows and become amazed of what guns can and will do.

Democrat elected - concerns over bans - prices increase

 

Republican elected - restrictions reduced - demand increases - prices increase

 

It's just like oil: there is no way to win, prices will rise.

This.

 

Democrat elected - concerns over bans - prices increase

 

Republican elected - restrictions reduced - demand increases - prices increase

 

It's just like oil: there is no way to win, prices will rise.

My understanding is that the upwards trend of ammo prices started before Obama won the elections. Having high demand due to two simultaneous wars has that effect on a relatively inelastic supply.

Another factor I believe is a clearer understanding that law enforcement will and have retrenched due largely to economic factors and perhaps a final realization that your average police force does not actually prevent most crime but merely report it.I for one purchased a firearm to protect my family and property in these increasingly uncertain times and fell in love with the sport, as I'm sure is the case with a large percentage of the burgeoning firearms sales.

All very good points. The way I see it people will buy according to their personal situations.

It does seem all too dynamic to attribute sales or the lack thereof to any one particular

occurrence. This is just one that I hear about all too often and have attention centered around.

No one really talks about other factors like the ones brought up here with media, economy,

etc.

If a republican wins and November and our overseas combat commitments wind down... I wouldn't be surprised if the price of guns and ammo went down.. or at least stabilized.

Ammo prices are mostly due to commodity prices, commodity volatility, the fact that ammo and component makers don't buy directly off the commodities market so have to deal with markups form distributors that are trying to amortize issues with said volatility to improve their bottom line, etc. Copper has been swinging 25% quite regularly (heck, it did more than 10% in the last 60 days. since 2009 it has spanned form about $1.25lb to $4.50-ish). Lead has been up 10%, down 10% and back up 5% in the last 60 days and since 2009 has spanned form $0.50 per lb to $1.20.

 

A big factor is that china has been trying to monitize (sort of) industrially significant base metals. So there's the giant chinese copper buying robot, which seems to buy in hard at a low of $3 or so, and eases up as it nears $4. They stockpile it to theoretically shore up their currency.

 

Scarcity however is driven by customer demand. Political party doesn't matter much, policy does. With dems you get fear of legislation leading to hoarding. With republicans, you often get increased military spending and "tough on crime" programs that give added one time funds to municipalities. This can result in increased ammo purchasing by institutions, and thus shortage of components. This also leads to retail gouging.

 

 

If a republican wins and November and our overseas combat commitments wind down... I wouldn't be surprised if the price of guns and ammo went down.. or at least stabilized.

 

I would expect ammo prices to drop, but guns might not. AR stuff has actually gotten cheaper. A lot of that is due to economy of scale permitted by government fueled spending.

Normally, i would say yes, if a repub is elected sales will slow and eventually drop, but with wars going on and our continuing distrust in government + all the hyped doomsday crap, not likely to happen.